A 237-year-old African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church has made headlines after it elected its first woman to serve in leadership. Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia announced it had elected Rev. Carolyn C. Caveness to replace its former pastor, Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler. Tyler had served as head pastor for 16 years. Caveness had been leading at Bethel AME Church in Ardmore, Pennsylvania since 2014. Mother Bethel made the announcement, stating, “Rev. Cavaness brings a wealth of experience, a deep commitment to social justice, and a dynamic vision for the future of the church. Under Rev. Cavaness’ leadership, the church aims to strengthen its commitment to its mission of faith, service, and justice.”

Caveness comes from a long line of pastors, with her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather having all served in the role. She graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University of New York City, with a major in urban studies and a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary of New York City. She has worked with a number of interfaith community efforts and as a deputy finance director for Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. She received her preaching license at 15 and helped serve churches with her father throughout her childhood.

Holding on to her late father’s Bible during her first sermon, she called the moment “surreal.” “I had his Bible, and I had that view and his voice of, ‘Wow, my daughter made it to the mother of the A.M.E. Church. It was surreal,” she told The Philadelphia Inquirer. She spoke to her congregation of her gratitude and hope for the future. “I stand before you as a new pastor before new people. But the same God that has kept us yesterday and is keeping us right now is the same God that will keep us in the days that will unfold.” She added, “I’m looking forward to working together; I’m looking forward to continuing in the long legacy as we stand as the mother of them all. I stand here with a debt of gratitude.” She recalled Mother Bethel’s history, calling it “amazing.” “Mother Bethel, we are an amazing place. Ain’t no place on Earth like this place. Because you don’t have nobody unless you have your mother. As things are being stricken down, there is a place on Sixth and Lombard that will stand.” The congregation spoke with excitement of Caveness’s election, with church member Fran Jenkins saying, “It brings a message that, no matter what is going on in the world, no matter what our president says, there is a future.”