Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III of the African Methodist Episcopal Church tells us how Baltimore's voter turnout, police department, healthcare and education system can do better and be better.
Bio of Bishop Frank M. Reid, III
The Rev. Dr. Frank M. Reid, III is an internationally known leader, an innovative thinker and a preeminent power speaker.
Born in Chicago, IL in 1951, Dr. Reid is a 5th generation AME minister whose father (1972-89) and grandfather (1940-62) served the African Methodist Church as Bishops.
He was raised in a family that treasured distinguished educational achievement and excellence. His father and mother surrounded him with books, read to him daily and continually reminded him that "readers become leaders."
Educationally equipped in the public school system in St. Louis, MO, Dr. Reid graduated from Central H.S. in 1969, attended the Rockefeller Foundations Yale Transitional Year Program in 1970, graduated from Yale University with a BA in 1974, Harvard Divinity School, M.Div., in 1978 and was a distinguished Samuel Dewitt Proctor Fellow at United Theological Seminary, DMin., 1990.
This commitment to educational empowerment led the Governor of the state of Maryland to appoint Dr. Reid to a second term on the 17 member Board of Regents, which "oversees the system's academic, administrative, and financial operations; formulate policy; and appoint the USM chancellor and the presidents of the system's 12 institutions."
Dr. Reid preached his first sermon in 1971 while his father was the Pastor of Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC (1968-72). His first ministerial experience was as a missionary pastor in Monrovia, Liberia West Africa at the Eliza Turner AME Church (1975-76).
After graduating from seminary, Dr. Reid was appointed to his first pastorate in the U.S., Greater Bethel AME Church in Charlotte, NC (1978-80). From 1980-88 he was the servant leader of Ward AME Church in Los Angeles and was sent by the late Bishop H. Hartford Brookins to the historic pulpit of Bethel AME Church in Baltimore, MD where he served as Senior Pastor from October 1988 - August 2016.
All of the congregations that Dr. Reid has served, achieved tremendous spiritual, intellectual, economic, political and membership growth and empowerment.
In Charlotte, NC the students would walk from Johnson C. Smith to worship and work
In Los Angeles Ward was the center for the Free South Africa Movement on the West Coast and was extremely active in Rev. Jesse Jackson's historic 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns. Because of Ward’s leadership in spiritual and social transformation, he received a NAACP Image Award.
In Baltimore Dr. Reid leads a congregation that is one church in two locations. For 26 years Bethel has led the way in encouraging, equipping and empowering people to make a difference and change the world.
A “thought leader on issues of culture”; Dr. Reid was a consultant on the 1980's NBC comedy AMEN.
In the 1990's the legendary Outreach of Love TV Ministry reached millions on BET, The Armed Services, and The Word Networks.
From 2002-2008 Bethel and Dr. Reid played an important part in the HBO series, “The Wire.” Bethel and Dr. Reid were mentioned positively and regularly throughout the series; a worship service was filmed at Bethel of Dr. Reid preaching and The Outreach of Love Choir singing.
As an author Dr. Reid has written two influential and bestselling books, “The Nehemiah Plan and Restoring the House of God.” He co-authored with Dr. Jeremiah Wright, “When Black Men Stand Up For God: Reflections on the Million Man March.”
Positive, Prophetic, Powerful, Proactive and Passionate are the words often used to describe Dr. Reid's global and radical Christ centered ministry.
His greatest legacy is his faith and family. He has been married to the woman he calls "Lady" Marlaà Reid since March 15, 1980, and they are the proud parents of three gifted children: Shane, FranShon and Faith.
Bishop Reid was elected as the 138th Bishop of the AME Church in July of 2016. Bishop Reid is a third generation Bishop in the Reid Family. His election was historic for the AME Church. Bishop Reid serves as the Ecumenical Officer and the Endorsing Agent for the AME Church.
Now in the sage/mentor stage of his life and ministry, Dr. Reid is spending most of his time equipping future generations to glorify God in faith, family, fitness and finance.