Bishop & Supervisor Seawright
Bishop Harry L. Seawright
Bishop Harry L. Seawright serves as the 133rd elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. His election marked a historic moment during the church’s 50th Quadrennial General Conference as he became only the second bishop to be elected on the first ballot.
On December 12, 2025, he was appointed by the Council of Bishops to the Second Episcopal District to serve as the Presiding Prelate over five Annual Conferences: Baltimore, Washington, Virginia, North Carolina, and Western North Carolina. He also serves as Chair of the AME Commission on Christian Education. From 2019 to 2020, he faithfully led the denomination as President of the Council of Bishops.
From 2016 to 2024, Bishop Seawright served as Presiding Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District (the State of Alabama). On August 28, 2024, during the 52nd Quadrennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbus, Ohio, he received his Episcopal assignment as Presiding Prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District (the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the State of Tennessee).
Born in Swansea, South Carolina, Bishop Seawright is the youngest child of the late Joe Nathan and Mary L. Seawright. A fourth-generation AME, his faith was deeply nurtured at Prodigal AME Church in Swansea, South Carolina. His humble beginnings and spiritual foundation continue to illuminate and sustain his lifelong commitment to faith and service.
Bishop Seawright earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. He received the Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C., where he was honored with the award for “Student Most Likely to Excel in Pastoral Ministry.” He earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Howard University and was named “Doctor of Ministry Student of the Year” for his exceptional doctoral project. He has received numerous additional honors, including participating in the University of Oxford Roundtable in Oxford, England.
Throughout his ministerial journey, Bishop Seawright was admitted to the Central Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District by the late Bishop Frank Madison Reid, II, and appointed to serve as Interim Pastor of St. Stephen AME Church in St. Matthews, South Carolina. He was ordained an Itinerant Deacon by the late Bishop Henry Wendell Murph and an Itinerant Elder by the late Bishop John Hurst Adams. Over a distinguished pastoral career spanning 35 years, he served congregations at Payne Memorial AME Church in Jessup, Maryland; Hemingway Temple AME Church in Washington, D.C.; and Union Bethel AME Church in Brandywine and Temple Hills, Maryland.
Bishop Seawright is the author of More Than Bricks and Mortar: Building a Church Without Losing Your Mind and Don’t Faint: Help for Hurting Pastors and Their Families. His practical and transparent writings continue to encourage, guide, and strengthen pastors, leaders, and congregations.
In addition to his pastoral and Episcopal leadership, Bishop Seawright has served the church and broader community in numerous capacities, including the AME International Commission on Economic Development, the AME International Health Commission, Second Vice President of the Trustee Board at Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center, the Church Mutual Insurance African American Leaders Advisory Committee, and the AstraZeneca U.S. Health Equity Advisory Council. In 2018, he was inducted into Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
As an entrepreneur, Bishop Seawright is the founder and co-owner of WeKleen, Inc., HLS Consulting, Trinity Group, and Prestigious Property Management. He continues to apply his business expertise to advance community development and promote positive societal change.
Bishop Seawright is married to the former Sherita Gayle Moon. They are the proud parents of Ms. Shari Nicole and the Reverend Harry Mathew Seawright, and the loving grandparents of Minister Cameron Isaiah Seawright.
Supervisor Sherita Seawright
Sherita Moon Seawright was born in Clinton, South Carolina. Rev. Sherita is married to the Bishop Harry L. Seawright. They have two adult children, Ms. Shari Nicole and Rev. Harry Matthew, and one grandson, Min. Cameron Isaiah. She is the second of four children born to the late Peter and Aurelia Moon.
Rev. Sherita attended public schools in Mountville, Cross Hill, and Clinton. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, summa cum laude, from Benedict College, Columbia, SC, a Master of Arts degree in political science from The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, and a Master of Divinity degree (with honors) from Howard University School of Divinity, Washington, DC. She completed a Chaplain Internship and Residency in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.
Rev. Sherita grew up in Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Clinton, SC, where she served as a Sunday school teacher and church musician. In 1982, she became a member of Prodigal African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Swansea, SC. She supported her husband as he served as pastor of Payne Memorial AME Church, Jessup, Maryland, Hemingway Temple AME Church, Washington, DC, and Union Bethel AME Church, Brandywine & Temple Hills, Maryland. As an Itinerant Elder at Union Bethel, Rev. Sherita was the Assistant Pastor and Minister to Women. She also served as Executive Director for Bethel House, Inc., a Union Bethel non-profit agency. Rev. Sherita worked as a chaplain for Capital Caring Hospice in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
In July 2016, at the 50th Quadrennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rev. Dr. Harry L. Seawright became the 133rd elected and consecrated bishop in the AME Church. Upon Bishop Seawright’s assignment to the Ninth Episcopal District (the State of Alabama), Rev. Sherita was installed as a member of the Supervisors’ Council. She supported the 9th District WMS and YPD as they provided: food for the hungry, financial assistance and supplies to homeless shelters, toiletries, and personal care items for women in prison, backpacks and other school supplies as well as weekend lunches for students, virtual tutoring for early childhood education. From August 2024 until December 2025, she served as Episcopal Supervisor of the 13th “Episcopal District (Commonwealth of Kentucky and the State of Tennessee). As Episcopal Supervisor of the Second Episcopal District, Rev. Sherita is excited about this new adventure in a new Episcopal District that allows her to continue her passion for missions.
Rev. Sherita enjoys reading, writing, preaching, convening women’s conferences, and facilitating workshops. She is the author of a poem, “A Prayer for the Women Who Wait” and a book, When Momma Died- A Journey to Self. She is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.