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:
- I do not have a correct response to yesterday’s question.
- The name of the Connectional Officer whose name I didn’t know yesterday who was present at the Global Development Council Meeting was Sister Passion A. N. Musa, 20th Episcopal District President and Connectional 3rd Vice President of the Women's Missionary Society, AME Church.
- More of the account of my visit to Johannesburg, South Africa and Harare, Zimbabwe to attend the Global Development Council:
I left home in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, April 29th and flew to Atlanta, Georgia where I met Dr. George Flowers, the Secretary of Global Witness and Missions for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He gave me an overview of what to expect and shared some important travel tips, as I had not traveled to Africa; it was my first visit to the Continent. I experienced some anxiousness as we boarded the South African Airlines Airbus A340-600 for the 17 hour, 50 minute flight to Johannesburg, with a refueling stop at Cape Verde.
We arrived in Johannesburg at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning. We were scheduled to depart for Harare, Zimbabwe at 7:20 p.m. I was fortunate that Dr. Flowers had arranged for the Reverend O. J. Matchabe, pastor of Jordan Temple AME Church, Kathlehong, Germiston and the Reverend M. Jerry Mokhatsi, senior pastor of Robinson Temple Vosloorus AME Church and acting Presiding Elder of the Germiston District to meet us and to give us a tour of some of the churches in the Johannesburg area. Johannesburg is beautiful city and covers a wide area. It didn’t remind me of any particular city, but looked more like one of the cities in the western area of the United States. We went to Soweto and that was a moving experience for me because I had read so much about Soweto. I thought that it would be about the size of a small American town, but was I wrong! Soweto is huge; I was told that Soweto has a population of about 2 million residents. I was told look as far as I could see and that, and more, was Soweto. We drove, and drove and drove and it seemed as if Soweto was not going to end. We visited two AME Churches in Soweto, one of which was the church that Bishop Messiah pastored before becoming elected and consecrated a bishop. The churches in Soweto seemed to me to be the centers of the community in Soweto. We also visited the Wilberforce Community College and the R.R. Wright Theological Seminary and spoke with the President, the Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Leeshope and several of the seminary students, who come from Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, several other countries and of course, South Africa. It’s an international campus in the trust sense. Bishop James Davis, the presiding Bishop of the 19th Episcopal District and Dr. Leeshope are doing the work of preparing ministers of the gospel for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They are using what they have, but it is apparent that the African Methodist Episcopal Church needs to provide more assistance and it might mean that the Church needs to redefine how it helps the overseas academic institutions. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but both the Wilberforce Community College and the R. R. Wright Theological Seminary needs some serious assistance; and I am not just thinking about money. In addition to money I am thinking about visiting professors, carpenters, exchange students from Payne and Turner Theological Seminaries, and teachers going over at their own expense or sponsored by some of our mega churches. I am not speaking about change that needs General Conference legislation or political persuasion. I am not talking about budget increases. More than money, I am speaking about Holy Ghost-filled, Christ-committed persons who want to facilitate change and growth. I am talking about a “grass-roots Holy Spirit-filled revolution.” I am not talking about shouting and lifting our hands in praise; I am talking about “work” and putting our hands to tasks that need serious attention. You know what; I am jumping ahead of myself. Later, when I write about the Global Development Meeting in Harare, I will share an example of what I mean I tell you about Brother Chidzungu of Malawi who was a teacher at a Presbyterian School. He noticed that the teachers made fun of the AME students so he started an AME school where the AME children could learn without being mistreated. He was a “grass-roots movement of one.”
We left Soweto and went to a nice restaurant in a nice area before heading back to the airport for our flight to Harare. When Dr. Flowers and I got to the departure gate, we saw a number of AMEs and I felt right at home because, even in Africa, we greeted each other as only AMEs can! We boarded the plane for the 1 ½ hour flight to Harare. Bishop James Davis and Bishop Samuel Green were on the flight along with some of the ministerial and lay leaders of the overseas Episcopal Districts. The airport in Johannesburg is a hub like Atlanta and it seemed to me that to get anywhere in southern Africa, one must go through Johannesburg.
We arrived at the International Airport of Harare at about 9 p.m. local time. The airport in Harare is small, similar to some of our small town airports in the U.S. as opposed to the International Airport in Johannesburg, which is huge; think Atlanta or Chicago. We were met by Bishop Messiah, who was the ultimate host. Transportation was ready and we all were taken to the Harare Sheraton Hotel where we were met by Episcopal Supervisor, Mother Carol Messiah. Our rooms were ready after getting settled in our rooms and after a welcome reception, we retired for the night. I needed the bed because I had gotten up at 3:30 a.m. Monday morning to get ready for my 6:30 a.m. departure from Nashville, Tennessee. It was Tuesday evening at around 11 p.m. when I finally settled in my room for the night.
