Vashti Murphy Mc Kenzie - Ordination

Ordination

McKenzie received her first ordination in 1984 when she was made an itinerant deacon 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 10th Episcopal District which encompasses the entire state of Texas. Prior to this appointment, McKenzie was the chief pastor of the 13th Episcopal District from 2004-2012 in Kentucky and Tennessee. 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 host of the General Conference in it's 49th Quadrennial Session of the AME Church, held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. At this General Conference, she was reappointed to serve as the presiding prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, serving major cities such as Fort Worth, Waco, Dallas, Tyler, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston, Texas; in the Northwest, North, Southwest, and Texas Annual Conferences.