A ‘Bermudaful Welcome’ was accorded the Rt Rev Gregory Ingram when he touched down for a fleeting ‘Getting to Know Visit’ to Bermuda Wednesday.Though widely travelled, it was his first ever visit to the Island but the first of many since he was appointed in July as the prelate of the First Episcopal District of the far-flung African Methodist Church.Bermuda is part of the First District that embraces Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other influential areas.Presiding Elder of Bermuda, the Rev Betty L Furbert-Woolridge, accompanied by pastors and other dignitaries of the 11 local churches were on hand to greet the broadly smiling bishop before he was rushed off to make courtesy calls at the US Consulate; on Premier Paula Cox and elsewhere.The really big event was a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday night. The AME ‘rank and file’ flocked from all over the island to the cathedral of African Methodism in Bermuda, St Paul AME Church, Hamilton to attend. Bishop Ingram returned to the US 24 hours later.His first appointment as a Bishop was to the 15th Episcopal District, which comprises Angola, Namibia and most of South Africa, in 2000. At the time of his appoint to the 1st District in July, Bishop Ingram was serving as President of the Council of Bishops and Episcopal leader of the Tenth Episcopal District, which covers the entire State of Texas.Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, Bishop Ingram served for 13 years as the Senior Minister of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, Michigan. Under his leadership, 2,400 members joined Oak Grove and more than 1,420 became tithers. Before being assigned to Oak Grove, Bishop Ingram served as pastor of AME churches in Chicago, Springfield and Alton, Illinois. He also served two years on the religious staff at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Campus.Bishop Ingram has distinguished himself throughout African Methodism for his expertise on Stewardship and Tithing. He is a dynamic preacher and lecturer who is sought after to speak at churches, colleges, universities and civic functions.He has authored a number of publications that are heralded throughout African Methodism. Included among them are Equipping the Saints for Service, The Spiritual Aptitude Test (SAT) Manual for African Methodism: A Textbook for Teaching New Members and Nurturing Others in the Church, and his most recent work, The African Methodist Episcopal Church Pastor’s Journal and Quarterly Conference Record Book.Bishop Ingram holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilberforce University, a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Antioch College, a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary. His civic, community, professional and social affiliations, past and present, include the Ecumenical Center for Stewardship Studies in North America (executive board member), the Christian Communication Council (board member), and Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (advisory board member) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (life member). He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and is a 33rd Degree Mason-Prince Hall Affiliation.