1. AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THE AME FOUNDER’S DAY WAS THE MODEL FOR CARTER G. WOODSON TO ESTABLISH BLACK HISTORY WEEK IN FEBRUARY:
I read your email regarding our Founder's Day and the first Black History observance. What I have read is that Carter G. Woodson chose the February date because of Lincoln's birthday and Frederick Douglas' birthday (both on 12 Feb). Don't know if that is "accurate" but that's what I have read in my Black History studies. The AME Church and the NAACP have February birthdays (NAACP is 12 Feb). Isn't that interesting???
Ora Washington
AME Church, El Paso, Texas
10th Episcopal District
2. THE RIGHT REVEREND CAROLYN TYLER GUIDRY, PRESIDING BISHOP, SIXTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ANNOUNCES AME CHURCH SENDS AID TO TSUNAMI DAMAGED SOMOLIA, KENYA AND TANZANIA:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(Los Angeles) Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, chairperson of the Social Action Commission of theAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) announces the church’s campaign to provide relief to two of the tsunami-damaged countries on the Indian Ocean.
The low death toll in Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia is a poor indicator of the devastation brought by the tidal waves, which destroyed the infrastructures of local coastal communities, and the livelihoods of many who barely earned subsistence wages. Mandatory evacuation of beaches and coastal areas was possible because of the emergency plan of the US Embassy and the government of these countries.
The reporting outcome follows - In Somalia more than 200 persons lost their lives and another 50,000 had their homes destroyed (flattened). In Kenya, the loss of public roads, destruction of homes, and the difficulties of traveling have resulted in a major strain to an economy that could not support the basic needs of its people. Reconstruction needs will be far reaching, and costly.
Our church’s commitment to “make a difference” will include the collection of funds and other resources to be distributed via SADA, the international relief and development arm of the AME Church. Please remember the local residents and visitors in your prayers.
The public is invited to send its contributions and to:
Dr. Robert Nicolas, Director 202/ 371-8722 – voice SADA (Service and Development Agency) 202/ 371-0981 - fax 1134 11th Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
Checks may be made payable to: AME-SADA, or call Ms. Tina Newell (Director of Operations) 202 371-8722 to make a donation by credit card.
Bishop Carolyn Tyler-GuidryChair – Social Action CommissionPresiding Bishop,
Sixteenth Episcopal District – African Methodist Episcopal Church
1968 W. Adams Blvd. Suite 314
Los Angeles, CA 90018
323/ 293-6555 – voice FAX: 323/ 293-6572; Email: Girlbishop122@aol.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker 213/ 494-9493 OR 202/ 371-8722
or log onto www.ame-church.com
3. THE AME COLLEGE CORNER: A MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM BROTHER CRAIG ROBONSION, A TEENAGER AND A FRESHMAN AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE. THE FULL ARTICE ENTITLED, “A LESSON ABOUT GRACE” IS TAKEN FROM II CORINTHIANS 12:7-10 WILL BE PRINTED IN THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
When I look back over my life I am amazed by the way the Lord has decided to use me. I have been preaching now for almost two years now, and have seen God work through me in many wonderful ways. It is such a blessing to serve God and serve others and helping people understand the joy and delight of being in Christ Jesus. However, in the midst of all this spreading the good news and telling people about the joy that I have that the world didn’t give I was given a metaphorical thorn in my flesh. Unlike Paul I am fortunate enough to have been able to identify my thorn. My thorn is being a teenager.
This thorn was so annoying and it torments me at least once or twice in a day. The thorn is aggravated whenever my fleshly desires come into play. All teenagers go through this phase of life. We want to experiment. We want to discover ourselves. We want to do things our way and face the consequences when they come. As we advance in our teenage years we are compelled to withdraw further and further from our parents and make our own decisions. This new sense of independence leads us to sometimes do things that we ought not to do.
