The Christian Recorder Online
Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour. Jr., PublisherThe Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor
1. THE EDITOR’S CORNER:
The Thirteenth Episcopal District Founder’s Day was a celebration of excellence. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and Supervisor Stan McKenzie exemplified biblical leadership for the 21st Century. The theme throughout, “You’ve got to believe…!” The underlying focus for all of those attending: Renew, Resource, Rebuild, Regimen, and Results.” There was no room for misunderstanding the intent of the Episcopal team as everything was in writing - everything!
The spirit of camaraderie and teamwork pervaded the entire celebratory event. The Reverend Ronald L. Owens, retired Army Chaplain and pastor of Bethel AME Church in Hinesville, Georgia was the Founder’s Day facilitator. He facilitated sessions for the presiding elders breakout session and for the plenary sessions on conflict resolution, leadership problem-solving, separating issues from events and overcoming barriers. One pastor remarked, “This is refreshing and invigorating.” Another said, “This bishop is moving us in the right direction!”
The inspiring sermons by the Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake, President of Wilberforce University and the senior pastor of Allen Cathedral in New York City; the Reverend Jonathan L. Weaver senior pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church, Bowie, Maryland; and the Reverend Antoni Sinkfield, senior pastor of St. John AME Church, Nashville, Tennessee kept the Founder’s Day Celebration on a high spiritual plane. It was an invigorating “pause that refreshes” for those who were fortunate enough to have attended Founder’s Day.
St. Andrew’s AME Church family and the Reverend Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson were the ultimate hosts. Every “base” was covered, every “I” was dotted, and every “t” was crossed. It’s worth a visit to St. Andrew AME Church just to see its ministry to the community. They have a full nursery, elementary school, and an alternative middle school that operates out of the church. The church, independent of Founder’s Day, was a place bustling with activities.
The food was healthy on all points. Baked chicken, roasted potatoes, pasta, egg-beaters and scrambled eggs for those who were “allergic” to eggbeaters. The church did not serve fried foods or unhealthy “ebonic” cuisine. Bishop McKenzie is leading and modeling for the district, “living well.” Reverend Robinson is a medical doctor and is fully qualified to show churches how to serve healthy foods. In addition to healthy eating, there were aerobic sessions and opportunity for walking or jogging built into the sessions each morning of Founder’s Day.
And, not to neglect the spiritual dimension of healthy living, each day began with “Morning Glory Prayer Ministry” where Founder’s Day attendees could participate in prayer before going to morning exercise sessions.
Organizational meetings were held for the Nehemiah Nation; the School of the Prophets, the district component for continuing education; AME Pages, AME Works Day and Believe, Inc.
(Read more in the Christian Recorder)
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2. JOYCE AYERS NIXON, MAYOR OF CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MARYLAND
Submitted by Dr. Bill Ayers, Jr
Joyce Ayers Nixon, a member of Ward Memorial A.M.E. Church in Washington D.C. is mayor of the Incorporated Town of Capitol Heights, Maryland, She is a champion of the physically challenged-blind and other disabling conditions. A nurse by training and special education instructor in the District of Columbia for more than 10 years, Mayor Nixon has always supported the causes of the disenfranchised. A woman of many interests and pursuits, Mayor Nixon relishes life and finds strength and commitment in the words of Mark Yost, “History, although sometimes made u of the few acts of the great, is more often shaped by the many acts of the small.”
Mayor Nixon was elected in May 2002 and serves as the chief elected official of Capitol Heights, a Prince George’s County suburban township with more than 4,000 residents. She is the second female mayor of the Town since its inception in June 1910. While the position of mayor is part-time in the municipal government, her determination, commitment and effort to make a difference in the lives of the residents is far greater than part-time. She spends countless hours seeking ways to improve the lives and conditions of the people she has promised to serve. Mayor Nixon is an experienced legislator and spokesperson for people of all races, ages, and conditions. Prior to serving as Mayor, she served on the Town Council from 1985 to 1990.
Mayor Nixon’s family is very proud of her for the accomplishments she has attained, in addition to being thankful for the healing of God in Mayor Nixon’s being a breast cancer survivor. She has been blessed and we have …
(Read the full article in the Christian Recorder)
3. DEVOTIONAL: “I NEED A DRINK”:
The Rev. DeLishia Boykin Wilson
“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Mount Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people might drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel” (Exodus 17:6, AMP)
The children of Israel experienced a time of drought, when they did not have water to drink. This was crucial to them, because water was a necessity for survival. To say the least, they were in a situation by which they did not know when their breakthrough was coming or if their breakthrough was coming.
