Bishop Erika D. Crawford is a proven leader, trusted servant, and visionary faith-based executive with a track record of advancing congregational vitality, organizational growth, and community impact.

A native of Stamford, Connecticut, and a spiritual daughter of Bethel AME Church, she answered the call to ministry and served congregations across Connecticut, South Carolina, and New York before her first pastoral appointment in 2006. She has since led Allen Temple AME (Mt. Vernon, NY), Ebenezer AME (Rahway, NJ), and Mt. Zion AME (Dover, DE), guiding each through major milestones including mortgage retirement, property acquisition, capital improvements, and expansion.

In addition to her pastoral leadership, Bishop Crawford has held significant roles across faith, healthcare, and higher education. She served as Coordinator of Ecumenical and Interfaith Ministry at Fordham University, Chaplain and Consultant for the WNBA’s New York Liberty, and Director of Pastoral Care at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital—bringing a holistic, cross-sector approach to care and leadership.

In 2021, she made history in the African Methodist Episcopal Church as the first woman to lead an episcopal class, elected as the 143rd Bishop with a record 1,019 votes. She currently serves as Presiding Prelate of the Eighth Episcopal District, overseeing ministry across Mississippi and Louisiana, and as Chair of the Commission on Church Growth.

Bishop Crawford’s professional background also includes leadership in the health insurance industry, strengthening her expertise at the intersection of systems, strategy, and community well-being. She holds a B.S. in Organizational Management from Voorhees College, a Master of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Fordham University, with additional study at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University.

Her leadership extends across denominational and civic spaces, including service as International President of AME/Women in Ministry, Director of Stewardship for the First Episcopal District, and Dean of the Ministerial Institute. She is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated, the National Council of Negro Women (life member), and the NAACP (life member).

Bishop Crawford continues to lead with a focus on sustainable growth, leadership development, and strengthening faith-based institutions as anchors for community transformation.