Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor
1. EDITOR’S CORNER:
The Winner(s) who answer(s) the question(s) concerning AME History will be announced in the next issue.
2. BISHOP MCKENZIE WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE 13TH ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH DAY ON CAPITOL HILL:
Bishop McKenzie will be the keynote speaker at the 13th annual African American Church Day on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 1, 2005 – 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Tennessee State University at the Avon Williams Campus on the 3rd floor Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee.
The purpose of African American Church Day on Capitol Hill is to educate the public regarding the legislative process and to focus on economic justice and equality through political advocacy and influence.
The public is invited and a free continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Submitted by Dr. Richard Lewis, Treasurer/CFO, AMEC Finance Department.
3. BETHEL, HUNTINGTON, NY WELCOMES PASTOR MICHAEL D. WASHINGTON:
Led by the efforts of the Steward Board and Sister Jennifer C. White, Chairperson, members and friends of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Huntington, NY joined to participate in a Community Welcome for the 32nd Pastor of the church. After opening with the invocation by Rev. George D. Spearmon, Jr.; scripture reading by Sister Victoria Motley; and explanation of the occasion by Sister Thelma Abidally, the next portion of the program proceeded. Words of welcome and encouragement to Rev. Washington were given by Bro. Donald Bentley on behalf of the Steward Board and Sis. Quetta Latimer on behalf of the Trustee Board. A representative of Frank Petrone, Supervisor of the Town of Huntington, extended a welcome on behalf of town officials. Bernard Reverdin of Old First Presbyterian Church welcomed Rev. Washington on behalf of the community churches and expressed a desire to continue the previously established frequent and varied fellowship exchanges between the churches. Music for the occasion was furnished by The Male Chorus, under the direction of Bro. Ulysses H. Spicer.
Rev. Dr. William R. Spencer spoke for the Ministerial Staff of Bethel, offering support, assistance, and loyalty to the new pastor. Rev. Vernon I. Lowe, Presiding Elder of the Jamaica-Long Island District and President of the Presiding Elders Council spoke in glowing terms about Rev. Washington and challenged the congregation to receive him wholeheartedly and to be in full support of his administration.
A personal highlight of the occasion was that Rev. E. Timothy Nathan, pastor of Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church, Birmingham, AL, was in attendance and was a participant on the program. Rev. Washington and Rev. Nathan were seminary students together at Turner Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA and have remained close friends since that time.
Pastor Washington arrived at Bethel, Huntington just in time to help celebrate the 161st anniversary of this historic church. He brings with him a willingness and eagerness to serve God’s people in Huntington. He quickly discovered the need of the congregants to be comforted and assured that he understands their concerns, given the recent events in the history of the church. Because of his deep understanding, this transition in leadership progresses smoothly. Pastor Washington began immediately to set forth his plans for the congregation to meet certain goals.
Rev. Washington is particularly interested in working with all members of the Huntington area clergy. He plans to become a member of the Huntington Hospital Chaplaincy Team and wishes to become an integral art of the Huntington community, in general. He places great stress on the importance of family and emphasizes the necessity for unity in all phases of our work for God. He envisions moving Bethel forward one step at a time and firmly believes that God will lead him and enable him to go forth with His work in this particular area of His vineyard.
4. REBUILDING ON THE LEGACY OF THE PAST, STANDING ON THE HOPE OF THE PRESENT, WHILE STRIVING FOR SPIRITUAL AND ECONOMIC LIBERATION FOR ALL PEOPLE:
By Charita Johnson-Burgess, Member of St. Mark A.M.E. Church
A Founder’s Day that was truly blessed by the Lord was held in the Thirteenth Episcopal District on Sunday, February 13th at St. Mark A.M.E. Church in Parsons, Tennessee, where the Reverend Sabrina Transou is the pastor. The Right Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the presiding prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District. This year’s Founder’s Day theme was, “Rebuilding on the Legacy of the Past, Standing on the Hope of the Present, While Striving for Spiritual and Economic Liberation for All People.”
The day was filled with history, inspiration, and reflection. The morning worship service began with a soul-inspiring sermon delivered by the Reverend Sabrina Transou who stated, “Before you know where you’re going, you have to know where you’re coming from.” Her text was taken from Habakkuk 2:2-4 with a focus on, “Their vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak.” She reminding the worshipers that their vision should be God’s vision for them; and when they trust God who gives them the vision, they will need to hold on to it, and in the end their vision will bear fruit. Reverend Transou closed her sermon with an admonition for each person to commend his or her spirit and vision into the Hands of the Lord as Moses was commended to the Lord after his birth; so must each of us commend our spirits, our visions, and ourselves to the Lord.
The high spiritual time of the morning service was followed by the rapture of the afternoon service with the inspiring message of Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie. Bishop McKenzie focused on the challenge of transitioning from the “ordinary life to extraordinary life.” Bishop McKenzie’s inspirational delivery had the congregation on its feet in praise and thanksgiving. She reminded the congregation that each person was a unique individual in the image of God and that God has a song for each person, that only he or she could sing. Bishop McKenzie went on to explain that God had a prayer for each person, that only he or she could pray; a sermon that only he or she could preach; because there is something in this world that God has appointed for each person, and what God gives to each person, only that person can do. Bishop McKenzie’s sermon directed those in attendance to the three needs that take them, “From the ordinary the extraordinary.” She went on to say, “People must be as Moses was: God directed; not moving before asking for God’s direction; God equipped, knowing that you are equipped with what is needed to carry out God’s task; and holding on to the assurance that God will not send you a alone - God will send each person, ‘an Aaron’ who is knowledgeable about what you must achieve.” Bishop McKenzie encouraged the congregation, “Do not to worry about having all the information, for when God directs and equips you, God will send someone with you…
(Read the complete article in The Christian Recorder)
Subscribe to the hardcopy Christian Recorder and receive it in the mail. You may call 800-648-8724 and make your payment using your credit card.
Or, you may send $26.00 check or money order for a one-year subscription to:
The Christian Recorder
512 8th Avenue South
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-4181
5. TEXAS ANNUAL CONFERENCE “GULF COAST MINISTERIAL ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SUNRISE SERVICES:
The Texas Conference "Gulf Coast Ministerial Alliance" will begin its Holy Week Services at Payne Cathedral of Faith AME Church, 2701 Lee Street, Houston, Texas. The Reverend Marshall Hobbs is the host pastor.
Holy Week worship services will begin Tuesday night March 22, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. nightly through Friday March 25. The alliance Easter Sunrise Service will at Payne Cathedral on Easter Sunday morning, March 27, at 6:00 a.m. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy the telling of "THE GOOD NEWS."
The Reverend Hunt Harris, President; the Reverend Herman Reese, Coordinator
6. LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Dear Dr. Sydnor
To God be the glory!!
I salute Presiding Elder Sidney W. Williams, Jr. for allowing us to glimpse into his past. Such an experience and cogent statement about what happened in the past should awaken us also.
By the way, for those that may not have known, on January 29, 2005, the Reverend Sidney W. Williams, Jr. celebrated 50 years of ministry at 3rd Street Bethel AMEC in Richmond, Virginia.
The Church of Allen continues to salute you Presiding Elder Williams!
The Reverend Norman VickThe Virginia Annual Conference
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