In the lives that we live, we often know that the hand of the Lord is upon us, we know that our breakthrough is on the way, and we still find ourselves experiencing drought, because we do not have what we “need” for survival at the level we seek to maintain. We have all been in this situation at some point in our lives, which causes total dependence upon the Lord because it inflicts reflection to the realization that we cannot bear our situations alone...
(Read the full article in the Christian Recorder)
4. PRESIDENT CHARLES E. YOUNG PROCLAIMS “ALLEN UNIVERSITY IS ALIVE AND WELL!” IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS AND SETS AN AGENDA OF GROWTH FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS
COLUMBIA-February 11, 2005-Allen University culminated its 135th Founder’s Day celebration with the formal Installation of its 23rd President, Dr. Charles E. Young. The ceremony was held at 10 a.m. in Adams Gymnatorium. A reception followed.
The institution traditionally observes Founder’s Day during the second week in February, the same week as its founding organization, the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. This year’s theme is “Creating Excellence Through Scholarship.”
Dr. Young’s inaugural address is printed below in its entirety.
“To the Right Reverend Preston Warren Williams II, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Allen University, our distinguished Board of Trustees, the President’s Advisory Board, fellow Presidents, College and University delegates, distinguished guests, platform participants, faculty and staff, alumni and most importantly, students of Allen University… Bishop F.C. James, former Chairman of the Board of Allen University, Mother Williams, Mrs. Theresa Gregg James, Mayor Bob Coble, and other elected municipal, state and federal officials and their representatives... Former members of the Board of Trustees, Reverend B. J. Glover, former President of Allen University.”
“I also wish to acknowledge family members who are present today… My mother, who just celebrated her 93rd birthday; my wife, Mrs. Sandra Young; our two children, Charlotte and Christopher; my oldest brother Reverend Willie J. Young of Middletown, Conn.; my youngest sister, Mrs. Patricia White; James Hunter and Allen Etheridge, who are brothers to me; and two very close family friends, Mrs. Diane Sansbury and Ms. Seamore.”
“I am elated to be surrounded today by friends and colleagues, Presiding Elders, Pastors and lay leadership. Your presence today is an affirmation of God’s goodness to my family and me, and your commitment to education. My thanks to the inaugural committee, who labored untiringly. Your devoted service shall always be cherished memories.”
“Today, we reflect on the past, savor the present, and look to the future.” “I would like to begin, by thanking a few of the people responsible for the fact that I am standing before you today in this capacity. My father, the late Olin Young, and my mother, Pauline Young, who brought me up in a stable loving Christian home; teaching me the value of education and hard work; my wife, Sandra, who saw me through some low points in my life but never doubted my value and purpose; to Bishop Williams, a man of his word and a man of vision, who assured me that Allen has a future and gave me the opportunity to be a part of her future; Dr. Robertson McQuilkin (former President of Columbia International University), who financed my entire doctoral studies and instilled in me the confidence that I could endure the rigor of post-graduate work; the late Presiding Elder S.A. Brown and Mrs. Marian Brown, who supported me through Seminary, both financially and morally; the late Presiding Elder C.R. Hawthorne, who opened many doors for me in ministry and assisted me with my dissertation research; Bishops Barney Blain and Richard Watkins, who nurtured me in the faith. These and many others have in some way invested in me and served as an example of ‘servant-hood’.”“One hundred thirty-five years ago, an AME bishop by the name of John Milford Brown — with presiding elders, pastors and laypersons — made a decision to start a school to train teachers and preachers. But, before long, they had created an educational enterprise; this educational enterprise was designed to carry out the three basic functions of a University. First, to teach; second, to accumulate great stories of acquired and systematized knowledge in the form of books and collections; and, third, to investigate.”
“This group of creative thinkers later opened schools for elementary and secondary education. These were God-fearing men and women who literally believed that all truth is God’s truth, and that learning in the context of faith produced a better citizen. Together, they invested their meager wages and great faith in the future of young men and women.”
“These men and women believed that a trained mind is the greatest defense against oppression, poverty and inequality. Their faith is a personification of the old Negro thought, which states: ‘If it had not been for the Lord on our side, where would I be. He kept my enemies away, he turned my midnight into day.’ These men and women turned the midnight of ignorance and fear into the daylight of scholarship and leadership.”
“Today we reflect on the past, savor the present, and look to the future. I remember in 1976, as a very young preacher standing on the grounds of Allen University, listening to the critics speak of Allen’s past — yet doubting Allen’s future. Some prophesied that Allen would never rise again. It was the visionary leadership of persons like Bishop F. C. James, alumni and other supporters who believed that with God all things are possible. And, as the 23rd President of this great University, I am here to declare that Allen University is alive and doing well. And, it is presently in good hands with Bishop Preston Warren Williams and the Board of Trustees, capable faculty and staff, and the current President, I might add.” “I am still asked, however, ‘Why do we need an Allen University?’ “Let me answer by asking: ‘What would the world be like without an Allen University?’”
