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. THE EDITOR’S CORNER:
Reference the Question, Which bishop in Methodism in a three day period was ordained a deacon one day, an itinerant elder the next day, and set aside for the bishopric the next day.
Editor’s note:
- No one answered the question. The correct answer is Francis Asbury. The answer can be found in the book, The Romance of African Methodism by the late Dr. George A. Singleton. It’s an excellent book and most of the question asked can be found in that book, since it covers the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
- This past weekend a minister opined that my questions were too hard. I apologize for that. After Stephen Green, a 13 year-old answered several questions I thought that the questions were too easy and thought that I would raise the bar, especially since I was giving away a prize.
2. BE CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING "ACADEMIC SHORTCUTS" SUCH AS IN THIS MESSAGE BELOW WHICH WAS SHARED BY THE REVEREND DR. JOE DARBY. THIS IS AN UNACCREDITED PROGRAM AND THE AUTHOR OF THE MESSAGE SAYS THAT, “THEY HAVE BISHOPS WHO ARE AME BUT ARE NOT BISHOPS IN THE AME CHURCH SYSTEM.” ESPECIALLY CHECK OUT THE BOLDED COLORED PRINT IN THE MESSAGE BELOW:
My name is Bishop Robert L. McKenzie and I am the Presiding Bishop for Grace Ministries International Fellowship. GMIF is the fastest and most progressive fellowship in the nation at this point and we are expanding our operations and leadership. At this this time I would like to invite you to take a look and see what GMIF has to offer you and your church.
1. We provide a fellowship of churches where we can worship together inspite of race, gender and denomination.
2. We assist churches in programs of church growth, leadership development, evangelism training and much more for FREE.
It is our main focus to assist those churches in reaching the next level in ministry. We also offer a fully accredited seminary where you may earn your M.Div, D.Min, Th.D. and Ph.D all by seminary extention. Just by becoming a member of the fellowship as a pastor you will recieve a fully scholarship to attend seminary in order to be able to fully equip your congregation and enhance your ministry overall.
You may have a concern about being connected to a connectional church such as AME, CME and AME ZION and being a part of this fellowship. Well, that is exactly what it is, A FELLOWSHIP, not a denomination. We have in our fellowship Bishops who are AME but not Bishops in the AME church system. It is not our desire to pull away churches from thier denomination but to only get those pastors in the fellowship who have a vision of being a part of a growing ministry to assist smaller churches who struggle with doing ministry but cannot afford the price tag of growth.
We are also at this time looking to bring on pastors who feel the call of greater leadership in thier lives. You may now apply for the positions of State Bishops, Jurisdictional Bishops and Regional Overseers. Also I still have some positions on my National Executive Staff still available for those interested. I believe that becomeing part of Grace Ministries would be a great experience for you and your church or ministry.
I clearly need you to understand that we are not a paper mill for a seminary and nor or we begging for memberships. We are simply saying that if this fits your vision for ministry and advancement this here is an option for you to view.
You may view our seminary site at: http://www.graceseminary.org/ and you may apply for ministry positions at: http://www.gsbclube_Ministries.htm and you may also apply to join the fellowship as well. If you have any questions then you may contact me at: 806-744-7466 and I will be glad to take and talk to you.Grace and Peace, Bishop Dr. Robert L. McKenzie, Presiding BishopGrace Ministries International Fellowship and Grace Valley Theological Seminary
Editor’s note: Check out the bold colored print. Please do not "illegitimize" yourself by being a part of this “ministry.” The African Methodist Episcopal Church does not recognize the institution listed in this message. I made numerous spelling corrections in the message above and got disgusted and quit making corrections. I would hope that we do not have any ministers passing themselves off as bishop.
3. SEVEN AME PASTORS HONORED AS MILLENNIA WOMEN BY OUR TEXAS MAGAZINE:
DALLAS, TEXAS (March 22, 2005) - A special reception was held at the Comer Cottrell Center on the Campus of Paul Quinn College, Dallas, Texas on March 11, 2005 honoring Twenty Female Pastors from around the State as Millennia Women. The Pastors chosen were from the AME, CME, Presbyterian, Baptist, Full Gospel, Lutheran, UMC and non-denominational Churches. Seven of the senior pastors honored are Pastors in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The reception coincided with the March release of the Our Texas Magazine article highlighting these trailblazing pastors. The AME honorees are the Reverends Delphine Lynetta Vasser, pastor of St. James AME Church, Terrell, Texas; Ella Mae McDonald, pastor of Agape Temple AME Church, Dallas, Texas; Beverly Sherri Freeman, Victory Temple AME Church, Duncanville, Texas; Gloria Porter Cash, pastor of St. James AME Church, Dickinson, Texas; Dr. Jacquelyn Donald-Mims, pastor of Imani Community AME Church, Austin, Texas; Brenda Beckford Payne, pastor of Reedy Chapel AME Church, Galveston, Texas and Patricia Wilcox Smith, pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church, Beaumont, Texas. Three of the seven pastors, Freeman, Donald-Mims and Payne are also church planters and Pastor McDonald is nearing the completion of the building of a new edifice.
Another article in this issue of Our Texas entitled “Passion” featured Bishop Sarah Frances Davis, the Presiding Prelate of the 18th Episcopal District and the former senior pastor of Bethel AME Church, San Antonio, Texas.
In addition to being presented copies of the publication each pastor was also given a citation from the Governor of the State of Texas, a State Senate Resolution honoring their recognition, and a commemorative plague with pictures of all the honorees.
The Honorable Maryellen Hicks, former Appellate Court Justice served as Emcee. Greetings were brought by Dr. Dwight Fennell, President of Paul Quinn College; Charles O. Neal, Vice President of The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Dallas Alumnae Chapter, State Senator Royce West’s Office and Mr. General Berry, Jr., Publisher of Our Texas Magazine. Dr. Meta Carstarphen, Associate Professor of Journalism & Mass Communications at the University of Oklahoma, gave the keynote address.
The evening closed with a Fashion Show presented by Forty Plus Models-Inc., of Houston, Texas.
Jesse McCauley, Saturn Territorial Manager and Jim Smith, Saturn Dealer of Lewisville, Irving, and Plano, Texas sponsored the catered affair.
Congratulations to Millennia Women!
Article submitted by Brianna Foley
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
