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:
Editor’s Note: The letter below was sent by the Reverend H. Daniel Edwards, Pastor Carter Chapel CME Church, Lubbock, Texas to “Bishop” Robert L. McKenzie, who pastors in Lubbock and who heads Grace Ministries and Grace Theological Seminary. “Bishop McKenzie extended a call for AME, AMEZ, and CME pastors to join his “fellowship.” A few AME pastors allegedly accepted his invitation and were designated as “bishops.” Reverend Edwards’ letter puts the Grace Ministries and Grace Seminary in perspective and it shows his respect for the African Methodist Episcopal Church and for legitimate education and ministry.
- Dear “Bishop, Dr.” McKenzie:
First of all, allow me to congratulate you and your congregation, Good Shepherd Baptist Church, on the purchase of your current church facilities and your relocation, although it has been nearly two years since you have occupied those facilities. I have been a Lubbock resident and pastor in the city for less than one year and have enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie of the brethren and churches here in our fair West Texas city. However, over the past few days, some dark shadows have been cast over the city of Lubbock with your vile and insulting letters to the Editor of the AME Church Christian Recorder as well as to the Rev. Joe Darby of Charleston, SC, Senior Pastor of the largest African-American Church in South Carolina, Morris Brown AME Church; state NAACP official and pastor of one of our finest U. S. Congressmen, James Clyburn.
In your effort to solicit students for your “school” (wherever it is located), you sent an email to Rev. Joe Darby and to other AME ministers across the country stating the affordability and productivity of your “seminary.” When Rev. Darby informed other on-line readers that the school, faculty, course of study, your consecration of Bishops who are pastoring in other churches including the Methodist bodies (AME, AME Zion and CME Churches) was more like a hoax than anything else, you began attacking the credibility of these bodies and ministers.
The AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church is the oldest African-American denomination in the Western World and your attacks, insults and negative innuendoes have caused YOU, not the AME Church, much harm and widens a credibility gap in your ministry here in Lubbock. Here in our city, you have alienated some of the most affluent citizens who happen to be members of the United Methodist, AME, and CME Churches. Bethel AME Church, here in the city of Lubbock, has some of the finest, Christian men and women you would ever want to meet. The past city Councilman and current Newspaper Editor of the Southwest Digest, T. J. Patterson, is not only a Steward of Bethel but is also a Trustee of Paul Quinn College in Dallas (an AME Church owned and operated institution). Dr. Heenan Johnson, Sr. and Jr. are both officers of Bethel Church and are assets to the medical community as well as several educators, school principals and business men and women. There needs to be an apology to the Methodist community, black and white, in particular and to the Christian Churches of Lubbock in general for your recent un-Christian behavior.
From my understanding, Lubbock has been one of the most progressive cities in the nation when it comes to ecumenical relations and inter-racial cooperation among the churches. However, you are on the verge of alienating and interrupting that genuine Christian fellowship which has been preserved for many, many decades.
As a response to your accusations and claims, it would certainly clear the air of any mis-communication and understandings if you would respond to the following:
Where is the campus for the school since the church’s facilities here in Lubbock are quite small and inadequate for a seminary? Is there an office for the seminary that we can peruse your seminary material(s)? Who are the members of the Board of Trustees?
Who are the instructors in the program since it offers terminal degrees and states that it is accredited? There is only one Black minister (and he has 7 earned degrees from some of the best schools in Texas and the country) in Lubbock or between Ft. Worth and El Paso who could even teach at an accredited seminary with credentials leading to a Ph.D. or a terminal degree since all the analytical tools and research methodologies must be mastered and he is United Methodist D. S. and former A. M. E. and his degrees are from accredited schools. Do you know of any others? If so, please provide us with their names and the schools they have attended. Moreover, the United Methodist Church as well as other Methodist connections screen their ministers carefully for any serious violations that would affect their denominations adversely.
Aside from the one African American minister with earned doctorates, there are only 2 other African American ministers in Lubbock that we are aware of who have earned seminary degrees from accredited seminaries; Rev. Will Tanner, M. Div. from Virginia Union, pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church and myself, Rev. H. Daniel Edwards (formerly an AME pastor in Oklahoma and Texas), M. Div. from Perkins and Phillips School of Theology, currently the pastor of Carter Chapel CME Church in Lubbock. If there are others among the more than one-hundred ministers here in Lubbock, please provide us with their names and the accredited seminaries from which they are graduates.
Since the program is so “affordable” and “accessible”, why has it not been advertised in the Lubbock and West Texas communities?
