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
– IS ANYTHING SACRED ANYMORE?:
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
I am addressing an issue I have
addressed previously. I am readdressing this issue because I have recently
received numerous inquiries about similar issues. A conversation with a
seasoned pastor reinforced the inquiries when he said, “You know, we have
absolutely taken the sacred out of everything!
It seems that very little or nothing is sacred in the church” and went
on to say, “I know it’s not about clothes and I know times have changed, but in
times past we used take pride in dressing up for church. People come to church
wearing torn jeans, halter tops, revealing cleavage and dress any kind of way,
but they wouldn’t dress that way if they were invited to the White House or
Buckingham Palace.” And the conversation continued and we talked about
sacredness and the absence of sacredness.
Having worked with young adults most
of my life, I consider myself fairly liberal, but his statement caused me to
think about what I considered a scathing indictment against what is happening
in the church.
I pondered his comments and agreed
that many clergy and laity have made excuses for going to God’s house dressed
“however” and tolerating frivolous worship and have gotten so liberal and
open-minded in trying to reach young people and the “nones,” who are not
committed to the church.
I have made excuses in support of modernity. It has gotten to the
point that some preachers dress down with casual demeanor, which sometime
spills into the sermon and it’s no wonder we hear so many “pabulum-like”
sermons.
My friend, the seasoned preacher, in
commenting about church dress said “They (parishioners) wouldn’t dress that way
if they were invited to the White House or Buckingham Palace” struck ‘grit in
my craw’.
Some of our preachers and pastors have
gone casual. Some church choirs have gone “way out” casual in an array of
outfits, so much so, that it seems that they are communicating, “Let’s see how
different and individual we can be.” This
fails to emphasize that they are united as a group.
If those same choirs that don’t take
pride in how they dress uniformly for Sunday morning worship were invited to
the White House or Buckingham Palace, they would quickly find a way to look
good and be uniform. They would present their best appearance before the
president or the queen.
I am certain that the preachers who
have gotten so casual for Sunday morning worship services with open collars,
jeans, no robes, unbuttoned robes, sports coats and leisure suits would dress
appropriately for a White House or Buckingham Palace appearance. They would not
have to be reminded because they already know what is required to be respectful.
Pondering my seasoned pastor
friend’s comment, “Nothing is sacred in the church,” I asked myself why the
frivolous and casual attitude when it comes to God’s house?
Frivolity reaches within all of the
walls of the church. We tolerate burned out light bulbs, ignore needed repairs
and conveniently defer maintenance that leaves many churches in disrepair. And
small things like candlestick holders, offering trays and even the communion
trays are unkept and unpolished.
And that’s not all
We have gotten so modern that many
people, clergy and laity, have forgotten the sanctity of Holy Communion.
Communion has always been a sacred
event for African Methodists and the sacredness of the consecrated elements
demanded respect and when the bread and wine/juice were served, nothing got in
the way of the Communion service; nothing came after the Communion service;
no announcements, no frivolity, no talking, no extra notices; no nonsense
because the idea was to leave Holy Communion thinking about the sacrifice Jesus
made for us.
“War
stories”
-
The pastor who gave the “wafer attached to the grape juice cups” to
parishioners to take home to sick and shut-in relatives because the pastor
didn’t have time to deliver communion to them.
-
Pastors who let licentiates distribute the elements of communion at the altar
rail and take communion to the sick and shut-in members.
-
Pastors who let stewards take communion to sick and shut-in members.
- Pastors who fail to consecrate the bread and
wine (grape juice) when additional bread and wine are needed.
- Pastors who rush through the Communion ritual
supposedly in the interest of saving time.
-
Pastors who allow stewardesses to throw away the remaining consecrated elements
of communion in the trash.
-
Pastors who allow stewardesses to save or recycle the consecrated elements,
i.e., adding the consecrated juice to the unconsecrated juice and adding the
consecrated bread to the unconsecrated bread.
And just as egregious, stewardesses putting the consecrated juice in the
refrigerator and the consecrated wafers in the pantry.
Unquestionably
sacred
Holy
Communion is a sacred event. It’s so
sacred that it is counted as one of the two sacraments of the Church. The other
sacrament is baptism.
The
consecration of the elements of Communion is a sacred act and should not be
treated as an ordinary action.
When
Itinerant Elders consecrate the sacrament, we, Protestants, believe that the
fundamental substance of the bread and wine - the body and blood of Christ are
present alongside the substance of the bread and wine, which remain physically
bread and wine, but the presence of Christ is ever-present in the consecrated
elements. The consecrated elements become more than just bread and wine; the
bread and wine become the "Presence” of the body and Blood of Jesus
Christ. The consecrated bread and wine transcend the ordinary and become
sacred. We call the process “Consubstantiation.”
The
presence of Christ in the
consecrated elements is sacred and should be treated and handled with utmost
respect.
As
an aside, Roman Catholics believe that the consecrated elements become the
“actual” body and blood of Jesus Christ, and that belief is called,
“Transubstantiation.”
The Exodus Model
The Eucharist is linked to the
Passover, which was observed by Jesus (Luke 2.41-43; Mark 14.12-26; John 12.12).
God’s command to the Israelites for
eating the Passover was that the lamb must be entirely consumed or
destroyed. “The Lord said to Moses and
Aaron, “Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you
must burn it.” (Exodus 12:10) Anything
that remained until the morning had to be burned. The implication and my understanding was that
the Israelites could not just discard or throw away the leftover lamb that had
been consecrated.
The
consecrated elements of the Eucharist should be handled with respect, and just
as importantly, should be disposed of with utmost care. The consecrated
elements should not be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet.
The
left-over consecrated elements can be eaten, but with reverence. It is appropriate to put the leftover
wafers/bread and juice/wine on the ground, but not where people can walk on
it. Leftovers should be disposed of with
respect and reverence to God.
