Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Encyclopedia
Vashti Murphy McKenzie was elected as the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
. She is also the national chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Incorporated and the granddaughter of Delta founder Vashti Turley Murphy. Bishop McKenzie is the mother to Jon-Mikael, Vashti-Jasmine, and Joi-Marie.
degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park
. Later she received Master of Divinity
degree from Howard University
and her Doctor of Ministry
degree from United Theological Seminary
in Ohio
.
and appointed to pastor a small church in Chesapeake City, Maryland
. She was later ordained an itinerant elder and was sent to pastor in Baltimore
. While serving as the pastor of historic Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland, McKenzie sought election to the office of Bishop
in the AME Church. She was elected and consecrated the 117th bishop of the church at the General Conference of 2000. Prior to McKenzie's consecration, no female had ever served in the office of bishop in any predominantly African-American Methodist denomination in America. She currently serves as the presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal District which encompasses Tennessee
and Kentucky
. Prior to this appointment, McKenzie was the chief pastor of the 18th Episcopal District in southeast Africa
. In 2005, McKenzie again made history by becoming the first female president of the Council of Bishops of the AME Church, and the Titular head
of the Church. The president of the Council of Bishops serves a one year term. Each member of the council serves a term as president, assuming the office in the order in which they were elected. When asked about her the significance of her election to the office of bishop, McKenzie reportedly told Ebony Magazine that the "stained-glass ceiling had been broken."
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie served as the chairperson of the General Conference Commission for the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the AME Church. At this General Conference, she was reappointed to serve a second term as the presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal district.
African Methodist Episcopal Church
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African American Methodist denomination based in the United States. It was founded by the Rev. Richard Allen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1816 from several black Methodist congregations in the...
. She is also the national chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta
Delta Sigma Theta is a non-profit Greek-lettered sorority of college-educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University...
Sorority, Incorporated and the granddaughter of Delta founder Vashti Turley Murphy. Bishop McKenzie is the mother to Jon-Mikael, Vashti-Jasmine, and Joi-Marie.
Education
McKenzie received a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. Later she received Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
degree from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
and her Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
degree from United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary is a United Methodist seminary in Trotwood, Ohio, United States, in the Dayton metropolitan area. Founded in 1869 by Milton Wright, it was originally sponsored by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Ordination
McKenzie received her first ordination in 1984 when she was made an itinerant deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and appointed to pastor a small church in Chesapeake City, Maryland
Chesapeake City, Maryland
Chesapeake City is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 787 at the 2000 census.The town was originally named by Bohemian colonist Augustine Herman the Village of Bohemia , but the name was changed in 1839 when the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was built...
. She was later ordained an itinerant elder and was sent to pastor in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. While serving as the pastor of historic Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland, McKenzie sought election to the office of Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in the AME Church. She was elected and consecrated the 117th bishop of the church at the General Conference of 2000. Prior to McKenzie's consecration, no female had ever served in the office of bishop in any predominantly African-American Methodist denomination in America. She currently serves as the presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal District which encompasses Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. Prior to this appointment, McKenzie was the chief pastor of the 18th Episcopal District in southeast Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. In 2005, McKenzie again made history by becoming the first female president of the Council of Bishops of the AME Church, and the Titular head
Titular head
A titular ruler, or titular head, is a person in an official position of leadership who possesses few, if any, actual powers. Sometimes a person may inhabit a position of titular leadership and yet exercise more power than would normally be expected, as a result of their personality or experience...
of the Church. The president of the Council of Bishops serves a one year term. Each member of the council serves a term as president, assuming the office in the order in which they were elected. When asked about her the significance of her election to the office of bishop, McKenzie reportedly told Ebony Magazine that the "stained-glass ceiling had been broken."
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie served as the chairperson of the General Conference Commission for the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the AME Church. At this General Conference, she was reappointed to serve a second term as the presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal district.
List of works
- Not Without a Struggle: Leadership Development for African American Women in Ministry (1996)
- Strength in the Struggle: Leadership Development for Women (2002)
- Journey to the Well (2003)
- Swapping Housewives: Rachel and Jacob and Leah (2007)