The African Methodist Episcopal Church, on July 6-13 will be holding the 50th quadrennial session of its General Conference and bicentennial celebration to Philadelphia, the birthplace of African Methodism, creating a big economic boon in the process.
The General Conference, the supreme body of the AME Church that meets every four years, will bring about 30,000 attendees to Philadelphia, including bishops, college presidents, deans, chaplains in the U.S. armed forces and more, according to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The eight-day conference is expected to generate more than 28,400 hotel room nights, with an economic impact of $21.2 million, according to PHLCVB.
The AME Church encompasses 20 districts, spanning 39 countries, and its general conference allows members to discuss and enact policy changes and programmatic issues, and to elect bishops and general officers, according to PHLCVB.
According to the AME Church, its mission is “to minister to the social, spiritual and physical development of all people.”
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is expected to visit the conference this year. A few weeks later, she will be in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention. Past speakers include Martin Luther King Jr., then-Senator Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Read more about the General Conference here.
SOURCE: Philadelphia Business Journal – Kenneth Hilario
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