To Members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
A Report from the President
of the Council of Bishops

I have had the high honor of being the president of the Council of Bishops since June 15, 2000. During the period of my tenure, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has made history, begun challenging new initiatives and sought to maintain its place among the early vessels into which God has entrusted the Church of Jesus Christ.  In our efforts, we have been, at times, faithful and dutiful, and on other occasions we have fallen somewhat short of the higher calling of God.  This is the nature and the reality of our human condition.  Indeed, we are made "a little lower than the angels"  yet we are also completely aware of our propensity for sin.

A part of my responsibility as Council president is to ensure that communication between the Council of Bishops and the membership of the AME Church is open and entirely reciprocal.  For this reason, I would appreciate your comments on my preliminary reflections about the state of our Zion.  Please feel free to contact me through e-mail: Bishopdev@aol.com  ; fax 301-585-3192; or mail at 8860 Woodland Drive, Silver Spring, MD, 29010.  I promise to make an effort to respond but, more important, to refer matters I cannot handle to the appropriate place or office within the Church's structure.

1. Service beyond the limits of the United States is moving along fairly well. We are still experiencing some of the problems which have lingered for a long time,. The issues that persist involve cultural differences, concerns for independence, national conflicts and momentum for indigenous leadership. We sent a delegation from the Council to the Seventeenth District to discuss matters that resulted in the postponing of two annual conferences, Bishops DeVeaux, Henning, Senatle and Williams spent two days in conversations with the leaders of the District.  During those discussions, we reemphasized the Church's commitment to indigenous leadership and the creation of the Africa Jurisdiction as mandated by the General Conference. The only annual conferences postponed because of internal church issues were teh ones in the Seventeenth District.  These conferences will be convened as soon as possible. Bishop Norris has been unable to enter some of the countries to which he is assigned because of civil unrest.
   
2. Discussion continues in some places about the Connectional Church budget. I believe that this that this matter will be the sour4ce of continuing discussion in the General Board and Council of Bishops.
   
3. There appears to be a serious need to revisit the issue of redistricting with the Church. This issue involves the call for an Africa Jurisdiction and questions dealing with modifying the current Districts in the United States and the Caribbean.
   
4. There is some ferment for moving toward the centralizing the operation of the church. Pursuing this issue would require additional discussions about a "headquarters" facility and increased coordination among all departments and agencies in the Church.
   
5. Theological reflection should always be the4 dominant theme within any church. From my perspective, the primary concern for A.M.E.s  is finding the appropriate tension between two means of approaching the manner in which we do our ministry. A deeply evangelical or "neo-Pentecostal" approach and a more traditionally African Methodist understanding of both worship and practical application seem to remain as the foci around which theological discourse revolves.

This report is not meant to be definitive or authoritative in nature. I seek to open a dialogue that will continue long after my tenure as president is past.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.