The African Methodist Episcopal Church announces the election of Bishop Francine A. Brookins, J.D., M.Div., as the new Chair of the General Board Social Action Commission, filling the vacancy created by the passing of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson. Bishop Brookins will continue her leadership as Chair of the Publications Commission, serving the Connectional Church in both capacities.
Bishop Brookins is the 141st elected and consecrated Bishop of the AME Church and currently serves as the Presiding Bishop of the 5th Episcopal District. A licensed attorney with extensive experience in mediation, arbitration, and conflict resolution, she brings a strong legal, pastoral, and administrative background to this expanded portfolio of service.
Elected during the 51st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference in 2021, Bishop Brookins is the fifth woman elected to the episcopacy. She previously served as the Bishop of the 18th Episcopal District (Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, and Southern Mozambique) before her assignment to the 5th District in 2024. Her leadership has included major renovation projects, community development initiatives, and the strengthening of institutional infrastructure across the Connection.
A native of Los Angeles and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Bishop Brookins is the daughter of the Rev. Carole Nelson Ingram and the late Bishop Hamel Hartford Brookins, a noted civil and human rights leader. She is a graduate of Georgetown University (B.A.), The George Washington National Law Center (J.D.), and the Pacific School of Religion (M.Div.). Her pastoral ministry includes successful tenures at Bethel AME Church, Fontana, and Wright Chapel AME Church, San Francisco.
Bishop Brookins is widely recognized for her commitment to social justice, holistic community care, and transformative leadership. Her election ensures continuity, strength, and clarity of purpose as the AME Church advances its mission in this critical season.
