1/29/2016

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (01/29/16)


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


-- Ash Wednesday - February 10, 2016
-- Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016
-- Good Friday – March 25, 2016
-- Easter - Sunday, March 27, 2016
-- Pentecost - Sunday, May 15, 2016

-- Richard Allen Birthday – February 14, 1760
-- Jarena Lee Birthday - February 11, 1783
-- Morris Brown - February 13, 1770. 
-- Daniel Payne - February 24, 1811
-- Massacre of Emanuel 9, June 17

-- Daylight Saving Time (United States) 2016 begins at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2016


1. TCR EDITORIAL – ANOTHER “W” WORD SUBJECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED:

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

My previous editorial, “A Weighty Subject that needs to be Address” was the hardest editorial I have ever written.  I know the subject of “weight” is a sensitive subject. It’s like the joke I heard, “A recent study has found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it.”

You want to hurt the feelings of someone battling weight just say, “It looks like you are gaining weight.” If you want to make their day just say, “It looks like you have lost weight, you are looking good!”

Dealing with weight in the last editorial was difficult for me because I suspected that a lot of people’s weight sensitivities were aggravated, a lot of feelings were hurt and some people I know probably thought I had them in mind.  I did not. I had myself in mind. 

I am finished with “weight,” but I have some other issues to address and I want to expand on some of the top issues of ministry that destroy members of the clergy, their families and ministries and at the top of the list is the other “W” word – Wellness! 

The clergy is among the worst professions in providing self-care. Preachers just don’t do a good job of taking care of themselves! Many pastors love taking care of others to the neglect of themselves.

I suspect one of the contributing factors of poor self care might be related to the profession's propensity of embracing a “messiah complex” or the delusional notion of invincibility. 

The delusional notion of invincibility is reinforced with proof-texting and the eisegesis of some of our pet scripture, such as, "I can do all things through Christ...," and biblical clichés such as "Jesus is doctor in the sickroom and a lawyer in the courtroom" that expresses the notion that a devout Christian can overcome any calamity. Those things work until the calamitous "storm comes to your door."

I have met clergy who shared they were diagnosed with a medical malady, but went on to express the notion that they were not accepting the diagnosis and were going to deal with their medical issues by praying and believing that God was going to deliver them from their diagnosis.

Sadly, some preachers ignore the diagnosis and warning signs until it's too late and they never identified the presence of high blood pressure, sugar diabetes or other conditions that destroy kidneys and other organs. 

The approach of medically noncompliant preachers reminds me of a story I heard, “A man goes swimming in the ocean but gets sucked out to sea. A boat passes by him and tells him to climb aboard, but the man says, "I have faith, God will save me." The Coast Guard came by with a rescue helicopter and tells him to climb up the ladder up, but he says, "I have faith, God will save me."  The man is now getting tired, but thankfully a dolphin swims under him and starts to carry him to shore, but the man pushes the dolphin away saying, "I have faith, God will save me." The man dies and goes to Heaven. He asks God, "Why didn't you save me?" God replies, "I tried! I sent a ship, a helicopter and a dolphin!" 

The bottomline for the “W” word - “wellness” is that preachers need to have a wellness strategy for themselves and their families.

A wellness strategy includes self-care of a pastor’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.  I hate to say it, but I suspect a number of preachers fail at all of them, including spiritual wellness.

It is unfortunate, and it makes me sad that some pastors serve in the pastoral ministry for years without medical and dental insurance and retirement benefits. I am even more saddened when I hear of pastors who do not participate in the Social Security program or the AMEC Annuity program.

I had a retired pastor who shared with me this week, “The AMEC Annuity program works, if you leave it alone.”  He went on to share with me that with his AMEC Church Annuity payout he bought and paid for his retirement home.”  Now, that’s good news!

Let me get back on task

It is important for pastors to schedule and be faithful in getting annual medical physical and dental exams. Every pastor needs to be intentional in finding a medical doctor, dentist, podiatrist, and someone in the area of mental health that they can consult about medical and personal issues. A pastor needs to have a physician that he or she can call and talk with directly. It’s important for preachers to insure that their family members are included in the wellness strategy. It is equally important for pastor to have a mentor.

Let me shout it out – Medical and dental care and exams are a necessity for a successful ministry! Wellness is more than physical self-care.

It is important for clergy to be well-rounded because a well-rounded and healthy clergy can function more effectively. The ministry requires energy – physical, mental and spiritual energy!

It’s important for clergy to maintain good health because healthy pastors can be more effective.

If I could give every pastor, bishop and presiding elder a short-take on how I think ministry could be improved, I would tell them to be more intentional in spending time with their families and to be more patient with their families.

I would encourage pastors and their spouses to be more patient with their children even when their children become rebellious because I believe Mother Teresa would have been rebellious if she had heard some of the things that preachers’ kids see and hear around the church and observe how their clergy parent is treated.

It’s important for pastors to take intentional sabbath-rests every week and maybe everyday! Bi-vocational pastors, also need to find a way to take sabbath–rests.

Pastors, without guilt, should take time for themselves. They should take several days of “retreat,” several times a year and if a pastor cannot absent him or herself from the church several times a year, then they probably don’t need to be in the ministry. 

I reiterate; pastors need to set up a physical training program and be committed to doing physical exercise at least five times a week, but no less than three times a week, e.g., jogging, walking, swimming, join the YMCA or some other athletic facility.   

If you, as a pastor, do not have a hobby, you should get a hobby.  Find something you love to do and devote time to it. Every pastor should encourage his or her spouse and their children to have hobbies. Hobbies are wonderful stress-relievers and some hobbies can even become streams of income.

This is important

Every pastor should have some type of savings program. A “little can turn into a lot.”  Every pastor should acquire the discipline of saving something from each pay check and when able to do so, one of the investments should be a home.

I know we don’t like to talk about money and finances because we could all use more and that’s why we all need a financial planner. I would strongly encourage, and this is important, that pastors connect with a financial planner and initiate a savings and investment program. I know how hard it is to go to a financial advisor and have to admit that you have little or no savings, and you know you have done a poor job in managing your assets. It is embarrassing and I have been there! A financial planner can help a pastor get on “the right financial track” in preparing their assets, investments and preparing for many of the financial issues we all face.

You don’t have a lot of financial assets now, but in death, you might have a lot of wealth and your family needs to be protected.

