Bishop Proctor Makes Historic Appointment

Asbury Park, New Jersey—Bishop Dennis V. Proctor appointed The Rev. Dr. Laticia Hill Godette to serve as the first woman Presiding Elder of the Camden District and the first woman Presiding Elder to serve in the New Jersey Annual Conference of the North Eastern Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Zion Church. This is not the first time Dr. Godette has made history in the A.M.E. Zion Church. In 2016, Dr. Godette became the first woman to ever Pastor a “first-church” in the North Carolina Annual Conference of the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District when Bishop W. Darin Moore appointed Dr. Godette as the Pastor of York Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Greenville, North Carolina. Bishop Proctor made this historic appointment today during the New Jersey Annual Conference’s 1st and 2nd Combined Check-up meeting which was held today at 10 A.M. at St. Stephen A.M.E. Zion Church. The Pastors of the Camden District and the Presiding Elders joined Bishop Proctor in the sanctuary while the other members of the conference participated virtually via Zoom.



Bishop Proctor introduced Dr. Laticia Hill Godette as follows:



Dr. Godette is married to Bro. Dante Godette and they have been together for 28 years. They have three beautiful daughters.  Adina is a licensed therapist in Charlotte, NC; Faith just turned sweet 16; Jordan Christina is 13 and all of them are straight-A student athletes playing basketball and volleyball. The amazing thing is Dr. Godette was born right here in Asbury Park, New Jersey.  As a matter of fact, she lived in the house right down the street...423 Prospect Avenue.  Her father lives here. Her 83-year-old grandmother lives here. Her cousin, Rev. Janet Jones is the Pastor of Shrewsbury Avenue.  Her other cousin, Pastor Nicolle Harris, grew up in Asbury Park.  Dr. Godette is a product of New Jersey coming back home to serve New Jersey.  



Dr. Godette is a true evangelist and specializes in winning souls for Jesus. She prays and preaches on her Prayer line every day at 7 A.M. for the last 5 years. Dr. Godette is spirit-led and educated. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She went to our very own Hood Theological Seminary, graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned a Master of Divinity.  She also teaches at Hood as an Adjunct Instructor.

Dr. Godette is an entrepreneur and Founder of her own Consulting Group.  One of our very own churches, People's A.M.E. Zion Church, utilized her grant writing services and was awarded two grants totaling $400,000. Dr. Godette is a productive and progressive business leader.  She is shattering glass ceilings in corporate America as the CEO of Ottendorf Laboratories.  She believes to whom much is given, much is required.  They donated over $200,000 to Livingstone College.  Also, her company provided jobs and opportunities to historically marginalized communities.  

She is a visionary leader.  She wrote a grant to help struggling churches all over the country.  This year, during a pandemic, her nonprofit gave away Ministry Grants totaling $500,000. She liquidated mortgages for 3 churches in the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District (Little Zion in Sneads Ferry, St. Paul in Aurora and Hyman Chapel in Havelock, NC).  She is very supportive of leadership.  She gave Bishop Kenneth Monroe $15,000 to help build the Eastern North Carolina Resource Center.  Dr. Godette's generosity extends all the world.  She gave $10,000 to help the Missionaries in the Western Episcopal District and she gave $65,000 to help churches right here in the North Eastern Episcopal District where she calls home.  She gave $10,000 to help pregnant women in Africa pay for medical expenses and money to help with missionary work in Haiti.

Dr. Godette is a genuine giver with a pure heart.  Her Scholarship Foundation has awarded scholarships totaling $100,000. Pastor Nicolle Harris has received $6,000 and Pastor Daren Jaime has received $9,000 to assist them in seminary.  Dr. Godette has given these scholarships to Pastors and Lay People across Zion.  During the pandemic, Bro. Godette and Dr. Godette just keep giving.  They rented trucks and filled tractor trailers with food and clothes. Then they traveled all around North Carolina helping people.  They didn't give anyone any mess.  They gave the best.  They gave away steaks, ribs, chicken, fruits, vegetables, and anything you would find in a grocery store.  

Dr. Godette is a trailblazer.  She is an ordained Elder and she has served as a Pastor for the last 18 years.  She left every church better than she found it.  She took a leave of absence last November to have a tumor removed from her head.  God performed a miracle and Dr. Godette is cancer free.

Bishop Proctor welcomed Dr. Godette and her husband, “My wife and I are blessed to have this anointed sister, powerful preacher, hard-working leader and faithful servant joining our Team.”