Rockingham District 5th Sunday Fellowship Addresses Proposed Richmond County Data Centers

HAMLET, N.C. — On Sunday, August 30, 2026, pastors, laity, and concerned citizens from across Richmond County gathered at Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Hamlet, North Carolina, for a significant time of fellowship, education, and community engagement centered on proposed data center developments in the Richmond County area.

Wayman Chapel is just one of the 21 A.M.E. Zion churches on the Rockingham District of the West Central North Carolina Conference. The district is led by the Reverend Dr. Haven O. Anderson, who has served as Presiding Elder since 2024. The West Central North Carolina Conference is part of the Piedmont Episcopal District, under the episcopal leadership of the Right Reverend Darryl B. Starnes Sr., Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

The gathering reflected an important understanding of the Church’s responsibility to remain attentive not only to the spiritual needs of its communities, but also to the social and civic concerns that affect the lives and well-being of the people it is called to serve.

The Great Commission remains central to the mission of the Church: to GO, MAKE, BAPTIZE, and TEACH. Yet fulfilling that mission also requires the Church to be present, informed, and engaged in the communities where God has called it to minister. Transformation, spiritual growth, and service extend beyond the walls of the sanctuary and compel the Body of Christ to recognize and respond to issues that may have lasting implications for individuals, families, churches, and communities.

With this understanding, the Rockingham District used its 5th Sunday Fellowship as an opportunity to provide information and encourage meaningful dialogue concerning the proposed data centers coming to Richmond County. The gathering created a space for members of the Church and the broader community to listen, ask questions, gain a greater understanding of the proposed developments, and consider how they may impact Richmond County and its residents.

Special appreciation is extended to the Reverend G. Rebecca Warren, esteemed pastor of Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, for sharing her knowledge and insight during the gathering. Gratitude is also extended to Presiding Elder Reverend Dr. Haven O. Anderson for recognizing the importance of creating this opportunity to inform, educate, and empower members of the Rockingham District and the surrounding community.

The district also welcomed Attorney Jasmine Washington, Staff Attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, who provided valuable information and helped those in attendance gain a clearer understanding of the issues surrounding the proposed data center developments. Her presentation contributed significantly to an informative and engaging discussion and provided those gathered with information to help them better understand the issues before their communities.

The conversation also emphasized that community engagement must continue beyond this gathering. With additional meetings scheduled in Richmond County, including meetings of the County Commissioners and City Council, those in attendance were encouraged to remain actively involved in the process. Participants were urged to attend these public meetings, ask questions, express their concerns, and make their voices heard by those entrusted with making decisions that could have a lasting impact on their communities.

The message was clear: being informed is only the beginning. Meaningful community involvement also requires citizens to be present and engaged as decisions are considered that may shape the future of Richmond County for generations to come.

Those gathered left with more than additional information. There was a renewed sense of responsibility and a greater motivation to remain informed, engaged, and involved as conversations and decisions concerning these proposed developments continue.

The gathering also served as a reminder that the ministry of the Church reaches beyond Sunday worship. Faith calls believers to proclaim the Gospel, nurture disciples, serve their neighbors, and remain attentive to the conditions and concerns affecting the communities God has entrusted to their care.

As the Rockingham District continues its ministry throughout Richmond County and beyond, its 5th Sunday Fellowship demonstrated that faithful ministry requires both spiritual awareness and community awareness. To reach a community, the Church must also be willing to listen to it, learn about the issues affecting it, serve it, stand with it, and empower its people to have a voice in shaping its future.