Bishop
Richard Franklin Norris - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. EDITORIAL – THE GENERAL CONFERENCE IS A COLOSSAL UNDERTAKING AND WE OWE A
DEBT OF THANKS TO ALL WHO ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th
Editor of The Christian Recorder
Folks are
arriving to the General Conference in Nashville, Tennessee from around the
world. The bulk of the ministerial and lay delegates will be arriving on
Tuesday and the Opryland Hotel and Conference Center will see activities they
have probably never seen before. The AMEs will arrive and we will take
occupancy of the entire facility and will also take full occupancy of a number
of nearby hotels.
Some of the
bishops have already arrived and most of them will be here before Tuesday.
Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, Chair of the
General Conference Commission and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Host Bishop
are already” on the grounds” along with Dr. Richard Lewis, Treasurer/Chief
Financial Officer fine-tuning and making final preparations for the General
Conference.
The
Revisions Committee members have already arrived and are on the grounds. The Rules Committee and the Credential
Committee members are on their way and should be in place by Sunday. The
volunteers, working without pay, have been working around the clock because
they love the AME Church. The leadership of the 13th Episcopal
District has been working hard fine-tuning all of the “nuts’ and bolts” needed
to execute the General Conference.
Dr. Johnny
Barbour and the employees of the AMEC Sunday School Union have been working
around the clock to ensure that all of the publishing tasks have been
completed. They have been making multiple deliveries from the AMEC Sunday
School Union to the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center.
General
Conferences are always exciting and the fellowship is “second to none.”
The General
Conference is a thrilling place to be; but it’s a busy, busy time especially
for those in leadership positions. I will say it again; the General Conference
is not a vacation.
A lot of
work goes into the planning and executing of a General Conference.
The work
for 49th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference began more
than 8 years ago and the intense planning intensified at the close of the 2008
General Conference that was held in St. Louis.
Planning
and executing a General Conference is a multi-million dollar project even before
the General Conference begins. Think about the Herculean task of
selecting the venue, reserving the hotel rooms for delegates, alternate
delegates, and visitors. Safety issues have to be considered and medical
personnel have to be employed. Planning has to be coordinated to insure
enough food and drinking water are available for the thousands of
attendees. Wheel chairs and motorized scooters have to be coordinated for
the physically challenged. Transportation to and from the airport, and
around the site of the General Conference have to be coordinated.
Coordination
has to be made with restaurants for the dietary preferences of the folks who
will be attending the General Conference. The palates of people from around the
world have to be considered. The meals being planned in the AME Mall and the
strategy for feeding thousands of people attending the General Conference is
more than a notion and takes a lot of planning.
Security
and emergency personnel have to be coordinated; lost and found operations have
to be put in place; booklets have to be assembled; chairs have to be put up and
taken down; elaborate sound-systems have to be constantly tweaked. And,
this year technology prevails; the General Secretary’s Office under the
leadership of Dr. Clement Fugh has developed an official blog so that people
all over the world can receive updates of what is happening at the General
Conference. The Christian Recorder is
a part of the AMEC blog initiative and TCR
will also be sending live updates as events happen.
The worship
services will be video-streamed and people from around the world will be able
to view AME worship.
General
Conference marshals, ushers, stewardesses, clergy participants, choir and
musicians’ duties have to be coordinated. Worship services have to be
coordinated; the sacraments for Holy Communion have to be provided and supplies
have to be ordered.
Signage and
rules have to be coordinated in such a way that all procedures are understood
by everyone.
And, I
haven’t touched the surface about all that’s needed in preparing for a General
Conference. Registration procedures and all that goes with it, to include
the technology needed insure that things will run as smoothly as possible needs
to be tweaked every hour; twenty-four hours a day until the General Conference
ends.
And, after
the General Conference, work still has to be done. The Discipline has to be prepared, which requires the monumental
work of the Compilation Committee and the Office of the General Secretary. Dr.
Johnny Barbour has the massive task of publishing The Discipline. He is planning to have both a hardcopy edition and
an electronic edition. He is still working out the logistical details.
It may take
a “village to raise a child,” but it takes AMEs from all over the world to prepare for
and execute an AME General Conference.
We all owe
a debt of thanks to the leadership of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,
to include all of the bishops and general officers, the elected leadership of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and to the Connectional Officers and
all of the pastors, laity, volunteers, and especially to all of the deceased
and retired bishops and retired general officers; connectional officers,
retired presiding elders, retired pastors, and the retired laity and those who
have “gone on to glory,” who laid the foundation and upon whose backs we stand,
that makes all of the planning and execution of the 2012 General Conference
possible.
And a
special thanks to Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 13th
Episcopal District and the General Conference Host; to Bishop Gregory G.M.
Ingram, Chairperson of the General Conference Commission, Dr. Clement Fugh, General Secretary and Dr. Richard Lewis, Chief
Financial Officer for the AME Church; and for all of the people who work with
them.
The AME
Church says, “Thank you!”
And, one more thing
Let’s
remember that the candidates have expended a lot of energy, time and finances
in aspiring for leadership positions in the Church. Their families have made
significant sacrifices too. Let’s be loving and caring to those who fail to be
elected; and by our actions and compassion let’s help them to understand that
their ministry is not defined by the outcomes of the election at the General
Conference. Let’s embrace and affirm both, those who get elected and those who
do not get elected.
The Christian Recorder
The
Christian Recorder will
now consist of TCR Breaking News, TCR News Breaks and TCR Daily General Conference reports, updates; and news items in
the AMEC General Conference blog until the General Conference ends on July 4th.
