The 129th session of the Bermuda Annual Conference of the AME Church came to a climatic close on Sunday at Fairmont Southampton Resort.

There were no radical changes as the presiding Prelate Bishop Ingram held the commissioning service and appointments of district officers.

Returned as presiding elder for another year was Rev Betty L Furbert-Woolridge, as were pastors to each of the eleven churches.

With varying degrees of commendation and a smile, the Bishop put them on notice that there could be a different story next year, if there was any mediocrity evident.

The pastorates are as follows: St Pauls, Rev Nicholas Tweed; Vernon Temple, Rev Leonard Santucci; Allen Temple, Rev Howard Dill; Bethel, Rev Ruth Vanlowe-Smith; Mt Zion, Jahkimmo Smith; Richard Allen, Rev Lorne Bean; Heard Chapel, Rev Terry Hassell; Bright Temple, Rev Charles Smith; St John, Rev Deyone Douglas; St Philip, Rev Betty Furbert-Woolridge; St. Luke, Rev Milton Burgess.

The closing session began at 2:01pm, with the Sunday Church School holding its teaching session under Brother Kevin Lambert, who urged his listeners to “pick up some extra stones” by possessing an attitude of gratitude, and getting to work, as the time is now.

At 3:31pm, with the processional God of our Fathers, the Right Rev Gregory GM Ingram, the 118th elected and consecrated Bishop of the AME Church, along with worship participants, clergy and the choir, entered the auditorium.

The doxology, Praise God from whom all Blessings Flow was followed by the Litany of Empowerment led by the Worship Leader, Rev Ruth Van Lowe Smith.

Rev Deyone Douglas lined the song of celebration, Every Praise is to Our God. Rev Jahkimmo Smith prayed the invocation followed by the choral response, “hear our prayer O Lord”.

The conference choir sang We Shall Overcome. Rev Howard Dill read the Old Testament scripture, Ezekiel 3:10-15, and Rev Georgette Prime Godwin read Ezekiel 37:1-6.

The congregation sang the preface to the Decalogue, From all that dwell below the Skies. Rev Charles Smith shared the summary of the Decalogue and the congregation sang the Gloria Patri.

The creative arts ministry danced to Holy is the Lord. Rev Lorne Bean recognised the special guests and established the protocol: the First Episcopal District leaders, the Right Reverend Gregory GM Ingram and Rev Dr. Jessica Kendall Ingram, episcopal supervisor; members of Government — Carolanne Bassett, president of the Senate; former members of Government — the Rev Leonard Santucci, former Senator; Sister Neletha Butterfield, former Minister; Reginald Burrows, former Senator and MP and Sheila Burrows; Walter Lister, former MP; presiding elders and spouses — presiding elder Herbert Eddy and the Rev Amelia Eddy; presiding elder Larry Dixon; presiding elder Betty Furbert-Woolridge and Brother Edward Woolridge; Rev Malcolm Eve, former presiding elder, and Mrs Eve; Rev Conway Simmons, former presiding elder, and Mrs Simmons; Rev Vernon Lowe, former presiding elder; connectional officers — Sister Mica Murray Caines, technology chair, YPD; first district officers — Rev Emilygail Dill, president, WIM; Brother Keith Coston, former president, YPD; Rev Dr Earl Jefferson, former executive director, Christian education, consultant; and local clergy — Rev Donna-Mae Postlewhaite.

The presiding elder, Rev Betty Furbert-Woolridge, presented Bishop Ingram and thanked him along with the episcopal supervisor for presiding over what she termed had been a fine Annual Conference.

Bishop Ingram preached the episcopal sermon from Ezekiel 3:12, 37:1 on the topic, “Commissioned By God/Can These Bones Live?”

Highlights of the sermon were: “How willing are you to be stretched, not where you are but where God wants you to be?; those God calls, God prepares; the Ministry is too big for the “four walls”— the world is your parish; we never know what God will do next; stop running from a negative situation and start making it positive; and don’t let negativity control you. Look for what is honourable.”

Bishop Ingram then extended the invitation to Christian discipleship to the singing of Come to Jesus. The Resolutions of the Conference were read by members of the committee and were moved by Rev VA Deyone Douglas and seconded by Rev Dr. Emilygail Dill, that the report be approved — the motion carried.

Sister Eunice Jones, Bermuda conference WMS president, presented episcopal supervisor Rev Dr Jessica Kendall Ingram, who addressed the congregation.

Bishop Ingram encouraged Bermuda to be involved in the 2016 General Conference to be hosted by the First Episcopal District before distributing certificates for conference officers.

Supervisor Ingram prayed the commissioning prayer as the congregation sang Go ye therefore and teach all Nations.

The service ended at 6.35pm with Rev Conway Simmons pronouncing the Benediction and a jubilant celebration ensued among the pastors, their families and members.