Only
ordained…
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry when asked if stewards could commune members,
responded in her “I Ask” column in The Christian Recorder, “Both The Book of Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, and Turner's Polity instruct
that only ordained persons are permitted to consecrate and distribute
the communion. (Communion is listed among those functions called
"priestly duties).” Bishop Guidry
went on to explain, “The Doctrine and Discipline of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church 2012 - pages 62-63 (see also page 111)
explains the duties and limitations of stewards and lay preachers. They are not
permitted to distribute the elements of Communion. Also see Turner's Polity - Pages
138-139.”
Pastors need to train parishioners and
especially young people about the sacredness of the things of God. God has not
changed.
The words in the Decalogue are not suggestions or
recommendations; they are commands which should be obeyed.
The first three Commandments
speak to the issues of our relationship with God. The first Commandment demands
loyalty, the second Command is about worship and the third Commandment is about
reverence.
In this age of
permissiveness and openness, some things need to remain sacred and added to it,
"pride and respect."
The “mothers and fathers” of the
Church were conscious of the sacredness and sanctity of Holy Communion and of
all things related to worship, our relationship with God and our relationship
with each other.
--To the Editor:
RE: TCR EDITORIAL – An Important
Question We Rarely, If Ever, Hear
Thank you for your editorial, “An Important Question We Rarely, If Ever,
Hear.” What a novel concept in the portion about having a registration fee
based on proper budgeting. It's maddening to pay a registration fee and then be
asked for "offerings"
Name Withheld
--To the Editor
RE: Article, “Sunday Morning
‘Shakedown’” in the print edition, April 13, 2015 of The Christian Recorder on pages 9, 12.
Was the author of this article entitled
“Sunday Morning ‘Shakedown’” suggesting that the offering be eliminated from
our worship experience? Dr. Shiver is in obvious disagreement with the method
he rails against but no alternative method is articulated in his article. It
is, further, interesting that Dr. Shriver cites three Old Testament scriptures
while omitting the New Testament passage cited by many pastors at offering
time: “So let each one give as he [or she] purposes in his [or her] heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
II Corinthians 9:7 (New King James
Version)
In closing, I am mildly surprised
(almost offended) that such an article would find its way onto the pages of the
publication arm of our great Zion which you have so ably served as Editor - unless
under a section headline, “The
Opposition Speaks.’
The Rev. Godfrey Patterson
Bethel AME Church
Marysville, CA 95901
3. NEWS AROUND THE AME
CHURCH:
-- Man takes
sledgehammer to church sign
Pearl Street AME Church was about to
kick off its feeding program for the day when the man walked up with a
sledgehammer and started whacking at
Read more: http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/man-takes-sledgehammer-to-church-sign/33460218
-- White Gods and
Black Devils: The Rhetoric of Bishop Henry McNeal Turner - Pt. 1, Patheos
(blog)
…was on African missions and
emigration. In 1881, he criticized the editor of the Christian Recorder on not
doing enough to promote African missions.
4. FIRE AT THE SELULASANDLE VASHTI AME VILLAGE IN SWAZILAND:
On Sunday night, June 7, 2015 there was a fire in
House No. 1 at the Selulasandle Vashti AME Village in Swaziland (Southern
Africa).
Praise the Lord none of the children nor any
injuries or lives were lost. The house
is severely damaged and we seek your prayers and support for the children, the
house mother and staff.
More details will be provided once we received
the report from the fire department.
Please continue to keep the village in your prayers.
Bishop John F. White
18th
Episcopal District
5. THE BISHOP JOHN R.
BRYANT D.MIN PROGRAM BEGINS THIS FALL 2015 AT PAYNE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY:
Bishop John R. Bryant, the 106th
Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the AME Church and Senior Bishop has been
honored with a D.MIN Program in his name.
Last year the National Blacks in Wax
Museum commissioned a statue in his likeness.
Bishop John has 99 Sons and daughters in ministry serving at every level
from the local Church to the Episcopacy.
He was dubbed the "Father of Neo-Pentecostalism during his years as
pastor of Bethel AME Church in Baltimore. Earning His D.Min from Colgate
Rochester Divinity School; Bishop John earned his Doctor of Ministry Degree
from Colgate Rochester Divinity School and his doctoral dissertation title was
"The Black Church, Hub of a Black National Community."
He has taught in Colleges and
Seminaries on 4 Continents. Receiving numerous Awards, Honorary Degrees as well
as being the focus of Academic and Theological research on Christianity. The John R. Bryant D.Min Program at Payne
Seminary is entitled:
Liberation Theology:
Preaching and Praxis.
Applications are now being accepted.
Bishop John has been married to Rev.
Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant for 45 years.
They have published together a book on Clergy Marriage: HEALING FOR WOUNDED VOWS. Their Son, Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant is
Pastor and Founder of Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church in Baltimore and an
advocate for Justice in the U.S. and the Diaspora. The Rev. Thema Bryant Davis Ph.D, their
youngest child is a Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University in
California, Liturgical Dancer and Associate Minister at Walker Temple AME
Church in Los Angeles. The Bryants have
seven Grand Children and one Liberian Son, Micah Wilkens Wright, an Educator.
The Rev. Dr. Cecelia
Williams-Bryant,
Senior Supervisor
6. A HISTORICAL
JOURNEY – A TRAVELERS PERSPECTIVE:
By William “Bill” Ayers
Saturday, May 30th, will
be written in the annals of the Joseph C. McKinney Lay Organization of Ward
Memorial AME Church as important in the history of Wards Lay Organization. That is the date the members, their guests,
family members and friends of our Lay Organization, led by our president,
Sister Doris Lowrie, traveled to St. George’s United Methodist Church and
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. We wanted to bear witness to
the birth of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church denomination in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is the
same city where the AME Church’s General Conference will be held next year and
where we will also commemorate the 200-year anniversary of our denomination.
