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 AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH HAS LOST A WARRIOR - TRIBUTES TO DR. JOSEPH C. MCKINNEY:
- A tribute from Dr. Dickerson on behalf of the General Officers of the AME Church
On behalf of the active, former, and retired General Officers, we extend our deepest sympathies to the McKinney family. Even in retirement, Dr. McKinney’s presence permeated the episcopacy, the general officer departments and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. McKinney will be missed.
Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson
Historiographer and Executive Director
Department of Research and Scholarship
- A Tribute given to Dr. Joseph McKinney while he was alive by Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams
A tribute to the late Dr. Joseph C. McKinney appears in the October-December 2004 issue of The A.M.E. Church Review authored by retired General Officer, Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams.
- Tribute from Dr. Richard Lewis, Treasurer
In August 1972, in New York City, I was introduced to Joseph C. McKinney. That first meeting left a lasting impression that has magnified over the years. He was a giant of a man. He was a Christian, a husband, father, grandfather, faithful friend, churchman, mentor and loyal African Methodist. I admired him and saw in him attributes that I wanted in my life.
Later, as our relationship developed, succeeding him was my desire, but I quickly discovered that building upon his foundation has been an awesome task. He was not only the treasurer, but he was a living legend, Church historian and in him, the AME Church had a loyal friend and an extremely competent leader.
With his death, many stories will go untold, but it is a blessing for me to be a recipient of some of those stories. Many of you know that “he was the man with the butter.”
Joseph Columbus McKinney touched many lives in many ways as a member of Ward AME Church, Washington, DC; as a lay leader within the African Methodist Episcopal Church; as Treasurer of the AME Church; as a consultant to many bishops, general officers, and most importantly to lay leaders and members throughout the Connection. Truly, my life will never be the same because of the impact upon my life by Dr. Joseph Columbus McKinney.
The college graduate with majors in electrical engineering, physics and mathematics became the treasurer of the AME Church after leaving a long and successful career with the United States Government. He assumed the job of treasurer with vigor and strength. He organized the AMEC Office of the Treasurer and influenced the church all over the Connection from Washington, DC to the Caribbean and to South Africa. He forged many paths and for that I can say, “God is an Awesome God and to God be the Glory!”
His wife, Maryanne, son Maurice is blessed to have had him as a part of their lives.
As Treasurer, I am forever blessed and grateful to have had him as a consultant, mentor and loyal friend. I share in the loss of this “giant” among men and women and extend my heartfelt sympathies to this beloved family, friends. And, all who knew Joseph B. McKinney.
Dr. Richard Lewis
Treasurer, AMEC
- A tribute from Dr. Dickerson
My special remembrance of Dr. Mc Kinney, of which there are many, was his soothing presence in 1995 when he appeared at my father's funeral at New Bethel A.M.E. Church of Germantown in Philadelphia. It was a low time for my family, so looking up and seeing my senior colleague made the occasion less burdensome for my family and me. He was a thoroughly decent and Christian man.
Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson
Historiographer and Executive Director
Department of Research and Scholarship
- A word from the Editor
- I remember going by and visiting Dr. Joseph McKinney on numerous occasions when I was stationed in Washington, DC. His door was always opened and I learned a lot about the Church and was impressed by his openness and love for the Church. I fondly remember, I believe that it was in 1983, when my wife, Charlotte, was in seminary; lo and behold, she received a stipend in support of her seminary education. Dr. McKinney was a man who held high positions both in the Church and when he was employed in the U.S. Government and yet he was “down to earth” and extended his warm personality to everyone he met.
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
Editor, The Christian Recorder
2. THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA IN THE GULF - A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL WITNESS AND MINISTRY (GWM):
One week and seven hours after Hurricane Katrina destroyed many cities, towns, homes, churches, synagogues and mosques; I journeyed to Jackson, Mississippi with my brother, The Reverend Phil Flowers as my driver and the supervisor of the Sixth Episcopal District, Dr. Pam DeVeaux, a devoted missionary in deed and demonstration joined us in Atlanta, Georgia. Only stopping for gasoline, we drove the mission van loaded with commodities and supplies for the victims of Katrina. I praise God because we had heard so many stories of the challenges and struggles of the long lines and high prices of gasoline, but as-matter-of-fact; we paid less in three states than when we originated in Charleston, South Carolina. God knew we were on a mission!
