More than 5,000 members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will convene for the 91st Session of the Southern California Conference (SCC).
The gathering takes place Sunday, October 19 through Sunday, October 25, at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 5711 W. Century Boulevard in Los Angeles. Following the conference, the Fifth District Planning Meeting will be held on Monday, October 26 to Tuesday, October 27.
The Right Reverend Theodore Larry Kirkland, presiding prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District, will lead both sessions. Pastor J. Edgar Boyd and the members of First AME Church of Los Angeles will serve as hosts. This will be the last annual conference led Bishop Kirkland as chief pastor of the Fifth District, prior to his scheduled retirement in the summer of 2016.
Under the theme, “Rebuilding the Walls,” the schedule features day and evening worship services, business meetings and educational sessions for conference delegates, clergy, laity, youth, young adults, and missionaries.
Prior to the official conference opening, the Young People’s Division will hold their annual convention and the SCC Women’s Missionary Society will also begin their sessions.
The annual pre-conference musical will be held on Sunday, October 18, at 4 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, 7900 Western Avenue in Los Angeles. Other activities at the Hilton include the Opening Night Worship Service on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 p.m., with Pastor John Cager of Ward AME Church delivering the Word. Mayor Eric Garcetti, along with other elected officials, will bring greetings from the City of Los Angeles.
Also, the Men’s Witness Night Worship is set for Thursday at 7 p.m., the Consecration and Ordination Service will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and the Closing Worship and Commissioning Service takes place on Sunday, October 25, at 3 p.m.
“We are honored to serve as host of this conference session,” said Pastor Boyd. “We are thankful to our bishop and presiding elders who continue to encourage us in the building of our churches and our communities.”
The public is invited to attend the pre-conference musical as well as the noon and evening worship services. For information, visit famechurch.org.
