Author

William H. Lamar IV

Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

The Rev. William H. Lamar IV  is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. He previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida: Monticello, Orlando and Jacksonville. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. He is the co-host of "Can These Bones," the Faith & Leadership podcast, and can be reached on Twitter @WilliamHLamarIV

Sister Sarah and the bell

By William H. Lamar IV Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

Sister Sarah, age 100, had grown up at St. Phillip AME and remembered everyone who founded it. One day, the Rev. Bill Lamar writes, he asked her about the old bell. And then he listened.

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Apply for Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Exploring Christian Practices Initiative 

The Exploring Christian Practices Initiative aims to multiply opportunities and increase access to settings that help individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds explore and engage in Christian practices to address their spiritual interests and questions, find and build community with others, nourish their religious lives and grow in faith. 

An Interest Form and Letter of Interest are due March 25, 2026. Complete proposals are due May 18, 2026.

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