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. ALERT!!! ALERT!!
Brothers and sisters we ask again that you pray for the people of Jamaica. Hurricane Dennis is heading for Kingston! The people of Jamaica have been on alert since yesterday!
Remember last September when we prayed and God diverted the storm, I believe that God will do it again, if we pray.
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry
2. THE EDITOR’S CORNER:
- Information about the General Board and Bishops’ Council that was held in Dallas can be accessed on the official Website of the African Methodist Episcopal Church:
http://www.ame-church.com/
- Corrected Public Statement and General Board Address.
- I am posting the corrected Public Statement of the Bishops’ Council and the corrected General Board Address given by Bishop Richard Allen Chappelle.
- If you are having problems with gibberish appearing in your Christian Recorder Online, that issue can be resolved by following the instructions below:
In order to display Apostrophes and Quotation Marks properly the Text Unicode Encoding must be set to UTF-8. (Western European may work also, but try UTF-8 first. In Outlook Express, click on View -> Encoding and select Unicode (UTF-8), If Unicode (UTF-8) is not visible, Click on View - > Encoding - More. . and you will have more options including Unicode (UTF-9).
If this does not fix the problem, call the Reverend Alton Paris, the Webmaster for The Christian Recorder at 1-817-202-8017
3. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH PUBLIC STATEMENT OF COUNCIL OF BISHOPS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2005 ~ 2:15 P.M.:
The Council of Bishops, under the leadership of the newly invested President Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, met in its annual meeting here in Dallas, Texas. The Council addressed many issues that came before it and made the following resolutions and observations that face critical areas of interest for the denomination:
- The Bishops resolved, in connection with its Quadrennial “Living Well” theme, to develop a series of monthly Pastoral Letters inclusive of responses to matters of public concern that are of current political, economic and community interest.
The letters have begun in the current edition of the Christian Recorder written by the Rt. Reverend Phillip R. Cousin, Senior Bishop. This process will continue in perpetuity.
It is the desire of the Council that these letters are read in congregations all over the denomination so that rank and file members will know the mind of the Council of Bishops on the variety of issues that face our constituents.
- The Council of Bishops provided an audience to General Motors and General Motors Acceptance Corporation regarding the continued Economic Development Partnership with this major Corporation.
General Motors has provided support for the multiple connectional events in various districts and among connectional components.
The 2nd Episcopal District is a test area for products with General Motors and General Motors Acceptance Corporation for new and refinanced mortgages at better rates to the benefit of the individual, community, congregations and the Episcopal District.
Thus far, the result of this partnership includes $ 50,000 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors and college freshmen. Twenty $ 2500 scholarships were presented last week to young people in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington D. C. The partnership continues.
- The Bishops’ Council continues its study of the retirement program across the full spectrum of our denomination with special emphasis on pastors. The Council is encouraging the enrollment of members in the new “Retirement Program for Pastors and Presiding Elders” during this window of enrollment opportunity over the next few months.
The Council also considered the implication of General Officers who have served the church to the best of their ability without appropriate retirement compensation. This matter is still under review and recommendations are forthcoming.
Finally, on the matter of retirement, the Council is forthright in its commitment to the retirement law of our church. We will make it clear that retirement of preachers having reached their 75th birthday by their respective Annual Conference is now positive law, strengthened in language and intent by the 47th General Conference. Therefore, it is to be understood that the retirement of servants of the church is not left to the whims of the Episcopal District or the Annual conference as a matter of Episcopal discretion.
- The Council commended Bishop McKinley Young and the Board of Edward Waters College for their aggressive actions in addressing issues related to the accreditation of Edward Waters College by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Their actions resulted in full restoration of accreditation of Edward Waters College by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The Council voted to provide leadership in calling for a 2nd Annual Summit on Education. The summit will concern itself with developing a strategy that will benefit other historical black institutions as they face similar challenges with their respective accrediting agencies. Our goal is to make accrediting agencies more intentional in executing due process, and to hold the accrediting agencies to greater accountability and responsibility in providing appropriate assistance in facilitating the strength and vitality of the schools under their auspices.
The summit will also address strategies to close the achievement gap among African American students in K-12. Our goal is to holistically address the national policy “Leave no Child Behind,” as African American students are affected.
- The Council also addressed Strategic Planning and the matters pertaining to the General Conference legislation on studying redistricting. The president will appoint a committee to coordinate implementation of the legislation as presented.
- The Council received the Reverend Dr. Jonathan Weaver of the 2nd District who addressed matters regarding the Collective Banking Group. We salute Dr. Weaver for the important work being accomplished for empowering local congregations across denomination lines and individual members. We commend this concept to our constituents for implementation through chapters in local communities across the church.
