THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER Online: 05/13/2012

5/18/2012

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (5/18/12)

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

May is National Stroke Awareness Month!

Pentecost – May 27, 2012

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Grand Conspiracy of Love - Words of the father of Newark, New Jersey Mayor Corey Booker:

“Boy, you drink deeply from wells of freedom and liberty and opportunity that you did not dig. You eat lavishly from banquet tables prepared for you by your ancestors. You sit beneath the shade of trees you did not plant.”

Words from speech delivered at the 2012 Hampton University Graduation.

1. EDITORIAL – THE AME CHURCH NEEDS A STAND-DOWN (PART 2):

Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III,

The 20^th Editor, The Christian Recorder

The African Methodist Episcopal Church needs a connectional church stand-down and here are the reasons why…but…

Let me recap specifically as it relates to the Church

Stand-downs are implemented in order to provide information and/or to correct systemic deficiencies. A stand-down is appropriate when there is evidence that the church has lost it core-values and has lost focus on its mission. A stand-down is needed when episcopal authority is ignored and rules of the Church are not observed and respected. A stand-down is needed when patterns of behavior or cultural shifts occur that are not in harmony with the needs of the Church. A stand-down is needed when there is evidence of wide-spread “customer” – parishioner / clergy dissatisfaction.

A stand-down is needed when it is determined that the Church has become infused with ineffective or unqualified professionals; and is exacerbated when any of those persons ascend to leadership positions.

Some organizations lose focus because they fail to adapt to change and present their product as a “one-size fits all" and churches succumb to the same temptation to implement a “one-size-fits-all” religious program.

And the biggest reason for a stand-down occurs when the Church allows its integrity to be compromised.

Let me digress

There were several comments I heard that precipitated my thoughts that the African Methodist Episcopal Church needs a stand-down.

Shortly after founders day a lay person wrote, "You mean Sunday was Founders Day? We didn't hear anything about Founder's Day at our church. We didn't hear anything about Richard Allen and we didn't hear anything about the African Methodist Episcopal Church. We were encouraged to wear red and we celebrated Valentine's Day. Founder's Day? We heard nothing about Founder's Day. As a matter of fact we don't hear anything about Richard Allen, ever."

The week after Palm Sunday another person wrote, "Yesterday was Palm Sunday? We didn't have any palms at our church. The hymns were not related to Palm Sunday, the sermon was taken from the 13^th Chapter of Numbers, and it did not have anything to do with Palm Sunday or Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. The choir ‘rocked,’ but the songs didn’t seem to have any connection to Palm Sunday. At the end of the service, the pastors did wish all of us a Happy Palm Sunday just before singing ‘God be with You ‘til We Meet Again’ - we haven’t done the Doxology in a long time.”

Some other churches have discovered something

I have noticed that non-denominational churches emphasize their teaching ministry because I believe that they understand that people are “hungry” for biblical knowledge parishioners want to learn how to live more spirit-filled lives. The old days of a “Hoop and a hollar, with or without a collar” is a thing of the past.

Why the AME Church needs a stand-down

Some pastors fail to teach. When pastors ignore the major Christian observances, it tells me that they are ignoring major teaching opportunities about the Christian faith.

When have you heard a sermon or teaching dealing with any aspect of the Doctrinal Affirmation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church?

When have you heard a sermon or teaching about infant baptism, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, or an in-depth biblical sermon where the pastor took a text and gave a detailed exegetical and hermeneutical exposition of the great themes of the Christian faith? People want well-prepared biblical preaching - “Gravy is fine,” but people need “meat.”

The AME Church needs a stand-down to reinforce the theological and doctrinal foundations of the Church because the lack of sound teaching results in both clergy and laity who cannot defend the faith in their own minds; and cannot defend their beliefs when they are challenged by heterodox proselytizers. And the most catastrophic result of a lack of sound biblical preaching and teaching is that we have parishioners who are “Christian” agnostics, don’t know or unsure about their beliefs; and “Christian” atheists, who attend church, are good people, but have no relationship, knowledge or understanding about God.

Some pastors and laity do not respect authority

Some pastors and laity have little or no respect for authority. Some parishioners do not respect pastors and some pastors and laity do not respect presiding elders or bishops.

When a pastor makes the comment, “I don’t want to be a bishop because I want to go to heaven when I die,” it’s a clear indication of a lack of respect for the episcopacy.

When I hear criticism of the AME Church and expressions that the Church is dying, it tells me that we have a lack of denominational enthusiasm and a problem with “low morale.” We need a stand-down to “fire” up enthusiasm for the African Methodist Episcopal Church because we have a great church!

The AME Church needs a stand-down for clergy and laity to discuss leadership roles and to reinforce the importance and relevance of the AME Church’s “chain of supervision” and its impact upon the governance of the church. We need to reignite respect for authority.

Worship

The AME Church needs a stand-down to reinforce our worship and liturgy to explain why we do what we do in worship. Reportedly worship in some AME Churches is not recognizable as AME worship; and other denominational traditions have replaced those things that AMEs hold sacred. We need a stand-down to talk about worship and liturgy and to devise a strategy to develop worship liturgies to meet the need of today’s generation.

The Episcopal Church addressed the issue by developing a Rite One and Rite Two liturgies of worship in their Book of Common Prayer. Rite One is for those congregations that like the more traditional liturgy and Rite Two is for those who like a more modern presentation of the liturgy.

As much as we love the traditional liturgy of the AME Church, it might be time to look at developing alternative worship liturgies, not a haphazard “throwing something together,” but knowledgeable individuals (scholars) developing liturgies in conformity with our Methodist theological and doctrinal traditions.

Integrity

Integrity can be illusive and subjective, if we allow integrity to be nuanced.

Integrity must be deontological because integrity should not be dependent upon consequences. Integrity is the bedrock of Christianity and should be the foundation of ministry. Pastors and laity ought always to tell the truth, regardless of the consequences.

