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
-- March – Woman’s History
Month
-- The Lenten Season
-- Easter Sunday: April 5,
2015
Thought for the Week: “You will go where your thoughts take you, so carefully
plan your destination.
1. TCR EDITORIAL – A SEMINARY DEGREE IS LAUDABLE, BUT IMPRACTICAL
FOR MANY PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS IN OUR ZION:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The
Christian Recorder
When I grew up, most times my mother, my disciplinarian was
on-target when she disciplined me for misbehavior. I was guilty almost 100% of
the times. There were a few cases when I was not guilty of what she thought I
was guilty. And, to her credit, in those
very few instances, when the truth of my innocence came to light, my mother
profusely apologized to me and admitted that she had made a mistake about what
she thought I had done.
She was so contrite that I “kind of” wished that I had done the
deed so should wouldn’t have had to apologise.
Her profuse apologies, even though I was innocent, made me feel worse
because she was so contrite.
The good news of this story is that she only had to do so once. I
felt badly because I wasn’t completely innocent, I just hadn’t done all that
she thought I had done, but I made the decision not to incriminate myself.
There were a couple of times in my parenting experiences when I
discovered that I was wrong about what I thought our children had done and
followed the example of my mother and apologised profusely the few times I was
wrong.
I must also admit that I misjudged and was wrong about a few
things during my pastorate, military service as a chaplain, college teaching
career and even as a husband.
Most recently, I falsely accused my wife, Charlotte, of moving my
car keys. My car keys were where I inadvertently put them in a place that I
usually didn’t put them. Of course I had to apologize for my false accusation.
I think most people have probably made miscalls and most times we
can utter an apology and move on.
Sometimes employers and businesses make mistakes. Sometimes they
make hiring mistakes and implement rules that have to be recalled or amended
for the best interest of the business or practice.
Sometimes religious organizations make mistakes. I believe all of
us make mistakes and in every life there are things that we wish we could “call
back” or do over.
I suspect that most organizations have made and make mistakes.
Modifying John C. Maxwell’s comments, “A person or organization must be big enough to admit his / her/ its
mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.”
Successful and high performing organizations admit, modify and
correct identified mistakes.
Here is
where I am going with this
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, over the course of its
history may have made mistakes, but I want to address one mistake that I
believe needs to be corrected.
I believe we made a rather innocent, with good intentions, but a
serious mistake in a change we made several general conferences ago. I agreed with the change and thought it was a
good change. But, I have changed my mind.
I think the mistake is in The
Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2012, Part V, Section II. Preachers Admitted on Trial F. which
states: “A candidate for ordination as itinerant elder must be a graduate of a
seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) or a
similar accrediting agency…”
The exception clause in Paragraph F, “Exception to these requirements is at the discretion of the annual
conference Board of Examiners with the approval of the presiding bishop” is
appropriate, but I want to focus on the requirement, “A candidate for
ordination as itinerant elder must be a graduate of a seminary accredited by
the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) or a similar accrediting agency…”
The requirement for a seminary degree is laudable, but impractical
for many pastoral appointments in our Zion, which has so many small
congregations, unable, and sometimes unwilling, to pay a pastor a livable wage.
It is not practical to require a person to go to college, attend
graduate school and spend seven years getting an education, pile up substantial
debt, and then not be able to get a pastoral appointment commensurate with his
or her academic accomplishments. No wonder that we have so many supernumerated
itinerant elders serving as assistant pastors or doing negligible or no
ministry!
Let’s look at it this way, The
Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2012” suggests that pastors (presupposing college and
seminary graduates) in Class A Charges
be provided salaries of $20,000 or more. A person working in Walmart or at a
fast food establishment working a 40 hour week, without any degrees, making $10
an hour would receive an annual salary of $20,800. If truth be told a lot of
pastors would be ecstatic with a $20,000 annual salary.
Let’s
look at it another way, seminaries, especially majority seminaries do not
always provide their graduates with the skills needed to pastor AME or minority
church congregations. My anecdotal experience and the experience of other
seminary graduates I have spoken with express similar thoughts as mine. I
attended a majority seminary and received a first-class education that worked
especially well in the military environment and I am sure would have worked
well in a majority denomination, but much of what I learned was not applicable
in any appreciable way in my AME pastorate.
I
can attest to the fact that I learned about pastoring AME churches from the
Board of Examiners of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, from my pastors who I
served under as an assistant minister, and from conversing with older pastors
on the sidewalk. Some of my pastoral education
came from excellent “sidewalk” lessons from older pastors and especially from
my father-in-law, the late Rev. Charles E. Blake.
I
tried to apply some of the things I was taught in seminary, but they didn’t
work; it was like “apples and oranges.”
A pledge drive might work well for a large well-endowed congregation,
but it didn’t work in my poor, working-class, a lot of people under-employed
and unemployed congregation. Special days worked and we had to sell some
chicken and fish dinners too.
Some
of the preachers who served on the Philadelphia Annual Conference Board of
Examiners were not seminary graduates, but they knew the AME Church. They were not formally trained, but they were
highly educated.
I,
today, fondly remember the Rev. Dr. W.P. Stevenson, a seminary trained pastor.
He was the mean rascal on the Board of Examiners, but he was efficient and he
had our best interests at heart. If you got through the Rev. W.P. Stevenson and
that crowd who served on the Philadelphia Board of Examiners, you were ready to
pastor an AME Church. Just about every person who was ordained with me (one or
two of us were seminary graduates) the others were not, were successful
pastors; seminary and non-seminary trained had successful pastorates.
Let
me share this story; Bishop Richard F. Norris was a young pastor, already
ordained an itinerant elder in the Philadelphia Annual Conference and friend of
all of us who were going through the board process. He served on the Board of Examiners with the
Rev. W.P. Stevenson and the other pastors on the board. And when we were being
grilled by the Rev. Stevenson, the Rev. Richard F. Norris, our friend, wouldn’t
even look our way. The point I am making here is that the board was a serious
process that provided theological, religious, and educational information. Church administration was a big instructional
piece. Ministerial ethics and etiquette
was drilled in us. An ethical and moral foundation underpinned all of the
instruction. Being prepared for the board, not friendship was the key of getting
successfully through the process.
Those
of us who were progressing through the Board of Examiners’ process knew that it
was serious business. We had books to read and training sessions. We had one person who started with us, who
dropped out. I can’t remember his name. I guess he thought it was going to be a
“cake walk.”
Many
of our churches do not need seminary trained pastors; they need well-trained
and well-rounded pastors who are willing to serve smaller congregations and who
are not trying to become mega pastors or aspire to the bishopric.
If
a young pastor has heavy student loan debts, he or she will certainly be trying
to get to a larger church with a bigger salary to help pay his or her student
loans.
An
efficient well-trained and experienced board of examiners is key in preparing
pastors for ministry in the AME Church, not seminary training.
I
am afraid the seminary requirement has closed the doors to a lot of individuals
who would have made excellent pastors.
We
have had non-seminary trained pastors who have provided superb ministry because
they were well-trained by the boards of examiners and had the self-discipline
to be well-read.
And,
we have a lot of seminary trained ministers who are not using the gifts of what
they learned in seminary or from the board of examiners because they have not
been given the opportunity of receiving a pastoral appointment or they are
mired in so much debt that they have to find employment that will compensate
them so they can pay off their student loans.
I
hate to admit it, but the reality is that some seminary graduates are not going
to go to smaller churches when there are other professional opportunities
available to them. Seminary graduates may not accept a pastoral appointment to Chittlin Switch or Ham Hock Junction.
I
just think that the seminary requirement for itinerant elders is over-kill and
that the AME Church functioned well without the seminary requirement.
I
think that the requirement was well-intentioned, but a mistake; that’s my take
on the requirement.
2. THE
CONNECTIONAL LAY ORGANIZATION IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
--
Connectional Lay Organization Spring 2015 Executive Board Meeting
The meeting will be held April 23 -25, 2015 at the Doubletree
Hotel, 2100 Bush River Road in Columbia, SC.
Hotel Reservations can be made by calling: (803) 731-0300. Room Rate: $129.00 Per Night
plus applicable taxes. Group Block: “Spring Executive Board”
Regular Registration before April 10, 2015: $125.00 per person
Late Registration after April 10, 2015): $150.00 per person (All
registrations includes meeting materials and four meals)
Send
Registration Form and Payment to:
Mr. Richard Bowden, 1908 Vaughn Lane, Montgomery, AL 36106
There will be an Opening Worship Service on April 23, 2015 – 7:00
p.m. Please visit http://connectionallay-amec.org/home.htm to download the Flyer,
Registration & Transportation Form.
-- The
34th Biennial Session of the Connectional Lay Organization
The Connectional Lay Organization announces the 34th Biennial
Session of the Connectional Lay Organization which will be held August 2 - 6,
2015 at the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex, 5001 Coliseum Drive,
North Charleston, SC 29418.