- The Council provided an audience to the Reverend Cassandra Sparrow of the 2nd Episcopal District who proposed to the Council an international health initiative that would positively affect the quality of health for African people in Diaspora. Professionally produced videos and DVDs are being provided through Conrad Productions, featuring African American celebrities and made specifically for Episcopal Districts. The video and DVDs will be made available in Episcopal Districts. These tools will enhance the health ministries and initiatives of all Episcopal Districts as information and teaching instruments on the variety of health issues facing our constituents. The Council is committed to this initiative.
- The Council is steadfast in its support for the work of the Global Development Council and the ministries of Districts 14-20. We applaud the work being accomplished in Episcopal Districts 14-20 under the bishops who serve as the international agents of our denomination.
We especially salute Bishop David Daniels of the 14th District who reported on the AME University inclusive of a $ 1,000,000.00 acquisition for the construction of the Hatcher-Henning-Norris Human Resource building in Monrovia and the A. J. Richardson-Carlton Z. Adams Health Center.
- The Council concurred with the matters of the General Board on the variety of issues which came before it, particularly the matter concerning the signing of contracts that would encumber the denomination; and the consideration for increasing stipends for General Board members.
- The Council applauds the good work of Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, the Reverend Dr. Jessica Ingram and the 10th Episcopal District for the stellar way in which we were benefited in the state of Texas.
- The Council expressed deep appreciation for the challenging sermon of Bishop T. Larry Kirkland and the comprehensive State of the Church address by Bishop Richard Allen Chappelle, President of the General Board. We commend the two presentations for further study to the benefit of our Zion.
- We celebrate Bishop John R. Bryant and his son, the Reverend Dr. Jamal Bryant, in their appearance on the international network of TBN, giving positive attention to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The result of this exposure resulted in an invitation extended to US Senator Barak Obama of Chicago and the Reverend Dr. Jamal Bryant of Empowerment Temple AME Church of Baltimore, to address the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The Council of Bishops asks the prayers of the Church for the blessings of God upon our collective ministry and for peace and justice around the world.
Submitted on behalf of the Council of Bishops
The Public Statement Committee
Bishop A. J. Richardson, Jr.
Bishop C. Garnett Henning
Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah
Bishop Sarah F. Davis
4. 2005 GENERAL BOARD ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE RIGHT REVEREND RICHARD ALLEN CHAPPELLE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS:
Several weeks prior to our last General Board session, I asked Senior Bishop Philip Robert Cousin, Sr., to deliver our first “State of the Church address. I have always considered Bishop P. R. Cousin affectionately known and called by his parents, the late Dr. Sylvester Cousin and Mrs. Mamie Cousin, “Bobby” a friend and brother beloved of long standing. It was Bishop P. R. Cousin and the late Bishop Howard Thomas Primm who stood with me in Ft. Worth, TX in 1988 from beginning to end. Senior Bishop P. R. Cousin readily accepted the challenge and gave us a masterful synopsis of our condition entitled, “The Winds Which Blow across Our Bethel.” This timely message was well received by us and has been printed and reprinted. It should become required reading and study for those aspiring to ministry in this the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Special commendations are extended to our most efficient General Secretary, Dr. Clement Fugh and his staff for capturing this monumental proclamation. Accolades are also extended to the Connectional Lay News Magazine in its February 2005 spring edition of “We Speak” for its distribution of this timely and provocative message.
I attempted to prevail upon our next in seniority, my eminent classmate, Bishop John Richard Bryant, to bring the second State of the Church address. He suggested that I, as President of the Board, should speak. I personally hesitate to do so, inasmuch as I have historically and systematically been a “lightening rod” of African Methodism since becoming the General Secretary in 1976. I am painfully aware that over the past 30 years, I have been considered one of the most controversial figures in African Methodism. Ironically, here I stand, God being my helper, having been declared one of the one hundred most influential persons in 2005 by Ebony Magazine. My explanation for my being, found in the words of the prophet Ezekiel 37:1, “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and sat me down in the midst of the valley…”
Our Senior Bishop Philip R. Cousin, Sr. in December 2004 was allegorical and specific in his analysis of “Our Bethel.” He spoke of “the winds,” “the roots and branches of the tree.” Permit me if you will, to go a step further in this analogy.
The poet Joyce Kilmer once wrote:
I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree,
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree.