Even though the hour was late, the work of the bishops was not done. Bishops Wilfred Messiah, James Davis, Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Samuel Green, and Sarah Davis had a late night meeting to finalize the agenda for the GDC Meeting that was going to take place on Wednesday morning.
The ministerial and lay leadership from the overseas Districts 16 – 20 had arrived and were ready to do the work of the Church. (To be continued.)
Editor’s note: I am going to stop right here and will continue the full report of the GDC Meeting in the next issue of The Christian Recorder Online.
There is much work that needs to be done in Districts 16-20 and the next article provides a potential orientation point and, hopefully, might be a motivating “vehicle” to encourage persons to volunteer or be sponsored to serve in the overseas districts.
2. INVITATION TO JOIN THE GLOBAL MINISTRY OF THE CONNECTIONAL LAY ORGANIZATION IN JOHANNESBURG AND CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, MARCH 1-11, 2006:
You are invited you to join the Global Ministry of The Connectional Lay Organization in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, March 1-11, 2006.
The excursion will focus on Lay Organization outreach and Lay Ministry training. For information about this exciting 10-day ministry excursion visit the Connectional Lay Organization website: http://www.amec-connectionallay.org/ .
After you have reviewed the itinerary, please complete the registration form to reserve your space, and return it to the address provided. Should you have any questions, please call Xodus International Group, Inc. at 703-971-9660 and reference the AME Connectional Lay South African Excursion.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in South Africa.
Sincerely,
Jesse L. Burns,
President, Connectional Lay Organization
3. THOUSANDS WITNESS HEALING BY "THE POWER OF ONE":
Farrakhan: "I'm in Pain"
By Stephanie and Eric Stradford
The Christian Recorder, May 2, 2005, Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ft. Washington, MD - The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan climbed out of a wheelchair last night to declare his independence through, "The Power of One." "I'm in pain," repeated the 72 year old visionary of the 1995 Million Man March. The physical pain endured by the charismatic leader of the Nation of Islam might inspire one in a million to seek emergency healing.
Minister Farrakhan stood on a bad back for nearly an hour preaching the Gospel from the empowering pulpit at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church. "I feel at peace here," said the minister. He had come to a place where millions of modern day Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Gentiles have found relief.
The Ebenezer "Family," widely known for setting a mood, stood with Co-Pastors Grainger and Jo Ann Browning to usher in the miracle of THE MILLIONS MORE MOVEMENT. Minister Keith Williams' humble spirit led a choir of 300 in proclaiming, "The Spirit of The Lord is here!" The gathering rose to their feet to receive a message from The Rt. Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Bishop of the AME Church's 13th Episcopal District. The first woman to be elected bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church left little room for doubt that this was the right place at the right time for healing Africa's legendary Stolen People.
The Reverend Willie F. Wilson serves as National Executive Director for THE MILLIONS MORE MOVEMENT. Flanked by an army of co-conveners, the pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church is among the first to experience "The Power of One." It reached to the highest mountain, touched The Rev. Al Sharpton (2004 Democratic Presidential Candidate); and has inspired leadership from all walks of life. Dr. Dorothy I. Height (President Emeritus National Council of Negro Women); Bishop Larry D. Trotter (Senior Pastor, Sweet Holy Spirit Church Presiding Prelate of the United Pentecostal Church of Christ); and Sister Phile Chionesu, Founder /President of the Million Woman March); are but a few of the well-known names.
But the "Power of One" is not an asset held only for the well-known or the religiously endowed. It has a demonstrated capacity for reaching high mountains, flowing through valleys, and never losing. Did we fail to mention Tavis Smiley (National News TV/Radio Talk Show Host/Philanthropist); Actor Kene Holliday (TV Matlock's Tyler Hudson); John and Joyce Brown, (Mega Corporation), and Mr. Danny Bakewell (Activist/Developer/ Founder of Brotherhood Crusade)?