The Opening Worship Service will be held on Monday August 3, 2015
at 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Willie C. Glover, Global President; Bishop William P. DeVeaux,
Commission Chair; Bishop Richard F. Norris, Host Bishop; Mother Mary A. Norris,
Host Episcopal Supervisor
--
Vendor, scholarship opportunities
Information regarding Vendor Opportunities, Scholarships and the
Outstanding Lay Person Awards may be accessed by visiting the Lay Organization
website at: http://connectionallay-amec.org/home.htm
Scholarship
Applications are available online for the following Scholarships:
Joseph
C. McKinney Scholarship - The one-time scholarship will be awarded to
a 2015 high school graduating senior that will enter a college or university in
the fall of 2015. Deadline for submission: May 15, 2015
J. D.
Williams Scholarship - The one-time scholarship will be awarded
to a person pursuing course of study leading to a Bachelor's Degree, M. Div. or
D. Min. Deadline for submission: May 15, 2015
Jamye
Coleman Williams Scholarship - The one-time scholarship will
be awarded to a 2015 graduating high school senior that will enter a college or
university in the fall of 2015. Deadline for submission: May 15, 2015
3. TCR OP-ED - “MUST-SEE” VIDEO REPORT
ABOUT THE 2015 GDC MEETING IN CAPE TOWN, RSA:
Prepared by the Rev. Clive Pillay
The
Final completed photographic report GDC 2015:
TCR
Editor’s Comment: This is the first video TCR
Op-Ed.
2. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
-- Dean
at Boston high school arrested and accused of shooting student in the head
The Rev. Dr. Gregory Groover, pastor of the Charles Street AME
Church where Harrison attended services said the allegations against …
--Latest
news from the 15th Episcopal District
--
Clergy and others call for overhaul of Ferguson leadership
-- Ward
AME celebrates rebirth of Annual Prayer Breakfast
4. 2015
COUNCIL OF BISHOPS AND GENERAL BOARD MEETING WILL MEET JUNE 29 - JULY 1, 2015
IN NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA:
Venue:
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel
Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Telephone: (504) 561-0500
Group Rate: $164.00/flat
To make a reservation please use link below:
Or
call:
Telephone: (504) 584-3959 and mention the group code:
"AME" to get the discounted rate.
**More details coming soon!
See the AME Church Web Site:
5.
REMINDER ABOUT TCR EXPIRATION
NOTICES:
The expiration date for all subscribers of The Christian Recorder
(TCR) is on the address label. The
reason we cannot send individual notices is because most of the TCR
subscriptions come in via annual conference reports and it would not be
feasible and cost prohibitive to send expiration notices to all of our
subscribers. TCR Subscribers can call
(800) 648-8724 to check the status of their subscription to The Christian Recorder.
6. IF
YOU ONLY WATCH ONE VIDEO:
7. THE
FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S SPEECH IN SELMA:
8.
BOWIE CHURCH COMPLETES 10TH RENOVATION MISSION IN NEW ORLEANS
DAMAGE:
BY Emilie Shaughnessy
Staff Writer
- Still
apparent a decade after Katrina, organizers say
At 80-years-old, Shirley Blumberg of Bowie has added new skills to
her resume: sheetrock installation, painting and hardwood floor assembly.
Blumberg is one of more than 60 members of Greater Mount Nebo
African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bowie that have participated in the
church’s annual tradition of rebuilding homes and serving the community in New
Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“I wanted to help, to do whatever I can to help the people down
there,” said Blumberg, who made the trip when she was 76, but could not attend
this year because of an injury. “It really has nothing to do with age. I love
people and I like to make them happy and see them smile.”
Church members made their 10th trip to New Orleans the week of
Nov. 16, led by Jacqueline Woody of Upper Marlboro, who said she felt called to
the area after Hurricane Katrina flooded and damaged much of the city.
Woody, who said she had never led a mission trip prior to 2005 and
is not a ‘hammer and nails type of person,’ said she was led by her faith to
Louisiana.
“It was a divine intervention that came to me. It was God speaking
to my heart during Katrina,” said Woody, 65. “The way that people had to be
displaced and separated from their families really affected me in a profound
way. I felt a calling to go and be of service and help.”
Woody said she has returned to New Orleans every year since
Katrina, even if it meant going by herself, and has partnered with groups like
Georgia-based Habitat for Humanity, an international nonprofit that builds and
repairs homes.
About 66 Prince George’s residents have joined her over the past
10 years, helping to build homes, plant trees, work in health centers,
participate in literacy projects and more, she said.
Although it has been nearly a decade since Katrina, Woody said
many areas of New Orleans are still recovering.
“Even though the city has improved in many locations, you still
can travel to some parts and see where houses are still vacant and so the opportunity
to help people come back to the city is still important to me now,” she said.
Blumberg recalls the damage she witnessed during her 2011 trip.
“It was devastating when I went,” she said. “I saw the trees. I
saw where the levee [failed and flooded the city]. There was no sound; there
were no birds there, there was nothing.”
Mike Gaddy, 55, of Bowie said he and his wife, DeEarcie Gaddy,
have participated in the trip about four times and plan to return to New
Orleans again in the future.
“Sometimes it’s a little disappointing when you think about [the
work that still needs to be done], but the help is needed whether it’s five
years, 10 years or 15 years [after the hurricane],” he said. “You would like
for it to be completed with the rebuild, but unfortunately that’s not the case.
That’s why you have to keep going back.”
The Rev. Jonathan Weaver, pastor at Mount Nebo, said the New
Orleans mission is one of the church’s longest-running national outreach
programs.
“It’s more than helping to rebuild someone’s home,” he said. “It’s really about rebuilding a sense of hope
in people, and part of that is done just by having people who are exemplifying
the attributes of Christ.”
Woody said she plans to keep returning to New Orleans as long as
she is needed.
“How long will we do this? As long as I can, as long as others are
willing to serve with me, until the Lord tells me my calling to this work is
finished,” she said.
Reprinted with permission — The Gazette/Bowie, December 4, 2014
Copyright 2014, The Gazette
9. HBCU
SUNDAY SERVICE IN MADISON, MISSISSIPPI:
*Ms. Taunya Smith
Madison, MS – Saint Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Madison, Mississippi hosted its first Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCU) Sunday Service on February 22, 2015 with the theme, “Rooted
in the Past, Building the Future.”
The program was part of St. Paul’s Outreach Ministry efforts to
educate the public on how the AME Church supports HBCUs while alerting and
educating youth in the metro Jackson area of the HBCU experience.
St. Paul AME feels it is important for African-American parents to
know there are institutions of higher learner where their children can receive
a quality education in an environment that encourages cultural exchange all
while teaching them the importance of their own culture and heritage. The schools who participated in this year’s
event were Alcorn State University, Jackson State University and Tougaloo
College.
The speakers on program, Mr. Matt Thomas, an alumnus of Alcorn
State University and Dr. Hilliard Lackey, an alumnus of Jackson State
University, spoke about their alma maters and their experiences at an HBCU
during the civil right movement.
Bryan Eason of the Children’s Defense Fund, and the youth of St.
Paul AME introduced our guest to Harambee, which is Swahili for “let’s pull
together.” Our focus on Harambee is to transform and encourage the youth with
the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to equip and empower them to know
and experience the value and dignity of work by training and mentoring in a
biblically-based, work environment.
Mississippi state legislator, Representative Kimberly Campbell,
presented St. Paul with a proclamation and offered words of encouragement.
The program concluded with God’s word being brought forth by St.
Paul’s pastor, the Rev. Robert Lee Johnson III preached from the theme “Rooted
in the Past, Building the Future.” He
concluded service with an altar call, calling for all youth to come and kneel
for prayer as well as praying for all HBCUs.
HBCU Sunday will be an annual event at St. Paul with next year’s
goal being a two-day event with a college festival on Saturday and worship
service on Sunday.
Saint Paul AME Church is located on 816 Madison Avenue in Madison,
Mississippi and the Rev. Robert Lee Johnson III is the pastor.
*Ms. Taunya Smith is the Pastor’s Administrative Assistant at
Saint Paul AME Church in Madison, Mississippi
10.
KEEP NATION ON ROAD TO PROGRESS:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
The Charleston SC Post and Courier of March 7 included Senator Tim
Scott’s reflections on the commemoration of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march.
Sen. Scott noted that while we’ve come a long way since what’s come to be known
as “Bloody Sunday,” we still have a way to go. I wholeheartedly agree with him.
I was reminded of America’s progress while watching televised
coverage of the Selma commemoration and seeing President Barack Obama’s motorcade
cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where peaceful protestors seeking the right to
vote were brutally attacked by law enforcement officers 50 years ago.
Sen. Scott also said, however, that the Selma commemoration should
be “de-coupled” from the current political climate and present day concerns
about equity. On that point, I wholeheartedly disagree. To “de-couple” present
day concerns about the impact of politics and public policy on racial equity is
like “de-coupling” the Holocaust from the present challenges faced by Israel
and today’s lingering global anti-Semitism.
We’ve come a long way. Barack Obama is president of the United
States, but he’s still the object of thinly veiled — and sometimes overt —
racial insults and ridicule, is the only president whose citizenship and faith
have been openly questioned and has been the target of more death threats than
any other president.