Those who are subscribed to The Christian Recorder Online will receive TCR Breaking News, TCR News Breaks and Daily General Conference Reports; there will be
no postings on The Christian Recorder
Online Website until after the last week in July.
2. A
COUPLE OF 2012 GENERAL CONFERENCE HOUSEKEEPING NOTES:
-- Church Vans/Buses
If your
Church is planning to take a church van/bus to the General Conference you must
pre-register that vehicle in order to be able to park at the Opryland Hotel and
Conference Center without any fees.
The website to register your van:
-- First Lady Michelle Obama
Michelle
Obama will be the Keynote Speaker on June 28, 2012 and you must be a paid
observer or delegate to attend that session.
Agenda for the 49th Quadrennial
Session of the General Conference (Attached) –
Note: Save the GC Agenda in your
smartphone of mobile device and you will not need a paper program
Attached to
this message is the Official Agenda for the 49th Quadrennial Session of the
General Conference
-- Observer Fees
Observer
fee for the Business Sessions is $50.00 per day; Full Registration for all
Business Sessions is:
Regular -
$125.00
Student (w/valid
college ID) - $50.00
Youth (ages
5-18) - $25.00
-- Observer fees are not needed for
the following General Conference Sessions:
Wednesday,
June 27, 2012
10:00 a.m.
Opening Worship Service
Bishop John
R. Bryant, Worship Leader
Bishop
McKinley Young, Preacher
Sunday,
July 1, 2012
8:00 a.m.
Church School
Dr. Daryl
B. Ingram, Executive Director
Department
of Christian Education
10:00 a.m.
Worship Service & Holy Communion
TBA,
Presiding
Preaching
TBA
Wednesday,
July 4, 2012
9:00 a.m.
Consecration Service
Worship
Leader TBA
Bishop John
R. Bryant, Senior Bishop, Preaching
-- Up-to-date, real-time General
Conference news:
Option #1 –
You must be subscribed to The Christian
Recorder Online: Simply go to: www.the-christian-recorder.org
and put in your email address and respond to the automatic email that you will
receive from The Christian Recorder. No password is needed; just your email address and, if
you want to, you may type your name in the appropriate box. Your name is not
necessary.
Option #2 -
Follow the activities at the General Conference by visiting the new General
Conference Reporting Blog: www.ame-church.com/blog.
The blog is mobile-friendly and smartphone users should bookmark the site
on their Home Screens.
-- TCR
Editor’s Note:
Support our corporate sponsors. Their sponsorship saves money for each of us
and the AME Church.
Our Corporate Sponsors:
AARP
AMEC Sunday
School Union
BB&T
Tennessee -
http://www.tnvacation.com/
The Story – Zondervan
Renasant
Bank
Citizens
Bank
3. FOLLOW THE ACTIVITIES AT THE 49TH
QUADRENNIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE:
Follow the activities at the 49th Quadrennial Session of
the General Conference by visiting the new General Conference Reporting Blog
Follow the activities at the General Conference by visiting the new
General Conference Reporting Blog.
The latest news, information and updates will be posted in real-time
during the General Conference. The blog is mobile-friendly and smartphone users
should bookmark the site on their Home Screens.
4. “GET
READY!” - “GET READY!” - “GET READY!” -
“GET READY!”:
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is ready for Bishops, General
Officers, Connectional Officers, Presidents and Deans of our academic institutions,
chaplains, ministerial and lay delegates, visitors and friends to attend the
49th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference.
Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, Chair of the General Conference
Commission; Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Host Bishop and Bishop John Bryant,
Senior Bishop have opened the doors of the General Conference and have issued
the challenge to “Bring it on!” Together
they said, “Get on an airplane, the bus, train, your vehicles, bicycles,
scooters, motorcycles, motor homes or whatever; just get here!
Click on the links below and get a sneak preview of the exciting
events that will take place in Nashville – the site of the 49th
Quadrennial Session of the General Conference.
5. THE
DEPARTMENT OF CHURCH GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BRINGS VOICES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE:
Bishop Sarah F. Davis, Commission Chair
Dr. James C. Wade, Executive Director
Starting June 28th through July 3rd the General Conference
will present “Voices from around the World."
Times of teaching and preaching, proclaimed by dynamically, anointed
individuals from our global Connectional Church!
Praise and Worship will begin at 7:45 a.m. led by the Music and
Christian Arts Ministry. "The Study
of God’s Word" or "The Preached Word" will start promptly at
8:00 a.m.
Scheduled
Facilitators and Preachers
- Brother Ritney Castine, 8th Episcopal District
- Presiding Elder Sarah Peddiny, AME India, Chennai, India (4th
Episcopal District)
- Sister Jackie Ross-Roy, 10th Episcopal District
- The Rev. Nene Basunga, 16th Episcopal District Lyon,
France
- Presiding Elder Gertrude Komani, 15th Episcopal District,
South Africa
Join us as we bask in the glory of God and God’s Word as presented and
preached by persons who will remind us of our connectedness to Christ and to
one another as members of the Connectional AME Church!
The Office of the Department of Church Growth and Development is
located at 280 Hernando Street, Suites 105 107, Memphis, TN 38126;
telephone: (901) 523—2777, (847)
338-2581; email: www.ameharvest.org
6.
BISHOP JEFFREY N. LEATH, PRESIDING PRELATE OF THE 19TH EPISCOPAL
DISTRICT WILL BE THE GUEST PREACHER AT WOODFORK CHAPEL:
The Right Reverend Jeffrey N. Leath the Presiding Prelate of the 19th
Episcopal District will be the 11 a.m. Church
and Community Celebration worship service preacher at Woodfork Chapel AME
Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee this Sunday, June 24, 2012. The theme for the worship service will be “Exalting Christ as We Serve a Global
Community.” Dr. Susan J. Leath, 19th Episcopal District
Supervisor of Missions will be accompanying her husband to Woodfork Chapel. The
Rev. Dr. Charlotte Ann Blake Sydnor is the pastor of Woodfork Chapel AME
Church. Church School begins at 9:45 a.m.
