The Christian Recorder - Council of Bishops Statement on Connectional Meetings in California and support for AME wildfire victims

The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church joins with others across the nation and the world in expressing our sorrow and support for those who lost loved ones, their homes, and valuables during the fires in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. We especially express our concern and outreach to our fellow AMEs who have been and continue to be severely impacted by the ongoing fires. Many of them suffered not only the loss of loved ones but their homes, valuables, and precious possessions. Next week, the Connectional Women’s Missionary Society will hold its Executive Board Meeting, and the Council of Bishops will hold its Annual Retreat in Garden Grove, Orange County, California, about an hour’s drive from Los Angeles. Because of the closeness and uncertainty of the situation, we sought to change next week’s meeting to a later time this year, but the City of Garden Grove, hotels, and others with whom we had signed contracts would not permit us to change dates, and the AME Church would lose over $600,000.00. Given our legal realities, we are disappointed because it would have been a blessing if we could have used the aforementioned monies to help in the distress the wildfires have caused the people of the 5th District.  The Council of Bishops is committed to assisting our sisters and brothers in Los Angeles and nearby. We ask each Episcopal District and local congregation to participate in a sacrificial offering over the next two Sundays to support our fellow AMEs and their families. Instructions will be provided by the bishops for each Episcopal District. We ask all of our congregants to participate and be a blessing to our sisters and brothers. Many of them lost everything. First AME in Pasadena, California has 52 families who lost their homes. The Bishops hope to meet with them and others next week while in Garden Grove to pray and assist them.   While we help our fellow sisters and brothers, we also seek to help all those affected by these fires and destruction as much as possible. Save for the grace of God, it could be us. Thank you for joining with us in being instruments of God. Bishop Silvester Beaman President, Council of Bishops of the AME Church

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Share Tweet Forward 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 Francine A. Brookins, Chair of the General Board Commission on Publications Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, President/Publisher of the AME Sunday School Union Dr. John Thomas III, Editor of The Christian Recorder Copyright © 2025 The Christian Recorder, All rights reserved.