The estate of Earl “DMX” Simmons is opposing a planned posthumous ordination ceremony. The ceremony has not been formally recognized or sanctioned, according to an exclusive statement provided to AllHipHop.
The Estate of Earl “DMX” Simmons has rejected a recent tribute and denied official authorization for an event hoping to ordain the late rapper as a minister. They issued a formal statement stating that a planned ceremony commemorating the late Hip-Hop icon’s posthumous ordination as a minister is neither sanctioned nor supported by the Estate. The explanation comes as there is rising interest in a service originally scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Foster Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Tarrytown, but has since been relocated to Christ Episcopal Church.
In a statement shared exclusively with AllHipHop, the Estate addressed the matter directly.
“The upcoming ordination of Earl ‘DMX’ Simmons is not an Estate-sanctioned event. While we appreciate third-party efforts to honor Earl in this way, neither the Foster Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church nor Bishop Imhotep are among the representatives of the church with whom he had close ties.”
— The Estate of Earl “DMX” Simmons
DMX’s former publicist, Domenick Nati, reached out to Black Westchester regarding the decision to posthumously ordain DMX as a minister. While DMX was always open about his faith, Domenick believes there’s an important distinction to be made: celebrating DMX’s spirituality is one thing — formally ordaining him after his death is another.
“This seems weird. If DMX wanted to be ordained as a minister, he would have done it when he was alive. It’s not that hard to do. Doing it after his death comes off more like a publicity stunt from the church than something rooted in his actual intentions.” Domenick shared with Black Westchester.
Black Westchester also received calls from local church leaders questioning who authorized the ordination. The AME Zion Church confirmed with Black Westchester that it is not sanctioned by the denomination, which led to the relocation of the ceremony.
Bishop Dr. Osiris Imhotep of The Gospel Cultural Center, who has been linked to the event, hailed it as a recognition of DMX’s public professions of religion. He emphasized the rapper’s long-standing relationship with prayer, scripture, and religious reflection.
The Gospel Cultural Center expressed that the ceremony was a symbolic spiritual gesture rather than an official ecclesiastical appointment. However, as word spreads about the ceremony, the Estate emphasizes the importance of boundaries. Celebrating DMX’s faith is OK, but doing it without permission enters problematic territory.
“With the support of his mother and family, we are moving forward to ensure his spiritual life is recognized in the community he called home,” Bishop Imhotep shared with Black Westchester. “This gathering is strictly non-commercial. There are no ticket sales or fundraising efforts associated with this event. The service will include prayer, scripture, musical reflections, and community testimony.
The service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, located at 43 S Broadway in Tarrytown, on Saturday, January 10th, from 3-5 pm.
