A former Bermuda pastor, Silvester Beaman, has been elected and consecrated a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

David Burt, the Premier, congratulated Bishop Beaman, who formerly served at St Paul AME Church in Hamilton, and Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware and will now journey to Southern Africa.

Bishop Beaman also delivered the benediction at the January inauguration of his friend President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris.

He was elevated to bishop at the recently completed General Conference held in Orlando, Florida.

Mr Burt said Bishop Beaman was “fondly remembered for his time in Bermuda”.

The Premier added: “He came to Bermuda as a young man and his two daughters were born here.

“His work in Bermuda and in Wilmington, Delaware has led to his elevation to the Bench of Bishops.

“He and his wife Renee are poised to make even greater contributions to the church and to those who they will now serve.”

At the inauguration, then Pastor Beaman invited those in attendance at the Capitol to join in prayer and called upon God for “divine favour” towards President Biden, his wife Jill, Vice President Harris, her husband Doug Emhoff and their families.

Dr Beaman said: “More than ever, they and our nation need you.

“We need you, for in you we discover our common humanity.

“In our common humanity we will seek out the wounded and bind their wounds. We will seek healing for those who are sick and diseased. We will mourn our dead.”

Bishop Beaman has been assigned to the 15th Episcopal District which includes Angola, Namibia and Cape, Boland, Eastern Cape, Kalahari, and Queenstown in South Africa.