Williams receives license to preach
Samuel Williams Jr. of San Bernardino, Calif., a 1976 graduate of Christchurch School, received his license to preach within the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church on May 18.
Williams was awarded the license by the AME Los Angeles District Presiding Elder Norman D. Copeland at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church 2010 second quarterly conference.
Williams will serve as a first-year licentiate minister under St. Paul A.M.E. Church Senior Pastor Rev. Larry E. Campbell, and has been assigned to serve at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in San Bernardino, Calif.
Williams said he will begin the first of five years of study classes in January 2011 and upon completion will be officially ordained.
Williams is a 1982 graduate of Norfolk State University with a BA in journalism.
He was a standout basketball player for Christchurch and the first African American to receive the school’s Bishop’s Award.
In 2008, Williams became the first African American to be inducted individually into the Christchurch School Athletic Hall of Fame.