“I suppose there would still be wars and there would still be seasons of peace; there would still be marriages and there would still be divorces; there would still be racism and there would still be reconciliation; there would still be terrorism and there would still be truces, there would be crime, thefts, and the homeless.”“But there would not be a Dr. Theresa Gregg James, a Dr. John R. Stevenson, a Dr. Liz Bell, a Judge Mildred McDuffie, a Senator Kay Patterson, a Senator Ralph Anderson, a Senator Clementa Pinckney, Representatives Joe E. Brown, Bill Clyburn, Floyd Breedland nor Mack Hines; there would not be a Bishop F. C. James, Bishop Z. L. Grady, Bishop Richard Allen Hilderbrand, Bishop David Daniels, there wouldn’t even be an Alonzo Middleton.”
“Imagine a world without these courageous and intelligent leaders? So, Allen is here to produce men and women to lead, to heal, to educate, to legislate, to preside, to represent, and to proclaim truth in a world that has far too few people of good will and integrity.”
“I believe in Allen University! I believe in God’s purpose for this institution of higher education. I believe the world needs an Allen University! The challenge for Allen today is not merely to avoid a financial crisis, or even to painstakingly keep our doors open at all costs. The challenge is to “create excellence through scholarship” at a time when excellence in education is more important than ever. It has not been given to Allen to become all things to all people or to become the largest comprehensive University in the Southeast; it is ours to be selective in our educational programs and deliberate in the outcome for our students.”“Today, Allen carries out her mission facing new challenges. Our prisons are filled with young African American males. I was appalled when I learned of the demographic forecasting used to determine where prisons should be built. Forecasters identify communities where the population is largely black or brown and high school students are reading on a third or fourth grade level - Prime Prison territory. Today, only half of our nation’s minority students graduate from high school along with their peers. African American males’ graduation rates are even lower.”
“Fewer African American students are being admitted to public universities around the country. If the current trend continues over the next 20 years, African American males in the medical profession will be almost nonexistent.”“Added to this dilemma, the institution of higher standards and high-stakes tests in an effort to raise student achievement will only cause the situation to worsen. Allen University is therefore tasked with the responsibility to prepare her graduates of today to be as effective as her graduates of yesterday.”“I see the primary concern of Allen University today to be the same as it always has been: to teach the mind to think, the hands to work and the heart to love. What Allen University wants more than anything now, is to give to our country and the world, educated men and women of character. It is her hope that there will develop here, generation after generation, now as in the past, thoughtful men and women, who through their beliefs and actions, will go on to renew and strengthen true quality in the world’s life. Men and women of knowledge and faith who, ready to learn from others, will make an effort at honest appraisal of their culture, will recognize both its strength and its weakness, will try to see these aspects separately and fairly, and who then, not complaining, or criticizing unreasonably, or turning away in arrogant indifference, will set about working where they can, to improve the culture and to make not its shabbiness but its goodness available to others.”
“Our success, therefore, will depend on the combined efforts of each one of you in this room today. From the faculty must come the inspiration to meet our intellectual challenge creatively. From administration must come the skills to conserve resources wisely and create the framework in which talented students and professors can do their best work. And, from each one of you; our friends and alums must come the moral and financial support that will be needed for Allen to maintain the essential quality it must have in order to capitalize fully on the opportunities before it.”
“Allen University is committed to ‘Excellence in Scholarship.’ She will, therefore, remain relevant and effective. Allen will stay centered on her niche and focus on our mission. I see Allen University’s focus in five broad areas.”“First is the humanities. This discipline will lay the foundation which will give our students an appreciation for the arts, music and cultural diversity. It is here that students will enhance and strengthen their writing, speaking and social skills. It is imperative that courses in this discipline be designed to challenge every student’s thinking and to expand their capacity.”
“The second area is Religion. Because our roots are in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, we must continue to produce quality preachers for our pulpits. Preachers who are competent and compassionate… Preachers who are skilled in communication and community service... Our curriculum will be broad enough to meet the needs of any who desire ministry training.”
“The third area is Math, Natural Sciences and Technology. The need for skilled physicians, physicists and scientists is increasing annually. Allen University will become a part of the solution by providing quality graduates in the health professions and other related areas. We are pleased that this Division has become the fastest growing academic program on our campus. We have added two highly qualified Ph.D.s to this Division and will continue to strengthen this area by employing additional high quality faculty and by upgrading our classrooms and labs.”
“The fourth area is Business Administration. This is currently our largest academic program. However, we will move towards adding a concentration in accounting and finance. There is a dearth of qualified persons with excellent accounting and financial skills. In the area of Business Administration, Allen University will also continue to provide opportunities for non-traditional (adult) students to complete their college education. For many adults this is a deep desire. For others, it is a promise made to their mothers years ago. This program will be offered in a format that fits the schedules of individuals who work full-time.”
