AME leadership moves forward at conference

May 14-20, 2011 heralds the 137th session of the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference, Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. The session is being held at the historic Big Bethel AME Church in downtown Atlanta on Auburn Avenue. Approximately 400 preachers, delegates, and members are in attendance.

As with any membership organization, it takes strong leaders to be successful. This is also the case for the AME church, founded by black Christians lead by Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pa. They began their mission of saving souls after being denied the right to pray with white congregants in 1816.

Rev. Gregory V. Eason, Sr. of Big Bethel in Atlanta is the conference’s hosting minister.

“We have excellent leadership in Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux who is doing an outstanding job leading the AME Church in Georgia. Our churches are really doing a magnificent job of evangelism. We are really privileged at Big Bethel to host the conference, and we just thank God for the opportunity to serve.”

Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux of the 6th District moderates sessions and accepts church reports.

As church pastors are bid to make their reports by Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Presiding Prelate of the District, it becomes evident that certain qualities of leadership, project and financial management skills, and number of members added to each church roll are under scrutiny.

Rev. Michelle Rizer- Pool, senior pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in Shady Dale, said she continually prayed and fasted before coming to the week-long event when annual determinations are made as to new pastor assignments.

“I prayed that the conference would be one of spiritual development, encouraging, supportive, and all about God. When the last Amen is done at this conference, we will still feel like Martin Luther said, ‘… in this world as far as spirituality, but we’re also in the physical world,’ so, therefore, we have to learn how to blend the two.”

Rizer-Pool, who at one time only had three members in her church, has some advice for women wishing to enter ministry:

“Know without a doubt that you’re called, and when you make that commitment to the Lord, understand the meaning of ‘shepherd’ behind Psalm 23,” she said which includes being committed to feeding, leading, and guiding people, regardless of their human frailties.

“My favorite song is, ‘I Want Jesus to Walk with Me,’ and that’s who walks with me daily. If you are committed, the Lord will continually bless you,” she said.

Compassion, humility, prayer and married life, as well as singing ability of pastors were noted along with their ability to manage construction and outreach programs. Managing church mortgage debt is not a direct reflection on pastors but is the charge of the trustee board.

Finance Committee Members

If a pastor is not in agreement with the trustee board or members, letters are often written to thwart his or her return, and reassignments are recommended. One attendee was alarmed that some members were asking for the reassignment of her pastor, and she accused the AME leadership of being like the “black mafia.”

“Some preachers just don’t know how to talk to people,” she said.

Rev. Conitras Houston, Bishop DeVeaux's administrative assistant, and Navy Lt. Chaplain Ammie Davis, a “Global Force for Good”

Spiritual guidance of ministers is also scrutinized. “The Word has been taught and preached every Sunday,” was one delegate’s response when asked to give a report of his pastor’s work ethic. One preacher reported that he has a conference call and prays with board members every morning at 5:45 a.m.

The most frequently mentioned improvements were air conditioning projects, missions to Africa, green space and recycling programs, and growth of church schools and senior facilities. Churches in the district have assets in buildings set for demolition as well as facilities insured for over $5 million that may include up to 140 acres of undeveloped land. Other major projects include senior citizen housing developments worth $30 million which are eligible for government tax credits.

A post-planning meeting to go over lessons learned from the conference is scheduled at Big Bethel on May 21.

Attendees take a break from sessions to meet and greet each other.

Delegate Willie Mae Crump of Allen Temple in Woodstock said she enjoys church conferences because of the many ideas given to expand ministries and improve the spiritual life of people in her community.

©2011 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.