Bishop Jeffrey Leath was elected the 128th Elected and
Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 48th
Quadrennial Session of the General Conference that met in St. Louis, Missouri
in 2008. Bishop Leath was the first of three elected from a field of about 40
candidates. He was then assigned a
four-year term in the 19th Episcopal District of the Church, which
encompasses 7 provinces of the Republic of South Africa.
Bishop Leath's last assignment before being elevated to the episcopacy
was as pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church, the founding congregation of African
Methodism, where he served for fifteen years from 1993 to 2008.
In addition to the 225 pastors in the 19th Episcopal District
supervised by Bishop Leath, his duties include oversight of a community
college, a school of religion for training pastors and an emerging housing
project. Bishop Leath spends a cumulative time of about eight-months annually
in South Africa. When he is not in his
Johannesburg office, he is visiting churches, about a seven-hour drive in every
direction.
A struggling educational system and high unemployment are among the
daunting social challenges Leath confronts.
He has been inspired by the courage and hope of the people of South
African as they face these issues along with the scourge of HIV/AIDS.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1816 in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania has maintained a ministry in South Africa for over 100 years.
Dr. Susan J. Leath, a physician and Bishop Leath have three children: the
Rev. Jennifer, Victoria, and Jeffrey, II.
Bishop Leath earned his M.Div. at Yale Divinity School and his D.Min at
United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.
Woodfork Chapel AME Church is located at 1011 Lipscomb Street in
Shelbyville, Tennessee; telephone: (931) 684-4817. Pastor Sydnor’s office number (615) 714-0986.
7. AME CHURCH IS GETTING OUT THE
VOTE:
The Social Action Commission (SAC)1 of the AME Church is committed to carry on
the LEGACY of advocacy begun 225 years ago to insure that every ELIGIBLE VOTER
gets the opportunity to VOTE.
At the
General Conference, YOU can receive Voter Registration & Mobilization
materials and access to Technical Assistance when you return to your home
communities.
The SAC
has forged a partnership between Operation E.M.R. (a project of the AME Church
Lay Organization) and VESSELS (a project of People for the American Way's
African American Ministers Leadership Council). This non-partisan joint effort
of civic engagement will help YOU make every vote count.
Stop by
the SAC Kiosk. Talk with us!! Take your Guide(s)!! Make a commitment to Voter
Education, Mobilization, and Registration!! Become a Vessel - Believe…Speak…Vote!!
Join this network for voter empowerment!!
Sign Up
for the TRAINING SESSION to be held on June 30th - more details at the SAC Kiosk!
We can
make a difference... All we have to do is be faithful and available!!
See you in
Nashville at the SAC Kiosk!
SIStah
"Jackie" Dupont-Walker, Director - Social Action Commission
In
partnership with Leslie Watson Malachi, Director - AAMLC
The
Social Action Commission was created by the General Conference in 1960, based
on legislation introduced by then the Rev. Frederick Calhoun James. He became
its first Director/Consultant. 52 years later, we honor the vision of Bishop James
and the successor SAC Director/Consultants whose vigilance has kept this vital
mission in focus.
In
2012, our work must build upon that strong foundation and blaze new trails to
protect the rights for which our fore bearers died. We must stop voter
suppression and empower every eligible voter to vote.
For More Information: JDupontW@aol.com
or 213-494-9493
8. STREAMING 101: MAKING A GLOBAL IMPACT
ON A BUDGET – A “HOW-TO” SET UP VIDEO-STREAMING FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH:
The Christian Recorder is looking
for a clearly written “how to” article to share with our readers on how to
stream worship services. We have had a number of inquiries from smaller
congregations wanting to know how and what equipment is needed to stream a
worship service. The article should explain, in the simplest terms possible,
what technical resources and equipment are needed. Smaller and mid-sized
churches do not have large budgets so churches are looking for economical ways
to reach out and extend the Gospel to the world.
Streaming
video is an established, yet continually growing technology allowing people to
share worship experiences, teachings, meetings, and other events with the world
in real time. While Streaming Faith (http://streamingfaith.com)
has emerged as the worldwide leader in faith-based streaming technology, its
prohibitive costs are certainly intimidating for smaller ministries with
limited funds but still a powerful message to share with the world. More
economical streaming solutions do exist, and every ministry, large or small,
with a commitment to technological innovation and worldwide evangelism is
encouraged to fully explore these options and implement one of them.
I am
finishing my fourth year as pastor of Tanner-Price AME Church in Windsor,
Ontario, Canada (http://tanner-price.com),
and our congregation certainly fits the category of smaller ministries with
limited finances, yet we have been streaming our services and Bible Study
teachings online the past two years, and it’s not very difficult to set up.
The two
leading services for producing one's own online streaming content are Ustream,
the streaming platform of choice for my ministry, recommended for its ease of
use and various recording hardware options, and Livestream, helpful for its
accessibility across both desktop and mobile platforms. Both services have free
and premium accounts, based on each ministry's particular needs, audience, and
budget.
Both
services will operate just fine with either a webcam (built-in or externally
attached, via USB) on your internet-connected laptop, or a digital camcorder
connected to an internet-connected computer, via firewire cable. For an example
of the equipment typically needed for streaming, Livestream has an excellent
PDF resource of applicable devices: http://new.livestream.com/images/marketing/encoder/Procaster-Certified-Devices.pdf.)