The African Methodist Episcopal church is traditionally rooted in the Wesleyan Methodist tradition. Our founder and illustrious leader, Bishop Richard All did not move one jot or tittle from the Doctrine and Discipline of Methodism upon leaving St. George. On the contrary, he took the whole of Wesleyan Methodism with him in the establishing of the African Methodism. Our present Doctrine and Discipline is more authentically Methodist than any other under the banner of Methodism in its episcopacy, organization, polity, concepts, etc. We continue to imitate and emulate the Methodist Church in its forward progress. In the time leading up to our “watershed” General Conference in 1956 at the Dinner Key Auditorium, Miami, Florida, we lifted from another Methodist body the General Board, the Board of Education and the General Budget concept and superimposed them onto our existing governmental structure. We introduced “additional departments and General Officers” into our structure. The basic change was to allow this newly created entity to coexist and shoulder some of the responsibilities of the “denominational tree.” The year 2006 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the General Board in African Methodism. Regrettably, a review of the 1956-1964 Disciplines indicate that we have not advanced from that initial concept in terms of productivity and getting the programs back to the basic roots of our Zion, i.e., the rank and file membership both lay and clergy.
Being a native Floridian, born in Miami, FL, Coconut Grove to be exact, I have always been an admirer of trees: trees of all shape, sizes and taste, mango, guava, grapefruit, orange, cherry. Nevertheless, I have a special fondness for palm trees: The Palmetto Palm, Coconut Palm, Date Palm, and the majestic Royal Palm. Having survived numerous storms and hurricanes in Florida and elsewhere, I realize that, of all the trees, the palm tree seems to be best suited to withstand the torrential winds that blow. Very seldom one would find a palm tree uprooted or its fronds/branches broken because of the raging tempestuous winds that blow. The fronds grow only out of the top and are firmly attached directly to the trunk, realizing that all of its sustenance comes from the roots via the capillary system within the trunk of the tree. What I notice and admire the most about the palm tree is, while it has been exposed to the elements of wind, rain, heat, it has been able to endure the harshness of the elements, yet bear the scars of such encounters. Often times the truck does not grow completely upright, but bent in some grotesque manner trying to compensate for the trade winds that blow. But a close observation reveals that its fronds always point upward toward the heavens, reminding us as in the words of the Psalmist, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”
Conversely, the root of Zion’s Tree is indeed anchored and presently all of our sustenance comes directly from the roots. However, there is a serious debate raging as to how long the roots will be able to sustain the tree with its semi independent, autonomous, unilateral branches. The A.M.E. Church is still the purest form of Methodism having a structure similar to corporate America’s legal system, i.e., incorporated, rules, regulations, judicial process, rights of members, clergy, etc. Our structure is sanctioned by our government and all the countries and governments where we have members. It is my contention that with the inception of the General Budget and General Board concept, we “allowed” ourselves the luxury of delegating much of our corporate responsibilities to an entity, which we deemed the General Board without providing quality time, personnel, resources, expertise for minimum oversight, and productivity. The legal entity of African Methodism according to our quadrennial charter/corporation filing is our Board of Incorporators/Board Trustees. This is “The Tree” but we have deluded ourselves, we have become derelict in our duty, by believing, acting and allowing certain branches/departments of our Zion/tree to become and act as if they are more important and significant than the body and roots from which all get our sustenance. Several of the branches/departments have strayed so far from the truck of the tree until they act and function as if they are indeed “The Tree”: Revising constitutions and by-laws which are in conflict with and a challenge to the Mother corporation; establishing corporations, foundations, writing and receiving grants, unilaterally signing contractual agreements on behalf of the “Mother Zion” which are all in the purview and prerogative of the “Mother Zion.”
The General board has been granted the responsibility of overseeing on behalf of the Corporate Trustees, certain aspects of its duties. The departments and agencies are under the umbrella of the General Board via the Commission system. At the General Conference, we elect five (5) persons from among the elected delegates from each Episcopal District. The basic qualifications for election for General Board are as follows: (1) to have been a delegate to the General Conference, (2) to be nominated/elected by the delegates from your Episcopal District. (It is not required that persons elected have a fair knowledge of the work of the various departments of our Zion. Nor is it required that the persons elected have a concern for the upward mobility of our Zion.) There are more than 14 Commissions and Agencies of the General Board. The five persons from each District must be assigned to these 15 commissions. Each commission has a minimum of twenty (20) persons assigned, (each district is “entitled” to representation on each commission. This translates to five persons being on at least four different commissions. The commissions meet during one of the two times on the opening day of the General Board for a period, which often does not exceed two hours for each. At this meeting, the General Officers and heads of the various agencies present their annual report of their stewardship. The reports include an annual audit, report on activities, travel, etc., etc., and recommendations for the coming fiscal year.