We started our trip via a luxury
touring bus where we enjoyed good weather and safe travel to St George’s United
Methodist Church, on the first leg of our journey. We were met by the church archivist who
explained in detail the founding of the church, its historic lineage and the
important roll Richard Allen and Absalom Jones played in the formative years –
including the trials and tribulations of the two races attempting to worship
God in peace and harmony. She led us on
a tour of the church and we marveled at the historical artifacts and pictures
which included the Rev. Richard Allen and his wife, Mrs. Sarah Allen, the Rev.
Absalom Jones and other pastors and leaders of that historic church. She told us that Reverend Allen preached at
the 5:00 a.m. service (he and Absalom Jones were the first African Americans
licensed by the Methodist Church). We
were in awe at the manner in which the historical artifacts were maintained and
housed. The church itself was very
impressive in its architecture. Some of
us sat in the famous balcony where Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and other black
members walked out of St. George’s upon a request from an usher to rise from
their knees at the prayer rail to sit in the balcony as opposed to sitting down
stairs among the white congregants as they had done in the past. With the loudly creaky floorboards, it must
have been quite a commotion and disruptive scene as they left out.
After the impressive educational
tour at St. George’s, we boarded the bus for our trip to historic Mother Bethel
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Again, we were impressed with the
church’s imposing structure, stained glass windows and doors and horseshoe
balcony, noted as architectural models for a number of AME Churches throughout
our denomination. The church docent
explained the various stages and phases that the church has undergone. He also shared information about the church’s
humble beginning under the leadership of the Rev. Richard Allen in a blacksmiths
shop to its present site under the current leadership of their Pastor, the Rev.
Dr. Mark Kelly Tyler. During our stay at
Mother Bethel, we were honored by the presence of and warmly greeted by the
president of the Philadelphia Conference Lay Organization, Mrs. Cheryl Hammond
Hopewell who stayed with us during the tour.
The Reverend Mark Tyler also honored us by joining us during the
tour. He gave a warm welcome and thanked
us for taking time to come and tour the historic facility. They both stayed for picture taking and
dialogue with the members. The Rev.
Tyler also mentioned that Mother Bethel was a host church for the 2016 General
Conference. He shared that the congregation
was engaged in preparation for this grand event in the life of the AME Church
and that they were also in the process of adding air conditioning to the
sanctuary. Most of us left the church
with bags loaded with items purchased from Mother Bethel’s bookstore.
We left St. George’s and Mother
Bethel with a deeper understanding and a heightened appreciation of the
history, culture and differences that caused a rift with the St. George’s
congregation and the need for Richard Allen to establish the AME denomination
and as we know, he become the church’s first consecrated Bishop. This is a tour that every AME Church member
should consider taking in order to have a deeper understanding and appreciation
of being an AME. Additionally, the tour
presents an opportunity to learn how God maneuvers in the lives of people to
keep His Word alive and the fact that God moves through people to help those
who are down trodden rise above their circumstances to help others. Richard Allen was a great visionary who
continually demonstrated his faith and belief in God. Despite his own sufferings, (the loss of his
first wife among his many trials and tribulations), he still maintained his
faith in God and preached and practiced the same to his followers. He was a remarkable human being.
After the enlightening tours and
stimulating conversations, we once again boarded the bus - this time for
refreshment, fellowship and shopping at a Philadelphia mall. We climbed aboard
the bus for the final leg of our educational journey to head back to Washington
DC. We arrived at our beloved Ward
Church to retrieve our vehicles and returned to our various places of
abode.
We thank God for our safe
travel. Personally, I count it all joy
that we traveled to Philadelphia to learn more about the history of the AME
Church and to be armed with additional facts about our denomination as a member
of an Organization that was established to train and educate the laity.
7. TURNER THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARY ALUMNI BREAKFAST AT THE 2015 GENERAL BOARD MEETING:
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at 7:00 a.m.
Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel
Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Breakfast Donations: $50
Turner Theological Seminary
Breakfast Preacher
Dr. Edward L. Wheeler
Tenth President of the
Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia
Submitted by the Administrative
Office of the President/Dean
Turner Theological Seminary
702 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
Telephone: (404) 527-0080
8. POLICE INCIDENT
STIRS NORTH TEXAS UNITED METHODIST ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
June 10, 2015 | McKinney, Texas
(UMNS)
The North Texas Conference’s annual
gathering got spun in another direction by a video showing a police officer
manhandling black youth at a pool party dispute in McKinney, Texas.
The incident happened Friday, June
5. The video went viral over the weekend, just as clergy and laity began to
meet at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Plano, which like McKinney is a
suburban city just north of Dallas.
Bishop Michael McKee spoke twice
about the incident at the conference. Black clergy held a press conference and
prayer gathering outside the McKinney police department immediately after the
conference ended Tuesday afternoon.
Some white clergy and laity attended
as well, including the Rev. Thomas Brumett, pastor of First United Methodist in
McKinney.
By then, the fast-moving story had
just taken another turn, with the resignation of the officer, Cpl. Eric
Casebolt. McKinney Police Chief Greg Conley described Casebolt's conduct as
"indefensible" and "out of control."
“I think (the resignation) is a good
first step, but it’s not the end of the story,” said the Rev. Frances Cudjoe
Waters, associate pastor of Hamilton Park United Methodist Church and president
of the conference’s African American Clergy Fellowship.
Brumett noted that he’s a fan and
friend of the McKinney police but joined Waters in calling on city officials to
complete a full, transparent investigation of Casebolt’s actions.
“He resigned. That’s a good thing,”
Brumett said. “We still need to pursue justice.”
Brumett added that the McKinney
incident, the latest in a series of controversies across the country involving
apparent police misconduct caught on video, should prompt broad soul-searching.
“Are we systemically healthy as
churches, as police departments, as a community?” Brumett said. “This is an
opportunity for us to seek justice in all areas.”
By Wednesday, June 10, Casebolt had
gone beyond the resignation to offer an apology, delivered by his attorney. She
noted that Casebolt had been feeling emotional distress the day of the
incident, having worked a suicide and an attempted suicide soon before getting
called to the pool party dispute.