We’ve come a long way. Selma, Ala., now has a black Mayor, but
there has recently been measurable voter suppression because of Voter ID laws
enacted to combat “voter fraud” that has been statistically proven time and
again to be virtually non-existent. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been
gutted by the United States Supreme Court and is yet to be repaired by those in
Congress.
We’ve come a long way. Fair housing and employment laws have been
enacted and public accommodations are no longer segregated, but economic
inequality has made communities like Charleston less diverse and has limited
the “quality of life” options for people of color who still have problems
finding decent jobs, in spite of being skilled and educationally qualified.
We’ve come a long way. Legally segregated public schools are a
thing of the past, but many schools still have segregated classrooms and racial
imbalances in discipline, many charter and magnet schools are very white, many
predominately African-American schools are still neglected, and Charleston
County’s School Board downplays diversity and limits input from some segments
of the community. Their placement of a survey on the qualities needed in a new
superintendent on the School District’s website, instead of going to the
community and soliciting face-to-face input, is evidence of that.
We’ve come a long way. America has a black attorney general, but
equal justice under the law, speedy trials and fair sentencing are still goals
to be reached, and racial profiling is yet to be eliminated. Racial
discrimination like that practiced by law enforcement in Ferguson, Missouri,
can be found in many communities across our nation.
We’ve come a long way but we still have a long way to go, and we
can’t make the journey by “de-coupling” what happened in Selma 50 years ago
from what’s happening across America today.
The best enduring way to commemorate Selma is to recapture the
spirit of those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge 50 years ago. They
resisted empty promises of “gradual” change, refused to accept second-class
citizenship and came together across racial, cultural, economic, religious and
political lines to stand for what’s right and not for what’s politically
expedient.
We have to walk in their footsteps, cross those same dividing
lines today, and demand that those we elect to public office embrace policies
that further the cause of liberty and justice for all. We have to go beyond
simplistic, symbolic, sterile, “feel good” media events and do the real work of
enacting laws that support equity for all citizens through the bipartisan
political compromise that lies at the heart of our system of government.
That requires more than spouting political “talking points,”
warnings about what Sen. Scott called “negativity,” and accusations that those
who advocate positive change are playing the “race card” for personal
advantage. That requires frank, constructive conversation and positive
legislative action that will keep America on the road to progress — not through
“Democratic” or “Republican” solutions alone, but through love and respect for
all citizens that yield unifying American solutions.
*The Rev. Joseph A. Darby is presiding elder, the Beaufort
District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and first vice-president,
the Charleston Branch NAACP.
11.
LENTEN QUIZ:
What does INRI mean?
___Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Rome
___Nazareth, Kingdom of Jerusalem
___Sign of the Cross
__Jesus the Nazarene, King
of the Jews
**See the answer at the bottom of this post
12.
CHURCHES UNITING IN CHRIST PRESENTS ‘TRUTH TO POWER: ERADICATING RACISM’, A
LIVE EVENT AND WEBCAST:
On Friday, March 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. (CST), Churches Uniting in
Christ presents ‘Truth to Power: Eradicating Racism’, a live event and Webcast
focused on:
• Bringing together those disaffected throughout society with our
faith communities and leaders to create a new network
• Creating authentic relationships between churches, civic
organizations, and community activists
• Engaging and training in civic education
• Dismantling systems of oppression and surviving systems of
oppression.
This past fall the AME Church young adult leaders wrote a letter
to the leadership of the AME Church expressing their concern regarding the
grand jury decisions to not indict the police officers who killed Michael Brown
and Eric Garner in Ferguson, MO and New York City, NY respectively. This letter
was an expression of frustration and a call to action for the church universal
to live out their Christian principles through social action and community
engagement to address the effects of historic and present day structural racism
and injustice, especially concerning policing of communities of color.
This letter deeply moved the Churches Uniting In Christ Racial
& Social Justice Task Force and they were inspired to address the
concerns. This led to the planning of
this forum / Webcast for further discussion of these issues and concerns and
move toward strategic sustainable action across. The young adults who spearheaded the planning
of this event decided that it should be an intergenerational event so that they
could learn from the experiences of their elders of their struggles and
dealings with injustice and racism.
This event will be held at Christian Chapel Temple of Faith CME
Church in Dallas, Texas and will be livestreamed at www.cctof.org. If you live in the Dallas area please join us
on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. (CST).
We want to fill the sanctuary.
The Rev. Dr. Vanessee Burns is the Senior Pastor at Christian Chapel.
The member churches of CUIC include:
The African Methodist
Episcopal Church
The African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church
The Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church
The International Council
of Community Churches
The Moravian Church
(Northern Province)
The Presbyterian Church
(USA)
The United Church of Christ
The United Methodist Church
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a partner in mission
and dialogue.
Participants include community organizations and activists, young
adults, college students, church leadership, policy makers, law enforcement,
and members of the community. Social media such as Facebook and Twitter will be
used to engage young adults who may not be in attendance in person, but
streaming the event. The three panels
will include representatives from the CUIC member churches. We desire to meet
the capacity of the 3,000 seat sanctuary with attendees.
In three, one-hour segments, between the hours of 12:45 – 4:00 pm
(CST), we will conduct the forum and culminate in a strategic plan of action
items to move forward. The panels are
structured as follows:
• Session I: Young Adult Perspectives
• Session II: Intergenerational Conversation (Rev. Octavia
Lindsey, Moderator)
• Session III: Strategic Planning and Action Items - Community and
Church representatives
This format will conclude with action items for both church and
community.
We look forward to your attendance in person or through livestream
(www.cctof.org).
Dr. Jeanette L. Bouknight, Executive Secretary, Churches Uniting
In Christ
Chair, Racial & Social Justice Task Force
Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, Ecumenical Officer
Senior Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick
13.
BISHOP WILLIAM P. DEVEAUX PREACHED IN ACCOMAC AND ONANCOCK, VIRGINIA:
Bishop William P. DeVeaux was the guest preacher for Military
Appreciation Day 2015 at St. Luke A.M.E - Accomac, Virginia where Senior Pastor
Ronald Freeman gave recognition to his members who were either active duty or
retired. The event was highlighted with the presence of his two oldest members,
who served in WWII, the oldest being 93, served at Pearl Harbor!
Bishop used Deuteronomy 6: 20-21 as his scriptural reference on
the subject - Remembering to Renewal. Remember to say thank you, don't take
gratitude for granted before you can renew.
Bishop DeVeaux preached a second sermon at Gaskins Chapel A.M.E. -
Onancock, Virginia where Pastor Oretha Cross was celebrating the church's 144th
anniversary. Bishop used Deuteronomy
8:11 as his scriptural reference on the theme – “You can look backwards while
marching forward and remember where you came from because you didn't get where
you are by yourself.”
14.
SUNDAY MORNING “SHAKEDOWN”:
*Dr. Wayman B. Shiver, Jr.
On Sunday nights, one of my former college classmates and I have
our usual visit via telephone. After we
talked about our health and welfare, the conversation drifts to an assessment
of church experiences. During a recent
conversation, I casually inquired about his church experience. He blurted out abruptly, “I have told you on
many occasions that I do not participate in the Sunday morning shakedown
anymore.” He was referring to the
strategy used by officers and ministers to extract funds from congregations. Since many African American people feel
obligated to attend church services on Sunday morning, they fall prey to a
variety of Sunday morning shake downers. Young people selling tickets for a
youth fundraiser, board and auxiliary members frequently collecting
contributions for upcoming church events, Sunday school exacting a roll call
with a contribution and Sunday dues needing to be paid are only a few of the
shakedown antics. More likely than not,
congregants accept the worship in whatever is the current style, including the
methods of taking collections.
The Sunday morning shakedown in some ways is analogous to the
shakedown process used by young gangsters and mobsters. In both cases, extortions in various forms
take place. The difference lies in the
tactics used. The Sunday morning shakedown
is rather benevolent in nature in terms of the level of emotional and
psychological pain inflicted. However,
its appeal is far from subtle. The approach is direct and usually intimidating
when made by a skillful official or pastor. Those of us who are slow to make
the contributions receive the ire of the collectors. On the other hand, gangsters and mobsters
threaten bodily pain and harm if money is not forth coming.
The process starts with the citing of Biblical scriptures to
justify the shakedown. Various Old Testament scriptures are used to explain the
tithing process. For example:
Genesis 28: 22: “And this
stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that
thou shalt Give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”
Nehemiah 10:38: “And the
priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levities take
tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house
of our God, to the chambers, unto the treasure house.”
Malachi 3:8-10: “Will a man
rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye
say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In
tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with
a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes
into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven,
and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
A reading of ancient history indicates that tithing was quite
practical and worked well in ancient times. What was efficient economics in
Biblical times may not be appropriate in the 21st Century. And, it may be difficult to substantiate that
the giving of the tithes guarantees a direct return on investments. Also, there is a big issue about whether
tithes are due on the gross or the net.
In my experience church goers are encouraged to lie about their incomes
when pushed to the limits of their understanding about tithing.
From my personal perspective, meltdown may be more appropriate as
a term to describe the Sunday morning shakedown. My perspective is partially derived from
extensive interactions with former A.M.E.’s. Apparently, traditional AME values
are rapidly eroding, if they have not already vanished, in favor of more modern
ways of worship and church financing. Never-the-less the shakedown process is
firmly established as a part of the Sunday morning worship service regardless
of the worship style. The collection
period is well established and efficiently executed.
