AME Bishop Says Black Church Must Be Guardian of Democracy Amid Redistricting Fight

Bishop Julius McAllister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Alabama says the Black church must act as the "guardian of democracy" as redistricting efforts in several states threaten to reduce the political power of Black communities.

Speaking this week, Bishop McAllister said the church cannot afford to stay silent while legislative maps are redrawn in ways that split Black neighborhoods across multiple districts. He called on AME congregations across Alabama to treat voter education and civic engagement as a spiritual responsibility, not just a political one.

"The church has always been the place where our people organized, educated themselves, and found the courage to act," McAllister said. "That role has not changed."

Alabama has been at the center of redistricting battles for years. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that the state's congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power. The state has since drawn new maps, but advocates say the changes did not go far enough.

McAllister is encouraging pastors to host voter registration events, invite candidates to speak at church forums, and partner with legal organizations that can help members navigate new ID requirements and registration deadlines.

The AME Church has a long history of political engagement. Founded in 1816 by Richard Allen in Philadelphia, the denomination has been involved in abolition, civil rights, and voting rights movements throughout its history.

McAllister said the current moment is as serious as any the church has faced. He plans to convene a regional gathering of AME pastors in August to coordinate a unified response to redistricting and voting rights challenges across the South.