Casebolt was among officers called
to the police party in Stonebridge, a planned community within McKinney.
Accounts of what happened before and after differ, but a bystander’s video
captured him pulling his gun on black youth and throwing one black teenage girl
to the ground.
“When I saw the video, I thought
about my daughter, who is 18,” said the Rev. Michael Bowie Jr., pastor of St.
Luke Community United Methodist, a large predominantly African-American church
in Dallas. “It just lets us know that we have a lot of work to do in America.”
McKee attended a Tuesday lunch
meeting of black clergy in the conference. Later Tuesday, he told the full
conference that he had decided this spring, after the Council of Bishops issued
a pastoral letter on racism after allegations of police brutality against
blacks in Baltimore and elsewhere, that the North Texas Conference must make
race relations a focus.
“This is just another reason why,”
McKee said of the McKinney incident.
McKee invited Waters, Brumett and
the Rev. John McLarty, pastor of Stonebridge United Methodist Church, to
address the conference. McLarty’s parishioners include McKinney Mayor Brian
Loughmiller, and both McLarty and Brumett attended an ecumenical prayer meeting
with Loughmiller and Conley.
McKee said he was grateful that
Brumett, McLarty and black clergy of the conference had come together to
respond.
“This is one reason why I love being
a United Methodist,” McKee said.
Waters, a law school graduate before
turning to ministry, described the video as clearly showing excessive force
toward the black youth.
“We, the people of God, want all of
God’s children to be treated well,” she said at the press conference.
Waters added that The United
Methodist Church, as a large, integrated denomination with a long commitment to
racial reconciliation, is well positioned to foster healthful dialog and press
for improved policing.
She said she hopes that the North
Texas Conference set a positive example.
“We don’t want to have a Baltimore
or Ferguson in Dallas.”
Hodges, a United Methodist News
Service writer, lives in Dallas. Contact him at (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org
*Used with permission of the United
Methodist News Service
9. CHRISTIANITY POISED
TO CONTINUE ITS SHIFT FROM EUROPE TO AFRICA:
By David Masci
The global Christian population has
been shifting southward for at least a century and is expected to continue to
do so over the next four decades, according to new demographic projections from
the Pew Research Center. Overall, the share of Christians in the world is
expected to remain flat. But Europe’s share of the world’s Christians will
continue to decline while sub-Saharan Africa’s will increase dramatically.
Nearly half of the world’s
Christians already reside in Africa and the Latin America-Caribbean region. By
2050, according to the Pew Research study, those two regions will be home to
more than six-in-ten of the world’s followers of Jesus, with just a quarter of
Christians living in Europe and North America.
This was not always the case. In
1910, for instance, Europe was home to roughly two-thirds (66%) of the world’s
Christians, with North America a distant second with 15%.
In 2050, nearly four-in-ten of the
world’s Christians (38%) are expected to be living in sub-Saharan Africa, up
from 24% in 2010 and less than 2% in 1910.
In addition, by 2050, five of the 10
largest Christian populations in the world – Nigeria, the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda – will be in Africa, which had three of
the 10 largest Christian populations in 2010.
By contrast, 35 years from now, the
share of global Christians who call Europe home will have dropped to roughly
16% (from 26% in 2010). In addition, only 10% of the world’s Christians will be
living in North America, down from 12% in 2010.
The share of the global Christian
population in Latin America and the Caribbean also is forecast to drop
slightly, from about 25% to 23%. But it will be the region with the
second-largest number of Christians, behind only sub-Saharan Africa.
The share of Christians in the
Asia-Pacific region, now about 13%, is expected be the same by 2050. But
uncertainty over the data from China (which has 1.3 billion people) ultimately
could change the 2050 estimate.
The biggest factor in determining
the future global distribution of Christians is population growth, which in
turn is driven by factors such as fertility rates. Sub-Saharan Africa’s overall
population, which is young and tends to have more children than people in other
regions, is expected to more than double between 2010 and 2050, from 823
million to 1.9 billion.
10. CYBER CHURCH -
PASTORS AND THE INTERNET:
February 11, 2015 — Much has changed
in the world since 2000, and few can deny that many of those changes have been
facilitated by technology.
The Internet, in particular—both how
much we use it and what we use it for—has dramatically altered the way people
live their lives, do their work and engage in their relationships. Pastors are
no exception: In the past 15 years, church leaders have significantly increased
their use of the Internet and have, by and large, come to accept it as an
essential tool for ministry in the 21st century.
In a recent study of U.S. Protestant
church leaders, Barna Group looked at pastors’ use of the Internet and their
attitudes toward it today compared to 15 years ago, at the turn of the century.
How Pastors Use the Internet
In 2000, just over eight in 10
pastors said they used a computer at church (83%). Today nearly all pastors do
(96%). While the primary way pastors use a computer has stayed essentially the
same—in both years, more than half of pastors say they use it for word
processing or writing (59% today and 51% in 2014)—the percentage who use it for
accessing the Internet (39% today compared to only 24% in 2000) and for email
(46% compared to 24%) has increased dramatically. Additionally, more pastors
today are using their computers for study helps or research (56% compared to
29%) and for creating slides/presentations (44% compared to 10%). Notice that
the largest increase has been pastors’ use of digital communication tools, such
as creating graphics, slides, and presentations—one might conclude that pastors
are working hard to keep pace in a the screen-driven era of communication.
While two of the primary ways
pastors used the Internet in 2000—to find information (97% today compared to
78% in 2000) and to keep up on existing relationships (80% compared to
64%)—have increased dramatically since then, pastors are also now using the Internet
for an increasing array of activities that they only marginally participated in
15 years ago. Significantly more pastors use the Internet to buy products (88%
compared to 46%), check out new music or videos (71% compared to 19%), have a
spiritual or religious experience (39% compared to 15%) and make new friends
(26% compared to 9%). The only activity surveyed that stayed about the same for
pastors’ Internet usage was playing video games (11% today compared to 12% in
2000).
