BIOGRAPHY
The Rt. Rev. Francine A. Brookins, Esq

 Francine Angelique Brookins is the 141^st elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  She is a builder of buildings and of people, a licensed attorney in the State of California, a skilled mediator, and an experienced and beloved Pastor. Bishop Francine Brookins (141) is the biological daughter of two social activists: The Rt. Rev. Hamel Hartford Brookins (deceased) (91^st elected and consecrated Bishop in the AMEC) and the Rev. Carole Nelson Ingram (Ret.). She is also the dog-mom of Zumme.
 
Bishop Brookins (141) earned her B.A. from Georgetown University in 1993, her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from The George Washington National Law Center in 1996, and her Master of Divinity from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA in 2002. As a practicing attorney in the State of California she has represented litigants in the areas of civil rights, criminal defense, family law, personal injury, church property, and conflict resolution. She has served as mentor for students matriculating through the Doctor of Ministry program at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA.
 
Bishop Brookins has been committed to the liberating and reconciling ministry of the AMEC from an early age.  As a child she sang in the choir and was a junior stewardess and usher.  In later years she collaborated in drafting and passing the revised policy on clergy sexual misconduct for the AMEC and helping to train its constituents. In 2008 she was elected and served as one of nine members of the Judicial Council, and as the 2^nd Vice President of Women in Ministry in charge of legislation and bylaws. She is the recipient of numerous community service and leadership awards.
 
Bishop Brookins (141) is a dynamic, thought-provoking, soul-stirring, and powerful preacher and teacher who loves God, loves the AME Church, and loves you. She is faithful to the cause of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and dedicated to the work of caring for all of humankind.  She is determined to expand the family of God using her special abilities to see and cultivate the gifts and calling in those who others sometimes overlook.
 

Congratulatory messages can be emailed to:  bishopbrookins141@gmail.com

The Reverend Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine
Jonathan C. Augustine (a/k/a “Jay Augustine”) is a pastor and professor, as well as an author and advocate. He is part of a group of national social justice leaders who speak for the equality of all human beings, while advocating for policies of diversity, inclusion, and belonging. 
 
 A Pastor for All People
​As a pastor, Dr. Augustine has earned a well-deserved reputation for bringing the church into the community and community into the church, in addressing pressing social issues. Since May 2019, he has served as the senior pastor of St. Joseph AME Church (Durham, NC), while simultaneously serving, since January 2017, as the general chaplain of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Since his appointment to St. Joseph, new ministries have been birthed and many new members have joined the congregation, as it developed an outward-facing social justice focus. In addition to Dr. Augustine’s powerful prophetic preaching, under his leadership, St. Joseph has welcomed numerous social justice icons
 
Prior to serving St. Joseph, Dr. Augustine was senior pastor at Historic St. James AME Church, in downtown New Orleans, the city’s first predominately Black, Protestant church and the denomination’s oldest congregation in the Deep South.
 
 Professor and Scholar
Augustine is also a law professor and reconciliation scholar. Prior to his current service, at North Carolina Central University Law School, he taught as an adjunct professor at Southern University Law Center. His scholarly publications, on issues like immigration reform, environmental justice, and voting rights, appear in journals including the Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal, Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal, Louisiana Law Review, Loyola Law Review, and the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal. His writings have also been cited by the Louisiana Supreme Court in published opinion. Dr. Augustine currently serves as a missional strategist with the Duke University Center for Reconciliation
 
As the author or editor of four books, Augustine is currently under contract completing When Prophets Preach: Leadership and the Politics of the Pulpit (Fortress Press, 2022). His current book is Called to Reconciliation: How the Church Can Model Justice, Diversity and Inclusion (Baker Academic, 2022). His first book was The Keys Are Being Passed: Race, Law, Religion and the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement (ROM Publishing, LLC, 2014) and, in his capacity as general chaplain of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., during the COVID-19 global pandemic, he also edited Leadership in Times of Crisis: Alpha Phi Alpha’s Minister’s as Prophets, Priests and Kings (ROM Publishing, LLC, 2021).     
​
An Accomplished Advocate 
Prior to becoming a law professor, Augustine served as a nationally noted civil rights litigator. He successfully litigated and settled one of the oldest school desegregation cases in the United States, originally litigated by Thurgood Marshall, before his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. In working as of counsel with the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, Augustine also co-authored an amicus curie brief filed with the United States Supreme Court in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021), a case brought under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and admitted to practice law before several federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court.
 
Nationally Recognized Leader 

Augustine is the recipient of many notable awards, including President Barack Obama’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. “Outstanding Alumni Brother of the Year” Award (2017), Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award (2004) and Ebony Magazine’s “30 Leaders of the Future” (2001). He earned a B.A., in economics, from Howard University, before serving as a decorated, active-duty infantry officer in the United States Army. Immediately after his military service, Dr. Augustine earned his law degree from Tulane University and served as a law clerk to then-Associate Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson at the Louisiana Supreme Court. After holding publicly elected and gubernatorially appointed office in Louisiana, he accepted the calling to ordained ministry and earned his Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary, before completing a fellowship for further study at Princeton Theological Seminary. Augustine also earned his doctorate from Duke University.
 
Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine serves as an elected member of the Judicial Council (Supreme Court) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is married to Michelle Burks Augustine. Together, they have two children.       
     