For example, purposely providing inaccurate or misleading information on a Pastor’s Annual Reports is an indication of a lack of integrity. Claiming a salary on the Pastor’s Annual Report that is not true is not “a little white lie,” it is untruthful – it‘s a lie; it’s a lack of integrity.

Academic integrity is so routine that it should not be mentioned; either you have credentials or you don’t. In the AME Church, if you wear a robe, you are probably ordained; you might have an M.Div or your might not – no problem because ordination gives ministers the privilege of wearing robes, but if one does not have a earned or conferred doctoral degree there is no need for chevrons. When we speak about “conferred” in the AME context we are referring to honorary degrees conferred by AME institutions or accredited institutions; not a degree conferred by a church on the corner.

When pastors confer upon themselves academic titles they didn’t receive and wear academic regalia they have not earned, it probably is not harming anyone in a physical sense; but it’s an integrity issue.

AME History, Polity and Doctrine

I have heard stories about an AME pastor “here or there” who allegedly said that he did not believe in infant baptism and even heard a story about an AME pastor who would not baptize infants. I even heard of an AME pastor who re-baptised a number of his parishioners who said that they didn’t remember being baptised and they wanted to be immersed.

When pastors fail to follow the scriptures, the rules of The Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and who incorporate traditions and characteristics of other denominations, without explanation; it tells me we have pastors who need direction and supervision to “get back on track.”

When Founder’s Day is ignored and Richard Allen’s name is not mentioned, it is an indication that we are neglecting our past.

When we take short-cuts and break the laws of The Discipline in the governance at our local churches; something is terribly wrong.

When politics become the prevailing behavior at the various levels of our Zion, we need a stand-down to redirect the Church back to the path of doing the right things because it’s right.

Boards of Examiners

There are discussions about the Boards of Examiners and the lack of consistent training in AME History, Polity and Doctrine across the Church. A stand-down or a connectional workshop/seminar for members of the Boards of Examiners need to be held to insure consistent teaching prevails in the areas of AME History, Polity and Doctrine. In a connectional church you cannot have one pastor teaching one thing and another pastor teaching another thing.

Potpourri – A couple of more things…

The Church needs to treat everyone equally – the women are here to stay and we may as well get used to it. We need to treat them equally and appoint them to churches and positions commensurate with their training and abilities.

We need to find a more Christian way to elect delegates on the annual conference level and how we elect bishops. On the annual conference level, we spend three years mending relationships that we destroy during the election of delegates for the General Conference. We need a stand-down to determine how we can do better. And, the first thing we need to do is to follow the rules.

We need a stand-down or some kind of agreement before the 2012General Conference because all of the pushing and shoving that normally happens during the election of bishops at the General Conference will certainly cause some embarrassment when, not if, people video-tape some of those scenes and put them on YouTube or FaceBook. Our “normal” is not everyone else’s normal and with technology we do not want our “normal” to be an embarrassment to us.

We need a spiritual stand-down, an awakening, a revival or call it what you want.

We need to get back to our “roots” and be the great denomination that we have always been; and if Richard Allen, Morris Brown, Daniel Payne and Paul Quinn and some of the other early pioneers of the African Methodist Episcopal Church could come back and see the ministry we are doing, I would hope that they could say to us, “You are doing the work of ministry we envisioned and you are carrying our dream to another level.

Editor’s Note: We welcome op-eds. When the word “church” is used with a capital “C” the reference is to the AME Church.

2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:

- To the Editor:

RE: Pastoral Letter Prepared for Parishioners Concerning President Obama’s Comments about same-sex marriage

I appreciate you sending this well-reasoned response from Pastor Darby to his congregation. This response, however, does not take the place of an official statement from the Council of Bishops. We look to the Bishops of our church for leadership and guidance and increasingly, there has been a deafening silence from the bench. I know that part of this has to do with the internal workings of the Council and the fact that we do not have a clear structure for a timely and well-considered response. This is one of the reasons why I submitted a bill to the General Conference for the creation of an "Administrative Bishop". I fear, though, that a larger issue is that of our leadership focusing more on internal politics and Episcopal District assignments than articulating a prophetic voice and providing guidance to the Church. This has been a concern articulated openly in several forums, including the most recent CONVO.

Within the 2008-2012 quadrennium, there have been several times when we have needed the Council to provide guidance and advice to the Church on important internal issues and significant matters of policy and faith. Almost every time, this yearning has been met with no statement or a belated response. When communication does not happen it further weakens our voice and ability to be heard. If our leaders do not speak for the Church, other persons who do not have the legitimacy of the Council will speak (or be viewed as speaking) for us. What good is a leadership that does not lead but expects to be followed?

John Thomas III

13^th Episcopal District
General Board Member and Young Adult Representative of the Connectional Lay Organization

- To the Editor:

RE: Editorial – The AME Church Needs A Stand-down:

Your recent editorial about the AME Church's need to examine our "core values" is an urgent matter. The way that we are working in the field must be examined so that we can help congregations, and the pastors that are sent, to have the necessary tools to provide pastoral care to the wounded church that exists and the feeling of oppression that is currently being experienced around assessments.

Congregations are as fluid and there are changes that happen when most of the "older members" die and there has not been evidence of regrouping until the church is on life support (membership under 50 active members) or dead. The buildings are old without plans for redevelopment, which can include merging of congregations, opening charter or independent schools or family life centers in almost empty church properties, small business development hubs, etc.

There is a need to re-examine our core values about prison ministry in the wake of the mass incarceration crisis we have in Black and Latino communities. We cannot preach in prisons and not assist after a person comes home from prison. We cannot afford to be ignorant or silent. Thank you.

