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:
August National Immunization Awareness Month
1. TCR
EDITORIAL – THIS IS A HEADS UP…:
Dr. Calvin H.
Sydnor III
The 20th
Editor of The Christian Recorder
This week’s issue
of The Christian Recorder Online will
be an abbreviated version because my wife, the Rev. Dr. Charlotte Sydnor and I
spent the week in Hampton, Virginia celebrating her Psalm 90 Birthday Blessing
and our 51st Wedding Anniversary with our son, Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor
IV, daughter-in-law, Joanna, three of our 12 grandchildren and other family
members. I tried to take it easy with a Sabbath rest-week, and managed some
relaxation and for that I am thankful.
While I was in
Hampton, had an opportunity to spend dinner-time with our friends, retired Presiding
Elder Sidney Williams and his lovely wife, Mrs. Helen Williams.
And, of course,
Elder Williams and I got involved in AME Church talk. And, he asked, “Have you
considered writing about the changes in The
Discipline? I responded that I had, but in my mind, it was not on the
“front burner!” By the end of the
evening, it was on my “front burner.”
I like to digress
We both mentioned
that we suspected that some, and perhaps many, pastors may not carefully read The Discipline. We both anecdotally agreed
that the laity may have a better handle on the contents of The Discipline than many pastors. Presiding Elder Williams said
that the original purpose of The
Discipline was so the laity would know the rules of our societies.
Let me get back on track
Those of you who
have known retired Presiding Elder Sidney Williams over the years know when he
asks a question, there is a probing response that is expected and he probably
already has the answer to the question.
So, when he asked
me if I had considered writing an editorial about the changes in The Discipline, I knew there was
something behind the question. In
addition to the question, he reminded me that he had not attended the General
Conference in Nashville. And, then he mentioned the Ministers’ Bill of
Rights…and asked other questions that I did not readily have the answers. I was
smart enough to know that he was not asking innocent questions. Inwardly, I
chastised myself for not being able to intelligently respond to his questions,
especially since I had attended the General Conference and he had not attended.
I had my iPhone
with me, and in Dr. Williams’ presence sitting at his kitchen table after we
had returned from dinner, opened DropBox, in which Dr. Jeffrey Cooper, AMEC
General Secretary so wisely provided the “Passed General Conference
Legislation” and began to read, while at the same time “kicking myself in the
pants” for not having mastered the information that was provided by the Office
of the General Secretary in DropBox.
As I sat at the
Williams’ kitchen table I perused the material, but the next day, I read very
closely the passed legislation and a TCR
Editorial is now on the “front burner” of my thinking.
Enough for now
I have already said
too much!
A heads-up to laity
and especially to pastors: A couple of significant changes are in the new Discipline and I plan to deal with some
of the changes, especially as it relates to the Ministers’ Bill of Rights. There are other significant changes too!
But don’t trust my
word; when The 2012 Discipline will
be available shortly, be prepared to purchase it, quickly; and read it.
I am stopping here
because I have already said enough; Keep an eye for the editorial, “The Discipline has Some Changes.”
2. TCR
OP-ED - LATINOS AND THE TRAYVON MARTIN CASE:
*John Thomas III
The Trayvon Martin
case (or the George Zimmerman trial—depending on who you ask) will be
remembered as another episode showing the stark racial divide in the United
States. Even though many assert that the
United States is moving towards a “post-racial” society, the data show
otherwise. In survey after survey on
topics ranging from Hurricane Katrina, to social welfare issues to Obamacare,
Blacks and Whites hold vastly different opinions on key issues that can only be
explained by race.
So, what about
Latinos?
The lack of
inclusion of Latinos in the articles and discussions around the Zimmerman trial
is a large oversight for several reasons.
First, George Zimmerman WAS Latino.
His mother was Peruvian (and indeed his grandfather was classified as
Afro-Peruvian). Second, the only
“minority” juror was a Black Latina who openly stated that why she believed
Trayvon Martin was murdered she had to judge according to the law. Third, Latinos make up approximately 17% of the
United States population.
Looking through the
AME discussions on Facebook, I found some interesting threads where the
relationship between Zimmerman and his Latino heritage were being
discussed. “How could George Zimmerman
be White and Latino?” And “was he racist
if he was a man of color?” frequently came up.
Because “Latino” only refers to heritage or language, the category is
much more elastic than “Black” or “African-American”. Latinos can be of any color and while 40% of
the Latino community identifies itself as “other” 40% identify themselves as
“White Latino”. This is especially prevalent among recent immigrants who would
be considered “White” in their native countries because of their social status
or persons of Latino heritage who have lived in the United States for
generations.
I looked through
the internet to find the opinions of Latinos on the George Zimmerman trial and
not surprisingly I realized that major polls had only looked at Black and White
(non-Hispanic) opinion. Fortunately, I
chanced upon an article from The Salon in 2012 that had accessed the full data
from several polls and came up with the following conclusions: 1) Latinos were
less likely than Blacks to follow the Trayvon Martin case; 2) Latinos had
similar opinions with Blacks regarding the belief that racism was involved; 3)
compared with Blacks a lower portion of Latinos thought that George Zimmerman
was guilty. In one of the few academic
studies of the data, researchers from the University of Central Florida
sustained these findings.
So what do these
findings mean? The discourse on racial issues has to catch up with the reality
that America is no longer divided among Black and White lines. When we discuss the impact of color and race
we must be broad and look at all angles (For example no studies looked at
Asian/Pacific Islander opinions or Native American opinions). Just like Black Americans have opinions on
more than President Obama, Latinos have opinions on more subjects than
immigration. The data on George
Zimmerman show that while the issue may not have been a lightning rod for the
Latino community at large, there is potential for social justice alliances and
advocacy.
The article from
the Salon:
The research link
from the University of Central Florida:
*John Thomas III is a Ph.D. student at the
University of Chicago. He serves as an
at-large member of the General Board and is the Coordinator of Youth and Young
Adults for the World Methodist Council.
3. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL
AND OTHER ISSUES:
--To the Editor:
RE: I Ask Column
Although the Holy
Spirit can do what the Holy Spirit chooses at anytime, just like the
Resurrection we are not at liberty to recreate the Day of Pentecost. When we
witness persons and churches who claim to speak in tongues, an attempt to
recreate the Day of Pentecost is most probably what we hear and see.
In other words,
it amounts to a lot of "babbling" and I pray that we do not start
that babbling in the AME Church.
The 12th
and 13th Chapters of I Corinthians address this topic and conclude
with the first verse of the 14th Chapter, which says, "Make
love your aim."
For a more
extensive treatise on this thought, see my article: "Wesleyan Holiness
Concerning What Actually Happened on the Day of Pentecost," which is found
on page four of the June 2010 Edition of Lay Notebook.
This publication
and article may be read at:
Robert T.
Matthews III
4. TEN THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE MARCH ON
WASHINGTON
Submitted on
August 28, 2012
The 1963 March on
Washington is perhaps the most iconic event from the modern civil rights
movement. Almost a half-century ago, a quarter of a million Americans gathered
to show solidarity for African Americans.
While images of the March on Washington are engrained in our collective
conscience, few may realize that the event defined and crystallized the social,
political and moral revolution. To commemorate the event, here are 10 things
you may not know about the March on Washington.
The official name
of the march was “The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.” The goal was to rally support for President
John F. Kennedy's Civil Rights Bill, and call attention to the economic
challenges confronting the African-American community.
A March on
Washington Movement was first organized in 1941 by A. Phillip Randolph to
address employment discrimination toward African Americans. Although an actual march did not materialize,
Randolph’s threat to protest on the National Mall during World War II forced
President Franklin D. Roosevelt to issue Executive Order #8802, which prevented
discrimination in the national defense industries.
The March on Washington in 1963 was organized
by Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King’s closest advisor, and a gay black man.
W.E.B. Du Bois,
co-founder of the NAACP, died on the morning of the march, in Accra, Ghana, at
the age of 95.
The March on
Washington was held exactly eight years after the 1955 lynching of Emmitt Till.
Daisy Bates was
the only woman to actually address the crowd at the March on Washington. Only
given 142 words, Bates stated that black women "pledge that we will join
hands … until we are free."
Two separate
parades were held for male and female civil rights leaders. The men marched down Pennsylvania Avenue. The
women, who included Daisy Bates, Josephine Baker, an
entertainer-turned-activist, and Rosa Parks, marched down Independence Avenue.
The most stirring
parts of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln
Memorial during the march, were improvised. King was inspired by gospel legend
Mahalia Jackson who shouted out from the crowd, “Tell ‘em about the dream,
Martin!”
Following the
march, male leaders met with President Kennedy, but no women were invited. The group met to discuss the civil rights
bill. It was the first time African-American leaders had been invited to the
White House since 1901, when President Roosevelt dined with Booker T. Washington.
King and the
other senior civil rights leaders censored the speech of John Lewis,
representing the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. They felt he took
too hard a line against the Kennedy Administration. Here are some of his omitted
words: "In good conscience, we cannot support the administration's
civil-rights bill, for it is too little, and too late. There's not one thing in
the bill that will protect our people from police brutality."
John Adams, PhD
candidate, History Department, Rutgers University
Also read: Teaching the Movement Beyond Four Famous
Words: http://www.tolerance.org/blog/teaching-movement-beyond-four-famous-words
Taken from
"Teaching Tolerance A Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center
5. A 50 YEAR MODEL OF ITINERANT TEAM
MINISTRY:
-- The Rev. Dr. L. Fisher Hines and Mrs.
Bessie M. Hines, Fifth Episcopal District to Celebrate their Golden Wedding
Anniversary
The Rev. L.
Fisher Hines and Bessie M. Hines were united in Holy Matrimony September 1, 1963
by the late Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Boyd, Sr. at Grant AME Church in Long Beach,
California.
The Rev. Hines
was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church by
the late Bishop Howard Thomas Primm in 1964, which began the journey in pastoral
ministry.
The first Charge
was Union Bethel A.M.E. Church in Great Falls, Montana. It was there that their
first child was born, a daughter, Artrina Denal.
The Rev. L.
Fisher Hines is a graduate of Daniel Payne College, Birmingham, Alabama. Seeking for a more excellent avenue of life,
the Rev. Hines migrated to the west coast and joined Grant AME Church, Long
Beach, California, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Frank LaMoyne
Whitlock. The Rev. Hines served in several capacities in the local Church at
Grant AME Church, including assistant to the following pastors of Grant: The
Rev. Frank LaMoyne Whitlock, the Rev. J. Nathaniel Harris, the Rev. C. N.
Austin, Jr., and the Rev. Jesse L. Boyd, Sr.
The Rev. Hines
and Sister Bessie were then transferred to their second charge, Quinn Chapel
AME Church in Jefferson City, Missouri in 1966. It was there in Jefferson City
that their second child a son, Marlin Daryle was born.
The Rev. Hines
continued his education at Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri. The
membership of the Church grew and Pastor Hines was instrumental in paying off
the debt on property behind the Church, for the erecting of a parking lot.
It was at this
stage of their ministry that Sister Bessie served as an Area Leader in the
Missionary Society of the Missouri Conference, under the Presidency of Mrs.
Vivienne L. Anderson. This was a tiny spark in Sister Bessie coming into her
own as an ardent Missionary!
From 1972-1976,
the Rev. and Mrs. Hines served in the Kansas-Nebraska Conference as pastor and
first lady of Trinity AME Church in Kansas City, under the leadership of Bishop
Harrison J. Bryant. It was here that Sister Bessie M. Hines was elected YPD
Director of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference by Supervisor Mother Edith H.
Bryant. Sister Bessie led the Kansas-Nebraska Conference Delegation to the seat
of the 1975 Missionary Quadrennial Convention in Washington, D. C.
While serving
Trinity AME Church, the Rev. Hines was instrumental in building a 236 unit
housing project of 1, 2, and 3 Bedroom Apartments, a Federally Funded Project
at a cost of $1,633,000 with not a single cent being spent from church funds.