Congratulatory expressions can be emailed to:
jayaugustine9@gmail.com, Reverend Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine

The Retirement Celebration for The Reverend  Ernest L. Montague, Sr, Presiding Elder of the Baltimore District, Baltimore Conference, African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Baltimore District - Baltimore Conference 
Presiding Elder Ernest L. Montague, Sr. and First Lady Irene Montague
Virtual Retirement Celebration Event

~~~~~
Second Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church

**CELEBRATING 44 YEARS OF MINISTRY** 
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

To attend this virtual event. Click on the link below and Register:
 https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-_06H4UFRSG_4_HAx3NHEA
 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Please Visit the Baltimore District website for additional information, https://www.baltimoredistrictamec.org/.

Mailing address for sending congratulatory expressions:

Presiding Elder Ernest L. Montague
P.O. Box 1104
Randallstown, MD 21133

Congratulatory expressions can be emailed to Presiding Elder Ernest L. Montague  @ emont.family.123@gmail.com

PRESIDING ELDER RETIREMENT CELEBRATION
Celebrating 46 Years of Ministry 

Please join us at Empowerment Temple AME Church on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 3:00 pm as we celebrate the retirement of Presiding Elder Cordell E. Hunter, Sr. & First Lady Joan Walker-Hunter. Please note that for those of you who cannot come in person, the celebration will be streamed online via our Eastern District Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/EasternDistrictAME

Rev. Cordell E. Hunter, Presiding Elder, Eastern District
Baltimore Conference, African Methodist Episcopal Church
 

Rev. Cordell E. Hunter, Sr., servant of God, was admitted to the Baltimore Annual Conference in 1976., ordained as a deacon in 1980 and ordained as an Elder in 1982. He pastored Shiloh A.M.E. 1980-1984, and the Worton Circuit consisting of Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church, Worton, Md., and Holy Trinity, Edesville, Md. in April 1984-2004, then The Historic St. James A.M.E. Church, Havre de Grace, Md.2004-2010. His ministry encompassed church building and restoration, mortgage redemption, increased membership, community and political involvement, and financial empowerment. More importantly, through discipleship, innovative ministries and strategies many accepted Christ as their Savior.  Rev. Hunter was appointed to numerous positions and committees at the episcopal district and annual conference levels including Christian Education, Conference Adjustments, Ministerial Orders, Presiding Elder’s Upkeep, and Finance. He served as Director, Social, Political and Civic Action, Chairman, Judicial Committee, Baltimore Conference, Instructor – Board of Examiners, Assistant Secretary and Chief Secretary, Baltimore Annual Conference for thirty-one years, Vice Chairman, Social Action-Second Episcopal District.   In 2011, Wilberforce University, Greater Baltimore Alumni Association awarded Rev. Hunter the prestigious Daniel A. Payne Award for Church Leadership. At the 195^th Session of the Baltimore Annual Conference, Bishop J. Richardson elevated Pastor Hunter to the noble position as Presiding Elder of the Eastern District of the historic Baltimore Conference. His focus remains: Build God’s kingdom and edify mankind.
 
He inspired others by his commitment for social progress, political involvement, community improvement and education opportunities.  Rev. Hunter served as President, Kent County Branch (12 years), Vice-President, Maryland State Conference of Branches and Regional Chairman, District 7 of the N.A.A.C.P where he led a demonstration against the Klu Klux Klan. He advocated for policies, engaged others, and assisted in forming strategic legislative strategies to secure equal and human rights, fair employment opportunities, educational enhancements and a higher quality of living for all. He served as a Certified Registrar-Board of Elections, Harford County Government’, Faith Based Leader for Census, Commissioner, Havre de Grace Public Housing Agency, a former Volunteer Chaplain, Upper Chesapeake Health Facilities and Iota Alpha Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the 6^th Masonic District, F&A.M., Prince Hall Masons  He was twice elected and served as Chairman, Harford County, Maryland State Democratic Central Committee and the current Chairman, Board of Trustees, Harford County Community College in Maryland.  He is also a member of the Harford County Branch N.A.A.C.P., 6^th Masonic District, F&AM, Prince Hall Affiliate, 32   degree and honored as a Past Master, Prince Hall Free & Masons. Under Presiding Elder’s Hunter’s leadership, Governor O’Malley, on behalf of the NAACP and the State of Maryland selected The Eastern District, Baltimore Conference as the recipient of the Faith Base Community Award 2013.
 
Rev. Hunter has been recognized for Community Service by the Department of Juvenile Services, Prince Hall Masons, Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church, Kent County Government, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Omega Psi Phi as Citizen of the Year, Havre de Grace Public Housing Agency and Harford County and Maryland State Branches of the N.A.A.C.P.
 
He achieved a Bachelor of Science Elementary Education, Master of Science Education Administration and Supervision, Morgan State University, Master’s Degree Religious Education, St. Mary’s Seminary and Ecumenical Institute.   Additional post graduate work has been done at Loyola College, Coppin State University, Goucher Institute, and completed requirements for the Doctoral Degree in Christian Education.  He is a proud Life Member of Morgan State University Alumni Association and Prince Hall Masons.
 
After 33 years of service, Rev. Hunter retired as an Administrator of Anne Arundel County Public Schools.  He is married to Joan Walker-Hunter.

Congratulatory responses can be emailed to: cordell944@aol.com
 

On behalf of Social Action Commission Chair, Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield and  Mrs. Jacquelyn DuPont-Walker, Director/ Consultant  Social Action Commission, we extend congratulations as you praise God for the Joy of these significant milestones reached.