Cabinet Minister Neletha Butterfield threatened to boycott an AME Church event after she and Acting Premier Derrick Burgess were asked to sit in the second row for a Mount Zion service.Ms Butterfield and the Deputy Premier were deeply upset to be directed to seats behind Opposition leader Kim Swan for the AME’s annual welcoming service last month.Mr Burgess refused the place he was offered and started to move to the back of the church, before space for the duo was found at the front alongside Mr Swan, Governor Sir Richard Gozney, Senate President Carol Ann Bassett and St George’s Mayor Kenny Bascome.The incident prompted Ms Butterfield to write to the AME Church warning they are considering boycotting part of that week’s annual conference although yesterday she said she wasn’t seriously planning to carry out the threat.In an e-mail to Pastor Lanel Guyton the morning after the service, Ms Butterfield explained people of Bermuda “love to see their Government and representatives” and urged the Church to drop its mentality that everyone is a VIP in God’s sight; urging greater respect for Cabinet Ministers.She asked whether the Church would treat United States President Barack Obama or the Queen of England in the same way it was treating Bermuda MPs.The matter had still not been resolved one month after Ms Butterfield’s complaint, prompting an AME official to write to Pastor Guyton and Pastor Ruth Van Lowe Smith to warn: “Incidences of this nature cannot go unresolved much longer. The repercussions are countless.”Finally, Bishop Richard Norris intervened and the Church issued an apology. It’s hoped a protocol workshop will now be set up to prevent a repeat in the future.It’s understood Mr Burgess and Ms Butterfield arrived shortly before the service began on Tuesday, March 1; Mr Swan, whose family church as a boy was Mount Zion, had been placed on the front row some time earlier.Ms Butterfield wrote in her e-mail to Pastor Guyton, which she asked to be forwarded to the Bishop: “The Deputy Premier (Acting Premier) arrived at Mount Zion last night on behalf of the Premier.“I was encouraged by him to come as I am extremely tired from debating and in Parliament to early mornings only to witness the usher had both of us sit in the second row behind the Opposition Leader (ridiculous). Minister Burgess refused and started to go to sit in the back. Do we now need to teach ALL the churches protocol or ask Government to send an officer to every event?”She complained Attorney General Michael Scott had not been placed either, saying that the three of them represent Bermuda at the highest level.Drawing a comparison with their American counterparts, Ms Butterfield wrote: “Attorney General Eric Holder vs Attorney General and Minister of Justice Hon Michael Scott JP, MP.“Vice President Joseph Biden vs Deputy Premier, Minister of Public Works Hon Derrick Burgess JP, MP.“Secretary of State Hilary Clinton vs Hon D Neletha Butterfield MBE, JP, MP, Minister of Government Estates and Information Services.“What does America or any other country do? We MUST recognise that the people of Bermuda love to see their Government and representatives of the country and to think the majority of us are connected to the AME Church.”She said backbencher Walter Lister was very upset and suggested making a complaint to the Connectional Church in Pennsylvania. She continued: “Minister Burgess does not think it good for us to keep attending the AME Conference if this is not corrected immediately.“This business that we are all VIPs in God’s sight needs to stop and respect be given to those who not only serve or have served in the Cabinet but also work and serve in God’s vineyard.“What would you do if President Obama came here to Bermuda, the Queen of England, Prime Minister etc. Treat them the same way you treat HE the Governor but not this present Government Ministers and Members of Parliament.”She said in another e-mail to Pastor Guyton that morning: “When will the AME Church get it right? Protocol. The Acting Premier is annoyed and we support all the time. We are considering boycotting Thursday.”Asked last night if she had carried out that boycott, she replied: “Just a statement but was never considered at all.”She said she had not attended the conference on Thursday due to prior engagements, but “they were in my prayers”. They had attended other services held during and after the conference, she said.On April 9, the AME’s Malcolm Butterfield wrote to Pastor Guyton and Pastor Van Lowe Smith: “My view, this matter needs resolving with a sense of urgency. This incident apparently occurred on March 2 and still no resolution.“Is the Presiding Elder aware of this? Has Bishop Norris been informed? I must reiterate that incidences of this nature cannot go unresolved much longer. The repercussions are countless.“Proper protocol for the AME churches of Bermuda needs attention and direction. The key point here in my view is that Minister Burgess attended this event as Acting Premier and subject to clarification it appears that due protocol procedures were not followed.“Rev Van Lowe Smith and Rev Guyton, please confirm if both the Bishop and PE have been informed on these matters.“Given the significance of this matter, I would like to arrange a conference call on this matter on Monday April 11 with the two of you to discuss and agree the way forward here.”Ms Butterfield told The Royal Gazette last night: “The issue has been resolved with an apology and intervention by Bishop Norris and other local AME Clergy including the presiding Elder and we are hoping to have a protocol workshop with all concerned.”She said the appropriate protocol for seating should have been the same as for state funerals, the Throne Speech, or opening of Parliament, when leading Government figures are given priority seats.In a statement she said Mr Burgess and Mr Lister would support, Ms Butterfield continued: “We have no problem where we sit in the churches that we attend on a regular basis as you can find us amongst the people in the pews during Bible study as well as giving up our seats for other dignitaries that may attend our churches from time to time.“We are members and strong believers in the doctrine of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and will never consider not attending our church or assisting in any way possible to many fund-raisers, annual events such as Men and Women Days throughout all of the AME Churches.”She said before special events the pastor telephones to check the correct protocol is in place; ideally organisers compile a list of confirmed names so the MC can acknowledge people by their official names.However, she continued: “On this occasion after the welcome ceremony individuals asked what happened to the protocol as some invited dignitaries throughout the Christian Diaspora were not even mentioned.“We also received numerous phone calls from various individuals in the community such as laymen, Bishops and pastors from neighbourhood churches attending the services asking why we were incorrectly named even after they wrote us with correct names.“While we understand that these things do happen we are continuously approached by members of the congregation as to why are we sitting in some areas of churches.“Nonetheless, we have met with individuals in the AME Church offering our services to them in regards to protocol not just for us (Ministers of Government, Opposition and Parliamentarians) but for visiting Bishops from the Anglican Church, New Testament Church of God, First Church of God, the Catholic Church and others in particular visiting dignitaries.“I am very proud to be a member of the AME Church and my pastor Rev Dr Lanel Guyton who is an American continues to call when there is a special event to see if he has the protocol right.“We are all life-long learners and along with some of my colleagues who are also members of the AME appreciate assisting in whatever way possible. We were worshipping at our churches and members long before we became Senators, Ministers and Parliamentarians and our service is to God and all mankind.”She added: “We continue to receive a blessing from the word of God and appreciate all the work that the Presiding Elder, pastors, evangelists and members of the AME Church continue to do in God’s vineyard and we will not only do our best to do God’s will but support the work of all churches throughout our community and our homeland Country Bermuda.”