Online Religious Experiences
While pastors are using the Internet
for personal and pragmatic reasons, how likely are they to see it as a useful
tool for doing ministry and facilitating religious experiences among their
congregants? The answer, as you might expect, is that they are increasingly
more likely to see the Internet that way.
Today, nearly nine in 10 pastors say
they believe it is theologically acceptable for a church to provide faith
assistance or religious experiences to people through the Internet (87%). This
is up from about three-quarters of pastors in 2000 (78%). Similarly, nearly
nine in 10 pastors today say they think people in their area would find it
acceptable for their church to provide faith assistance or religious
experiences to people through the Internet (86%), compared to only seven in 10
who would have said so in 2000.
While pastors today are still
unlikely to agree that, within the next decade, some people will have all of
their faith experiences through the Internet, they are a bit more likely than
they were 15 years ago to think so. Today, just about half of pastors believe
people will have all of their faith experiences online within 10 years (11%
believe this is definitely true, up from 7% in 2000, while 36% say people
probably will, up from 20% in 200). Of course, this means that just over half
of pastors believe this will not be the case (17% say people definitely will
not—down from 26% in 2000—while 34% say people probably won’t—down from 44% in
2000).
Pastors show increasing openness to
people experiencing religion online—and an increased willingness to see the
church as a conduit for those online experiences. They are more than willing to
acknowledge that the Internet is playing a key role in how people engage with
religion, yet they remain skeptical about those online interactions
representing the entirety of a person’s faith activities.
The Internet as a Ministry Tool
When asked questions to gauge
pastors’ overall feelings toward the Internet as a good tool for ministry, a
more neutral tool or as something more negative, the majority of pastors agree
with the positive statements—up significantly from the number who agreed in
2000. Conversely, very few pastors—many fewer than 15 years ago—agree with any
of the negative statements regarding the Internet’s effectiveness as a tool for
ministry.
More than half of pastors today
agree that the Internet is a powerful tool for effective ministry (54%, up from
35% in 2000). A similar percentage says that for a church to be effective in
the future, it will need to have a significant website or presence on the
Internet (55%). Additionally, more than half of pastors agree that developing a
significant presence on the Internet is a good investment of their church’s
money (54%). Though these percentages have grown, it’s interesting that
substantial numbers of pastors do not agree strongly with these statements.
As might be expected, most of the
resistance to digital ministry comes from older pastors. Younger pastors are
more likely to agree with these positive statements than are older pastors (72%
of Millennial pastors, for example, agree that the Internet is a powerful tool
for effective ministry, while only 56% of Gen-Xers, 54% of Boomers and 39% of
Elders agree).
Money is a factor here, too.
Additionally, pastors who make $60,000 or more a year are more likely to see
the Internet as a powerful ministry tool (63%) than are those who make less
than $40,000 (49%). This trend is particularly true when asked whether
developing a significant presence on the Internet is a good investment of
church resources: 69% of pastors making $60,000 or more a year say yes, while
only 44% of those making $40,000 to $60,000 and even fewer (40%) of those making
under $40,000 a year agree. Another way of looking at this is that pastors of
smaller churches are trying to stretch their financial resources, so digital
initiatives such as websites are more likely to be deemed nonessential.
When it comes to some of the more
neutral—or contextualized—views on the Internet, pastors are less likely to
agree. While very rare, one out of 10 pastors (2%) agrees that the Internet is
a passing fad and won’t continue to be a significant factor in people’s lives.
One in nine pastors think the Internet is overrated (11%, down from 19% in
2000). About four in 10 pastors believe the Internet is a ministry tool that
will be important for some age groups but not important for others (42%, up
from 37% in 2000).
Very few pastors agree with any of
the more negative statements regarding the Internet and ministry. Only 3% say
that small churches are better off not trying to have a website or a presence
on the Internet as part of their ministry (down from 10% in 2000). Less than one
in 10 pastors believe websites and Internet activities are a distraction from
doing significant ministry (8%, down slightly from 12% in 2000). And about one
in seven pastors believe that the chances of the Internet being used to spread
spiritual heresy and to distort Christianity outweigh the potential of the
Internet to spread authentic Christianity (13%, edging down from 17% in 2000).
What the Research Means
“Increased use and acceptance of the
Internet in ministry will come as little surprise to anyone,” says Roxanne
Stone, a vice president at Barna Group. “While 15 years ago, having a church
website or using the Internet as a ministry tool may have seemed like a luxury,
for most churches today it has become a necessity. Aside from the obvious
pragmatic uses pastors have for the Internet—research for sermons, keeping up
to date on news and articles, purchasing products and so on—pastors and church
leaders also realize how much of their actual ministry now happens online. They
recognize their church’s website will often be the first, and maybe only,
impression outsiders get of their ministry. Additionally, most church leaders
realize the potential for continued connection with members and visitors alike
through the Internet—from podcasts, to social media, to blogs, to sermon
discussion questions and even community prayer requests. No matter the church’s
size, location or demographic, the Internet has become and will continue to be
a vital tool for connection, outreach and even spiritual formation.
“Even so, most pastors aren’t ready
for the Internet to be people’s only means of spiritual growth or religious
experience,” continues Stone. “Much of a pastor’s role—and the role of a local
church—is about presence: presence in a community of believers, presence in the
taking of communion, presence in the service of others, presence in communal
prayer and worship. The Internet can offer an important and accessible
supplement to these physical activities, but pastors are reluctant to say it
can fully replace them or duplicate them.”
About Barna Group
Barna Group (which includes its
research division, Barna Research Group) is a private, non-partisan, for-profit
organization under the umbrella of the Issachar Companies. Located in Ventura,
California, Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research to
understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors
since 1984.
If you would like to receive free
email notification of the release of each update on the latest research
findings from Barna Group, you may subscribe to this free service at the Barna
website (www.barna.org).
11.
THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins,
Jr.
