The Right Reverend
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
1. TCR EDITORIAL – A FEW BITS AND PIECES:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
This is a modified issue of The
Christian Recorder Online. The General Board Meeting was held this week and
I have to drive to Petersburg, Virginia on today (Thursday) to attend the
funeral of a dear friend of our family and then drive to Atlanta for a family
reunion. I could not find air travel itinerary to accommodate my schedule.
A full General Board Report will be published in the next issue
of TCR Online.
Let me say the General board Meeting was well-attended and
energetic. The meeting needed overflow hotels to accommodate the numbers of
persons attending the General Board Meeting.
Many good things are happening around the AME Church and we
heard a number of “good news” stories.
Just wish the “good news” items could have been shared with subscribers
and readers of The Christian Recorder.
We do need to take the time to “tell our stories.”
One of the bad news stories shared at the General Board Meeting concerned
Wilberforce University, the oldest private historically black university in the
nation. Wilberforce may lose its
accreditation due to deficits and low enrollment, which would mean, without
accreditation the university could not offer federal grants and loans.
The alleged problems facing Wilberforce include leadership
issues, a deteriorating campus and serious financial issues.
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the
regional accrediting agency has been monitoring the university since 2012 and
cites more than a dozen serious issues. It said Wilberforce ended the 2013
fiscal year with a $9.7 million deficit and the operating loss for the fiscal
year ending June 30 is projected to be more than $700,000.
The university told the commission it enrolled 97 students in
the fall of 2013 but 27 withdrew. The report states that the university has a
total of about 377 students.
Wilberforce must respond to the concerns by December 15 and
commission officials will visit February 9, 2015.
Bishop Young says $14 million needs to be raised by November
2014. He and his staff are working on strategies to raise the funds.
Bishop McKinley Young, Presiding Prelate of the 3rd
Episcopal District is to be commended for his transparency of sharing the
issues concerning Wilberforce University.
The Morris Brown College update was also shared at the General
Board Meeting. We will share more about
that in the next issue.
The 2016 General
Conference
Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, Presiding Prelate of the 1st
Episcopal District gave an update concerning the 2016 General Conference. Hotel and other information were also shared
by the AMEC Treasurer /Chief Financial Officer’s staff. More about that will be shared in the next
issue.
Concerning the 2016 General
Conference
The following bishops will retire:
-- Bishop John Richard Bryant (106)
-- Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Sr. (113)
-- Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland (114)
-- Bishop Richard Franklin Norris (116)
-- Bishop Preston Warren Williams II (119)
Editor’s Note: Bishop Sarah Frances Jackson Davis demise
creates another episcopal position that has to be filled.
The following General
Officers will retire:
- The Rev. Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., President/Publisher, AME
Sunday School Union
-- The Rev. Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor of The Christian Recorder
Editor’s Note: The Rev. Dr. Daryl Ingram is a candidate for
episcopal service and the position of Executive Director, Department of
Christian Education will need to be filled.
In a future issue of The
Christian Recorder, the names of the candidates for episcopal service and
candidates who will be seeking to fill general officer and Judicial Council
positions will be listed.
2. CLERGY FAMILY
CONGRATULATORY Announcement:
-- Congratulations to
Ruth L. Tisdale
Ruth LaShonda Tisdale proudly graduated from The Wake Forest
University School of Law on May 19, 2014.
Ruth is the immediate past President of the Southern Region Black Law
Students Association, which covers Law Schools in nine (9) States and 46 Law
Schools. She received many certificates
and awards during her tenure as President, and as a student at Wake Forest.
Prior to her enrollment at Wake Forest, Ruth worked as a
Newspaper Reporter for Roanoke News in Roanoke, Virginia. She was one of the first reporters to arrive
on the scene to cover the shooting at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.
Ruth is currently one of the musicians at Saint Paul United
Methodist Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina, where she plays the Piano,
the organ, and directs the Male Chorus.
She has accepted a position as an Assistant District Attorney with the
District Attorney Office in Bronx, New York.
Ruth is the youngest daughter of the Reverend Julius W. Tisdale,
pastor of St. Phillips AME Church in Monticello, Florida, and the Rev. Sylvia
E. Tisdale; Tallahassee District.
Congratulatory email can be sent to:
And mailed to:
Ruth L. Tisdale
P. O. Box 30646
Pensacola, FL
Telephone: 703. 869-5082
3. EPISCOPAL FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the Home Going of Former Episcopal Supervisor
Vida Bright, the widow of Bishop John Douglas Bright, the Seventy-Ninth Elected
and Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
It is with regret that we share the news of the passing of Mrs.
Vida Harris Bright, former Episcopal Supervisor and widow of the late Bishop
John Douglas Bright. Supervisor Bright was blessed to have lived 93 wonderful
years. She and Bishop Bright were married on July 30, 1942. She is survived by
her daughter, the Honorable Gwendolyn Bright, Court of Common Pleas in the City
of Philadelphia, one granddaughter, Jonell Bright, and a host of family.
Services for Supervisor Bright will be held at her church home,
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 419 S. 6th Street,
Philadelphia, PA, 19147 on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 10 a.m. A viewing will be
held prior to the service beginning at 8 a.m.
Words of comfort will be offered by Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram,
Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District and Bishop Richard Franklin
Norris, Presiding Prelate of the Seventh Episcopal District. Bishop Jeffery
Nathaniel Leath, Presiding Prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District will
serve as Eulogist.
Expressions can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to Mother Bethel.
Fax: 215-925-1402
Telephone calls can be directed to granddaughter, Judge
Gwendolyn Bright's office at (215) 683-7041.
