(AME Church)
The Right Rev. E. Anne Henning Byfield, Bishop of the 13th Episcopal District will be invested as the president of the Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, worldwide.
The official investiture will take place Tuesday, December 7, at 7 pm, CST, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville.
Bishop Henning Byfield was assigned to the 13th Episcopal District at the General Conference in July of 2021, which comprises the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. She was elected and consecrated the 135th Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2016. She is the former Presiding Bishop of the 16th Episcopal District which includes the Caribbean, South America, and Europe and chair of the Social Action Commission.
This Bishop has strong Tennessee ties. She grew up in Nashville and Memphis and her brother, the late Garnett Henning, also served as a Bishop in the AME Church. That action represents the first time in the history of the AME Church, a person was elected who had a sibling on the bench of Bishops.
She is only the second female bishop to lead the 13th Episcopal District and a member of the World Methodist Evangelism Committee. She is also chair of the Social Action Commission of the Connectional AME Church. Bishop Henning Byfield is a proud Golden member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Furthermore she is extremely concerned about social issues that lend themselves to the cause of people to serve and uplift.
Richard Lewis, recently retired treasurer/chief financial officer of the AME Church and a Nashville business man, said the investiture of Bishop Henning Byfield is an occasion and role that is significant to the district, the connectional church and Nashville.
“As the oldest Black denomination in the nation, this investiture also shows the merging of the economic impact and economic salvation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashville and beyond,” said Lewis.
Bishop Henning Byfield is one who dares to live, learn, lead, and love God with creativity and passion as a bishop, preacher, psalmist, poet, spoken word artist, strategic consultant, writer, composer, wife, mother, and grandmother. She has multiple roles in her life and cherishes each one with commitment, tenacity and intentionality.
“I am honored to have been assigned to the 13th Episcopal District. My husband, Ainsley and I are getting to know this area and experiencing the magnificent growth that has occurred since I left as a teenager.” Furthermore, the Investiture Ceremony coupled with arriving here is a double joy. Serving in the role of president of the Council of Bishops is indeed an honor, and this investiture ceremony is another platform to further advocate the mission and work of the African Methodist Episcopal Church worldwide,” said Bishop Henning Byfield.
The arts are close to the heart of Bishop Henning Byfield. Participating in the investiture will allow an opportunity to share in that appreciation. If you would like to purchase a table, tickets, an ad or serve as a sponsor, you may complete the Supporter Information Form or contact Ms. Billie Dixon Irving at <13thDistrictAMEChurch @aol.com> or call 615-0957-3119.
