At a moment when racial divisions in America have reached a critical stage, Denver will keep
The Rev. Timothy Tyler, pastor of the historic Shorter Community AME Church in Denver, lost his campaign last week to become bishop of the national African Methodist Episcopal Church. If he had been successful, he would have been reassigned to Africa, Europe, the Caribbean or elsewhere in the United States.
“Unfortunately, I was not successful in my bid to become a Bishop In the AME Church, but I am excited about returning to Shorter Community AME Church and the Denver community,” he said in an e-mail interview.
The loss was bittersweet for members of his congregation.
“We were all hoping he would win,” said Mae Gadlin. “But it swings both ways. We were happy and sad at the same time.”
Tyler, who moved to Denver in 2008, developed a close bond with the congregation. He shepherded them through the economic strains of the Great Recession of 2007 and the four-year fight to get justice for Marvin Booker, the homeless preacher who died while in police custody in 2010. The fight ended with a
Tyler was involved in that battle from the start, because Booker’s brother was a friend and colleague in the AME Church.
Recently, Tyler has gotten involved in the crusade for the mentally ill homeless man jailed for trespassing who died in the Denver jail after being restrained by deputies. Tyler hoped to participate more in the crusade on behalf of Marshall, but the demands of the campaign for bishop curtailed his time.
But, returning to Denver after the national AME’s convention last week, he now has more time and renewed commitment.
“I, along with my new wife Nita Mosby Tyler, look forward to growing Shorter’s capacity to be a voice of justice in the community…I see our ministry moving to a national and international stage,” he said.
Last month, he married Nita Mosby Henry, a community leader and senior vice president of human resources and inclusion officer at Children’s Hospital Colorado.