THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION
(04/20/13)
Bishop
T. Larry Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
The
Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The
Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
April:
Sexual
Assault Awareness Month
April
15-21 as National Minority Cancer Awareness Week
Mark
and Save Date in your Calendars:
Pentecost
Sunday May 19, 2013
General
Board Meeting - June 22-26, 2013
Bishop
Sarah F. Davis Investiture – June 24, 2013
1. TCR EDITORIAL – TRAINING, TRAINING AND MORE TRAINING (PART 2):
Dr. Calvin
H. Sydnor III,
The 20th
Editor, The Christian Recorder
Training, training, and
more training
Let me say upfront, we need to take training seriously and I believe
our episcopal districts have the available training resources in their
respective episcopal districts. We need to invest as much time in teaching as
we do in promoting entertainment-focused events.
It seems that we do not take rigorous ongoing training seriously
and the problem might be related to priorities.
Applicants for the ministry work hard to get through the Boards of
Examiners, but upon ordination, serious training seems to take a “back seat” to
singing and preaching extravaganzas on the conference, district and
connectional levels.
The Rev. Dr. Frank Madison Reid in a sermon at the 2013
Religious Education Meeting held in Nashville, Tennessee said, “We do a lot of
preaching, not enough teaching about the kingdom of God” and went on to say,
“If churches are empty, we may have church officers and choirs, but empty
churches don't have laborers. Every person in church has a call to
ministry.”
It seems that the highlights of some of our meetings are the
“big-named” preachers and the notable singing stars that will headline the
meeting. The rationale is that well-known preachers and well-known gospel
singers draw crowds and crowds bring in needed revenue. Unfortunately, most often, the revenue does not
benefit the small churches that need financial assistance.
I suspect the emphasis on “extravaganzas” stems from the
economic constraints faced by local churches, annual conferences and episcopal
districts, which is indicative of the need for training to address how to
stabilize finances on every level. Maslow's “hierarchy of needs” comes to mind
when we analyze the behaviors of organizations, individuals and groups and how
they function and how they prioritize their activities.
When organizations function in a survival mode, they do what they
need to do to survive, so again, let me say upfront; I understand why we
sponsor singing programs and why we bring in so-called top-tier preachers to
some of our meetings. The issue is an economic need of survival that trumps
needed training. The problem is that the financial profits from extravaganzas
generally do not benefit local congregations.
Congregations would benefit more “over the long-term” by having clergy
and laity trained in how to address and correct deficiencies on all levels of
the church.
The complication
Much of what we do focuses upon strong preaching and lots of
singing and I suspect that a significant number of applicants to the ministry
are influenced by the attention we give to strong preaching and the music
ministry.
When preachers discuss the significant events of annual,
district and connectional meetings, the most likely comments are about
preaching. It’s not unusual to hear comments like, “She tore the house down,”
or “He can preach the horns off a billy-goat”; but very little or no comments
about theology, academics, the art of preaching, or any of the “how to’s” of providing more effective
ministry. I believe the absence of even casual discussions about theology,
academics, the art of preaching, or any of the “how to’s” of providing more effective ministry among the clergy
raises a red-flag in the area of the need for ministerial training and
increased attention to denominational awareness.
I suspect that we have some preachers who could easily be
Baptist, Pentecostal or non-denominational pastors because they have not been
trained in Methodism and denomination means little to them.
Denominationalism is not important for untrained individuals and
they probably cannot distinguish the intricacies of one denomination from the
other and as a result, they have no feelings, one way or the other, about the
sacraments or worship. They see the sacraments as unimportant, have no position
on “free worship” versus sacramental worship and would be hard-pressed to
coherently explain the difference. They
measure success by worship service attendance and their goal is a “full house”
on Sunday morning; and they will do what they think they must do to “ramp up”
attendance without regard to The
Discipline or AME protocol, which means little or nothing to them.
They have difficulty understanding that the AME Church does not
consider The Book of Discipline (BOD)
and the AMEC Book of Worship (AMEC-BW) to be a collection of optional
resources. They do not understand that the BOD and the AME-BW provide a
method-of-operation approved by AMEC General Conference, and all AMEs, by
definition, make a commitment to follow the rules of The Discipline.
AME Clergy do this explicitly at ordination. In a sense,
the BOD and the other liturgical
books are a covenant we make with one another. We promise to use them
faithfully so we will be shaped by a shared vision, and we promise not to force
upon one another liturgical practices that fall outside of the boundaries that
the AME Church has agreed upon.
The point is…
Our Zion has accessioned individuals who are committed to
getting ordained and getting a pastoral appointment, but they are not committed
to African Methodism. Okay, I have said
it!
And, here is the other point
Everyone – from the presiding bishop to the local church bears
the blame. The local church, the pastor, the presiding elder, the quarterly
conference, the district conference, the boards of examiners, the delegates to
the annual conference and ultimately the presiding bishop bear the blame for
accessioning persons for the itinerant ministry who are not committed to
African Methodism.
And then to add “insult to injury”; training, training, and more
training is not provided to bring them “up to the standards” of the ministry of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church because, we, as a denomination, absent
of training, let them “hang out there,” and the risk is that they will bring
forth more uncommitted applicants for ministry.
The “guarding the gate” to the Itinerant ministry is the
ultimate responsibility of the presiding bishop. Too many persons have been
ordained for itinerant ministry and this “condition” will take years to repair.
Bishops who ordain candidates for the itinerant ministry when there is not an
itinerant ministry available are not being “faithful in ordaining or laying
hands upon others.” (BOD 2008, page 544)
It’s a clergy problem
And to further “add insult to injury,” the lack of commitment to
African Methodism is not a problem shared by the laity, it’s a clergy problem.
Parishioners sitting in the pews are often befuddled by the
pastoral lack of commitment to African Methodism, which produces a challenge to
ministry in some local churches because the clergy and laity are in opposition
as to how to best deliver the gospel message, while at the same time,
maintaining denominational integrity.
Antidote to the
contradiction
The antidote to the contradiction can be alleviated by training,
training, and more training. The AME Church leadership must change the paradigm
of assuming that ordination is the culmination of the preparation for ministry.
The reality is that ordination is the “commencement” of the preparation for
ministry. Ordination is the “beginning” of the preparation for ministry.
Learning must never end because learning is ongoing, alive and dynamic.
Certification and validation and revalidation of the certification should be a
continuing process. Learning is never “the end,” but always “the beginning.”
The AME Church cannot, and must not, assume that a seminary
education provides sufficient training for our clergy. Seminary training is
only a beginning point for AME ministry. In my case, the Board of Examiners of
the Philadelphia Annual Conference better prepared me for AME ministry than my
seminary education. I suspect others
might have the same testimony.
Let me give some examples
Many things remain the same, but the world is
ever-changing. What worked 50 years ago
does not work today because of the access of information, technology, the ups
and downs of the economy, changes in family systems, the abundance of extra
curricula activities, and gender issues are just a few of the challenges facing
families and individuals today.
A glaring example is the significant increase of women in
ministry.
Clergy and laity would have benefited from extensive training in
preparing congregations for the increased presence of women in ministry.
Episcopal leaders, middle managers (presiding elders), pastors and laity would
have benefited from training in how to relate collegially with the increased
presence of women. The same old ways of doing business and collegial
relationships change with the change in the gender demographics. Women in
ministry still face significant obstacles in collegial and congregational
relationships. The “playing field has not been leveled and because a few “glass
ceilings” have been broken, we haven’t “scratched the surface” of equality for
women. But that’s not all; there are many other areas of training that is
sorely needed.
Let me share some more examples… (To be continued in Part 3)
2. TCR OP-ED - NO NEED TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH UNPRECEDENTED
ENVIRONMENTS:
*The Rev. Joseph Pridgen
Let me start by saying that I really appreciate the way that you
always address the "sacred cows" of our Zion and in this instance you
have been true to form.
I would like to respond to your editorial with your quote,
"I am uncomfortable with unprecedented environments." I think that
comment represents a lot of the perspective of AME's...
The fact of the matter is that all of Christendom is in an
"unprecedented environment." And discomfort is not an excuse to “bury
our heads in the sand.”
African Methodism is hemorrhaging members across the connection
and it is precisely because of dogmatic adherence to rules and methods that no
longer serve our constituency.
