Bishop Vashti McKenzie to lead US National Council of Churches for next two years
RNS Bishop Vashti McKenzie, a recently retired bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, has been named the interim president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches, the ecumenical organisation announced on Tuesday. McKenzie succeeds Jim Winkler, who left the post on 31st January after serving in the role since 2013. She officially […]
Essay: Five lessons recent church leadership failures can teach us
In an article first published on Religion News Service, JENNIFER R FARMER, author of ‘First and Only: What Black Women Say About Thriving at Work and in Life’, says there are clear reasons why our leadership is not performing to the standards we should expect…
More than $US90 million missing from AME pension funds, claim class-action lawsuits
RNS Retired African Methodist Episcopal Church pastors have filed at least three federal class-action lawsuits alleging the church mishandled tens of millions of dollars in pension funds. Last month, AME leaders stopped making payments to retirees after discovering alleged financial irregularities in the church’s pension fund. The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s annuity investment department location […]
In the US, report says AME Church suspends payments to retirees, investigates missing pension funds
RNS One of the nation’s largest Black Protestant denominations has stopped making payments to retired ministers on its pension plan, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. The paper reported on Thursday that the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which has reported as many as 2.5 million members in the past, suspended payments to […]
Women in leadership: In Black denominations, women making strides amid hesitancy
ADELLE M BANKS, of Religion News Service, reports from the US on where Black denominations stand on women’s leadership…
Christian leaders meet with White House to advocate for social programs, voting rights
Washington DC, US RNS Faith leaders representing a broad spectrum of Christian groups will meet with White House officials on Wednesday to advocate for voting rights and social programs they say protect the poor and vulnerable. The group, which is organised by the advocacy organisation Circle of Protection, includes influential Catholics, leaders of major Black […]
Former NBA player Stan McKenzie, husband of first woman AME Church bishop, dead at 76
RNS Stan McKenzie, the first male episcopal supervisor of missionary work in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the husband of Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, has died. The Christian Recorder, the official publication of the denomination, announced his death, which occurred on Wednesday. Stan McKenzie, 76, died in Dallas after a brief illness, John Thomas […]
The Interview: Bishop Vashti McKenzie, first AME Church woman prelate, reflects on a groundbreaking career
ADELLE M BANKS, writing for Religion News Service, speaks with just retired Bishop Vashti McKenzie…
In the US, AME Church bishops address COVID-19, critical race theory as major meeting opens
RNS The bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church opened their denomination’s major meeting – a year after it was delayed due to the coronavirus – with a call for greater worldwide access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing. “Joining our ecumenical and interfaith partners, we call on the United States government to expedite equity in […]
As US Senate convenes hearing, more than 300 faith leaders declare support for DC statehood
Washington DC, USRNS More than 300 faith leaders and heads of prominent religious organisations signed a letter sent to Senate leadership on Tuesday backing the call to make Washington, DC, a state, adding religious support to the growing Democratic-led effort. “As clergy and faith leaders from across our nation, we write to express our strong […]