Pastors need more than a zeal for ministry

Sadly too many pastors have little or no zeal outside of the ministry. They have no passionate activities, nothing that helps them balance the ministry with reality.

Pastors who are devoted to wellness and self-care involve themselves in interests outside of the ministry and the church, which helps them to be well-rounded in balancing the spiritual, religious and secular realities of life and living.

Healthy ministry requires healthy clergy. The health of clergy members is reinforced by supportive family, healthy relationships, excellent health care and active participation in mental and physical activities, which precipitates physical, psychological, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

Let me close with this – pastors need friends: “running buddies” so to speak. Ministry was never meant to be an isolated profession. Everybody needs somebody he or she can talk to, complain to or whatever. It’s unhealthy to hold everything in; everybody needs somebody to whom they can “tell it like it is!”

And, one more thing, “Jesus is a doctor in the sickroom,” but you need a doctor and “Jesus is a lawyer in the courtroom,” but you need to have a lawyer.

I have a couple more things to say…

To be continued in the next issue

2. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:

-- The Rev. Betty Clark appointed as the pastor of Mother Emanuel AME Church appointed new pastor…


Charleston Church appoints new pastor 7 months after shooting


-- Heritage stamp will feature Richard Allen, founder of AME Church


3. JENNIFER PINCKNEY, CHARLESTON CHURCH SHOOTING SURVIVOR, TO SPEAK AT DUKE:

-- Jennifer Pinckney, whose husband, the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, was among nine killed last summer in a shooting at a Charleston church, will speak at Duke Feb. 9

Durham, NC - Jennifer Pinckney, widow of the Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney, who was among nine killed last year in the shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, will take part in a roundtable conversation Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Duke University.

The event, “Reflections on Charleston: A Conversation on Faith and Race,” takes place at 7 p.m. at Page Auditorium. The conversation is free and open to the public, but attendees are required to get tickets in advance. The event is part of the John Hope Franklin Afro-Diasporic Legacies Series hosted by Duke’s Franklin Humanities Institute (FHI).

The Rev. Kylon Middleton and the Rev. Chris Vaughn, both close friends of Pinckney and her husband, will join the discussion.

The Rev. Eboni Marshall Turman, assistant research professor of theological ethics and black church studies at Duke, will moderate the discussion.

“I hold Mrs. Pinckney in the highest esteem for her courage in stepping into the public spotlight to continue a difficult conversation that we need to have in our country right now -- that of race, faith and the destructive recurrence of anti-black violence,” Turman said.

The shooting occurred June 17 in the basement of the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Rev. Clementa Pinckney and eight others were killed, with five others wounded. Jennifer Pinckney was in the church during the shooting but was not harmed. Dylann Roof, a South Carolina native, has been charged in the shooting. The crime sparked debate over the use of the Confederate flag, which ultimately led to South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signing a historic bill to remove the flag from the State Capitol grounds.

Pinckney, Vaughn and Middleton will discuss issues such as race and faith, anti-black violence and reconciliation and then answer questions from audience members and via social media. A live-stream of the event can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vZ0jdVmgNUX and viewers can submit questions via Twitter using the hashtag #reflectionsoncharleston.

The event is sponsored by Duke’s Franklin Humanities Institute with the Pauli Murray Project at the Duke Human Rights Center@FHI, the Office of Black Church Studies at the Duke Divinity School, the Duke Council on Race and Ethnicity (DCORE), and the Duke Chapel.

“In keeping with the legacies of the Franklin Humanities Institute's namesake, African-American historian John Hope Franklin, the FHI is dedicated to furthering the conversation on race and human rights in our society today,” said Deborah Jenson, the FHI director. “We prize these dialogues that carry beyond the walls of learning to make a real impact in our shared world. We are simultaneously honored and humbled by the opportunity to welcome Mrs. Jennifer Pinckney, and the Reverends Kylon Middleton and Chris Vaughn.”

Free tickets are available at the Duke Box Office located at the Bryan Center. They are also available online at https://tickets.duke.edu/Online/default.asp or by phone, (919) 684-4444. A service fee of $1.50 per ticket will be assessed for phone and online orders.

4. A YOUNG AME SCHOLAR SELECTED AS A DELEGATE TO THE CONGRESS OF FUTURE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LEADERS PROGRAM:

*Mr. William “Bill” Ayers

Joshua Clark, the son of William Bernard and Candace Mention Clark, was selected as a Delegate to the prestigious Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders (CFS&TL) program representing the Prince George’s Community College Academy of Health Sciences and the State of Maryland.  This event will take place in Boston, Massachusetts June 29, 30 and July 1, 2016.

The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders is a highly selective national program honoring academically superior high school students dedicated to careers in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM).  The CFS&TL is an academic honors program with strict requirements, and you must have a minimum 3.5 GPA, to attend.

Joshua is being recognized because of his outstanding grades, his leadership potential and his desire to contribute to the field of science or technology.  At the Congress, Joshua will come face-to-face with winners of the Nobel Prize, Deans of top universities, world leaders in science, the Nation’s most innovative and successful technologists; and Award-winning young inventors and scientists. 

His congratulatory letter, signed by the President of Washington Adventist University, Dr. Weymouth Spencer, stated that, “Joshua’s presence at the Congress would enhance his academic profile and distinguishes him as one of their most promising future leaders in science and technology.  The letter further stated that Joshua would leave better prepared to achieve his dreams and mold himself into the strongest candidate for competitive college admissions. “

Joshua is a 10th grade student at the Prince George’s Community College Academy of Health Sciences in Largo, Maryland.   The Academy’s rigorous, innovative four-year program combines high school and college courses through duel enrollment credits. Josh enjoys the rigors of the schools curriculum. 

His hobbies include doing research, playing video games, reading, and compiling material toward becoming a fiction writer.  During his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing with his dog, Max. Josh is also a dedicated member of Ward Memorial AME Church in Washington, DC. where the Rev. Dr. Michel O. Thomas is pastor.  At Ward, Josh is actively involved in the Young Peoples Department (YPD), serves as a Worship service acolyte and is a volunteer with the Church’s Share program.

Joshua’s future plans include a short-term goal of graduating with all A’s, and increasing his volunteer service.  His long-term goal is to acquire a Doctoral degree in one of the sciences.  He looks forward with great enthusiasm to his latest academic challenge and opportunity as a Delegate to the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders program in Boston, MA.