We can debate all we want to about the success or effectiveness
of our "time-honored" methods, but the numbers tell the story (And
half of those are inflated).
In the editorial you cite the many virtues of "following
the rules" as a reason to not consider adapting to embrace the concept of
"suffragan bishops." I find this particularly ironic within the
African Methodist context simply because if Richard Allen had "followed
the rules" none of us would be here.
It is precisely the apostolic anointing (that empowered Bishop
Allen to plant churches in the first place) and that is currently missing from
our Zion.
If we had more anointed "suffragan bishops" perhaps
the African Methodist revival that we are all praying for would finally take
place.
The idea (in the editorial) is that God has placed an itinerant
apostolic anointing on a pastor and he/she plants in 2 or more locations. The
issue is: Who should have "control" over the ministries that the Holy
Spirit birthed through them?
In answering this question I also find it ironic that you asked
the question: "Is the issue power?" I believe that is exactly the
issue, greed, not only for power coming from the pastor, but the greed for
power coming from the chief representatives of the denomination.
Simply put, if a pastor becomes a "suffragan bishop"
it diminishes the power and influence of the presiding bishop of the district
in which they serve.
Again, I believe that this question speaks straight to the heart
of what is ailing our Zion.
We despise the pastor upon whom God has placed the anointing to
plant several churches and earn his or her way to "bishop", but we
honor the person who campaigned... But alas, I digress...
In conclusion, let me state that methods are our servants not
our masters.
When a method proves itself to be ineffective we must challenge
ourselves to think critically in the same way that our ancestors did. I am
praying for the day when we will see the revolution in African Methodism and
many more "suffragan bishops" rise up and make disciples for the
Kingdom of God.
*The Rev. Joseph Pridgen is an itinerant elder, a Payne Theological
Seminary graduate and the pastor of Union Hill AME church in Wilson's Mills,
NC.
3. TCR OP-ED - IS TRAINING ESSENTIAL FOR A CHURCH TO BE EFFECTIVE:
*The Reverend Timothy Sands
Each day in the public and private sectors, mistakes are
occurring for different reasons. In order to have fewer mistakes whether oral
or written, there needs to be training.
Upon reading the Rev. Dr. Sydnor’s comments about training in The Christian Recorder, I had to share
some details because training and leadership are my passion.
I concur with Editor Sydnor and from my perspective if church
leaders have ongoing training, it creates an effective, as well as, a strong
community. “All Scripture is
God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, New International Version).
We have advocates in the African Methodist Episcopal Church that
encourages training. One is the Rt. Rev.
Theodore Larry Kirkland, who currently serves as the Presiding Prelate of the
Fifth Episcopal District.
According to the Fifth Episcopal District website, “Bishop
Kirkland led and implemented a health service for the uninsured as well as
developing a computer literacy training program while in the State of Alabama,
serving in the Ninth Episcopal District.”
Another advocate for training is the individual that baptized me
while serving as senior pastor at Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church
in Atlanta; the Rt. Rev. Preston Warren Williams II.
At the age of six, I knew the importance of entrepreneurial
leadership in regards to the food ministry.
Bishop Williams at that time, as well as now, knew how to portray being
an effective servant leader. In other
words, Bishop Williams believed in equipping everyone with the skills to lead
the parishioners and the community.
Bishop Williams is the Presiding Prelate of the Sixth Episcopal
District.
Bishop Williams has appointed leaders with individual strengths
and will take the Sixth Episcopal District to another dimension. For example,
Bishop Williams has Cabinet leaders strategically placed, aligned with their
areas of expertise.
The present pastor at Saint Mark AME Church is the Reverend
Larry W. Hudson, Sr. He is strong in
administration and is the Treasurer of the Sixth Episcopal District.
Another example of Bishop Williams’ leadership is an appointment
is the Rev. William D. Watley who is appointed to lead the Theological
Institute, which is essential in the areas of Christian Education. The Theological
Institute is essential for successful follower-ship with respect to the laity
as well as the preachers of the gospel.
Bishop Williams’ appointments are excellent models of how training can
transform any organization.
Now, I could not conclude without mentioning at least one female
in leadership within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and that is the
Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown, one of the General Officers of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. She is the
Historiographer/Executive Director, Department of Research and
Scholarship. Moreover, General Officer
Brown is a distinguished professor with expertise in the field of Womanist
discourse and prophetic proclamation.
Effective training diminishes legal fees and attitudes are positive.
*The Reverend Timothy Sands is on the ministerial staff at Saint
Mark AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia
4. PROFILES IN COWARDICE:
*Bishop Reginald T. Jackson
In 1955, the then junior US Senator from Massachusetts, and soon
to be President of the United States, John F. Kennedy wrote a book which lifted
up eight unsung patriotic Americans whose courageous acts contributed to the
development of the United States. Kennedy titled his book, “Profiles in
Courage.”
On Wednesday in the United States Senate in Washington, DC we
saw just the opposite, not profiles in courage, but profiles in cowardice. The
United States Senate gathered to vote on legislation supported by the Obama
Administration to help prevent gun violence in the United States. There were a number
of legislative bills that the Senate was to vote upon, but the one which drew
the most attention and had the best chance of passage was legislation to
broaden background checks. The legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Manchion
of West Virginia and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania would have expanded background
checks for guns sold at gun shows and internet sites, while excluding personal
transactions.
Expanded background checks would make it harder for criminals
and those with mental health issues to get guns and was supported by law
enforcement. Yet, 45 United States Senators, 41 Republicans and 4 Democrats
voted against expanded background checks. The question is why? They met with
parents of children slain in Newtown, Connecticut, as well as victims from
Aurora, Colorado, Chicago, Illinois and other cities across the country and
still voted no. The legislation would not create a gun registry or interfere
with 2nd Amendment gun rights, and still they voted no. Polls show that 90% of
Americans support expanded background checks, but still they voted no.
They say they voted no because expanded background checks would
create a “gun registry”, yet knowing the legislation would make it a crime to
create a gun registry. Others senators say they voted no because expanded
background checks would not have prevented the shooting in Newtown,
Connecticut. Maybe not, but it would have prevented shootings in many other
places that happen every day across America. And isn’t the goal of expanded
background checks to reduce gun violence all across America? Still, other
senators say they voted no because the legislation would infringe on second
amendment rights to own a gun. But they also know this is untrue. The only ones
who would have their right to own a gun denied would be criminals, which is the
goal of the legislation.
Despite their untrue and misleading explanations, the real
reason these 45 senators voted against expanding background checks is because
they are cowards. They are afraid to stand up to the gun lobby and fearful of
their next election. In a word they are afraid to do what’s right. They are
profiles in cowardice. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “The ultimate measure of a
man is not where he stands at times of convenience and comfort, but at times of
challenge and controversy. For in such times cowardice asks is it safe,
expediency ask is it politic, vanity asks is it popular?” These 45 senators I
am sure, asked themselves if I vote for background checks is it politically
safe? And because of the influence and money of the gun lobby, and the threats
of political retaliation in party primaries and well-funded opponents they
decided it was not safe for them to vote for expanded background checks. It
didn’t matter whether it would make children, parents, families and communities
safe, it was only about them.
Dr. King says there is another question we should always ask. He
says, “Conscience asks it right?”
These 45 senators didn’t ask is it right, all they wanted to
know was if it is safe? We in the United States proudly boast that our
government is “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Far too often
in today’s political environment “the people” of the United States are
discovering that our political leaders because of cowardice and money no longer
act “for the people.”
*Bishop Reginald T. Jackson is the Chair, AMEC Social Action
Commission
5. THE AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH GETS A NEW REGULAR ARMY CHAPLAIN:
On Wednesday, February 6, 2013, at the close of business, the Accessioning
Board of the Chief of Chaplains, of the United States Army, published the names
of Chaplains selected for Active Duty Service in the United States Army
Chaplain Corps. The decision was made following two days of serious
deliberation and evaluations of the candidates who were brought forward by the
five recruiting regions in the United States. The Board selected thirteen
individuals, who would be accessioned to the Chaplain Corps to provide pastoral
care and counseling services to soldiers, their families and Department of Army
civilians.
Among those selected for Active Duty Service was United States
Army Reserve Soldier, Chaplain (1LT) Samuel Doty Siebo, a native of Liberia,
West Africa. Chaplain Siebo currently lives with his family in Lexington, South
Carolina. He was the only black chaplain selected by the February 2013
Accessioning Board.