When the offertory appeal is made, the audience is reminded that
money should be given to help the poor.
When the announcements are made, reminders are given about the various
financial obligations of the members.
Church people are masters of soliciting extra funds; but, the pastor is
the undisputed master at quoting scriptures and reminding the congregation that
all they have come from God and that they automatically owe 10% plus the
voluntary offering. In a sense, the
pastor is often the great shakedown operator.
More and more the tactic to extract funds is becoming a turn off. The shakedown strategy may be the root cause
of the rapid erosion of traditional A.M.E. values.
This commentary on a common Sunday morning worship experience is
by no means intended to be derogatory nor irreverent. Yet, it does however tend
to reflect the reality of the church experience in many instances. Indeed, the purpose of this treatise is not
arcane, but rather seeks to state a perception of an often negative worship
experience.
*Dr. Wayman B. Shiver, Jr.
15.
FIFTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT LAY ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2015
EDUCATOR AWARDS:
Seattle, WA
The Fifth District Lay Organization announces the recipients of
the 2015 Educator Awards designed to recognize educators in our church and
community who have impacted the life of the church and community through
educational programs and activities. Following are the recipients.
Norma Washington - California Conference
Mrs. Washington, a teacher for over 32 years, taught special
education to students with disabilities with an aim to prepare them for college
or a career after high school.
Fannie Williams - Pacific Northwest Conference
For 42 years, Mrs. Williams has served the Seattle community as an
early childhood educator, a teacher, trainer and coach, an advocate for
children and parents rights, and a voice for the needs of childcare centers and
family home providers of color. She has shared her expertise by working as an
Early Childhood Field Instructor for several community colleges providing
training and staff development.
Dorothy Powell - Missouri Conference
Ms. Powell conducts an after school program designed to provide
one-on-one tutoring sessions to ensure students understand their classroom
assignments and are successful in their academic pursuits. Ms. Powell has
received numerous awards including Teacher of the Year - Oakland Unified School
District and the Outstanding Educator of the Year - Ferguson-Florissant School District
in Missouri.
Dr. Jeannette R. Patterson - Desert Mountain Conference
Dr. Patterson, the 2014 Colorado Middle Level Principal of the
Year, is credited with being able to maintain a school environment that
reflects high expectations for students and staff. This is evidenced by a
school Median Growth Percentile of 55 in Reading, 51 in Writing, and 53 in
Math. Dr. Patterson is a leader who ushers her students into the future by
focusing on the ability of her students, rather than on their disability.
The educator awards will be presented during the Evening of
Elegance - Scholarship Reception, which will be held at the site of the Fifth
Episcopal District Mid Year Convocation in Los Angeles, California at the LAX
Hilton Hotel. Presiding Elder Roosevelt Lindsey, Rev. Dr. Kelvin T. Calloway
and Bethel AME Church – Los Angeles, host the Convocation. Presiding Elder
Allen Williams is co-host.
16.
CHURCH FINANCE: BUDGETING (PART 2):
*The Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr.
-
Transition Planning: Equipping the Church for Success!
The church budgeting process can be difficult or delightful.
Budgeting church money demonstrates good stewardship of the resources. Church
members have a right to know who their money is being spent.
The church budgeting process is a long arduous process depending
on the size of the congregation and the number of employees, ministries, and
community outreach programs. The church
budgeting process includes input from the Pastor, Minister of Music, Department
Heads, Ministry Leaders, Stewards, Trustee, Deacons, and the Finance Committee.
The Finance Committee is charged with insuring church operating costs are less
than revenue projections. The final church budget is approved by the entire
church or the majority present at an annual Church Conference. Here are some
recommended budgeting timelines and procedures prior to the Church Conference:
Time Line / Procedure:
4 to 6 months prior: Distribute a “Budget Assumption Form for
Expenses and Revenue” to the Pastor, Minister of Music, Board, and Ministry
Leaders. Host a meeting to explain the budgeting process. Require the
participants to submit program plans, dates, costs and projected revenues
within 30 days to the Finance Committee.
5 months prior: The Finance Committee analyzes the proposed
personnel, programs, and community outreach costs. Finance Committee interviews
each component of the church ministry separately for cost justifications. The
Finance Committee makes expense recommendations.
3 months prior: Call a church finance meeting with the Pastor,
Minister of Music, Board, Ministry Leaders and all interested church members to
discuss the proposed budget. Church Staff and Members explain programs and
expenses.
2 month prior: The Finance Committee adjusts the budget following
the church finance meeting. The Finance Committee redistributes a draft budget
to Pastor, Minister of Music, Board, and Ministry Leaders. The Finance
Committee will hear any other concerns. The Finance Committee will prepare the
final budget draft.
1 month prior: The Finance Committee presents the final budget
draft to the Pastor, Minister of Music, Board, and Ministry Leaders for
approval. If there is un-readiness, the Finance Committee will make any changes
to the final budget in preparation for the Church Conference.
Church Conference: The Finance Committee presents the final budget
to the entire church for approval….We pray!
The church budgeting process must be open, transparent, and
inclusive of all. Budgeting and saving money are essential to managing a
church. The Bible says in Proverbs 21:5: “The thoughts of the diligent tend
only to plenty; but the thoughts of everyone who is hasty only to poverty.
Next: How to Raise Money!”
*The Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., Senior Minister, Christ Our
Redeemer AME Church, Irvine and the Executive Director of the Cecil Murray
Center at USC
17.
HOLY TRINITY COMMUNITY AME CHURCH DID SOMETHING UNIQUE:
*The Rev. Ozetta Kirby
This year our church, Holy Trinity Community AME Church in Mesa,
Arizona decided to do something unique with our Black History Program. We gave
it a new title to include the community: Annual Black History “Unity in the Community Fellowship Breakfast.”
We wanted to make an effort to build bridges of understanding with
our city leaders, including the Police Chiefs, Commanders, Deputy Chief,
Community Partnership Coordinator and one Field Operations Officer, the East
Valley NAACP President, pastors, evangelists, laypersons, missionaries from various
AME and missionaries from other denominations, and other leaders in the East
Valley (Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale).
We were pleased that eight members from the Police Departments
attended, brought heartfelt greetings from their respective cities, mingled and
met citizens that lived in their jurisdictions.
It was interesting to see the policemen walk around and mingle
with citizens from their communities.
Some of the officials passed out their business cards, and told
participants to call, if they ever needed help in their neighborhood.
The interpersonal interactions were informal, unplanned, and
rewarding.
After participating in a breakfast buffet, hearing about famous
African Americans and their contributions to America, listening to gospel
songs, seeing dynamic African dances by our youth, and looking at items on our
silent auction tables, it was time for our guest speaker, Bishop George McCree,
pastor of New Vision Christian Fellowship in Mesa.
Bishop McCree said that before we can work in unity a heart change
was needed, and that we needed to work with love in our hearts to preserve the
dream that Dr. Martin L. King Jr. left as part of his legacy to America and to
the world.
We felt that this was a definite beginning toward building bridges
of understanding among our policemen and the citizens of the East Valley
community.
The Chandler, Az. Police Chief posted the photo of the
participants and me on his website.
The Black History “Unity in the Community” Fellowship Breakfast
took place at the Windemere Conference Center in Mesa, Az. The respective
Police Departments funded the event.
Brother Alvin Galloway a trustee of Historic Tanner Chapel AME
Church in Phoenix, Arizona served as the photographer for the event.
*The Rev. Ozetta Kirby is the pastor of Holy Trinity Community AME
Church in Mesa, Arizona
18. THE
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES STATEMENT ON FERGUSON AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT:
“An
injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” ~ The Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
WASHINGTON: The National Council of Churches thanks Attorney
General Holder and the Justice Department for its report after a thorough
investigation of the Ferguson Police Department. The report revealed that the
police department and the City of Ferguson perpetuated the practice of
discriminatory and racial bias against African-Americans. This shocking report states that the city had
“a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct within the Ferguson Police
Department that violated the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the
United States Constitution, and federal statutory law.”
In a city where 67 percent of the population is African-Americans,
85 percent of traffic stops, 90 percent of all citations issued, and 93 percent
of arrests were made from among the city's Black citizens from 2012 to 2014.
Racist emails from Ferguson officials and police officers provided further
evidence of the undercurrent of racism endemic to policing in the city. The
report further revealed the compounding effect of discriminatory acts by the
municipal court. The damaging impact on the community of the court's practice
of charging extreme fines and penalties that, in essence, created a debtors
prison system, a primary source of city revenue at the expense and detriment of
the African-American residents, is a reality.
As people of faith we are saddened by the findings. However, we
are not surprised. Ferguson is a microcosm of a national, systemic problem with
local police departments. This report documents what many people of color
already know and live with every day. We encourage the City of Ferguson to
implement the recommendations of the Department of Justice. We further recommend that the police chief
and top ranking officials within the department be removed. In order to effectively transform the system
and lend credibility and integrity to the necessary changes to the abhorrent
practices throughout the department, new leadership is imperative.