*Mr. William “Bill” Ayers is a member of Ward Memorial AME Church in Washington, DC


5. PASTOR WHO WANTED TO BE A NUN ELEVATED AS AME PRESIDING ELDER:

By the Reverend Salatheia Bryant-Honors

When the Reverend Brenda Payne was a high school student she announced to her parents that she was interested in becoming a nun, but, the trajectory of her spiritual journey changed drastically when this former Episcopalian girl eventually joined St. Paul A.M.E. church in Cambridge, Massachusetts under the leadership of then pastor John R. Bryant.

She traded life in a convent for pastoral ministry in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and this past November at the Tenth District’s Planning Meeting Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie named her the Presiding Elder of the South Houston District. She follows former South Houston District Elder Johnny E. Jennings who retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.

“I loved church,” Elder Brenda Payne said recently, recalling her early interest in joining a convent as a student in the eleventh grade. “I knew God wanted me to do something. I had dedicated my life to God. I was very serious.”

 “When Bishop (McKenzie) called my name (for the appointment) and I started up the steps. I really was seeking God’s will for my life. I had made myself available to whatever God wanted me to do, even though I wanted to say no.  I couldn’t go up the stairs. I had to kneel down again and surrender my life to God again.”

With that appointment from Bishop McKenzie, Pastor Payne became Presiding Elder Payne. The district celebrated her appointment with thunderous applause. Elder Payne was greeted by numerous well-wishers following the service. Payne, 64, became one of the eight presiding elders in the Tenth District.  The South Houston District is made up of 24 churches – nine in the Houston area, two in Galveston, and 13 around greater Houston.  The district has nearly 2,300 members and has a combined yearly income of more than $2.9 million.

“When people call me “Elder” I just break out into a laugh. I’m like Sarai,” she said.

Elder Payne’s pastoral experience includes: Founding Clear Lake A.M.E. Church, Reedy Chapel in Galveston, Payne Chapel in Houston and most recently South Wesley. She came to Houston in 1989 when her husband’s job relocated him here. She recalled arriving in Houston on a Monday and the Texas Annual Conference started that Wednesday at Payne, a church she would later serve as pastor.

Payne answered her call into ministry at St. Paul in Cambridge under the pastorate of the Reverend LeRoy Attles. 

Presiding Elder Brenda Payne follows Elder Johnny Edison Jennings who requested retirement at the 149th Session of the Texas Annual Conference held in October. Payne had served as a pastor under Elder Jennings.
She applauded Jennings for his service to the church.

“Those are big shoes to follow,” said Payne of Reverend Jennings. “Everybody loves Reverend Jennings.  I will try to extend his legacy.”

Jennings served 21 years as a pastor and 24 years as a presiding elder. He was known for his kind, gentle demeanor. He was celebrated last year during a well-attended retirement banquet attended by his family, friends, pastors, lay, and members of the Presiding Elder Council. Bishop McKenzie was the keynote speaker.

Reedy Chapel member and Steward Cornelia Harris Banks appreciated the work that Payne did when she served as the pastor of the church. Banks highlighted Payne’s ecumenical spirit and her efforts to promote the historical relevance of Reedy. Banks said the congregation felt especially proud when Payne was named elder.

“She made the larger community throughout the state aware of the mother church,” said Banks. “When she was named elder, everybody at Reedy was ecstatic. We felt very proud since she had been our pastor. We had always prayed for her success in ministry. If we had to say good-bye to Elder Jennings then we couldn’t think of anybody better to follow him than Reverend Payne. Both of them are sincere in their mission to serve others.”  

Both Payne and Jennings became presiding elders from South Wesley A.M.E. Church. One of Reverend Payne’s last official acts as pastor of South Wesley was to oversee the naming of the fellowship hall in honor of Jennings. It was during the pastorate of Jennings that the facility for South Wesley was built.

Jennings, who took his first charge at the age of 30, said the thing he most liked about his time in ministry was the people. He was appointed a presiding elder under Bishop John Bryant.

 “I loved the people,” he said. “I enjoyed sharing the plans for what God wanted us to do. It’s a joy that sort of unspeakable.  It humbles me when I think that not everybody gets a chance to make it to the end.”

Jennings believes that Elder Payne will do well in her new position.

“I think very highly of her,” he said. “I’m sure she is going to be successful. I think the bishop made a real good choice. “

6. RICHARD ALLEN STAMP COLLECTIBLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. 

Richard Allen Commemorative First Day of Issue Program:

https://store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?productId=S_473530&categoryId=stamp-collectors

First Day of Issue Covers is envelopes with a special postmark and design to commemorate the issuing of a Stamp. 

Richard Allen Commemorative First Day of Issue Cover

Richard Allen Commemorative First Day of Issue Cover (Digital Postmark)


Richard Allen Commemorative First Day of Issue Cover with Digital Postmark Keepsake


Other collectibles will be available from the United States Postal Service closer to the time of its release.

-- Mr. John Thomas III extracted some information about the Richard Allen Postage Stamp

The first Stamp to honor an African-American was issued in 1940.  It portrayed Booker T. Washington

The Richard Allen Stamp is part of the Black Heritage series of Stamps--the United States Postal Service's longest running series.  In 1975, Clarence L. Irving through the Black American Heritage Foundation petitioned the
United States Postal Service to include African-Americans in their stamp programming for the bicentennial of the United States.  The first Black Heritage Stamp was issued in 1978 and portrayed Harriet Tubman.  The series has featured luminaries such as WEB DuBois, Malcolm X, Ida B Wells and Shirley Chisholm.  The Richard Allen Stamp is 39th in the series.

Other people associated with the AME Church portrayed on US Stamps include:

Henry O. Tanner (renowned artist and son of Bishop Benjamin T. Tanner)

A. Philip Randolph (labor union activist and key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington)

Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine (Pioneers in school desegregation)

Medgar Evers (NAACP field organizer who was assassinated)

Rosa Parks (considered the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement" by providing the catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott)

7. THE AME SCHOLARSHIP AT YALE DIVINITY SCHOOL NOW VALUED AT $74,745.05:

The AME Scholarship at Yale Divinity School was established by retired bishop, Frederick Hilborn Talbot to honor two mentors from British Guiana, the Reverends D.M. Munroe and Aaron Theophilus Peters, the latter being a classmate of Dr. Howard Decker Gregg, Talbot's professor at Allen University.   The scholarship has benefited five AME students and others who currently attend the Seminary. On the occasion of Talbot's 80th birthday a $10,000 gift was presented and gifts continue to be made by Bishops, General Officers, other members of the A.M.E. Church and other friends who support the vision of enabling students to prepare themselves for ministry. Today endowment is valued at $74,745.05 after supporting students for the last eight years.

