A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
The right to equal representation for laymen was enacted into law at the seat of the 1948 General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The first organization of lay members in Texas, the Tenth Episcopal District, was subsequently held at the site of Bethel A.M.E. Church in San Antonio, Texas (pictured here). Mrs. Hazel Gomez, wife of Bishop Joseph Gomez, was a great supporter and encourager of the lay movement and was instrumental in the first lay organization. J. L. Mackey was the first Lay President and Birdie Marshall served as the first female President of the State Lay Organization. Also pictured here are members of the First Texas Layman’s Organization.
There have been eleven Presidents of the Tenth Episcopal District Lay Organization: J. L. Mackey (1948-1954), Rudy Webb (1954-1956), Birdie Marshall (1956-1960), C. S. McMillan (1960-1974), Nathaniel Best (1975-1988), Albert Brewer (1988-1996), Johnny Tellis, Jr. (1996-2004), Charles W. Rainwater (2004-2008), Leon Thornton (2008-2012), Larry Hollie (2012-2019), Dr. Ethel Bayley Scruggs (2019-2020), and currently Dr. Rodrick Moore (2020-present).
Albert Brewer and Russell Livingston represented the Tenth Episcopal District as Connectional Parliamentarians. Johnny Tellis, Jr. served as the Connectional Lay 3rd Vice President, Pamela Tilley served as the CLO Historiographer and Larry Hollie served as the Connectional Lay Economic Development Corporation (CLEDC) Treasurer. Kathy Drayton was appointed Connectional Treasurer to complete the term of Richard L. Bowden.
The Legacy of this organization lies with its leadership and members who have toiled and carried it through the years. The Tenth Episcopal District Lay Organization is proud of its many accomplishments; however, it is most proud of hosting the 29th Biennial Session of the Connectional Lay Organization which was held July 24-29, 2005 in Houston, Texas.
Perspective provided by Pamela Tilley, Former 10th Episcopal District Lay Historiographer (via Roosevelt Ellis and the 2006 State Lay Convention Souvenir Journal). Updates inserted by Vicki Houston and Phyllis Bergen-Jackson.
There have been eleven Presidents of the Tenth Episcopal District Lay Organization: J. L. Mackey (1948-1954), Rudy Webb (1954-1956), Birdie Marshall (1956-1960), C. S. McMillan (1960-1974), Nathaniel Best (1975-1988), Albert Brewer (1988-1996), Johnny Tellis, Jr. (1996-2004), Charles W. Rainwater (2004-2008), Leon Thornton (2008-2012), Larry Hollie (2012-2019), Dr. Ethel Bayley Scruggs (2019-2020), and currently Dr. Rodrick Moore (2020-present).
Albert Brewer and Russell Livingston represented the Tenth Episcopal District as Connectional Parliamentarians. Johnny Tellis, Jr. served as the Connectional Lay 3rd Vice President, Pamela Tilley served as the CLO Historiographer and Larry Hollie served as the Connectional Lay Economic Development Corporation (CLEDC) Treasurer. Kathy Drayton was appointed Connectional Treasurer to complete the term of Richard L. Bowden.
The Legacy of this organization lies with its leadership and members who have toiled and carried it through the years. The Tenth Episcopal District Lay Organization is proud of its many accomplishments; however, it is most proud of hosting the 29th Biennial Session of the Connectional Lay Organization which was held July 24-29, 2005 in Houston, Texas.
Perspective provided by Pamela Tilley, Former 10th Episcopal District Lay Historiographer (via Roosevelt Ellis and the 2006 State Lay Convention Souvenir Journal). Updates inserted by Vicki Houston and Phyllis Bergen-Jackson.
