6/14/2013

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (06/14/13)


Bishop T. Larry Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder


Mark and Save Date in your Calendars:

General Board Meeting - June 22-26, 2013
Bishop Sarah F. Davis Investiture – June 24, 2013


1. TCR EDITORIAL – WHAT AT FIRST LOOKS GOOD IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD:

Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder

Completed deals usually have two components – a good deal for one side and a bad deal for the other side.

Earlier this week a TCR News Break was posted - “Morris Brown College is Mired in Millions of Dollars of Debt - Trustees of Bankrupt Morris Brown College have rejected an offer of nearly $10 million.

If a person just read the headline and failed to read the entire  article, it would seem that the $10 million offer was a good deal and a God-send the AME Church should “jump at and accept” because Morris Brown’s debt  would be eliminated.

There is an old saying, “Put it in a book and they will never see it” or “Put it at the end of a news article or towards the back of the newspaper and they will never see it.”

In the TCR News Break, if you only read the first paragraph, you would think the AME Church and Bishop Preston Warren Williams II would be foolish to reject such a generous offer of “$10 million to erase the school’s $35 million debt and resolve the legal woes of Morris Brown College.

After Bishop Williams rejected the city’s officer, Atlanta mayor, Kasim Reed went on to threaten that the AME Church’s rejection “imperiled not only the school’s future, but the city’s vision of revitalizing the area around the campus and the Georgia Dome in conjunction with the new Atlanta Falcons stadium.”  

If you just read the first paragraph and skimmed the rest of the article, the city’s deal looked pretty good, but if you read carefully got the “rest of the story” you would conclude that the city’s offer fell far short of good news.

I must confess that I am not privy to all of the facts and I just have information that I have read in the newspaper and bits of information I have heard, and I do not know the mayor of Atlanta.

It’s amazing what happens when one follows the money

And let me say this, $10, $15, $20 million sounds like a lot of money to those of us of who are considered “normal” people and that kind of money would put most of us and many of our churches on “easy street,” but for a city like Atlanta or the owners of sports’ conglomerates, it’s “chump change.”

Let’s dig a little deeper

A recent article (May 2013), The New York Times published an article about two black churches in Atlanta that were in the “footprint” of the plans for a new stadium. The “power-brokers” of Atlanta want to dismantle the stadium that has been the home of the Atlanta Falcons and build a “billion-dollar luxury stadium with a retractable roof that would be ready for the 2017 season. But, two black churches with deep history stand in the way.”

One of the churches is Friendship Baptist Church, Atlanta’s first autonomous Baptist congregation and one of the most historically important churches in an area populated by a number of strong black churches. The other church in the “footprint” of the proposed site of the stadium is Mount Vernon Baptist.

And, let me say for those of you who may not be familiar with that area in Atlanta; Morris Brown College is a major piece of property in the “footprint” of the new stadium. I am not an engineer or a surveyor and I don’t live in Atlanta, but I would bet that the Morris Brown property has more than enough land for the new stadium if Friendship Baptist Church and Mount Vernon Baptist Church refused to sell their properties. 

Let me get back to The New York Times news article

The news article states, that the land that Friendship Baptist Church sits on is valued at just over $2 million, but that the city plans to offer much more than that.

One local news source reported that the church was offered $10 million. The New York Times article states “A new home for the Falcons, who came within a game of making the Super Bowl last season, is high on the agenda for Mayor Kasim Reed.”

Friendship Baptist Church takes a hard stand

Mr. Lloyd Hawk, the chairman of the Friendship Baptist Church’s board of trustees said, “If they offered us $50 million and said you have to move to Alpharetta, a northern suburb of Atlanta, we’d say no.”

Friendship Baptist church sits on about an acre of land (my guesstimate) and reportedly was offered $10 million and Morris Brown a “stone’s throw away sits on 37.77 plus acres of land is offered $9.7 million.

With that perspective

It seems to me that something is wrong with that picture; and to add insult to injury, reportedly, Mayor Kasim Reed said, "I'm going to use all of my power as mayor to make sure that Friendship Baptist Church locates just a short distance from where we are today. And they will be a stronger church, a stronger organization that is much more capable because of the millions of dollars that we are going to pay for that church." Mayor Reed’s statement sound enthusiastic and affirming.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), Mayor Reed is quoted as having said, “Giving Morris Brown an opportunity to become healthy again and … provide accredited degrees to its students was an essential priority for this administration.”  Mayor Reed’s statement concerning Morris Brown College does not sound nearly as enthusiastic as his statement about his hopes for Friendship Baptist Church.

I guess Mayor Reed’s plan is to fulfill the city’s obligation to Friendship Baptist Church “off the back” of Morris Brown College.

Actually $9.7 million, not $10 million

According to the AJC article “Reed and Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm, presented Morris Brown with a $9.7 million proposal that would have:

- Purchased all the property tied up in bankruptcy, 37.22 acres, most of which is currently shuttered;

- Paid the school’s creditors through structured settlements, on terms already accepted by the largest creditor, Valstone Partners, which holds nearly half the debt;

- Given the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which governs the school, $1 million in cash;

- Paid $480,000 in back pay to professors and staff who haven’t been paid in months;

- Allowed the college to rent the four buildings it still uses, which occupy about five acres, with an option to purchase them back after three years;

- Let Invest Atlanta work with developers to redevelop the remainder of the property in accordance with the city’s vision.”

Read carefully

Purchase 37.77 acres, pay AME Church, Inc. $1 million, which leaves the AME Church “in the hole” for $4 million since the AME Church loaned MBC $5 million.  The back pay for professors and staff will be paid when the “dust settles” and when MBC is compensated fairly for the property.