The Rev. Darlene Reynolds

3. PASTORAL LETTER PREPARED FOR PARISHIONERS CONCERNING PRESIDENT OBAMA’S COMMENTS ABOUT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE:

The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby, pastor of Morris Brown AME Church is located in Charleston, South Carolina

To the members of the Morris Brown AME Church family:

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Last week, President Barack Obama endorsed same sex marriage. That endorsement has led me to offer a few prayerful pastoral thoughts to you. Those thoughts begin with the reality that the African Methodist Episcopal Church does not endorse same-sex marriage because there is no Scriptural support for same-sex marriage. My ordination can be revoked if I perform a same sex marriage or allow the church to be used for a same sex wedding.

The positive law of the AME Church also, however, says:

- That clergy should not perform weddings for those who are "unequally yoked with unbelievers" or marry church members without obtaining the consent of their parents.

- That clergy who remarry while their spouses are living shall be expelled from the Church.

- That divorced lay members can only remarry when documentation of their legal divorce is filed with their Quarterly Conference.

Those three stipulations are a part of our positive law, but as time has passed, they've been less than vigorously enforced.

My thoughts are tempered by my awareness that not every citizen of the United States of America embraces my Theology, that all Christians don't agree on matters of faith and order and that the United States of America is not a Theocracy, but a representative democracy that:

- embraces "...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in our Declaration of independence,

- operates at its best on the principle of equal justice under the law, and,

- Constitutionally mandates the separation of church and state.

President Obama did not "dictate" how people of faith should define marriage. He's not a "Reverend," "Rabbi" or "Imam" Obama; but "President Obama” who is bound by virtue of his office to pursue civil rights and equal justice under the law for all citizens.

My thoughts are also a result of my pastoral experience. I embrace the African Methodist Episcopal Church's belief in the sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for salvation. I've also, however, seen church members struggle life's often difficult realities. I have always had and still have colleagues and congregants labeled as "homosexual" who have played critical and beneficial roles in the church as committed Christians but have understandably shied away from discussions of gender for fear of ridicule or condemnation.

I've counseled women who've been brutally abused by husbands who used Scriptural admonitions about "ruling their wives" to justify their brutality. I have counseled members who've fallen in love after divorce but hesitate to remarry out of fear that doing so would be sinful. I have counseled those with addictive behaviors who fear that their present struggles and past shortcomings prohibit their being active and productive members of the church.

My pastoral and personal experience have led me to appreciate our human frailty which led God to sacrifice His only Son so that we could attain salvation - not because of who we are and what we do, but in spite of who we are and what we - do. It is also worth remembering what God's Son said to a very religious person who wanted to test Him and asked Him what was the greatest of God's mandates. Jesus said that God's greatest mandates are that we love God with every fiber of our being and love others as we love ourselves.

My experience as a Christian, as a pastor and as a citizen leads me to respectfully suggest three things for your prayerful consideration:

- That our President, like each one of us, is a flawed human being, who struggles with difficult choices,

- That our President is an elected official whose responsibility is not to set forth principles of faith and order but to champion the civil and human rights of all citizens, and,

- That while the church cannot endorse candidates, we should consider our respective choices for President and every other elected office not on the basis of any single issue, but on the broad range of issues critical to our well being and on the basis of what's good, fair and beneficial for all citizens - regardless of their faith or lack thereof.

As Christians, we should affirm and stand by our beliefs. As citizens, we should pray for our President and pray that America will really become "...one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all."

May God's power and prosperity be with you.

The Reverend Joseph A. Darby is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina

Editor’s Comment: The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby said, “Like many of you may have, I’ve wrestled with the President’s same-sex marriage announcement and that ‘wrestling’ led to a letter that I plan to share with my congregation on Sunday. I am sharing with you as you pray on the matter. Feel free to share or to ‘borrow!’”

4. UNITY IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY:

DeLishia Boykin

The recent announcement from President Barack Obama regarding his support of same sex marriage caused a rife throughout the Christian community. Hot political topics like sexuality, birth control, gun control and universal health care, can leave Christians tugging at two different sides of the ropes – and result in dissension in the Christian community.

Although important social and moral issues are not to be ignored by the church – for indeed, it is the church’s stance on important moral issues that have made this country what it is today – faith leaders must be driven by a message of love and unity.

The foundation of the Christian faith is love, which unifies believers with The Almighty and one another. The efforts of Jesus the Christ while ministering on Earth essentially brought people together regardless of social class, health issue, political propaganda or public opinion. The labors of Christ were to bridge followers together with common purpose and power. Therefore, the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should ensure that nothing is allowed to separate and divide one other from the commission issued by the Savior.

The primary responsibilities of Christians include serving as vessels to present salvific gifts and relationships, providing for the disadvantaged in every aspect of life and presenting words of edification and encouragement for spiritual maturity. Other issues that cause dissension, depression and discouragement particularly in the household of faith are distractions. The body of Christ must guard and protect itself from these distractions that seek to prevent the acquisition of ultimate will and divine destiny.

All individuals have opinions, strengths and values that can be shared with the world around them. In particular, Christians have a responsibility to share these gifts, skills and abilities in order to make the world a better place. Any deviation from primary purpose can deter progress and ultimate destination. For this reason, followers of the Lord must remain focused and faithful to the master plan and not allow anything including political positions, social status, sexual orientation, or personal preferences to divide them from other followers or potential parishioners.

Every person, Christian and non-Christian alike, has an internal issue that requires divine intervention. The reference of family is utilized in the body of Christ to validate our roles to assist and edify one another in the evolution process to become more like our God. Let us remain focused on the goal before us. We need one another to survive.

*The Reverend DeLishia Boykin is the pastor of Grant AME Church of Chesilhurst, New Jersey and a board member of the African American Ministers Leadership Council (AAMLC) of People for the American Way.

5. INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIC INTELLECTUALS:

*The Rev. Sharon, Ph.D

Kenneth A. Shaw described his 2005 book, The Intentional Leader, as a tool for persons who want to “study, practice and perform at the highest levels of leadership whether it is with small groups or international organizations.” Shaw’s book was a trendsetter – it has generated a new genre of leadership and motivational material in print and on the internet. Out of curiosity I recently Googled the phrase, ‘intentional leadership’ and a plethora of website references popped up. One particular blogsite caught my attention, Jeremie Kubicek’s, “The Power of Intentional Leadership”. In one blog entry, Kubicek stated that leadership culture is failing because, “there is a lack of holistic thinking that benefits both the leader and those they are leading.”

While reading Kubicek’s blog, I reflected upon my candidacy to serve the church as the next Historiographer and Executive Director for Research and Scholarship. The two-part vision of service that my campaign proposes will benefit every member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, whether they are in the YPD or senior scholars tucked away in the ivory towers of the academy. The first part is Document accessibility – so many of our documents are inaccessible, therefore, I commit to developing a digital archival site. Every member of our Zion can benefit from this resource as it will provide a practical means of organizing the documents that reveal our local and connectional history throughout Districts 1 – 20. Moreover, this electronic tool will provide plentiful resources for students of all ages to analyze and produce more scholarship about and for the AME Church.

Secondly, my professional availability is significant. I am currently the only African American female to hold a terminal degree in Methodist Church History. My desire is to use the skill-set of my Ph.D. in Church History for the good of our Church. My personal commitment to producing quality scholarship on the history of the AME Church is publicized in frequent contributions to The A.M.E. Church Review. If elected, the standard of excellence of The A.M.E. Church Review established by the current Historiographer will not be compromised on my watch.

In closing, let me share that this aspiration was not conceived in a vacuum. As one who was: born into the AME parsonage; baptized in the church; served the church as a class leader; WMS Sojourner; and a member of the Lay Organization prior to ordination and entry into the academy - I consider myself to be an organic intellectual, nurtured by the church – for the church. My call to this particular office was revealed to me as a licentiate years ago, yet this season finds me uniquely positioned to serve.

I have been intentional in discerning the call to ministry on my life, intentional in preparing myself for the task of leadership – and I will be intentional in the implementation of the vision of service designed to benefit all members of the Church of Allen. The work of the AME Church is my first commitment; therefore, I pledge to relocate to the AME Headquarters in Nashville, TN to serve the Church full-time. I am “Today’s Historian for Tomorrow’s Church” and I ask for your vote, your prayers and support.

*The Rev. Sharon, Ph.D is a candidate to be the AMEC Historiographer and the editor of The A.M.E. Church Review

6. WE ARE SISTER’S UNITED:

*The Rev. Gwendolyn A. Badie

The Macon Georgia Women in Ministry is on the verge of a massive cultural shift as younger generations of women reject traditional programming in favor of more purposeful spiritual interaction. As innovative women church leaders, we are adapting to this rapid change by experimenting with new ways to equip women to exercise their gifts and passions through relationships, spiritual development and outreach. We are no longer satisfied with the status quo. For when God called his daughters into ministry, it was HE and not we ourselves that set us apart for such a time as this.

During my second year as the Women in Ministry Conference Coordinator, we set our focus on the empowerment of Black women in ministry addressing the unique issues that affect black women in ministry. Our goal is to embrace the total well-being of black women in ministry that includes our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health and wholeness. We learned from those who have gone before us. We value the women pioneers of our district by gleaming from their orchards and learning from their trials and tribulation. One pioneer in particular, Pastor Marlette Gilbert, Grant Chapel AME Church, shared her story in ministry and subsequently will be acknowledged via video submission in a presentation at the 2012 AME General Conference, Nashville, TN later this summer. It is through her witnessing we embrace moral, spiritual and financial integrity. We value her strength and fortitude but we always give honor and glory to God.

This was just the beginning of the shift. The Macon Georgia Women in Ministry is becoming a community that cultivates all within our midst; men, women, boys and girls. We are committed to serving as leaders of the AME Church and as social activist, business women, educators, students, workers and financial strategist within our neighborhoods. We are becoming economically savvy at doing more with less on a daily basis due to global unrest and uncertainty. We dare not work alone in a vacuum but are more and more embracing the support of each other as sisters in Christ.

This was demonstrated in the following Outreach and Evangelistic Projects/Services completed by WIM within the Macon GA Conference:

Bi-Monthly WIM Meetings (June, August, October, January, March)

The Sixth Episcopal District Deliverance Conference

The Bishop’s Council

Leadership and Ministry Congress

The Sixth Episcopal District Mid-Year Convocation

Armed Forces Toy and Food Drives

Atlanta Federal Women’s Prison Outreach

The Sixth Episcopal District Founder’s Day

Women Missionary Society and Young People Division Councils

Multiple Church Revivals

Multiple Church Anniversaries

Multiple Black History Programs

Several Armed Forces Day Celebrations

Women & Men’s Day/ Conferences

This list is just a snapshot of the vast array of ministry taking place in our midst. For it is God’s will that we have 45 women serving in ministry within the Macon Georgia Conference. Of those, we have 13 Itinerants Elders, 11Itinerants Deacons, 7 Local Elders, 5 Local Deacons and 9 Licentiates. During this conference year, our numbers of Women in Ministry are steady climbing. We have a 10% increase in women accepting their call into ministry and participating in the Board of Examiner. This increases the Women in Ministry roll by 20%. Our women in ministry continue to excel academically. We are proud to report that the Reverend Dr. G. Dianne Lewis recently completed her Doctorate of Ministry from the Wesley Theological Seminary.

Although we have accomplished much this year, we must end this report with news of the loss of one very dedicated and distinguished woman of God. On December 3rd, 2011, we laid to rest the Reverend Jennifer E. Daies affectionately known as “Jenny”. Rev. Daies accepted her call to preach while a member of Saint Paul AMEC Macon. However, Mount Hope AMEC became the final point of ministry for her on this Christian journey. Rev. Daies touched the lives of many and will not easily be forgotten, for her charismatic smile, quick wit and humor will be remembered by all. Her pastor, sister in ministry and sister in law, the Reverend Maria Gordon gave the eulogy that emphasized the true bond she and Jenny shared. The sermon entitled “When the Plan Does Not Make Sense” taken from Jeremiah 29:11-13 captured the heart wrenching and devastating loss felt by all who loved Jenny. This Annual Conference we honor her in remembrance and no longer mourn her passing but celebrate our reunion; for we know we will see her again in that great day. To God be the Glory, great things He has done and will continue to do.

