[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 42 (Thursday, March 5, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE INSTALLATION OF BISHOP JULIUS HARRISON McALLISTER, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 5, 2026

  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Bishop Julius Harrison 
McAllister, Jr., who, at the Fifty-Second Quadrennial Session of the 
General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 
Columbus, Ohio, was elected and consecrated as the 144th Bishop of the 
African Methodist Episcopal Church and now serves as the Presiding 
Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District, which includes the State of 
Alabama.
  A fourth-generation preacher and lifelong churchman, Bishop 
McAllister answered the call of the ministry in 1992, shortly before 
his graduation from South Carolina State University, where he received 
his baccalaureate degree in criminal justice. He later continued his 
educational journey at Turner Theological Seminary, where he earned his 
Master of Divinity degree, and Chicago Theological Seminary, where he 
earned his Doctor in Ministry.
  The son of Supervisor Joan McAllister, Bishop McAllister holds a 
unique place in AME history. He and his father, Bishop Julius Harrison 
McAllister, Sr., stand as the only father and son to serve concurrently 
in active episcopal ministry since the founding of the African 
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1787 and its incorporation in 1816, 
marking a moment of profound generational legacy in the life of the 
Church. A dedicated servant of God, Bishop McAllister has devoted 32 
years to pastoral ministry, 16 of which were spent at Bethel AME Church 
in Tallahassee, Florida, where he led a ministry of strong spiritual 
formation, stewardship, and impact. During his 16-year pastorate, 
Bishop McAllister received 1,300 new members into the church, 
strengthened Christian stewardship with a strong emphasis on tithing, 
and guided the congregation in raising two million dollars annually in 
tithes and offerings. Additionally, he oversaw the construction of 85 
single-family homes at a cost of fifteen million dollars, helped more 
than 1,000 men and women overcome drug and alcohol addiction through 
the Christ-centered ``A Life Recovery Center,'' and developed a ten-
acre church campsite.
  Bishop McAllister also served as pastor of Greater Institutional AME 
Church in Chicago, Illinois, where he launched the Come Home for 
Christmas Ministry, serving over 5,000 homeless men and women and 
providing more than 2,000 children with a clothing shopping spree at 
Target or Sears at a cost of $750,000 to support needy families during 
the Christmas season. As the President Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal 
District, Bishop McAllister leads with compassion, integrity, and a 
deep commitment to shepherding God's people. His pastorate is 
distinguished by a shepherd's heart; being present with his members, 
ministering to them through life's joys and sorrows, and building 
ministries that nurture spiritual growth, Christian stewardship, 
community outreach, and holistic support for families. On a personal 
note, as a daughter of Selma, Alabama, and lifelong member of the 
historic Brown Chapel AME Church, I know that it was within the sacred 
walls of the Black Church that our foremothers and forefathers 
organized and strategized for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. 
As the President Prelate of the 9th Episcopal District of the African 
Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop McAllister has carried forward that 
proud legacy in the ongoing pursuit of justice. That is why I am proud 
to recognize his faithful leadership, ministry, and service as we 
commemorate the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
  On behalf of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in honoring Bishop Julius Harrison McAllister, 
Jr., as the President Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District of the 
African Methodist Episcopal Church.

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