The project was named Bryant Manor Housing Complex. The congregation grew
spiritually and financially. The Rev. Hines paid off-in-full a long standing
bank loan indebtedness to which Bishop Harrison J. Bryant was invited to burn
the Mortgage. The Rev. Hines has
maintained that it was Bishop Harrison J. Bryant, who ushered him in to the
turbulent waters of the Connectional Church, being elected as a Delegate to the
1976 General Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1976, Bishop
H. Hartford Brookins appointed the Rev. Hines to Bethel AME Church, Portland,
Oregon. Again, Sister Bessie was elected YPD Director of the then Puget Sound
Conference. Several community programs that were already in existence at Bethel
gained additional momentum. Those programs continued to flourish including the
addition of the Early Childhood Development Program Child Care Center. The Rev.
Hines later became the Director of the program.
In addition to
his work as Pastor of Bethel Church, the Rev. Hines was elected as the Chair of
the Black History Project, which was a project, sponsored by Bethel AME Church
and resulted in the publication of a book entitled: "A Peculiar
Paradise," a history of blacks in the state of Oregon, 1788-1940 by
Elizabeth McLagan. Bethel AME Church maintained its membership of 600, thereby
being the second Church in the Puget Sound Annual Conference.
In 1981, Bishop
H. H. Brookins, appointed the Rev. Hines to First AME Church, Oakland,
California. This was the third Church in the Northern California
Conference. First AME Church Oakland was
indeed a historic congregation in the City. Under the leadership of the Rev.
Hines, the church was led to a decision of destroying the old parsonage site
next door to the Church, and erecting a parking lot. While at First Church Oakland, Pastor Hines replaced
the old fashioned wooden theater seats and installed cushioned pews. Continuing
to pay the Mortgage on two different Church properties, the Rev. Hines left
First AME Church owing an indebtedness of $10,000. It was also while at First AME in Oakland
that Sister Bessie was elected and served as the California Conference YPD
Director.
In 1986, Bishop
Henry W. Murph appointed the Rev. L. Fisher Hines to Ebenezer AME Church in
Kansas City, Missouri. The next seven years he spent at Ebenezer were most
inspiring and delightful. The Rev. Hines led the Congregation into relocating
the parsonage beyond the South 63rd. Street area. While reclaiming many old and former members
of the Church, new members were being received into the fold of God.
The church held
its own as the first Church in the Northwest Missouri Conference by status of
Connectional Budget as well as reported membership. The main Sanctuary was
re-carpeted as well as new cushions on the pews. Rev. Hines also installed a
Handicap Ramp in addition to a new heating and cooling system. All of these were indeed paid-in-full!
It was during
this tenure of service, that Bishop Henry W. Murph appointed Sister Bessie M.
Hines as the 5th Episcopal District YPD Director. This appointment provided Sister Bessie with
a higher and deeper appreciation of the work of Missions through the Young
People's and Children's Division of the Women's Missionary Society. She led the
5th Episcopal District YPD delegation to several Quadrennial Conventions.
Perhaps one of
the greatest gems of her tenure, were two Episcopal District Youth Convocations
which culminated with the infamous "Matriculation to Christian
Living" at The Festival of the Holy Trinity, held in Los Angeles,
California and the Kerygma Fest, held in Oakland, California under the Episcopal
Leadership of Bishop and Mrs. Vivienne L. Anderson. During this season, more
than $126,000 was given in Scholarships to deserving young people. Sister
Bessie retired as District YPD Director in 1995 after having served 8 very
successful years in that capacity.
In 1993, Bishop
Vinton R. Anderson, appointed the Rev. Hines to Wayman AME Church in St. Louis,
Missouri. This eight year pastorate provided the Hines' with even more avenues
of leadership and responsibility. At Wayman,
the Rev. Hines inherited an indebtedness of $350,000 of previous Church
renovations. However, the Rev. Hines installed and paid-off a $40,000 heating
system and installed and paid-off a new Sanctuary 805C Organ at a cost of
$35,000. Other maintenance and upkeep on church properties remained on going.
Here at Wayman, Sister Bessie served as President of the Lena Mason Women's
Missionary Society. With the approval of the Board of Trustees and the Official
Board, the Church voted to sell the Condominium in Soulard South St. Louis and
re-invest those funds in purchasing a church parsonage. Upon leaving the Wayman appointment, the
"CD" still in tack totaled $47,044.06 (including Interest). The
original inherited indebtedness of $350,000, the Rev. Hines left an
indebtedness of $19,392.40.
In 2001, Bishop
John R. Bryant transferred the Rev. Hines to the Southern California
Conference, Cain Memorial AME Church, Bakersfield, California. At Cain Memorial, the first major project was
the sale of the old parsonage and purchasing of a new parsonage in another
section of the city. The Congregation became involved in many community
activities during this time. The Rev. Hines presided over five days of special
events leading up to the 123rd Church Anniversary of Cain Memorial in the City
of Bakersfield.
The Rev. Hines
assisted the mayor, city council members and other civic leaders in erecting a
new “welcome to the city of Bakersfield” sign. While at Cain Memorial, Sister
Bessie M. Hines reached the Zenith of her Missionary involvement when she was
awarded Life Membership in the Missionary Society of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church in 2003. Sister Bessie
currently serves as the 5th Episcopal District WMS Life Member
Chairperson.
In 2004, Bishop
John R. Bryant appointed Rev. Hines to Walker Temple AME Church, Los Angeles,
California. The five years spent at Walker Temple was filled with many curves,
twists and turns, all however, a portion of the turf. God was still in the plan of all things. While
some newly established programs flourished, Pastor Hines was still faced with
the decision to seek other sources of revenue in addition to tithes and
offering and successfully secured two other congregations to worship and
utilize Walker Temple's Sanctuary and Educational Building.
