The Presiding Prelate
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Bishop Erika D. Crawford, a disciple whom Jesus loves, is a Proven Leader, Trusted Servant, and Kin-dom Citizen. She is a spiritual daughter of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Stamford, CT. She embraced the work and call of the itinerant ministry, having served God through Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Stamford, Connecticut; Reid Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Columbia, SC; and Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Harlem, NY, before receiving her first pastoral appointment in 2006.
In her pastorate, Bishop Crawford was blessed to have led the Believers at Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church of Mt. Vernon, NY; African Methodist Episcopal Ebenezer Church of Rahway, NJ; and Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church of Dover, DE. She led these congregations in debt and mortgage liquidation, property acquisitions, renovations, and at Mt Zion, a 3000 sq ft building addition.
In addition to Pastoral Ministry, Bishop Crawford was blessed to have served as the Coordinator of Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministry for Fordham University (a Jesuit-Catholic University), New York Liberty Team Chaplain and Consultant for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), and Director of the Pastoral Care Department at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (Rahway, NJ).
She made history at the 52nd Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio, when 1019 of the 1720 delegates cast their ballots, making her the first woman to lead an episcopal class in the church's history. Bishop Crawford serves as the 143rd elected and consecrated Bishop and is assigned as the Presiding Prelate of the 8th Episcopal District, encompassing the states of Mississippi and Louisiana. In addition to that assignment, she serves as the Commission Chair for the Department of Church Growth for the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Before serving in a “fully funded/full-time” pastoral capacity, Bishop Crawford worked extensively in management and administration in the health insurance industry. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management at Voorhees College (Denmark, SC), a Master of Divinity at New York Theological Seminary (New York, NY), and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling at Fordham University (Bronx, NY). She has also done postgraduate work at Regent’s Park College at Oxford University (Oxford, UK).
Other work previously assigned to Bishop Crawford’s hand includes two terms as Connectional (International) President of AME Women in Ministry; Director of Stewardship for the First Episcopal District; Dean of the Ministerial Institute (Delaware and New Jersey Annual Conference); Vice-Chair of The Conference Trustee Board (Delaware Annual Conference); The City of Dover (DE) Ethics Commission, and a plethora of other religious and civic organizations.
Bishop Crawford is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; The Links Incorporated; The National Council of Negro Women (life member) and the NAACP (life member).
She is EXCITED about the Lord’s PLAN for her ministry as she continues Working for God’s Glory and Our Good.