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QUADRENNIAL REPORTOF THE ELEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICTTO THE FIFTIETH GENERAL CONFERENCEAFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH“Exalting Christ Expanding His Church Empowering His People”July 2012 – july 2016Philadelphia, PABishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr.Presiding PrelateMrs. Connie Speights RichardsonEpiscopal SupervisorFLORIDA * CENTRAL * SOUTH * WEST COAST * EAST * BAHAMAS

Bishop Adam J. and Mrs. Connie Speights Richardson

THE SALUTATIONBy God's grace, and the goodwill of the delegation of the 46th General Conference, it has been twodecades since Mrs. Richardson and I have walked in the often difficult terrain of episcopal ministry. Thechallenges (and sometimes dangers) have also been glorious opportunities of service, for which we giveour gracious God glory and praise!One such opportunity was the assignment to serve The "Electrifying Eleventh" Episcopal District and toreturn to the community of our birth. It is extraordinary that we get to lead a mighty delegation into theHistoric 50th General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. We are proud to have thisopportunity, and grateful that God has blessed our effort.Novelist Thomas Clayton Wolf popularized the expression "You can't go home again" in a novelpublished two years after his death in 1938. Being assigned to the Eleventh District, Mrs. Richardson andI not only returned to a District of our former service in the pastorate, but also to the place of our birthand upbringing. We are grateful for the gracious and enthusiastic reception of the people of Florida andthe Bahamas. Their cooperation has been constant; their encouragement is very much appreciated.We recognize that the Eleventh District has flourished under strong leadership since its inception, thatwe stand on the shoulders of our predecessors in episcopal ministry. Each Episcopal Team hascontributed significantly to the work of the Kingdom of God and of African Methodism. It was fortuitousthat we would be at the helm during its Sesquicentennial year.At the beginning of our sojourn, we asked the question: "What would we do if we knew we could notfail?" The reply was immediate: "We would dare to dream the big dream and set no limits on ourimagination. Our only caution would be to please and honor God and to do nothing to embarrass theKingdom, or to stymie the Mission, or to lose the luster of the great Gospel of Christ." In the Eleventh,the vision for the work became a reality.Within these pages, the reader will doubtless see the energy, zeal and creativity for Christian ministry inmuch of its variety: intentional emphasis on Ministries to Youths and Young Adults through thelegendary Christian Education Youth and Leadership Congress, and Black Heritage Weekend sponsoredby the Women's Missionary Society (attracting youths in the thousands); the splendid engagement withyouths through the Debutante and Masters Commission; involving youths in virtually every Districtworship experience; and seeing YPDers engaged in significant missionary endeavor in the Bahamas. Addto these the strategy for continuing education through the "School of the Shepherds," with strongpreaching and teaching from some of the best in the nation. Add to these a commitment to civic andpolitical engagement through AME Day at the Capitol and Voter Engagement training and initiatives.Add to these a powerful Men's Ministry through the standard-setting Sons of Allen; the intentionalinclusion of Women in Ministry; the certification of working Evangelists; and a vigilant Health Task Force.Add to these the serious financial support for higher education, especially for Edward Waters College,Wilberforce, Turner Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Center, and considerable generosity inscholarships for theological education. Add to these the support for the Nehemiah Ministry, beingintentional about encouraging smaller congregations with grants for maintaining houses of worship.Then a celebration of a great 150 year history featuring the famed 'Marching 100' band of Florida A&MUniversity. Even so, the "Best is Yet to Come!"2012 – 2016 QUADRENNIAL REPORTPage 1

TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Salutation . 1Table of Contents . . . . 2In Memoriam . . . .3Grateful to the Superannuates . . .6The Eleventh District Pulpit . .7The Component Reports . . .12-26Women's Missionary SocietyYoung People's DivisionLay OrganizationClergy SpousesDebutante and Masters CommissionSons of AllenWomen in MinistryEvangelismChristian EducationHealth Task ForceTheological ScholarshipsNehemiah MinistryMusic (MCAM)Social ActionVoter EngagementA Statistical Summary . . .27The Disciplinary Questions . . .28Dedications, Cornerstones and Mortgage Burnings . .312012 – 2016 QUADRENNIAL REPORTPage 2

