PRESIDING ELDER EMERITAS ERNESTINE M. WARD HONORED:
Hundreds of church, political and community leaders crowded into Emanuel AME Church in Harlem on the last Saturday in October to pay deserved tributes to Presiding Elder Emeritus Ernestine M. Ward, the first woman appointed a Presiding Elder in the history of the First Episcopal District.
Hundreds of church, political and community leaders crowded into Emanuel AME Church in Harlem on the last Saturday in October to pay deserved tributes to Presiding Elder Emeritus Ernestine M. Ward, the first woman appointed a Presiding Elder in the history of the First Episcopal District.
The Governor of New York State George Pataki and Mayor of the City of New York Michael Bloomberg joined the Dean of the New York Congressional District, Charles B. Rangel, Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Congressman Gregory Meeks, State Assemblyman Keith L. T. Wright, the Speaker of the City Council Gifford Miller, the Deputy Majority Leader of the Council Bill Perkins, and Dr. Annie B. Martin, national board member of the NAACP and President of the New York Branch, in publicly saluting with plaques and proclamations the myriad of contributions made by Rev. Dr. Ward in her more than six decades of service to God and country.
The Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, who described Rev. Dr. Ward in his sermon during the services as "A world class preacher, anointed by God in a very special way."
Clerical hierarchy from the First Episcopal District who also paid tribute to the continuing times of dedication of Dr. Ward included: Rev. Vernon I. Lowe, President of the Connectional Presiding Elders Council; Rev. Herbert L. Eddy, President of the Presiding Elders Council; Presiding Elder Neil Mackey, representing the New York Annual Conference; and Presiding Elder James Lawrence, representing the Western New York Conference; Rev. Dr. Simon P. Bouie, Host-Pastor; and representing the Ward family was her nephew, Rev. Howard L. Grant, Pastor of St. Luke AME Church in Newark, New Jersey.
Other clergy on the program were Rev. Wayne A. Johnson, Rev. Norvel Goff, Sr., Rev. Gregory Nelson, Rev. Harry White Jr., Rev. David B. Cousin, Rev. James E. Booker Jr., Manhattan Presiding Elder Harold Rutherford, Rev. Ozzie Edwards, soloist, and the mass choir of Emanuel AME Church.
Honorary Chairmen of the event were Rev. Dr. Norvel Goff, Pastor of Baber AME Church of Rochester and Rev. Dr. Robert L. Reynolds, Pastor of DeLaine Waring AME Church of Buffalo. Officers of the Thanksgiving Service included Rev. Dr. Simon P. Bouie, host-pastor; Mary P. Williams, General Chair; Carole Morris, Treasurer; Helen Aikens and Louise J. Moody, Journal Co-Chairs; and Jean Williams Booker, Public Relations.
By Jean Williams Booker
(Read the rest of this article in The Christian Recorder)
THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH LINKS:
- The African Methodist Episcopal Church - The Official Web Site of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Christian Education Department - The Official Web Site of The Christian Education Department
- Department of Employee Security - The Official Web Site of The Department of Employee Security
- CONN-M-SWAWO Plus P. K.s - The Connectional Minister's Spouses, Widows and Widowers Plus Preacher's Kids Organization
- A. M. E./Women in Ministry - A.M.E. Women in Ministry of The African Methodist Episcopal Church
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR THE EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH TO FORWARD THEIR UP-TO-DATE OFFICIAL LINKS TO THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE. WE HAVE THREE ACTIVE LINKS TO DATE . EPISCOPAL RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST IS APPRECIATED:
- First District -
- Second District -
- Third District -
- Fourth District -
- Fifth District -
- Sixth District -
- Seventh District -
- Eighth District -
- Ninth District -
- Tenth District -
- Eleventh District -
- Twelfth District -
- Thirteenth District -
- Fourteenth District -
- Fifteenth District -
- Sixteenth District -
- Seventeenth District -
- Eighteenth District -
- Nineteenth District -
- Twentieth District -