You have been in Lubbock approximately two years and are now “Bishop”; no other pastors in this area are aware of you possessing such title but you do refer to yourself as “Dr.” among the brethren. Are there congregations in Lubbock who are members of your “fellowship of Churches” and if so, can you please provide us with the names of these churches?
The only continuing education seminary in Lubbock that we are aware of and that is accredited is maintained by the United Methodist Church; do you know of others? Moreover, there is a difference in honorary degrees and the earned ones that you claim your school can bestow upon an individual after matriculation.
You started in your letter to the “AME Christian Recorder On-Line”: “As a 41-year-old black man with 7 earned degrees I have fully come to understand the term, ‘Crab Mentality.’” Will you please provide us with the names of the schools you graduated from, the dates and degrees you received and the academic area(s) of concentration?
You also stated, “After being a graduate of Criswell College for Biblical Studies in Dallas, Perkins School of Theology on the campus of Southern Methodist University and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, I clearly understood the high price of education.” We have several alumnae of Perkins School of Theology at SMU and Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary here in the Lubbock area and throughout Texas and the country; will you please inform us of the years you studied at these institutions and the dates of graduation?
According to the Association of Theological Seminaries located in Pittsburgh which accredits all seminaries in the U. S., Canada and the Caribbean, the Grace Valley Theological Seminary does not exist. The ONLY seminary with a name Grace is located in Winona Lake, MN and it is owned by the Church of the Brethren.
Will you please provide us with the names of the “State Bishops”, “Jurisdictional Bishops” and your “Executive Staff?”
We need to begin identifying pastors, ministers and others with instant ordinations as well as those who claims to have doctoral or master degrees but are in reality only from diploma mills, un-accredited schools, many of which are non-existent, Yet many of these pastors do not distinguish between HONORARY DEGREES and EARNED DEGREES.
W. A. Criswell Bible School of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas of which you, the Grace Valley Theological Seminary President are a graduate of, and received a “doctorate,” is neither an accredited seminary nor can any graduate of it teach at an accredited school. This school was organized by the late arch-conservative, Rev. W. A. Criswell, D. D. long time pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas.
It is an insult to the Methodist Church and other denominations by advertising a “quick, diploma mill” education for their constituencies. The AME, AME Zion, CME and United Methodist Churches have been in the forefront of education for their ministers and lay persons for many generations. As a result, SMU, Claremont, Iliff, Boston University, Syracuse University, Duke University, Drew University, Vanderbilt University, Union Theological Seminary, Northwestern University, Emory University, Wilberforce University, Lane College, Paul Quinn, Livingstone College and many other universities and seminaries, owned and operated by these Methodist denominations have existed for years to educate not only their clergy and laity, but those from other denominations as well. As a matter of fact, more than half of all the accredited private universities and seminaries in the U. S. and Canada are owned by these Methodist connections.
The address for the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is: Susan Beckerdite, Accrediting Coordinator; - 10 Summit Park Drive – Pittsburgh, PA 15275-1103 Telephone: (412) -788-6505, extension 222.
The only accredited Protestant seminaries in the state of Texas are: Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX; Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, TX; Austin Presbyterian School of Theology in Austin, TX; Houston Graduate School of Theology in Houston, TX; Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX; Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, TX; Abilene Christian Graduate School of Theology in Abilene, TX; and George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University. If you find this list lacking, please inform us and we will correct the list.
I await your answers, and in the meantime, we are studying the matter to see if it warrants an investigation by the Association of Theological Schools, the Southern Baptist Convention (of which you are member), the IRS, the FBI and the City Attorney’s office. Hopefully, it will not have to come to this.
Yours in Christian Service,
Rev. H. Daniel Edwards, Pastor
Carter Chapel CME Church
420 N. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Lubbock, TX 79403
Editor’s Note: The entire situation with Grace Ministries and Grace Theological Seminary should cause us, as a Church, to review our credentialing procedures. I shutter to think that we have pastors who may have use fraudulent credentials, such as Grace Theological Seminary to access our ministerial orders.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is a respected and legitimate religious institution and one of the major Christian church bodies in the United States and in the world. Ministers credentialed by the AME church can transfer to any of the Methodist family of churches and to other denominations, i.e., Baptist, Church of God in Christ, Episcopal, etc. Our credentials are recognized and transferable to other Christian denominations, so it is imperative that we ordain only those persons who are spiritually and academically qualified and who possess the highest moral and ethical standards. The time is past for accepting what applicants tell us they have done. The Church, i.e., Boards of Examiners; bishops must take the hard stand and require applicants to submit documents that are verified.
