AME church offers to help struggling college

ATLANTA - A leader of the African Methodist Episcopal church says the congregation plans to collect donations next month to help Morris Brown College. <br> <br> The AME church comprises 1.2 million members worldwide. <br> <br> Bishop Adam Richardson -- president of the Council of Bishops -- said the church hopes to raise at least $2.5 million on February 9 for the private college that was founded in the basement of Atlanta&#39;s Big Bethel AME Church in the 1880s. <br> <br> Morris Brown President Charles Taylor has said the historically black college is about $27 million in debt. <br> <br> Richardson -- who oversees a district of churches in South Africa -- said, ``This is a crisis in our family.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has revoked accreditation at Morris Brown but the college can retain its accredited status as it appeals the decision. <br> <br> If the college loses, students will not be eligible for federal financial aid. A hearing is expected in March. <br> <br> Registration at Morris Brown is expected to begin Monday. It is unclear how many of its 2,500 students will return.