"What do you all have in common?" asked Minister Farrakhan. The list of who's who among America's most gifted seemed endless. Nelson Mandela, Cecily Tyson, Dick Gregory, Coretta Scott King, Ambassador Andrew Young, The Honorable Anthony William (D.C. Mayor), The Honorable John Conyers, Dr. C. DeLores Tucker (National Congress of Black Women), Mother Tynetta Muhammad, Danny Glover, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Stevie Wonder, Senator Barack Obama, Dean Evans Crawford (Howard U. School of Divinity, ret.), Will and Jada Smith, Mr. Art Blackwell (Financial Manager of Highland Park, Michigan/Former Wayne County Commissioner); Rev. Clay Evans, Dr. Arthur A. Fletcher, (Father of the Affirmative Action Enforcement Movement); Marc Morial (Urban League), The Honorable Alexis Herman (Former, U.S. Secretary of Labor), Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth (SCLC), The Honorable Maxine Waters, Dr. Ron Daniels Executive Director, Center for Constitutional Rights); Prince Assiel Ben Israel (Ambassador Black Hebrew Israelites); The Honorable L. Douglas Wilder (Former Governor VA), Yolanda Adams, Mr. Jim Brown President/CEO I Can, Inc. and NFL Hall of Frame); Brother Ben Brown (Nationalist/ Author/Community Organizer);US Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, DC); Dr. Ron Walters (Distinguished Leadership Scholar & Director, African American Leadership Institute); Charles Ogletree (Harvard U), Susan Taylor (Essence), Rev. Jesse Jackson (Rainbow PUSH Coalition); Dr. Benjamin Chavis (Former National Executive Director of the Million Man March and Million Family March); Councilmember Marion Barry (Former DC Mayor) and Cora Masters Barry; Mr. Jack Johnson (Prince Georges County, Maryland County Executive); Rev. Floyd Flake and Rev. Walter Fauntroy (Former US Congressmen); Dr. Conrad Worrill (National Black United Front); Dr. Julian Bond (Chairman, NAACP); Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III (Chief Operating Officer, NAACP); Dr. Maulana Karenga (Professor of the Department of Black Studies, California State University, Long Beach); Dr. Ramona Edelin (National Urban Coalition); Bill Lucy (Former Pres. AFLCIO), Dr. Ben Carson, Dr. Jocelyn Elder (Former U.S. Surgeon General), Dr. Julianne Malveaux (Columnist/Author/Commentator); Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson (Presiding Prelate, 2nd Episcopal District, AME Church); Bishop Warren Brown (Mid-Atlantic II Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church); Dr. Major L. Jemison (President of National Progressive Baptist Convention); Dr. Claud Anderson, Dr. Earl Graves, Magic Johnson, Dr. Cornell West, Stephanie and Eric Stradford, Youth Achievers USA; Hannibal Afrique (NCOBRA/Nationalist) Donna Brazile (former Presidential Campaign Manager for Al Gore), and many more.
The common factor for these and "MILLIONS MORE" is "The Power of One."
Still don't get it? You possibly didn't get Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers, WEB DuBois, Harriet Tubman, Richard Allen or Absolom Jones either. A revolution, evinced by love, began more than 2000 years ago. It came with healing, wholeness, and endless possibilities for peace and prosperity. The Power of One will come to your house. The question is how will you receive it?
4. THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS BEGINS SECOND PHASE
By Rev. Dr. Lugenia Johnson
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Strategic Planning Core Committee (SPCC) met to begin the second phase of planning and evaluating ministry in the 21st Century, on Monday and Tuesday, March 7 and 8, 2005, at the Marriott Airport Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, under the direction of the Council of Bishops; and, lead by Co-Conveners Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District; Bishop McKinley Young, Presiding Prelate of the Eleventh Episcopal District; and, Bishop Garnett Henning, Presiding Prelate of the Eighth Episcopal District. This second phase of the SPCC will examine issues arising out of the more than 25,000 survey responses from members of the Connectional AME Church such as declining membership, young adult participation, worship trends, empowerment and inclusion of men in the church, job descriptions and performance evaluations. The SPCC will also focus on developing recommendations for the completion of a feasibility study on making the Episcopal Districts more equitable in size and membership.
As a result of two major surveys and of twenty-five thousand plus responses from AME’s across the Connectional Church, several pieces of legislation were presented and five pieces of legislation passed the legislative process at the 47th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference that was held in Indianapolis. Among the pieces of legislation that passed the legislative process was Bill CC – 2 which requires a feasibility study to examine making the Episcopal Districts of the Church more equitable. This feasibility study was remanded to the SPCC for completion by December 2005, and, presentation to the General Board in 2006. Other issues voiced by the stakeholders of the AMEC from across the Connectional Church will be reviewed, prioritized, and discussed upon the completion of the recommendations for the feasibility study.
The Strategic Planning Core Committee was envisioned and birthed through the Counsel of Bishops and the General Board of the AMEC following the 46th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference for the purpose of allowing all of the stakeholders of the AME Church to have a voice in planning for the future of the Church. The SPCC has coordinated ideas, plans, and information with the Global Development Council in an effort to plan for the future of the Connectional AMEC. This bold new vision, the AMEC SPCC, began the work of its charge in Baltimore MD, September 28 – 30, 2002 with approximately ninety – five representatives to include individuals from all departments of the church.