Chaplain Siebo was born and raised in Liberia, West Africa. He
is an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He began his
pastoral ministry at an early age in Liberia. Chaplain Siebo was called to
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 1990 during the height of the Liberian
Civil War. He pastored for a decade in Liberia before coming to the United
States in 2000.
Chaplain Siebo is the founder and first pastor of Faith AME
Church, a growing congregation in the Monrovia District of the Liberia Annual
Conference of the AME Church. He is a
second-generation AME minister. His father, the late Rev. Amos Sieh Siebo, Sr.
served the AME Church for about fifty (50) years in Liberia and retired as an
Itinerant Elder.
Chaplain Siebo was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in 1998 in the
Liberia Annual Conference by Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr.
He was ordained an Itinerant Elder by Bishop Frank Curtis
Cummings in 2004, in the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference.
Chaplain Siebo completed Monrovia College and Industrial
Training School (High School) in Monrovia, Liberia in 1996 when he was
twenty-three years old. He did not attend school for five years before
completing high school, as a result of the Liberian Civil War.
In January of 2007, Chaplain Siebo matriculated to the AME
University in Monrovia Liberia, where he spent three (3) years and transferred
to Allen University, in Columbia, South Carolina in January of 2001 and
graduated with a BA Degree in Religion in May of 2002.
In August of 2002, Chaplain Siebo matriculated to the Turner
Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta,
Georgia and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in May of 2005.
Chaplain Siebo also earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human
Services, with minor in Social Work, from the East Tennessee State University
in Johnson City, Tennessee. He is currently completing a Master of Arts Degree
in Marriage and Family Therapy at Liberty University (Online).
Chaplain Siebo is trained in Clinical Pastoral Education; he
earned 5.5 Units of CPE from Mountain State Health Alliance and the Palmetto
Health System.
Following his accessioning to Active Duty, Chaplain Siebo was
assigned to the 1st Armored Division, 3rd Infantry Brigade, as the 1-41
Infantry Battalion Chaplain at Fort Bliss, Texas where he will have about one
thousand soldiers (1000) in his Battalion.
Chaplain Siebo was also promoted to the Rank of Captain in the
United States Army, on March 28, 2013.
On Sunday, April 14, 2013, at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal
Church, Columbia, South Carolina, in front of a huge and cheerful congregation,
Chaplain (Major) Martin S. Kendrick, an Instructor of the Brigade Functioning
Course, at the United States Army Chaplain Canter and School, Fort Jackson,
South Carolina, read the Promotion Orders and administered the Oath of Office
to Active Duty to Chaplain (CPT) Samuel D. Siebo.
Chaplain Siebo is married to beautiful Jennifer Legay Siebo, who
is a Registered Nurse (RN/BSN) at the Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital in
Columbia, South Carolina. Their union is blessed with four beautiful daughters,
Ernestine, 16; Louise, 13; Elaine, 7; and JoAnn, 5.
The Accessioning to Active Duty in the United States Army makes
Chaplain Siebo the only person in the AME Church born on the continent of
Africa, currently serving as Chaplain in the Regular Army of the United States
of America and also the only current Regular Army Chaplain representing the 7th
Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which comprises
of the entire Nation State of South Carolina.
“This journey was challenging and though; there were stumbling
blocks and obstacles in my way, but thanks be to God for his favor and
blessings, in the midst of disappointments. To God be the glory, great things
he has done!”
Chaplain Siebo said, with great enthusiasm.
He continued by extending special thanks and appreciation to his
lovely wife, Jennifer, and their wonderful family, for the unending prayers and
support, of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Ecumenical Officer and Presiding
Prelate of the 20th Episcopal District of the AME Church, for his
endorsement; retired Chaplain (COL) Calvin H. Sydnor III., and Chaplain (Major)
Mark B. Cisco, for their unwavering support and mentorship; Chaplain (Major)
Martin S. Kendrick, for his tutorship and support, and to his senior pastor,
the Rev. Dr. Ronnie Elijah Brailsford, Sr. and the entire Bethel AME Church
Columbia, South Carolina family for their prayers, love and support through his
long journey.
6. WASHINGTON ANNUAL
CONFERENCE WOMEN IN MINISTRY HOUR OF POWER NOON DAY SERVICE:
We are excited about the work that God has begun through our new
Episcopal Team. Bishop William P. DeVeaux and Supervisor Patricia (Pam) DeVeaux
have chosen the Women In Ministry to host the "Hour of Power Worship
Service" on Thursday, April 18, 2013, at the noon day service.
The Women In Ministry Coordinators of each Annual Conference are
scheduled to preach the Word and we are particularly eager to hear what thus
saith the Lord from our own Coordinator, The Reverend Dr. Dianne Coles. As we
prepare for the Word God has just for us, we solicit your prayers for each
activity that will take place during our Annual Conference.
Our Second District WIM President, Rev. Dr. Joan Wharton shared
that the Baltimore Conference was "Anointed, Awesome, and Amazing."
She stated that the participation of WIM in the annual conference allows us to
"strengthen our camaraderie among sisters, to celebrate our gifts and
talents and to be a support to our district and sisters in need."
Let us join together in prayer, anticipation, and expectation
that the Washington Conference will model a "Seeking and Serving,
Spirit-filled Conference" as we move toward the charge of our Bishop by
"sharing our spiritual Fruit with the least of these."
We look forward to your presence and support on Thursday, April
18 at the noon day worship service. Our luncheon and election of officers will
immediately follow this service.
The Washington Annual Conference WIM Cabinet
7. DR. SANDRA R. NURSE
PROMOTED REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR:
On behalf of St Paul AMEC, Rockville Centre Long Island, we are
pleased to announce the promotion of Dr. Sandra R. Nurse to the position of
Regional Medical Director of Advantage Care Physicians formerly Queens Long
Island Medical Group. Dr. Nurse has been a practicing physician specializing in
Internal Medicine for over 18 years. Dr. Nurse will have oversight of their
Valley Stream, Cambria Heights, Far Rockaway, Elmhurst Specialty and Elmhurst
Pediatrics Offices. This promotion will make her the first female African
American Regional Director in her group of over 400 physicians.
Dr. Nurse has been a
dedicated and faithful member of St. Paul AMEC for over 9 years. Dr. Nurse is a
Trustee of St. Paul AMEC and she currently serves on the following
ministries: Sheppard’s, Health Ministry,
Nurses unit advisor, Women's Ministry and, Senior Choir.
Please join us in congratulating Sandra R. Nurse, MD, FACP on
her accomplishments.
Submitted by Claude M. Maynard II, Executive Assistant to the
Pastor
8. YOUNG PAUL QUINN PROFESSOR
TO PARTICIPATE IN HARVARD SUMMER INSTITUTE:
By Elena Washington
Dr. Ervin James, III, a professor at Paul Quinn College, has
been selected to participate in the 2013 National Endowment for the Humanities
Summer Institute on African-American Struggles for Freedom and Civil Rights at
Harvard University's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute. This will be Dr. James’ second
time visiting Harvard. In 2012, he participated in the Teaching with Technology
Workshop sponsored by “EdTechTeacher.”
A rising star among Paul Quinn’s faculty, Dr. James is an associate professor
of History and African-American Studies.
The four-week program is hosted by renowned scholar and director
of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute, Dr. Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr. Dr. James
will participate with educators from around the world in the program, which is
broken into four parts-- From Reconstruction to World War I, America between
the Wars, World War II and Its Aftermath, and The Civil Rights/Black Power Era.
“Dr. James is making good on the promise we recognized when we
hired him,” said Paul Quinn’s President Michael J. Sorrell. “He is well on his
way to becoming our first homegrown academic star produced during this era of
the Quinnite Nation. We are so proud.”
"This is a tremendous opportunity for me both personally
and professionally,” said Dr. James. “Personally, I look forward to networking
and benefiting from the knowledge and wisdom of some of the leading scholars in
my academic discipline. Professionally, I am eager to return to Paul Quinn
College with innovative ideas that will further enrich our humanities
curriculum and student learning experience." Dr. James’ teaching project
will focus on humanities curriculum for Paul Quinn’s History and African
American Studies courses. He will also research Cape Verdean and Afro-Caribbean
immigrant participation in the Boston Public School Desegregation Movement.