Mark Kelly Tyler, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
419 South 6th Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147
215-925-0616
4. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
FROM: Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram
We regret to announce the passing of Mrs. Frances Loretta Bean,
the beloved mother of the Rev. Dr.
Emilygail A. Dill, President of the First Episcopal District AME Women
in Ministry, Associate Minister and First Lady of Allen Temple AME Church,
Sandys, Bermuda. Sister Bean is also the mother-in-law of the Rev. Howard H. L.
Dill, pastor of Allen Temple AME Church, Sandys, Bermuda and grandmother of the
Rev. Dr. Jahkimmo F. Smith, pastor of Mount Zion AME Church in Southampton,
Bermuda.
The following information has been provided regarding the
Funeral Arrangements:
Family Hour and Viewing:
Monday, June 23, 2014
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
White Hill Gospel Chapel
George's Bay Road
Sandys, Bermuda
Homegoing Celebration:
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
4:00 p.m.
Mount Zion AME Church
Whale Bay Road
Southampton, Bermuda
The Rev. Dr. Jahkimmo F. Smith, Pastor
Funeral Services have been entrusted to:
Amis Memorial Chapel Ltd.
8 Khyber Pass
Warwick, Bermuda WK03
Phone: (441) 236-0155
Fax: (441)236-4845
Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend Dr. Emilygail Dill
4 Temple Lane
Sandys, Bermuda MA04
Phone: (441)234-2587
5. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Robert Smith of
Beaufort, SC. Mr. Smith is the spouse of
the Reverend Mary M. Smith, Pastor of Saint Mark AME Church, Garnett, SC, South
Carolina Conference, 7th Episcopal District.
The family will receive visitors:
Sunday, June 22, 2014 from 7 pm to 8 pm at:
Marshel's Wright-Donaldson Home for Funerals
1814 Greene St.
Beaufort, SC 29902
Phone 843-525-6625
Funeral Services will be held:
Monday, June 23, 2014 at 11:30 am
Tabernacle Baptist Church
907 Craven St, Beaufort, SC
Telephone: 843. 525-0376
Expressions of sympathy can be sent to:
The Rev. Mary M. Smith
710 Newcastle St.
Beaufort, SC 29902
Telephone: 843. 441-5595
Email: mazzsmith11@yahoo.com
6. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third Episcopal District offers our deepest sympathy in the
passing of Marc Douglas Parker, the son of Mrs. Jo-Anne Little Parker (former
Connectional WMS Worship Director from 1983 until 1987 and is a Life Member of
the WMS) and of the late Rev. Floid Parker, who was the Chief Chaplain for
Veterans Affairs in Dayton, Ohio and Phoenix, Arizona and associate minister at
Bethel AME Church in Lockland, Ohio from 1977 - 1987.
Marc was educated in the Wyoming (OH) school district from third
grade until he graduated from Wyoming High School in 1987. His third grade teacher was Mrs. Adrienne
Morris whom she called her "favorite student." He was a faithful altar boy and served as
president of the YPD. Marc graduated
from Miami University in 1992.
At the time of his passing, Marc was doing what he enjoyed the
most - singing in church. He was married to the former Janet McHenry
Parker.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2014.
Condolences may be sent to Sister Jo-Anne Parker or contact her
directly at:
Mrs. Jo-Anne Parker
7634 North 37th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85051
602-841-3395
Please keep the family and our dear sisters - Jo-Anne Little
Parker, his mother and Laura Little Okumu, his aunt - in prayer through this
most difficult time. As you know, Laura
is an active member of South Ohio M-SWAWO+PKs and lives in Otterbein-Lebanon;
Jo-Anne frequently visits the Cincinnati/Dayton area.
7. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third Episcopal District offers our deepest sympathy in the
passing of Ms. Karen R. Crews, mother-in-law of Chaplain Nancy F. Reese Crews.
Her memorial services will be held on 28 JUN 2014 - 1400 at St. James AME
Church in Orange Park, FL 32073. Any
cards of condolences can be sent to the family at 7293 Overland Park Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32244.
Thank you for your prayers and support during this time of great
loss.
LT Nancy F. Reese Crews, CHC, USN
Deputy Director, CREDO Southeast
P. O. Box 6
Building 751 Birmingham Avenue, Suite 3
Jacksonville, FL
32212-5000
Telephone: (904) 542-5868
Fax: (904) 542-1223
Email: nancy.f.crews@navy.mil
8. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Sister Yvonne Hamilton, a founding member of Curry Chapel AME
Church, Strong, Arkansas, and an active Women Missionary Society member passed
away, Friday, June 13, 2014. She was the mother of the Reverend Aluster
(Yvonne) Neal Hamilton, pastor of St. Philip AME Church, Magnolia, Arkansas and
the sister of the retired Reverend Charles (Ruby) Lovett.
Funeral Services for Sister Yvonne Hamilton
Funeral: Saturday, June 21, 2014 - 10:00 am
Strong High School Gymnasium
635 South Concord
Strong, AR, 71765
Family Hour:
Friday, June 20, 2014
5-7 pm
Curry Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
250 F Street
Strong, AR 71765
Phone: (870) 797-7824
Services entrusted to:
Reddick Funeral Home
530 Cash Rd.
Camden, Arkansas 71701
Phone: (870) 836-3300
Fax: (870) 836-3359
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Family of Yvonne Hamilton
110 Columbia Road 265
Magnolia, AR 71753
9. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Blog: http://ameccfic.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
10. 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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