Oldest black denomination elects femail

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest black denomination in the U.S., elected its first female bishop July 11.

Vashti McKenzie was elected to one of four open bishop positions on the second ballot. “Because of God’s favor, the stained glass ceiling has been pierced and broken,” McKenzie said. McKenzie was one of two women among the 42 candidates for bishop. The church has 2.3 million members in the U.S., Canada, England, Africa and the Caribbean.