A native of Cincinnati, Dr. James has been at Paul Quinn since
2010. He received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Tuskegee
University, his master’s in History from Texas Southern University, and his
Ph.D. in History from Texas A&M University.
About Paul Quinn College
Paul Quinn College, the 2011 HBCU of the Year, is a private,
faith-based, four-year liberal arts-inspired college founded by and affiliated
with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
9. YOLANDA ADAMS HONORED APRIL 18, 2013
Yolanda Adams confirmed to do the prayer on the Floor of the
U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday April 18 at 9 a.m. EDT. It will be
televised live on C-Span. After the
prayer Yolanda Adams will be honored by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee on the
Floor for her contributions to the gospel industry. This will be done with the
Grammys and Gospel Music Heritage Foundation who will be apart of the Grammys
Advocacy Day on the Hill. The CEO of the Grammys Neil Portnow will attend the
event at the Capital.
The Grammys Advocacy Day on the Hill Dinner was held on
Wednesday night April 17, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at the Jefferson where Jennifer
Hudson will be honored.
The historical moment that chronicles an important part of the
U. S. History will be televised on C-Span on Thursday morning.
Submitted by Brother Carl Davis, Gospel Music Advocate,
Chair-Gospel Music Heritage Foundation, www.gospelmusicheritage.org
10. NABJ STATEMENT ON
REFERENCE TO RACE IN BOSTON BOMBING COVERAGE
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 17, 2013) -- The National Association of
Black Journalists (NABJ) urges all news outlets to use extreme caution when
reporting on the tragic events which occurred in Boston this week.
There have been various reports identifying a potential suspect
as "a dark-skinned individual". This terminology is not only
offensive, but also offers an incomplete picture of relevant facts about the
potential person of interest's identity. When conveying information for the
public good, and which can help law enforcement with the help of a vigilant
public to keep the country safe, it's important that such facts be put into
proper context.
NABJ in no way encourages censorship but does encourage news
organizations to be responsible when reporting about race, to report on race
only when relevant and a vital part of a story. Ultimately this helps to avoid
mischaracterizations which might encourage potential bias or discrimination
against a person or a group of people based on race or ethnicity.
As news organizations which seek to uphold the highest ethical
standards it is important to exercise good judgment, to be cautious, to be
mindful of bias, and sensitive to the perpetuation of stereotypes in the mass
media.
For reference from NABJ's Style Guide:
http://www.nabj.org/?styleguide
*Ethnicity, race: The mention of a persons race should not be
used unless relevant. This also applies to references to ethnicity, sexual
orientation and religion. Derogatory terms or slurs aimed at members of a
racial or ethnic group may not be used unless having a direct bearing on the
news, and then only with the approval of the senior editor in charge. Avoid
stereotypes. Race and ethnicity may be relevant in some stories, including the
following:
* Crime stories - A highly detailed description of a suspect
sought by police can contain race. Be sure the description is properly
attributed. Do not use descriptions that include only a few items or are vague,
such as tall, dark clothes.
* Biographical or announcement stories - Be careful about using
race or ethnicity to describe a person as the first to accomplish a specific
feat. Firsts are important, but race and ethnicity shouldn't be overemphasized.
Reserve race or ethnicity for significant, groundbreaking or historic events
such as winning a Nobel Prize, being named chief justice or becoming mayor. By
overplaying race or ethnicity, ones achievement may seem dependent on that
instead of ability.
An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ
is the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation, and
provides career development as well as educational and other support to its
members worldwide, visit our website at www.nabj.org.
11. BLACK MEN: HERE’S
YOUR WAKE-UP CALL:
By Anton J. Gunn
Have you received a wake-up call yet?
For too many of us, it takes a sudden wake-up call — in the form
of a major or minor health crisis — to make us realize that we’re not
invincible. And tragically, for some,
that call comes too late.
As black men, we often don’t talk about our health or seek help
until something goes wrong. We may exercise and eat right. We may know how our
habits today affect how we feel. But what about tomorrow? Are we making the
right choices to stay healthy as we grow older? Most importantly, are we having
the right conversations about health and well-being with our sons and our
fathers, with our brothers, our colleagues, our neighbors, and our friends?
According to the Office of Minority Health at the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, black men are 30 percent more likely
to die from heart disease and 60 percent more likely to die from a stroke than
white men. And unfortunately, the list goes on — black men still suffer from
higher rates of disease and chronic illness such as prostate cancer, diabetes
and heart disease.
Unless we act now, these disparities will continue to affect
generations to come. Their existence
should be a wake-up call for all black men. It’s time to invest not only in our
own health, but in the health of our communities.
That starts by putting ourselves in the driver’s seat when it
comes to our own care. The health care law signed by President Obama in 2010 is
removing many of the obstacles to health care we’ve faced in the past. It
provides access to preventive services – like screenings for blood pressure,
cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes – at no cost to us.
It will protect those of us with pre-existing conditions like
asthma or heart disease from unfair premium rates or outright denial of
coverage. It makes major investments in America’s network of community health
centers, where over a quarter of patients served are African-American. And on
October 1st, the law will open the door to affordable coverage for millions of
African-Americans, through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
That means brothers running their own businesses will have the
opportunity to get coverage for themselves, their employees, and their
families. That means men working in barber shops, body shops, and construction
companies across America will have access to affordable coverage if they don’t
have it now. That means when you hit a rough spot and are between jobs, you
don’t have to sacrifice the well-being of your loved ones. It means greater
peace of mind and financial security for our families and communities.
There’s a lot of great work being done in our community to close
gaps in access to quality care. I’m encouraged by the tireless work that our
faith- and community-based groups are doing every day to raise awareness and
push policies that will make the health care system work for all Americans.
They are leading the way – but it’s up to all of us to do our part.
The wake-up call that brings better health to our communities
shouldn’t be a private alarm that we hear alone. It should be a chorus of
voices that speaks to us, our families and our communities. This year, let’s
put our health in our own hands, and create a brighter, more secure future
together for all of us.
To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, visit www.healthcare.gov.
Anton J. Gunn is the Director of External Affairs in the Office
of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
12. RACIST MESSAGES ARE
AS TROUBLING AS KU KLUX KLAN
Rekha Basu - The Des Moines Register
April 16, 2013 - 2:18 pm EDT
The Ku Klux Klan is trying to recruit in Iowa again. But the
shock value has diminished, for maybe an even more disturbing reason. — The Klan
shows up every few years when there's a national election on the horizon, an
immigration issue on the table or, more recently, a black president in the
White House. It targets a region that's hurting economically and may be
susceptible to its message of blaming African-Americans or immigrants. It
leaves conspiracy-theory-filled calling cards.
It hasn't gone as mainstream as some racist organizations: The
John Birch Society has a booth at the Iowa State Fair. The Minutemen has a
registered lobbyist. But the hooded brigade that lynched and terrorized black
people in the South after the Civil War is shedding the bed sheets, and
campaigning openly for its white supremacist agenda. Members like David Duke,
now a Louisiana state representative, even hold public office.
But frankly, a group that in its heyday had 550,000 members, and
today can barely claim 5,000, is less worrisome than the fact that its rhetoric
no longer requires a white robe or a hood. Racist views have been so
mainstreamed that the Klan is almost redundant.
I get the emails almost weekly. Some senders even sign their
names. They make fearful, bombastic or sarcastic claims about the federal
government as a socialist fringe group or the president as a maniacal Muslim.
The senders frame themselves as patriotic Americans looking to reclaim their
country.
This is a sampling from the past month:
-- Under the header "Happygram," with a photo of
President Barack Obama, is written: "Solution to the problem in Egypt:
They want a new Muslim leader, Give them ours."
-- Over a photo of the president looking at a document held by a
young black man in graduation cap and gown are these words: "This is what
you'll get in food stamps and Section 8 once you graduate."
-- Pictured with Bruce Springsteen, the president supposedly
tells the rock star, "Ya know, I still don't appreciate your playing 'Born
in the USA' at my inauguration."
-- In one picture, an emotional black woman greets Obama in a
crowd. It reads, "Where's my free $---?!!"
-- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is pictured pointing her finger in
Obama's face on the airport tarmac. It says, "Get this straight, Barry.
Arizona doesn't allow undocumented workers... so let me see your papers!"