IN MEMORIAMConnectional20142013Bishop Sarah Frances Davis (126)Bishop Vinton Randolph Anderson (92)126th Elected and Consecrated BishopPresident, AMEC Council of BishopsVice President, World Methodist CouncilPresiding Prelate, 16th Episcopal DistrictRetired, African Methodist Episcopal ChurchThe Rev. Dr. Anderson ToddRetired General OfficerMrs. Vida Harris BrightFormer Supervisor, African Methodist Episcopal ChurchthWidow of the 79 Bishop of the AME Church,Bishop John D. BrightMrs. Eileen WarnerThird Vice President, Connectional Lay OrganizationAfrican Methodist Episcopal ChurchBethel, Tallahassee, Florida2015“In Loving Memory of The Emanuel Nine”The Honorable Rev. Clementa PinckneyThe Reverend Dr. Daniel “Super” SimmonsSouth Carolina State SenatorPastor, Mother Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, SCThe Reverend Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, Ms. Cynthia Hurd, Mr. Tywanza Sanders,Mrs. Ethel Lance, Depayne Middleton Doctor, Mrs. Myra Thompson, Ms. Susie Johnson2016The Reverend Dr. Cecil Wayne Cone, Sr.Scholar/Theologian, Preacher/Pastor, Dean, Former President of EWCThe Reverend Larnie G. Horton, Sr.,Retired Presiding Elder, Western North Carolina Annual ConferenceMr. Frank David BrownSpouse of General Officer Dr. Teresa Fry-BrownEcumenical2013Bishop Cecil BishopthRetired Senior Bishop, 78 Bishop, AME Zion ChurchThe Rev. Dr. Arthur Timothy JonesFlorida Mass ChoirFounder/Senior Pastor, Bible Based FellowshipTampa, FloridaBishop Roy Anderson Holmesnd92 Bishop, AME Zion ChurchBishop James E. McCoyth94 Bishop, AME Zion Church2012 – 2016 QUADRENNIAL REPORTNationalMrs. Evelyn Gibson LoweryCivil Rights Activist/SupporterWife of Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, SCLCPage 3

Bishop Thomas Lanier Hoyt, Jr.Dr. Julia Brogdon PurnellSenior Bishop, 48 Bishop, CME ChurchPast President, Links, Inc.The Rev. Dr. Mack King CarterDr. Maya AngelouScholar, Preacher, TeacherPastor Emeritus, New Mt. Olive Baptist ChurchPoet, Essayist, Author, Educatorth2015The Honorable Julian BondCivil Rights ICONMr. Thomas H. Poole, Sr.Florida Champion of Civil RightsThe Reverend Otis L. Blackshear, Sr.Greater Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Reverend Dr. Gardner Calvin TaylorRetired Pastor, Concord Baptist Church of ChristDistinguished PreacherCivil Rights ActivistThe Reverend Dr. Gregory Allen GroomesProfessor, Campus Minister Allen UniversityConferencesFLORIDA CONFERENCE2012The Rev. Dozier J. BalloonThe Rev. Noah Parker2013The Rev. Estella McGriffThe Rev. Frederick WhiteThe Rev. Emmon F. SmithMrs. Queen Esther BrownThe Rev. Dorothy Bradley HillThe Rev. W.W. GriffinThe Rev. Hugh Norris LunanCENTRAL CONFERENCE2012The Rev. Andrew HaywoodThe Rev. Louis LatimerThe Rev. Kelvin ButlerThe Rev. Clarence S. Strong2013The Rev. Tyrone WheelerThe Rev. Loureen Woodson2012 – 2016 QUADRENNIAL REPORT2014The Evelyn J. CorbinThe Rev. Willie J. BrooksDeaconess Estella B. HaganMrs. Gussie Long BruceThe Rev. Leon SingletonMrs. Mamie Martin BrownMr. Harry K. Holt2015The Rev. Charlie DilworthThe Rev. Jerome GoodmanThe Rev. Lorenzo McGillThe Rev. Sharon SmithThe Rev. Annette WalkerDr. Mildred J. Allen JacksonSister Bettye W. McGlocktonSister Yvonne GatsonSister Emma Johnson2016Sister Bessie LeeBro. Namon Merritt, Sr.Bro. Robert PenderDr. Elliott TreadwellThe Rev. Willie E. HaganThe Rev. Johnny B. StallworthThe Rev. Melvin Byrd, Sr.The Rev. Thomas FultonThe Rev. Leonard Jefferson201520142016The Rev. Jerome AndrewsMrs. Beulah Glover DavisThe Rev. Cato L. Mott, Sr.The Rev. Carl F. BrinkleyThe Rev. James SimonSister Daisy BurneyPage 4