In 2009, Bishop
T. Larry Kirkland appointed the Rev. Hines to Grant AME Church in Long Beach,
California. During this two year
pastorate it became the privilege of the Rev. Hines to lead the congregation
into celebrating 100 years of Service to God and Humankind in the City of Long
Beach. Since this was the local Church where the Rev. Dr. L. Fisher and Sister
Bessie began their service in marriage and ministry, the Rev. Dr. L. Fisher
Hines made his 46th and last Report to the Annual Conference as an Itinerant Elder. It was here at the 87th Session of the
Southern California Annual Conference that the Rev. Dr. L. Fisher Hines
requested early retirement!
The Rev. Dr. L.
Fisher And Bessie M. Hines will renew their vows on their golden wedding
anniversary on sundae, September 1, 2013 at parks chapel AME Church, San
Fernando, California at 4:00 p.m. Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Presiding Prelate
of the 5th Episcopal District will preside over the Renewal Celebration
Service, assisted by Presiding Elder, Norman D. Copeland and host pastor of
Parks Chapel, the Rev. Ira Woodfin-Dickason.
A Dinner
Reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the
service.
Congratulatory
messages may be sent to the home address of the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. L. Fisher
Hines:
40047 Heathrow
Drive
Palmdale,
California 93551-3578
Telephone:
661.538-1378
Email Address: lfisherhines@gmail.com
6. A COMMEMORATIVE
SERVICE HONORING THE PIEDMONT ANNUAL CONFERENCE ORDINATION CLASS OF 1983:
Thirty years ago on October 3, 1983 at the Piedmont Annual
Conference (Seventh Episcopal District) at Allen Temple African Methodist
Episcopal Church, Bishop Frank Madison Reid, Jr., the 94th Elected and
Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church ordained twelve
Itinerant Elders to serve our great Zion. This “Ordination Class of 1983” takes
on the distinction as being the largest ordination class ordained under the
late Bishop Reid in South Carolina.
The Itinerant Elders Ordination Class of 1983: The Rev.
Phillip C. Anderson, the Rev. Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr., The Rev. Effson C. Bryant, the Rev. Wayman
Coleman III, the Rev. Phyllis Dunlap, the Rev. James Glover, the Rev. Robert Johnson, the Rev. Moses Miller, the
Rev. Carnell Morton, the Rev. Sandra Smith, the Rev. St. Julian Snyder, Sr. and
the Rev. Phillip L. Washington. All twelve of men and women ordained are still
alive and in ministry in South Carolina!
A special worship service is planned to commemorate the life
and ministry of these outstanding preachers on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at
Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 819 Woodrow Street in Columbia, South Carolina A special tribute to the late Bishop Frank
Madison Reid, Jr. is also planned.
Submitted by the Rev. Effson Bryant
7. STONES OF HOPE –
REFLECTIONS ON THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON (1963-2013):
By the Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt
In just a few days, on August 24, thousands of people from
around the nation and the world will gather in Washington, D.C., for the 50th
year anniversary and celebration of the historic March on Washington. Deemed in 1963 as “The March for Jobs and
Freedom,” it came at the height of the American Civil Rights movement as more
than 200,000 people gathered to call the nation to action as it regarded the
rights of all people to opportunity, equality and justice.
Among those who spoke at the Lincoln Memorial on that sunlit
day in 1963 was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King shared with the
crowd, the nation and the world a compelling dream—a vision—of “Beloved
Community” and a world where every “child would be judged not by the color of
their skin, but by the content of their character.” He articulated a hope that
America would heed the true meaning of its creed as found in the Declaration of
Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all (people) are
created equal.”
For the masses that will gather this year, this will be a
time of remembering, celebrating and hopefully renewing a commitment to King’s (and
others’) dream of peace, justice and equality among us. (Go to
http://officialmlkdream50.com/ for more information on the March.)
Theologian Jurgen Moltmann articulated in his book,
“Theology of Hope” that “Hope alone is to be called ‘realistic,’ because it
alone takes seriously the possibilities with which all reality is fraught.”
One of the things that King intimated in his 1963 speech was
a hope that God would “hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” The
despair that he was alluding to then was capsulated in what he deemed to be the
“triplets of evil:” racism, poverty (classism) and war (militarism). In King’s
estimation, these were the major categories of the social disease that
afflicted America then, and thus there was the need for the struggle for Civil
Rights, human rights, equal rights and the March on Washington, and a renewed
call/commitment to action.
For King, Christian hope served as the foundation for his
vision of Beloved Community. In one of
his later sermons, “The Meaning of Hope,” he defined hope as that quality which
is “necessary for life.” King asserted that hope was to be viewed as “animated
and under girded by faith and love.” In his mind, if you had hope, you had
faith in something. Thus, for King, hope shares the belief that “all reality
hinges on moral foundations.” It was,
for King, the refusal to give up “despite overwhelming odds.”
Today, many would agree that a great deal of progress has
been made in light of King’s dream and the call to action in 1963. With the
passing of the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act in 1964 and 1965
respectively, greater opportunities for many women and persons of color in our
society, the election in 2008 of the first president of African descent, and
expanding engagement of persons across cultures and classes in some cases, we
have seen signs of the realization of King’s dream.
Yet, as thousands will gather, there is much that continues
to ail our nation and the world: persistent and widespread poverty and a
shrinking middle class; ongoing wars and international conflict with seemingly
little or no justification for them; ongoing street violence and gun violence;
an American prison industrial complex that continues to expand; and disparities
in educational achievement across race and class lines. And thus, the need to
renew our commitment to King’s dream and heed a call to action.
Every few years, I have the privilege of leading a group of
scholars from Wesley Theological Seminary in a doctoral course that retraces
many of the steps of the Civil Rights movement in Alabama. The group that
journeyed together last summer was very typical of others over the years. We
reflected much of the diversity of society today. We were Hispanic, Native
American, white and black, female and male, Baptist, Episcopalian, African
Methodist Episcopal and United Methodist. We prayed, sang and shared our
thoughts together as we traveled.
