Having been advised of the recent formation of a new church and new church denomination, it is necessary to respond to this action which is outside of the approval or authorization of the Sixth Episcopal District.

The action taken by The Reverend Estella Edwards-Shabazz to form a "new A.M.E." church and denomination is not in accordance with The Book of Doctrine and Discipline (the "Discipline") of the African Methodist Episcopal ("A.M.E.") church on the establishment of new churches within the denomination.  The Discipline of the A.M.E. Church states that new churches must be established with the support and approval of the Annual Conference, and in this case specifically, the Georgia Annual Conference of the Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  The Discipline further states that any minister serving any church other than an A.M.E. Church without permission must be dropped from the roll of that Annual Conference.

The church in question is not officially established by the A.M.E. Church or the Georgia Annual Conference. Further, with the name of the said individual being dropped from the roll of the Georgia Annual Conference, and thus the rolls of the A.M.E. Church, that individual is not authorized to act on behalf of, and is no longer held as affiliated with the A.M.E. Church, and should not be acting as an agent, member or otherwise representing the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

William P. DeVeaux

Presiding Bishop

Sixth Episcopal District