-- An essay, supposedly authored by a doctor, diagnoses the
president as a treacherous "pathological narcissist" disguised to
"look normal and even intelligent." It says, "The great majority
of blacks voted for Obama. Only a fool does not know that their support for him
is racially driven. (No mention that the majority of women voted for him, too.)
This is racism, pure and simple." It warns of a white supremacist
uprising, concluding, "America is on the verge of destruction."
If these hateful, paranoid views are already in circulation,
then an external group may be less of a threat than people's receptivity to its
message. If only they were limited to the Internet. But we also hear versions
of them expressed out loud, or see evidence of them in practice: In racial
profiling by police, especially in small, non-diverse communities with diverse
new populations; in the sometimes-indifferent responses of prosecutors to
brutal crimes against immigrants; in the disproportionate incarceration rate of
black men, which in Iowa is 13 times that of whites -- the highest disparity in
the country.
The Imperial Wizard distributing the fliers in Iowa is from Park
Hills, Mo., where he told a reporter he wears his T-shirt with Klan slogans
without hassle: "They don't even look twice." But in Iowa, said Frank
Ancona, "I've had a few dirty looks from blacks."
"Just because a bunch of gay, lesbian, transgender liberals
-- whatever they are -- want us to shut our mouth, we're not going to do
it," Ancona declared. "We're going to preach our traditional
Christian values in America."
It's up to all of us to make it known those values -- wherever
and however they crop up -- don't reflect our views of Christianity or America.
Today, as the nation struggles to understand and recover from the hateful
violence inflicted on innocent people in Boston, that's more important than
ever.
(Contact Rekha Basu, a Des Moines Register columnist, at
rbasu@dmreg.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com.)
Think your friends should see this? Share it with them!
13. PELL GRANT CHANGES
WILL SLOW BLACK GRADUATION RATES:
By Maya Rhodan
NNPA Washington Correspondent
Bonita Rex (right), a Student Ambassador, passing out
information about the changes to Pell eligibility rules and encouraging fellow
students to sign onto the college’s Save Pell web site to send letters to their
elected officials. (Photo Credit: Community College of Philadelphia)
WASHINGTON – In many ways, the route Bonita Rex took to college
is not unusual. After graduating from high school in 2007, family issues forced
her to delay enrolling in college. Two years later, thanks to Pell grants and
an improved family situation, she enrolled in the Community College of
Philadelphia with a focus on general studies in cultural science and
technology.
After Rex earns an Associate degree while holding down two
part-time jobs, she plans to complete requirements for a bachelor’s degree at
California State University.
But recent changes made to Pell grants have Rex, 24, worried
that she might not be able to complete her bachelor’s degree at Cal State or
anywhere else.
The Pell Grant program nearly doubled from assisting about 5
million students in 2009 to 9.4 million students in 2012. The program, which
provides low-income students with financial aid they do not have to repay, was
projected to face an $18.3 billion shortfall during 2012-2013 academic year
because of an increase in need.
In an effort to maintain the maximum grant of $5,550 per
academic year, Congress opted to eliminate four qualifications for the program,
making an estimated 145,000 students suddenly ineligible for funds. In addition,
students are no longer eligible to receive their Pell Grants during the summer
semester.
During the 2012-2013 school year, if a student did not have a
high school diploma or GED, had a family income of more than $23,000, needed
less than 10 percent of the maximum award, or had received a grant for longer
than 12 semesters, they were no longer able to receive Pell funds.
“Twelve semesters is kind of slim,” says Rex. “It’s unfair.
They’re forcing non-traditional students to rush through our courses so that we
have enough money to last through an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and potentially a
Master’s.”
After this year, Rex will have completed nine semesters on her
Pell Grant, leaving only three to lead her through her studies at her dream school
of California State University where she wants to study to become a dietician.
The 1,200 community colleges across the U.S. educate about 8
million students every year, representing almost half of all undergraduate
students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Of the
nearly 40,000 students enrolled at the Community College of Philadelphia, 56.7
percent are Black. Nationally, 32 percent of community college students are
African-American.
About 92 percent of Black students received financial aid during
the 2007-2008 school year, 80 percent of which came in the form of grants.
Blacks received $4.5 billion in Pell Grant funds during the 2008-2009 school
year.
A 2010 Journal of Blacks in Higher Education special report
titled, “Pell Grants: The Cornerstone of African-American Higher Education,”
stated, “The importance of the federal Pell Grant program cannot be
overemphasized. This federal grant program for low-income students is the
life-blood for hundreds of thousands of African Americans seeking higher
education. Without this important program, many black students would not be
able to enroll in higher education. Hundreds of thousands of other blacks would
have to go deeper into debt or hold down a job while attending college if it
were not for the Pell Grant program.”
Lezli Baskerville, president of the National Association for
Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) based in Washington, D.C., says
the changes to the financial aid programs that have occurred throughout the past
year do not align with the president’s plan to have the majority of Americans
college-educated by 2020.
“The cumulative impact of the aforementioned within the past
year has been nothing short of catastrophic,” said Baskerville via email. “As
the colleges and universities were developing innovative ways of addressing the
challenges created by [the] Great Recession and the economic and financial
challenges of the day, they were hit by what I call a ‘quintuple whammy,’
including shifts in the Pell Grant Program.”
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are also
feeling the pressure of the changes.
This year, President Obama set a goal of having the majority of
Americans college educated by 2020. To meet that goal, HBCUs will need to
increase the number of students they graduate per year from 35,000 to more than
57,000 by 2020.
“To reach the goals, approximately 8 million more Americans must
attain a 2- or 4-year degree, roughly 2 million more African Americans, 167,000
of whom must graduate from HBCUs,” Baskerville said. “They cannot do this
without an overhaul of the student financial aid system to invest more
equitable and efficiently in expanding excellence, access, success, and
diversity in higher education.”
In 2010, according to the National Center for Education
Statistics, 45 percent of Black students enrolled in an institution of higher
education had parents with a high school diploma or less. Studies also show
that a large number of HBCU students are from low-income families
In 2008, more than 155,000 students at HBCUs received federal
Pell Grants—just 10,000 more than the number of those now deemed ineligible for
the grants under the new qualifications.
More than half of African American professionals are graduates
of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. According to a report by the
Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, the majority of HBCUs have student
bodies where more than two-thirds of those enrolled are eligible for Pell
Grants.
“In spite of these challenges, HBCUs and [Primarily Black
Institutions] continue to do the lion’s share of educating low-income, first
generation, African American and diverse other students in STEM, health
processions, teaching professions, and environmental profession,” Baskerville
added.
According to a study by the United Negro College Fund’s
Patterson Research Institute, 46 percent of HBCU students come from families
with incomes lower than $36,000 and an average of half of all students qualify
for Pell Grants.
All but a handful of HBCUs are in the South and that region is
also taking a beating.
Schools across the Deep South have also experienced a decline in
enrollment this year, which the University of Alabama Education Policy Center attributes
to the eliminations made to the Pell Grant program.
In three of the most uneducated and impoverished states in the
nation—Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi—just under 250,000 students were
awarded Pell Grants to attend public colleges and universities in the 2010-2011
school year.
Two-thirds of the full time community college students in the
states are Pell recipients.
According to the report, enrollment decreased at 47 of the 62
two-year colleges in those states during the 2012-2013 academic year, something
the authors of the report attribute to the changes made to the Pell Grant
program.
“The Deep South states clearly rely on public higher education
to educate their citizenry beyond high school,” the report reads. “By
definition, this means that Pell Grants are vital to enhancing college degree
completion in the Deep South, for it is the community colleges where
economically disadvantaged students begin higher education.”
After a round of changes to the federal Pell Grant program that
eliminated assistance to low-income students in an effort to cut costs, the
program is expected to have a $9.2 billion surplus at the end of fiscal year
2013.
But students no longer eligible for Pell Grants will have to
look elsewhere.
“We can’t say that students will choose loans, but they are
another option on the plate for them to seek out,” says Jennifer Freeman, the
director of communications and marketing at Mississippi Valley State. “It’s
unfortunate as it relates to the cost of education going up, but we try our
best to do much as we can.”
At Rex’s school, enrollment dropped by 4 percent overall and 8
percent among full-time students, which school officials attribute in part to
students’ Pell Grant funding.
Despite such dips, many students and advocates for Pell Grants
remain hopeful about the program’s future.
