Orlando, Florida (TN Tribune)-From June 23-26, 2024, the members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church gathered for the annual General Board and Council of Bishops Meeting at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The Investiture Worship Service for Bishop Frank M. Reid III as the President of the Council of Bishops was held on the evening of June 23. Retired Senior Bishop John R. Bryant preached a provocative message, “Go Back and Get Him” from Acts 2:36-41.
The General Board was called to order by Bishop Paul J. M. Kawimbe, President of the General Board, at the Rosen Centre Hotel, on June 24, 2024. Bishop Kawimbe then presented Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, Presiding Prelate of the 13th Episcopal District for devotions. Rev. Clay Holliday, Jr., Pastor New Wright’s Chapel AME Church of Memphis, Tenn., preached a message entitled “Shift” based on Mark 2:21-23. Bishop Kawimbe called on Dr. Jeffrey B. Cooper, General Secretary/CIO of the AME Church, to call the roll.
After the roll call, Bishop Kawimbe presented Senior Bishop Richardson who addressed the General Board reminding those assembled that we must remain focused on the Church’s mission even with the challenges facing the denomination. Bishop Reid welcomed the assembly and spoke to the need for healing within the connectional church. There was a brief reflective moment where “We Shall Overcome” was played. Statistics and Finance Chair Bishop Samuel L. Green, Jr. spoke and stated that while AME Church was not able to fully share strategy, positive developments were occurring regarding the Department of Retirement Services. Bishop James L. Davis, First Vice President of the General Board, acknowledged the various dignitaries present.
General Counsel Douglass Selby was presented to give an update on the legal issues facing the denomination. Regarding the investigations that are being handled by Federal agencies, the AME Church is being treated as a victim and not a subject. No AME Church leadership is under criminal investigation currently. As of 2024, the AME Church is two years in litigation. Of the seven counts that were brought against the denomination by the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit, only two remain: breach of fiduciary responsibility and negligence. The process of fact discovery has included the exchange of 28,000 documents with approximately 100,000 pages from 2000-2021. Twenty-eight persons have been deposed including eight persons for which the AME Church has provided legal counsel. The process of discovery is ending with one hearing scheduled for late June and another for late July. One of the key findings that has emerged is that Newport and Symmetra played a much larger role than was previously thought. Attorney Selby stated, “The AME Church is objectively in a much stronger position in liability than twelve months ago.” As the discovery phase of the lawsuit closes, Attorney Selby stated that there are opportunities to explore alternative resolution through three approaches: 1) restoration of investors money; 2) reform of the Department of Retirement Services; 3) Resolution of claims. This resolution will allow the AME Church to focus on the culpable defendants. Attorney Selby closed by reiterating that a settlement is not an admission of guilt, but a method of resolution to cease being at odds with the litigants.
After the General Counsel’s presentation, Co-Chair of the Commission on Retirement Services Bishop Marvin C. Zanders, II presented for the Commission on behalf of Chair Bishop John F. White, Sr. He stated that legislation has been created to sunset the annuity department and ensure that departmental redirection funds is prohibited. He also stated the reforms that have been instituted including a new exclusive secure plan provider (Wespath), online access to account information, age adjusted options, trained Episcopal District representatives to guide on-boarding and timely deposits into accounts.
Members of the General Board were then invited to ask questions of the Commission on Retirement Services and the General Counsel. During the exchange, Rev. Dr. James F. Miller, Executive Director of the Department of Retirement Services indicated that the Department has continued to offer services to pastors and has provided $137,000 in matching grants through a program from the Lily Foundation. He also indicated that the Department finally completed an Agreed-Upon Procedure (AUP) engagement to provide the first accurate figures in over 20 years due to corrupted data from the previous administration.
The General Conference Commission then gave its report with an audio-visual presentation led by Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer Dr. Marcus T. Henderson, Sr. The Treasurer indicated that the General Conference would cost the Connectional Church $11.2-11.5 million dollars. Due to the financial issues regarding the Department of Retirement Services, the contingency for the meeting has been cut to 5 percent of the budget.
After further discussion, the General Board voted to hold an additional meeting in July on Zoom before the General Conference to review the AUP as well as the legislation for the Department.
The General Board reconvened after lunch to consider the 2025-2028 budget that will be presented to the General Conference. Bishop Green introduced Dr. Henderson to make the presentation. The budget included the following: 1) a 2.7 percent increase to raise Episcopal District contributions back to the 2016-2020 level; 2) reallocation of 25% of the budget to fund Wespath fees, Department of Retirement Services restoration and increased legal expenses. 3) Funding for AME University and Wilberforce Institute will be equal to United States institutions of higher education. After a brief discussion, the budget was approved to be forwarded to the General Conference and the meeting adjourned.
In the evening, the Investiture Banquet for Bishop Reid as President of the Council of Bishops was held. The evening of family tributes and entertainment culminated in a masterful sermon by Bishop Paul Morton, “The Eagle Stirs Its Nest” drawn from Deuteronomy 32:11.