And as we traveled, my memory harkened back to one of our
earlier trips, where Dr. Eileen Guenther, a professor at Wesley Seminary who
was a part of that study group, offered that it was a spiritual sung by many
choirs, “I’m Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table,” that played in her head
throughout our experience (see “The American Organist,” November 2008). Dr. Guenther said that she thought about the
variety of tables that we encountered as we traveled through Alabama:
Lunch counters of restaurants where all had not been welcome
(in the past);
The dining room table in the parsonage of Dexter Avenue
Baptist Church, in Montgomery, where we were told, the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference was formed;
The kitchen table of the same parsonage where Dr. King
searched his soul and felt God telling him to press on with his work;
The tables at which the people at 16th Street Baptist Church
served us lunch, tables placed adjacent to the site of the tragic bombing on
September 15, 1963 that killed four young girls;
The tables around which members of our group gathered to
share stories as victims of discrimination, of their courageous work in the
Civil Rights movement (and other freedom movements), and their lament over a
lack of awareness of what was going on at that time in our country’s history.
For me, these are stones of hope hewn out of the mountains
of despair among us.
And so, each year, we journey with the confirmation class
from Epworth Chapel UMC, the church where I serve as pastor, to the site of the
Marin Luther King Memorial in Washington, D.C. Although the crowd is always
much smaller than the one will gather in
a few days, I sense that our young people and all who journey to the King
Memorial day-by-day glean a sense of what King meant when he dreamt of such
stones of hope.
This hope beckons us to love everybody – both our enemies and
allies. This hope helps us to see that we can resist giving up on one another
because our lives together are animated by the belief that God is present in
each and every one of us. It is a hope
that all of us might realize and live, and one that can move us ever closer
toward Beloved Community.
The schedule for Aug. 24, as it currently stands, is: 8
a.m., gather at the Lincoln Memorial; 9 to 10:30 a.m., “light” programming;
10:30 to noon, more substantial programming; 12 noon, move to the MLK Memorial
for a celebration.
There does not appear to be a place designated for United
Methodists to gather for the March, but MFSA has announced that their offices
at 212 E. Capitol St., NE, will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a place for
people to place some belongings, use the restroom and receive water.
Should you have questions or would like to volunteer, please
contact the Baltimore-Washington Conference representative, Andrea King, at
800-492-2525, Ext. 426.
Issue Date: Mon,
08/19/2013
8. “THE BUTLER” A
“MUST SEE” MOVIE:
Good evening fellow Sons and Daughters of Richard and Sarah
Allen:
This morning (8/18/13) I received and read a text message
from the Vice-Chair of the AMEC Social Action Commission urging us to become
“economic engines” for good messages. We
often commiserate about our young people not understanding our history, and our
older people not remembering how we made progress as a people. I often wish that we knew all of the
sacrifices made by the many whose stories have never been told. Now, we all have a chance to learn, enjoy and
get a new wrinkle in our brains with one simple act - going to see the movie
"The Butler" before the weekend in over. Please see the message below from the AME
Church's Social Action Commission vice chair, Brother Reginald McGill:
"If you have not viewed the movie - you must go and see
it on today. We all must help the film
to blow its movie ratings out of the water.
The story line, the acting, everything about it is so real. This film should be the top-seller for this
weekend as well as the film of the year, net…bottomline, this is a “must see”
movie for every American and especially black families!"
Reginald McGill
NOTE: My family and I
had talked about going tonight...... Now it is not just "talking" we
must do it. Thanks Brother
"Reggie"
Submitted by Ms. Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Director of Social
Action Commission AME Church
TCR Editor’s Note: “The Butler” is a powerful, “must see”
movie! Allen (University) is mentioned
in the movie.
9. GO GET THAT MONEY,
BUT DOCUMENTATION AND RECORD-KEEPING ARE PREREQUISITES:
By the Rev. Eraina M. Ross-Aseme, D. Min.
According to sources, the United States currency has lost
value in recent years compared to the British currency. In spite of the downward spiraling of the
U.S. currency the needs of the society are steadily increasing. Those in the
faith community know it takes money to operate programs in the not for profit
organizations. The different levels of government offer grants to help push
programs that help improve the life of Americans and others.
Some of the counties of the local state government have
taken a hard core look at reducing crime, improve housing, encourage healthy
eating, and the list goes on. Therefore, government entities are reacting to
the needs of the society by allocating resources through government
grants. These government grants have
allowed some not for profits to be proactive as well as serve as a vehicle to
provide treatment to areas of need.
People are quick to say there are grants available for all
types of church programs but fail to realize it takes fortitude to have proper
documentation and consistent good recordkeeping to apply for grants and
loans. The African Methodist Episcopal
Church has a unique structure that allows a church to apply for financial
assistance especially grants.
Recently, I attend a grant seminar Combat Academy: Better
Grant Writing 101 held at the Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City,
Missouri; of course, free of charge.
After gathering such valuable information I could not help
but to think how we, in our Zion, need to be proactive and consistent with
record-keeping.
Information presented and gathered at planning meetings,
church conferences, official boards, quarterly conferences, and annual
conferences provide documentation and key information that might be helpful
when local churches apply for grants.
Key elements needed for applying for grants include plans,
actions steps, projected outcomes, organization charts, current incorporation
papers, proof of insurance, needs assessment statement, surveys and/or
measurable tools, target audience, partnerships, resources needed for the
program, staffing, proof of program existence, 2 to 3 years of audit reports,
exemption-status document, and other sources of income and budget.
Generally, the documentation listed above should be present
in the church records due to the official meetings of the local church.
The AME Church has commissions and structures in place that
might be helpful with grant applications. The Women’s Missionary Society and
other AME organizations have detailed descriptions in place in The Book of Discipline of the A.M.E. Church.
We have the resources to make a difference in our society,
but we must get “our house in order” by being proactive in our church business
sessions.
It is also important to know the suspense dates when
applying for grants.
The money is “out there,” but we need to know how to gain
access to the money “out there!”
10. AT A GLANCE:
VIEWS ON GAY MARRIAGE BY FAITH:
By Ivey DeJesus
Positions various faiths hold on same-sex marriage
U.S. Episcopal
Church: far more liberal than parent Anglican Church, Episcopalians appoint
gay members to be church leaders and approve blessings for same-sex couples.
