AME Church Works to Recover $60 Million in Mishandled Retirement Funds

The African Methodist Episcopal Church is working to recover $60 million in retirement funds that were mishandled, according to reports published in June 2026. The denomination has taken legal and administrative steps to recoup the money on behalf of clergy and staff whose retirement savings were affected.

The AME Church, one of the oldest and largest historically Black denominations in the United States, has not publicly disclosed all details of the situation. Reports indicate the mishandling involved improper management of pension and retirement assets over a period of years.

Church leadership said they are committed to making affected members whole and have engaged legal counsel to pursue all available remedies. A spokesperson said the church takes its fiduciary responsibilities seriously and that those responsible for the mismanagement will be held accountable.

The situation has drawn concern from AME members and from observers of Black church finances more broadly. Financial accountability in religious institutions has been a growing area of focus, with several denominations facing scrutiny over how they manage member contributions and retirement assets.

The AME Church was founded in 1816 and has approximately 2.5 million members across the United States and internationally. It has historically played a central role in African American civic and political life, in addition to its religious mission.

Church officials said they expect the recovery process to take time but expressed confidence that a significant portion of the funds can be recouped.