For two semesters, Bonita Rex couldn’t afford to buy books for
all of her classes when her Pell Grant didn’t provide enough and the checks
from her two minimum wage jobs couldn’t cover the rest. She says without the
grant, however, she wouldn’t be able to afford school at all.
She says, “My Pell Grant is keeping me here.”
14. AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ARE
NOT APPLYING:
Even if you do not have a college-aged child at home, please share this with someone who does, pass this scholarship information on to anyone and everyone that comes to mind. Though there are a number of companies and organizations that have donated monies for scholarships use to African
Americans, a great deal of the money is being returned because of a lack of interest.
No one is going to knock on our doors and ask if we can use a
scholarship. Take the initiative to get your children involved. There is no
need for
money to be returned to donating companies because we fail to apply for it. Please pass this information on to family members, nieces, nephews, friends with children etc. We must get the word out that money is available. If you are a college student or getting ready to become one, you probably already know how useful additional money can be. Our youth really could use these scholarships.
money to be returned to donating companies because we fail to apply for it. Please pass this information on to family members, nieces, nephews, friends with children etc. We must get the word out that money is available. If you are a college student or getting ready to become one, you probably already know how useful additional money can be. Our youth really could use these scholarships.
(If reading this in an electronic version and clicking on the link
doesn't work, copy and paste the URL in your web browser. If you are reading this in a print version, simply
copy and paste the URL in your web browser)
1) Bell Labs Fellowships For Under Represented Minorities
http://www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP/info.html
2) Student Inventors Scholarships
http://www.invent.org/collegiate
http://www.invent.org/collegiate/
3) Student Video Scholarships
http://www.christophers.org/vidcon2k.html
4) Coca-Cola Two Year College Scholarships http://www.coca-colaschola/
5) Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships
http://holocaust.hklaw.com/
6) Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships
7) Brand Essay Competition
http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.htm
8) Gates Millennium Scholarships (major)
http://www.gmsp.org/nominationmaterials/read.dbm?ID=12
9) Xerox Scholarships for Students
http://www2.xerox.com/go/xrx/about_xerox/about_xerox_detail.jsp
10) Sports Scholarships and Internships
http://www.ncaa.org/about/scholarships.html
11) National Assoc. of Black Journalists Scholarships
(NABJ)
http://www.nabj.org/html/studentsvcs.html
12) Saul T. Wilson Scholarships (Veterinary)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mb/mrphr/jobs/stw.html
13) Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
14) FinAid: The Smart Students Guide to Financial Aid Scholarships
http://www.fina/
15) Presidential Freedom Scholarships
16) Microsoft Scholarship Program
http://www.microsoft.com/college/scholarships/minority.asp
17) WiredScholar Free Scholarship Search https://www.collegeanswer.com/
18) Hope Scholarships &Lifetime Credits http://www.ed.gov/inits/hope/
19) William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students
http://www.apsanet.org/PS/grants/aspen3.cfm
20) Multiple List of Minority Scholarships
http://gehon.ir.miami.edu/financial-assistance/Scholarship/blackhtml
21) Guaranteed Scholarships
http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/
22) BOEING scholarships (soma e HBCU connects)
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships
23) Easley National Scholarship Program http://www.naas.org/senior.htm
24) Maryland Artists Scholarships
http://www.maef.org/
26) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students
in South Florida) http://www.jackituckfield.org/
27) Historically Black College & University Scholarships
http://www.iesabroad.org/info/hbcu.htm
28) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students
http://www.beanactuary.org/minority/scholarships.htm
29) International Students Scholarships & Aid Help http://www.iefa.org/
30) College Board Scholarship Search
http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html
31) Burger King Scholarship Program
http://www.bkscholars.csfa.org/
http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/
22) BOEING scholarships (soma e HBCU connects)
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/educationrelations/scholarships
23) Easley National Scholarship Program http://www.naas.org/senior.htm
24) Maryland Artists Scholarships
http://www.maef.org/
26) Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship (for AA students
in South Florida) http://www.jackituckfield.org/
27) Historically Black College & University Scholarships
http://www.iesabroad.org/info/hbcu.htm
28) Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students
http://www.beanactuary.org/minority/scholarships.htm
29) International Students Scholarships & Aid Help http://www.iefa.org/
30) College Board Scholarship Search
http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html
31) Burger King Scholarship Program
http://www.bkscholars.csfa.org/
32) Siemens Westinghouse Competition
http://www.siemens-foundationorg/
33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds
http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html
34) CollegeNet ' s Scholarship Database
http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index
35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
http://www.aflcioorg/scholarships/scholar.htm
36) Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm
37) Scholarship &Financial Aid Help
http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm
38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group)
http://www.efg.net/link_scholarship.htm
39) FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
40) Aid &Resources For Re-Entry Students http://www.back2college.com/
41) Scholarships and Fellowships
http://www.osc.cuny.edu/sep/links.html
42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies
http://www.paralegals.org/Choice/2000west.htm
43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world)
http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination.html
44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html
45) INROADS internships
http://www.inroads.org/
46) ACT-SO EUR Olympics of the Mind "A Scholarships
http://www.naacp.org/work/actso/act-so.shtml
47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships
http://www.baeo.org/options/privatelyfinanced.jsp
48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing
http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html
49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide
http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORITIES
50) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html
51) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund
http://www.roothbertfund.com
33) GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds
http://www.lulac.org/Programs/Scholar.html
34) CollegeNet ' s Scholarship Database
http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index
35) Union Sponsored Scholarships and Aid
http://www.aflcioorg/scholarships/scholar.htm
36) Federal Scholarships & Aid Gateways 25 Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarships.htm
37) Scholarship &Financial Aid Help
http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm
38) Scholarship Links (Ed Finance Group)
http://www.efg.net/link_scholarship.htm
39) FAFSA On The Web (Your Key Aid Form &Info) http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
40) Aid &Resources For Re-Entry Students http://www.back2college.com/
41) Scholarships and Fellowships
http://www.osc.cuny.edu/sep/links.html
42) Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies
http://www.paralegals.org/Choice/2000west.htm
43) HBCU Packard Sit Abroad Scholarships (for study around the world)
http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/packard_nomination.html
44) Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities
http://ccmi.uchicago.edu/schl1.html
45) INROADS internships
http://www.inroads.org/
46) ACT-SO EUR Olympics of the Mind "A Scholarships
http://www.naacp.org/work/actso/act-so.shtml
47) Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships
http://www.baeo.org/options/privatelyfinanced.jsp
48) ScienceNet Scholarship Listing
http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html
49) Graduate Fellowships For Minorities Nationwide
http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORITIES
50) RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT OXFORD
http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html
51) The Roothbert Scholarship Fund
http://www.roothbertfund.com
15. GETTING TO ZERO: FISH
OR FISHERMEN:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
“Give a person a fish and they eat for a day. Teach a person to
fish and they will eat for a lifetime.”
This is a well-known African proverb. It gained new meaning for
the Global Course Connection (GCC) students that traveled to Zambia for four
weeks in summer 2012. The main GCC goal was to obtain learning from real life
to build upon microbiology and infectious disease courses taken at the University
of Michigan (UM). Team members assisted with implementing the Trusted Messenger
Intervention (TMI) in partnership with religious leaders in the 17th
Episcopal District of the AMEC. TMI is a prevention approach that determines
impacts of taking biomedical findings, like those featured in G20, to networks
of clergy, pastors, officers, young adults and lay leaders) so they are quipped
to better serve and access resources in their communities.
In Kitwe (Copperbelt Province), we conducted a focus group to
learn of issues, a two-day science-based workshop and practicum and several
site visits in the surrounding communities. One visit was to a high school for
girls. Another was to the Ndola Central Hospital on a tour lead by a nurse and
AMEC pastor. More about the hospital tour later.
The girls’ school was originally started by the Women’s
Missionary Society as outreach to vulnerable children, but has been continued
as a privately managed school that is independent of the church.
The GCC team was excited to spend an afternoon with 30 or so
Zambian students in the senior class of young women. The students who ranged
from age 15-21 were completing high school. Maybe one or two would be fortunate
to go on to college. For most, formal education would end at completion of
level 12. And, they were the fortunate ones to have gotten this much education.