At the time of releasing this report, the Department of Justice
also released its findings regarding the review of office Darren Wilson’s
shooting of Michael Brown. We are disappointed that the Department of Justice
found that there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute Officer Wilson for
the violation of Michael Brown’s civil rights. We are clear that the lack of
sufficient evidence does not mean that Officer Wilson did not act
inappropriately and violate official protocol.
These decisions point to gross inadequacies in the system, and support
our recommendation to the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing that
the entire criminal judicial system needs to be overhauled.
A justice system predicated on punishment and retribution, rather
than rehabilitation and restitution, destroys communities and families and
makes reconciliation and healing almost impossible. A policing structure that
sees the community in which it serves as a people to be controlled is destined
to create the very system of distrust evident not just in Ferguson, but between
police and citizens in many cities throughout the country.
Only through a complete overhaul of the criminal justice system
that incorporates accountably, transparency, restoration and reconciliation
will the disease of racism begin to be healed.
19.
SLAVE NARRATIVES - A FOLK HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES FROM
INTERVIEWS WITH FORMER SLAVES:
From 1936 to 1938, over 2,300 former slaves from across the
American South were interviewed by writers and journalists under the
supervision of the Works Progress Administration. These former slaves, most
born in the last years of the slave regime or during the Civil War, provided
first-hand accounts of their experiences on plantations, in cities, and on
small farms. Their narratives remain a peerless resource for understanding the
lives of America's four million slaves. What makes the WPA narratives so rich
is that they capture the very voices of American slavery, revealing the texture
of life as it was experienced and remembered. Each narrative taken alone offers
a fragmentary, microcosmic representation of slave life. Read together, they
offer a sweeping composite view of slavery in North America, allowing us to
explore some of the most compelling themes of nineteenth-century slavery, including
labor, resistance and flight, family life, relations with masters, and
religious belief.
Black History Month is celebrated every February in the United
States and subject librarians will be counted on to provide students, faculty
and researchers with information on slavery in America. Please recommend the
purchase of the complete set of Slave Narratives (ISBN 9780403022113) to your
subject librarian or the collection development librarian by forwarding this
email offer.
Please visit http://nabdllc.com/ to order the complete set of Slave Narratives from our
website using purchasing or credit card. We do accept purchase orders from all
libraries via phone, fax and email. This set is available from Coutts
Information Services, Baker & Taylor Books, Follett Library Resources,
Brodart and many other library book dealers.
Free shipping on all orders to anywhere in the U.S.
Purchase orders are accepted from all libraries.
For your convenience we accept credit cards as a payment option.
20.
HISTORY OF HYMNS: “COME, WE THAT LOVE THE LORD”:
By Taylor Vancil, guest writer
"Come, We That Love the Lord" by Isaac Watts;
The United Methodist
Hymnal, Nos. 732 and 733
Come we
that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.
Scholars often ascribe the title “Father of English hymnody” to
Isaac Watts (1674-1738). Though this title is exceptional, it is not
undeserved. Watts was raised in the Independent Congregational Church, part of
the dissenters tolerated under the official Church of England (Anglican). From
an early age, he showed his dissatisfaction for the established common practice
of metrical psalms, the strict poetic versification of the psalms for congregational
singing in worship. He pioneered a newer approach by composing hymns that
“Christianized” the texts of the Psalter. Even though “Come, we that love the
Lord” is not based on a psalm, it still follows Watts’ practice of adapting
Scripture for use as devotional poetry.
The original hymn, “Come, we that love the Lord,” can be found in
Watts’ Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book II (1707) in ten, four-line stanzas
entitled “Heavenly Joy on Earth.” Because he loved it so much, John Wesley
later used it as a part of his Psalms and Hymns, ‘Charlestown’ Collection
(1737) – the first hymnal published in America during the Wesleys’ trip to the
colony – with a revised structure of eight-line stanzas, omitting stanzas two
and nine. Since then, many alternations have been made according to current
editorial needs, culminating with most modern hymnals using a four-line,
four-stanza version, as well as a further altered setting by gospel song writer
Robert Lowry (1826-1899) with an added refrain. It is important to note the
change from ‘Ye’ (original) to ‘We’ (modern) in the first line of the hymn.
This was a revision made first in the 1983 British Methodist hymnal Hymns and
Psalms to modernize the text, making it more applicable to a new generation.
The United Methodist Hymnal, along with several others, pairs this
hymn with two tunes. Welsh composer Aaron Williams (1731-1776) wrote the first
tune, ST. THOMAS, in 1763. It reflects a more stately expression of joy that
was typical of British hymn tunes of the time. The second tune, MARCHING TO
ZION (1867), inspires an energy that fits its American revival context
perfectly. Robert Lowry adapted this hymn text and composed an original tune
for it. Lowry was a Baptist preacher in the United States ministering and
teaching during the critical time of the Civil War, a time coinciding with the
rise of revivalism. He is widely recognized for his compositions, and was noted
for adding refrains to popular hymns.
The repetitive nature of the text in Lowry’s version reflects the energy
of a revival atmosphere, making the text more easily sung in cultural settings
where not all present were literate. The refrain of Lowry’s version changed the
focus from a reverent recognition of “Heavenly Joy on Earth,” to a proclamation
to a community setting out on a journey. The addition of Lowry’s refrain
increased the popularity of Watts’ text and enhanced the joyful message of the
original text:
We’re
marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion.
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
According to the hymnologist Ann V. Smith, the Scriptural
references for this hymn come from Revelation 14:1-3, 21:21, and 7:17. These
passages address the joys of the saints, singing as they “surround the throne.”
In stanzas eight and nine of the original poem (omitted in most hymnals today),
we hear Watts describe the presence of joy that can be found not just in
heaven, but also on earth:
The men
of grace have found
glory begun below;
celestial fruits on earthly ground
from faith and hope may grow.
The
hill of Zion yields
a thousand sacred sweets
before we reach the heav’nly fields,
or walk the golden streets.
From these stanzas, we can see how Watts not only wanted the
singer to communicate the joy of what was to come through eternal life in
heaven, but also the blessings of God on earth. An allusion to John Bunyan’s
popular devotional classic The Pilgrims Progress (1678) is found in the final
stanza calling attention to the Christian journey toward Zion and a triumphant
entry into “Immanuel’s ground.”
The inclusion of both settings in The United Methodist Hymnal
reflects the broad range of piety found in Methodism in the United States, a
piety that ranges from the stately solemnity to the revival spirit. Lowry’s refrain
actually adds a Wesleyan tone to Watts’ text that may be sung in light of the
doctrine of sanctification – “marching” toward perfection that will ultimately
culminate in heaven (“Zion”). The hymn found in our hymnals today proclaims a
simple, straightforward biblical truth. However, in its original form, “Come,
we that love the Lord” delves deeper into an understanding of what God has
given us in creation and how we are to rejoice in it. As a community of
believers, this hymn gives us the opportunity to express the beauty of the life
we are living, as well as looking forward to what is to come.
Guest writer Taylor Vancil is a Master of Sacred Music student at
Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. He studies hymnology
with Dr. C. Michael Hawn.
C. Michael Hawn is University Distinguished Professor of Church
Music, Perkins School of Theology, SMU.
**Used with permission of the United Methodist News Service
21. ALL
ARE (NOT) WELCOME:
By Michael White and Tom Corcoran
Church people might see
themselves as welcoming, because they run promotions claiming, “Our doors are
open,” and “Our lights are on,” or maybe they hang banners and sing songs
proclaiming, “All Are Welcome.” But is it so? Maybe lost people don’t feel
welcome in these churches because sometimes they’re not welcome.
One Easter Sunday morning a “faithful” parishioner arrived for the
10:30 a.m. Mass, as was her custom every week, precisely at 10:25. The only
problem was that the church was already full. She was invited to the overflow
seating adjacent to the church sanctuary, but that was unacceptable to her.
Tearing into a tirade at the top of her voice she screamed, “I’m here every
week! This is my church. Who are these people? They never come any other time
of the year. Why don’t they leave?” When her arguments failed to win her the
seat she demanded, she proceeded to rip her offering envelope into little
pieces and toss it into the air before storming out.
It’s the parish secretary who may become even more unfriendly when
the confused newcomer isn’t sure of the right questions to ask. It’s the
heavy-handed religious education director whose job it is to make sure that
“non-parishioners” aren’t trying to pull a fast one when it comes to
sacramental procedures. It’s the pastor who can’t resist some kind of passive
aggressive comment to the Christmas crowds: “Merry Christmas and Happy Easter,
since I know I won’t see most of you again until then.” Essentially, he’s
telling regulars, “Don’t worry, we’ll be back to normal next week,” while the
message to visitors is, “Don’t forget, you don’t belong to our club.”
Sure, lost people might be shallow and unsure in their faith. They
are not going to appreciate our procedures and practices, nor are they
contributing members yet. But, at some level, these people are seeking God. And
if we don’t help them find him, not only are they lost, we are, too.
Father Michael White is pastor and Tom Corcoran is associate to
the pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, near Baltimore.
