On April 13, 2024, the Northeastern Episcopal District celebrated the retirement of Bishop Dennis Vernon Proctor, the 97th Bishop in the line of succession. The program opened with a Call to Order by Rev. Dr. Stephen Pogue, Pastor of Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion Church. Hundreds of Zionites stood and applauded as Bishop Proctor and Mrs. D. Diane Proctor entered the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Westchester, New York. Rev. Pogue said he and Bishop Proctor have been friends for years. “I am a witness to his leadership and a beneficiary of his kindness.”
Presiding Elder Laticia Hill Godette, New Jersey Conference, Camden District, followed with The Occasion. She thanked Bishop for his 49 years of ministry, devoted service, and leadership. PE Godette said the Proctors are like my family, “where they go, I go.”
The Invocation was brought by PE Alphonso Meadows (Albany District), followed by the scripture reading by PE Moses L. Harvill (Hartford District). PE Daren C. Jaime (Midland District) led the gathering in prayer. PE Keith I. Harris (Long Island District) blessed the food.
Dennis Proctor, Jr. gave a moving and funny tribute to his dad. He said his siblings had to attend a wedding, so he was designated “tribute-giver-to-dad.” His siblings knew “dad would understand” and promised to be at the General Conference. He also thanked everyone for “showering his parents with love.”
Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of the Board of National Action Network, brought greetings from Founder Rev. Al Sharpton. He said Bishop Proctor had been a previous recipient of the NAN Legacy Award. Dr. Richardson said Bishop Proctor has been a voice for social justice and thanked him for “making sure the A.M.E. Zion Church was present in the discourse.” He also praised him for his work with the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC). In a letter of congratulations, Dr. Hazel Dukes, President of the NY Chapter of the NAACP, said Bishop Proctor is a “remarkable servant of God.” She thanked him for his spiritual leadership in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Northeastern Episcopal Districts found creative ways to honor Bishop Proctor. The New York City District played a video of “Bishop Proctor, the Preacher,” chronicling his pastorate. The Buffalo District made a video entitled “The Proctor Bunch” with pictures of the family in photo boxes as the theme song of the TV show “The Brady Bunch” played.
As a tribute to the Bishop’s activism, members of the Westchester District marched into the ballroom wearing the Black Panther Party’s signature black leather jackets, tams, and sunglasses, chanting “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” As they recited quotes from various Black activists, the guests, with raised fists, shouted, “Power to the People.”
Presiding Elder Jacqueline King (Boston District) said her assignment was to highlight Bishop’s many accomplishments, which she knew could not be done in the allotted 6 minutes. So, she decided to focus on how Bishop Proctor has championed women. She asked the women who had received appointments to stand. She then asked both clergy and laity to stand and sing together, “I Just Wanna Thank You.” PE Elder had “rewritten” some of the words to “I Just Wanna Praise You,” written by Maurette Brown Clark. She added she was hoping that Ms. Clark “would be here to sing the song; however, since she’s not here, I guess I’m it,” and led the song:
We just want to thank you forever and ever and ever.
You’ve done so much for NEED.
We gather together to honor and celebrate you, too.
Thank you, Bishop, for blessing NEED.
I just wanna thank you, forever and ever and ever,
For all you’ve done for me.
Blessing and glory and honor, it all belongs to you (repeat)
Thank you, Jesus, for our Bishop.
Thank you, Jesus, for blessing NEED.
Mrs. Proctor said she would keep her remarks short, and she did. When she asked her husband what she should say, he told her, “Just speak from your heart.” Mrs. Proctor said she “loved everyone from the bottom of her heart” and thanked everyone for their kindness and support for so many years. She also thanked the NEED Choir for the beautiful musical selections.
Bishop Proctor kept his remarks short as well. He thanked everyone for their outpouring of love and for the gifts. He said he would have more to say at “your Annual Conferences.”
Before ending the program, PE Godette thanked Phyllis Cote of Greater Centennial for the beautiful centerpieces and the Tech Team for tech skills. A Commemorative Journal can be found online. As PE Godette had suggested earlier, everyone sang “I Just Wanna Thank You” again as the Proctors left the ballroom.
It was a great tribute to a great man. May God continue to bless Bishop Proctor as he enters a new (and more excellent) phase of life.