After introductions, our GCC team initiated a conversation about
HIV/AIDS. We used a simple approach called the Pedagogy of Action created by
Professor Nessa Haniff at the University of Michigan. It can be used with
people at any age or education level and requires only a surface on which to
draw a few images. This can be a blackboard, a stick and dirt or sand area or a
sheet of paper. The images are used to teach about HIV as a virus, that it
affects immune defenses and what one can do to keep HIV out of the body.
The UM college students engaged wonderfully with the high school
girls. Questions were asked from one group to the other. Real connections were
made. I was amazed at how much our team members had internalized during the
time in Zambia and how thoughtful they were in answering some difficult
questions. The conversation was real and relevant.
For example, one young lady asked “Why does the Bible and our
studies at this school teach that one should abstain from sex until married,
but you are advocating abstinence, being faithful or always using condoms? What
should I do?”
Another young lady stated that if she had a boyfriend and he
told her that he loved her and asked here to show her love by making love with
him, she would do it. She would do so even knowing that she might be exposed to
HIV since this would be “contact with semen.” She said she would not ask him to
use a condom, because then he would think she did not trust him.
What she was saying, agreed with by many of her classmates, is
that love, even that from a boyfriend is “sooo
important” that it is worth jeopardizing your own health and wellness. This is the
thinking, or lack of thinking, of many. It is especially real and likely for
youth and young adults in countries all over the globe. This age group does not
yet have the life experiences to temper a sense of invincibility that
accompanies youth.
It was an interesting afternoon of engagement. (HALFWAY)
The GCC team’s daily evening meeting included an assessment of
events of the day. Our interaction at the girls’ school was a milestone in the
trip for most. The UM team members felt good about a way that they had directly
helped directly others. This was valid as they had engaged in an important
discussion that could have a lifelong impact on any one of the young women. The
high school girls, who knew about HIV/AIDS, now knew more. This was not the first
time they had heard the basics. It was not the first such discussion with a
visiting group. Also HIV/AIDS education is a required part of the school
curriculum in health.
Even with what they knew about HIV and how it can lead to AIDS,
love, approval and connections to “a boyfriend who loves me” were perceived as
worth the risk of possible exposure to HIV and other disease causing microbes.
We also mentioned the potential emotional risks of early sexual engagement.
In the daily GCC team debriefing meeting, we talked about
whether the discussion of HIV/AIDS in the girls’ school setting would make a
difference. We concluded that only time would tell-- we might never know the
impact of the visit. The effect on these young women now or later would not be
followed or officially measured. One simply had to appreciate the good feeling
of trying to make a difference. One had to put the rest into God’s hands and
trust that the intent and content would fall on fertile soil and take root to
benefit lives in the high school group.
That afternoon, and others similar events, profoundly affected
the lives of the UM students. They realized the satisfaction of trying to make
a real difference. They realized that because of the good fortune of their
place of birth and family circumstances (they had nothing to do with
determining either), each student is blessed with the opportunity to attend
school and to attain a first rate education. This good fortune has allowed a
college level education and possibly education beyond. They realized that they
must use what they have been given. They realized that they have been equipped
with many choices because of opportunities and access to education. They
realized anew the obligation to affect the well-being of others.
At the team meeting, we talked about interventions to address
disease, economics and other inequities. We talked about possible intervention
impacts on stopping HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
This African proverb now has personal meaning for the twelve
young American adults.
What does this have to do with HIV/AIDS elimination? If people
are given what they or someone thinks is needed, they are helped for the day.
If people are given the tools to identify and get what they need, they are
empowered to become lifelong change agents. They can help themselves. And, if
so inclined, they can help others.
Fish, for a meal or for a day, can alleviate hunger of the
moment or for the day. Many around the world seek food, water and shelter to
live from one day to another. A nutritious meal provided is a major on time
blessing. But, the next day the issue of hunger likely will return. Who will
provide fish or bread or water for this day?
When one is blessed to be taught how and learns to fish, no one
can take that away. No one needs to provide the lesson or provide a fish each
day.
To eliminate HIV/AIDS requires going beyond knowing that HIV is
sexually transmitted. Clergy must learn how to fish and to prepare others on
how to unravel and address complex issues, identify resources and use these
resources. Progress in eliminating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic might
literally mean giving fish and bread to someone for today, and maybe tomorrow.
But eventually, teaching others to fish enables knowing what must be done and
why it is important to protect self and family for wellness.
Is preparing fishermen a tall order? Perhaps. For the process of
getting to zero, teaching others to fish just makes sense.
*The Rev. Dr. A. Oveta Fuller is an Associate Professor in
Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School and
Adjunct Faculty at Payne Seminary. She served as pastor of Bethel AME Church in
Adrian, MI for seven years before primarily focusing on global HIV/AIDS
ministry. Currently, she serves at Brown Chapel AME Church in Ypsilanti,
Michigan in the 4th Episcopal District while continuing HIV/AIDS research in
parts of Zambia and the USA.
16. MEDITATION BASED ON
MATTHEW 6:25-34:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I did something routine today that led to what my sons call an
“old man flashback” - I picked up a prescription refill, and the simple act of
doing so brought back childhood memories of Counts’ Drug Store. That store, nestled in what was then
Columbia, South Carolina’s thriving black business district, had three basic
elements - wall to ceiling shelves filled with interesting over-the-counter
medications, a center counter where Dr. Counts filled prescriptions, and a
“soda fountain” that sold the biggest and best hamburgers ever created - and
since it was a “black” drug store, I didn’t have to eat standing up as I did at
Woolworth’s!
Today’s pharmacies bear little resemblance to Counts’ Drug
Store. They’re actually “mini-markets”
that carry a broad range of merchandise - with the prescription drug counter in
the back of the store - so that you have to walk past everything from shampoo
to water hoses to beer and wine to “bargain bins” to fill your prescription -
if you remember while buying other stuff along the way that your original
mission was to fill a prescription!
Navigating life’s roads today is a lot like navigating today’s
pharmacies. We all set goals in life in
the hope of achieving well-being, success and peace of mind. The roads that lead to life’s goals, however,
are often lined with stress, pressure, aggravation, obligations and immediate
concerns that demand our attention, lead us astray and often cause us to forget
who we are, where we’re going and what we hoped to accomplish.
We all end up lost on the detours and dead ends of this life’s
roads sooner or later, but when we look to and trust in the Lord, we’ll find
new direction and new determination.
When we remember who we are, Whose we are and Who holds our lives in His
hands, we can stay the course, follow God’s direction and reach the blessings
that God has in store for us when we follow and focus on the God of our
salvation as we travel life’s roads.
Take the time to go to God in prayer and to seek God’s guidance
every day. When you do, then the God who
created us will smooth out life’s roads, give you guidance by His grace, and
remind you each day why one writer said, “Jesus shall lead me night and day,
Jesus shall lead me all the way, he is the truest friend to me, for I remember
Calvary.”
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
17. CLERGY FAMILY
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- Assistant City
Attorney Yulise Reaves Waters honored by the City of Dallas for her
extraordinary service to the citizens of Dallas
Assistant City Attorney Yulise Reaves Waters was honored by the
City of Dallas for her extraordinary service to the citizens of Dallas on
Tuesday, April 16, 2013 during a ceremony at Dallas City Hall. Atty. Waters'
name was added to the City of Dallas' esteemed Wall of Honor.
Attorney Waters is the First Lady of Joy Tabernacle AME Church
in Dallas, Texas, where her husband, the Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters is founder
and senior pastor.
Congratulatory remarks may be sent to yulisewaters@yahoo.com
-- The Rev. and Mrs.
Demetrese D. Phillips welcome the birth of their first child
The Rev. and Mrs. Demetrese D. Phillips welcomed the birth of
their first child, Demetrese D. Phillips II on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at
2:58 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds and 5 ounces and was 19 inches long. The Rev. Phillips
is the pastor of Mary Springhill African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Shreveport, Louisiana. Mrs. Chundra Phillips is the president of the Eighth
Episcopal District Ministers' Spouses, Widows and Widowers Organization+ PK's.
Congratulatory responses can be sent to:
18. GENERAL OFFICER
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Thomas Askins, the
brother of Mrs. Delorse Askins Lewis and the brother-in-law of Dr. Richard
Allen Lewis, Treasurer/CFO AME Church Finance Department.
Services for Mr. Thomas Askins:
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Family Visitation: 1:00 p.m.
Funeral: 2:00 p.m.
