The African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church convened in downtown Marion at the Joyner Auditorium for the official opening of its 2008 Northeast Annual Conference at noon today.
From Tuesday through Friday, the 7th District of the A.M.E. Church, which encompasses the state of South Carolina, will gather in Marion for the second of its 2008 annual conferences, called the Northeast Annual Conference. This week-long event is in the Saint John A.M.E. Church at 702 Mill Street, where the Rev. Donnie McBride is pastor. The Northeast Annual Conference is comprised of the Sumter, Marion and Florence-Dillon Districts and has about 25,000 members, church officials said in a press release. It is the third largest of six A.M.E. conferences within the state of South Carolina.
Thousands of A.M.E. leadership, clergy and laity from throughout the state are attending the gathering, during which a variety of conference committees will address issues such as The State of the Church and Country, Family Life, Christian Education, Temperance, Evangelism, Women's and Youth Ministries, Social Action, and Prison and Hospital Ministries.
The annual conference is where the entire A.M.E. Church comes together to assess what has been accomplished during the previous year, set goals for the upcoming year, and renew its soul in the Holy Spirit of God, church officials and event organizers said. During July 4-11, the international A.M.E. Church convened in St. Louis, for the 48th session of its General Conference. This conference is every four years and is where all 20 international A.M.E. districts assemble their respective leadership, delegates, clergy and laity for the purpose of attending to international church business, including the election of new bishops and the reassignment of presiding bishops.
During this 2008 General Conference, Bishop Preston W. Williams II was reassigned to serve South Carolina for a second four-year term and the Rev. Julius H. McAllister, pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Florence, was consecrated as the 129th Bishop of the A.M.E. Church. Williams said he is thankful to God for having brought Dr. Williams and me to serve "the great state of South Carolina. During my previous administration (2004-2008), the entire 7th District A.M.E. Church, in partnership with numerous agencies and organizations, has worked diligently to uplift the physical and spiritual well-being of South Carolina’s communities..."
For information about the assembly, call Saint John A.M.E. Church at (843) 423.2221.
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