7,058 Friends welcome “Mother-in-Chief”

“Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”   -- Isaiah 61:7(NLT)
 

President and First Lady Michelle Obama, with daughters, Sasha and Malia, sit for a family portrait in the Oval Office, Dec. 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

By Stephanie and Eric Stradford

AMWS, June 26, 2012, Virtual – Nashville, TN is a key stump stop for the Obama campaign this week. First Lady Michelle Obama is slated to keynote the 49^th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

More than 7,000 forward thinking “friends” are tapping into innovative, cost-effective methods for moving their church forward. They hope their historic denomination, founded by free Africans, will embrace the change reflected in the Obamas’ vision for family.

“Mrs. Obama’s commitment to family as the Mother-In-Chief is encouraging to women around the world and her leadership in fighting childhood obesity has been embraced by many of our congregations in the United States,” said AME Church Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie.
When people ask First Lady Michelle Obama to describe herself, she doesn't hesitate to say that first and foremost, she is Malia and Sasha's mom. But before she was a mother -- or a wife, lawyer or public servant -- she was Fraser and Marian Robinson's daughter.

The General Conference host bishop is no stranger to innovative thinking. The President once referred to McKenzie as the “Hi-Tech Bishop” when she summons her ipad to prayer for him and the nation. The innovative prelate has ministered change in the historic church since her own election in 2000. As the 117^th elected, consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rt. Reverend Dr. McKenzie stands on a heritage of service dating back to 1816.

Prior to McKenzie's consecration, no female had ever served in the office of bishop in any predominantly African-American Methodist denomination in America. As such, she is unofficially, the First Lady of African Methodism. As part of an Episcopal duo, compounded by former NBA basketball great, Stan “First Man” McKenzie, this team raises the bar for 21^st Century ministry. The McKenzies and their contemporaries on the Council of Bishops are responsible for missions and ministry of some 3.5 million African Methodists on five of the world’s seven continents.

An historic photo of the First Woman Bishop and the First African American First Lady of the United States might symbolize endless possibilities for America’s Future. Even Old Testament prophets foretold double portions of prosperity and everlasting joy.


For the first time in the 196 year history of the A.M.E. quadrennial event and the 225 year history of the church, members and friends from around the world are getting to know their church through innovative social media. Tweeters and Facebook Friends numbering more than 7,000 offer an interactive forum of friends to any American leader with a passion to lead. The new venue welcomes Republicans as well as Democrats to engage an historic family of believers in America’s Future

Technical assistance in virtual participation is available to congregations worldwide through www.YouthUSA.net.