The support of all those who have made contributions over the years which have brought it to this level is greatly appreciated. The hope is that contributions will continue to be made. Checks may be sent directly to: James Hackney, Director of Development, Yale Divinity School, 409 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT  06511. Yale University will acknowledge the gift directly to each donor.  

8. BISHOP FREDERICK HILBORN TALBOT RECOMMENDS TIME MAGAZINE ARTICLE:

  As a subscriber of TIME Magazine, I refer to my copy dated November 23, 2015 which carried the following title of the cover story: "On the night of June 17, a gunman opened fire in the basement of a church in Charleston. Nine people died. Five survived. What it Takes to Forgive a Killer; Survivors and families tell their stories"

These dramatic stories and pictures are spread over 26 pages, pp.42-68.  This presentation is intensely moving and I hope that you would call attention of our members to this article in TIME. It is of such importance they may want to secure a personal copy.  On a personal note, I am including the name of the Editor and her contact information in the event you wish to get in touch with her.

 Nancy Gibbs, Editor, TIME Magazine
 225 Liberty Street, NY, NY  10281-1008
Telephone: (800) 843-8463

Sincerely Frederick Hilborn Talbot, Bishop (Retired)

9. A NEW COMMITMENT TO SERVE - A FRESH FIRE:

Fall is a season of change.  Change take place when something ends and something new begins.  In the fall, the leaves change and move to make way for winter.  Fall is a season of excitement as we take the lessons of the past and move to a future of greater service. 

The Eleventh Episcopal District West Coast Conference Women’s Missionary Society under a new administration led by newly elected President, Laurastine Dunston Lemon is energized and setting the bar high. 

The Annual Commitment Service was just the beginning.  The worship leader, Presiding Elder Joyce Moore “struck the match” and lit the Holy Ghost fire-filled service. The gathering was very reminiscent of the attendance at the Annual Women’s Missionary Society Day at Annual Conference.

There was one very important difference, the composition of the participants.  President Lemon sought to create and cultivate a spirit of inclusiveness. She shared, “I invited all the leaders and components of our conference to worship with us in our Annual Commitment Service.  I already know the “Best is in the West,” however; it is my prayer as we come together as a conference in true worship and fellowship that our best will become so much better.  Therefore, I welcome with open-arms our presiding elders, pastors, Lay Organization members, Sons of Allen, Debutante Masters Commission, Clergy Spouses, Young Peoples Division and certainly my Missionary Sisters.”

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lakeland, Florida was the site of a dynamic, spiritually uplifting and energizing Commitment Service.  The Sanctuary was filled with an air of celebration.  The program participants included six former conference presidents: Inez Harris Brown, D. Jean Johnson, Mozelle Fortune, Evelyn Williams, Coreatha Larkins and Bettye Drummer. 

The West Coast Conference Steppers for Christ stirred things up with a new beat praising God by the stepping on in and lifting Him up.   Each selection, rendered by the New Bethel Choir, Tampa District Male Chorus and Soloist Gwendolyn Gibson Honors was a message in itself such as “I’m Available,” “Shake It Off and Go On,” “We Gonna Have a Good Time,” “I Need Thee,” and “Fully Committed.” The Angels of Praise brought the house to its feet with a soul- stirring praise dance.  Presiding Elder Jimmy J. Thompson fanned the flames as he eloquently officiated the Service of Commitment. 

The Eleventh Episcopal District Presiding Prelate, Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Supervisor Dr. Connie Speights Richardson and Eleventh Episcopal President Bettye Bryant urge all components to reach out and include all ages on all levels because the church must go on and grow.  All ages of the WMS were wonderfully represented at the Annual Commitment Service. 

The theme of change, inclusiveness and new beginnings was echoed by the messenger of service, Presiding Elder James O. Williams.  In his dynamic message, “A Fresh Anointing,” all were urged to get a fresh anointing with new oil.  He also encouraged the congregation to be on fire as we experience a new level of authority and effectiveness.  President Lemon challenged the West Coast Conference Women’s Missionary Society to expand on our great legacy of service by combining the wisdom of those who have been faithful while reaching for those with untapped talents and gifts; thereby enabling the conference to “Transform lives, build communities, and impact the World! 

The West Coast Conference Women’s Missionary Society is experiencing a bold new renaissance in mission service.  It is with faith and a renewed sense of commitment infused with renewed energy we look forward to accomplishing our mission goals.  President Lemon challenged, “Missionaries, Let’s go higher!” The response, an overwhelming “Yes!  The work is all divine!”

Mrs Valarie J. F. Russ, Recording Secretary
Eleventh Episcopal District
West Coast Conference
Women’s Missionary Society

10. COUPLES MINISTRY ESTABLISHED AT JONES CHAPEL AMEC:
                                                       
By Wayman B. Shiver, Jr., Ph.D

A new Couples Ministry was instituted by the Rev. Richard Carter who provided the initial instruction on the sanctity of marriage during the month of January in 2016.  As the recently appointed pastor of Junes Chapel A.M.E. Church, he discovered that the relationships within some marriages need rejuvenation and encouragement in order to remain vibrant and loving.

Metaphorically, Pastor Carter likened love in marriage to God’s enduring love—limitless, forgiving and expressed continually regardless of circumstances.  From the pastor’s point of view, marriages frequently begin to fail when partners do not forgive and place blame and limits on their expressions of love, especially when they refuse intimacy.

Rev. Carter stressed that for the most part, the art of personal communication needs to be revitalized. At each session various aspects of marriage were examined-- love, devotion, communication, trust, forgiveness and expression of intimacy.

Beginning with Book of Genesis the instruction dealt with the influence of communication on couples’ ongoing loving relationships.  Often, over the years, couples sometime fail to nurture love by consistent reminders about their vows as they relate to their personal expressions of devotion ordained by God and consummated in their spoken vows made at the beginning of their marriage.

Husbands, in particular, often, take for granted the beauty of their brides and the forgiving nature of true love without boundaries.  Thus, respect and openness suffer without consistent confirmation of understanding and devotion.

A central tenant of the instruction related to the concept of forgiveness.  Often transgressions and misunderstandings occur in a variety of ways.  The resolution of these issues results from forgiveness which is Divine trait that couples need to practice as loving human beings.

