Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland

Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland is Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District. Having been assigned on July 12, 2008 at the 48th Session of the General Conference hosted by the Fifth Episcopal District and entertained by the Missouri Conference. He comes home to the District in which he was elected and consecrated the one hundred and fourteenth Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1996.

As bishop, he has been assigned to the Seventeenth Episcopal District encompassing the countries of Zaire, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi and Zimbabwe. At the General Conference in the year 2000, Bishop Kirkland was assigned to serve as the Ecumenical Officer for the African Methodist Episcopal Church until 2004. In 2001, he served as the President of the Council of Bishops and in 2002 was assigned to serve the Ninth Episcopal District (Alabama), his home state. This gave him the distinct pleasure of serving two offices at once.

Prior to being elevated to the honorable position of the Episcopacy, Bishop Kirkland was the pastor of Brookins Community AME Church in Los Angeles, California for more than twenty years. Known as the "Down Home Preacher with the Uptown Message," Bishop Kirkland distinguished himself as a pastor, by growing a mission church of twelve members to a congregation of more than eight thousand; helping to establish the AME presence, in the large metropolis via radio and television ministries.
Bishop Kirkland received his early education in the Jefferson County Public School System of Birmingham, Alabama. His preparation for ministry began under the tutelage of his father Rev. H. E. Kirkland, an AME minister and from pastoring several small churches in the Eighth Episcopal District. He received his B. A. degree from Alcorn State University where he was an All-American Football player and a Master's degree from Mississippi State University. Bishop Kirkland continued to develop his ministry through further study at the School of Theology at Claremont.

Bishop Kirkland's ministry of over 40 years has placed him in the company of kings, presidents, politicians, and stars. His experience, love for the Ministry and more importantly his love for God have given him the ability to reach people from all walks of life. He has been featured in Ebony and Jet and continues to be consulted by civic and Christian Community leaders throughout the country.

Bishop Kirkland is married to Mrs. Mary L. Kirkland and is the proud father of three adult children and one grandchild.