The Body of Christ is made of many parts, and people experience their understanding of God in many different ways. On this blog, we'll consider the beliefs and activities of congregations, denominations and different religions.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
TCR Breaking News: Bishop Anne Henning Byfield Assumes Presidency of the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
TCR Breaking News: Bishop Anne Henning Byfield Assumes Presidency of the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
On June 15, 2021, the Right Reverend Elizabeth Anne Henning Byfield began her tenure as President of the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. As the Council’s Presiding Officer, she serves as the titular head of the 2.5-million-member AME Church until 2022. Bishop Byfield is the third woman to serve as the President of the Council of Bishops in the denomination’s 205-year history. She currently serves as Presiding Prelate of the 16th Episcopal District encompassing the Caribbean, South America, and Europe.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Bishop Byfield earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Wilberforce University, attended Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, and received her Master of Divinity degree from Newburgh Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary.
“I was raised in an age of creativity, imagination, and energy in the midst of extreme racism, and violence. During a time of lynching, and Jim Crow laws, my African Methodist parents demanded that we did not succumb to the terror of segregation, inferiority, and racism,” stated Byfield. “In all of the ways my parents encouraged me to be creative, a servant, and imaginative, being a Bishop in the church was not in my maturing thought or theirs. Married to a preacher, yes, being one no, and certainly not a Bishop or president of the Council of Bishops. What they and I could not see, God saw, and I am here today.”
Prior to her election as a Bishop in 2016, she served as Presiding Elder of the North District Indiana Annual Conference from 2009 for seven years and served as the Presiding Elder of the South District from 2005-2009. She is a former adjunct faculty member for Christian Theological Seminary and conducts various mentoring and coaching groups. She is a former Assistant Director of the US Department of Labor Contract Compliance, Indianapolis. During her tenure, she worked on or supervised numerous cases which desegrated Steel Mills of the United States and several fortune 500 Companies. As a Bishop she has established a vocational school in Haiti, re-established the AME Church in Cuba, planted or received ten churches; one of which is in Belize, where no AME Church existed, two are in Bahia, again where no AME Church existed, and dedicated four newly-built churches and paid off the mortgage of the Episcopal Residence.
Bishop Byfield is an accomplished author, composer, and poet. She wrote the litany used for Mrs. Rosa Parks’ funeral in Detroit, Michigan, and Congresswoman Julia Carson’s funeral in Indianapolis. She performs in many Spoken Word settings. Her book of poetry The Essence of my Existence was released in 2010 and in second publication. Flowing Essence a Spoken Word CD is also released Her other works include: Let the Worship Begin, A book of Liturgy; Odyssey-a Girls Mentoring Program, Preparing Leaders for Leadership; The Church’s Response to Hurricane Katrina; and Strengthening the Black Family (African American Lectionary). She is included in the 4th Edition of Those Preaching Women and the Fall 2009 edition of the African American Pulpit with an article “Living Through Crisis”.
As a leader, she is considered both bold and authentic. She conducts extensive training and consulting in organizational transformation, and leadership development with universities, nonprofits, and faith-based institutions. Profiled in numerous newspapers, journals, and books, she is included in The Trumpet to Zion and received the King Drum Major for Peace Award and Jarena Lee Preaching Award among others. She a member of Payne Theological Seminary Board of Trustees, Latino/African American Dialogue Group, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light. She is recognized as one of the most 15 influential African Americans in Indianapolis and was named as one of its ten most influential pastors. Most recently she received the Legacy Award for over 25 years of leadership in Pastoral Health Initiatives particularly in the HIV/AIDS community; the City of Indianapolis Volunteer Award for community service.
She is married to Ainsley, they have one son, Michael, and a grandson, Miles. Bishop Byfield comes from a line of clergy and her brother, the Right Reverend Cornal Garnett Henning was the 112th elected and consecrated Bishop of the AME Church.
Bishop Byfield will be formally invested during the 51st Quadrennial Session of the AME Church General Conference to be held jointly in Orlando Florida and Cape Town, South Africa on July 6-10. In her inaugural address delivered to the AME Church General Board held virtually on June 15, Bishop Byfield stated “I am more than grateful for these 365 days of extended servant leadership and for the trust the Council of Bishops. With their sacred trust, your prayers, support, and continued cooperation, and with the support of my husband, we will emerge from COVID isolation, continuing racism, sexism, and xenophobic assault to stronger congregations through a consecrated safe General Conference and ultimately a stronger AME Church. Together we will make our strong Zion stronger.”
The Christian Recorder is the official newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the oldest continuously produced publication by persons of African descent.
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Chair of the General Board Commission on Publications Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, President/Publisher of the AME Sunday School Union Mr. John Thomas III, Editor of The Christian Recorder
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