AME Church
AME Bishop Silvester Beaman named chair of White House council on African engagement
By Adelle M. Banks — September 27, 2023
(RNS) — ‘Bishop Beaman’s extensive experience and deep roots in Africa will enable him to lead the Council to achieve its full potential,’ the White House said.
AME Church alleges former retirement services exec embezzled tens of millions
By Adelle M. Banks — May 26, 2022
(RNS) — After an independent investigation, the denomination concluded that Harris deposited funds from the plan into his personal checking account.
30 years after Rodney King unrest, one faith leader’s vision still inspires LA
By Richard Flory and Najuma Smith-Pollard — April 28, 2022
(RNS) — ‘We may have set those fires, but we didn’t start those fires,’ said the Rev. Cecil Murray.
Five lessons recent church leadership failures can teach us
By Jennifer R. Farmer — April 15, 2022
(RNS) — There are clear reasons why our leadership is not performing to the standards we should expect.
Pastors sue AME Church over missing retirement funds
By Mike Schneider — April 13, 2022
(AP) — “When you take advantage of my money, you lose my trust,” said one AME pastor. “You lose the trust of your employees.”
More than $90 million missing from AME pension funds, claim class-action lawsuits
By Bob Smietana — April 6, 2022
(RNS) — The lawsuits claim that thousands of retirement clergy have been harmed by the potential loss of their pensions.
Report: AME Church suspends payments to retirees, investigates missing pension funds
By Bob Smietana — March 10, 2022
(RNS) — Concerns about the AME pension fund had been circulating in recent months.
Women breaking through to top roles in Black churches
By Adelle M. Banks and Peter Smith — December 9, 2021
(RNS/AP) — Most major Black Christian denominations in the U.S. have no doctrinal bar to ordained women leaders. Yet denominational leadership remained all-male until the 21st century, and women are still the exception in the top rungs.
After four-month lockout, African Methodist Episcopal pastor preaches at her church
By Adelle M. Banks — November 1, 2021
(RNS) — The AME Women in Ministry said, ‘we are greatly distressed to hear of women in ministry concurrently being oppressed by systematic strongholds and discriminatory behavior.’
Women making strides in leadership of Black denominations amid hesitancy
By Adelle M. Banks — September 22, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Whenever a woman rises, or ascends, to a leadership position in a national organization, it’s always significant,’ said the Rev. Gina Stewart.
Former NBA player Stan McKenzie, husband of first woman AME Church bishop, dead at 76
By Adelle M. Banks — July 21, 2021
(RNS) — Less than two weeks before, his wife — Bishop Vashti McKenzie — thanked her spouse as she made farewell remarks at the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s General Conference.
Retiring Bishop Vashti McKenzie, first AME Church woman prelate, reflects on a groundbreaking career
By Adelle M. Banks — July 16, 2021
(RNS) — ‘Do I think that women can do this? Yes,’ McKenzie said. ‘Do I think the women that have been elected in my denomination have done an exceptional job? Absolutely.’
AME Church bishops address COVID-19, critical race theory as major meeting opens
By Adelle M. Banks — July 6, 2021
(RNS) — ‘We acknowledge the current controversy around Critical Race Theory and acknowledge that healing can only begin when the traumas of the past are recognized,’ the bishops said.
AME church delays boycott of Georgia companies, plans protest at Masters Tournament
By Jack Jenkins — April 7, 2021
(RNS) — The faith leaders say they will wait at least until an AME bishop meets with the heads of several companies next week.
Biden taps Delaware AME pastor to offer benediction at inauguration
By Jack Jenkins — January 14, 2021
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A longtime confidant of the Biden family, Silvester S. Beaman, made headlines when he was featured in a 2020 Trump campaign ad.
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