This is especially hard for me being a minister (AME) of the gospel. I often find myself in the most intriguing situations (some of which must remain secret or face the wrath of my mother). There are so many temptations that are always showing up in the worst time…
(Read the rest of the article in The Christian Recorder)
4. AME COLLEGE CORNER: THE ARTICLE APPENDED BELOW WAS WRITTEN BY MOREHOUSE COLLEGE STUDENT, BROTHER CRAIG ROBINSON. IT’S ENTITLED, BIBLE WALK: LOOK UP.” THE KEY CONCEPT: TRUST, THERE IS A BRIGHT SIDE; GOD IS IN CONTROL.”
Psalm 121: 1-8 (NIV): I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
College brings a lot of struggle in any student’s life. Deadlines for tests, term papers, and presentations make life very stressful. This is especially true for those who prepare for large assignments at the last minute. The rigors of college can bring down the most energetic person to a state of utter lethargy. A college student’s entire appearance can be distorted. His or her head droops down. His or her facial expression changes and his or her outlook become negative. Suddenly you hear words like: “Can’t do it,” “Impossible!” “I give up!”
(Read the rest of the article in The Christian Recorder)
5. THE REVEREND DR. GEORGE R. LA SURE SHARES HIS STUDY OF THE, RURAL AND SMALL MEMBERSHIP CHURCHES: “THE NEW MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE”:
The rural and small membership church represents at least 85% of all A.M.E. Churches throughout our connection. As such, the rural and small membership church has a tremendous input into the total spiritual and financial resource of the A.M.E. Denomination. But, even though these two entities comprise the majority of the A.M.E. denominational presence, there is very little focused programming and resource directed toward improving its’ overall condition. The rural and small membership church is essentially where it was fifty years ago, without a voice to impact denominational change to make its’ overall condition better.
If we were forced to offer a working definition as to what a rural church might be, we might say that it is a body of A.M.E. Christian believers knit together in a common faith and worship activity thriving in settings removed from large urban centers. Many times they are located in sparsely populated areas, much of which is agricultural in scope, with limited employment, industrial, and commercial resource. There are also a limited number of institutions of higher learning in many of our rural areas.
The membership of our typical rural church might range from less than 10 to 250 members. The rural church is a family church with 2-3 families often comprising 75% of the rural church membership. The rural church is also known for its’ rigid adherence to tradition (those elements of worship and church administration that have kept it strong down through the years). The rural church is, often times, very resistant to change. Most of the A.M.E. rural churches are either on the “other side of the tracks”, or in communities located far away from Main Street.
Small membership churches, embracing the same profile and membership numbers as the rural church, are located throughout the AMEC connection. Many of these small membership churches are located in large urban areas. Unlike the rural church, the small membership church is not confined to any geographical setting. It can be found anywhere. Like the rural church, it is a family-dominated church. It, too, is strong on tradition (doing things the same way they have done them for years) and, is resistant to change. “Outsiders” must be adopted by the membership before they are allowed to peaceably and productively co-exist.
Many small membership churches are located in communities that have experienced a significant decline in population over the past 25-50 years. Other small membership churches are hidden from view in dying and decaying neighborhoods and, are nowhere near Main Street.
(Read the complete article in The Christian Recorder)
6. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
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You may: Call 800. 648-8724 and make your payment using your credit card. Or, send $26.00 check or money order for a one-year subscription to:
The Christian Recorder
500 8th Avenue South,
Nashville, TN 37203.
7. AME CHAPLAINS CORNER: CHAPLAIN DAVID BROWN:
Retired WW II Chaplain Kenneth White celebrated his 99th birthday on New Year's Day. I spoke to him last night and his mind and speech are as clear as ever. I am making plans to pay him a visit next month to interview him in order to record his story. Please pray for an open door to do so.
I have been invited to preach a revival in Las Vegas, NV. The Reverend Emmanuel Wasson, III, the pastor of Holy Trinity AMEC, is a good brother of mine that I met while stationed in 29 Palms, California. This will be my very first revival that I have preached since going into the ministry 18 years ago. Needless to say I am excited about the opportunity to proclaim, "Thus sayeth the Lord..."
