Ratona Stokes-Robinson, a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who was appointed to lead St. James AME Church in Thorofare, New Jersey, in June, is still waiting to preach her first sermon from the pulpit as congregants have kept her locked out of the church building because of her sex, pastors in the denomination say.
Ratona Stokes-Robinson, a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who was appointed to lead St. James AME Church in Thorofare, New Jersey, in June, is still waiting to preach her first sermon from the pulpit as congregants have kept her locked out of the church building because of her sex, pastors in the denomination say.
Office of Congressman Gregory Meeks
Rep. Gregory Meeks started off the year with a new role on the world stage. Just weeks before 2020 ended, he was elected to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee – the first Black man ever to hold the position. Since then, Meeks has opposed a constitutional referendum in Haiti, passed a resolution condemning China’s actions in Hong Kong and proposed strengthening economic ties between Africa and the U.S., all while managing local politics back in the world’s borough in his continued role as chair of the Queens County Democratic Party.
4. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
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Elaine Flake, 72, was appointed the new lead pastor of the historic Greater Allen Cathedral on May 2, 2021. | Facebook/The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York
Elaine Flake might have become the woman pastor with the largest congregation in the United States after being appointed lead pastor of the more than 23,000-member Greater Allen Cathedral of New York at 72 on Sunday.
She is taking over the position formerly held by her husband, the Rev. Floyd Flake, 76, who also spent 11 years in Congress fighting to improve life for constituents in his church community in Jamaica, Queens.
The announcement was made during the 199th Session of the New York Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, who told Elaine Flake that âitâs a lot of work on you with your family.â
Elaine Flake, 72, was appointed the new lead pastor of the historic Greater Allen Cathedral on May 2, 2021. | Facebook/The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York
Elaine Flake might have become the woman pastor with the largest congregation in the United States after being appointed lead pastor of the more than 23,000-member Greater Allen Cathedral of New York at 72 on Sunday.
She is taking over the position formerly held by her husband, the Rev. Floyd Flake, 76, who also spent 11 years in Congress fighting to improve life for constituents in his church community in Jamaica, Queens.
Greater Allen Cathedral of New York, founded in 1834, is also the largest congregation in the AME church by membership.