Based on Biblical Text: 1 Peter
3:14-15: But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are
blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify
the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone
who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.
The truth of the matter is life can
be kind of scary and even terrifying at times. We want to blame life on so many
things however we cannot blame everything on everybody else. Somebody has to
take the blame for putting guns in the hands of children. Somebody needs to
stand up for making a mockery of the family unit. Somebody is to blame for the
price of gasoline fluctuating the way it has.
When life comes at us full force,
our first instinct is to retreat to safety. The first thing we think about is
running to fortify our position. We want to prepare a defense. We always run to
prepare for the worst.
The early Christians in our text
were in just such a situation. It was panic time. And the Apostle Peter had
some encouraging words for them. Interestingly even though our text comes from
1 Peter chapter 3 the words are actually, with some significant variations, a
quote spoken by the Prophet Isaiah during a period of his life when he was
prophesying against the coming of the King of Assyria.
Folk were not happy with what Isaiah
had to say. In fact the Bible says that the Prophet Isaiah was surrounded by
conspirators who were eager to destroy him. But, in the midst of this dangerous
situation God encouraged Isaiah with these words: “Fear not their fear, nor be
afraid. Sanctify the Lord of Hosts Himself, and let Him be your fear, and let
Him be your dread, and He shall be for a sanctuary” (Isaiah 8:12b-13).
In our text we find Peter in a
similar circumstance. As Christianity was spreading there were some folk who
were not happy. In fact some folk were even angry. In the midst of the
persecution Peter writes to his brothers in ministry, sharing with his
colleagues words spoken a long time ago by the prophet Isaiah changing them just
a little bit. Peter tells folk then and says to us now even if you should
suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. Peter wants us to realize that
we don’t have to be afraid. The Bible says, “And do not be afraid of their
threats, nor be troubled.”
When we are working for the Lord not
everybody is happy. Oh everybody talks about how they love the Lord. No doubt
if asked for a show of hands from those who love the Lord everybody would have
their hands up. However, that begs the question, if we love the Lord so much
then why are we so upset when someone tells us what the Lord says? Why is it
then that when folk are reminded what the Lord says about their situation they
aren’t happy? Why is it that when we are challenged to come to grips with what the
Lord says about our circumstance we get mad? What is it that makes us fighting
mad when we are told the truth about what the Lord really thinks about how we
are living?
I submit that some folk just don’t
want to hear the truth. Then there are those who know the truth but don’t want
to be reminded of the truth. Could it be that some folk are afraid of the
truth? Obviously, some folk just can’t handle the truth.
The Prophet Isaiah tells us, “Fear
not their fear.” In other words, don’t be afraid like they are afraid. Why,
because the truth is the light! The truth is convicting and can very well be
scary and uncomfortable. But, don’t be afraid! Don’t fear what folk who don’t
know the truth are afraid of. Isaiah says keep God in your heart. Let God handle
your fear and deal with your dread.
Peter says, “Sanctify the Lord God
in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you”
Peter is calling on us to sanctify
Christ. What does he mean, how do we sanctify Jesus Christ? Peter is saying to
us, we need to set Jesus up on a pedestal in our hearts giving Jesus the place
of honor that is due Him. We are challenged to bow down to Jesus with all
reverence and with all submission.
Peter calls on us to “sanctify in
your hearts Christ as Lord”. Our heart represents the very center of our being,
the very core of our existence. The Bible says “Keep thy heart with all
diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” In other words, if the issues
of life pour out of our hearts then Jesus ought to be in control of our heart.
If we sanctify Jesus in our heart
Jesus is in control! If Jesus is in
control there is no spirit of fear, there is only a spirit of power. If Jesus
is in control there is a spirit of love and a spirit of sound mind.
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins,
Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, S.C.
12.
GETTING TO ZERO: A CLOSER WALK:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
Editor’s Note: Dr. Oveta Fuller’s column will return next week.
*The Rev. Oveta Fuller Caldwell,
Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the
University of Michigan (U-M) Medical School, Associate Director of the U-M
African Studies Center and an AMEC itinerant elder and former pastor. She lived
in Zambia for most of 2013 to study HIV/AIDS prevention among networks of
religious leaders.
13. iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, JUNE
14, 2015 - GOD IS NOT FOOLED - AMOS 5:14-15 & 18 -27:
*Brother Bill Dickens
Introduction
One of the frustrations in
interpersonal relations is the habit by some to trick or fool someone for
personal gain. An unscrupulous salesman will try to sell a defective product to
a potential buyer with the hope of maximizing his sales commission. A struggling
college student turns in a writing assignment for his/her economics class with
the assistance of a “ghost writer” hoping to fool the professor into thinking
that the work is his/her original output. A politician seeking re-election may
resort to chicanery in campaign literature by making fraudulent references to
his accomplishments during his time in office to convince undecided voters to
vote for him/her.
The goal of deception is to shift
focus away from the truth to a distortion of reality. Deception however has
limits. In President Abraham Lincoln’s familiar quote – “You can fool all the
people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot
fool all the people all the time.”
The Adult AME Church School Lesson
for June 14, 2014 explains why God is never fooled. The prophet Amos develops a
convincing argument for why it is important to “come clean” with God. Let’s see
how the prophet makes his case.
Bible
Lesson
A
Time to Choose Amos 5:14-15
What time is it? First, there is a
time to choose. Life is about processing information and making rational
choices. Amos 5:14-15 presents the opening argument for decision making and a
believer’s relationship with God. For Amos life can be summarized in two
parameters: Good and Evil. If a person chooses good he/she will find favor with
God. If the same person chooses evil this will put him at variance with God’s
will, i.e., disfavor. Choosing good over evil promotes fairness and justice.
Choosing evil fosters arrogance, idolatry and self-righteous behavior
culminating in an ungodly community.