I recommend that you not purchase a camcorder for the sole purpose of live
streaming, as the quality of your broadcast will not likely be high enough to
justify spending $600 or more for one, compared to $100 at the absolute most
for a top-quality webcam.
Ustream
Ustream (http://ustream.tv) is the simpler of the two
services and offers the ability to stream content, as previously mentioned,
from your webcam or camcorder connected to the desktop, as well as directly
from his/her mobile phone, via the Ustream app for iOS and Android devices. To
get started with desktop streaming, go to the following page and follow the
instructions: http://www.ustream.tv/get-started.
For more detailed instructions and help on other common topics, including a
video tutorial on creating a channel, visit this page: http://helpcenter.ustream.tv/content.
After making the channel, visit its page (see ours for an example: http://ustre.am/9HTX), scroll down to the
middle and click on "embed", where you will find HTML code to copy
and paste into your site's code. Doing this allows you to place the streaming
window directly on to your site so viewers can watch your live broadcast
straight from your website, rather than just the Ustream channel page you've created.
What will
be apparent from the instructions is Ustream will allow you to broadcast
without having to download any software; this option is sufficient for typical
streams. Ustream used to encourage users to download its desktop app, Ustream
Producer, which offers additional functionality to a stream, including screen
switching, very useful for periodically displaying sermon titles, scriptures,
and points during the message, if so desired. This app is no longer located
directly on the Ustream homepage but can still be found here: http://www.ustream.tv/producer. If
you decide to broadcast from the desktop using a webcam, you will, of course,
want to buy an external webcam, instead of using the built-in one, so you can
control the stream from your computer without being seen.
What makes
Ustream truly invaluable for ministries desiring to do simple streaming is its
mobile streaming capabilities, as you have the option to stream on the go with
the Ustream mobile app for iOS and Android devices. If you decide to go with
this option, you might want to mount your phone in some kind of way; simply do
a Google search for a phone tripod to find what you’re looking for. You can
stream with Ustream mobile over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G connection, which is very
important if you're streaming from a location with no high-speed internet
connection, or, as is the case with my ministry, an inconsistent and unreliable
connection.
You can
stream easily over a 3G/4G connection if you have an unlimited data plan
through Sprint or a legacy unlimited plan (pre-2010) through AT&T. Please
be advised, though, if you have that AT&T legacy plan and desire to stream
on that connection, the company has recently begun "throttling" your
data, meaning that if you use more than 3 gigabytes of data in a month,
AT&T will begin slowing down your internet connection, and slower data
speeds will compromise your ability to stream consistently and effectively.
Video streaming is a very data-intensive process, so I would not advise anyone
without an unlimited plan to stream with his/her cell phone data connection, so
as to avoid an overage on one’s plan.
Livestream
The other
recommended video streaming service is Livestream (http://livestream.com),
which provides the same streaming services as Ustream, but does so with a
different encoding system that enables streaming to all mobile devices. Whereas
a streaming video player through Ustream only streams to desktop devices, a
broadcast through Livestream is available on all devices, which is very
important for those on the go who desire to worship with you but can't get to a
computer to do so. Additional information about this very important feature can
be found here: http://www.livestream.com/blog/?p=3901.
Understanding
Livestream's services can be a bit confusing, as there is a New Livestream and
an Original Livestream. Before signing up, you should visit http://new.livestream.com/broadcast-live/broadcast-live
to learn the differences between and pricing of each service. Please keep in
mind that only the Original Livestream offers free broadcasting services.
Follow the link at the top of the Livestream homepage if you decide to use the
original service.
Please also
be aware if you sign up and decide to download the Livestream Producer desktop
app, rather than broadcasting directly through the website, as with Ustream,
the application will use a lot of your computer's resources and thus will slow
down both your computer and your stream if you have any other programs,
especially your internet browser, open on your computer while broadcasting.
This is a bit of experiential information not available on the Livestream site,
so please do not forget! All other pertinent info, however, including embedding
and social media integration, should be available and relatively easy to find
on the site.
In
conclusion, Ustream and Livestream are the best, most cost-effective streaming
solutions. If the ability to stream from a mobile device is important to you,
Ustream should be your service of choice. If, however, allowing your stream to
be accessed on mobile devices is most vital to your digital strategy, and your
computer has enough memory to handle it, go with Livestream.
Be blessed
and happy streaming!
The Rev.
Marcus A. Cylar
Pastor,
Tanner-Price AMEC, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Presiding
Elder, Canadian Conference, 4th Episcopal District
Editor’s
Note: A
special thanks to the Rev. Marcus A. Tyler for an excellent article on how to
set up video-streaming for your local church. I hope everyone who wants to set
up video-streaming will save this article. This is such a great resource!
9. THE BLACK CHURCH:
SERVICE IT NOT OVER:
By:
Ebonie Johnson Cooper
This
article originally appeared at EBONY.com on June 13, 2012
While
attending a recent service at Reid Temple AME Church, I was moved by the
address from a representative of the Malawi Youth Aid organization where the
church’s missionaries serve. I was proud to hear that the church I am a member
of not only brings people to Christ but it also takes part in effective
overseas mission work. This information made me think about all the other Black
churches I know doing their part locally- and internationally. You see, the
popularization of prosperity preaching, pulpit pimping and sexual scandal
within some Black churches has overshadowed the fact that many more Black
churches are actually doing the right things and not wavering from their social
missions to serve their communities.