Here’s the real deal

If MBC debt and obligations could be settled fairly for $10 million that would be one thing, but the reality is that the land upon which MBC is sitting on is worth “way more” than $10 million.

The AJC article was accompanied by it’s calculation of a Portrait of the Bankruptcy.

Recall Mayor Kasim Reed and the city of Atlanta want Morris Brown College, Bishop Preston Williams and the MBC Board of Trustees to settle for $9.7 million. 

The Portrait of the Bankruptcy shows that MBC owes $34,784 million.

Valstone Partners: $16.7 million
AME Connectional Church: $5 million
U.S. Department of Education: $1.153 million
Various mechanics liens: $600,000
Current employees: $480,000
GA Dept of Revenue: $100,000
Internal Revenue Service: $51,000 
Unsecured Creditors $10 million

It’s a great deal

It is a super great deal for Mayor Kasim Reed and Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development arm. If they had been successful in reaching that deal, it would have been a cause for celebration; for the city of Atlanta!

It’s not a great deal

It’s not a great deal for Morris Brown College, Bishop Preston Williams, the MBC Board of Trustees and the AME Church! 

As a matter of fact, it’s a poor deal for the AME Church and deal, which Morris Brown College, the MBC Board of Trustees and the AME Church must continue to reject.

Bishop Preston Warren Williams should be commended for rejecting an obviously bad deal!


2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES: 

-- To the Editor:

RE: What to expect when I go to church

I just wish our church could get some kind of understanding about what to expect from one Sunday to the next about, for instance, how the Altar Call will proceed. Talk about being a Connectional Church and being able to visit ANY A.M.E. church and know what to expect - - - we can't even get that feeling about our own little AME church. What's that all about anyhow? Is it an effort to keep us from getting "bored" with the service? I still say there are things that belong in the ritual and places where the service can be "livened up" according to the pastor's personality if he or she wants to do that, but to keep changing things that should be "in place," doesn't help to put forward the AME part of the AME service.

Name Withheld

-- To the Editor:

RE: Clergy Statistics in the June 6, 2013 issue of TCR Online

I really liked TCR posting of the August 1, 2010 article of The New York Times, “Startling Clergy Statistics.  I am an entrepreneur and clergy, so I have a double whammy. It is true about how the pastoral ministry affects families. A pastor needs to be careful and choose to engage and support his or her family because at the end of the day, it will be his or her family that will take care of him/her.  

It concerns me that so many people in the church are acting as if the church is a country club; I hate that.

One of my seminary professors said that clergy are more in danger of going to hell than others.  It was a shocking statement, but I see his point too.  I notice too many clergy that focus more on the material than the spiritual. 

Too many clergy get caught up in the "office" of clergy and the "perks" it provides to them.  The temptation of pastors is to take "from the sheep" and the temptation of sheep is to "elevate the pastor as their god"; meanwhile, the pastor's family is neglected. 

My children are young and need me.  There were too many times when I "kicked them out" of my study because I was preparing a sermon. I now know that was wrong. I suspect a lot of PKs have strayed away from the church because they have been "kicked out of the room" because mommy or daddy was preparing a sermon.

Name Withheld

-- To the Editor:

TCR Editorial – The Rules of Ethics and Etiquette should be followed by Clergy and Laity

A great piece on church etiquette!! I have already forwarded it to our Official Board members. With your permission, we would like to make that a part of the instruction for all of our new members.

Secondly, I will be sending a memo to all of the members of our ministerial staff (25 persons), mandating that they subscribe to The Christian Recorder. Thank you for your recent very insightful, thought-provoking editorial about this.

Jonathan Weaver

3. SEVERAL THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: BEFORE FLYING TO THE GENERAL BOARD MEETING/BISHOPS COUNCIL IN JAMAICA:

- Do not put your passport down…keep it on your person!  Keep your passport with you at all times!!

Make sure you bring a black writing pen – ‘cause:

- You will need to fill out your customs and immigration form prior to arriving in Jamaica (You will receive the form once you board the airplane for the last leg of your flight into Kingston). Read it all and complete it so that you are not delayed in customs in Kingston.

Passport Information Needed:

- On the form you will need your passport information: Number, expiration and/or issue date,

-Your airline and flight number (the one from Miami to Kingston) and port of departure, i.e., AA 1234, TRANSLATED, AMERICAN AIRLINES, FLIGHT 1234

-Where you will be staying in Jamaica: The Pegasus Hotel, 81 Knutsford Blvd., Kingston 5, or the Courtleigh Hotel, 85 Knutsford Blvd., Kingston 5, or wherever you are staying.

- Purpose of your visit: Check “Convention or Conference, AME Church Convention”

Everything else you should know such as your address, how long you will be staying.

Everyone must fill out the front of the form. Only the head of household has to fill out the back side of the form, pretty straight forward.

At your first stop, the immigration officer will ask you the purpose of your visit (AME Church Conference.); how long you will be staying (you already put this on the front side of the form, go figure). The head of household and dependents can all approach together with passports out.

Luggage – Customs – Almost There!

After you get your luggage, the Customs officers will ask you the same thing. They will also ask if you have anything to declare any gifts or items to sell. No meats, plants etc. You should be able to say no, just personal items. NO!!!

If you use one of the free luggage carts available in the luggage customs area, you cannot take them outside. There will be red shirts available just outside the customs hall to carry them out if you cannot handle your luggage yourself without the cart.