This article is excerpted from Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the
Lost, and Making Church Matter by Michael White and Tom Corcoran. Copyright
2013 by Ave Maria Press, Inc., P.O. Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556, www.avemariapress.com.
Used with permission of the publisher from which the book is
available (www.avemariapress.com), as well as from Cokesbury and Amazon.
22.
DOES U.S. THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION HAVE A FUTURE?:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)
United Methodist theological education in the United States is in
crisis, and a longtime scholar says if trends persist the modern way of
training pastors could disappear altogether.
The Rev. M. Douglas Meeks sounded that alarm at a meeting of
nearly 40 theology professors and United Methodist scholars to discuss the
future of theological education Feb. 26-28 at the Scarritt Bennett Center in
Nashville.
“There is a great shortage of people who will be the teacher of
the teachers,” said Meeks, Cal Turner Chancellor Professor of Theology and
Wesleyan Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He was one of the
organizers of the conference.
“Whenever we have a search for a president, a dean or a faculty
member in our theological schools, the lists are miserably short,” he told the
gathering.
The event brought together representatives from most of the
denomination’s 13 U.S. seminaries as well as Vanderbilt, Asbury Theological
Seminary and Hood Theological Seminary, an African Methodist Episcopal Zion
school in Salisbury, North Carolina. Also on hand were staff members from the
United Methodist Publishing House and the denomination’s Board of Higher Education
and Ministry.
Meeks said he fears U.S. United Methodists could end up like the
Methodist Church in Britain, which no longer has any theological schools to
call its own and must depend largely on ecumenical relationships for clergy
training.
“I think the situation is so severe that we are going to have to
do some imaginative thinking about what the future can be for theological
education,” Meeks said.
Too many adjuncts, too few openings
Meeks spoke to an intergenerational group that included long-tenured
professors and recent Ph.D. recipients struggling to make a living as
theological instructors.
Their experiences show that the pipeline for United Methodist
professors has some serious clogs.
Some of the younger scholars juggle multiple courses as adjunct
instructors at universities while also teaching courses of study for licensed
local pastors. Others serve in a local church and take whatever additional
teaching posts they can find.
Almost all labor with massive student-loan debt accumulated after
years of required postgraduate study.
One conference participant, the Rev. Sean Hayden, also does
carpentry to make ends meet.
“I’ve worn about a thousand hats in the last five years in the
struggle to find — we won’t use the word gainful, we’ll just say stable —
employment in the profession for which I’ve been trained,” said Hayden, the
father of three.
A big part of the problem, Meeks and other conference speakers
said, is that over the years, universities have responded to financial
downturns by reducing the number of full-time faculty positions.
Universities increasingly rely on far less expensive adjuncts —
who work on contract with no health or retirement benefits — to fill the
breach.
More than half of all U.S. faculty members now hold part-time,
contingent appointments, reports the Chronicle of Higher Education.
An adjunct’s heavy course load — sometimes at multiple
institutions — leaves little time to complete the sort of original,
unremunerated research that could open doors to a tenure-track, financially
stable position.
Also there is often a mismatch between scholars’ theological
specialties and the kind of professor a seminary is seeking, the Rev. Russell
E. Richey told United Methodist News Service. Doctoral students, for instance,
may be encouraged to focus on the Old Testament. But by the time they graduate,
the only openings are for specialists in the New Testament.
“If you go several years without landing something, you sort of
get blemished,” he said. “It’s just hard to coordinate the entry of graduate
students and their maturation five years later with openings.”
Impact on young scholars
“What does United Methodist theological education look like for
those who are beginning as scholars? Disorienting and exhausting,” said the
Rev. Tim Eberhart, now an assistant professor of theology and ecology at
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Methodist Theological School in
Ohio.
He said younger scholars need to be “adaptive, entrepreneurial and
innovative” in where and how they teach. For example, he found success with a
course that combined both face-to-face and online interactions and was both for
clergy candidates and community lay members.
Aspiring scholars also face challenges distinctive to the United
Methodist system. Presian Burroughs, who teaches at United Theological
Seminary, noted that some conference boards of ordained ministry don’t know
what to do with elder candidates who feel called to the academy rather than
local church ministry and so put up roadblocks.
The Rev. Carolyn Davis serves as a full-time policy analyst for
the progressive think tank Center for American Progress and as an adjunct
faculty member at Wesley Theological Seminary. She told UMNS the statistics
show most scholars her age and younger will not go on to full-time, tenured
academic careers.
However, she suggested, theologians can find different ways to
follow God’s call. She pointed out that aspects of the work — research, teaching,
writing and service — also exist outside the academy in ways that still allow
for service to the next generation of church leaders.
She has found her current position lets her use her research
expertise and work toward equipping religious communities for social justice.
It also supports her continued contributions to United Methodist theological
education such as her visit to the conference, she said.
“Sometimes you have to give up the dream to find the vocation,”
she said.
Next steps
Meeks and other conference participants aren’t ready to give up on
the basic framework of United Methodist seminary education just yet. But they
said it may be time to rethink some aspects of the system.
The scholars are working on a paper about their discussions to be
presented to United Methodist bishops and agency executives. They also are
working with the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry to
form an association of U.S. United Methodist scholars that can collaborate and
exchange ideas. The denomination already has similar associations in Africa and
Asia, Meeks noted.
Other ideas for theological education could come from United
Methodists in Africa and the Philippines, who face their own challenges, or
from Methodism’s past.
Richey pointed out that clergy training has evolved multiple times
since Methodism's arrival on American shores more than 200 years ago.
He gave an overview of his new book “Formation for Ministry in
American Methodism: Twenty-first Century Challenges and Two Centuries of
Problem-Solving.” Methodist clergy, he said, were at first largely self-taught
in the works of John Wesley, and then they underwent apprenticeships under a
more senior pastor. But as time went on, the Methodist movement required more
formal education, eventually developing the seminary program expected of elders
today.
Each change came after what Richey called “negative pressures.”
“It seems that at almost every stage, there was some really
pressing problem the church sensed it needed to solve,” Richey said. “But at
each stage, the church also saw fresh opportunities.”
Hahn is a multimedia news reporter for United Methodist News
Service. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
23.
FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY TO HOST LECTURE ON WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP IN HIGHER
EDUCATION:
In 2015, women and leadership is still a topic that needs
attention. Not enough progress has been made to advance women into roles of
leadership in corporate settings: though women make up roughly 47% of the work
force, less than 3% of CEOs in the US are women. This trend is evident in
higher education as well; though the majority of students in higher education
are women, the faculty and senior administrations of colleges and universities
are still dominated by men. Higher education leaders must do more to recruit
and retain women who can serve in return as role models to provide support and
vocation formation opportunities for emerging women in all fields.
If leadership matters for women in today’s world, then promoting
and cultivating women to serve in more roles of leadership and influence should
be a definitive conversation in March for National Women’s History Month at
institutions of higher education. Fuller Theological Seminary’s new vocation
and formation effort recognizes that in order to transform the male-dominated
culture in higher education and the culture more broadly, female leaders need
intentional training, support, and advocacy.
In this spirit, Fuller is hosting a lecture focusing on empowering
women in leadership on Friday, March 13, 2015. Featuring Dr. Karen A. Longman,
co-editor of Women in Leadership in Higher Education, the lecture and
discussion will revolve around crucial issues that women face in the workplace.
Barriers, a lack of voice, and myths of already achieving full equality will be
addressed in the talk that celebrates National Women’s History Month.
Dr. Karen Longman is professor in the Department of Higher
Education at Azusa Pacific University and a major advocate for reform in the
area of gender biases in leadership. Recently, her work has helped launch a
series of books sponsored by the International Leadership Association titled
Women in Leadership: Research, Theory, and Practice. The first volume in the
series, Women & Leadership in Higher Education, is co-edited by Longman and
focuses on the unique challenges of the postsecondary education environment for
female leadership.
The lecture by Longman is fitting at Fuller Seminary. A long-time
proponent of women in leadership and ministry, Fuller is committed to
empowering women while understanding that much work needs to be done to
overcome all the hurdles in that field.
The lecture will be held on March 13, 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at The
University Club (175 N. Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101)
24.
WHEN THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN:
*The Rev. James A. Keeton, Jr., M. Div.
I am captivated by the study of family systems theory. In both my
matriculation in formal theological education and my participation in the 21st
Century Leadership Academy for the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, we
made great efforts to examine this subject. The “family systems theory…
suggests that individuals cannot be understood in isolation from one another,
but rather as a part of their family, as the family is an emotional unit”
(www.genopro.com). Even though the word “family” is included we cannot be
deceived to believe that these systems are reduced to only biological
connections because systems theory is applicable to every relationship in our
lives. With that thought in mind, I was fascinated with the recent report that
Attorney General Eric Holder gave concerning the federal investigation of the
Ferguson (Missouri) Police Department. The intricate details of this report
reveal that the shooting of eighteen-year-old Michael Brown was not an isolated
incident, but one of many episodes that result from a system that is broken.
