HE 120th Session of the Bermuda Annual Conference of the AME Church came to a climactic end at the Fairmont Southampton Resort, with the Rt. Rev. Richard Franklin Norris presiding.

The well-organised and highly-energised session was historic in that it was the first time since 1885 that the seat of the conference was not the sanctuary of one or another of the nine or ten AME Churches in the island.

The amphitheatre of the hotel was transformed from its otherwise secular night club fa?ade into a more cathedral-like setting replete with a flower-bedecked altar and other symbols, and resounding to what the bishop termed anointed singing and powerful preaching coupled with spirited altar calls.

The change reflected the growth and expansion of the denomination in Bermuda, and it seemed to get the full endorsement of the hundreds attending at one time or another.

"God has blessed us with a continuum of the spirit of togetherness and unity," Bishop Norris declared, adding that while much had been done, much still remained to be done.

Watch the decibels, Bishop Norris joked, as he gave a full vote of confidence to the hierarchy of the church, reappointing one after the other from the Presiding Elder, the Rev. Malcolm Eve, on down to all of the pastors and conference officers for another conference year in their previous charges.

Among the many highlights of the conference was the presence of Bishop Vinton Anderson, the Bermudian-born 92nd Consecrated Bishop of the AME Church. He has now retired after 32 years' active service as a bishop.

He preached the closing sermon, and assisted at the ordination of four new local ministers. Bishop and Mrs. Anderson were accompanied to the island by a delegation of friends from Kansas, where they make their home.

Also there were a number of other distinguished visitors accompanying Bishop and Mrs. Norris from the First Episcopal District, including district officers, ministers, laity and their spouses.

Bishop Norris is the 25th bishop to preside over the Bermuda Annual Conference. The First Bermuda Annual Conference was held on May 7, 1885 at Temperance Hall, Shelly Bay where the Bethel congregation worshipped.

The Rev. Conway Simmons, pastor of Richard Allen Church in St. George's, brought the conference to its feet in his eloquent and history-laden presentation of Bishop Norris at the closing session.

Rev. Simmons noted that since 1928 the Bermuda Conference had been attached to the First Episcopal District. Bishop Joshua Jones was Bishop at that time.

The First District is a very astute district and it always makes sure it gets a bishop who can understand that the First District is a very cosmopolitan one.

From the sophistication of New England to the homeyness of Delaware, to the metropolis of New York, Philadelphia and Newark, to the salubrious climate of Bermuda, the Bishop has to be able to fit in anywhere. Since Bishop Norris came out of the First District, he already understood the dynamics of the First District.

Rev. Simmons easily merited his reappointment to his charge at St. George's when he climaxed his presentation by saying: "I present to you the dynamic Bishop of the dynamic First Episcopal District, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris."

Bishop Norris showed his appreciation of the accolade from Rev. Simmons, simply saying he now had to get used to saying the word 'salubrious.' Some of the pre-conference and other events took place at Mount Zion AME Church, also in Southampton, where the Rev. Dr. Larry Lowe, Jr., is the pastor. These included a civic reception attended by Premier Alex Scott and several of his Cabinet Ministers. The Bermuda Annual Conference Women's Missionary Society met there, and the Ordination Service was held later, followed by a retirement party honouring Bishop and Mrs. Anderson.

The honour and distinction of presenting Bishop Anderson at the reception fell to Presiding Elder Eve. He too waxed eloquent. The two leaders are, in fact, first cousins; they were brought up in the same household in Somerset and Bishop Anderson refers to Elder Eve as his foster brother. Rev. Eve hailed the large numbers present, sharing in "this hour as we honour one of our own in the person of Bishop Vinton Randolph Anderson, as he celebrates 60 years in the ministry. A journey which began on a Palm Sunday in 1946 as he was admitted under Bishop R. R. Wright in the 60th Session of the Bermuda Annual Conference."

Having equipped himself academically at Wilberforce University, he went on to Payne Theological Seminary where he graduated with honours ? having earned bachelor's and master's degrees, his pastoral ministry began in St. Marks AME Church in Topeka, Kansas. The then-Rev. Anderson pastored five appointments and, 20 years later, he was elected and consecrated the 92nd Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he supervised the 9th and 3rd Episcopal Districts.

He served as the Ecumenical Officer for the church, chairing in a magnanimous manner the AME Bicentennial Celebrations. Elder Eve went on to say that one of Bishop Anderson's accomplishments was being elected President of the World Council of Churches in 1991, and serving in that office until 1998. During his tenure he also presided over the Fifth Episcopal District and retired from active service following eight years as Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District.

"The wind beneath his wings has been his childhood sweetheart, the former Vivienne L. Cholmondeley, also of Somerset, who has shared his ministry for 54 years. They are the proud parents of four sons and grandparents of four. I invite all of the Bermuda Annual Conference to stand as we honour you today in this 120th Session and pray God's richest blessings on you as you continue to serve Him," said Elder Eve.