Mandatory tip of $1.00 (USD) per bag they handle. If you can roll your own bags to the buses, you need to unload the cart and the red shirts will return them and there is no fee.

16th Episcopal District greeters will meet and welcome you and provide transportation. They are there to assist you!

Speaking of money, $1.00 USD equals approximately 100.00 Jamaican dollars. U. S. dollars are accepted in most places. However, the conversion rate varies greatly. The Cambios (money changers) offer the best rate, after fees.

If you have a Bank of America debit card you can withdraw Local or US dollars at Scotia Bank ATM’s without bank fees from either bank.

One more thing, do not use your cellphone inside immigration or customs or you will be “harassed and embarrassed” royally!

A couple of other things that might be helpful.

-  Be patient, dress for the weather (It will be hot), don’t be critical/don’t compare the U.S.A. to Jamaica, be courteous, understand that "soon come" might not necessarily mean “right away.”

Have a good flight “Mon!”

4. FROM THE PEW OF ST. ANDREW AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN LITTLE ROCK:

Mr. Charles Stewart

As we come to the end of the academic calendar for most schools, St. Andrew AME Church is celebrating the accomplishments of many of our members who have completed study in high school and are on their way to college.  Additionally we have members who are completing college and or graduate degrees.  We are blessed to have two outstanding young leaders who have distinguishing themselves in so many aspects of life.   Dr. Elvin Price, who is a professor of Pharmacy at the University of Arkansas Medical School, graduated from Florida A & M University where he received his Pharm. D. in 2004.  He then earned a PhD from The University of Florida, College of Pharmacy in 2009.  This academic year, Dr. Price was selected from among the distinguished faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to receive the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award in the College of Pharmacy.  The recipient of this award is selected and voted on by the students at UAMS.   The award was presented during the May 2013 graduation ceremony. The University has assembled one of the most outstanding faculties from all over the world in the many fields of science and medicine.  It is a singular honor for Dr. Price to have been selected for this award.

Dr. Price is married to Andrea Price, who is a 2013 graduate of the Clinton School of Public Service, a graduate school of the University of Arkansas.  Andrea was the recipient of two honors during their May graduation ceremonies.  She was selected by the students to give the class speech during graduation reception held at the school.  Andrea was also chosen by the faculty of the Clinton School of Public Service to receive the Shannon Butler Bridge Builder Award for the student who represents excellence in service and scholarship.  This marks the first time in the history of Clinton School that one student was chosen by their peers and chosen by the faculty for these two honors. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was the graduation speaker.

Andrea received her Masters of Public Service Degree during this May 2013 ceremony.  She also holds a Masters of Sports Science Degree from the United States Sports Academy and a BA from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.  Andrea is Executive Director of The Giving Net and host of a radio show dedicated to sharing stories of social change and public service. 

The Prices are active members of St. Andrew AME Church since 2009. Andrea served on the Steward Board and Elvin as a member of the Trustee Board.  They have been active in strategic planning for our church and are members of the St. Andrew AME Church School.  The Prices are the proud parents of two wonderful children, Henry and Heidi.

The Prices have been blessed by God Almighty and they are working hard to contribute to the betterment of the church, the community and humankind.  They are examples of young Christians working to be the change they want to see in the world.

“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder…” (Mark 10: vs. 9). As Pastor of St. Andrew African Methodist Episcopal Church, I have been blessed to meet, shepherd and interact with the Price Family.  Truly, it is a joy to witness thru a Family – God’s Well-Spring of His Glory.  I offer them encouraging words of – “Each Round with God – Goes Higher and Higher!”

*Mr. Charles Stewart is a member of St. Andrew African Methodist Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas

5. THE PASTOR NEEDS A TECH, PART II - THE CHURCH OFFICE:

*The Rev. Calvin J. Bush

The Church Office is the central hub of any church.  The use of “church office” will mean the pastor’s study and the Secretary's Office.  The secretary's office is emphasized for this article.

The establishment of a network between the pastor’s office and that of the secretary is a significant aspect in the exchange of information needed by both.  When I speak of “network”– the connecting of two of more computers in order to exchange information, I am speaking of a simple network.  If both offices have internet accessibility, the use of a Wi-Fi modem hub provided by the ISP (Internet Service Provider, like Comcast, Verizon or other that is in the area), a simple network can be easily established.  The connection to the hub can be hard “wired” – that is a cable connection via a cat 5/6 cable or wireless (“Wi-Fi”).  [The wireless connection requires Wi-Fi capability by one or both computers connecting to the hub.]  The Wi-Fi capability can be established by:

1) Already a feature on the computer(s)
2) Installation of a Wi-Fi PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) card on to the mother board.
3) A wireless USB Flash drive.

A “shared” folder is to be created on both computers, with necessary security precautions, for the exchange of essential files between the pastor and the secretary.  Emailing files back and forward or re-typing of hard or written copies will be eliminated.  Both the secretary and pastor could save to and retrieve from this folder for the sharing of the files that need to be worked on and/or reviewed for approval.

But let’s back-up and discuss equipment and software applications.

Equipment

The secretary’s office should have a good office copier/printer.  I say “good” due to the high volume of printing that is usually done in a church office – bulletins, letters, reports etc.  Depending on the budget of a church, a large scale multi-function copier/printer can be a good investment.  Usually, the multi’s have the following features:  scan, copy, print, and fax.  However, these machines, usually leased, have a high cost due to the amount of printing – although a maintenance agreement cuts down (“somewhat”) on the total cost of ownership.  This piece of equipment can be connected to the network so that both offices will be able to access and use all its features.

