The Future Is Bright – Discerning the Times, Encouraging the Church, Leading with Purpose
At the Sixth Episcopal District Mid-Year Convocation in Macon, Georgia, the Rev. Dr. Tar-U-Way Richard Allen Bright, Sr., officially announced his candidacy for Episcopal Office in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in 2028.
Under the theme “The Future Is Bright,” Dr. Bright offers a vision of episcopal leadership grounded in three commitments: discerning the times, encouraging the Church, and leading with purpose.
Dr. Bright’s platform includes expanding health and wellness initiatives, strengthening intergenerational relationships, developing clergy and lay leadership, and encouraging meaningful civic engagement and prioritizing youth and young adult participation in the life of our church.
“The future of this Church is not something we wait for; it is something God calls us to help build,” Dr. Bright declared. “I believe the Church’s best days are ahead of us. When we are rooted in prayer, anchored in Scripture, willing to answer the call, the future is bright.”
Dr. Bright believes the future of the AME Church requires leaders who are spiritually grounded, attentive to the needs of God’s people, and prepared to address the challenges facing the Church and the communities it serves. His vision embraces faithful stewardship, financial integrity, transparency, accountability, leadership development, and a renewed commitment to the Church’s historic mission of faith, justice, and service.
As pastor of Turner Chapel AME Church, one of Georgia’s oldest and largest AME congregations, Dr. Bright has demonstrated a commitment to building relationships, strengthening congregations, mentoring clergy, and empowering communities. His leadership reflects the conviction that prayer is not simply preparation for ministry, it is the foundation.
For Dr. Bright, discerning the times means understanding the changing needs of congregations and communities while responding through the lens of Scripture and the Gospel. Encouraging the Church means recognizing the gifts of God’s people, nurturing new generations of leaders, and strengthening relationships throughout the connection. Leading with purpose means ensuring that the Church’s ministries and resources advance its God-given mission.
His commitment to stewardship is reflected in a record of mobilizing more than $4 million annually for ministry and community initiatives and securing resources exceeding $500,000 to address urgent needs. He understands that faithful stewardship demands responsible management, financial accountability, and the integrity necessary to sustain the trust of the connectional Church.
Dr. Bright has served as a pastor, episcopal district leader, board member of AME University and Turner Theological Seminary, and as a valued community partner. As the father of two Generation Z children, Dr. Bright recognizes the importance of engaging younger generations and creating opportunities for them to shape the Church’s future. His approachable leadership style and ability to connect across generations and backgrounds reflect his belief that every person has value and a place in God’s work.
Dr. Bright is married to Dr. Retta S. Bright, a Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. They are the proud parents of Tar-U-Way Jr., a Howard University graduate and TaRetta, a North Carolina A&T State University graduate.
As he seeks election to the episcopacy in 2028, Dr. Bright pledges to serve the entire connectional Church with humility, collaboration, spiritual discernment, and a steadfast commitment to its mission and legacy.
His candidacy represents a call to strengthen the Church, restore and sustain confidence through faithful leadership, invest in future generations, and embrace the opportunities God has placed before the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The times call for leadership rooted in faith, guided by integrity, and committed to purpose. The Church is ready. Bright is prepared. The Future Is Bright!
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