AME Bishop Francine Brookins Elected Chair of General Board Social Action Commission
Bishop Francine A. Brookins was elected Chair of the African Methodist Episcopal Church's General Board Social Action Commission in January 2026. The election positions her to lead the denomination's advocacy work on civil rights, healthcare, and social justice issues.
Bishop Francine A. Brookins was elected Chair of the African Methodist Episcopal Church's General Board Social Action Commission in January 2026, according to the AME Church's official communications.
The Social Action Commission is one of the AME Church's primary bodies for addressing civil rights, healthcare disparities, housing, and social justice. Brookins' election places her at the center of the denomination's public advocacy work during a period of significant social and political activity in the United States.
The AME Church is currently operating under its 2025 to 2028 quadrennial theme, "Revive Us Again." The denomination held its 2026 Global Development Council in Mozambique in February, reflecting its ongoing international ministry focus.
The church also reported earlier this year that it successfully recouped $60 million in mishandled retirement funds following a previous embezzlement scandal, a development that church leaders described as a step toward financial accountability and restoration.
The AME Church, founded in 1816 by Bishop Richard Allen in Philadelphia, is one of the oldest and largest historically Black denominations in the United States. It operates churches across the Americas, Africa, and other parts of the world.
Brookins' leadership of the Social Action Commission comes as the denomination continues to engage with issues including immigration policy, criminal justice reform, and economic equity for Black communities.
