McKenzie finally walked away from journalism and enrolled at Howard University’s Divinity School in Washington, D.C. where she earned a Master’s degree followed by a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. In 1984, she was ordained a deacon and the following year, the pastor of Oak Street AME church in Baltimore. There, she pastored Payne Memorial AME church for 10 years before being elected the 117th bishop in 2000.

During her tenure at Payne, McKenzie secured funds for a welfare-to-work program with the State of Maryland where approximately 600 men and women were educated, trained and placed in jobs, leaving the welfare system. In addition, she led the church to purchase a building and turned it into an economic development complex, with a senior-citizen center, a Headstart program and several other businesses. McKenzie was also active in organizing the Collective Banking Group of Baltimore, the Church Health Alliance and was president of the AME Ministerial Alliance.

Prior to, and since becoming a bishop, McKenzie has been in great demand as a speaker and has been described as a dynamic preacher who has set a high, public oratorical standard in delivering messages of social involvement in the community. “Ebony” magazine has described her as one of the “15 Greatest African-American women preachers.” She is also national chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, which was founded by her grandmother.

Her first assignment as bishop placed her over the Eighteenth Episcopal District, which included Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa. There McKenzie embarked on a vigorous campaign to strengthen the district’s infra-structure. She instituted an ambitious agenda creating computer labs, entrepreneurial projects, educational workshops for teachers, new classrooms and an increase in schools supplies, giving life and vigor to the school students.

In Swaziland, she made inroads by building three large group homes for 36 orphaned children and parents without any government assistance. This project was accomplished with help of many unselfish individuals who only needed strong, moral leadership, which McKenzie provided.

After serving in Southern Africa, McKenzie moved to the Thirteenth Episcopal District covering Kentucky and Tennessee, where she is presently the presiding prelate.

McKenzie has authored several books including “Not Without Struggle” (1996) and “Strength in the Struggle.” (2006). In one of her books, she outlined “Ten Commandments for African American Clergywomen” and “Ten Womanist Commandments for Clergy” that consist of basic common sense rules designed for all clergy. Since men have historically dominated most institutions in society—including the clergy—the “commandments” seem slanted towards women offering them gender leverage to change the world from inside out.

The path of success that McKenzie has traveled since her historic election has certainly quieted the naysayers considering the barrage of questions that were raised. It was because of the symbol of a role model she provided that women preachers from all denominations came together and participated in united services to demand the real (God-given) equality that is often spoken but seldom practiced. Her work is a reminder of the distance women have yet to go and the loss that the world suffers by excluding women as equal partners in all affairs.

McKenzie is widely recognized as an expert on the theological and historical struggles of Black women. She has said that obstacles she faced while moving up the church ladder were identical to those any woman would face in a secular position adding, “You have to work a little harder, try a little more so people can see that you are real and that you are called of God. It’s essential for people to see that you are serious and committed to getting the job done.” And she continues getting the job done in a big way.

It is therefore appropriate to proclaim that McKenzie, as the first AME bishop, broke the “stained-glass ceiling” and literally pioneered the way for others including Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry of the Sixteenth Episcopal District and Bishop Sarah Frances Davis of the Eighteenth Episcopal District.

Bishop Vashti and Stan McKenzie are the parents of three children: Jon-Mikael, Jasmine and Joi-Marie.

“Legends” is the brainchild of Danny J. Bakewell Sr., executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel. Every week it will highlight the accomplishments of African Americans and Africans.

Last update: 04-25-2008 11:39

Published in : News, Legends

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