The church that has individuals with skills in desktop publishing will not need to out-source a majority of projects for reproduction – like program ad booklets, tickets, invitations, newsletters, etc.  Why use Kinko’s or Staples or any printing company, when you have the equipment and personnel for such?  However, if the large scale multi-function is a costly budgetary item, I would suggest a high yield laser printer (in lieu of an inkjet printer) and a scanner.  If the computer has a built-in modem for telephone connection, most computers come ready with fax capability.  If not, the installation of a modem card can be added to the motherboard and such cards come with faxing software.  The scanner usually comes with a “limited” OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program with the scanning software.  [I find OCR software significant when documents need to be changed that are not available as a file.]  If the desktop printer is not an “all-in-one”, but just a printer and you have a scanner, the scanner can be used to fax, copy, and OCR hard copies as well as scan.

Let’s move on to software.

Software

Most documents or email attachments downloaded are in PDF (Portal Document Format).  In order to read files with this formatting, a PDF reader is needed.  The most common is the Adobe Acrobat Reader – this is a free download from Adobe.com.  The “reader” is only provides “viewing” of the file and no “editing” capability.  If one wants to make changes to a PDF, a PDF writer or a PDF converter (from pdf to Word) will be needed.  Goggling or Bing “free” PDF writer, PDF editor or PDF converter will give results from where such can be downloaded and then installed.  The new office applications allow any file to be saved to the PDF format.

If one does not have the newer office applications, “pdf creator” (which can be downloaded from www.sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator, www.pdfforge.org, or www.primopdf.com to mention a few) is a good program to make ANYTHING into a PDF.  If it can be printed, it can be a PDF.  PDF creator serves as a “printer” to make the pdf.

The Church secretary, as well as the pastor, needs a good office productivity software suite (such as Microsoft Office or Corel Office Suite).  Office suites include: Word Processing, Spreadsheet, Database, Presentation, Personal Information Manager, and Photo Manipulation applications.  [Since the church is a 501c3 organization, the use of TechSoup (ww.techsoup.org) is a great source to secure discounted software.]  There are open-source productivity suites available online for free (such as OpenOffice and LibreOffice.  Also, GIMP [GNU Image Manipulation Program] is an available alternative to PhotoShop).

The secretary should be trained or knowledgeable of the features offered by the productivity software in order to use “full advantage” of the features to “work smart and not hard”.  A feature such as “mail-merge” is essential for letters for “that individual” taste.  When used with a database (like Access, Approach, 123 or a membership management software), it is great feature when it comes to sending out membership letters pertaining to their giving to use for tax deduction for IRS by March and other mass produced documents.

The database application of a productivity office suite, more so then the spreadsheet application, can be used beyond accounting for membership financial contributions if a church management program has not been purchased.  There are some reasonable priced membership management programs available.  Its categorical name, “membership management”, indicates not just for financial accounting.  It can be an effective membership recordkeeping system:  membership roll (status, joined, separated, baptism, marriages, siblings, children, organizational membership, special events/days contributions, attendance, appointed or elected offices, death, etc.), conference levels (Local Church, PE District, Conference, District and Connectional) fiscal breakdowns, geographical accounting of membership, etc.  Simply as a database system, the church office can pull any type of statistical information pertaining to its membership for any time period or by use of any “filter” criteria (such as last name, specific contributory amount for a particular period, age grouping, etc.).

Some management programs, I should point out, are not “flexible” or “modifiable” for use for the liking of most AME Churches.  However, a tech or a member who has a background in database management can apply SQL [structured query language] scripts to modify or supplement the management program OR simply develop one specifically fitting for that church.

The Church Office, as indicated, is the Central Hub of the local church.  The pastor who has the joy and convenience of a secretary having available physical office space should take advantage of such technological conveniences.  As for those who DO NOT have such secretarial nor spatial privileges, the use of technology is even more of a necessity. (Maybe an article for the ‘single church office’ would be in order!)

As always, there is still much we can share together when it comes to the Church and Technology.  Look forward to our next encounter because,

The Pastor Needs A Tech!

*The Rev. Calvin J. Bush is an Associate Minister, Technology & Education at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

6. THE WRENS-VIDALIA DISTRICT WELCOMES NEW PRESIDING ELDER, THE REVEREND BERTRAM C. SMITH:

On May 17, 2013, during the Post Conference of the Sixth Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of presiding Bishop Preston Warren Williams III, the Rev. Bertram C. Smith was appointed pastor of the Lofton Circuit in the Augusta Conference; which includes the following churches: Lofton AME, Stone Springfield AME and Sand Valley AME. Pastor Bertram C. Smith was also elevated to serve as Presiding Elder of the Wrens -Vidalia District of the Augusta Conference.

The Rev. Bertram C. Smith was born November 10, 1955 to the proud parents, the Rev. Peter H. Smith and Mrs. Louise K. Smith in Macon, Georgia.  He was educated in the Bibb County public schools and graduated from Central High in Macon, Ga. in the class of 1973. 

In the fall of 1973 he entered Savannah State College and received a four year military scholarship as a Navy Midshipman.  During the winter of his freshman year he met and dated his wife Wendolyn Mitchell and they were married on September 14, 1974 prior to entering their second year of college.  They have now been married 38 years.

In 1977, the Rev. Smith graduated from Savannah Sate with a BS in Industrial Education and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.  Captain Smith traveled and lived across the country and abroad. He served as a logistical officer as a Marine Integrated Maintenance Management Officer until his separation from the Marine Corps after his unit was nearly destroyed in Beirut, Lebanon.

