The 45th session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church saw churches from AME districts around the world gather in Louisville, Kentucky during the last week in June.

And a delegation of some 60 Bermudians -- including Rev. Malcolm Eve and Rev.

Trevor Woolridge -- made the trip to the conference which is held every four years.

Rev. James Alton Thompson, of Bethel AME Church in Shelly Bay told The Royal Gazette the primary purpose of the conference was to discuss church business.

"The overall theme was Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow -- Refocusing, Reassessing and Reenvisioning,'' Rev. Thompson said. "Basically it was focusing on our heritage, reassessing the present and reenvisioning the future.'' He said the most important outcome of the conference was the assignment of the bishops to their various districts.

"Bermuda, which is in the first episcopal district, retained our bishop,'' Rev. Thompson said. "Bishop Philip R. Cousins is still our bishop.'' Bishop Cousins arrived in Bermuda yesterday for the AME's Loyalty Day.

"This is when we support each other in a special way,'' he explained.

"Especially those churches in greater need.'' Rev. Thompson added that a special service would be held tomorrow at St.

Paul's Centennial Church on Court Street at 4 p.m.

He confirmed that the two Bermudian bishops in the AME church were given new assignments at the conference.

"Bishop D.G. Ming was reassigned to the sixth episcopal district and Bishop Vincent Anderson was assigned to the second district,'' Rev. Thompson said.

"And Vernon Bird, who served at St. Paul's, was the host bishop. His son, Vernon Bird Jr., spoke at the welcoming banquet.'' Rev. Thompson said one of the highlights of the conference was when Rev.

Woolridge of Mt. Zion Church, as Chairman of the Committee on Social Action, read the committee's report which included a resolution that the AME address the suffering in Liberia.

"Another achievement for the Island was when Leslie Clarke Robinson was appointed to serve on the episcopal committee,'' he said. "The committee assigns the various bishops to their districts.'' "The ministers and lay delegates from Bermuda performed well at the conference,'' Rev. Thompson added.

REV. TREVOR WOOLRIDGE -- Addressed the suffering in Liberia.