A
Time for the Lord’s Day - Amos 5:18-20
What time is it? Second, there is a
time for the Day of the Lord. Amos 5:18-20 provides gripping imagery about
God’s judgment for those who choose evil. Some may actually want to see the Day
of the Lord but their understanding is rather cloudy about what that day
entails. The prophet declares this Day of Judgment is tantamount to darkness
not light. Some will think it is equivalent to running away from a lion only to
be met by a bear and d bitten by a snake. The takeaway is clear: Beware for
what you ask.
A
Time to End Worthless Worship - Amos 5:21-27
What time is it? Third, there is
time to end worthless worship. God is omniscient. He sees all. He sees the pseudo-religious
practices we indulge in that only edify our selfish motives and not the House
of God. God is not impressed with our feast days, songs of praise and numerous
offerings. He is not fooled by our appearance of righteous behavior when in
reality we continue to revel in dishonesty, injustice and idolatry. This choice
for Israel will result in prolonged captivity and hardship. The only way to
avoid this form of punishment is to embrace Amos 5:24. This forms the basis of
true and effective worship.-
Bible Application
Dr. Martin Luther King’s favorite
passage from the Old Testament comes from Amos 5:24. This passage shaped his
theological critiques of American society during the epic civil rights
struggles of the 1950s and 60s. Dr. King’s piercing commentary represented an
effective juxtaposition of applied theology to ordinary observations. For Dr.
King and other civil rights advocates, the dominant racist culture in America
engaged in legal hypocrisy and spiritual apostasy in their unchecked injustice
against black Americans. Dr. King was not fooled by the hypocrisy he witnessed.
Bishop Reverdy Cassius Ransom (your author’s favorite Bishop), the 48th
consecrated Bishop the AME Church was not fooled by the lip service of “justice
for all” during his 28 years on the Bench (1924 – 1952). Above all, God is not
fooled. As Paul states, “God is not mocked. You will indeed reap what you sow.”
Deception may be a preference for some but for a believer in Christ we reject
all forms of tomfoolery and put our trust in the Triune God who has a perfect
track record of justice and judgment.
*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
14.
MEDITATION BASED ON JOHN 12:20-33:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I’m writing this week’s meditation
one week after a landmark event in Charleston.
The Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist
Episcopal Zion, Christian Methodist Episcopal and United Methodist Churches in
South Carolina issued a call to prayer and action in response to the many
police involved shootings of black men.
More than five hundred people
responded and packed Saint Peter’s AME Church in North Charleston to standing
room capacity. There was spirited singing and instrumental music, there were
heartfelt prayers and inspiring words of witness and challenge, but the most electric
moment of the night was generated by the words of two white, female United
Methodist clergy.
They both related how the video of
Walter Scott being shot in the back by a North Charleston police officer
resonated with them personally and within their predominately white
congregations, and they got a standing ovation when they then apologized to
those present for the “sin” of white privilege!
I commend both of those
pastors. They could have said something
routine, sterile and safe when it comes to discussions of race, but they were
courageous enough to be frank and candid, and to do the right thing instead of
the safe, easy and convenient thing.
Remember those two brave pastors as
you face life’s routine and extraordinary challenges. We all face challenging and unjust situations
that test our faith sooner or later - situations that compel us to speak out,
but that also compel us to “count the cost” of speaking out and to decide
whether to boldly speak or to look out for self, maintain the “status quo” and
conveniently hold our peace.
We’d do well to remember that our
Savior chose to go to the Cross for our sins - not through compulsion, but
through committed courage. The human
side of Jesus could have easily chosen to avoid the Cross and become Israel’s
new King - as many of His supporters hoped that He’d do. He chose, however, to give His life for our
salvation - it was a hard thing to do, but it was His mission and was the right
thing to do.
Make Jesus’ mission your mission as
you face situations where you can speak out or take action to make a difference
for others. Be prophetic rather than
pragmatic and boldly do what’s needed and not what’s convenient, even when it’s
not easy and may “ruffle the feathers” of those who settle for business as usual. You’ll be blessed for doing so, and you’ll
find new and joyful meaning in the words of the hymn that says, “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then
my living will not be in vain.”
This Meditation is also available as
a Blog on the Beaufort District’s Website: www.beaufortdistrict.org
Get Ready for Sunday, and have a
great day in your house of worship!
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the
Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual
Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church
15.
EPISCOPAL, GENERAL OFFICER AND CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
--
Jacob Gregory Whiten was awarded the Juris Doctor degree from Duke University
Law School
Pastor Yolanda and Gregory Whiten
praise God for His Mighty Acts! They
together, announce that their son Jacob Gregory Whiten was awarded the Juris
Doctor degree from Duke University Law School, Durham-North Carolina, on May
10, 2015. Jacob was the Notes Editor on
the Gender Law and Policy Journal and an Assistant serving those in need at the
Citizens Law Clinic.
Jacob's mom is an Ordained Itinerant
Elder and Pastor of St. James AME Church in Brighton, Michigan.
Congratulatory responses can be
emailed to:
--
The Reverend Michele Celeste Williams received the Doctor of Ministry Degree
from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio
The Reverend Dr. Michele Celeste
Williams, pastor of Payne Chapel AME Church, Brunswick, Georgia received the
Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio on May
22, 2015. Reverend Dr. Michele C.
Williams’ project dissertation entitled, “Pastor and People jointly fitted
together: a Congregational Model to
reduce Church Conflict while creating Vitality and Health.”
Congratulatory responses can be
emailed to:
--
The Reverend Rose Marie Stokes-Smalls, received a Master of Divinity degree
from Payne Theological Seminary
Congratulations to the Reverend Rose
Marie Stokes-Smalls, associate minister of Olive Branch AME Church, Mount
Pleasant, SC. She received a Master of
Divinity degree from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio, on Friday,
May 22, 2015.
Congratulatory expressions can be
emailed to:
--
Tiffany Marie Kelly was awarded The Crystal Group Innovation Scholarship for
the 2015-2016 School year
Tiffany Marie Kelly, the daughter of
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. and First Lady Linda M. Kelly of Bethel African
Methodist Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana was awarded The Crystal
Group Innovation Scholarship for 2015-2016 School year. Tiffany is a senior at
Nova Southeastern University majoring in Sports Management, with a Minor in
Computer Science.
