ZION ELECTS FIVE NEW BISHOPS AS THREE BISHOPS RETIRE

Greensboro, N.C.  July 30, 2024—The 52nd General Conference of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church was held from July 24th through July 28th. Delegates from Episcopal Districts across the country gathered at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel in Greensboro, NC, to elect Bishops, General Officers, and Administrative and Judicial Board members. The delegation of 638 clergy and laity also adopted legislative and budgetary matters.

The election of Bishops began on Saturday, July 27^th.  The 108^th Bishop elected in the line of succession was Rev. Dr. Daran H. Mitchell from the Piedmont Episcopal District. The 109^th Bishop elected was Rev. Dr. Anthony Witherspoon from the Mid-West Episcopal District. The 110^th Bishop elected was Rev. Dr. Melanie Rogers Miller from the Northeastern Episcopal District. The 111^th Bishop elected was Rev. Dr. Dwayne A. Walker from the Piedmont Episcopal District. The 112^th Bishop elected was Rev. Dr. Bernado Ngunza from the Central Southern Africa Episcopal District.

The Service of Consecration of Bishops and Holy Communion was held on Sunday, July 28^th. Bishop Daran H. Mitchell is the Presiding Prelate for the Mid-West Episcopal District, which includes the Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, Trinidad and Tobago conferences.

Bishop Anthony Witherspoon is the Presiding Prelate of the Southwestern Delta Episcopal District, which includes the Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Mississippi, Texas, West Tennessee-Mississippi, and India conferences.

Bishop Melanie Miller will serve as Presiding Prelate of the Western Episcopal District, which includes the Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon-Washington, and the Southwest Rocky Mountain conferences.

Bishop Dwayne A. Walker, son of retired Bishop George W.C. Walker, Sr., the 81^st Bishop in the line of succession, was blessed to have been consecrated by his father.  He will serve as the Presiding Prelate for the Alabama-Florida Episcopal District, which includes the Alabama, Cahaba, Central Alabama, Florida, North Alabama, South Alabama, South Florida, West Alabama, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, North Kuvi, South Kuvi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bishop Ngunza is the third Indigenous Bishop to serve on the African continent. He will serve as Presiding Prelate for the Central Southern Africa Continent, which includes the East Angola, West Angola, South Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and Namibia conferences.

The 52^nd General Conference was also a time to celebrate four retiring Bishops for their dedicated service to God and the denomination: Rev. Dr. Kenneth Moore, Bishop of the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District; Rev. Dr. Dennis V. Proctor, Bishop of the North Eastern Episcopal District; Rev. Dr. Michael A. Frencher, Sr., Bishop of the Mid-West Episcopal District; and Bishop Bonnie Hines (deceased) South Atlantic Episcopal District.

In his final Bishop’s Report, retiring Bishop Kenneth Monroe said, “The journey to Bishop has been an awesome experience.” For newly elected Bishop Miller the journey has not only been awesome, but it was also historic. Bishop Monroe said, “She is our second lady Bishop.” She was preceded by Bishop Bonnie Hines, who was the first female elected/consecrated in 2008 and served until her death in 2022. Bishop Miller’s husband, Rev. Jimmie Miller, Sr., also made history - he will be the first male Missionary Supervisor.

In addition to the election and consecration of five episcopal leaders, new General Officers and Judicial Council members were also installed during the 52nd General Conference session.

Rev. Dr. Darrell Williams is the new Director of Zion Benefits Services, following Dr. David A. Aiken, Sr., who retired after serving in that office since 2016. Williams most recently served as a Presiding Elder in the Western Episcopal District. 

Mr. Ceasar Alverez follows Rev. Dr. George McKain as the new Convention Manager. Dr. McKain retired after serving in that office for more than 30 years.  Mr. Alvarez comes with a great deal of experience and skill as he has worked closely with Dr. McKain for many years and as the Bank of America Corporate Convention Manager.

Also installed were incumbent General Officers: Rev. Dr. Elvin Sadler, General Secretary-Auditor, Department of Records, Research and Archives; Rev. Julius Walls: Chief Operating Officer, A.M.E. Zion Publishing House; Rev. Al C. Hamilton: Chief Financial Officer, Connectional Budget Office; Mr. Darin Kent: Chief Communications Officer &  Editor of  The Star of Zion; Rev. Dr. Dwight B. Cannon: Executive Director, Department of Global Missions; Rev. Patrick Barrett: General Secretary, Christian Education Department; Rev. Dr. Eleazar Merriweather: Executive Director, Department of Church Growth and Development.

