130th Session of the West Kentucky Annual Conference

Under the dynamic leadership of Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie of the 13th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), the West Kentucky Conference is pleased to announce the upcoming Annual Meeting at the Holiday Inn at Hurstbourne located at I-64 and Hurstbourne Lane in Louisville. The Conference will take place from August 31 through September 4. The members of the Conference will come together to discuss matters of the church and hear the reports from pastor and organizations during the four day meeting. Included in the four day event will be nightly worship services.
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie serves as the 117th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her historic election in the year 2000 represents the first time in the over 200-year history of the A.M.E. Church in which a woman had obtained the level of Episcopal office. Bishop McKenzie is honored to serve as the presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal District, which includes the State of Tennessee and Commonwealth of Kentucky. Her husband, Stan McKenzie, serves as the Supervisor of Missions.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) is a Christian denomination founded by Bishop Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816. Recent membership figures in the United States range from 2.5 million to more than 3 million. The denomination's theological orientation is Methodist, while its organizational structure is Episcopal, meaning that it is primarily governed by elected bishops. The bishopric is appointed by the vote of the General Conference, which meets every four years. The AME Church, whose official motto is “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family.” places a strong emphasis on social justice and community service. As such, the denomination folds its primary mission of preaching and religious education into a secondary mission of service to the homeless, the imprisoned, the poor, and other needy persons.

The West Kentucky Conference consists of the Louisville-Paducah District and is overseen by Presiding Elder Ralph E. Johnson. There are 25 churches throughout Central and Western Kentucky in suburbs and towns. Find more information about the West Kentucky Conference go to www.westkyame.com