Applicants for ministry in the African Methodist Episcopal Church should be required to submit letters of recommendation; sealed official transcripts sent directly to the Boards of Examiners by academic institutions; and if an applicant has served in the military, the applicant should be required to submit an original or certified copy of the DD Form 214. Boards of Examiners should no longer accept copies of transcripts and copies of the DD Form 214.
If applicants have attended unaccredited institutions, they should be encouraged to legitimize themselves by attending an accredited institution.
The Church needs to insure that it credentials only those who are qualified and who intend to serve God and God’s people in our Zion. We should not be preparing ministers to serve in other denominations.
2. FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Regretfully we share news of the passing today, April 7, 2005, of Sister Pauline Williams, mother of Episcopal Supervisor Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant and mother-in-law of Bishop John Richard Bryant, Presiding Bishop of the 5th Episcopal District.
Service arrangements for Sister Pauline Williams are pending and the information will be forthcoming.
Contact Information for the Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant and Bishop John R. Bryant:
Residence: 5420 Reynier Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90056-0539
310-568-9802 - Phone
Or
5th Episcopal District AME Church
1968 West Adams Blvd
Suite 401
Los Angeles, CA 90018
323-730-7706 - Phone
323-735-8042– FAX
Please remember the family in your prayers.
Blessings, Doris Denson-Belcher
President 5th District Clergy Family Org.
3. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Regretfully we share news of the passing of Retired Presiding Elder C. E. Shepherd, retired Presiding Elder of the Thomasville - Bainbridge District, South Georgia Conference, Sixth Episcopal District, and the spouse of Mrs. Lillard Shepherd, a founding member of CONN-M-SWAWO + PK’S.
Arrangements are pending.
Contact Information:
Mrs. Lillard Shepherd
P.O. Box 874
Moultrie, GA 31768
229-985-4595
Please remember Mrs. Shepherd and the family in your prayers.
4. ALL FUNERAL AND DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS RECEIVED FROM:
Ora L. Easley
Email: Amespouses1@aol.com
(Nashville, TN Contact)
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Fax: (615) 833-3781
(Memphis, TN Contact)
(901) 578-4554 (Phone & Fax)
CONN-M-SWAWO +PK'SWEB SITES
http://www.amemswwpk.org/http://www.connmswawo3.com/CONN-M-SWAWO + P.K.'S June 2005 Events
5. SUMMER ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM:
The Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology at Grambling State University is hosting a “Summer Engineering Technology Program for Women of Color” and would like assistance in advertising.
Attached are the document for this and the website is: http://www.geocities.com/shirleymflinders/setp.html
Thank you for your assistance. If you know of other sites that I can post for free please let me know. Shirley Flinders
Instructor of Electronic Engineering Technology
(318) 274-2898 SETP
Summer Engineering Technology Program for Women of ColorJune 26 – July 1, 2005
Grambling State University
6. JOBS / MASSIVE RECRUITING EFFORT:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is undertaking a massive recruiting effort and is advertising nationwide to attract highly-qualifiedcandidates. The Bureau plans to hire several thousand new employees - both special agents and support staff - by September 30th.
Bureau officials saythey are looking for a wide variety of personnel, including information technology specialists, fingerprint examiners,lawyers, linguists and translators, electronic technicians, investigative specialists, and administrative assistants.
Those interested in applying can now use the Bureau’s new online automatedhiring management system. For details, go tohttp://www.fbi.gov/page2/jan05/hired012805.htm_ (http://www.fbi.gov/page2/jan05/hired012805.htm)
Good news for job hunters: the FBI is hiring-and not just Special Agents. We're looking for a few thousand good men and women with a wide range of technical, scientific, analytic, and other skills. We plan to hire over2,000 support professionals this year alone.The jobs? All over the map: Intelligence analysts. IT specialists.Fingerprint examiners. Lawyers. Linguists and translators. Electronictechnicians. Investigative specialists. Administrative assistants. Andmore.
7. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - RADIOCHEMISTRY SOCIETY:
The Radiochemistry Society is now providing graduate fellowships and undergraduate scholarships. This is an opportunity to indirectly fund your research and promote science. Please encourage your student to apply before the May 1, 2005 deadline.
Please follow this link for a complete description of the program & application process: http://www.radiochemistry.org/scholarship/index.shtml
We look forward to hearing from you.
Larry A. Burchfield, PhD
Radiochemistry Society
Web: www.Radiochemistry.org
Email: info@Radiochemistry.org
Editor's Note: Please check out the scholarship information for yourself.
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
