By Aqueila M. Lewis

Oakland’s First African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated 150 years of service to the community during a gala event on Friday at the Oakland Marriott City Center.



    First AME Church is the oldest black church in the immediate East Bay. Since its beginning in 1858 (under the name Shiloah AME Church), seven AME churches have been organized locally. Today, with over 3,700 members, First AME Church is one of the largest churches in the Fifth Episcopal District.

   “FAME has to be that light that says to people, ‘We can break through,’” said FAME’s Reverend Harold Mayberry. “It has been 150 years of up and down, bitter and sweet. But it is worthy of the work witnessed in the community we love and doing what God has asked us to do. This marks the dawning of our life.”
    KRON 4 news anchor Pam Moore served as the mistress of ceremonies during the event. Marc Morial, CEO and president of the National Urban League, gave the keynote address.
    Also in attendance were First Lady Mary Mayberry, Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, City Councilwoman Desley Brooks, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Assemblyman Sandré Swanson, and actor and director Delroy Lindo and Mrs. Nashormeh Lindo.
    Mayor Ron Dellums’s deputy chief of staff Leslie Littleton and deputy director of intergovernmental affairs VaShone Huff presented a proclamation to FAME for its commitment to the Oakland community. It declared Nov. 14 as First African Methodist Episcopal Church Day.
   “We are a church that truly has a legacy of excellence,” said Brooks. “We have much work to do. Without First AME, we would have a void. We will continue to do the work in God’s way as a community.”
    Grammy Award winner Dorinda Clark-Cole of the famed Clark Sisters performed at the event. “I am excited about what God is doing in the Oakland area,” she said. “Look around and see what God has brought us out from. One hunwonderful to still be sticking around, the grace of God keeping us in His care.”
   The celebration also honored three outstanding individuals for their hard work, leadership and contribution to the community. J. Alfred Smith Sr., senior pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church, received the Visionary Award; Bernard Tyson, executive vice president for health plan and hospital operations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, received the Leadership Award; and Congresswoman Lee received the Trailblazer Award.
    Future projects planned by First AME Church include employment opportunities for Oakland residents and a shoeshine parlor, grocery store, bookstore and community daycare center.
    For more information, contact FAME at (510) 655-1527 or visit www.fameoakland.org.