By Quinta Goines

Members of the Fifth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Church convened at Troy University this week for their annual conference.

The CME church received a personal invitation from Chancellor Jack Hawkins for Troy University to be the host site for the conference.

CME members from the Birmingham Region, North Central Alabama Region and the Southeast Alabama Region were in attendance for the conference.

“This is the first year three regions have came together for the conference,” said Geraldine Daniels, pastor of Southside CME Church in Birmingham.

The group arrived on the campus Tuesday and the conference ended Friday afternoon. The conference consisted of worship services, Bible studies and business sessions to handle church business.

“The conference has been great,” said the Rev. Dr. Clyde Williams, pastor of Tree of Life Deliverance Church in Atlanta and former president of Miles College. “This is the first time we have had a conference at a university, and the first time experience has been awesome. Troy University has been very hospitable to us.”

Hawkins greeted conference attendees; Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd the Alabama State University president and Dr. George French president of Miles College were also speakers during the conference.

The theme for the conference was “The Investment Factor: The local church reclaiming its legacy and its future.”

Daniels said this theme was set in place by Bishop Teresa Snorton as a focus to getting young people back into church. Snorton is the presiding prelate for the Fifth Episcopal District of the CME church.

“The theme is very fitting for this year’s conference, especially since we are on a college campus,” Daniels said. “Being here gives our youth a chance to be inspired to have successful futures.