Research
in a survey done by Pew Charitable Trusts and the Public/Private Ventures
created to measure the impact faith- based organizations have on their
communities found that 91 percent [of the churches surveyed] offered at least
one social service program, from food pantries to summer camps to substance abuse
prevention programs. The finding also estimates, if all of these institutions
were suddenly to eliminate their outreach programs, it would cost more than
$200 million to replace the social and community services they provide.
As
such, Reid Temple’s community services and outreach touch the lives of more
than 10,000 needy men, women and children in the Washington, DC metropolitan
area. Through programs that provide free meals, distribute clothing and
toiletries, first aid, emergency services, and homelessness relief, Reid Temple
is a beacon of support in the nation’s capital.
Also
a strong force in its community is Greater Centennial AME Zion Church located
in Mount Vernon, NY. Best known for producing greats such as Heavy D., Pete
Rock and Diddy, Mount Vernon, NY is now a city with an ever-increasing crime
rate and a Violent Crime Index more than twice the national average. As a
result, Greater Centennial has become a place of refuge for Mount Vernon’s
estimated 40,000 urban residents. Led by Rev. Dr. W. Darin Moore, Centennial
has numerous Outreach Ministries, including David’s Kitchen; a weekly soup
kitchen that serves hot home-cooked meals prepared by the churches CFO to needy
residents.
Centennial
also boasts a Children, Youth and Young Adults Ministry that is helping to
shape the lives of the next generation.
The ministry partners with non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity to
help clean up and beautify the surrounding neighborhood. “In order to take back
our community, we have to be accountable and responsible for its youth,” shares
Rev. Keisha J. Agard, Centennial’s Children, Youth and Young Adult Minister.
“We [the church] have to spin the image the youth have of themselves so they
can see what they can do and not stand by and watch life go by,” Rev. Agard.
While
Reid Temple and Greater Centennial have the financial resources to do lots of
work in the community, smaller Black churches, like Tanner-Price AME Church in
Windsor, Ontario stretch their resources to answer the needs of the community.
Led by a Pastor of the millennial generation, Rev. Marcus A. Cylar, Tanner-
Price is striving to leave its mark. The Rev. Cylar believes we have to be in
the community to spark change. He further states, “As a people we have gotten
comfortable with consistency. There is more than just coming to church and
serving [inside the church].” Thus, Tanner- Price is beginning its Men’s
Ministry and opening an employment center this summer to meet the direct needs
of the surrounding population.
Another
church heavily focused on the immediate needs of the community is Brown
Memorial Baptist Church in the Clinton-Hill section of Brooklyn, NY. Faced with
the housing challenges associated with gentrification, “We make an intentional
effort to focus on informing, educating, and increasing financial literacy
through workshops, seminars and panels,” says Rev. Clinton M. Miller, Pastor of
Brown.
A
95-year-old staple in its Brooklyn neighborhood, Brown strives to keep the tradition
of the Black church as it relates to social justice initiatives. Following in
the footsteps of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, Brown
Memorial advocates for public policy changes, affordable housing and education
issues. “A church that is not in touch with its community will become
irrelevant,” says Rev. Miller. Being irrelevant is not anything Brown has on
its agenda. Rev. Miller concludes, “We stress the importance of having a voice
so our people can self-organize and use their resources for change.”
Acting
locally isn’t all the Black church is doing. The church is becoming a global
force as well. Similar to the mission
efforts of Reid Temple, Elizabeth Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA, is a church
that thinks locally and acts globally. Housed in five locations throughout the
Atlanta Metro area, Elizabeth Baptist has found a way to touch the lives of
community members in a way that brings perspective and long-term personal
growth. Under the direction of Dr. Letra Smith, Elizabeth uses mission trips to
places such as Kenya and India, to open up the minds of the community. Dr.
Smith explains, “Through these mission trips we want our community members to
develop intensity for serving others.” And their strategy works! Its outreach ministry
goes into the woods- yes the woods- on a monthly basis to feed the homeless
that are often forgotten. They also travel to Clarkston, GA where there are
over 53,000 refugees. There they feed not only their spiritual needs but also
their nutritional needs.
As
my dear Aunt Madea would say, Hallelujer!
These
five churches highlighted may not be a representative sample of every Black
church in America; but their works do represent the fact that our churches are
not dead in our communities. Our churches still supply the needs of our
communities in sprit and in service. As the Rev. Dr. Moore says, “If we begin
to see the church as more than a space to worship on Sundays we will discover
its endless opportunities.” It’s time that our churches begin to receive the
headline news that praises the God it serves and not the devil it condemns.
You
may now say, Amen.
Ebonie
Johnson Cooper is a featured writer, millennial thought leader and
philanthropist with a passion for community engagement and giving. She is the
niece of Sis. Florence Warren, President of the Lay Organization at St. Stephen
AME Church; immediate past CLO Director of Lay Activities as well as former
secretary to the Episcopal Committee for the general conference. Ebonie
currently resides in Washington, DC but home is Brooklyn, NY. Follow her on
Twitter: @EbsTheWay and visit her sites: friendsofebonie.com & eboniejohnsoncooper.com
10. DR. JUENARRL KEITH APPOINTED
PRESIDING ELDER OF MT. PLEASANT DISTRICT:
Benjamin
Harrison
Wednesday,
November 16th to Friday, November 18th, the 7th
Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (South Carolina, U.S.A.), convened in
Florence, South Carolina for its 2011 Post Annual Conference. This event was
held at the Florence Civic Center where for three days business was conducted,
souls were renewed, and at the conference’s end over three thousand AMEs
gathered to hear word from Bishop Preston W. Williams II as to where clergy
would be assigned for service in the 7th Episcopal District of the
AME Church.
