Posted on 09/21/2002 5:00:25 AM PDT by Captain Shady
City rolls out red carpet for AME conference Spartanburg will get both a spiritual and economic lift this weekend when hundreds of African Methodist Episcopal members attend their annual conference, the first time in 35 years the event has been held here.
By Benny Smith
Recent stories by this writer Spartanburg will get both a spiritual and economic lift this weekend when hundreds of African Methodist Episcopal members attend their annual conference, the first time in 35 years the event has been held here.
First AME Church will play host to the 125th annual conference Sunday through Sept. 28. Organizers expect at least 400 statewide delegates and alternates to start arriving today.
Conference leaders chose Spartanburg because First AME Church at 504 N. Church St. recently underwent renovations expanding its seating capacity from 200 to 500 people. Church members volunteered to host the statewide event, which usually is held in the Columbia area.
“Most people think that this is just another church denomination,” said the Rev. Harold O. Wilson of First AME Church. “This conference will give us more publicity throughout the county.”
Local officials, meanwhile, are excited because of the potential economic boost the conference will provide.
“Conferences and conventions positively impact Spartanburg’s economy by bringing outside dollars into our community,” said Jules S. Bryant, executive director of the Spartanburg Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Conference Presiding Elder Rosalyn Coleman said she is excited about coming to Spartanburg.
“We want folk from this end of the state (Columbia and Newberry) to see how much Spartanburg has grown because a lot of them haven’t been there in awhile,” Coleman said. “Spartanburg is a great place, and First AME Church certainly has the capability of accompanying us during our conference.”
The public is invited to attend any part of the five-day conference. It begins about 10 a.m. each morning with business sessions and ends with a nightly worship service at the church at 7 p.m. The conference is free.
One of the highlights is expected to be a sermon at 10 a.m. Tuesday by the Rev. Tabitha Miller of Greater Hopewell AME Church in Peak.
Pastors will receive their new appointments to various churches on the final night.
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