He has worked for several large companies and retired from Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company in the spring of 2006 as a Supply Manager.  He has graduated from some of the top Leadership Institutes in the nation to include the Dale Carnegie Institute, and the Disney Institute of Leadership where he graduated with top honors. He is a 1993 graduate of Leadership Macon and a 1995 graduate of Leadership Georgia. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

The Rev. and Mrs. Smith have three daughters: Nicole Smith, Wendolyn Monique Smith, and Bertrice Danielle Smith; and one son, Rory Calhoun.   They have three grandchildren; Tresor, Jase and Taylor.

The Rev. Smith was called to the ministry in the fall of 1985 and was admitted into the Macon Conference in 1986.  He was ordained a Deacon and graduated from The Turner Theological Center in 1988 and was ordained an Elder in 1990.  He became the founding pastor of Adams-Smith Tabernacle AME in Warner Robins of the same year and was blessed to bring in nearly 300 members over a period of nine years as senior pastor.  Pastor Smith was sent to Duresville AME in Macon in 1999 and served there for seven years.  In 2005 Pastor Smith was sent to Saint Peter AME in Fort Valley where he served 8 years. Over the past 5 years, Pastor Smith has been selected as one of the top twenty preachers in the Macon Community.  On May 8, 2010, Rev. Smith graduated from The Interdenominational Theological Center - Turner Seminary in Atlanta, GA with a Master of Divinity Degree.

While in the Macon Georgia Annual Conference, Pastor Smith served in many capacities on the conference level.  He served as the Chairman of the Ministerial Efficiency Committee, Chairman of the Trustee Committee, and Chairman of the Memorial Committee, served on the Finance Committee and as an instructor on the Board of Examiners.  He was appointed the Dean of the Board of Examiners at the 2013 Annual Conference.

His favorite scripture is II Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith, not by sight.”

The Rev. Smith has a reputation of restoration for God’s people and believes that Joy and Peace are the foundation of goals of his ministry. His goal is to define and initiate ministries, develop and implement strategies, and to promote the 21st century church by means of praising the Lord and winning souls for Christ.

Submitted by Jerlyn D. Smith-Hudson, Wrens Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church

7. BRANDYWINE PASTOR LEADS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT ENTREPRENEUR WORKSHOP

 The Rev. Kim Hutchinson

The Rev. Dr. Harry L. Seawright, joined by his son, Mr. Matthew Seawright, and local business owners, Mr. Bernie Brooks, Ms. Cheryl Jones, and Mr. Ron Young, hosted a series of workshops for young people interested in starting businesses.

As a pastor, author of two books (More Than Bricks and Mortar: Building a Church without Losing Your Mind and Don’t Faint: Help for Hurting Pastors and Their Families), and businessman who started businesses and assisted others in starting their own businesses, the Rev. Dr. Seawright led the team, teaching others the ‘how to’s” of doing the same. His business leadership is well-established as he founded HLS Consulting, Inc., WE KLEEN, Inc. and Prestigious Property Management, LLC. At Union Bethel, he led the congregation in developing FOCUS before and after care and early learning center and Bethel House, Inc. social services agency. The April issue of Ebony magazine recently highlighted Unity Economic Development Corporation, a Union Bethel non-profit that helped more than 600 clients with economic strategies, including, saving for and buying their first house or preventing foreclosure.

With the responsibility of approximately 100 employees weekly, the Rev. Dr. Seawright strongly believes everyone has the gift of a seed (idea) that is planted inside of them and waiting to develop. The workshops stressed the importance of owners being totally committed to their business as well as the power of networking. The entrepreneurs offered much-need information and emphasized the following points to remember.

- Always pray about your business.
- Legally register your business.
- Maintain your integrity.
- Always speak about your business with confidence and authority.
- Know your market and your product.
- Provide written rules and regulations.
- Maintain excellent administration.
- Create a website.
- Be strong enough to hire the right people and let the wrong people go.
- Show employees and customers how much you appreciate them.
- Remember to say "please" and "thank you".
- Do your best.
       
The Rev. Dr. Seawright strongly believes in encouraging, enabling and empowering people to be producers, not just consumers. With newly-formed networks and business ideas, workshop attendees already are seeing results of their initiative. 

The Reverend Kim Hutchinson is on the ministerial staff of Union Bethel AME Church in Brandywine & Temple Hills, Maryland

8. THE AMEC SOCIAL ACTION COMMISSION SHARES ENROLL AMERICA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:

The Social Action Commission is continuing its efforts to insure that the AME Church exposes its membership and the communities where we minister to the best information that can add to the quality of their lives.  Insuring that accurate and timely information is received about Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act) is a part of that goal. In order to do the work, an organization known as Enroll America has been formed.

As you are probably already aware, Enroll America is kicking off its community education in cities across the USA where there are high percentages of eligible persons who are deemed hard to reach.  The Social Action Commission wants to insure that we can be "Centers of Truth" about the benefits and the potential penalties for those who are eligible but do not enroll in the 6 month period from Oct 1, 2013 to March 1, 2014.

AME Churches will be a part of the information distribution. You or someone you know could be a part of educating the residents of your community.  Yes, there are job opportunities.  Please see below for more details.