God is a loving and forgiving entity; therefore, to be in harmony with God, a man and woman, to be in harmony with God and His love, couples need to possess a forgiving spirit continually.

During the January 24, 2016 Sunday M morning service, eight Jones Chapel couples chose to publicly renew their vows     Years of marriage ranged from one to forty three.  Most of these couples attended Sunday school during the month of January when various elements of marriage were examined.  Prominent among these elements were love, communication trust, respect and commitment.

The title of Rev. Carter’s recommitment message was “A Valley of Trouble for a Door of Hope.” In this message Rev. Carter referenced in the Book of Hosea.  The messenger vividly pointed out a number of pit falls, obstacles, temptations insolvencies and other challenges that cause marriages to go bad unless addressed appropriately. He urged the couples to put God first, to stay focused on their personal relationships and to be led by their belief and faith in God.  Additionally, the pastor emphasized communication with each other and with God. Pastor underscored the fact that Jesus is indeed the door to Salvation.

After a lively presentation of the recommitted cupules to the congregation, the Stewards hosted a beautiful reception in the Lower Level of the Church replete with wedding cakes and punch.  In light moment a Steward was overheard to comment that apparently the water had been transformed into a tasty drink resembling a fine wine.  Also, some guests marveled at the magnitude of the wedding decorations.  The Lower Level was transformed into a beautiful reception hall that could have been used for a couple’s first time wedding.

The Pastor was complimented for conducting a fine ceremony.

The following couples renewed their vows during this special service: The Rev. and Mrs. Richard Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Brewster, the Rev. and Mrs. Steven Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Mikal Leonard, Mr. and Derrick Burney, Mr. and Mrs. Johnathan Dickson, Mr. and Mr. Larry Hampton, and Mr. and Mrs. James Ray.

11. THE 2ND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT INVITES YOU TO THE CELEBRATION:

The Seeking, Serving, Spirit-Filled Second Episcopal District Will host their annual Founder’s Day Celebration February 18-20, 2016 At Reid Temple AME Church, 11400 Glenn Dale Blvd., Glenn Dale, MD 20769

We are celebrating the retirement of our dynamic leadership of Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Sr. and Episcopal Supervisor Patricia Ann Morris DeVeaux.

You are invited to join the Second Episcopal District in the festivities and to offer your words of commendation and congratulations on our online guestbook.

Visit:  www.wac-guestbook.org for more information and/or to submit your message.

For more Information, please visit:

www.2ndamec.org or contact the Rev. Dr. Valdes Snipes-Bennett at (202) 842-3788.

Congratulatory correspondences may be sent to the Second Episcopal District’s Office at 1134 11th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC 20001

Important Times & Dates:

Opening Worship Service - Thursday, February 18th at 7:30 p.m.

Plenary Session - Friday, February 19th at 10:30 a.m.

SED Lay Luncheon - Friday, February 19th at 12 noon

Retirement Celebration - Friday, February 19th at 7:30 p.m.

Closing Business Session - Saturday, February 20th at 9:00 a.m.

Retirement Celebration Coordinators:

The Rev. Evelyn G. Dunn, Presiding Elder- Southern District, North Carolina Conference

The Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Braxton, Presiding Elder -Potomac District, Washington Conference

12. BLACK HISTORY MONTH UMC RESOURCES:

United Methodist Discipleship Ministries offers worship resources. The United Methodist Commission on Archives and History offers resources for African-American history

13. FAITH AND THE 2016 CAMPAIGN:

-- GOP Candidates Seen As Religious – Except for Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 27, 2016) – While the conventional wisdom in American politics has long been that someone who is not religious cannot be elected president of the United States, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that one of the candidates who is widely viewed by Republicans as a potentially “good” or “great” president, Donald Trump, is not widely seen as a religious person, even by those in his own party. And on the Democratic side, the share of Americans who say Hillary Clinton is not a religious person now stands at 43%, which is sharply higher than it was in the summer of 2007, when she was seeking the presidential nomination for the first time.

The new survey, conducted Jan. 7-14, 2016, among 2,009 adults, finds that the leading Republican presidential candidates are more widely viewed as religious people than are Clinton and Bernie Sanders. Roughly two-thirds of adults (68%) say they think Ben Carson is “very” or “somewhat” religious, while 65% say the same about Ted Cruz and 61% think Marco Rubio is a religious person. By comparison, 48% of adults say they believe Clinton is a religious person, and 40% think Sanders is “very” or “somewhat” religious.

The major exception to this pattern is Donald Trump; just 30% of U.S. adults view Trump as a religious person. 

The new survey confirms that being an atheist continues to be one of the biggest perceived shortcomings a hypothetical presidential candidate could have, with 51% of adults indicating they would be less likely to vote for a presidential candidate who does not believe in God. The study also shows that having a president who shares their religious beliefs is important to many Americans, with about half of U.S. adults saying it is “very important” (27%) or “somewhat important” (24%) to have someone in the White House who shares their religious perspective. This view is particularly common with Republicans, among whom 64% say it is at least “somewhat important” to them that the president share their religious beliefs.

At the same time, many Republicans think Trump would be a good president despite his perceived lack of religiousness. Of the 56% of GOP voters who think Trump would be a good or great president, a substantial minority of them (17% of Republican registered voters overall) say they think Trump is not religious. The pattern is very different for the other leading GOP candidates; virtually all Republicans who think Cruz, Rubio and Carson would be successful presidents (and who express a view about their religiousness) also say they view those candidates as at least somewhat religious. Just 2% of GOP voters think Rubio would be a good president and that he is not particularly religious, with just 1% saying the same about Cruz and Carson.

The new survey shows that among religious groups, 52% of white evangelical Protestant voters (regardless of party affiliation) think Trump would make a “good” or a “great” president. Evangelicals express a similar degree of confidence that Carson (52%) and Cruz (49%) would be successful presidents. They are less convinced that other Republican candidates would be good presidents. And few evangelical voters think Bernie Sanders (16%) or Clinton (15%) would be good presidents.

On the Democratic side, the view that Sanders and Clinton would be good presidents is most common among black Protestants and religiously unaffiliated voters (i.e., religious “nones”). Fully half of religiously unaffiliated registered voters (51%) think Sanders would be a successful president, while 42% think Clinton would be a good or great president. Among black Protestant voters, 62% think Clinton would be a “good” or a “great” president, while 36% say this about Sanders. Among both groups, just 15% or fewer think any of the Republican candidates would be good presidents.