Anglicans in the U.K. and Africa staunchly oppose gay marriage.
African Methodist
Episcopal Church: The AME Church opposes the ordination of openly gay
clergy members and marriage rights for same-sex couples. [AME clergy cannot
perform marriages for same-sex couples.]
Presbyterian Church:
Despite persistent division among the ranks, Presbyterians have increasingly
supported same-sex marriage. The February 2012 Presbyterian Panel survey showed
more members and ruling elders are opposed to same-sex marriage than in favor,
while more teaching elders are in favor rather than opposed. Presbyterians
remain divided over whether teaching elders should be allowed to perform
wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples.
The Southern Baptist
Convention: Advocates longstanding discriminatory policies against gay and
lesbian people. The denomination has passed numerous resolutions asserting its
commitment to preach, teach and politically organize against the LGBT community
and its supporters. Opposes gay marriage and prohibits congregations from
blessing same-sex unions.
Roman Catholic Church:
does not sanction same-sex marriage, but requires that gays and lesbians be
treated with dignity. Church doctrine holds that all people be allowed to live
out the universal call to holiness.
Jews comprise the
faith community most supportive of gay marriage. Up to 81 percent of
American Jews support same-sex marriage.
Islam: While Muslims worldwide generally believe same-sex
intercourse violates Islamic law, Islamic scholars have come to no consensus as
to punishment, reformation and standards of proof. Shari’ah (Islamic law) is
most concerned with public behavior; strong condemnation of homosexuality is
often directed at public display of any behavior. Same-sex intercourse carries
the death penalty in five Muslim nations: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mauritania,
Sudan, and Yemen. However, Muslim-majority nations such as Turkey, Jordan,
Egypt, or Mali, do not forbid same-sex intercourse. The progressive Muslim view
that the Quran commands that all men and women be treated with love, fairness
and justice - even gays and lesbians - remains highly controversial.
Judaism: Jews are more supportive of
same-sex marriage and legal equality for gays and lesbians than any other
religious or ethnic group in America. A survey by the Public Religion Research
Institute found that 81 percent of Jewish Americans support gay marriage.
Liberal branches of Judaism are widely allowing for the ordination of gay and
lesbian rabbis and are allowing their rabbis and congregations to perform or
host same-sex commitment ceremonies. Even the Orthodox Union condemns
discrimination against individuals and calls for respect for all citizens.
The United Methodist
Church: Current policies strongly discriminate against the LGBT community.
While the church prohibits ministers from blessing same-sex unions and condemns
gay sex, many church leaders and pastors welcome gays and lesbians as church
members and support their basic human rights.
Church of the
Brethren: believe that homosexuality violates God’s plan for human
sexuality. The Brethren Church opposes legislation that would extend special
consideration to the LGBT community based upon sexual orientation.
The Evangelical
Lutheran Church: has passed repeated resolutions to welcome gays and
lesbians since 1991. However, divergent views exist from synod to synod and
congregation to congregation across the denomination. The Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America is now the largest Protestant church in the United States to
permit non-celibate gay ministers to serve in the ranks of its clergy.
The National Baptist
Convention: forbids clergy from presiding over gay marriage but has issued
no public statements on its attitudes or policies toward gay, lesbian and
bisexual people. Traditionally, the denomination has regarded homosexuality as
sinful.
Source: Human Rights Campaign
11. MARKING HISTORIC MILESTONES IN THE PURSUIT OF
JUSTICE, NCC CALLS FOR RENEWED COMMITMENTS TO RACIAL HARMONY:
August 21, 2013 – Looking back on two landmark events in the
pursuit of racial justice in the United States, the National Council of
Churches Governing Board has called on its "member communions and partners,
persons of faith, and persons of good will ... to renew our personal and
institutional commitments to racial justice and harmony."
In a resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of the
Emancipation Proclamation, and the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march
on Washington, the Council pointed out that churches and religious groups have
been advocating racial and human justice long before the U.S. won its
independence.
"We join in prayer to our loving God to lead us to live
with one another as Jesus taught us: not as strangers who shrink from one
another in fear, but as neighbors who reach out to one another with empathy and
compassion," the Governing Board said in the resolution entitled,
"Pursuing the Dream."
The resolution traced church commitments to racial equality
throughout the long history of the U.S.
"Abraham Lincoln was still a country lawyer in Illinois
when U.S. churches formed abolition societies," the resolution declares.
"The immediate emancipation of slaves in the United States was always an
urgent moral issue for U.S. Christians. Indeed, church abolitionist movements
predate the birth of Lincoln and the United States itself."
But the dream of racial justice has not been fully realized
in the U.S., even after the election of an African American president, the
resolution acknowledged. The NCC statement cited the vast national divisions
following the Florida murder of an unarmed black teen-ager and the acquittal of
the accused shooter.
The resolution also quoted NCC President Kathryn Lohre:
"We are reminded that racism is alive and well. We have seen this in the
Supreme Court’s recent invalidation of parts of the Voting Rights Act and now
in the shocking impunity granted by a Florida jury to a man who stalked and
killed a black child."
The resolution called on churches to "repent of our
failings to live with one another as God commanded, that is, with unconditional
love for God and our neighbors, whoever they may be."
The full text of the resolution is available at http://www.nationalcouncilofchurches.us/news/racialjusticeaugust2013.php
12. SUPPORTING
INTERFAITH CALLS FOR PEACE IN EGYPT:
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
has expressed support for the interfaith calls to action for peace and security
in Egypt. He encouraged religious leaders to work together to call for
protection and to promote the sanctity of human lives and religious places.
Tveit appreciated a recent statement issued by Bayt
al-‘a’ila al-misriyya (The Egyptian Family Home) which appealed for the
“security measures to protect the churches, the mosques, the national and the
religious institutions as well as the sacred places.”
The Egyptian Family Home, an initiative of the Christian and
Muslim leaders in Egypt, created in 2011, collaborates with WCC member churches
in Egypt, including the Coptic Orthodox Church.
“Terrorism does not take into account the sanctity of
religion,” notes the statement, issued on 15 August.
