Senior Bishop AME Church
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 11:00AM
Sending Forth Worship
Bishop John Richard Bryant is the Presiding Prelate of the Fourth Episcopal District and Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. He is the son of the late Bishop Harrison James Bryant and Edith Holland Bryant. John Bryant was elected and consecrated the 106th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 1988 General Conference in Forth Worth, Texas.
He has taken seriously the words "Study to show thyself approved..."
Bishop Bryant received his B.A. in 1965 from Morgan State University, a Master of Theology in 1970 from the Boston University School of Theology and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1975 from the Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Bishop Bryant was a Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellow, and he also completed special studies at the University of Lagos [Nigeria] and the University of Ghana at Legon.
Bishop Bryant holds honorary doctorates from Paul Quinn College, Wilberforce University, Payne Theological Seminary and Virginia Seminary. He received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from both Boston University School of Theology and Morgan State University. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his high school, Baltimore City College.
"The spirit of the Lord is upon me..." is reflected in the witness of John Richard Bryant. He has pastored three (3) churches: Bethel A.M.E. Church, Fall River, MA, St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Cambridge, MA and Bethel A.M.E. Church, Baltimore, MD. In his pastoral ministry, 99 men and women have entered the Christian Ministry. With an emphasis on church growth, community development and political empowerment, he has preached and/or taught on more than 35 college campuses, preached on five continents, and was a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa from 1965 to 1967.
"Who will go for us? Here am I, send me..." is the living testimony of John Richard Bryant. The Gospel is being proclaimed as he preaches not only in the major cities, but also in the towns, villages and hamlets throughout the United States and the world. Bishop Bryant has through the years, served as one of the primary evangelists for the World Methodist Council in England, Brazil, Israel, India, Greece, Cuba and Kenya.
Bishop John lives a life of service. He serves on the boards of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), Turner Theological Seminary, Payne Theological Seminary, and the National Church Advisory Council of the American Bible Society. He is Vice President of the North American Section of the World Methodist Council Division of Evangelism. He serves on the advisory board of the Institute of Church Administration and Management (ICAM), and he is also the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1988, Bishop John Richard Bryant was assigned to the 14th Episcopal District (West Africa) where he presided over 101 churches and 25 schools. During his administration, he expanded the A.M.E. Church to include the first Francophone, the Ivory Coast. While in West Africa, he was given the additional assignment of the 10th Episcopal District (Texas) in January 1991. At the 1992 General Conference he was formally assigned to the 10th Episcopal District, where he presided over 300 churches and served as the Chairman of the Board of Paul Quinn College. Under his leadership, this historically Black institution moved from probationary status to full accreditation and successfully raised 29 million dollars in its Capital Fund Drive. In July 2000, the
Bishop John Richard Bryant
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Episcopal Committee of the 46th General Conference assigned Bishop Bryant to the 5th Episcopal District, where he presided over the A.M.E. churches in 14 states west of the Mississippi. Under his episcopacy, the 5th District partnered with businesses and banking institutions that resulted in the purchase of new homes by the members of the district, valued in excess of 100 million dollars. In addition, Bishop Bryant's economic development initiatives resulted in several creative ventures, which included the construction of a new hotel in the St. Louis, MO area.
In 2008, at the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, Bishop Bryant became the Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was assigned as the Presiding Prelate of the Fourth Episcopal District, where he currently serves. His purview includes superintending churches located in seven states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and three Canadian provinces; Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. In addition, Bishop Bryant is responsible for expanding the African Methodist Episcopal Church onto the continent of Asia. Also in 2008, at the General Conference, Bishop Bryant made the application that the work of newly founded churches in India would be officially received into the AME Church family, which was voted on and accepted. In 2009, Bishop Bryant was asked by the AME Council of Bishops to provide Episcopal supervision to the India Conference. At the present time, there are 41 AME churches in southern India.
Bishop Bryant is the recipient of many honors and awards: Including the Ebony Magazine's Honor Roll of Outstanding African American Preachers, and Ebony's list of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans. He has published a collection of sermons entitled, "God Can: Sermons of Encouragement from the Life of Elijah." He and his wife, The Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, have co-authored a new book, "Healing For Wounded Vows."
Bishop John and Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant are the parents of The Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant and The Rev. Dr. Thema Simone Bryant Davis. He is also a proud grandfather.
Condensed listing of most recent professional highlights for Bishop John Richard Bryant
At the 2008 General Conference, Bishop Bryant led the AME Council of Bishops to pray with then Senator Barack Obama and for his presidency. (see attached picture)
July, 2009
Invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the NAACP Centennial Convention in New York City
September, 2009
As evidenced by the endeavor of national church leaders to cross denominational lines, Bishop Bryant was extremely proud to be invited to preach at the 129th Annual Session of the National Baptist Convention in Memphis, TN.
January, 2009
Invited by the inaugural committee to attend the inauguration of President Barack Obama
September, 2009
The 4th Episcopal District, under the leadership of Rev. Cecelia Williams Bryant, sponsored the first International Women's Prayer Convocation in Toronto, Canada, which is part of Bishop Bryant's district. Over 28 nations were represented.
October, 2009
Bishop John Bryant will be honored for his community work and service by the Illinois Secretary of State, the highest ranking black official.