The survey finds that 68% of U.S. adults believe that religion is losing influence in American society. And most who hold this view – 51% of all U.S. adults – say they think religion’s declining influence is a bad thing for American society.

The survey also shows that 40% of Americans think there has been too little expression of religious faith and prayer by political leaders, compared with 27% who say there has been too much religious talk by politicians. These figures are considerably different from the results of a survey taken at a similar point in the 2012 presidential election cycle. At that time, there were more people who thought there was too much religious discussion (38%) than who said there wasn’t enough (30%).

Other key findings include:

Candidates are viewed as religious by more people in their own party than the opposing party. The biggest partisan gap on these questions is seen in views about Hillary Clinton; two-thirds of Democrats say she is “very” or “somewhat” religious, while two-thirds of Republicans express the opposite view, saying that she is “not too” or “not at all” religious.

Like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama is also seen as less religious today than in 2007; about one-third of adults (35%) now say Obama is “not too” or “not at all” religious, up from 9% in 2007.

Half of Americans (51%) believe religious conservatives have too much control over the GOP, and more than four-in-ten (44%) think that liberals who are not religious have too much control over the Democratic Party. Two-thirds of Democrats say the GOP has been co-opted by religious conservatives, while most Republicans reject this notion. Conversely, two-thirds of Republicans believe that secular liberals have too much power in the Democratic Party, while two-thirds of Democrats disagree.

One-quarter of adults (26%) say they would be less likely to vote for a gay or lesbian presidential candidate, while 69% say it would make no difference to their vote. Since 2007, the share of Americans who say a candidates sexual orientation would not matter in their vote has been steadily rising, while the share who say they would be less likely to support a gay or lesbian candidate has been declining.

There are more than twice as many Republicans who say they would be less likely to support a presidential candidate who has been an elected official in Washington for many years as who would be more likely to support such a candidate (44% vs. 18%). Among Democrats, the balance of opinion leans in the opposite direction; 27% see extensive Washington experience as a positive, compared with 19% who see it as a liability.

The full report is for immediate release and available at: http://www.pewforum.org/2016/01/27/faith-and-the-2016-campaign/

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does not take policy positions. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.

* Pew Center Press Release

14. IT’S NOT WORTH 30 PIECES OF SILVER:

*The Reverend Darryl R. Williams

30 pieces of silver is the amount in which Christ was sold by Judas Iscariot. It is commonly symbolic for the short-sighted things we will do to satisfy our cravings for power and things, even at the expense of something or someone far more precious and noble.

The African-American prophetic tradition was born out of the crucible of slavery and oppression. Because of the inhumane treatment of slaves, brave and courageous voices saw it necessary to speak truth to power, to rail against the brutalities of a system that dehumanized an entire race of people. So we would be correct to assert that there would be no Black Church if it were not for the prophetic tradition.

This tradition stayed robust and strong during the Jim Crow years, bolstered by a theology that said, “Any theology that is not related to the liberation of the poor in a society is not Christ’s message” – Dr. James Cone.

The voices of the prophetic tradition, Dr. Martin Luther King and others, put pressure on the American way in the name of integrity, decency, fairness, and righteousness. One of the outcomes of this was the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We are proud inheritors of what the African-American prophetic tradition has wrought, and we ought to be proud and active participants.

A few months ago, some African-American pastors met with presidential candidate, Donald Trump, I believe for the purpose of endorsing him, though later, some denied it. They met with Donald Trump- a man whose views and actions are not unlike those who kept slaves and enforced Jim Crow laws; who said that an African-American protester who was beaten at one of his events, “deserved it.”

Mr. Trump said he would never meet with the leaders of the “Black Lives Matter Movement” and who irresponsibly “re-tweeted” some inaccurate numbers that claimed African-Americans are the primary killers of whites and that “a higher percentage of whites die at the hands of police than Blacks.” These pastors met with Mr. Trump (and by the way, it wasn’t the first time!), and contrary to some of their claims, left Mr. Trump’s presence with all of his egregious behavior toward the African-American community, Muslims, and Hispanics unchallenged!

The prophetic tradition and the Black Church, which is its offspring, once were theologically aligned.  But as heresies crept into the New Testament Church, which gave rise to some of Paul’s letters, a heresy also crept into the African-American Church- it’s called the prosperity Gospel. You know, “God wants everyone to be rich!”

The “Prosperity Gospel” co-opts the prophetic tradition because you can’t preach against a system that marginalizes the poor and oppressed people of color and at the same time play “footsie” with those who keep it in place. The promise of power, the “good life”, and the allure of having “bigger barns” is too intoxicating to deny, so instead we deny our responsibility to be a voice to masses. But Malcom X reminded us years ago, it is the masses to whom we are called.

“As long as the masses are not respected, you can show me all the individual respect you want, but I know that it is empty.”
Those who cross the line that separates the prophetic from the self-interest that’s espoused in the Prosperity Gospel have traded their calling, credibility, and respect for 15 minutes of fame and the promise of crumbs from the master’s table. As long as it was something in it for them- the pastors who met with Trump- his disrespect for them, their community, and the people who sit in their pews didn’t matter!

Judas believed that one day Christ would be the political Messiah that would free him and his people from Roman bondage. Judas fantasized that he would hold a prominent place in Jesus’ new kingdom. Overtime it became more and more apparent to Judas that Jesus would not be inaugurating this new kingdom- at least not the kind he wanted. So out of anger, he sold him out for 30 PIECES OF SILVER.

Matthew 27 tells us what became of Judas.

“When Judas, who had betrayed Jesus saw that he was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the 30 pieces of silver to the Chief Priest and Elders. ‘I have sinned,’ he said,    for I have betrayed innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:3, 4 RSV). Then “he went and hanged himself.” (Matthew 27: 5 RSV). Judas Iscariot lost all his credibility, his call, and his life because he failed to be faithful and true to the calling given to him to be a disciple of Jesus. It wasn’t worth 30 pieces of silver!

Losing the call from God, our credibility in the eyes of the people we have been called to serve, IS NOT WORTH 30 PIECES OF SILVER!

*The Reverend Darryl R. Williams is the pastor St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

15. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:

*The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.

Based on Biblical Text: And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Malachi 2:13 (KJV)

The New International Version translates, “Another thing you do: You flood the Lord’s altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer looks with favor on your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands.”