Broken systems enable and encourage the majority population to
exploit power, position, prestige, and privilege. Broken systems make possible
the kinds of disturbing discriminatory events that happen not only in Ferguson,
but in too many of our communities. The time has come to understand that
isolated solutions will not help systemic problems. Christian churches will
benefit from an increased understanding of family system theory because each
denomination, annual conference, local congregation, and church member is a
part of a system. Ultimately, the successes and failures of these entities
depend on the system and not committees and individuals. Even though leaders in
every system have great influence, the extent of their influence depends on the
system. The largest challenge in the contemporary Church is for us to
understand that church leaders, both clergy and lay, are apart of the system
and not the ultimate variables that determine success and failure.
The common challenges that many churches are experiencing: the
departure of young adults, the limited resources to meet financial obligations
and invest in ministry, and the broadening disconnection between the Church and
community are signs of a broken system. Often these issues are exacerbated
because clergy and church officers are solely held responsible without
realizing that these problems are symptoms of a systemic breakdown. It is going
to take everyone to get back on the right track. In reality, the greatest
definition of family systems theory is found in 1 Corinthians as “one body with
many members.” As a pastor, I pray that we can work together and not
differentiate ourselves from others who are in the same boat. The scripture
bears witness: “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one
member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26, NRSV).
If we are going to survive the challenges of the 21st century, we must fix the
broken systems.
*The Rev. James A. Keeton, Jr. is the senior pastor of Parkside
United Methodist Church in Camden, New Jersey
25.
THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical Text: Galatians
2:20:"I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me."
I open with the question, “What then is the
hope of the Church of Jesus Christ?” As we formulate our answer we must admit
that there are probably many reasons why folks in neighborhoods around us do
not come to the church seeking salvation. There are those, of course, who deny
that they have anything from which to be saved. There are also undoubtedly
those who seem to thoroughly enjoy their sinful lifestyle and have no desire to
change.
However, Jesus reminds us that our church stands
as a “city set on a hill.” We are therefore challenged that our good works
should set an example of God’s goodness. The world must understand that Jesus
will come to claim us upon His return, as the church without spot or wrinkle.
We must be concerned that the folk around
us don’t seem to be drawn to our light. Why is that? Could it be possible that
the image we portray does not reflect the same image as the Church of Jesus
Christ? Does what we portray come through more as a hypocritical image? The
unsaved do not appear impressed. Could there be a spot or wrinkle in our
religion?
Paul confronted Peter on the issue of
hypocrisy when he and Barnabas invited him to the church. Peter was a devout
Jew however when he began his ministry in Antioch, he joined right in with the
Gentiles, fellowshipping, eating, and sharing with them. This, of course,
bothered some of the Jewish religionists. When they visited they were astounded
to find Peter fellowshipping and eating so freely with Gentiles, even if they were
Christians.
The new Christian Jews, believed in the
gospel of Jesus Christ, however it was their opinion that the gospel was only
an addition to their Jewish rituals. They held that the folk wishing to be
saved had to also undergo the ritual of circumcision and subject themselves to
the Law of Moses. When they saw Peter eating with Gentiles who had not done
these things, they were not happy.
Peter succumbed to the criticism and
withdrew himself from close fellowship with the Gentiles. When Peter withdrew,
the inevitable happened: the church split. The church became tragically divided
just as any church does when their spiritual leader becomes a man-pleaser
rather than a God-pleaser.
Peter was double-minded and inconsistent.
As a man pleaser he was seen as two-faced. He would hang with the Gentile
Christians privately however when some of the Christian Jews showed up he
separated himself completely from them. He was obviously worried about what
these folk would think. He was in effect hypocritical. As such he said one
thing but lived something else. Like many of us, Peter followed the crowd
simply because they put pressure upon him, even when he knew better.
I implore us to seriously consider what
happens to the image of the church today, when we who call ourselves Christians
act one way when we are in a church setting and another way when we are in our
neighborhoods or on our jobs. I submit that Peter’s hypocritical attitude
should send a strong message to all of us who say we are believers, especially
those of us in leadership. We are challenged to guard against distorting the
gospel through inconsistency.
The world is watching to see if we practice
what we preach; if our walk matches our talk. As professed Christians, we must
guard against a hypocritical walk. We must be careful not to live one way while
trying to convince others they should live another way. I wonder if this could
be the reason that so many in our community reject what our church stands for.
The question becomes, “What then is the
hope of the Church of Jesus Christ?” The answer is of course, if we are truly
the ambassadors of the faith we should be true to what we profess. That means
if Christ is in us, then we will reflect His presence in our walk and in our
talk and we will live for God by being crucified with Christ. We will exhibit
by our walk that our faith rests in our having died in Christ and our witness
says that we are identified with Christ. “I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me.”
If we belong to Christ, then we will
reflect Christ, in our walk and in our talk, in words and in our deeds. We will
reflect Christ in all that we do, so that the church we represent, the “City
which is set on the hill” shall cast a glorious light, as the Church without
spot or wrinkle.
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.,
is the pastor of Morris Brown A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C.
*The
Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in
Charleston, S.C.
26. GETTING TO ZERO AND HALF THE SKY (PART 2):
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
Orphaned
and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
Children, whose parents are sick or have
died due to HIV/AIDS or other causes, may have no one to pay the school fees or
to provide the minimum required uniforms, supplies and transport. Church-run
community schools in Zambia try to fill the gap to meet some of the education
needs of OVCs.
There are over 1,000,000 such children in
Zambia, a country of about 14,540,000 people. The children selected for the
AMEC run school are blessed. They are delighted to go to school. Many others
are in less fortunate circumstances where there is no school, church or
relative to provide guidance because the family structure is affected by
HIV/AIDS or other issues.
I asked the 2nd grade class
teacher what were her top three wishes for this AMEC school. She thinks for a moment and responds.
1)
“To add grades 5-7 here, so more of our students could complete the full
primary level. The church supports maybe 1-2 of our smartest students to go on
to the government school where they continue through grade 7 exams. But, there
are so many more that must stop at grade 4 level.”
2) “To provide lunch daily for every
student here. Kids go home early with no food in their stomach. We do not know
what they will find ‘at home’.”
3) “To improve teachers’ salaries here. Our
teaching is not done for the salary; one must have a passion for education. It
is a calling to teach. All of us also have families.”
Half the Sky: Women and HIV
The World Health Organization reports that
great strides are being made towards control of HIV/AIDS. Since the number in
2001, there has been a 33% decrease in the new HIV infections per year and a
29% decrease in the number of AIDS related deaths. Anti-retroviral therapy increased by over 40
fold from 2002 to 2012.
Even so, globally in 2012 women comprised
over 52% of the people living with HIV.
Around the world an estimated 50 women or girls (usually between ages
15-49) become newly infected with HIV every hour. Many factors contribute to this, including
lack of access to education, self-determination and economic empowerment.
The award winning book “Half the Sky:
Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by S. WuDunn and N.
Kristof (Knopf Publishers, 2009) and its PBS documentary, focus on issues for girls
and women around the world. The six episodes cover maternal and child
mortality, sexual violence, human trafficking, microfinance ventures and
education of girls. Besides an intersection of each topic with HIV/AIDS, the
stories provide insights into the daily lives of women and the need to increase
access to education for girls and women around the world. Get a copy of the
book and read it, or watch the gripping four-hour documentary. It will be an
eye-opener. Reading the book and watching the documentary are first steps to
“Make It Happen”. This is one small way
to contribute to International Women’s Day.
Except for one male teacher and the pastor
who is male, all the teachers and school personnel at this AMEC run school in
Lusaka are women. The Principle or Headperson is a woman who is retired from
the government school system. She engages at this church community school, “not
for the money, but for the opportunity to make a difference.”
On International Women’s Day or anytime
during March as the month to focus on women, find a way to celebrate
achievements of women wherever you are located. For more insights and a listing
of events planned, go to:
www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/international-womens-day.
The more each person knows, learns and shares
in honoring and empowering women, the more that someone’s daughter, mother,
sister, auntie, wife or grandmother is encouraged to make her unique
contribution to hold up half the sky.
*Dr. Oveta Fuller is an Associate Professor
of Microbiology and Immunology and Faculty of the African Studies Center at the
University of Michigan and Adjunct Faculty at Payne Theological Seminary. An
Itinerant Elder in the 4th Episcopal District, she conducts HIV/AIDS
prevention research in Zambia and the USA. She lived in Zambia for most of 2013
as a J. William Fulbright Scholar.
27. iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, MARCH
8, 2015 - A COMFORTER AND MUCH MORE - ST. JOHN 14:15-26:
Bill Dickens. Allen AME Church, Tacoma, WA
Dr. Bill Dickens’ iChurch School Lesson Brief column will resume next week, he is
flying to Los Angeles to attend the 5th Episcopal District Mid Year Meeting.
*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 African Methodist Episcopal Church
28.
MEDITATION BASED ON ISAIAH 40:21-31:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
Many thanks to the Reverend Dr. Harold
Mayberry, Pastor of First AME Church, Oakland, California for inspiring this
meditation. The Rev. Mayberry preached
the Closing Worship Sermon at last week’s Seventh Episcopal District Mid-Year
Convocation - Presided over by Bishop Richard F. Norris - and he recounted
something that happened to him on his way to Florence, SC.