Jobs: Here are all of the jobs we have opened in different states. Full job descriptions are available at http://www.enrollamerica.org/jobs

9. PAUL QUINN COLLEGE PRESIDENT HARES HIGHLIGHTS / THANKS FOR THE QUINNITE NATION’S HOSTING OF THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:

On behalf of the Paul Quinn College and the Quinnite Nation, I would like to thank you for making last night was a special evening.  More than 1,000 people made time in their busy schedules to attend the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert performance at Paul Quinn College.  This number represents a 300% increase over last years attendance and proves that the Paul Quinn College/Highland Hills community does support, and appreciate, an opportunity to participate in the arts community.

While there were many aspects of the evening which were extraordinary, a few in particular stood out:

1) The sight of Paul Quinn College Board Chair Bishop Vashti McKenzie and her husband Supervisor Stan McKenzie sitting in lawn chairs and wearing cowboy hats while enjoying the music;

2) The large number of school and college age attendees;

3) The demographic composition of the audience;

4) The popularity of the food trucks;

5) The looks on the faces of the incredible Paul Quinn College staff and students as they witnessed the fruit of their labor;

6) All of the members of AME churches throughout the city;

7) The great job National Alumni Association President Pat Johnson did in generating strong alumni participation;

8) The presence of PQC's first-ever alumni member of the Texas Legislature, State Rep. Toni Rose;

9) The attendance of DSO CEO Jonathan Martin; and

10) Last, but certainly not least, watching Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins, looking resplendent in his conductor's jacket, leading the DSO in a number.

Thank you for making last night an evening for the ages by once again proving that Dallas supports both the DSO and the Quinnite Nation.

Take care,

President Sorrell

P.S. - As we approach the end of our fiscal year (June 30th), now is the perfect time to make an investment in Paul Quinn College via our Annual Fund and support our continued efforts to "leave places better than we found them." It is easy to do.  Simply go to our website: http://www.pqc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=240  and follow the prompts.  Thank you in advance for your faith.

Michael J. Sorrell, Esq.
President

Shared by Episcopal Supervisor Stan McKenzie

10. THIRD STREET BETHEL AME CHURCH CONTINUES TO FEED 25 YEARS LATER:

One key to the success of any ministry is its longevity. The Third Street Bethel AME Church Richmond, Virginia's Feeding Ministry has been providing hot meals for the homeless for almost 25 years and the unselfish women and a few good men show no signs of slowing down. 

The ministry started in the spring of 1989 under the leadership of Shirley Cason Reed, then President [1986-1996] of the Delia C. Jackson Women’s Missionary Society and wife of the Reverend Rodger Hall Reed who was the pastor of Third Street Bethel AME Church. Mrs. Reed currently serves as Connectional President of the Women’s Missionary Society.

The purpose of this ministry was to provide a hot meal for those less fortunate at least one day per week, but within a years' time, Bethel was invited to join a ministry of four Churches in downtown Richmond, Virginia called the Downtown Cooperative Ministry (DCM). Bethel, being the only black congregation involved in the DCM was afforded a greater opportunity to reach a greater number of people in need.  Each church was assigned a weekday [Wednesday] to offer hot meals, provide clothes, and counseling. From 1989 to 1996 the Bethel Feeding Ministry averaged 250 meals per week.

In 1996 Sister Alma Taylor became coordinator of the Bethel Feeding Ministry. Sister Taylor brought her own style of leadership to the ministry, but the same love and quality. Under the new leadership the Feeding Ministry birthed other ministries which includes the Bethel Boutique Clothes Closet and the "Dress for Success" program catering to men and women who, for one reason or another, are returning to the workforce; however the main focus still remains, hot meals for all who are less fortunate in the downtown community.

Other members that have contributed to the longevity of this ministry are, Sisters Daisy Davis, Thelma McLendon, Flossie Blair, Rita Williams, Mildred Graham, Pricilla Smith, Lillian Galloway, Roberta Johnson, Mary Taylor and Hilda W. Gray; and Brothers Lorenza Coley, Leon Smith, Robert Sattlefield and John R. Hall III. Our prayer is that God will grant the Third Street Bethel Feeding Ministry another 25 yrs. of service.

Respectfully Submitted,        
John R. Hall   III

11. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?

*Mel Lawrenz

This is a question we’d rather not ask, but is so central to our experience and our destiny that we can’t help but ask it. No one should be surprised that most people have at least some fear about death, because we naturally fear the unknown. It is a door that we look at our whole lives, yet is closed to us our whole lives, until in that one final instant when we cross the threshold. In Psalm 23, the most-often read portion of the Bible at funerals, David wrote, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid.” Why? Because God is the Shepherd who cares. As David wrote, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

I visited Shirley in the hospice where she spent her final days. She was, toward the end, just lingering. She had barely enough strength to raise her head. She forced words up and out of her throat, but they were brilliant, words that I’ve heard from many other people approaching the threshold: I’m ready; I’m at peace; I know this is okay. It was very much as if Shirley was standing in one place with a shadow gradually coming over her, but she herself did not become darkness because her faith-connection with God would not allow it. That is the key, passing through the valley, and even under the shadow, but knowing that God is right there—even having a stronger sense of him than when we are strong and virile.
What actually does happen when we die? The apostle Paul wrote of this in 2 Corinthians 5, when he was expecting that the persecuting authorities could kill him any day. Paul, skilled in the trade of tentmaking, compares our fragile, temporary bodies to tents. The tent will collapse some day, but the life goes on until it is joined to a resurrection body, a “heavenly dwelling,” a home in heaven:

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down-when we die and leave these bodies-we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we will put on new heavenly bodies. Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. That is why we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies (2 Cor. 5:1-10; New Living Translation).
There are several important points here:

1) Our present life is lived in a physical body, which is a creation of God, but just a dwelling place, a tent.

