A Brief History of the Cape Fear Conference
The Cape Fear Conference was the seventh conference formed from the North Carolina Conference. This historic event took place on November 27, 1911, in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Presiding Prelate was the Right Reverend Alexander Walters who had been assigned to this conference in 1908. There were 186 churches. Before the division of the North Carolina Conference, there had been just six presiding elder districts.
The North Carolina Conference had been organized on December 17, 1864, by Bishop J.J. Clinton and comprised most of the state of North Carolina in its early years. At the time of its organization, there were twelve churches and four hundred members. Other conferences in addition to the Cape Fear Conference were also formed at this time. The division of the North Carolina Conference was necessary because of the size of the area. Most of the churches also served as schools, focusing on education and on working to build up the Kingdom of God. Work on the Cape Fear Conference grew much, and membership multiplied under the leadership of Reverends W.J. Moore, William Sutton, Herbert Bell Shaw, J.H. Mosely, P.L. Lawrence, and James t. Gaskill.
Subsequently, some of the churches that had been founded prior to 1864 finally came into the North Carolina Conference. One example involves Thomas Shirden, a freeborn man and circuit rider. Mr. Shirden had oversight over three congregations since there was no formal organization. During the years 1864 and 1865, Reverend Peter McNatt brought many souls to Christ in Bladen County, North Carolina. There were many other such happenings all over the state. Today the Cape Fear Conference is composed of four Presiding Elder Districts-the Wilmington District, the Clarkton District, the Goldsboro District, and the Wilson District. The Cape Fear Annual Conference is held in rotation among these districts.
Events of historical note for the Cape Fear Conference include:
The Eleventh Quadrennial Women's Home and Overseas Missionary Society Convention was held, August 2-8, 1947 at St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church in Wilmington, Nc. This convention was hosted by Bishop and Mrs. John W. Martin. Presiding Elder S. J. Howie was the host presiding elder and the host pastor was Reverend A.J. Kirk.
The Connectional Council was held at St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church in 1988. The Right Reverend Ruben Speaks was the Presiding Prelate; Mrs. Janie Speaks was the Missionary Supervisor.
The Cape Fear Conference held its Bicentennial Celebration at the Clinton Civic Center, Clinton, North Carolina in April of 1995. It was dedicated to the memory of the Right Reverend Herman L. Anderson and in order of Mrs. Ruth Anderson. The bishop and missionary supervisor at this time were Bishop and Mrs. Joseph Johnson.
A special service of worship for the Bicentennial Celebration was held at St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church, Wilmington, North Carolina in April 1995 in preparation for the A.M.E. Zion Church Bicentennial Celebration.
In 1996 the Cape Fear Conference participated in the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District's Bicentennial Celebration held in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Raleigh Civic Center.