The Rev. Mayberry told how his flight from
Charlotte, NC to Florence was delayed for two hours for “de-icing” and
expressed his frustration at that inconvenient delay. He also said that when he shared his
frustration with Ms. Cynthia Neal, Bishop Norris’ office manager, she heard him
out and then politely said, “But you landed here safe, didn’t you?” The Rev. Mayberry shared how that simple but
profound reminder from Ms. Neal enabled him to focus not on his frustration,
but on his blessings.
We’d all do well to remember that object
lesson from Rev. Mayberry in a world that offers us all our fair share of
frustrating situations. We live in a
time of e-mail, text messages, and Instagrams and fast food “drive through” windows
- a word that emphasizes instant results and instant gratification. When life’s unexpected twists, turns,
surprises and setbacks slow us down and defer our gratification, we sometimes
let disappointment; stress and frustration rule our lives and get us down.
We’d do well to remember that the God who
created us and saved us through the grace of His Son never fails to bless us,
provide for us, strengthen us and comfort us; that God knows what we need
before we even think to ask for it and gives us infinite and powerful blessings
that we often overlook or take for granted in the midst of our frustrations.
Take the time, in spite of life’s
frustrations, to count your blessings each day.
You’ll discover new hope, find new joy and face what each day brings not
with frustration, but with faith, saying with one hymn writer, “All that you
need God will provide, God will take care of you; nothing you need will be
denied, God will take care of you.”
This Meditation is also available as a Blog
on the Beaufort District’s Website:
Facebook at: www.facebook.com/BeaufortDistrictAMEC
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
Correct
answer to Lenten Quiz: Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews
29. DR.
LOUISE THORNTON HOLLOWELL, '45 B.S., '00 H.D. PASSES:
The funeral for Morris Brown College Alumnus and retired English
Professor Dr. Louise Thornton Hollowell will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Big
Bethel AME Church, 220 Auburn Avenue, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30303.
Dr. John Foster, Senior Pastor, will be Officiating.
The Ivy Beyond the Wall Ceremony will be held Sunday, March 15,
2015 at 5:00 p.m. at Allen Temple AME Church, 1645 Joseph E. Boone Blvd., N.W.,
Atlanta, GA 30318.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are asked to be made to Morris
Brown College to the Dr. Louise T. Hollowell Scholarship Fund.
Dr. Hollowell was magna cum
laude graduate and a distinguished Professor of English (Emeritus) of
Morris Brown. She was one of the twelve Founding women for Women for Morris
Brown College and the Charter President. She was the wife of legendary Civil
Rights Attorney Donald L. Hollowell.
In 1997, Dr. Hollowell and Martin Lehfeldt authored a book titled
The Sacred Call: A Tribute to Donald L. Hollowell-Civil Rights Champion, which
chronicles Hollowell's service and achievements. The book also tells the love
story of Donald and Louise Hollowell, who celebrated their 61st wedding
anniversary in 2004.
Click here to read about Dr. Louise Thornton Hollowell's late
husband Attorney Donald L. Hollowell:
30.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of
Mr. Frank Allen, Jr. the father of Mrs. Margo Allen Brown, the District
Coordinator of the Allegheny-Scranton District of the Pittsburgh Annual
Conference and the father-in-law of the Reverend Dr. Eric Brown, Presiding
Elder of the Allegheny-Scranton District.
Mr. Allen celebrated his 90th Birthday on
November 30, 2014. He was summoned to
claim his eternal reward on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 3:15 CST surrounded by his
wife and daughters.
The final arrangements are as follows:
Viewing: Friday, March 13, 2015 from 5 p.m.
- 8 p.m.
Ballou and Stotts Funeral Home
304 North Main Street
Burkesville, KY 42717
Telephone: (270) 864-3791
Fax: (270) 864-1204
Celebration of Life: Saturday, March 14,
2015 at 1 p.m. at Ballou and Stotts Funeral Home 304 North Main Street,
Burkesville, KY 42717.
Internment: Grundy Chapel Cemetery,
Burkesville, KY
Condolences can be sent to:
- Mrs. Elizabeth Allen and Family
120 Ferguson Street
Burkesville, KY 42717
- Dr. Eric & Mrs. Margo Allen Brown
P.O. Box 17063
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
31.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third Episcopal District is saddened to
announce the passing of Julia Mahone, the great grandmother of the Rev. Tawan
E. Bailey, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Scranton, PA.
Services are as follows:
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Viewing: 2 p.m.
Homegoing: 3 p.m.
F. D. Mason Memorial Funeral Home
511 West Rayen Ave.
Youngstown, OH. 44502
Telephone: (330) 743-4098
Cards and condolences may be sent to the
funeral home or to:
The Rev. Tawan E. Bailey
716 North Washington Ave.
Scranton, PA. 18509
32.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
This communication comes to share the
passing of our sister in Christ, Mrs. Ethel Mae Brown. Mrs. Brown is the spouse of the Rev. W. T.
Brown, a supernumerated minister in the Oklahoma State Annual Conference of the
12th Episcopal District. She was a
faithful WMS members as well as a dedicated member of the Annual Conference and
12th District M-SWAWO.
A Memorial Service for Sister Brown is
scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2015, 11 a.m. at the Vernon AME Church, 311
North Greenwood Ave., Tulsa, OK 74120.
Expressions of sympathy and support may be
sent to:
The Rev. W.T. Brown and Family
430 East Seminole Place
Tulsa, OK 74106
Telephone: (918) 582-8713
33.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Fifteenth Episcopal District is
mourning the passing of Superannuate Minister the Rev. Johannes P. Jones who
passed on in session of the Cape Town District Conference 06 March 2015 under
the leadership of Presiding Elder Willem Burger.
The Rev. Johannes P. Jones “fought the good fight and kept the faith.”
A Cedar has fallen.
“Some
glad morning
When
this life is o'er,
I'll
fly away;
To a
home on
God's
celestial shore,
I'll
fly away.”
Memorial and Funeral Arrangements for the
late Rev. Johannes P. Jones of the 15th Episcopal District:
Tuesday, 10 March 2015, at 7.30 p.m. at St.
Paul Malmesbury as per request from the community.
11 March 2015 at Rehoboth Church in Delft
at 7:30 p.m.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. David Rwhynica Daniels,
Jr. will be preaching.
The Homegoing Celebration will be held on
Sunday 15 March 2015 at Simms Chapel in Montague. Viewing will be as from 1
p.m. Service to start at 2 p.m.
Messages of Hope may be forwarded to:
The Rev. Clive Van Der Heever: vdheevercr@gmail.com
Or forward your message to Benjamin Jones:
Mrs. Mayra Jones may be contacted at
0219547074.
34.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third Episcopal District is saddened to
announce the passing of the Reverend West Johnson, father of the Rev. Ayonna D.
Johnson who is the wife of the Rev. Rodrecus M. Johnson, Jr., pastor of St.
James, Pittsburgh. The Rev. West Johnson served as an Associate Minister at
Bethlehem Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
Homegoing Celebration information is as
follows:
Viewing/Family Hour: Sunday, March 8, 2015,
6 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Funeral: Monday, March 9, 2015 at 11 a.m.
Bethlehem Baptist Church
7836 Fordson Road
Alexandria, VA 22306
Telephone: (703) 360-4170
FAX: (703) 360-4269
The Rev. Dr. Darrell K. White, pastor
The Rev. Richard W. Johnson (son of
deceased), Eulogist
Final arrangements entrusted to:
Greene Funeral Home
814 Franklin St
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: (703) 549-0089
Fax: (703) 739-4952
Email: gfh.va@verizon.net
Condolences/words of comfort can be sent
to:
The Reverend Ayonna D. Johnson
5085 Rosecrest Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Telephone: 412-363-1757
Email: yonajohnson@yahoo.com
35.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened by the transition of Mrs.
Annie McCollins, the mother of the Rev. Gregory McCollins, on Wednesday, March
4, 2015. Rev. Gregory McCollins is an
Itinerate Elder of the West Tennessee Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Funeral services for Mrs. Annie McCollins
will be held:
Friday, March 13, 2015, 11:00 am
Collins Chapel CME Church
676 Washington Avenue
Memphis, TN 38105
Telephone: (901) 529-8187
Services are provided by:
Joe Ford Funeral Home
1616 Winchester Road
Memphis, TN 38116
Telephone: (901) 345-6075
Fax: (901) 345-6077
36.
BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora
L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC
Clergy Family Information Center
Telephone:
(615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone:
(615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell:
(615) 403-7751
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
37. 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.
Did
someone you know pass this copy of The Christian Recorder to you? Get your own
copy HERE: http://www.the-christian-recorder.org/
Click
Here: Guidelines for Submitting Articles to TCR
*You
have received this message because you are subscribed to
The
Christian Recorder Online
Forward
to Friend
Copyright
© 2014 The Christian Recorder, All rights reserved.
You
are receiving this email because you are a current subscriber to The Christian
Recorder
Our
mailing address is:
The
Christian Recorder
500
Eighth Avenue, South
Nashville,
TN 37203-7508
Add
us to your address book
Unsubscribe
from this list Subscribe / Update subscription preferences