Finally, I am slated for a new set of orders that will put me back on ship but keep my family in the area. I am scheduled to rotate to the USS BATAAN in July of this year to serve as the head chaplain in charge of the Protestant Religious Program. The orders are two years long but, due to current events, the deployment schedule is uncertain.
Again, Happy New Year!
Blessings,Chaplain David Brown
8. THE REVEREND DR. JOE DARBY, SENIOR PASTOR OF MORRIS BROWN AME CHURCH CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA GAVE THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECENTLY AT THE INTERFAITH SERVICE HELD IN CHARLESTON, IN MEMORY AND HONOR OF THE TSUNAMI VICTIMS OF SOUTH ASIA AND EAST AFRICA:
We gather tonight in Charleston, but in doing so we stand together with people of faith across the globe to offer best wishes and support to those in south Asia and eastern Africa whose lives have been devastated by the force of nature.
Every world religion has two things in common - respect for the creator and respect and care for our neighbors in need. Our world really is a global village, so it’s fitting and proper that we do all that we can to restore our neighbors in need, even if they live far from our doorsteps.I hope that this night results in an outpouring of material assistance and moral support by those of who have gathered here tonight. Charleston has experienced the devastating power of nature in the past, it’s now our turn to help others to recover, and I thank and commend everyone who has come here tonight to do so.
I hope as well that this night is a beginning and not simply an end in itself. I firmly believe that adversity sometimes breeds opportunity, that the creator whose work includes tsunamis and hurricanes also affords us the opportunity to find new common ground in the midst of the rubble.
When natural disasters occur, we regularly assemble in events like tonight’s event and mobilize across cross lines of color and culture and religion and class and politics to care about and support each other and to reach out to our neighbors. Too often, however, when the crisis is past, we just go home. I do hope that when the current crisis is past, we’ll remember this night, remember the faces and the spirits of those we meet tonight, and continue to work to build bridges and to find common ground to meet the challenges that we all face from day do day.
When we do, then we can celebrate the unity of our diversity and the diversity of our unity, and we won’t have come together to help our neighbors in times of crisis, because we’ll already be together.
9. THE FOLLOWING IS AN OP-ED ARTICLE WRITTERN BY THE REVEREND DR. JOE DARBY THAT APPEARED IN THE CHARLESTON, SC NEWPAPER:
On Monday, January 17, our nation, state and community will remember the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through worship services, parades, breakfasts, memorials and "days of service." I celebrate any good activity to remember Dr. King, but I will remember Dr. King by joining the State NAACP in Columbia, South Carolina for the fifth annual "King Day at the Dome" march and rally. I’ll do so because direct action that presses for positive change in public policy is the most authentic witness to Dr. King’s life and work.
Dr. King was felled by an assassin’s bullet over thirty-six years ago. In those thirty-six years, he has come to be acknowledged as a man of peace who stood for equal justice and equal rights. The light of history has reflected that accurate picture of Dr. King, but the light of history sometimes has a way of shining on some things and leaving others obscured by shadow. What’s often lost in many of the innocuous, polite and pleasant activities now pursued to remember Dr. King is what he said and how he was viewed by many in his day.
Days of community service to help the needy are worthy pursuits at any time of the year. As a pastor, Dr. King led his congregations in the same kind of direct service to the needy - service that should be the work of all clergy, houses of faith, and people of good will. Dr. King is best remembered, however, as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the acknowledged leader of the modern civil rights movement. In those capacities, he aggressively and articulately challenged the divisive public policies that created many of the needy that he served as a pastor. Dr. King did so in a nonviolent manner, but the response of his opponents of the day was anything but non-violent.
