Bishop Vashti McKenzie

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie serves as the 117th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Her historic election in the year 2000 marked the first time in the over 200-year history of the AME Church that a woman had obtained the level of Episcopal office. She has further distinguished herself by serving as the first woman President of the Council of Bishops and Chair of the General Conference Commission. Additionally, McKenzie was the first woman Host Bishop for the 49th Session of the General Conference of the AME Church in June 2012.

Currently, McKenzie is honored to serve as the presiding prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, overseeing all AME Churches in Texas, having previously served in the 13th Episcopal District which includes Tennessee and Kentucky. She has been instrumental in her role as vice-chairwoman of Paul Quinn College, where her efforts have helped raise $8.5 million in philanthropic contributions. Additionally, she founded and chairs 10th Future Inc., a non-profit organization providing scholarships and grants for community service projects.

McKenzie's literary contributions include authoring five books: "Not Without A Struggle," "Strength in the Struggle," "Journey to the Well," "Swapping Housewives," and "Those Sisters Can Preach!" Her works cover a range of topics from leadership and professional growth, to personal transformation and biblical stories with contemporary implications. Recognized not only for her dynamic preaching but also for her leadership and community service, McKenzie has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the 50 most powerful women religious leaders in the world by Huffington Post in 2015.