It might have been. I shoulda, coulda, woulda or my favorite, I’m “fittin to.” That is what regret is all about! A poem says, “For of all the sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, it might have been”. Lamentably, the world is full of people who regret haven thoughtlessly chosen the wrong thing, the wrong person, the wrong profession or the wrong path.

The truth of the matter is; life is a series of forks in the road. We are challenged to decide; do we take this way or chose another way. Life is a series of decisions we have to make understanding that some are more critical than others. Some decisions affect us more than others. Some actually affect folk around us more than others. However, the decisions are ours to make. The choices are up to us. We must be aware that the consequences that come with the choices are ours too.

The responsibility for bad or ill-advised choices we make can be embarrassing, painful and potentially expensive. However, like it or not we are faced with decisions every day. And the decisions we are challenged to make come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes there are so many decisions we may feel like we are on a merry-go-round. After each time we get one thing done we find that we have even more decisions to make.

The fact is; we need to be concerned about the decisions we make. We need to be careful about our decisions so that we won’t have a life full of regrets. There is nothing more miserable than a life of unhappiness because of the decisions we have made. More importantly, there is no pain like the pain of feeling God’s disappointment. There is no greater pain of regret than the pain that comes with knowing God is disappointed with decisions we make and of wishing we could have a chance to do it all over again. Unfortunately, life offers very few, if any, do-overs.

Having said that I can let us in on a few biblical truths that will enable us in making decisions with fewer regrets.

The Bible tells us that we are to, “Seek God’s Will”, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” and “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Seek, trust and acknowledge, with all our heart and He will help us through our choices. He will help us narrow down the choices that will work best in our situation. He will help us make the most appropriate decision for our circumstance. We are admonished however to seek, trust and acknowledge the Lord with all of our heart.

We will find that the greatest resource available to us as we journey through the valley of decision is the Lord! We are challenged to look to Him. The decisions we have to make need the counsel of prayer understanding that praying is still the way we communicate with God. The Bible promises God still answers our communication. We will never regret taking time to pray before we make a decision.

The decisions we make need the counsel of the Word of God. When we are faced with a decision we should ask ourselves, what does God say? We need to pause to consider what God’s Word has to say. The Bible reminds us that, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way.”

One thing we must be reminded of constantly is that the decisions we make must not seek the counsel of feelings. In other words, we cannot make decisions based on how we feel. Feelings can change from day to day. We cannot make rational decisions based on how we feel, tranquil and calm today and tossed and driven tomorrow.

Jesus prayed in the garden knowing that the “cup of mankind’s sin” was to be his drink. He prayed however, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Not as I will moves our feelings out of the way. Jesus made His feelings known to God but He was determined to accept God’s will as His decision.

Finally, to make wise decisions we must learn to wait on the Lord. Before we commit, before we start out, before we open our mouth, wait on the Lord! Pray the Lord will be our guide. Look to the Word of God. The Bible reminds us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The Word of God is the sword of the spirit! The Word of God is enduring and powerful. The Word of God is flawless and it can be trusted. The Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness. Wait on the Lord! Not my will Lord but, your will.

Before we make a decision we are cautioned to wait, pray seeking quality time alone with God. Wait, read the Word, seeking quality time in study and devotion. Wait, put our feelings aside! Not my will Lord but, your will.
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C.

*The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina

16. GETTING TO ZERO: DECLARING AN “EBOLA-FREE WEST AFRICA”:

*Dr. Oveta Fuller

The Rev. Dr. Fuller is currently on Sabbatical leave from the University of Michigan and will submit her column as her schedule permits. 

17. iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2016 - THE DEATH OF A FRIEND - ST. JOHN 11:38-44:

*Brother Bill Dickens

Key Verse:  He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus come out!” St. John 11:43

Introduction

The past four Church School lessons have looked at the topic of marriage.  Marriage ceremonies are arguably one of the most joyous events in the human experience.  The antithesis to marriage is death.  Death is the climatic, culminating point in the human experience.  Death completes the circle of life.  It is traumatic because all associated with it experience pain, loss and the certainty of knowing that a loved one is not coming back in our lifetime to share our dreams, hopes and aspirations.  The Adult AME Church School Lesson for January 31, 2016 tackles this difficult but important subject. No one is immune from the pain and sorrow of coping with the death of a loved one.  Jesus provides new insight in helping us manage and navigate thru this emotionally stressful part of our lives.
 
Bible Lesson

The primary characters in our lesson are two sisters (Martha and Mary of Bethany) a deceased brother Lazarus and Jesus.  Jesus was personally familiar with the siblings.  On a prior visit to the home of Martha and Mary he was the beneficiary of great hospitality.  Mary even washed His feet with her own tears!  Jesus is away on mission business but receives news about the passing of Lazarus.  Upon receiving the sad news he decides to spend an additional two days at his location instead of immediately heading back to Bethany to comfort the grieving sisters.  When Jesus arrives the sisters are still experiencing pain about their brother’s death.  They express their pain further by suggesting that Lazarus’s death may have been averted if Jesus had come sooner (v 21).  Jesus informs Martha that her brother will rise again and all she has to do is believe that He is the Resurrection and the Life (v 23-25).

Jesus approaches the gravesite and orders the stone, blocking the burial cave, to be removed. Martha thought this was odd given the fact that Lazarus was dead for four days and his decaying body would only provide a stinking aroma.  While Jesus grieved as well he remained focused on His mission.  Jesus prays to the Father and offers thanks for being granted an opportunity for those in attendance to see the Father’s Glory and further evidence that he was sent to them by God Himself.  At the conclusion of the prayer Jesus makes a powerful declaration in three words: Lazarus come out!   Perhaps to the astonishment of those in attendance, Lazarus walks out of his burial cave.  Notice that Jesus was specific about who should come out.  Undoubtedly as the Son of God if He had simply said “come out” all who were in their respective tombs would’ve come out!  The raising of Lazarus from the dead is prima facie evidence that Jesus is Lord of the living and the dead.

Bible Application

As adults, we are told that two things are certain in life: death and taxes.  AMEs can also add that another certainty is the relocation of itinerant elders by a presiding prelate as a requirement of their pastoral calling, but, I digress. 

Death is a painful loss because it represents the final chapter in our existential experience.  We adjust to pain and loss in different ways.  Some mourn with great physical emotion, some more with a few shed tears and seemingly no outward expression.  There is no cookie-cutter model that can be used in all grieving situations.  Funeral Home Directors face a difficult challenge.  They must offer services aimed at meeting burial expenses and help families mitigate the pain and sorrow for the lost family member.  Jesus indicated in one of the Beatitudes that “blessed are those who mourn for they will find comfort” (St. Matthew 5:4). 