In his day, Dr. King was labeled as a subversive, as a communist and as an agitator; was jailed and physically abused; was ridiculed as a radical and was soundly vilified as a dangerous man who was a threat to the public safety. He received that treatment because he challenged America to change unjust laws. Those who love to quote Dr. King’s saying that we should be judged by not by the color of skin but by the content of character often conveniently forget that one sentence is not the sum total of his words. Dr. King also said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Dr. King also said, "When you’re right, you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative." Dr. King also said, "Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men." Dr. King also said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."When viewed in the clear and comprehensive light of history, Dr. King was not a man who bowed his head in subservience and asked, "Can’t we all just get along?" Dr. King spoke out against the injustices of his day, putting his life on the line to do so. Because he did, then we need to do more than remember Dr. King through benign and universally acceptable means that allow participants to do "feel good" things, while blithely ignoring the still pervasive prejudice, inequity and division that make it harder for the needy to compete.
If we are to remember Dr. King by demanding equity as he did, then we need to ask why our state is still fighting against equitable funding of public schools while veiling support for private schools as "putting parents in charge. We need to ask why those who are indigent pay more at many hospitals than those who have health insurance. We need to ask why our legislature cannot respect the wishes of those who seek to honor the Confederate Battle flag in an unquestionably historical context. We need to ask why those admitted to institutions of higher education because of family connections have done a good thing, while those who are admitted through efforts to see that the racial playing field is level for those of equal ability is a bad thing. We need to ask why our state can grant huge economic incentives to businesses but can only make limited funds available for affordable housing loans.
Those questions and other questions of equity will be lifted up in Columbia at the King Day 2005 event. They may be uncomfortable and may rankle the spirits of those who create ideological litmus tests of patriotism and faith, but addressing them will do honor to Dr. King’s legacy. Dr. King, after all, described himself not as someone who would "go along to get along," but as a "drum major for justice." When we get in step with his authentic memory, then we can keep working to fulfill his dream for all Americans.
The Reverend Joseph A. Darby, Senior Pastor, Morris Brown African Methodist Episcopal Church, 13 Morris Street, Charleston, South Carolina
10. THE 13th EPISCOPAL 2005 DISTRICT-WIDE FOUNDER’S DAY WILL BE HELD AT ST. ANDREWS AME CHURCH, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE ON FEBRUARY 10-12 2005, THEME: CHANGING CHURCH CULTURE:
AGENDA:
Thursday, February 10, 2005
8:00 AM – 12 Noon - Presiding Elder’s Institute
12:30 – 3:00 PM – Believe Board Working Luncheon
3:30 – 6 PM – 13th District Agenda Organizational Meeting
• Nehemiah Nation
• School of the Prophets (Clergy Institutes, Cross to Pentecost)
• AME Pages• AME Works Day
• Believe, Inc.
7:30 PM Opening Worship
Dr. Floyd Flake, Allen Cathedral AME Church, Jamaica, New York
Friday, February 11, 2005
6:00 – 7:00 AM - Morning Glory Prayer Ministry
7:00 – 8:00 AM – Living Well and Walking
7:30 – 9: 45AM – Breakfast
10:00 AM – 12: 30 - Morning Plenary
12:45- 1: 45 – Hour of Power
2:00 – 3:30 PM – Lunch
3:30 – 5:30 PM – Afternoon Plenary
7:30 PM - Evening Worship
Rev. Jonathan Weaver, Mt. Nebo AME Church, Bowie Maryland
Saturday, February 12, 2005
6:00 – 7:00 AM- Morning Glory Prayer Ministry
7:00 – 8:00 AM – Living Well and Walking
7:30 – 9:45 AM – Breakfast
8:30 – 12 Noon – Nehemiah Nation (departs for church visitation/render service)
9:00 – 12Noon – YPD (meeting and elections)
13th District Agenda Components Meet (If necessary, except Nehemiah Nation)
12 Noon – Reporting of Components; Closing Worship, Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor, III, Editor, The Christian Recorder
Passing the P.E.A.C.E. – Positive Energy Always Creates Elevation!