SOUTH CONFERENCE2012The Rev. Raymond G. HeastieThe Rev. Isaac F. MitchellThe Rev. Benny JohnsonThe Rev. Sandra JacksonThe Rev. Maxine FordThe Rev. Nora Simmons2013The Rev. C. E. Jenkins, Sr.The Rev. Isaac S. JonesThe Rev. Bettye WhiteWEST COAST CONFERENCE2012The Rev. Raleigh Allen, IIIThe Rev. Charles WalkerThe Rev. Lynwood CliattThe Rev. John RutledgeDr. Henrietta AttlesSis. Dorothy Russ2013The Rev. Leighwynn HowellEAST CONFERENCE20122013The Rev. Maxine FordSis. Dorothy BlakeSis. Lucille Davis Sneed2014Mrs. Evelyn Smith AskiewDr. Alice E. MooreThe Rev. Lorenzo A.RobinsonMrs. Alberta Lee JohnsonThe Rev. James McFaddenMrs. Margaret McFaddenBro. Herbert H. BassettSis. Brenda PostellSis. Jessie Wells2014The Rev. Franklin B. LemonMrs. Bettye J. DenmarkThe Rev. Alton Javon CenterMs. Asia Iman RobinsonMrs. Doshia ThompsonMrs. Ruth Harvey BrownMs. Ann Maria Ford2015The Rev. Julian HallThe Rev. Robert FranklinThe Rev. Mary JohnsonThe Rev. Milton E. RolleSister Gloria HaugabrookBro. Bazzie Odom20162015The Rev. Charlie F. RawlsThe Rev. Benjamin McKinneyThe Rev. James SimonThe Rev. Bernard Smith2016The Rev. Pernell GordonThe Rev. Frederick D. WallaceThe Rev. Martha Williams2015The Rev. Lee FordThe Rev. Alton JonesThe Rev. James L. SmithThe Rev. Robert PostellThe Rev. Mose Thomas20162012201420152013The Rev. Herman ThompsonMrs. Florence Louise GibsonSister Rebecca MajorSister Jacqueline Forbes2014The Rev. Wilbur P. JacksonThe Rev. Adrian SmithSister Annie McBrideBAHAMAS CONFERENCE20162012 – 2016 QUADRENNIAL REPORTPage 5

WE ARE GRATEFULTO THE SUPERANNUATES2012 - 20162012FloridaFloridaThe Rev. Franklin PompeyCentralThe Rev. Willie BranchThe Rev. Mary D. MyrickCentralThe Rev. Dennis Luther BellThe Rev. Susie Johnson HarrisThe Rev. Rudolph WilsonSouthThe Rev. Thomas HigginbothamWest CoastWest CoastThe Rev. Esther EvaThe Rev. Benjamin McKinneyThe Rev. Marcus BurkeEastThe Rev. Dr. William I. SimmonsEastThe Rev. Jimmy Bobby KeelThe Rev. Ruby Nell LoweThe Rev. Charles WrightBahamas20132014BahamasSouthThe Rev. Philip JohnsFloridaThe Rev. Mary Williams RobinsonWest CoastThe Rev. Verdell C. FaysonThe Rev. Beverly Hill LaneCentralThe Rev. Josephine Russ PetersonThe Rev. Vernessa WatsonThe Rev. Darrell Whiteside2015FloridaThe Rev. Ernest WashingtonCentralThe Rev. Willie D. YoungThe Rev. Roger Armstead2012 – 2016 QUADRENNIAL REPORTEastThe Rev. F.D. Richardson, Jr.BahamasPage 6