Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor
1. THE EDITOR’S CORNER:
I received a negative letter from “Bishop” Robert L. McKenzie, which I wouldn’t even dignify by placing it in The Christian Recorder. I have forwarded the letter to all of the Bishops, whose email address I have, and to the General Officers. I am appending my response to the “good bishop.”
My response
Dear Bishop Robert L, McKenzie:
Thank you for your kind note. As far as I am concerned this matter with Grace Ministries International Fellowship and Grace Seminary is “laid to rest.” Praise God!
You have listed a number of negative things about the AME Church, but in the Spirit of Christ, I will not attempt to respond, in kind. Instead, I am responding in the Spirit of Christ and on behalf of the Church. We will “Turn the other cheek.” The Bible, quoting Jesus says, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11, 12) I am rejoicing because of your letter and I praise God for your letter. Thank you for all of the negative statements you said about the AME Church and its leadership. I am rejoicing! I rejoice because, you said that you, “…almost died laughing” because of what one of our bishops said. I rejoice because you found some humor in his statement. I rejoice, in the Name of Christ, because of all of the negative things you have written about the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Please accept this note as our way of “turning the other cheek” to your negativity and venomous statements.
May God bless you and your ministry and may the love and peace of Christ be yours!
2. UPDATE OF MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE
The Morris Brown College Board of Trustees has selected Mr. James E. Young, President and CEO of Citizens Trust Bank of Atlanta, Georgia, as its Board Chairman on September 13, 2004. The board is comprised of representatives from the corporate world, alumni of the college and concerned persons from the Atlanta community. At the time of the vote, there were no ordained African Methodist clergy serving as members other than Bishop DeVeaux.
Under the new model, Bishop William P. DeVeaux, the presiding bishop of the Sixth Episcopal District will serve as Board Vice Chairman. He has agreed to support all programs of the Board as it seeks to restore and revitalize the college. The trustees believe that this governance program will provide greater access of the corporate community, enhance the strategic planning process, and increase funding.
The Trustees will depend on the consistent and faithful support of the entire constituency of the African Methodism as its primary building block for insuring the future of Morris Brown College.
3. THE GLOBAL CORNER: NEWS FROM THE 20TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
Malawi North Annual Conference - August 3rd - 7th 2005
Host Church - Boma AME Church - Chitipa, Malawi
Host Pastor - The Rev. B. M. K. Siyeni
Host Presiding Elder - The Rev. W. M. Ngulube
Malawi south annual conference - august 10th - 14th 2005
Host Church - Nalikata AME Church - Mulanje, Malawi
Host Pastor - The Rev. S. Manyera
Host Presiding Elder - The Rev. Lewis Mwenye
Northeast Zimbabwe annual conference - august 17th - 21st 2005
Host Church - Sakubva AME Church - Mutare, Zimbabwe
Host Pastor - The Rev. Lovemore Machivenyika
Host presiding Elder - The Rev. O. T. S. Sanhanga
Southwest Zimbabwe Annual Conference - August 24th - 28th 2005
Host Church - Jordan Temple AME Church - Gwanda, Zimbabwe
Host Pastor – The Rev. Freeman Nhlazo
Host Presiding Elder - The Rev. John Makgatho
Central Zimbabwe Annual Conference - August 31st - September 4th 2005
Host Church - Mt. Zion AME Church- Gweru, Zimbabwe
Host Pastor - The Rev. David M. T. Muravu
Host Presiding Elder - The Rev. David M. T. Muravu
Malawi Central Annual Conference - October 5th - 9th 2005
Host Church - Mdabwi AME Church - Kasungu, Malawi
Host Pastor - The Rev. J. A. Kambanizite
Host presiding elder - The Rev. N. Chamamba
With kind regards,
Bishop W. J. Messiah
4. GOOD NEWS FOR THE UNINSURED SUBMITTED BY THE REVEREND DR. MIRIAM BURNETT:
Millions of people across the country and in our state have difficulty affording health care, including prescription medicines. They lack health insurance and simply do not have the money to pay for the medicines they need.
But there is good news
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance can help low-income, uninsured patients access the free or nearly free, brand-name medicines they need. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, patient advocacy organizations and civic groups. The African Methodist Episcopal Church Connectional Health Commission (AMEC CHC) is proud to be a part of this effort.
By calling 1-888 - 4PPA -NOW, patients can learn whether they may be eligible for one or more patient assistance programs. A trained specialist will ask a series of short questions and help identify the right patient assistance program for them. Patients can also visit the program’s interactive Web site, www.pparx.org, which will guide them through the application process.
The patient assistance programs available through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offer prescription medicines to treat a broad range of illnesses and conditions, including, but not limited to, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, HIV/AIDS, depression, seizures, heart disease, arthritis, skin conditions, thyroid disease and high cholesterol.
Though each patient assistance program has its own eligibility criteria, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance encourages anyone who does not have prescription drug coverage and has trouble affording their medicines to call 1-888-4PPA-NOW or log on to www.pparx.org to see if they may qualify for one or more programs.
Helping the uninsured is a top priority for African Methodist Episcopal Church Connectional Health Commission, and we will continue to advocate for those in need. If you are interested in learning how you can help support the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, please contact Mrs. Gwen Williams, Executive Director (telephone: (504) 482-6053) or Rev. Dr. Miriam Burnett, Medical Director (email: mailto:mburnett@itc.edu). We are pleased to be a partner in the effort to bring free to those in need.
5. LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I thank you for bringing up the issue of Itinerancy. It is a topic that is worth discussing. I do not think one can discuss Itinerancy without discussing what it means to be called by God to be Pastor. For when God calls us he has a plan and it may mean moving.
I have had the pleasure of serving in the United Methodist and the A.M.E. church. As a United Methodist, I was taught we serve at the pleasure of God and the Bishop. In other words when the Bishop assigned you somewhere, even if you did not like it, you said "Thank you sir, for using me" then cried when you got home, if it was not an assignment you liked.
When I answered my call to serve God, I knew he wanted me to do a different type of ministry and I was excited! I never felt called to an urban church. And like you Dr. Sydnor, I was in a prize conference, the New York conference of the United Methodist Church in New York City.
While attending Princeton Seminary my last year, the Dean of placement called me and said he had the perfect position for me. As a United Methodist Campus minister in Bozeman, Montana!
I thought he was crazy. The position wanted someone with a social work degree which I had. That was 13 years ago I took the position and I am still in Montana. Now I am doing rural ministry in the A.M.E. church which I love. I am a church planter which is my heart's desire and I am now an Itinerant elder in the A.M.E. church. It has been an amazing journey. I still say I serve at the pleasure of God and the pleasure of Bishop Bryant. For being an Itinerant pastor is like being a fire fighter, we can not pick and choose which fires to put out; we must always be ready and go where we are needed.
Lastly, I am so proud to be A.M.E. for if I had not been in Montana, I would not be A.M.E. Though my work is small, it is important to God, Bishop Bryant. God needs some of us to venture from the safe and comfortable. For there are so many longing to hear his word. Dr. Sydnor, you have been such a wonderful mentor to me and so many others. I thank God for your wonderful work on the Christian Recorder.
The Rev. Denise Rogers,
St. Paul Community A.M.E. Church
www.forministry.com/59715spcac
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