The Egyptian Family Home also encouraged “efforts exerted by
the civilians either Muslims or Christians who are defending the churches in
this crucial period, setting a sincere example of the Egyptian patriotism against
the sectarian divisions and terrorism.”
Echoing the concerns raised in the statement, Tveit
emphasized that “the future of Egypt with justice and peace is only possible
through the commitment of all Egyptians.”
“Protection of all human life and sacred sites is a common
responsibility of both Christians and Muslims. The WCC supports and stands in
solidarity with the call for joint action and efforts for reconciliation and
security by the religious leaders in Egypt,” he added.
In recent events following the 14 August demonstrations,
hundreds of people have been in killed, while several churches and mosques were
burnt down in Cairo and around.
WCC member churches
based in Egypt
• Coptic Orthodox Church
• Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Egypt Synod of the Nile
• Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa
WCC member churches
present in Egypt
• Armenian Apostolic Church (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin)
• Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
• Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near
East
13. RESEARCH AND
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Date: August 20, 2013 11:21:42 AM EDT
Science students from diverse backgrounds: Applications open
for Intramural NIAID Research
Opportunities (INRO 2014); check
to see if someone you know may be eligible:
-- Intramural NIAID
Research Opportunities
INRO is intended for students from populations
underrepresented in biomedical research or financially disadvantaged backgrounds
interested in a research career in allergy, immunology, and infectious
diseases. Applicants are chosen through a highly competitive evaluation
process.
-- Website Publishes
Top 25 Scholarships for Women in 2013-2014
Billions of dollars in scholarships are available every year
to women, and one web site, ScholarshipsOnline.org,
is helping women apply for these financial aid opportunities. The web site has
recently published the top 25 scholarships available for women and girls in
2013-2014.
14. iCHURCH SCHOOL
LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY August 25, 2013- THE CASE FOR SPIRITUAL REFORMS -
NEHEMIAH CHAPTER 13:
Bill Dickens, Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington
Basic Need
Candidates seeking political office often base their vision
on wanting to “clean up the mess” in order to effectively meet the needs of
their constituents. Change is viewed as
essential. Federal, state or local levels of government must meet the
expectations of voters and citizens.
Talking about change is one thing; implementing change however is quite
different. The 2008 Presidential
candidate Barak H. Obama sought to “reform” or change the way in which
Washington, DC works. After an historic
victory in 2008 and re-election in 2012, many of the changes once described
look like unfulfilled promises. Implementing
change and reform requires a leadership model which is in short supply in the
21st century. The Adult AME Church
School lesson for August 25, 2013 explores a change-agent, Nehemiah. Nehemiah sensed there was a clear need for
change. More importantly, he implemented
a plan of action which helped steer his fellow comrades closer to the
fellowship God has always desired.
Basic Lesson
The Biblical witness about meaningful spiritual reform finds
its origin in the book of Exodus. The apostate conditions in the nation of
Israel warranted change when Aaron permitted the golden calf to be constructed
while Moses away on Mt. Sinai. Upon
return, Moses was horrified to discover the blatant violation of God’s
commandments against idolatry and quickly removed the pagan object. Years later King Hezekiah implemented reforms
in the Temple where practices of idol worship were permitted by his
predecessor. Today’s lesson outlines the
role of Nehemiah in implementing much needed spiritual reforms upon his return
visit to Jerusalem. Nehemiah carried out
these reforms by emphasizing the purity of the temple (13:7-9), implementing
legal reforms (13:10-11), restoring the sanctity of Sabbath observations
(13:15-22) and announcing a moratorium on mixed marriages (13:22-27). Nehemiah was the perfect choice as a reformer
since he successfully oversaw the restoration of the Walls of Jerusalem and
fended off petty criticism by his critics.
An effective reformer must be resilient, a risk-taker and completely
unconcerned about his/her reputation. A
spiritual reformer is preoccupied with making sure lifestyle changes do not
pollute the purpose and intent of God’s divine plan.
Basic Application
Reforms come in many shapes and sizes. Immigration reform, tax reform, prison reform
and education reform represent a sample of the changes many would like to see
in American society. Disagreements of
course exist about how to achieve these reforms. Opposing views do agree on one thing –
change(s) must be made. Change is
difficult because it fundamentally challenges our accepted view about not just
what is but more importantly what ought to be.
Many of Nehemiah’s associates felt that the existing status quo of
neglecting the Sabbath observance, cavalierly handling sacred objects or
consummating inter-faith marriages was acceptable. No doubt many were surprised to learn the
social status quo was in fact morally and theologically offensive to Jehovah
God. Changes were needed in order to
prevent God’s judgment from re-occurring.
A reformer must have thick-skin (consider the courageous work of the
German monk Martin Luther) and not depend on peer approval before taking
corrective action. Corrective action may
result in having fewer friends but we have the comfort in knowing our actions
are based on what is right and not what is politically or culturally expedient.
*Brother Bill Dickens is currently the Church School Teacher
at Allen AME Church in Tacoma, Washington.
He is currently a member of the Fellowship of Church Educators for the
AME Church.
15. MEDITATION BASED
ON I CORINTHIANS 15:1-10:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
It’s amazing how word meanings change and expand over
time. When I was a child, “coke”
exclusively described a soft drink and was not an abbreviation for
cocaine. “Pot” described a cooking
utensil, not a plant substance to be smoked… and then there’s “spam.” “Spam” - in the days of my youth - was a
canned meat product of vague and mysterious content that turned up on the
family dinner table at the end of the month, when grocery dollars had to be
stretched to the limit. Today, “spam”
describes unwanted e-mail - the modern technological equivalent of the printed
“junk mail” that used to arrive in one’s residential mailbox.
“Spam” emails can be annoying - and sometimes amusing - at
best, but can also be dangerous to one’s computer or email contact list at
worst, so most e-mail providers and most anti-virus software include “filters”
to examine e-mail and send suspicious messages to a “spam” or “junk” file,
where they can be isolated and deleted.