The Rev. Gwendolyn A. Badie submitted this article.

The Rev. Sandra E. Simmons, Conference Coordinator/ President

The Rev. Dr. Bettye J. Amica, Asst. Coordinator/ Vice President

The Rev. Louise Smith Hill, Secretary

Lic. Gwyniese Ballard, Asst. Secretary

The Rev. Jacquelyn Craig, Treasurer

Lic. Sonja Jackson, Chaplain

Lic. Willette Humphries, Parliamentary

The Rev. Cynthia Hughes, Macon District Representative

The Rev. Esther K. Powers, Griffin District Representative

The Rev. Sidney Watson, East Macon/M’ville District Representative

7. THIRD EPISCOPAL DISTRICT PASTOR RECEIVED DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HUMANITARIAN AWARD:

The Rev. Dale B. Snyder, Sr., pastor of Bethel AME Church in Columbus, Ohio was a recipient of the 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in January at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The keynote speaker at the award banquet was the Rev. Jesse Jackson. The award is presented each year by the Columbus Education Association in recognition of those who have demonstrated efforts to keep alive the ideology and spirit of the late Dr. King. Pastor Snyder received this award because of his commitment to social activism in his community.

Under the guidance of Bishop C. Garnett Henning, Pastor Snyder organized training along with the Presiding Elders on proper petition collection, voter registration, voter education, and the get out the vote campaign in the Third District’s three annual conferences in Ohio. Each local church received instructions from We Are Ohio and union trainers. The A.M.E. churches in Ohio led religious organizations in the gathering of petitions statewide to place Senate Bill 5 on the ballot. This bill was to end collective bargaining for state employees; i.e., teachers, nurses, firefighters, police, laborers and a host of other state, county, and city employees. Also, the A.M.E. Ohioans led religious organizations in the State of Ohio to repeal Issue 2. In addition, they collected petitions to repeal House Bill 194 which is a voter suppression bill.

Pastor Snyder has distinguished himself in Franklin County, where his church is located, by working with other pastors and coordinating with various ministerial alliances, religious denominations, community groups, community activists, and unions. He organized and led these groups in coordinating "Souls to the Polls," which resulted in the largest voter turnout in a non-presidential election year for Sunday votes in Franklin County history.

Pastor Snyder is an activist in the community lobbying for minority contractors and workers to obtain various construction projects in the City of Columbus. He campaigned, along with other pastors, to stop the violence in the community, which resulted in a group of pastors organizing Cease Fire Columbus. Pastor Snyder is an advocate for quality education and low to moderate income housing in the community where he serves. He held meetings in the basement of the church for over one year with the NAACP, the City of Columbus Police Department, and other pastors to begin organizing a citizen police review board.

Submitted by the Board of Stewards, Bethel AME Church, 2021 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211

Katherine S. Fitzgerald, Board of Stewards Secretary

8. STREET MINISTRY TRAINING SESSION & STREET MINISTRY AT THE 2012 GENERAL CONFERENCE:

The Department of Church Growth & Development of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will conduct Street Ministry Training Session & Street Ministry at the 2012 General Conference

Training Date: June 27, 2012 Time: 4:00—6:00 p.m.

Times & Dates for Street Ministry:

Friday June 29, 2012 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday June 30, 2012 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

To Sign up: Call/email us for more information:

Telephone: (901) 523 - 2702

Telephone: (901) 523 - 2777

Email ameharvest@aol.com

trkgr58@aol.com

Dr. James C. Wade, Executive Director

Bishop Sarah F. Davis, Commission Chair

9. UNON BETHEL AME CHURCH HOUSTON, TEXAS GROUND BREAKING:

April 28, 2012, marked a new beginning for establishment of a new sanctuary for Union Bethel AME Church, located at 11860 Fondren Meadow Drive in Houston, Texas.

Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram along with the pastor, the Rev. Evelyn Johnson; Presiding Elder A. J. Baker, and the Rev. Rubin Brazil, former pastor of Union Bethel participated in the groundbreaking service.

The Groundbreaking ceremony shows the intent and desire to build another Zion. Union Bethel moved into a new building that was design for worship service in October 2011. Since then services have been conducted on a regular bases.

The pastor and members of Union Bethel have looked forward to the groundbreaking service for a long time as an indication of moving to the next level. God has ordered our steps and he has prevailed with us.

The construction is expected to begin in late fall of 2012. Plans have been laid out and the parishioners are excited for this progress.

Union Bethel has a vision and the desire to build with the enthusiasm of the prophet Nehemiah.

Union Bethel shares the Joy that David shared when he said, “I was glad when they said unto me; Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

10. PAUL QUINN COLLEGE PARTNERS WITH THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:

College set to host an event in the DSO’s Community Parks Concert series

The Quinnite Nation and the surrounding community will be graced with the sounds of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra this summer as the DSO kicks off its 2012 community concerts series. Paul Quinn College is one of four locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area scheduled to host a 2012 Community Parks Concert Series event.

According to DallasSymphony.com, the series of outdoor concerts attracts more than 30,000 music lovers each year. The PQC-hosted event will be held on Wednesday, May 23 on the lawn of the Richard M. Allen Chapel at 8 p.m. The concert will last about an hour.

For more information, please send an e-mail to Ashley Harris at aharris@pqc.edu or call 214.379.5561. Visit www.pqc.edu for event updates.