In his
final series of pastoral appointments as the Presiding Prelate of the 7th
Episcopal District, Bishop Williams strategically repositioned numerous pastors
and presiding elders for the continued advancement of the AME Church in South
Carolina.
One of those
movements, which was designed to promote youth, vigor and vitality within the 7th
District’s leadership, was the appointment of Presiding Elder Dr. Juenarrl
Keith to the Mount Pleasant District, which is the largest Presiding Elder
District in the state of South Carolina and one of the largest Presiding Elder
Districts in the Connectional AME Church.
Five years
earlier, at the 7th District’s 2006 Post Annual Conference, Dr.
Keith was appointed as the Presiding Elder of the Orangeburg District which is
the lead district in the Central Annual Conference. Five years later, Dr.
Keith’s 2011 appointment as Presiding Elder of the Mount Pleasant District
stands as a clear validation of his anointing as a pastor, his competence as a
presiding elder, and his service as one of the 7th District’s
exceptional servant leaders. Ever-reaching toward the fulfillment of God’s
purpose for his life, Dr. Keith continues to advance through the ranks of
A.M.E. leadership.
Presently
44 years old, Presiding Elder Keith holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Drew
University in Madison, New Jersey, is a licensed professional counselor and
board-certified social worker, and is one of only a handful of African Americans in the state of South Carolina to
hold the title of Supervisor which is the highest level one can reach within
the field of counseling.
Generationally,
Dr. Keith stands in the excellent position of being young enough to relate to
the youth and young adults of the church, while being mature enough to
understand the customs, cultures and traditions of the middle-aged and elder
members of the church. Dr. Keith states, “The ability to understand, support
and promote all generations within the church is essential to the growth,
well-being and longevity of the church.” Particularly in light of the fact that
recruiting and retaining young church members is a priority of the Connectional
AME Church, Dr. Keith’s ability to relate to the younger generation’s use of
music, language, and technology via cell phones, internet, and social media,
enables him to remain in touch with current trends that can be used positively
for kingdom expansion.
Dr. Keith’s
vision and agenda for the Mount Pleasant District are sharply focused on
Christian Education. Dr. Keith states, “The Mount Pleasant District needs
strong churches under girded by strong Christian education programs. At the
local, Presiding Elder, Episcopal, and Connectional levels, we must put
Christian education first. This will improve the retention of current church
members, create a better educated community of believers and ultimately result
in greater levels of evangelism and church growth. Christian Education is an
essential component for enlarging the kingdom of God.”
Additionally,
Dr. Keith seeks to promote new and innovative youth and young adult ministries
that affirm children and adolescence who are moving from boyhood to manhood and
girlhood to womanhood. For young adults, Dr. Keith would like to provide social
outlets for those who profess Christianity. Through a jazz music night, or
other creative activities, church members may gather as responsible young
adults and socialize, network, and still be saved. According to Dr. Keith,
“These types of fun community building functions can help to retain young
adults within our denomination and attract others to become part of our A.M.E.
Church community.”
Dr. Keith
would also like to move the Mt. Pleasant District toward becoming more of a
community church in the sense that children are able to participate in
church-related ministries and functions regardless of church membership.
According to Dr. Keith, the local church must be inclusive of all children
regardless of race, color, creed and denomination. By using an open, inclusive
and ecumenical approach, local churches can better engage all of the children
of the local neighborhoods.
Having
established an honorable record of responsibility and having acquired a
sufficient amount of knowledge to lead the church through the wisdom of
experience, Dr. Keith continues his service to the AME Church as the Presiding
Elder of the Mount Pleasant District.
Juenarrl
Keith is the son of Nathaniel Keith Jr. and Cathlean Odeila McCants Keith. He
attended the public schools in Georgetown, South Carolina and accepted Christ
at the age of 15 years-old at Revival under the Reverend J.J. Grant. Juenarrl
Keith accepted the call to ministry at the age of 17 and was ordained an
Itinerant Deacon in 1989 and Itinerant Elder in 1990 by the Right Reverend
Frederick Calhoun James.
In 1989,
Rev. Keith was assigned to the pastorate of Thomas Chapel AME Church in East
Andrews, South Carolina. Subsequently, because of his leadership skills in
mobilizing, evangelizing and revitalizing rural congregations, he gave
excellent leadership to Singleton Chapel, Hopewell (Hemingway), Saint Paul
(Plantersville), Greater Zion (Awendaw), and Mount Pisgah (Sumter). Dr. Keith
also served as the distinguished pastor of Williams Chapel AME Church in
Orangeburg, South Carolina. Additionally, Dr. Keith has held numerous leadership
positions within the AME Church including his appointment as Dean of Christian
Education and Presiding Elder of the Mount Pleasant District by the Right
Reverend Preston W. Williams II. D.Min.
Dr. Keith
has practiced for over 25 years as a member of the Healing Arts Profession. In
1995, he was credentialed as a Licensed Professional Counselor by the state of
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Board of Examiners
for counselors, therapists, and Psycho-Educational Specialists. In 1997, the
same board credentialed him as a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and
in 2006 he was credentialed at the doctoral level. Dr. Keith is a licensed
Board Certified Counselor by the American Psychotherapy Association, a licensed
social worker by the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners, and a Board
Certified Professional Counselor for the American Psychotherapy Association.