One of the many resources that the AME Church provides its Connectional members is a notification service about the passing of our AME loved ones. 

Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator of the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center, disseminates timely notices about who has made the great transition from life to death and the date and location for the home going services.   We are grateful for the notice about the passing of our AME family and friends so that we can show our empathy and love for the bereaved family.  This is why Jesus returned to Bethany to comfort his friends Martha and Mary.  However, Jesus offered something better than empathy.  He offered hope to all who believe in Him that they too will be resurrected from death to not just temporal life, but life everlasting!  QED

*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

18. MEDITATION BASED ON II KINGS 6:8-17:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby

I’m writing this week’s meditation roughly 36 hours after undergoing successful cataract surgery.  My old optometrist advised against it while I was undergoing chemotherapy for colorectal cancer a little more than five years ago because of possible complications, and I subsequently pushed it way down on my priority list until my new ophthalmologist finally talked me into it.

The surgery went well - in spite of a scary, last minute, “pre-op” disclosure that it would be done while I was awake - and the results have been stunning.  My eye feels as well as could be expected “post op” and my vision will be a bit fuzzy for a week or two as my eye recovers from the surgical trauma, but I’ve already had to abandon my old eyeglasses because the left lens prescription is now way too strong for me - for the first time in fifty years, I have good distance vision without eyeglasses!

I put the surgery off for a long time because I was doing alright without it and wasn’t anxious to undergo any kind of surgery, but I’m glad that I finally listened to my “eye doctor” and had it done, because I didn’t realize what I was missing in terms of new vision.

I offer that blessed experience to you in a world where it’s easy for all of us to engage in procrastination and to settle for the limited vision afforded by this world.  It’s easy for all of us to see life as we expect it to be, to pass up challenges that appear to be scary and troubling, to focus on problems instead of possibilities and to settle for simply getting by.

 When we trust, however, in the God who made us and who knows us best to change our spiritual vision - just as I finally chose to trust in my ophthalmologist’s advice - the results can be stunning.  The God we serve will open our eyes and show us new hope, new blessings, new assurance and new victory.

Let the God who sent His Son into this world to open our eyes to the joy of salvation give you new spiritual vision.  You’ll find your way to new strength, be open to new possibilities, face life with new perspective, and know why those who were blessed with new spiritual vision, in spite of slavery’s chains, to say, “Up above my head, I see Glory in the air; there must be a God somewhere!”

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

19. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT:

-- Mother Francis April of the Cape Conference, 15th Episcopal District, Celebrated her Ninety-Fifth Birthday

Congratulations to Mother Francis April of the Cape Conference, 15th Episcopal District.  Mother April celebrated her 95th birthday on January 26, 2016. She is the mother of the Reverend John April of Waco, Texas (presently in South Africa).

Birthday greetings and well-wishes can be emailed to the attention of Mother Francis April: cjvpza@yahoo.co.uk.

20. EPISCOPAL FAMILY BEREAVEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

We are saddened to announce the Passing of Henry Wendell Murph, Jr., the son of Mrs. Geraldine Stiles Murph and the late Bishop Henry W. Murph Sr.

Henry Wendell Murph, Jr., a Los Angeles, California resident, passed away on January 13, 2016. He was 69 years old.

The viewing of Henry Wendell Murph, Jr was held on Friday, January 22, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary, 3801 W. Manchester Blvd., in Inglewood. His homegoing service was held on Saturday, January 23, at 10 a.m., at New Vision Ministries, 2400 Southwest Drive in Los Angeles. His brother, the Rev. Dr. Frederick O. Murph, officiated.

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Henry was born June 26, 1946 to the late Bishop Henry W. Murph Sr. and Mrs. Geraldine Stiles Murph. In 1948, the family moved to Los Angeles where Henry graduated from Susan Miller Dorsey High School. He earned an Associate of Arts degree at Los Angeles City College.

A veteran of United States Air Force, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for several years following his discharge from the military. However, his passion was acting and he successfully secured roles in many television series including “NYPD Blue,” “Raising the Bar,” “The Protector,” “Goodwin Games,” “Mixology” and “Murder in the First.”

Henry was a charter member of New Vision Ministries, founded by Dr. Murph in November 2009 and actively participated in the church. For the last two weeks of his life, Henry was in Cedars Sinai Hospital. In spite of his condition, he consistently asked about the church and God’s people.

His father, Bishop Henry W. Murph, preceded him in death. Henry is survived by his mother, Geraldine Stiles Murph; his sister, Jackie Taylor Hadjis; brother, Ronald Weston Murph; brother, the Rev. Dr. Frederick Ormonde Murph; niece, Jenelle Murph Davis; and nephew, Romalis J. Taylor III.

*Extracted from the Los Angeles Sentinel | African-American News - https://lasentinel.net/henry-murph-jr-passes-away.html 

21. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:   

We regret to inform you of the passing of Dr. M. Marianne Dyson, renowned Bible scholar, playwright, and the distinguished wife of Presiding Elder Emeritus, William A. Dyson, Sr. of the Portsmouth/Richmond/Roanoke District.  She went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 26, 2016.

Services will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, 637 North Street, Portsmouth, Virginia.

Presiding Elder Chester W. Morris of the Norfolk/Eastern Shore District will officiate. The Reverend Granger Flythe, pastor of Emmanuel AME Church, will be the Eulogist.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:

Presiding Elder Emeritus William A. Dyson, Sr.: amedyson@hotmail.com
 
Flowers may be sent to:

Keith Mathews Funeral Home
5665 E Virginia Beach Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23502

Telephone: (757) 459-9944

22. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to inform you of the passing of Brother Frank James Marshall, brother of the Rev. Dr. Willie Marshall, pastor of St. James AME Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

Funeral Services for Brother Frank James Marshall:

Saturday, January 30, 2016 - 11:00 a.m.

J. F. Shields High School (the Old Gymnasium)
17688 Highway 21 North
Beatrice, AL 36425

Dr. Willie E. Marshall, Eulogist

Condolences may be sent to:

Mrs. Lucy R. Marshall (mother of the deceased)
P.O. Box 22
Peterman, AL 3647

23. BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:

Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net      
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/   
Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751




24. 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/


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