I empty my “spam” email folder every couple of weeks, but I never do so
before reviewing the messages, because every now and then, a legitimate email
from a reliable source is incorrectly sent to the Spam folder. What my email filter labels as “spam”
sometimes turns out to actually be an authentic message worth reading.
What applies to the contents of my “spam” folder also
applies to our daily lives. None of us
are perfect people. We all make
mistakes, have our share of “ups” and “downs” and sometimes end up looking and
feeling like worthless and useless candidates to be written off and discarded
by this world and those in it. That’s
why Jesus came into this world. Just as
I examine my “spam” e-mail and rescue some messages that would otherwise be
deleted, Jesus examines and can save and rescue all of those who believe in His
Divinity and in His grace and mercy.
It’s easy for all of us to look back at our mistakes and
missteps and end up feeling like worthless “spam” to be discarded and
disregarded, but that’s not what matters most in life. What matters is that we have a Savior who can
rescue us, restore us, gives us new options and new opportunities, and enable
us to rejoice in the words of a hymn written by Thomas Whitfield - “Jesus knows
all about our struggles, He will guide us till the day is done. There’s not a friend like the lowly
Jesus. No, not one; no, not one.”
To the Members and friends of the Beaufort District:
Please join us on this Friday - August 23rd at 7 pm – as we
celebrate the closing of another Annual Conference Year in worship at Shiloh
AME Church, 172 Smith Street, Charleston, SC.
The Reverend Eugene Collins, Sr. is host pastor, the Shiloh Choir and
Beaufort District Choir will lead us in praise and retired Presiding Elder
Alonzo Middleton will be the preacher for the occasion.
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
16. CLERGY FAMILY
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT:
-- The Rev. Troy Merritt, Jr., and Mrs. Brenda Annette
Merritt; pastor and first lady of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church
in Nashville, Tennessee celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary
The Rev. Troy Merritt, Jr., and Mrs. Brenda Annette Merritt;
pastor and first lady of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church,
Nashville, Tennessee, celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on August 17,
2013.
They were married at Lee Chapel African Methodist Episcopal
Church, Nashville, Tennessee, on August 17, 1968, by their pastor, the Reverend
Leo Lesser, Jr.
Congratulatory Messages can be sent to:
The Rev. Troy and Mrs. Brenda Merritt
913 Sutton Hill Road
Nashville, Tennessee 37204
Email: tmerrittjr48@yahoo.com
17. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with deep regret and heavy hearts that we inform you
of the passing of Erica LaShaun Carroll, age 35 of Chattanooga, Tennessee; the
third of three daughters of the Rev. Barbara Sanderfur, former pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church, Chattanooga,
Tennessee.
The Homegoing Celebration for Erica LaShaun Carroll will be
held on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul AME Church,
Chattanooga, 2514 Williams Street, Chattanooga, TN. Viewing will be on Friday, August 23, 2013
from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Hardwick & Sons Funeral Home; Trammell
Chapel located at 913 E. M L King Blvd., Chattanooga, TN. Phone: (423)
267-1244.
In lieu of flowers, contributions & condolences may be
sent to:
The Rev. Barbara Sanderfur
1209 N. Hickory Street, Apt. A
Chattanooga, TN 37406.
Telephone: (423) 629-4239
Email: revbsanderfur@gmail.com
18. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
"There is no night without a dawn, No winter without a
spring, And beyond death's dark horizon, Our hearts once more will sing, For
those who leave us for a while, Have only gone away, Out of a restless careworn
world, Into a brighter day."
With deepest sympathies we inform you of the sad demise of
the Reverend Casey Childs. Let's together pray that God will comfort his wife,
Sister Lois Childs and the entire family.
The Reverend Casey Childs recently served the congregation
known as Greater Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church located at 4174
Highway 17 North, Awendaw, SC 29429 (843-8841675).
The Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris, Presiding
Prelate, 7th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will
officiate at A Memorial Service that will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2013
at 1:00 p.m. at the Greater Zion AME Church located in Awendaw, South Carolina.
Viewing Services will be held from 1:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. at
the Beasley Funeral Home, Inc. located at 205 Knight Street, Fountain Inn, SC
(864) 862-2362.
The final Home Going Services for the late Reverend Casey
Childs is scheduled for Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the Avery Chapel African
Methodist Episcopal, 1425 North Kelham Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 (404)
424-3331.
19. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
With deepest sympathies we inform you of the passing of The
Reverend Dr. Millard Lloyd Davis. Let us
pray that God will comfort his wife, Sister Vinnett Davis, the Davis family,
the Blue Mountain District and his 16th District family.
At the time of his passing Monday morning, August 19, 2013,
The Reverend Dr. Millard Lloyd Davis was serving as Presiding Elder of the Blue
Mountain District of the Jamaica Conference, Treasurer of the 16th District
Presiding Elders Council, and Vice President of the Jamaica Council of
Churches, and most recently served as the Vice Chair of the 16th District
General Board and Investiture Committee. He was the proud Pastor of Kyle's
Temple AME Church, St. Mary's, Jamaica prior to his appointment as Presiding
Elder in April 2010.
The announcement of the final arrangements will be shared as
soon as the plans are released by the family.
Contact information for Sister Vinnett Davis is as follows:
Email:
Vinnett_davis@yahoo.com
Telephone: 1-876-350-9323
Mail:
Lot 183 Allistair Avenue
Bridgeport P.O.
St. Catherine, Jamaica, West Indies
20. HOMEGOING OF
FORMER GENERAL BOARD MEMBER NORMAN CHAMPION:
Norman Alonza Champion, Jr. transitioned from labor to
reward at the age of 89 on August 17, 2013, with his wife of 55 years, Virginia
Louise Champion by his side. Mr. Champion was a member of First AME Church,
North Las Vegas, Nevada.
His dedication and service in the AME Church included:
- Lay Organization Life Member
- Elected to General Board of the Connectional Church three
Quadrenniums: 1984, 1988, 1992
- Elected to the Board of Directors for North Portland Bible
College and served as Board Treasurer
- Served on the Economic Development Board of the Fifth
Episcopal District from 1980 – 2000
21. CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
22. 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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