Attendees at the Piedmont Annual Conference.

Bradley — From Sept 29-Oct. 3, the 7th District of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, which encompasses the state of South Carolina, convened in Bradley for the fifth of its 2008 annual conferences titled the Piedmont Annual Conference. This weeklong event was held at Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, 122 New Zion Road in Bradley, where the Rev. James Speed Sr. is pastor.

The Piedmont Annual Conference comprises the Greenville and Abbeville-Greenwood districts and contains approximately 25,000 A.M.E members. This 99th session makes it the fourth-oldest of six annual conferences held by the A.M.E. Church each year throughout South Carolina.

Thousands of A.M.E. leadership, clergy and laity from throughout the state attended this gathering, during which a variety of conference committees addressed 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.

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 held 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 the state of 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.

“I am so thankful to God for having, four years ago, brought me to serve the great state of South Carolina,” Williams said. “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. We now stand at the beginning of a new quadrennial season which brings opportunities to further the work which we have begun as well as explore new and exciting programs and partnerships that will benefit all of the citizens of South Caro-lina.”

Benjamin Harrison, 7th District AME Church