11. PAUL QUINN COLLEGE HONORS ONCOR LEADER:

Senior vice president of external affairs Don Clevenger named Trustee of the Year

The Quinnite Nation honored the contributions of Oncor to the College by naming Oncor Senior Vice President of External Affairs Don Clevenger its Trustee of the Year at its spring commencement ceremony on May 5.

“Oncor has been a big supporter of the Quinnite Nation for many years,” PQC President Michael J. Sorrell said. “I appreciate the great work Oncor and Don have done to help us cultivate a culture of servant leadership on campus and transform PQC into one of America’s great small liberal arts colleges.”

Clevenger, a long-time Dallas area resident and eight-year Oncor veteran, has served on the PQC board of trustees since taking over for former TXU CEO Tom Baker in 2004. Oncor supports PQC year-after-year because of its leadership in the country as one of the nation’s 110 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and in the local community through projects like the PQC WE over Me Farm.

In 2010, PQC transformed its former football field into the two-acre WE over Me Farm, which has since produced more than 4,500 pounds of food for local charities, restaurants and the college cafeteria. This truly innovative project provides sustainable, healthy and affordable food options to the Dallas community. Oncor employees volunteered at PQC’s WE over Me Farm in 2011 to prepare it for the winter planting season, a perfect cause for Oncor, which puts a big emphasis on health and fitness initiatives in its communities.

Additionally, Oncor has helped PQC in its quest to become more energy efficient, partnering with the college in 2009 to replace incandescent light bulbs in campus buildings – including dormitories – with compact fluorescent lights.

“PQC is a tremendous asset in Dallas, and I am proud that Oncor is associated with such a successful group of students, faculty and administrators,” Clevenger said. “I was honored to receive this award and truly believe that the Quinnite Nation is achieving its motto of ‘Greatness…one step at a time.’”

About Paul Quinn College

Paul Quinn College is a private, faith-based, four-year liberal arts college founded by and affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The College was founded in Austin, Texas, on April 4, 1872, and is one of the nation’s 110 Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

12. CORY BOOKER TELLS HAMPTON UNIVERSITY GRADUATES TO “BE WHO THEY WERE CREATED TO BE”:

Cory Booker’s commencement address to Hampton University graduates on May 13 was filled with inspirational words, humor and challenges. Booker, Mayor of Newark, N.J., told 1,015 HU graduates that while they have worked hard, they did not get where they are on their own.

“You are a part of a tradition,” Booker said. “Each and every one of the graduates here today does not stand here on their own.”

Booker said that he was humbled when HU President Dr. William R. Harvey invited him to give the commencement address. He spoke of his many connections to HU including writing his honors thesis while in college about one of Hampton’s illustrious graduates Booker T. Washington.

He talked about the many life lessons he learned from his father. Booker’s father grew up poor in North Carolina but with the help of family, friends and neighbors went to college, moved his family to a mostly white New Jersey suburb and became one of the first African-Americans to work for IBM.

Booker said his father reminded him that he was part of a “grand conspiracy of love,” a part of a bigger tradition and not to walk around acting like he hit a triple when he was born on third base.

His father would tell him, “Boy, you drink deeply from wells of freedom and liberty and opportunity that you did not dig. You eat lavishly from banquet tables prepared for you by your ancestors. You sit beneath the shade of trees you did not plant.”

Booker told the graduates that life is full of contradictions.

“If you want wealth, create value for others,” he said. “If you want to fly, fall down often. If you want to change the world change yourself.”

In order to accomplish this, Booker said the graduates needed to have the courage to be who they were created to be.

“We were not born to fit in. We were born to stand out,” he said. “What Lincoln said is true; everyone is born an original, sadly too many die a copy.”

To view additional images and videos visit: http://commencement.hamptonu.edu/

13. “TOGETHER WE CAN” PARTNERSHIP SERIES:

Please join us on the dates listed below for new “Together We Can” Partnership Series for community and faith-based organizations. This webinar program will share opportunities to collaborate with USDA to help those in need in your community. It will equip organizations with introductory knowledge, best practices, and contact information to help your organization understand and access USDA nutrition assistance programs.

We would like to invite you and your colleagues to these one-hour training sessions covering topics such as providing summer meals, teaching nutrition education, and building local food systems. You can attend all of the sessions, or join the ones most relevant to your organization and community. We encourage you to share this invitation with others!

Webinar Schedule:

- Together We Can Feed Kids During the Summer – Wednesday, May 30^th at 2 p.m. EDT

- Together We Can Put Healthy and Affordable Food on the Table – Wednesday, June 20^th at 2p.m. EDT

- Together We Can Teach About Nutritious Cooking and Eating – Wednesday, July 25^th at 2 p.m. EDT

- Together We Can Build Local and Regional Food Systems – Wednesday, August 29^th at 2 p.m. EDT

- Together We Can Feed Kids After School – Wednesday, September 26^th at 2 p.m. EDT

- Together We Can Build our Partnership: More Opportunities to work with USDA – Wednesday, October 31^st at 2 p.m. EDT

Webinar Participation and Registration

These sessions will be available via Microsoft Office LiveMeeting (Webinar) and are free of charge for all participants. You will need access to a phone line and a computer with internet access to participate.

Please note that you must register for the webinar to receive additional information. You’ll find more information about the series and registration here.

If you have any questions about the webinar, please contact us by emailing collaborate@usda.gov or via phone at (202) 720-2032.

**Submitted by Mrs. Jackie Dupont Walker

14. MESSAGE FROM CONGRESS TO CHURCHES: COME UP WITH $50,000 MORE!

By Bishop Don DiXon Williams

May 15, 2012

Word Count: 464

Does your church have an extra $50,000 lying around? It’s safe to say most churches don’t. If Congress approves proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps), congregations around the country may have to provide additional services to support people in need. That is, on top of community service initiatives, charities, and mission work already in place!

The House of Representatives recently proposed to cut more than $169 billion from SNAP. Some members even claimed that feeding hungry people is really the work of the churches. With 335,000 churches in America, each church on average would need to come up with an extra $50,000 dedicated to feeding people every year for the next 10 years to make up for these cuts.