*** Plenary Sessions ****Rev. Ronald L. Owens, Augusta, Georgia U.S. Army Chaplain, Major (Retired)Conflict ResolutionLeadership Problem SolvingSeparating Issues from EventsOvercoming Barriers
11. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Regretfully we share news of the passing of Mr. Arthur Robertson, Jr., the brother of Mrs. Carrie Robertson Grady (Episcopal Supervisor, Retired).
The Funeral was held on Wednesday, January 12, 2005
St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church
500 Noble Street
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Condolences may still be sent to :
Bishop and Mrs. Zedekiah L. Grady
1 Wespanee Drive
Charleston, SC 29407
Phone: (843) 766-9569 - FAx: (843) 556-8659
Email: W1MG2CL@aol.com
12. FUNERAL SERVICE FOR MRS. PRISCILLA BOONES, THE MOTHER OF EPISCOPAL SUPERVISOR MARY KIRKLAND, 9TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT WAS HELD ON SATURDAY, JAUARY 15, 2005:
The Funeral was held on Saturday, January 15, 2005 at 12:00 noon at the Waterloo Baptist Church, 807 Madison Avenue, Lorman, Mississippi.
Condolences may still be sent to the family:
Mrs. Mary Kirkland, 2120 Park Brook Lane, Birmingham, AL 35215 205-601-1748 (Mrs. Kirkland's cell phone)
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It's Chaplain David R. Brown from Naval Station, Norfolk, VA. I would like to inform you that my mother-in-law, Mrs. Joan G. Turner, died suddenly on the morning of 11 January. She was a life-long member of Third Street Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Richmond, VA. The specifics pertaining to her homegoing service are as follows:
Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Joan G. Turner was held Saturday, January 15, 2005 12:00 p.m.
Eulogy: The Reverend Daryl K. Kearny, pastor of Third Street Bethel AME Church.
Expressions may be sent to the following addresses:
Mr. Raymond Turner
525 Montvale Avenue
Richmond, VA. 23222
OR
Chaplain and Mrs. David R. Brown
2316 Skipjack Lane
Chesapeake, VA 23323
Telephone: 757-558-4177
In lieu of flowers, our family requests that donations be made to the following:
ALS Association
615 South Frederick Avenue, Ste. 308
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
www.alsinfo.org
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support!
Blessings, Chaplain David R. Brown
14. ALL CONDOLENCE MESSAGES ABOVE WERE FORWARDED BY:
Sister Ora L. Easley, President
CONN-M-SWAWO +PK'SEmail: Amespouses1@aol.com
Phone: (615) 837-9736Fax: (615) 833-3781
WEB SITES: http://www.amemswwpk.org/CONN-M-SWAWO + P.K.'S Home Pagehttp://connmswawo3.com/index.html
AME Church Clergy Family Forum: http://connmswawo3.com/membership.html
CONN-M-SWAWO + P.K.'S Membership Listing
15. THE REVEREND WILLIAM HOWARD SMITH REPORTED THE DEATH OF BROTHER WILLIAM SAVANNAH FREY:
William Savannah (Daddy Frey) Frey, age 93, (The Father of the Rev. Nathan Frey, our pastor at Woodfork Chapel AME Church, Shelbyville, TN, Tennessee Conference, 13th Epics. District) died at his Nashville, TN residence on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at 12:45 a.m.
Survived by 6 daughters; 3 sons; 28 grandchildren; 64 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends. Family visitation was held on Sunday, January 16, 2005 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church, 212 Neil Ave., Nashville, Tennessee, with Rev. Sidney Bryant officiating, and Rev. Nathan Frey, Eulogist.
The burial was conducted on Monday, January. 17, 2005 at 10 a.m. in Clarksville, Tennessee at Rest-Lawn Memorial Garden.
Rev. Nathan Frey 735 N 9th St Nashville, TN 37206-3956 (615) 227-4548
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