2) Life after death includes some kind of resurrection body, which implies ongoing personal conscious existence. As our earthly bodies are appropriate for life on earth, our heavenly bodies are suited for heaven.

3) To leave the bodies we have now makes it possible to be at home with the Lord (remember Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in paradise”).

4) Going through death is not a bad thing because it means coming into the wonderful presence of God, a state beyond imagining.

5) It appears as though there is a kind of “intermediate state” between life in this body and in the resurrection body, but it includes the conscious knowledge of being in the presence and realm of God. So even after death, after the body begins to fall apart in decay, God continues his ongoing constructive work, putting the pieces together.

A Prayer: Lord, please help me not to fear that valley that I know I will have to approach, as does everyone else. Help me to know that the knowledge of your presence can grow stronger with each step we take toward you. Help me to trust you and to be able to say with confidence, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).

  

*Mel Lawrenz is the former senior pastor and current Minister-at-Large of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin and leads The Brook Network: http://www.thebrooknetwork.org/

12. EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2013 SCHEDULE OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES:

The Right Reverend Julius Harrison McAllister, Sr., Presiding Prelate
Mother Joan Marla McAllister, Episcopal Supervisor

South Mississippi Annual Conference
September 11-15, 2013
Host Church:  Saint Paul AME Church, Madison, MS
Host Pastor:  The Reverend Nettie Ranel
Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend William N. Love
Co-Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend Jacob W. Hilton
Co-Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend Joseph Young
Co-Host Presiding Elder: The Reverend Sylvester Marshall

North Mississippi Annual Conference
September 18-22, 2013
Host Church:  Greater Powell Chapel AME Church, Grenada, MS
Host Pastor:  The Reverend Moses Simms
Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend William Hardiman, Jr.
Co-Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend John L. Moore, Jr.
Co-Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend Archie Smith

Central North Louisiana Annual Conference
October 9-13, 2013
Host Church:  Mary Springhill AME Church, Shreveport, LA
Host Pastor:  The Reverend Demetrese Phillips
Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend Michele Goodloe
Co-Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend Lloyd Washington

Louisiana Annual Conference
October 16-20, 2013
Host Church:  Turner Chapel AME Church, Greensburg, LA
Host Pastor:  The Reverend Carolyn Habersham
Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend Otis Lewis
Co-Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend George W. Tyler
Co-Host Presiding Elder:  The Reverend David J. Campbell, Jr.

Post Conference Planning Meeting
November 13-16, 2013

13. GETTING TO ZERO: WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

*Dr. Oveta Fuller

June is HIV Testing Month. June 27 is the National Day of HIV Testing in the USA. We also are quickly approaching the one year anniversary of initial appearance of the Getting to Zero (G20) column as a TCR weekly feature. It has been a blessing to write these while considering perceived needs in the AMEC global communities. One wonders about the impact on readers and members of the AME Church who receive the official newspaper.

This week TCR readers can engage in a self-test as one way to determine some of what you know about HIV/AIDS from a science perspective. Take a moment and complete the following quiz questions. For informed effective clergy, a score of 80% correct or above is recommended.

Have fun. Share the quiz and discuss questions or quiz results with others in your family, church and workplace. Answers are located at the end of this week’s TCR issue. Go for it! Enjoy! Letters to the editor are welcomed for feedback.

(Indicate the ONE correct answer. Write numbers 1-10 and write the letter of the correct answer for each question.)

-- TCR-G20 HIV/AIDS Quiz - June 2013

1) HIV can be transmitted by?

A.   Saliva in kissing                                   
B.   Touching a person with AIDS  
C. Sexual intercourse
D. Inhaling respiratory drops
E.   Multiple mosquito or tick bites

2) How can you tell if someone has HIV/AIDS?       

A.  You cannot tell                             
B.  They look tired and ill    
C. They carry an infectious disease ID card
D. They are thin and have no appetite
E.  They have dry rough skin 

3) It is estimated that at the end of 2010 about how many people worldwide were known to have been infected with HIV since it was discovered?

A.    1 million
B. 15 million                              
C. 33 million                      
D. 60 million      
E. 90 million

4) Living with HIV can include?

A.   Taking several different anti-retroviral medicines              
B.   Avoiding infectious agents          
C. Medical care
D.  Healthy diets
E. All of these

5) Which is true about testing for infection by HIV?

A.   It is painful
B.   It is expensive     
C.  It is a blood or saliva test to detect antibody to HIV
D.  It should occur only if you think you may have AIDS


6) Presence of sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes simplex, syphilis, and human papilloma virus (HPV).

A.   can make HIV infection more likely to occur in a person
B.   is unrelated to HIV and AIDS
C.   have been eliminated by vaccines and antibiotics
D.   each of the above is true
E.   not one of the above is true

7) The key cells in the human body that are infected and destroyed by HIV are:

A.   Red blood cells    
B.   T-lymphocytes     
C.  Nerve cells
D.  Epidermal cells 

8) Infection with HIV that can eventually lead to AIDS is:

A.   is mostly preventable    
B.   can be avoided by using the ABCs of infection prevention
C.   is spreading rapidly in the African American community
D.   can occur with no initial symptoms
E.   each statement is true

9) The structure of HIV is relatively fragile because it has?