Bread for the World believes in reducing the federal deficit and balancing our nation’s budget—but not on the backs of vulnerable people. Given increased unemployment brought on by the recent economic recession, churches are already responding to unprecedented need. The burden of raising thousands of dollars to take on more responsibility is more than they can bear.

We believe Congress should protect and strengthen the programs that help hungry and poor people in the United States and around the world. For the past few weeks, Bread for the World has worked to encourage pastors and religious leaders to speak out against these cuts. SNAP has prevented our nation’s economic crisis from becoming a hunger crisis. More than 46 million Americans depend on it every day to help put food on their tables! Congress must not turn its back on our nation's most vulnerable people.

Your voice matters. You can play a huge role in helping to prevent Congress from passing harmful cuts to SNAP—as well as cuts to programs that support hungry and poor people around the world. If you too find this proposition outrageous and would like to sign the petition, I encourage you to visit www.bread.org/snapworks. I also invite you to contact your member of Congress and let him or her know that you strongly disagree with the notion that hungry and poor people should have to bear the burden of our nation’s deficit-reduction efforts.

Finally, you and your church family should consider visiting Washington, DC, on June 12 to participate in Bread for the World’s Lobby Day. This event draws activists from around the country to lobby Congress on issues related to hunger and poverty. In fact, recent studies show that personal visits to members of Congress are the most effective way to influence their decisions. Visit www.bread.org/event/lobby-day/2012/ to find out more, and to register!

Bishop Don DiXon Williams is racial/ethnic outreach associate at Bread for the World, and sits on the board of bishops of the United Church of Jesus Christ, Baltimore, MD.

15. THE 2012 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE FOR THE ELEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH:

147^th Session of the Florida Annual Conference

August 11-17, 2012

Mt. Zion AME Church

223 Mt. Zion Church Rd.

Havana, FL 32333

(850) 539-5509

Bethel AME Church – Host Site

501 W. Orange Ave

Tallahassee, FL 32310

The Rev. Freddie Tellis, Host Pastor

The Rev. Mary Robinson, Host Presiding Elder

The Rev. Dr. Julius H. McAllister, Jr., Host Site Pastor

113^th Session of the Central Annual Conference

September 8-14, 2012

Allen Chapel AME Church

580 George W. Ingram Blvd

Daytona Beach, FL 32114

(386) 255-1195

The Rev. Nathan Mugala, Host Pastor

The Rev. James O. Williams, Host Presiding Elder

122^nd Session of the South Annual Conference

September 22-28, 2012

Greater Bethel AME Church

405 NW Esther Rolle Ave

Pompano Beach, FL 33061

(954) 943 6220

The Rev. Eddy Moise, Host Pastor

The Rev. John L. Bodison, Host Presiding Elder

72^nd Session of the West Coast Annual Conference

October 6-12, 2012

Greater Mt. Zion AME Church

1045 16^th Street

St. Petersburg, FL 33705

(727) 894 1393

The Rev. Clarence Williams, Host Pastor

The Rev. Jerome L. Denmark, Host Presiding Elder

137^th Session of the East Annual Conference

October 20-26, 2012

Wayman AME Church

(Spirit of Life Worship Center)

1176 LaBelle St

Jacksonville, FL 32205

(904) 693 1503

The Rev. Mark L. Griffin, Host Pastor

The Rev. Jimmie B. Keel, Host Presiding Elder

73^rd Session of the Bahamas Annual Conference

October 30- November 4, 2012

Robinson-Morris AME Church

Nassau, Bahamas

The Rev. Howard Williamson, Host Pastor

The Rev. Dr. Ranford Patterson, Host Presiding Elder

Post Planning Conference

November 15-17, 2012

TBD

16. MEDITATION BASED ON I CORINTHIANS 15:1-10:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby

I spent the first ten years of my 35 years in ministry as a “bi-vocational” pastor who was also a juvenile probation counselor, and some of my experiences from those years have stayed with me. I remember an angry mother who dragged her son into my office, threw a bag of marijuana that she’d found in his room on my desk and said, “Mr. Darby, I was so shocked when I found out that this no-good-boy was smoking dope that I had to drink a whole pint of Gin to calm my nerves!”

We had a nice chat and she came to realize that her son was smoking dope to cope with stress because he’d seen her drinking to do the same thing. She brought him in so that I could put him in jail, but when they left my office, they went to a local addiction center to sign up for counseling together - both a bit wiser and more aware of their human frailty.

An awareness of our human frailty is a good thing to have in this world, where life can be demanding, can make us fight for every advantage and can make us feel that we’ve failed if we don’t meet this world’s standard for success. We all want to achieve and excel, and can easily fall into the trap of doing so by either pushing others aside to get ahead, noting the frailties of others to make ourselves feel worthy or blaming others for our failure to succeed. That’s why it’s good to know the Jesus who came into this world to set the standard for worthiness in God’s kingdom and to die on the cross to save us from our human frailties.

When we put our lives in the hands of our Savior, we can humbly examine ourselves, see our strengths and weaknesses, and realize that there’s good in the worst of us, that there’s bad in the best of us, and that true happiness comes not through our strength, power or goodness, but through God’s grace.

None of us is perfect, but we can find peace of mind and enduring comfort in the arms of the Christ who tolerates us, guides us and enables us to succeed not on our terms, but on God’s terms. We can get off of life’s destructive “treadmill,” look to the God who blesses us instead of judging us, and say as the Apostle Paul said in spite of his frailties, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”

If you are in the Charleston, South Carolina area this weekend, join us on for Church School at 9:45 a.m. and for Ascension Sunday Worship at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. The Eight O’clock Choir will offer praise at 8 a.m. and the Combined Choir, Praise Dance Ministry, Voices of Promise and Generation of Praise will offer praise at 11 a.m.