Gallant-Riverview Funeral Home
508 W. College Street
Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334
Phone: (931) 433-4511
Professional services entrusted to:
Lewis & Wright Funeral Directors
2500 Clarksville Hwy.
Nashville, TN 37208-1060
Ph: (615) 255-2371
Fax: (615) 255-4926
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Allen Lewis
512 8th Ave South
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 259-3771
(615) 259-3776 - Fax
Condolences may also be emailed to: cfo96amec@aol.com
Online Guest Book:
19. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Karen P. Jackson,
the sister of the Rev. Dietra C. Bell, pastor of Bethel AMEC in Brooklyn, NY
(Brooklyn/West Chester District); the sister of Vaughn Bell and twin sister of
Edmond Bell, Sr. a member of Bethel AMEC in Freehold, New Jersey. She also
leaves to mourn her passing, her husband, Steve and 3 children, Joy, Ebony and
Maya.
The following information has been provided regarding funeral
arrangements.
Monday, April 22, 2013 - Homegoing Service, 11:00 a.m.
St. Paul AME Church
1203 Harrison Ave.
Pleasantville, NJ 08232
Telephone: 609-641-2109
Fax: 609-645-1522
Email: Stpaul08232@aol.com
The Rev. Lynda Rassmann is the pastor of St. Paul AME Church.
Services entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home
414 S. Main Street
Pleasantville, NJ
609-383-9994 - Phone
609-383-9920 - Fax
Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. Dietra C. Bell and family
127 East 49th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11203
20. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Wilbur Buchanan,
the brother of the Rev. Dr. Morris A. Buchanan, retired pastor, California
Annual Conference. Mr. Wilbur Buchanan was the brother-in-law of the Rev.
Noella Austin Buchanan, pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in Riverside,
California. Wilbur Buchanan was the last
sibling of the Rev. Morris Buchanan's eight brothers and sisters.
Services for Mr. Wilbur Buchanan:
Funeral – Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
First AME Church
1700 N. Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91103
The Rev. Dr. Allen Williams, pastor
Telephone: (626) 798-0503
Services are provided by:
Woods-Valentine Mortuary
1455 N. Fair Oaks Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91103,
Telephone: 626-798-8941
Fax: 626-798-0195
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. Dr. Morris A. Buchanan and the Rev. Noella A. Buchanan
7051 Rocksprings Lane
Highland, CA 92346
Cell: (314) 707-8754
Email: revno@aol.com
21. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Wardell Meadough,
twin brother of the Rev. Odell Meadough (Bobbie), a member of the ministerial
staff of Holly Grove AME Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Mr. Wardell
Meadough died Saturday, April 13, 2013.
Visitation:
Friday, April 19, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Holly Grove AME Church
7007 Hankins Road
North Little Rock, AR
A Celebration of the Life of Mr. Wardell Meadough will be:
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
Mt. Ararat Baptist Church
5417 Valentine Rd.
North Little Rock, AR
The Reverend Charles Frost, Officiating
Services have been entrusted to:
Robinson Mortuary
4511 East Broadway
North Little Rock, AR 72117
(501) 374-0111
Condolences may be shared with the family:
The Rev. and Mrs. Odell Meadough
7403 Shadrick
North Little Rock, AR
72117
22. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Sister Marva Jennelle Finch Paris departed this life April 14,
2013. She was the loving and devoted
wife of the Rev. Kenneth E. Paris, pastor of St. Paul AME Church, Louisville,
Kentucky. They were married for
forty-one years. She was the loving
mother of Kenya J. Paris, and grandmother of three. Sister Paris was a former YPD Director of the
13th Episcopal District and Life Member of the Women's Missionary
Society.
She is the sister of Presiding Elder Dr. C. Robert Finch, North Memphis
District of the West Tennessee Conference, and the Rev. Clarence G. Finch,
itinerant elder, of Houston, Texas.
Service Arrangements:
Friday April 19, 2013
Visitation from 6-7 p.m.
Kerr Brother Funeral Home
3421 Harrodsburg Road
Lexington, KY 40513
Telephone: (859) 252-6767
FAX: (859) 223-3195
Saturday April 20, 2013
Visitation 11 AM-12 p.m.
Funeral service to follow at 12 Noon
Consolidated Missionary Baptist Church
1625 Russell Cave Road
Lexington, KY 40511
Entombment to follow at the Bluegrass Memorial Gardens.
Contact Information:
The Reverend Kenneth E. Paris
2044 Saint Stephens Green
Lexington, KY 40503
Telephone: 859-296-2702
Presiding Elder Dr. C. Robert Finch
2763 Colony Pk Dr. Suite #1
Memphis, TN. 38118
The Reverend Clarence G. Finch
2222 Maroneal St.
Houston, TX 77030
23. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Pearl Ling of
Garnett, SC on Monday, April 15, 2013.
Mrs. Ling is the mother of the Rev. Barbara L. Terry, pastor of Saint
Matthew AME Church in Allendale, SC.
Services will be held at Mount Zion AME Church, Garnett, SC on
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1 p.m. The
Rev. Dr. Jeffrey L. Hunter is Pastor.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. Barbara L. Terry
P.O. Box 22,
Tillman, SC 29943
Telephone: 843-305-1082
Email: blterry6507@hotmail.com
24. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Tommie L.
Walker, a Local Elder serving at Metropolitan AME Church in Harlem, New York
(New York Conference) for many years.
She was a committed and loving servant of Christ. The following
information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Friday, April 19, 2013 - Viewing, 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 20, 2013 - Funeral, 10:00 a.m.
Metropolitan A.M.E. Church
58 West 135th Street
New York, NY 10037
Telephone: 213-690-1834
Fax: 213-694-2738
Email: metropolitaname@verizon.net
The Rev. Kim Anderson, Pastor and Eulogist
Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:
The family of the Rev. Tommie L. Walker
C/o Metropolitan AME Church
See information above
25. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Townsend Harris,
husband of Awanda Brownlee-Harris, the mother of the Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton,
pastor of St. Matthew AME Church, Orange, New Jersey (New Jersey Conference-
Newark District). The following information has been provided regarding funeral
arrangements.
Viewing, Thursday, April 18, 2013, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Memorial Service, 1:00 p.m.
Frisby Warren & Carroll Mortuary
809 North California
Stockton, CA 95202
Phone: 209-464-4711
The Rev. Dr. Lanel Guyton, Eulogist
Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton
32 Mullarkey Dr.
West Orange, New Jersey 07052
Email: ldgpsalm37@gmail.com
26. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Eddie James Kitchen,
Jr., 32, the devoted father of Ashley and Jordan Kitchen; son of Eddie and
Alyce Kitchen, Sr.; brother to Erika Kitchen; grandson to Susie Kitchen and
Lucille Watson; and nephew of the Rev. Johnny R. Watson, pastor of Bethel AME
Church, Knoxville, Tennessee. Eddie
James Kitchen passed away Friday, April 5, 2013 in a local hospital. He was a
member of Joseph Chapel AME Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The body will lie-in-state Thursday, April 11, 2013 after 12:30
p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home-3417 Wilcox Blvd, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Phone:
(423) 622-8152.
Visitation will be Friday, April 12, 2013 at 12 noon, with the
funeral to follow at 1 p.m. in the Chapel with Pastor Bobby Kitchen as the
eulogist. Burial: Lakewood Memory Gardens, East.
27. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Jeffrey White, the
brother-in-law of the Rev. Johnny R. Watson, pastor of Bethel AME Church,
Knoxville, Tennessee. Jeffrey Vondell White, 59, of Chattanooga, Tennessee,
passed away on Sunday, April, 7, 2013.
Visitation will be on Friday, April 12, 2013 from 5:30-7:30 PM
at the Olivet Baptist Church. The funeral will be at the church on Saturday,
April 13, 2013 at Noon. The eulogist will be Pastor Kevin L. Adams.
Church address:
700 E 10th Street
Chattanooga, TN, 37403
Between Wall and Peeples Sts.
Telephone: (423) 267-9746
John P. Franklin Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Funeral Home address:
John P Franklin Funeral Home
1101 Dodds Avenue
Chattanooga, TN
(423) 622-9995
Online Guest Book: http://216.119.69.91/ArticObits/landing.aspx?fid=17
Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend Johnny R. Watson
C/o Bethel A. M. E. Church
Post Office Box 14667
Knoxville, TN 37914
865-522-6396
Email: johnrev55@comcast.net
28. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
29. 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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