The 124th Session of the Bermuda Annual Conference of the African Methodist Church came to a close on Sunday with spirited preaching, singing and a record-breaking congregation being kept in the dark about much anticipated changes in the ministerium.

The Fairmont Southampton Princess Resort was the seat of the week-long conference. The Presiding Bishop, Rt. Rev. Richard F. Norris decided not to reveal what changes he intends to make with respect, first and foremost, to the vacancy caused by the high profile retirement of the Rev. Malcolm Eve after 17 years as Bermuda Presiding Elder and a long tenure as pastor of Bethel AME Church.

Pastors at all 11 of the local churches were returned 'temporarily' to their charges. Bishop Norris presides over the First District of the far-flung AME Connection. Headquartered in Philadelphia, his distinct embraces Bermuda, New York, Delaware, New Jersey, New England and Western New York. Bermuda traditionally is the first to hold its annual conference; and changes he might be inclined to make here were dependent on his district-wide determination.

Bishop Norris was high in his praise of the work Bermudians were contributing at churches they were pastoring in the US. He particularly cited the Rev. Mrs. Linda Powell, the Rev. Dr. Leonard Santucci and the Rev. Wendell Christopher, who came home to attend this conference; and the Rev. Howard Dill.

Earlier, retired Bishop Vinton R. Anderson was home for the pre-conference activities, along with his wife Vivienne. He was the first Bermudian elevated to the distinguished AME Bench of Bishop and later, among other things, was elected to a seven-year term as President of the World Council of Churches.

Significantly, two new local preachers were ordained at this conference by Bishop Norris. They are the Rev. Georgette Prime Godwin and the Rev. Gilbert Hayward. He is the latest of the children of the late Rev. and Mrs. Samuel Hayward to become ordained ministers.

The Bishop said he had personally advised pastors who are subject to change upon completion of his First District-wide conference circuit.

Those pastors were free to disclose their probabilities, if they chose, he said, but he was keeping the conference generally in the dark for the next several months, particularly as to the successor to Rev. Eve as Presiding Elder.