Sunday’s Scripture Lessons are:

Psalm 62:5-12

Ephesians 6:10-20

Luke 24:44-53

Sunday’s Sermons are:

8 a.m. - “Does God’s Power Guide You?”

11 a.m. – “Do You Move by God’s Power?”

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina

17. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:

- Mrs. Toy L. Watts, First Lady of Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, New Orleans, Louisiana receives a PhD in Education Leadership

On Friday, May 11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m., Mrs. Toy L Watts, First Lady of Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, New Orleans, Louisiana will received a Ph.D in Education Leadership from the Department of Education at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. (http://www.usm.edu/commencement)

Mrs. Toy L Watts is the wife of the Reverend Cory Watts, MDiv, Pastor of Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Congratulatory messages can be emailed to: toylwatts@yahoo.com.

- AME CLERGY who were conferred Doctor of Ministry Degrees from United Theological Seminary in Trotwood, Ohio

The following members of the AME Church were conferred Doctorate of Ministry Degrees from United Theological Seminary in Trotwood, Ohio on December 16, 2011 during the Advent Commencement Exercises. They are listed as follows:

- The Rev. Dr. Dauna Trought Bertram - "Integrating Spiritual Values and Character Based Programs for Young Girls at risk for Teen Pregnancy"

Second Episcopal District

Associate Minister, Lincolnville AME Church, Raleigh, NC

- The Rev. Dr. Willie A. Gholston II - "Boys to Men: Cultivating Christian Values In African American Males"

Fourth Episcopal District

Pastor, Bethel AME Church, Chicago, IL

- The Rev. Dr. James Anthony Josey - "The Church without Walls: A New Faith Commitment Model for Ministry in Urban Residential Settings"

Third Episcopal District

Associate Pastor, St. Mark AME Church, Hilliard, OH

- The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Edward Marcus - "A Model of Church Renewal: Stimulating Meaning, Cultivating Commitments and Producing Growth in Declining, Plateauing or Dying Congregations"

Sixth Episcopal District

Senior Pastor, Turner Chapel AME Church, Marietta, GA

- Christina Noelle Williams received the Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Central State University

The Rev. Darryl R. Williams and Sister Laurelyn Williams, pastor and First Lady of St. Mark AME Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin are pleased to announce the graduation of their daughter, Christina Noelle Williams from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Christina received the Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing on Saturday May 5, 2012.

Congratulatory messages can be emailed to: cnoelle90@gmail.com

Or email the proud parents, the Rev. and Mrs. Darryl R. Williams: dwilliams@stmarkame-milwaukee.com

- Brother Reginald Cleaver, Jr. earned M.Div degree from the Candler School of Theology

Brother Reginald Cleaver, Jr., immediate past Connectional President, Young People's and Children's Division (WMS) earned his MDiv from the Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia

Brother Reginald Cleaver, Jr., son of the Rev. Reginald Cleaver, Sr. and Dr. Vanessa Cleaver, earned his MDiv from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University on May 14, 2012. He is currently serving as the Director of Christian Education at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Congratulatory messages may be mailed to:

Brother Reginald Cleaver, Jr.

3454 North Druid Hills Rd.

Unit G

Decatur, GA 30033

Email: regdaprez@yahoo.com

- Kenneth Bryan Ford, the son of the Rev. Dr. Alesia Scott-Ford, graduated Cum Laude from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas

Kenneth Bryan Ford graduated Cum Laude from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law on May 11, 2012. Kenneth obtained his Juris Doctor Degree. He is the son of the Rev. Dr. Alesia Scott-Ford, Senior Pastor of St. James AME Church in Orange Park, Florida.

Congratulatory Messages may be emailed to: rev_alesia62@bellsouth.net

Or mailed to:

St. James AME Church

Dr. Alesia Scott-Ford, Pastor

535 McIntosh Avenue

Orange Park, FL 32073

- Ms. Marquita Renee' Ward graduates from Millikin University

The Rev. Clinton E. Ward III and Mrs. Darlene Ward, pastor and first lady of Wayman AME Church, Chicago, Illinois are pleased to announce the graduation of their daughter, Marquita Renee' Ward from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. Marquita will receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Services on Saturday May 20, 2012 at 2 p.m.

The Rev. Clinton E. Ward III said, “We are also pleased to announce that Marquita has been accepted into the Master of Social Work program at the University of Southern California (USC), School of Social Work.”

Congratulations can be emailed to Marquita, qward@millikin.edu or to Rev. and Mrs. Ward, waymanamec@prodigy.net.

- Ms. Renisha Battle, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Milton Battle of Clover Garden AME Church received a Masters Degree in Business Administration

Ms. Renisha Battle received a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix during the Spring 2012 graduation. She is the daughter of the Rev. Milton and Doris Battle of Clover Garden AME Church in Burlington.

Congratulatory messages can be emailed to: starrbattle@aim.com

Congratulatory messages can be sent to:

Renisha Battle

1011 Maple Avenue

Apex NC 27502

18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. V. Dessie Vause, the mother of the Rev. Johnie E. Vause, Sr., a retired pastor in the Philadelphia Annual Conference.

The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.

The viewing and funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at Mt. Zion AME Church in Devon, Pennsylvania. The Rev. April Martin is the pastor.

Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:

The Rev. Johnie E. Vause, Sr.

599 Bessemer Street

Steelton, PA 17113

19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. Nancy Daniels, the 83-year-old mother of Mrs. Cynthia Ivey and the mother-in-law of the Rev. Ronald Ivey, former pastor of the New York Annual Conference.

The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.

Memorial Service was held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 12 noon at Bridge Street AME Church, 277 Stuyvesant Avenue, Brooklyn, NY where the Rev. David B. Cousin is the pastor.

Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:

Mrs. Cynthia Ivey and family

11920 Sycamore Grove Lane

Raleigh, NC 27614

Kwoth1@hotmail.com

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

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.

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