Bishop H. Hartford Brookins

L.A. Native Francine Brookins Elected 141st AME Bishop

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorJuly 14, 2021

The Rev. Francine A. Brookins, Esq., was elected as the 141st bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church during the denomination’s 51st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference held July 6 -10 in Orlando, Florida. Brookins, the pastor of Bethel AME Church in Fontana, is the fifth woman to be elected to the AME episcopal level. She follows in the footsteps of her late father, the Right Rev. H. Hartford Brookins, who served decades as a AME bishop and became internationally known as a civil and human rights advocate. Bishop Francine Brookins has been assigned as the presiding prelate of

Local Religion

Kirkland Keeping Busy Since Retiring as Bishop

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorApril 10, 2019

It’s been nearly three years since the Right Rev. T. Larry Kirkland, Sr. retired as an AME bishop after 55 years of ministry, but his schedule remains as busy as ever. A powerful preacher and insightful teacher, Kirkland is frequently invited to deliver sermons at churches throughout Southern California as well as in other parts of the country. His next local engagement takes place at Agape Church of Los Angeles. The ministry, led by Bishop Craig A. Worsham, will welcome Kirkland to deliver the sermon on Resurrection Day, April 21, at the 8 a.m. service in the worship center

Religion

Brookins Reflects on Her Service to God and His Church

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorOctober 17, 2018

God has abundantly blessed the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Rosalynn Kyle Brookins since she answered His call to preach 14 years ago. The wife of the late Bishop H.H. Brookins, she became the first retired AME episcopal supervisor to be appointed as a pastor in 2011 and in May 2018, she was the first female to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree from Payne Theological Seminary. The members of Walker Temple AME Church in Los Angeles responded to dedicated spiritual leadership by hosting the seventh pastoral appreciation for Brookins on Oct. 21, where scores of people expressed gratitude for

Religion

FAME Hosts Live Recording Featuring Brookinaires Gospel Choir

Sentinel News ServiceMay 17, 2017

The 70-member Brookinaires Gospel Choir (BGC) will record a live CD and video concert on Saturday, May 27, at 5 p.m., at the historic First AME Church (FAME), 2270 S. Harvard Blvd., in Los Angeles. The event will be directed by Dr. Henry Jackson, a leading gospel singer, songwriter and musician who has performed with musical giants such as the Rev. James Cleveland, Lou Rawls, Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin. According to 82-year-old Margaret (Mary) Johnson, who has traveled the world with the choir for the past 40 years, the upcoming concert will be better than ever. “It’s

Religion

Salute set to honor contributions of Bishop and Supv. Kirkland

Cora Jackson-Fossett, Religion EditorApril 19, 2017

Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church (BKCAME) will salute the multiple contributions of retired Bishop T. Larry Kirkland and retired Supervisor Mary L. Kirkland on Sunday, April 23, at 9 a.m., in the edifice located at 3719 W. Slauson Ave., in Los Angeles. According to Pastor Mary S. Minor, the recognition will take place during the church’s 40th anniversary observance. Kirkland, who is a member of BKCAME, served as the first pastor of the congregation. “We invite the greater Los Angeles community, including former members and all friends of the Kirklands, to join us in praising God for the leadership and legacy

Religion

District Endorses Brookins for Bishop

Sentinel Staff ReportMarch 24, 2016

The Rev. Francine Brookins received a big endorsement in her campaign to become a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Sixty-seven of 100 delegates in the Fifth Episcopal District of the AME Church voted for her during a primary election held at the district’s Mid Year Convocation on March 10-11. “This is historic on many levels, one of which is that the Fifth District has elected a woman to represent it as its endorsed candidate for bishop at the bicentennial celebration of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,” said Brookins. The AME Church will elect six bishops at its General