Upon our exit from the Interstate, we were expecting to see a dark city, but to our surprise, there were lights shining in every direction; as we traveled across the city, automobiles were moving in both directions and a few people were walking on the streets. It was obvious that the city had power failure, building has roof damage and there were numerous fallen trees caused by the hurricane.
We arrived at Pearl Street AME Church in Jackson, Mississippi at approximately 4:50 a.m., eight hours earlier than we expected. Many of the persons in the shelter were asleep, but we were given a big welcome and embraced warmly by many of the workers and the residents. Bishop Henning, Supervisor Parks and the bishop’s sister-in-law, Mrs. J. P. Henning and their team were happy to see us.
Upon our arrival, Dr. Pam DeVeaux, the Episcopal supervisor of the Sixth Episcopal District, who accompanied us, never closed her eyes until she retired very late into the night.
The pain, concern, and burden on the faces of the Bishop and Supervisor Parks were noticeable, but they kept focused - meeting the daily needs of the Pearl Street Command Center and making and receiving calls from other centers in other areas. We graciously tried to assist and to coordinate inbound and outbound shipments of supplies.
- The Office of GWM is grateful to Bishop C. Garnett Henning who released his room to Dr. Pam DeVeaux – there were no hotel rooms within a 50 miles radius of Jackson.
- The Reverend Weakly Chapman, a seminary school-mate, provided sleeping quarters for my brother and me at the home of one of his aspiring ministers – it was just like a hotel!
- I am not sure of the exact number of resident families living in the shelter.
- Persons living in the shelter were transported daily to facilities 25-30 minutes away that provided them an opportunity to take showers and tend to their personal hygiene.
- I observed many AMEs working in the disaster operation, and at various shelters in that area.
- I observed 18- wheelers, 24 foot box trucks, church vans, large pick-up trucks, mini-buses; arriving to the area from all regions of the United States; sometimes unannounced, bringing: commodities, school supplies, household items, non-perishable food, clothing and shoes, furniture, and the list is inexhaustible.
- Supplies had to be off-loaded from inbound trucks and reloaded to other trucks that would be deployed to the various disaster areas. Bishop Henning, Supervisor Parks, students from a seminary in Illinois and pastors teamed together to make the transfer of supplies happen.
- A convoy of two-24 foot box trucks and one 18-wheeler with Bishop Henning riding as a passenger, a mini-bus and a van convoyed from Jackson Mississippi. The 24- foot trucks unloaded its goods at a church command center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Bishop Henning helped offload the trucks. The 18-wheeler and the other team went to an Elementary School in Gulfport, Mississippi that served as the primary AME command center for that region.
- We were met by the Conference Director of the YPD, Mrs. Watts and a host of AMEs and large group of military ROTC cadets who were empowered to help unload the large 18-wheeler.
- It was a tremendous sight to behold…”men and women, boys and girls, different races, denominations and people ethnic groups working together
- Two AME churches, among a number of other churches in the Gulfport area, sustained major water, wind, and structural damages – we had the opportunity to tour those church facilities and minister to pastors and congregation members.
- Three hot meals were prepared and served each day by parishioners of the church for the persons living in the Pearl Street AME Church shelter...great organization.
- Pearl Street AME Church (Pastor Samuel Boyd) used every available space to store the various items for the victims of the storm, to include a rental building across the street from the church.
- Greater Allen AME Church, Jackson, Mississippi (Reverend Weakly Chapman) provided services, goods and commodities to victims in another area of Jackson
- Bishop Henning and Supervisor Parks were provided offices at Pearl Street AME Church.
- The Department of Global Witness and Ministry telephone numbers: (843) 852-2645 or (866) 211-9934.