Dr. Keith
completed the requirements for the B.A. degree in 1988 from Morris College, a
distinguished historically black college in Sumter, South Carolina. He earned the Master of Arts degree from
Webster University (Charleston Graduate Center) in Saint Louis, Missouri. In
1989, Dr. Keith completed a Post-Master Certificate in Child Mental Health,
sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and the University
of South Carolina in Columbia S.C. After
three years of study at Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, South
Carolina, he was awarded the Master of Divinity Degree in 1997. Dr. Keith then enrolled in graduate studies
at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey completing his residence for the
doctorate in 2000 and receiving the Doctor of Ministry degree in 2002. In 2001,
he completed his clinical pastoral education training at Bon Secour Saint
Francis Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina.
Dr. Keith completed additional studies at the Interdenominational
Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia and Princeton Theological Seminary in
Princeton, New Jersey.
Dr. Keith
is a member of numerous professional, civic and communication organizations
include but not limited to: The Association of Counseling and Development; The
Action Council for Cross Cultural Training and Education; the Orangeburg Branch
of the NAACP; Iota Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated,
Georgetown, S.C.; and the Free & Accepted Masonry Order, Sampit Lodge #
426.
As a
teacher and supervisor, Dr, Keith is known for his wealth and diverse
experience as a post-modern practitioner. He has taught at Allen University in
Columbia, S.C., where he also served as a Counselor/Consultant in the Division
of Student Life. He has taught at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., and
Williamsburg Technical College in Kingstree, S.C. Dr. Keith has also served as
Field Counseling Practicum Supervisor/Advisor for South Carolina State
University in Orangeburg, S.C., the University of South Carolina in Columbia,
S.C., and Webster University in Saint Louis, MO.
Dr. Keith is
married Mrs. Anna Marie Keith, and they are the immensely proud parents of two
sons, Juenarrl Nathaniel and Jonathan William, and one daughter Ashley Marie.
11. JUNETEENTH IS THE OLDEST OF ALL AFRICAN AMERICAN CELEBRATIONS:
Juneteenth is the oldest of all African American celebrations. It
commemorates the day of June 19, 1865, when African Americans in Texas first
learned of their freedom from slavery under the Emancipation Proclamation,
signed by President Lincoln and which had gone into effect on January 1, 1863,
nearly two and a half years earlier. On June 19, 1865, two months and a week
after Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox, federal troops under the command
of Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed
the slaves of their freedom by reading General Order #3, which stated:
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a
proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This
involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between
former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them
becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to
remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed
that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will
not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.
By June 19, 1866, only one year later, large festive celebrations were
begun and many continued into the twentieth century. June 19th early was named
Juneteenth, and it has been observed as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day by
African Americans for more than 140 years. Celebrations have included parades,
picnics, dancing, sporting events, music, plays, recounting of stories by
former slaves, inspirational speeches, reading of the Emancipation
Proclamation, and prayer services.
The observance spread all over the United States during the next 140
years; and fourteen states today list Juneteenth as an official holiday, including
Texas, California, New York, New Jersey, and Alaska. It is observed in other
states and in other countries.
**Extracted from United Methodist News Service. Used with permission.
12. MEDITATION BASED ON EXODUS 14:5-14:
*The
Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
My
email reminded me this week that life’s conveniences can easily become life’s
aggravations. I never open an email with
a link or attachment that looks suspect - even if it appears to come from
someone that I know - lest it be maliciously designed to hack into and hijack
my address book.
As
careful as I am, however, I received a malicious e-mail this week that went
active when it simply showed up in my Inbox and sent out bogus e-mails using my
name. My internet service provider
detected the problem and disabled my email password, which I reset but which,
still wouldn’t work quite right.
When I
called technical support for help, the support agent said, “You have two
choices - I can walk you through what you need to do or, if you’ll trust me, I
can take remote control of your computer and fix the problem for you.” I trusted him, we set up the remote control
and he had things working right in five minutes flat, saving me time and
frustration.
What
that helpful tech support agent did for me, God can do for us on life’s larger
scale. Try as we may, we all run into
unexpected and troubling situations that come out of nowhere, hack into our
lives and threaten our security and peace of mind. While it’s tempting to try to deal with those
situations through our own knowledge, resources and skill, our doing so
sometimes makes things worse instead of better.
When
life’s unanticipated and challenging situations come our way, we’d do well to
trust in the Lord to take control and fix things. Regardless of who we are, what we have or
what we know, the God who made us and knows us best also knows what we need
when we need it and can bring us through life’s tough times when we trust Him
to take control of our lives, just as God’s people did when they faced an unexpected
and troubling situation after God set them free from slavery in Egypt.
We’ll
all face our share of difficulties and rough spots in life, but when we let God
control our lives we’ll see new solutions to our old problems. We’ll understand why those who endured the
chains of American slavery and had to cope with those who claimed to control
them could still trust in the Lord to take control and sing, “He’s got the
whole world in His hands.”
If you
are in the Charleston, South Carolina area, please feel free to join us on the
Fourth Sunday in June for Church School at 8:45 a.m. and for Women’s Day
Worship at 10 a.m. The Women’s Day Choir
and the Praise Dance Ministry will offer praise, and the Reverend Doctor Sheila
Elliott from Francis Burns United Methodist Church in Columbia, South Carolina
will be our Women’s Day preacher.
*The
Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in
Charleston, South Carolina
13.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Mrs.
Claudia Myers, the mother of the Rev. D. Albert Turk, pastor at
Emanuel AME Church in New York City (New York Conference, Manhattan District).
The following information has been provided regarding
funeral arrangements.
