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The
African Methodist Episcopal Church is a connectional
organization. Each local church is a part of the larger
connection.
The
Bishops are the Chief Officers of the Connectional
Organization. They are elected for life by a majority
vote of the General Conference which meets ever four years.
Bishops are bound by the laws of the church to retire
following their 75th birthday.
Presiding
Elders are the assistants, like middle management, whom
the Bishops appoint to supervise the preachers in a Presiding
Elder's District. A Presiding Elder District is one
portion of an Annual Conference, which in turn is one part of
the Episcopal District over which a Bishop presides. In the
Presiding Elder District, the appointed Presiding Elder meets
with the local churches, that comprise the District, at least
once every three months for a Quarterly
Conference. The Presiding Elder also presides over a
District Conference and a Sunday School Convention in his or
her District. At the end of an Annual Conference year, the
Presiding Elder reports to the Bishop at the Annual Conference
and makes recommendations for pastoral appointments.
Pastors
receive a yearly appointment to a charge (church), on the
recommendation of the Presiding Elder and with the approval
and final appointment of the Bishop. The pastor is in
full charge of the Church and is an ex-official member of all
boards, organizations and clubs of that Church.
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