- Victims affected by Hurricane Katrina can receive cash grants are being offered to victims of the Gulf coast by the organization, “Direct Relief International,” telephone (805) 964-4767, Attn: Ms. Christienne Durbin.
- Personal care packages, i.e., toiletries items for woman are being provided by “Direct Relief International” to Mobile, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
- Many churches and/or congregations coordinated Hurricane Katrina Relief items through the Department of GWM:
DuPage AME Church
DuPage, Illinois
Two - 24 foot box trucks
Ebenezer AME
Evanston, Illinois
Two church vans
Global Witness & Ministry
Charleston, South Carolina
One mission van
Metropolitan AME
Washington, DC
One cargo plane and one - 18-wheeler
Bethel AME
Florida
One- 18-wheeler
Women of Destiny
McCormick, South Carolina
Two Vans
Campbell Chapel AME
Bluffton, South Carolina
One van and one 18-wheeler
Saint Matthew AME
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
One 18-wheeler
Williams Chapel
Forsyth, Georgia
One 18-wheeler
Ebenezer AME
Charleston, South Carolina
Five vans
Sue Nichols Taylor
New York
Teams of social workers to the affected areas
Wayman AME Church
Pennsylvania
1-18-wheeler
McCormick High School
McCormick, South Carolina
One van
Ashdown AME
Ashdown, Arkansas
FedEx supplies
The Executive Director, GWM, Dr. George Flowers presented a Check of $3000 to Bishop Garnett Henning to supplement salaries of pastors and presiding elders whose incomes had been decimated by the affects of Hurricane Katrina.
My next visit to the Gulf region will be Monday, September 26 through Friday September 30.
Dr. George Flowers
Executive Director
Department of Global Witness and Ministry
3. AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR PREACHERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA:
Dr. Jerome V. Harris, Executive Director of the AMEC Department of Annuity Investment and Insurance has arranged with the annuity investment vendors, Symetra Insurance Company and American Express, to process requests for "Hardship" annuity withdrawals on an EXPEDITED basis for those participants affected by Hurricane Katrina.
All participants assigned to the Eighth (Mississippi and Louisiana), Ninth (Alabama) and Eleventh (Florida) Episcopal Districts are eligible for expedited hardship annuity withdrawals. In an effort to provide more immediate financial assistance to persons in these devastated areas, expedited payments can now be made and received in as soon as 24 hours, depending on the mode of distribution, i.e. Direct Bank Transfer, US Mail, etc. The normal withdrawal process usually requires approximately 3 - 4 weeks, so our pastors and their families are blessed, in this time of difficulty, with the expedited arrangement.
Participants desiring to avail themselves to this process should contact the AMEC Department of Annuity Investment and Insurance directly at (901) 527-2006 or by Email at amec_des@bellsouth.com
Dr. Jerome V. Harris
Executive Director
AMEC Department of Annuity Investment and Insurance
4. THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AS COLLECTED OVER A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR HURRICANE KATRINA:
Dr. Richard Lewis, Treasurer announced at the Strategic Planning Meeting that more than over $500,000 has be collected for Katrina.
5. THE STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING:
The next issue of the Christian recorder will feature a more in-depth article on the work of the Strategic Planning Meeting that was held in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday and Tuesday.
I wish that every member and every pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church could have been there while the work groups were grappling with the issues of the Church as they addressed diversity, spiritual growth, leadership and management, issues of Christian character, education and economic growth. The facilitators, Mrs. Carlita CMJ Perkins and her husband, Mr. Charles Perkins were awesome facilitators who know their craft.
As I observed the groups wrestle with the issues and their attempts to provide solutions, I could not help but reflect upon some of the negativity that is sometimes expressed by a few clergy and a few laity and the current Chrysler Commercial with Lee Iacocca came to my mind, where the punch line is, “If you can find a better car, buy it!” Observing the Strategic Planning Meeting work groups, I thought about those who complain about our Zion, “If you can find a church, better than the AME Church, join it!”
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