A.  RNA genetic material                     
B. a fatty lipid outer membrane 
C. protein in its capsid
D. none of the above is TRUE 

10) An effective step towards reducing infection and eliminating HIV/AIDS is

A. providing community leaders with an understanding of how HIV is transmitted
B. using a combination of appropriate HIV/AIDS preventions
C. practicing the ABC’s at all times by individuals
D. making counseling and testing for HIV a routine part of health care
E. each of the above is TRUE

Key for HIV Quiz: Correct answers are indicated in reverse order of questions. E, B, E, B, B, C, E, D, A, C   

*The Rev. Dr. A. Oveta Fuller is an Associate Professor in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School and Adjunct Faculty at Payne Seminary. She served as pastor of Bethel AME Church in Adrian, MI for seven years before primarily focusing on global HIV/AIDS ministry. Currently, she serves at Brown Chapel AME Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan in the 4th Episcopal District while continuing HIV/AIDS research in parts of Zambia and the USA.
                                                                 
14. MEDITATION BASED ON PSALM 119:97-105:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby

Settling into a new home - as our family has done over the last couple of months - often means buying new furniture.  Our most recent furniture purchase was a “pub height” dining table and chairs.  They were delivered unassembled, but my younger son and I put them together with no problem whatsoever.

That surprised my wife, who gets uneasy whenever I pull out my tool box and who has vivid memories of my many less than successful “assembly projects.”  She looked at the assorted furniture pieces, bolts, washers, nuts and wood screws that covered the kitchen floor and strongly urged that we call someone with a “clue” to put the table and chairs together.

My son and I kindly ignored her advice, and less than two hours later, we were done.  I’m proud to say that, unlike some of my other “projects,” this one came out fine.  The table and chairs are level, stable and sturdy, there were no leftover pieces, and the end result is both attractive and useful.  I’d like to say that our success resulted from my skill and craftsmanship, but we really succeeded because the assorted pieces of the table and chairs came with good, clear directions that even I could follow without fouling up.

The success we enjoyed because of our furniture assembly directions can also be found in our daily lives when we follow God’s directions in what Christians call “The Bible.”  It’s easy for us to neglect ancient writings that can sometimes be hard to read or comprehend, and to simply carry or display our Bibles as a sign of our faith.  When we take the time, however, to read and prayerfully study God’s Word, we’ll discover action stories, adventure stories, love stories and the testimony of frail people who reflected on the blessings that come our way when we embrace God’s will and God’s way and follow God’s directions.

Take the time each day to read, digest and reflect on God’s Word and God’s directions for living.  You’ll find hope in your most stressful times, clarity in your most confused times, assurance in your most uncertain times, and affinity with the modern hymn writer who said, “Order my steps in your Word, dear Lord, lead me, guide me every day, send your anointing, Father, I pray, order my steps in your Word.”

Get Ready for Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship!

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

15. EPISCOPAL FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT:

-- Cara Leigh Davis, granddaughter of retired Bishop and Mrs. Z.L. Grady selected for prestigious summer internship

Cara Leigh Davis has been selected for a summer internship as an EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) undergraduate researcher at Claflin University. She is working with Research Mentor Dr. Jianguo Chen, researching, and conducting experiments on Fluorescence and the Taq Man Probe, using methods such as Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP), Short Tandem Repeat (STR), Real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) all forms of Genotyping.  She and her fellow lab intern will create a Taqman Probe from an assigned sequence of DNA. Cara will also teach high school students laboratory basics and assist them in experiments.  Cara's research grant is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Cara is a junior biology major at Claflin University, where she is a Chapel Assistant and a member of the Concert Choir, an Orientation Leader and Peer Mentor. Cara is the granddaughter of retired Bishop and Mrs. Z.L. Grady; the daughter of Felita Grady Davis and the late Melvin Davis; the niece of the Rev. Carey A Grady, (India); and Mrs. Constance Grady -Woodberry (Kenneth).

Congratulatory messages can be emailed to:

Bishop and Mother Grady: W1mg2cl@aol.com 
Cara Leigh Davis: cadavis@claflin.edu
Felita Grady Davis: fgd23@bellsouth.net 

16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:   

We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. W. Frank Brown, Jr., on June 4, 2013. He was the beloved brother of Mrs. Prudence Hope Wade, and brother-in-law of the Rev. Dr. Robert C. Wade, Presiding Elder and Consultant of the Camden/Trenton District of the New Jersey Annual Conference. The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
           
Viewing: Friday, June 14, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

Funeral Service: Friday, June 14, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.

Shiloh Baptist Church
340 Reverend S. Howard Woodson, Jr.
Trenton, NJ 08618

Telephone: 609-695-2448
Fax: 609-695-7756

The Reverend Darrell L. Armstrong, Pastor

Entombment:

Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum
1800 Hamilton Avenue
Hamilton, New Jersey 08619

Cards, expressions of sympathy may be sent to:

Presiding Elder & Mrs. Robert C. Wade & the Brown Family
3 Boyd Court
Florence, New Jersey 08518

Telephone:  609-499-0473
Fax: 609-499-0573

17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Herman C. Williams. He is the father of the Rev. Edward Hunt, pastor of Green Bay AMEC in Palestine, Texas and Brisby AMEC in Jacksonville, Texas.

Mr. Herman C. Williams, 81 of Palestine, will be eulogized at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 15, 2013.

Funeral Service:

Providence Baptist Church
FM 321
Montalba, Texas

Telephone: 903-549-2984
                
Burial: Providence Cemetery, Montalba, Texas

Services are handled by:
Emanuel Funeral Home
1721 West Oak
Palestine, Texas 75801
903-729-3188

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:

Emanuel Funeral Home
1721 West Oak
Palestine, Texas 75801

Telephone: 903-729-3188

18. CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:

Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751




19.  CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:

The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland; 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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