10th Episcopal District Officers 2020 – 2024
Dr. Rodrick Moore, President
Beverly Nutall, 1st Vice President
Bertha Davis, 2nd Vice President
Thelma Kennedy-Malveaux, 3rd Vice President
Patricia Ford Ritcherson, Recording Secretary
Dierdre D. Rockeymoore, Assistant Recording Secretary
Doris N. Jones, Corresponding Secretary
Tonia Norman, Financial Secretary
Roosevelt Ellis, Jr., Treasurer
Vicki Houston, Parliamentarian
Kathy Drayton, Director of Lay Activities
Ava Knapp Parker, Director of Public Relations
Claudia Dunemann, Chaplain
Phyllis Bergen-Jackson, Historiographer
Shantel Sims, Young Adult Representative
Conference Presidents:
Richard Warren, North Texas Conference
Roosevelt Ellis, Jr, Northwest Texas Conference
Vanessa Crawford, Southwest Texas Conference
Ruben Braziel, II, Texas Conference
10th Episcopal District Lay Persons of the Year
2005 – Pamela Tilley, Texas Conference
2007 – Roosevelt Ellis, Jr., Northwest Texas Conference
2009 – Ava Knapp Parker, Texas Conference
*2011 – Phyllis Bergen-Jackson, Southwest Texas Conference
2013 – Anne W. Coleman, Southwest Texas Conference
2015 – Dr. Ethel Bayley Scruggs, North Texas Conference
2017 – L. Ruth Ferrell, Southwest Texas Conference
*2019 – Dierdre D. Fisher Rockeymoore, Southwest Texas Conference
*Selected as the Connectional Lay Person of the Year
Historiographers:
Shirley R. Harris (1991–1999) Deceased
Pamela Tilley (1999 – 2009)
Mary Shelton (2009 – 2017) Deceased
Dierdre D. Rockeymoore (2017 – 2020)
Phyllis Bergen-Jackson (2020 - )
Dr. Rodrick Moore, President
Beverly Nutall, 1st Vice President
Bertha Davis, 2nd Vice President
Thelma Kennedy-Malveaux, 3rd Vice President
Patricia Ford Ritcherson, Recording Secretary
Dierdre D. Rockeymoore, Assistant Recording Secretary
Doris N. Jones, Corresponding Secretary
Tonia Norman, Financial Secretary
Roosevelt Ellis, Jr., Treasurer
Vicki Houston, Parliamentarian
Kathy Drayton, Director of Lay Activities
Ava Knapp Parker, Director of Public Relations
Claudia Dunemann, Chaplain
Phyllis Bergen-Jackson, Historiographer
Shantel Sims, Young Adult Representative
Conference Presidents:
Richard Warren, North Texas Conference
Roosevelt Ellis, Jr, Northwest Texas Conference
Vanessa Crawford, Southwest Texas Conference
Ruben Braziel, II, Texas Conference
10th Episcopal District Lay Persons of the Year
2005 – Pamela Tilley, Texas Conference
2007 – Roosevelt Ellis, Jr., Northwest Texas Conference
2009 – Ava Knapp Parker, Texas Conference
*2011 – Phyllis Bergen-Jackson, Southwest Texas Conference
2013 – Anne W. Coleman, Southwest Texas Conference
2015 – Dr. Ethel Bayley Scruggs, North Texas Conference
2017 – L. Ruth Ferrell, Southwest Texas Conference
*2019 – Dierdre D. Fisher Rockeymoore, Southwest Texas Conference
*Selected as the Connectional Lay Person of the Year
Historiographers:
Shirley R. Harris (1991–1999) Deceased
Pamela Tilley (1999 – 2009)
Mary Shelton (2009 – 2017) Deceased
Dierdre D. Rockeymoore (2017 – 2020)
Phyllis Bergen-Jackson (2020 - )
Paul Quinn College
The Tenth Episcopal District is home to Paul Quinn College, one of the most innovative small college in America. It is a private, faith-based, four-year, Liberal arts-inspired college that was founded on April 4, 1872 by a group African Methodist Church preachers in Austin, Texas. The school’s original purpose was to educate freed slaves and their offspring.
Today, Paul Quinn, now located outside of Dallas, Texas, has become a model for urban higher education by focusing on academic rigor, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship.
Tenth Episcopal District Lay President Dr. Rodrick Moore serves on the General Board of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as the Dean of students.
Lay members Cherry Boggess, Alumna and William Earls are members of the Paul Quinn College Board of Trustees.
The members of Tenth Episcopal District Lay Organization have supported the renovation
and beautification of the Richard Allen Chapel on the campus of Paul Quinn College.
The Tenth Episcopal District is home to Paul Quinn College, one of the most innovative small college in America. It is a private, faith-based, four-year, Liberal arts-inspired college that was founded on April 4, 1872 by a group African Methodist Church preachers in Austin, Texas. The school’s original purpose was to educate freed slaves and their offspring.
Today, Paul Quinn, now located outside of Dallas, Texas, has become a model for urban higher education by focusing on academic rigor, experiential learning, and entrepreneurship.
Tenth Episcopal District Lay President Dr. Rodrick Moore serves on the General Board of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as the Dean of students.
Lay members Cherry Boggess, Alumna and William Earls are members of the Paul Quinn College Board of Trustees.
The members of Tenth Episcopal District Lay Organization have supported the renovation
and beautification of the Richard Allen Chapel on the campus of Paul Quinn College.
Coronavirus Pandemic 2019 (COVID–19)
Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic 2019 (COVID–19) March 2020 Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie ordered all in person Church Worship Services and activities be suspended until further notice. Alternative Worship Services and activities have been utilized by Facebook Live, YouTube, Conference Call, Zoom and etc.
Firsts
Utilized Election Buddy Voting Management Software during the first electronic voting to elect the 10th Episcopal District Officers for 2020-2024
Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic 2019 (COVID–19) March 2020 Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie ordered all in person Church Worship Services and activities be suspended until further notice. Alternative Worship Services and activities have been utilized by Facebook Live, YouTube, Conference Call, Zoom and etc.
Firsts
Utilized Election Buddy Voting Management Software during the first electronic voting to elect the 10th Episcopal District Officers for 2020-2024
- Annual Conferences Lay Witness Night Observances VIA Zoom and Facebook
- Voters Education Workshop 2020 Know & Vote VIA Zoom
- Newley Elected Officers Retreat VIA Zoom
- VIRTUAL Lay Meeting during the 10th District Planning Meeting VIA Zoom