New pastor for historic AME church

• By Audrey Hackett
• Published: November 27, 2019

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One of Yellow Springs’ oldest churches has an energetic new pastor.

Reverend Morne Meyer was appointed to Central Chapel AME Church last month. The 38-year-old hails from Cape Town, South Africa, and is completing a Master of Divinity degree at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, where he currently lives. He brings 11 years of pastoring experience at a church in his home country.

Rev. Meyer said in a recent interview that he’s delighted to be in Yellow Springs. Both the church and the community are special, in his view.

“It’s a surprise and a blessing,” Meyer said of his new appointment.

Rev. Meyer succeeds outgoing pastor Rev. Dwight Smith, who served Central Chapel for nearly five years and is entering a form of semi-retirement. Meyer said he looks forward to building on Smith’s legacy.

Pastors within the AME church are appointed by the district bishop. Appointments are for one year, but reappointments are typical. So Meyer may serve Yellow Springs for several years.

He is already working on plans to engage local youth and to reach out to Yellow Springs residents who may know the AME church through its annual Martin Luther King Jr. day event, but haven’t experienced worship services at the multi-racial and multi-ethnic church.

“I never think there’s no space for God’s word,” Meyer said. “There’s a need for God’s word, and God’s love.”

Services are held every Sunday at 11 a.m. at the 411 S. High St. church.

Read the full article about Rev. Meyer in the Nov. 28 print edition of the News.

Read more about Central Chapel’s rich history here, on the occasion of its 150th anniversary in 2016.

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