October 2025 Congratulatory Announcements
*Reverend Sidney Francis Bryant, Presiding Elder, South Nashville District-Tennessee Annual Conference-13th Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal - Request for Superannuation: “Marks Bookends for Celebration”
On October 23, 2025 during the 158th Session of the Tennessee Annual Conference, Presiding Elder Sidney F. Bryant announced his request to seek superannuation, having served the African Methodist Episcopal Church in itinerate ministry for 49 years and accepting “The Call” to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 52 years ago. The “Kairos location” of his request was Clarksville, Tennessee, the same city where he received deaconate orders at the hand of The Right Reverend Howard Thomas Primm, in 1977; and where his Certificate of Retirement was officially granted at the episcopal pin of The Right Reverend Harry Lee Seawright, on October 25, 2025. These remarkable occurrences were so described in tribute by his son (James Gregory Bryant), as “divinely placed bookends of life, that were perfectly positioned to encapsulate his father’s legacy of ministerial service”.
lessed by the desire to achieve competence and extensions in leadership, Rev. Bryant has made indelible impressions on both the 13th Episcopal District and connectional landscapes; as evidenced by the multiple diverse positions to which he was elected and appointed, on all levels of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Through spiritual empowerment and progressive ministry, he served as associate minister of the former Young’s Chapel A.M.E. Church, Louisville, Kentucky (Kentucky Conference) and faithfully pastored the following congregations within his home (Tennessee Conference): St. Peter, Nashville; St. James, Dickson; Bethel Chapel, Columbia; Cedar Grove/New Bethel, Murfreesboro; St. Paul, Ashland City; Martin Chapel, Clarksville and Trinity, Nashville. This spiritual perpetuation remained evident for 24 years; distinguishing him currently, as the senior tenured pastor of Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Nashville. Rev. Bryant uniquely enhanced and expanded the church’s in-reach and outreach ministries and led the congregation to successfully liquidate the mortgage of its newly erected edifice, “11” years in advance.
Cited blessings of achieved recognitions, memberships, service investments, humanitarian efforts, community and ministerial involvements include: matriculations of academic pursuits and accomplishments via Fisk, Vanderbilt, Simmons and Bellarmine Universities; Founder of the renowned University of Louisville Black Diamond Chorus; engagement in connectional evangelism, Christian education, stewardship facilitation and mission outreach ministry inclusive of the 14th and 16th Episcopal Districts; Board of Trustees Payne Theological Seminary; Executive Director of Daniel Payne Christian Outreach Ministries, Inc.; Who’s Who of American Businessmen; the former Bell South Corporation; Moms Demand Action for Gun Violence Prevention Tennessee Chapter and the State of Tennessee Senate and House of Representatives. It has been his honor to chair “five” Thirteenth Episcopal District honorary celebrations; in addition to the intergenerational assembly of connectional participants, for the historic “Opening Procession of Global Flags”, displayed at the 45th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, hosted by his beloved 13th Episcopal District. Furthermore, it is his esteemed appreciation to have represented the 13th Episcopal District as delegate to “9” General Conferences; and to have piloted (as some term) two “pacesetting campaigns” (2000 and 2004), for the office of episcopal servanthood in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 2015, at the culmination of the Tennessee Annual Conference, The Right Reverend Jeffrey Nathaniel Leath appointed Rev. Bryant to Presiding Eldership of both the North and South Nashville Districts. This unprecedented appointment required him to oversee 38 congregations, convene 152 Quarterly Conferences and conduct the mandated Presiding Elders’ District conferences, planning meetings and conventions during the 2015-16 annual conference year; all of which he chose to assemble separately. Leading the “Serving South Nashville District, as its Presiding Elder, with innovative, educational, contemporary, nurturing and intentional ministry was his cherished delight for “10” years.
Presiding Elder Bryant has authored two literary works entitled: “And Now They Call Me Reverend”, a project which assists neophyte clergy and pastors in navigating “post-call” ministry dynamics; and “Words from the Birds-an inspired Sermon Series”.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the loving partner in life and marriage (for 51 years) of Sis. Andriette Charmaine Sublett Bryant, WMS Connectional Chair of Global Gun Violence Prevention; and the lovingly supportive father of J. Gregory (Dara Daughter) and Khabra Dawn. During this reset season, Presiding Elder Bryant and his family look forward to an era of new and creative discoveries, greater flexibility and focused opportunities. “Good works in the Kingdom of God” are endlessly available to those who continue to seek and desire to serve.
*Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., Pastor in the Eighth Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church Retires from Active Pastoring
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., Former Pastor of Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church in Amite , Louisiana officially retired from active service on Friday, October 25, 2025 with 45 Years of Active Service. He began his Ministerial Journey in The New England Annual Conference upon Admission by Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand. He was ordained by Bishop Hildebrand and Itinerant Elders orders by Bishop Frank Curtis Cummings. Bishop Cummings assigned Pastor Kelly to Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church Newport, Rhode Island. He was transferred to the Eighth District and assigned to St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Later, he was transferred to Friendship African Methodist Episcopal in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Under his leadership a parsonage was purchased. He was transferred to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana , he led to church to develop first HIV / AIDS Ministry, Haines Swimming Ministry. He also purchased additional properties. His last charge was Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Amite , Louisiana, he provided leadership to develop a Historical Marker, first congregation in our Zion in the Parish.
Dr. Kelly is former Adjunct Instructor Meridian Community College, Coahoma Community College, Rivers Parises Community College, presently he is on the Faculty at Louisiana State University in African and African Studies and the School of Education. He is a graduate of Morehouse College, Springfield College, Boston University , and Memphis Theological Seminary. He has served as Protestant Chaplain at Rhode Island College. Served as Chair Board Examiners for the Eighth District, Disaster Relief Chairperson, Conference Treasurer, Social Action Director. Columnist Christian Recorder, Senior Olympian In Swimming, Certified Life Guard and CPR.
On behalf of Social Action Commission Chair, Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, and Director-Consultant Dr. Jacquelyn DuPont Walker, we extend congratulations to you as you praise God for these significant milestones.
God Bless!
Ora L. Easley
