About the African Methodist Episcopal Church
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The Mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, physical,
emotional and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ's liberating gospel through word and
deed. At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church shall
engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the A.M.E. Church evolved; that
is, to seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy through a continuing program of:
emotional and environmental needs of all people by spreading Christ's liberating gospel through word and
deed. At every level of the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church shall
engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the A.M.E. Church evolved; that
is, to seek out and save the lost, and serve the needy through a continuing program of:
- preaching the gospel,
- feeding the hungry,
- clothing the naked,
- housing the homeless,
- cheering the fallen,
- providing jobs for the jobless,
- administering to the needs of those in prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, asylums and mental
institutions, senior citizens' homes; caring for the sick, the shut-in, the mentally and socially
disturbed, and - encouraging thrift and economic advancement.
About our Presiding Elder...
Rev. Copeland has pastored across the Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and has
been God's architect in building, refurbishing and renovating numerous churches.
His pastoral charges have included Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, California; Bethel
A.M.E. Church, San Diego, CA.; Grant A.M.E. Church, Long Beach, CA.; Brookins A.M.E. Church, Oakland, CA.,
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Riverside, CA.; St. Peters A.M.E. Church, St. Louis, Missouri; Grant A.M.E. Church,
Kansas City, Kansas; St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Kansas City, KS; Asbury United Methodist Church, Topeka, KS.
and First United Methodist Church, Pacoima, CA.
As his ministry has evolved, Reverend Copeland has distinguished himself as a minister with a pastor's heart,
who is a proficient administrator, charismatic teacher and a "down to earth" preacher.
He presently serves as the Presiding Elder of the Los Angeles District of the Southern California Conference.
Pastor Copeland's instructive and forthright manner has led him to fulfill many speaking engagements before
diverse groups across the nation. Recently, Reverend Copeland was asked to serve on an open forum with
several noted Christian theologians and Jewish scholars regarding the meaning and ambivalence of the
controversial Passion play written by Otto Huber. He has also preached before Christian Congregations of
various ethnic groups and denominations with enthusiastic results.
Reverend Copeland has served as Dean of the Board of Examiners of the Fifth District of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church and President of the Los Angeles, Council of Churches. While serving as President of the
Los Angeles Council of Churches, Reverend Copeland was called upon to join forces with the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). Reverend Copeland
now serves on the Board of Directors of (CLUE). In addition, he received the Horace N. Mays Ecumenical
Service Award, the highest award given by the Los Angeles Council of Churches.
Reverend Copeland's personal commitment for social justice, continues to be demonstrated as he walked on
picket lines with MTA workers, Janitorial workers, Hotel workers and the Grocery Workers strikes, the latter which
lasted for almost a year. You could see him on the line standing with the workers carrying picket signs and
encouraging them to hold on.
Reverend Copeland has received more than 500 awards from organizations over the past 20 years. He is most
proud of the award presented to him by the Youth Law Center entitled Unsung Hero Award. He was honored for
his tireless work on behalf of families and children through Faith Communities for Families and Children. He has
also served as chairperson of the Concerned Clergy of Topeka, KS; was a member of the Mayor's Charter
Amendments Task Force of Long Beach, CA.; a member of the Mayor's Homeless Task Force of Long Beach,
CA. and a Life Member of the NAACP.
Reverend Copeland served on the Board of Directors of the Richard Allen Foundation of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church; Past President of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Ministerial Alliance of
the Southern California Conference as well as Dean of the Board of Examiners and Board of Instruction for
Ministerial Training of the Southern California Conference of the Fifth District of the A.M.E.Church.
Rev. Copeland has pastored across the Fifth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and has
been God's architect in building, refurbishing and renovating numerous churches.
His pastoral charges have included Ward African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, California; Bethel
A.M.E. Church, San Diego, CA.; Grant A.M.E. Church, Long Beach, CA.; Brookins A.M.E. Church, Oakland, CA.,
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Riverside, CA.; St. Peters A.M.E. Church, St. Louis, Missouri; Grant A.M.E. Church,
Kansas City, Kansas; St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Kansas City, KS; Asbury United Methodist Church, Topeka, KS.
and First United Methodist Church, Pacoima, CA.
As his ministry has evolved, Reverend Copeland has distinguished himself as a minister with a pastor's heart,
who is a proficient administrator, charismatic teacher and a "down to earth" preacher.
He presently serves as the Presiding Elder of the Los Angeles District of the Southern California Conference.
Pastor Copeland's instructive and forthright manner has led him to fulfill many speaking engagements before
diverse groups across the nation. Recently, Reverend Copeland was asked to serve on an open forum with
several noted Christian theologians and Jewish scholars regarding the meaning and ambivalence of the
controversial Passion play written by Otto Huber. He has also preached before Christian Congregations of
various ethnic groups and denominations with enthusiastic results.
Reverend Copeland has served as Dean of the Board of Examiners of the Fifth District of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church and President of the Los Angeles, Council of Churches. While serving as President of the
Los Angeles Council of Churches, Reverend Copeland was called upon to join forces with the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE). Reverend Copeland
now serves on the Board of Directors of (CLUE). In addition, he received the Horace N. Mays Ecumenical
Service Award, the highest award given by the Los Angeles Council of Churches.
Reverend Copeland's personal commitment for social justice, continues to be demonstrated as he walked on
picket lines with MTA workers, Janitorial workers, Hotel workers and the Grocery Workers strikes, the latter which
lasted for almost a year. You could see him on the line standing with the workers carrying picket signs and
encouraging them to hold on.
Reverend Copeland has received more than 500 awards from organizations over the past 20 years. He is most
proud of the award presented to him by the Youth Law Center entitled Unsung Hero Award. He was honored for
his tireless work on behalf of families and children through Faith Communities for Families and Children. He has
also served as chairperson of the Concerned Clergy of Topeka, KS; was a member of the Mayor's Charter
Amendments Task Force of Long Beach, CA.; a member of the Mayor's Homeless Task Force of Long Beach,
CA. and a Life Member of the NAACP.
Reverend Copeland served on the Board of Directors of the Richard Allen Foundation of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church; Past President of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Ministerial Alliance of
the Southern California Conference as well as Dean of the Board of Examiners and Board of Instruction for
Ministerial Training of the Southern California Conference of the Fifth District of the A.M.E.Church.