Bishop Preston Warren Williams, the leader of the African Methodist Episcopal Church's South Carolina district, will become president of the denomination's Council of Bishops in June.

Williams, 67, will announce his upcoming elevation today in Columbia. His new position is the highest title in the AME Church and will give him authority over churches in North and South America, Africa and Europe. Williams' presidency will run through June 2007, and he will continue to serve as South Carolina's bishop during that time.

"I have worked diligently my entire life to uphold the glowing torch of African Methodism here in South Carolina, throughout the United States and the world," Williams said. "Reaching the apex of AME hierarchy is an accomplishment for which I will forever be proud and eternally grateful."

In his new role Williams will become the leader for about 3 million AME members worldwide and will direct the church's 21 bishops. The AME Church boasts about 300,000 members in South Carolina.

The denomination got its start more than 200 years ago when black worshippers in a Philadelphia Methodist church were told that they could not worship with whites and that they would have to remove themselves to the balcony if they wished to remain. At the time, 27-year-old Richard Allen led an effort to found a new church. Eventually, it became the AME Church.

In time its influence spread from America to the Caribbean to South America and to Europe and Africa.

In 2000, Williams, a Georgia native,

served as bishop in Central Africa, where one of his focuses was evangelism. Four years later he moved closer to home and took control of the Seventh AME District, which encompasses all of South Carolina and is the denomination's second-largest district. Here he has organized youth summits and developed Christian education programs for clergy and lay people. The Rev. John Paul Brown, pastor at Charleston's Mt. Zion AME Church, predicted that Williams would prove himself to be a dynamic leader over the next year.

"I see him making a lot of changes," Brown said. He predicted that Williams will continue to implement programs that have been central to his agenda as South Carolina's bishop, programs such as the youth summits and Christian education initiatives.

Church leaders appeared less certain of how Williams might wield his power outside the church, specifically as it pertains to political leaders and leaders of other denominations. Juenarrl Keith is the AME Dean of Christian Education in South Carolina and spoke generally about what Williams' investiture would mean for the church's relationship with secular leaders.

"He will be talking with them responding to issues that face the faith community at large," Keith said. He would not elaborate on whether those issues include same-sex marriage, which recently has received increased attention in the denomination. He did note that the bishop will continue to bridge gaps between African AME districts and those in America.

"He remains passionate about the African districts and the need to be supportive," Keith said.

Reach Michael Gartland at mgartland@postandcourier.com or 937-5902.