Service, Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 12 noon
Nichols Temple AME Church
701 18th Street, Ensley
702 Birmingham, AL 35218
701 18th Street, Ensley
702 Birmingham, AL 35218
Telephone: 205-786-1642
The Rev. J. R. Rumley, Pastor
Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:
The Rev. D. Albert Turk
129 Meadow Lane
Marlton, NJ 08053
129 Meadow Lane
Marlton, NJ 08053
Or
Emanuel AME Church
37-41 West 119th Street
New York, NY 10026
37-41 West 119th Street
New York, NY 10026
14. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to share news of the passing of Mrs. Anna Roberts
Lodge, mother of Augusta Georgia Annual Conference YPD Director Mrs. Terri
Lodge Kelly of the 6th Episcopal District.
Mrs. Anna Roberts Lodge passed away on June 14, 2012. She was a
faithful and dedicated member of Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church,
Waynesboro Georgia. Mrs. Lodge was a member of the Missionary Society and work
in many other capacities before her health declined. She will be sadly missed
from our midst.
Service Arrangements for Mrs. Anna Roberts Lodge:
The funeral of Mrs. Anna Roberts Lodge will be Thursday, June
21, 2012, at 11:00 a.m.
Waynesboro Deliverance Evangelistic Church
752 Highway 25 South
Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
Telephone: (706) 554-5405
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 20, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. -
8:00 p.m.
Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church
527 West 7th Street
Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
Telephone: (706) 554-1155
Condolences can be mailed to:
Mrs. Terri Lodge Kelly
955 Hwy 56 North
Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
(706) 554-2651
Phinazee and Son Funeral Home
404 W. 8th Street
Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
(706) 554-5500
15. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of the Rev. Gabriel S.
Hardeman, former pastor in the Belleview Circuit of Atlanta, Georgia; Singer-songwriter
best known for co-writing R&B star Stephanie Mills' 1987 #1 hit "I
Feel Good All Over" and Teddy Pendergrass' "Truly Blessed." He
later devoted himself to writing and producing gospel music, and was a Stellar
Award nominee for "To the Chief Musician." "Gabe" Hardeman
is the composer of the AME Anthem, "God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer,
Man Our Brother." The following information has been provided regarding
funeral arrangements.
Service, Saturday, June 23, 2012
Viewing - 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Funeral - 10:00 a.m.
Hickman Temple AME Church
5001 Baltimore Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone: 215-476-5340
Fax: 215-472-3617
The Rev. Stanley G. Smith, Pastor
The Rev. Ellis I. Washington, Eulogist
Pastor at Grant AME Church, Boston, Massachusetts
Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:
Mrs. Annette Hardeman
701 Whitby Avenue
Yeadon, PA 19050
16. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of the Rev. John C. Justice, a
former pastor in the New Jersey Annual Conference and the brother of the Rev.
J. Stanley Justice, pastor of Greater Mt. Zion AMEC, Trenton, NJ (New Jersey
Conference, Camden-Trenton District). The following information has been
provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Service, Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Viewing - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Funeral - 12:00 noon
Dickerson Chapel A.M.E. Church
28845 Dupont Blvd
Millsboro, DE 19966
Phone: 302-934-6360
Fax: 302-329-9251
The Rev. Gerald DeVan, Pastor
Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:
Mrs. Dejeonge Justice
PO Box 232
Cranford, NJ 07016
Email: d.justice55@yahoo.com
and/or
The Rev. J. Stanley Justice
33 Perdicaris Place
Trenton, NJ 08618
Fax: 609-394-2808 (Mt. Zion, Trenton)
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT
NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Mr. David McCune, the
brother of the Rev. Ron McCune, pastor at Bethel AMEC, Bloomfield, Connecticut
(New England Conference, Boston/Hartford District).
The following information has been provided regarding funeral
arrangements.
Service, Thursday, June 21, 2012
Funeral - 11:00 a.m.
First Centennial Baptist Church
273 High Street
Buffalo, NY 14201
716-884-7925
The Rev. Allan Core, Pastor
The Rev. Ron McCune, Officiating
Professional Service entrusted to:
H. Alfred Lewis Mortuary
968 Jefferson Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14204
Phone: 716-884-0901
Fax: 716-882-1815
Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:
The Rev. Ron McCune
68 Weberfield Avenue
Freeport, NY 11520
Or
27 Colebrook Street
Hartford, CT 06112
18. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Dr. Edward W. Robinson,
Jr., the uncle of the late State Rep. David P. Richardson, Jr. Dr. Robinson was
94-years-old and faithfully served the AME Church with membership at AME Union.
The following information has been provided regarding funeral
arrangements.
Service, Friday, June 22, 2012
Viewing - 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Funeral - 11:00 a.m.
AME Union Church
1614 W. Jefferson Street
Philadelphia, 19121
Phone: 215-765-5868
Fax: 215-765-6935
The Rev. Paul Thomas, Pastor
Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:
The family of Dr. Edward W. Robinson, Jr.
C/o AME Union Church
1614 W. Jefferson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19121
Interment
Merion Memorial Park
Bala Cynwyd, PA
19. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Andrew L. Hughes,
the father of the Rev. Anthony Hughes, pastor of Bethel Memorial AME Church in
San Diego, California.
Services for Mr. Andrew L. Hughes:
June 21, 2012
Reception/repast at 5:00 pm
Homegoing Celebration: 6:00 pm
Cage Memorial Chapel
7651 South Jeffery Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60649
Phone: 773.721.8900
Fax: 773.721.9106
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Gwendolyn Hughes
200 Park Avenue, Apartment 428
Calumet City, IL 60409
20. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
E-mail: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
BLOG: http://ameccfic.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
E-mail: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
BLOG: http://ameccfic.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
21. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN
RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the Editor of The Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray that the peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement.
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the Editor of The Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray that the peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement.
*You have received this message because you are subscribed to The Christian Recorder Online