The Judicial Council added one new member, Rev. Dr. Brandon Fisher, Esq., who most recently served as a presiding elder in the Western Episcopal District. Dr. Fisher was elected by the Council to serve as the Vice President.  Installed along with him were the following incumbents: The Honorable Adele M. Riley-President, Rev. Dr. Lisa T. McDow, Esq.-Clerk, Rev. Dr. Derek Anderson-Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Richard Austin, Esq., Dr. Marsha C. Grayson, Esq., Dr. William Stokes, Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Tolbert, Sr., Esq. and Dr. Yvonne A. Tracey.

Bishop George Dwayne Crenshaw, Presiding Prelate, Alabama-Florida Episcopal District, brought the word on the Opening Worship Service on Wednesday, July 24^th.   His sermon was entitled “I’m on the Waiting List,” taken from Isaish 49:22-23.  Bishop Crenshaw’s message was simple: He said God has not forsaken Zion. He has placed us on “the waiting list and is waiting for us to develop spiritual discernment.”  Bishop Brian R. Thompson, Sr. (Western Episcopal District) said the service was moving. “I’m on the waiting list is prophesy for Zion.”

The Thursday Morning Session opened with a Memorial Service. The Devotion was by the North Eastern Episcopal District, Bishop Dennis V. Proctor presiding. Rev. Samuel Blanks, Pastor, Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, Hartford, CT. preached the Meditation – “And They Made It.” It was a thoughtful and reflective sermon. Later that morning, the Bishops (retiring and active) presented their reports.  The reports, which were pre-recorded videos, were entertaining and thorough.

52^nd Quadrennial Highlights and Special Guests

There were several special guests in attendance at the Conference. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, President and General Secretary of the Council of Bishops and President of the General Board, brought greetings on behalf of the National Council of Churches.  

Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN) addressed at the Freedom and Social Justice Night Celebration on Thursday, July 25, 2024. As expected, Rev. Sharpton was prolific and received a standing ovation. Rev. William J. Barber, II, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, also addressed the Conference.  He stressed the importance of voting in the November 2024 elections.  Rev. Barber said, “It’s not so much about partisanship, it’s about principle. Instead of looking at candidates through a partisan lens, we look at who is saying, if we get power, we’re going to do living wages, health care, voting rights.” He told the Conference about the Poor People’s Campaign’s National Call for Moral Revival and Demands for 2024, which is an agenda for churches to use to encourage people in their communities to vote.

Mrs. Ventris Gibson, the  40th Director of the United States Mint, was another special guest. Mrs. Gibson is the first African American to lead the U.S. Mint.  Mrs. Gibson spoke about the minting of the Harriet Tubman coins.  She said, “I wouldn’t be in this position if Harriet Tubman had not done what she did.”  Mrs. Karen Hill, President & CEO of Harriet Tubman Home, Inc., and The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, was also in attendance. It is through her efforts that the 2024 Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coins were struck at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia on November 28, 2023. The coins were on display and available for sale.  The Star of Zion reported on this historic event in the December 2023 edition.

Parliamentarian Dr. Frances Jackson said, “General Conferences are special. They are a time when its members are most powerful. It is an opportunity for the laity and delegates to provide direction, provide feedback, and be in control.”

First-time delegate Rev. Jennifer Carey (Holy Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church, Nassau Bahamas) said the General Conference “ was a rewarding and informative experience.”  She quoted Martin Luther King: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”  She said the Conference “stood together in their faith and trusting in God.”

Rev. Musooko Moses, who is the Administrative Assistant to the Uganda Annual Conference, Great Lakes Region, said the Conference was “wonderful” and was impressed with the efficiency of the Conference.

Bishop Hilliard K. Dogbe (Western West Africa Episcopal District) was elected President of the Board of Bishops and officially closed the 52^nd Quadrennial General Conference on Sunday, July 28, 2024.

Rev. Eldren Morrison, Pastor at Shaw Temple, said, “He sees hope and a bright future for the denomination through faith, education, and prayer.”  Well said, Rev. Morrison.