For the first time in 130 years of African Methodist Episcopalianism in the Island, a Bermudian has been named the local church's bishop.

Last week the 46 Quadrennial Conference of the AME Church named the Rev.

Donald Gregory Kenneth Ming as the Bishop of the First Episcopal District.

Bishop Ming will soon take over the leadership of the historic home of the AME church, responsible for its operation in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Bermuda is also part of the First District, with its 11 churches now accountable for the first time to one of its own.

He replaces Bishop Philip Cousins, an American.

Former Member of Parliament the Rev. Trevor Woolridge last night called Rev.

Ming's appointment an "opportunity for Bermuda to boast with pride'' about one of her own.

Another Bermudian, Goodwin Douglas, now of Washington DC, acted as the chairman of the Episcopal Committee which elected Bishop Ming.

"The Bermudians who were present were by and large just elated with the election,'' Rev. Woolridge said. "The work of Bishop Ming is legendary in South Africa, Haiti, in the rest of the Caribbean and in Louisiana and Georgia.

"He's a close friend of Vice President Al Gore who told the Conference considered Bishop Ming a close friend and looked forward to working with him when he becomes president,'' Rev. Woolridge added.

"It will be most advantageous to the Government, the AME Church, and to the people of Bermuda in general to have Bishop Ming presiding in our church.'' As recently as this spring Premier Jennifer Smith spoke with Bishop Ming when she gave the commencement speech at Morris Brown College where he was chairman of the board of trustees.

He has presided over the return to financial stability of Morris Brown and Premier Smith spoke to the school's largest number of graduates.

Bishop Ming was born and raised in Devonshire, and in 1976 was elected the 97th Bishop of the church.

He has served as Presiding Prelate for the 15th (South African), 16th (Caribbean, England, South America), eighth (Mississippi and Louisiana) and sixth (Georgia) districts of the church.

Bishop Donald Ming APPOINTMENT APP