On Monday and Tuesday, March 7 – 8, 2005, a total of seventy – seven representatives from Episcopal Districts 1 – 14, and 16 assembled together at the Marriott Airport Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee to begin the implementation of this second phase of the process. Feelings of excitement and anticipation permeated the atmosphere as five bishops, one Episcopal Supervisor, five General Officers, one General Officer’s spouse, four Connectional Officers, presiding elders, pastors, missionaries, members of the lay, one chaplain, and; members of the Youth, and Young Adult Departments diligently worked with the very critical tasks at hand. This Core Strategic Planning Committee was composed of twenty-eight of the original Episcopal District representatives, along with twenty–nine newly appointed Episcopal District representatives, and five observers.
The SPCC began the process of developing recommendations for the completion of the feasibility study for making the Episcopal Districts more equitable with the following steps:
- Determining a definition of the problem: The rationale as explained in the Legislative Bill CC2 defined the nature of the problem and the need for making the Episcopal Districts more equitable. The SPCC began the task of clearly defining the different entities of the Church as outlined in the legislation, i.e. Episcopal district, annual conference, presiding elder district, local church; and, mission church.
- Analyzing the Problem: The members of the SPCC were assigned the task of continuing the research and information gathering in his/her respective Episcopal districts so that the committee may be able to proceed with the most accurate information possible on which to develop recommendations for the general Church, and, that all stakeholders may have the opportunity for input.
Developing Recommendations: Once the information and data have been gathered and analyzed, the SPCC will develop recommendations for completing the feasibility study on the process of making the Episcopal districts more equitable.
Presenting Recommendations: According to the parameters set forth in the legislation, the SPCC has a target date of December 2005 to make initial recommendations to the General Board and to the Bishops’ Council.
Subsequent SPCC meetings have been scheduled for May 23–24, July 11–12, September 19–20, and November 28–29, in Nashville, Tennessee. Stakeholders are welcome to attend and participate in the process.
5. BRYANT TEMPLE A.M.E. CHURCH, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA WILL HOST 2nd ANNUAL WOMEN'S HEALTH AWARENESS DAY:
Bryant Temple A.M.E. Church [Rev. Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr.] in conjunction with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, LASB Alumnae Chapter and The Palms Residential Care Facility, will host their 2nd Annual Women's Health Awareness Day, Saturday, May 14, 2005, 10 a.m. – 2 p m., 2525 W. Vernon Avenue [corner of 4th Ave. & Vernon, church lot - Los Angeles], Admission is Free. Our goal is to address significant health issues affecting women in the community. Free screenings may save a life, especially that of an uninsured women. Our focus is HIV/AIDS; however, this year we introduce Mental Health Awareness. Dr. Rosie Milligan leads our workshop on HIV/AIDS and Dr. Verda Bradley will discuss depression, stress, and anxiety. Our participants include: American Red Cross, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Minority AIDS Project, Crenshaw Expo Medical Center, 24 Hr. Fitness, YWCA, Curves, Jamba Juice, Awesome Chiropractic. Our Free Screenings: HIV/AIDS, Hypertension, Diabetes, STDs, Bone Marrow, Obesity/Nutrition and more. We'll have massages to reduce stress and Mary Kay. Fun for the kids in our Kids Korner!! Live performance by Chosen Gospel Ministry.
For more information call 323-293-6201 ext 201 or visit, http://www.blogger.com/www.bryanttemple.org, or http://www.blogger.com/www.abc7.com.
6. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:
The finalized funeral arrangements for Mrs. Ruby Kirkland Jones who passed on Friday, April 29, 2005, the oldest sister (matriarch) of Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland, Presiding Bishop of the Ninth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church are as follows:
Family Visitation:
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
6:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Smith & Gaston Mortuary
102 6th Avenue, SW
Birmingham, AL 35211
205-322-3581 (Fax)
Funeral
Thursday, May 5, 2005
St. Paul AME Church (Wylam)
1223 Portland Street
Birmingham, AL 35224
205-781-1756 (Phone)
Messages of condolence may be sent to:
Bishop and Mrs. Theodore Larry Kirkland & Family
2101 Daniel Payne Drive
Building 2
Birmingham, AL 35212
205-791-1908 (Phone)
205-791-1905 – FAX
Or to:
Smith & Gaston Mortuary
102 6th Avenue, SW
Birmingham, AL 35211
205-322-3581 (Fax)
Or to:
Bishop and Mrs. Theodore Larry Kirkland and Family
2120 Park Brook Lane
Birmingham, AL 35215
205-854-2878 (Fax)
God Bless!Ora L. Easley
Email: Amespouses1@aol.com
(Nashville, TN Contact) Phone: (615) 837-9736Fax: (615) 833-3781
(Memphis, TN Contact) (901) 578-4554 (Phone & Fax)
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
