Statement from the Council of Bishops
August 21, 2025
Statement from the President of the Council of Bishops Regarding the AME Church Settlement with the Newport Group
On Monday, August 18, 2025, the AME Church crossed a major threshold in the settlement with the Newport Group. The United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee (Eastern Division) issued a ruling regarding the AME Church Employee Retirement Fund Litigation.
The Court determined that the 60 million dollar settlement with the AME Church and the Newport Group is fair, reasonable, and adequate with compensatory attorney fees and expenses. Furthermore, the Court ruled that the two objections from the plaintiffs were without merit, and there were no opt-outs by plan participants from the settlement.
According to our legal representatives, the settlement will be final after the 30-day appeal period has run its course. Therefore, funds should be available for plan participants by mid-September.
This is a positive step forward in our quest to restore the funds that were lost. We thank God for the patience of our plan participants, the prayer warriors, and the Bishops and General Officers of the Church who have led us to this point. We owe a special thanks to the AME Church General Counsel Douglass Selby and the legal team of Baker Donelson Law Firm in Nashville, Tennessee.
Let us continue to be in prayer for those impacted by this fraud perpetrated against the church and for the full recovery of the funds as the AME Church continues its endeavors for restoration.
Bishop Silvester S. Beaman
President, Council of Bishops of the AME Church