“Education is the fifth area. Historically, Allen University has produced teachers for elementary and secondary education. We desire to continue this great legacy. Therefore, we must find news ways to deliver this program in a manner that does not frustrate our students or become a financial burden to the University and students.”
“In order to realize our vision, some immediate work has to be done. Currently, we have one building in which most of our classes are held. We have already begun to identify funding sources to renovate Gibbs Hall and upgrade its science labs. We are grateful to announce that we have to date $2.2 million on hand to begin the renovation of Chappelle Hall. This building, once restored, will become the center for our business and finance programs and will also house administrative and faculty offices.”
“While the renovation of Chappelle Hall and Gibbs Hall represents the first phase in a building program, other construction projects are on the horizon as well. Flipper Library is one of six national historic buildings on our campus. We propose to renovate that building and use it for arts and the humanities. This means that a new construction to replace its use as a library will be required. Here, we propose building a first class Leadership Development and Academic Enhancement Center. Congressman James Clyburn (a member of the Board of Trustees) has already begun identifying funding for this project. This will be a single building which houses three Centers of Excellence.”
“The first center will be a Learning Resource Center. The second Center will be a Research and Technology Center that services all students on all educational levels. The Research and Technology Center will serve to strengthen individuals’ standardized testing capacity for SAT, PACT, GMAT, GRE and similar exams. In addition, this center will equip students in technology and computer science. Finally, it will serve as a research site for professional development for faculty and staff. The third Center of excellence will be Academic Enhancement. This center will house our reading and writing labs, as well as distance learning facilities.”
“We will also address our student housing needs. This plan calls for a 400-bed student housing complex, equipped with dinning facilities and Internet access in each room. Once the infrastructure is in place, we will aggressively implement our recruitment and retention model using a Total Life Curriculum model. Total Life Curriculum model is captured in our motto: ‘We teach the mind to think, the hand to work and the heart to love.’ We will bring students into an environment conducive to learning and success.”
“We will seek out capable students who are college ready. However, not all of our students come with the same capacity to do college work. Some will come with weaknesses in math, English and writing; some will not have great study habits or thinking skills, or know the value of timeliness, or how to properly present themselves to the public. Our objective is to bring them in as they are and give them the best of arts, sciences, and instill in them integrity, excellence, respect, accountability and faith. This will then prepare them to serve and to lead in a world in desperate need of people with sound character and sound skills, people who are creative, scholarly, and exemplify excellence.”
“We must prepare our students to function in what economist Richard Florida calls the ‘Creative Economy.’ This is an economy powered by human creativity. This is a shift from the agricultural economy of the 1900s or the industrial economy of the 40s and 50s. With this in mind, it becomes imperative that Allen University aid our students to become the people God created them to be. Each individual is created by God with some degree of creativity. This creativity, says Florida, involves distinct kinds of thinking, and habits that must be cultivated both in the individual and in the surrounding society. Students must also be cultivated. Each student who arrives on our campus is viewed as an individual with value and purpose. Students do not come to us as fully grown plants. They come as bulbs in need of cultivation. In the cultivation process, we let them see what we want them to be. They come as bulbs, God created them to be tulips. We bring them into a safe, clean, nurturing, learning environment. We are committed to giving them the right amount of rain, the right amount of sunshine and place them in the right temperature.”
“This is a bulb. (Dr. Young lifts a tulip bulb) God created it to be a tulip. It needs the right environment, at the right temperature, the right amount of sunshine, the right amount of rain. Give it time and it will become what God created it to be.” (Dr. Young raises a tulip)
Founded in 1870 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Allen University is an academic community whose mission is to provide education with a strong commitment to teaching and community service. Allen – the oldest historically Black university in South Carolina to be established by African Americans – is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
For additonal information contact:
Jason Darby Director of Marketing & Public Relations
Allen University 1530 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204
VOICE: 803.376.5749
FAX: 803.758.2694
http://www.allenuniversity.edu
5. BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Mrs. Willa B. Simon, wife of retired pastor, The Reverend Rayford R. Simon, Lee Chapel A. M. E. Church, Brownwood, Texas, passed away Friday, February 11, 2005.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Willa B. Simon: Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Viewing 11:00 a.m.
Services 12:00 Noon
Lee Chapel A. M. E. Church
911 Beaver Street
Brownwood, Texas 76801
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Rayford R. Simon
911 Beaver Street
Brownwood, TX 76801
6. ALL BEREAVEMENT NOTICES ARE SUBMITTED BY:
God Bless!Ora L. Easley, President
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