Bishop John Franklin White

Chair, Global Witness and ministry

Bishop John F. White serves as the 130th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  He was assigned to the Fourth Episcopal District at the 50th Quadrennial Session of the AME General Conference in July 2016. Prior to his appointment to the Fourth Episcopal District, he served the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Episcopal Districts at the same time. He has also previously served as the AME Ecumenical and Urban Affairs officer and has represented the AME Church globally on several church councils.

Bishop White began providing spiritual leadership in October 2001 to Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. During his tenure. Throughout his ministry, Bishop White has dedicated himself to kingdom building. In 1977, he led the St. John A.M.E. Church of Eatonton, Georgia, in the building a new church edifice.  While at Greater Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church, Jacksonville, Florida, he led the congregation in the burning of the church’s mortgage and the building of a new parsonage. During his 13½ - year tenure at Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church in Miami, (January 1988 – October 2001), he established the B.A.M.E. Development Corporation of South Florida Inc.; a Legal Assistance Program in collaboration with St. Thomas University Law School; the Agape Academic Enrichment Center, an after-school tutorial program for children in the Overtown community of the inner city Miami; the Wilbur F. Ellison Scholarship Fund; the Mattie B. Koonce Computer Lab; the Bethel Investment Club; and a new model for church growth, one church in two locations, planting a Bethel A.M.E.C. (Miami) satellite worship center at Silver Lakes Elementary School, Miramar, Florida. He also led the Overtown community in building the Jefferson Reaves Health Center and 211 units of tax credit residences, Miami River Apartments.

Bishop White is a native of Boynton Beach, Florida, and a graduate of Carver High School, Delray Beach, Florida.  He is the recipient of a Bachelor of Science degree from Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Florida; Master of Education from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida; Master of Divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia; and the Doctorate of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Bishop White is married to Penny Hartsfield White, a native of Tallahassee, Florida. They are the proud parents of five lovely children: Tenner, John II, Alfred, Byron and Candace. They have two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and nine grandchildren, Erica, Dwayne, Alisha, Kya, John III, Byron Ealie, Ashton, Doriana and Joseph.