The Rev. E. Anne Henning Byfield is a much sought out speaker who is known for her empowering life messages. She is Managing Partner of AHB and associates, one of the most unique managing consulting firms in the Nation because its central mission is to help clients unleash their talents. With 30 years of governmental, and private sector experience(including Housing and Urban Development, the Dept of Justice, and the Department of Labor), AHB has an emphasis on providing development tools, centering creative participation, and advancing dynamic leadership models that result in individual and organizational transformation through various mediums and arts. She conducts workshops and seminars in leadership, justice and community issues, worship, preaching, liturgy and personal development. She has lectured/preached on several continents

Her works include:  An Adult Understanding of the Hip Hop Culture; Text or Tune: A response to it’s just the beat;   Living Beyond Viewed Limitations- A Word for Cancer Survivors,  Let the Worship Begin, A book of Liturgy; Odyssey,  A Girls Mentoring Program, An Explanation of Worship in the AME Church; Now That You are Saved; Now That You Have Joined,Preparing Leaders for Leadership,  She will be featured in the upcoming  4th Edition of “Those Preaching Women”  with Dr. Ella Mitchell, editor, Dr. Valerie Bridgman Davis.  You Can Have It all, a book of empowerment messages will be published this year as well as a book of poetry.  She has developed artpoems as a way of merging consciousness and poetry; her poetic works are often used by diverse groups. She also has a monthly coaching group” Conversations with Leaders with persons around the Midwest.  

An itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church she has a rich experience in the life of the church and beyond. She is the first woman to be a Presiding Elder in the Fourth Episcopal District’s and is believed to be one of two women whose father was a presiding elder to be appointed as presiding elder. She oversees 26 churches encompassing the central and southern areas of Indiana. One of which was started under her administration. She has the distinction of being the first AME woman preacher to preach at Wesley Chapel, London England (John’s Wesley’s Cathedral); the first female president of Central Indiana AME Ministerial Alliance; the first woman in the 160th session in the Indiana Annual Conference; and in 116th session of the Michigan Annual Conference to host an Annual Conference; and the first to host the Fourth Episcopal District Founders’ Day. She was also the first woman to preach the Indiana Annual Sermon; and in 1992 to serve as a delegate to the AME General Conference, and serving each session since. She was the first female and youngest Director of the Wayne (IN) Community Action Commission, and the first African American female president of the Indiana Interreligious Commission on Human Equality.

She has been profiled in numerous newspapers, journals and books, including Partners in Missions, Congregations in Community, Sister to Sister Devotional and Sister to Sister Journal. She is included in The Trumpet to Zion (a video that explores the dynamics between the African American Church and HIV/ AIDS), which has been distributed to over 20,000 churches. She is a liturgist, psalmist, and poet and has written several worship music including the litany used for Mrs. Rosa Parks’ funeral in Detroit, Michigan, and Congresswoman Julia Carson’s funeral in Indianapolis. Her music includes praise and worship, gospel, hymns and anthems and the use of new text for traditional hymns. She is a much sought lecturer on worship, music, and biblical foundations on worship and liturgy. She is also a monthly guest columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper.

She is listed as one in the calendar of Indiana’s Trail Blazing Women; recognized as one of the most influential African American Women in Detroit and Indianapolis. She has been named as one of the most influential pastors in Indianapolis and has received the King Drum Major for Peace Award, Jarena Lee Preaching Award and Outstanding Leadership in HIV/AIDS among others. She is, Chair of the Fourth Episcopal District Board of Christian Education, a member of Payne Theological Seminary Board of Trustees, Latino/African American Dialogue Group, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She is also the immediate past president of the Indiana Healthy Marriage and Family Coalition.

She is listed as one in the calendar of Indiana’s Trail Blazing Women; recognized as one of the most influential African American Women in Detroit and Indianapolis. She has been named as one of the most influential pastors in Indianapolis and has received the King Drum Major for Peace Award, Jarena Lee Preaching Award and Outstanding Leadership in HIV/AIDS among others. She is, Chair of the Fourth Episcopal District Board of Christian Education, a member of Payne Theological Seminary Board of Trustees, Latino/African American Dialogue Group, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She is also the immediate past president of the Indiana Healthy Marriage and Family Coalition.

She served as pastor of three churches. During her 25 years in pastoral ministry, at every church she has instituted Community Development and Social Services Corporations and spiritual, social, educational, economical opportunities and building initiatives. She has also established multi-service centers which provided direct support and intervention in the HIV/AIDS, violence, educational support, family issues as well as computer literacy. As a Presiding Elder, she has instituted a “Sports Camp” providing professional support to young men and women in basketball, soccer and tennis; and provided thousands of dollars in financial help and other resources to churches on the district. A Speaking the Truth to Girls Conference” has also been formed under her leadership.

She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Wilberforce University, and earned a Masters of Divinity degree from Newburgh Theological Seminary; an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from R.R. Wright School of Religion, Johannesburg, South Africa: and completed Harvard Divinity School/School of Government Summer Leadership Program for Community Development. She is married to Ainsley and they have one son, Michael, and a grandson, Miles.

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