The Crystal Group Innovation
Scholarship is awarded each year to (2) full-time students pursuing an
undergraduate degree within the School of Business, the School of Engineering,
or related majors.
To be eligible for this scholarship,
applicants must meet the following criteria: be enrolled full-time in an
undergraduate business program (major), engineering program (major), or related
major working toward a bachelor’s degree, at an accredited two-year or
four-year institution, located in the United State; have a cumulative GPA of 3.0
or higher; must have completed at least 60 semester hours and must submit a
typed (double-spaced) essay answering one of the posed questions asked by the
Crystal Group.
Congratulatory expressions can be
emailed:
16.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the
passing of Sister Thelma Eunice Pinder Wheatley, Mother of the Rev. Dr. William
S. Wheatley and mother-in-law of Mrs. Geneva Wheatley. The Rev. Wheatley is the pastor of Mt. Vernon
Avenue AME Church, 1127 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Thelma Eunice Pinder Wheatley was a
member of Union Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Cambridge,
Maryland. Please lift the Wheatley
family up in prayer during this trying time.
Homegoing Celebration:
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Viewing: 10:00 a.m.
Funeral: 11:00 a.m.
Waugh Chapel United Methodist Church
425 High Street
Cambridge, MD 21613
Arrangements Entrusted to:
Henry Funeral Home
510 Washington Street/P O Box 1076
Cambridge, MD 21613
Fax: (410) 221-1991
Phone: (410) 228-8220
Internment:
Union Chapel AME Church Cemetery
5160 Cordtown Road
Cambridge, MD 21613
Condolences:
May be sent to the Funeral Home
Or
The Rev. Dr. William S. Wheatley
666 Sheridan Avenue
Bexley, OH 43209
Home Telephone: 614-237-5119
17.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the
passing of Mrs. Charlie Mae Mencer Morris, the wife of the Rev. Dr. Roosevelt
Morris, former Presiding Elder of the West District of the Atlanta North
Georgia Annual Conference.
Services for Mrs. Charlie Mae M.
Morris:
Viewing: Thursday, June 11, 2015
from 9:00 am till 9:00 p.m. at Murray Brothers Cascade Chapel.
Funeral: Friday, June 12, 2015 at
1:00 p.m.
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade
Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Road SW
Atlanta, GA 30331
Telephone: (404) 349-3000
Expressions of sympathy may be sent
to the family of Mrs. Charlie Mae Mencer Morris:
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Cascade
Chapel
1199 Utoy Springs Road SW
Atlanta, GA 30331
Online Guest Book: http://www.murraybrothersfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/MURRAY1/obit.cgi?user=00511541_MMorris
18.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the
passing of Mr. Lee Roy Broughton on June 4, 2015, who is the father of
Presiding Elder Kent J. Broughton of the Camden/Eldorado District, West
Arkansas Conference.
Services for Mr. Lee Roy Broughton:
Memorial (Wake) Service at:
Sweet Union Church of God in Christ
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
1360 Broughton Road
New Edinburg, AR 71660
Funeral Service at:
St. James African Methodist
Episcopal Church
Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 11 a.m.
915 Saint James Street
Warren, AR 71671
Condolences may be sent to:
G. W. Hammons & Son Funeral Home
101 E. Elm Street
Warren AR 71671
Telephone & Fax: (870) 226-3505
Condolences may also be sent to:
Presiding Elder Kent J. Broughton
1221 Hwy 425 South #24
Monticello, AR 71655
19.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Lexington District-Kentucky
Conference of the Thirteenth Episcopal District regretfully announces the
passing of Beatrice Guest Berry (Miss Bea) on Wednesday, June 3, 2015. Ms. Berry is the mother of Mrs. Robin
Jenkins, spouse of the Rev. William C. Jenkins, pastor of St Peter AME Church
in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
Services will be conducted on
Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at the First Baptist Church, 200 West Walnut Street in
Danville, KY with visitation at 11:00 AM and worship at 1:00 p.m.
First Baptist Church
1570 North Danville Bypass
Danville, KY 40422
Telephone: (859) 236-2276
Services provided by:
Smith Jackson Funeral Home
446 Bates Street
Danville, KY 40422
Telephone: (859) 236-5261; Fax:
(859) 236-0402
Messages of Condolence:
The Reverend William C. and Mrs.
Robin Jenkins
Telephone: (859) 583-7555
20.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Lexington District-Kentucky
Conference of the Thirteenth Episcopal District regretfully announces the
passing of Mrs. Clementine Munday on Thursday, June 4, 2015. Mrs. Munday was preceded in death by her
husband, the Rev. W.R. Munday, former pastor of Davis Chapel AME Church in
Somerset, Kentucky, St John AME Church in Monticello, Kentucky and Bethel
Burdick AME Church in Campbellsville, Kentucky.
She is the mother of Mrs. Yvonne C.
Smith, spouse of the Rev. Ralph Boyd Smith, pastor of St James AME Church in
Danville, Kentucky.
Visitation will be Monday, June 8,
2015 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Pulaski Funeral Home, and on
Tuesday, June 9, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. at the Davis Chapel AME Church
with the funeral immediately following.
In lieu of flowers the family
requests that contributions of sympathy be made to Hospice of Lake Cumberland
in care of Davis Chapel.
Davis Chapel AME Church
303 N Main St, Somerset, KY 42501
Telephone: (606) 679-2167
Services provided by:
Pulaski Funeral Home
165 Hwy 2227
Somerset, KY 42503
Telephone: (800)-915-9007
Telephone: (606) 678-4166
Messages of Condolence:
The Reverend Ralph B and Mrs. Yvonne
Smith
Telephone: (859) 236-6276
21.
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
22.
CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications,
the Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour
and the Editor of The Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
offer our condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray
that the peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement.
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