There are no stipulations that Board members visit the departments periodically during the year, aid in the generation of resources for the departments, report to their Annual Conferences the cares and concerns, activities, programs of the departments, nor is it required of members to convey to the departments the cares and concerns of the individuals who are collective membership of the church. Lastly, it is not required that members be in attendance at each commission meeting of which they are a part.
The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox proclaims
One ship drives east and another drive west
With the selfsame winds that blow,
“Tis the set of the sails
And not the gales
Which tells us the way to go.
Tis’ true there are winds blowing across our Zion, challenging relevance, structure, and stability; challenging the very fabric of our being. While we are and need to be, rooted and grounded the truth of the situation is we are more like the ship of Zion out on the restless sea of our society. The winds and waves of congregationalism, ecclesiastical and homiletical uncertainty, neo-Pentecostalism, drastic personnel shifts, redistricting, "antagonization" and the appeal of mega churches, are pounding our ship of Zion. The winds and waves of discontent, discord, centralization, feudal fiefdoms, disenfranchisement, increase in budgetary allocations, smoke and mirrors rather than transparent financial accountability, decrease in quality and services are indeed threatening to overturn our vessel.
We must take some action. It is recommended that we lower our anchors so that we might inspect, assess, and reevaluate our mission and real purpose in light of where we find ourselves in world history. We must lower our anchors and reexamine our tenacity and stick-to-itiveness. First, we must lower the anchor of “faith” in the precepts and examples of our forefathers and mothers; faith in God who has watched over, nurtured our existence and very being. Second, the anchor of “hope” in the ability of the Church to adjust and adapt to life threatening winds and waves; hope coupled with a belief that our leadership continues to have an unyielding connection to our Maker. Third, the anchor of “love”; an abiding love and commitment to the mission and purpose of the church; a love of God’s universe and humanity that has been in trusted to us. Fourth, the anchor of “dedicated commitment”; a dedicated commitment to become flexible, not get discouraged, fight a good fight, finish the course which is laid before us.
In the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the lowering of important anchors will give us the time for insightful reflection, motivation also reexamine our condition and position in society, then muster the courage and intestinal fortitude to check, repair and if need be, acquire new sails and crew, then reset the sails of our Zion. This will insure that at least we would be traveling in the direction we have charted rather than being driven and responding to the unmerciful unpredictable winds and waves, which are but seasonal and are basically the results of high and low temperatures, high and low pressure areas, and gravitational pulls of the earth and celestial bodies. Our strict attention to the Biblical charts, Holy Scripture compass, weather reports the fitness of our vessel will insure that we can indeed set our own sails.
Therefore, we call upon the Board of Incorporators, Council of Bishops, General Board to allow the setting of these sails:
I. RESOURCES.
That the Constitution and Bylaws of the various departments of the church which call for the creation of Foundations that receive resources from outside of our Zion be declared null and void, and that we adhere to the denomination’s Articles of Incorporation which has such authority “reposed” with the Board of Trustees.
A. That all individuals or departments adhere to the Law of the Church related to who shall be responsible for the planning of ALL connectional meetings and what shall be done with the funds accumulated as a result of said meeting.
B. That all individuals or departments adhere to the original polity of the Church and work cooperatively with the host district in the planning and implementation of all connectional meetings.
C. That no individual or department be given authority to sign legal documents, which encumbers the denomination, except those already prescribed by the Doctrine and Discipline of the A.M.E. Church.
D. That those individuals or departments who will not or refuse to abide by this set of the sails shall immediately forfeit the allocations from the General Budget Fund until further notice and the individual or department be barred from functioning pending a comprehensive examination and recommendation by the General Board Commission to which it/they report (s).
II. THE GENERAL BOARD
That the Structure be revisited with legislation prepared to be approved by the forthcoming General Conference, i.e., increased number of days for sessions; setting minimum qualifications for General Board membership; staggered terms for Board members from each Episcopal District; time and place of election/nomination of General Board members in Episcopal Districts.
A. That in the meantime the sail be reset requiring quality time for General Board/Commission deliberations. The expansion to three days of General Board deliberation. Two days of Commission work. One day of the Commissions’ reporting to the FULL BOARD.
B. That funding for the additional day be a legitimate expense against the funds acquired from the Connectional meeting trust fund; the alternative: That Episcopal Districts be encouraged to help defray the expense of the additional day of meeting for its members.
C. That Departments be encouraged to develop their individual functioning Advisory Board consisting of persons with the essential skills, expertise, time, treasure.
D. That these Advisory Boards be empowered to aid in lifting the level of effectiveness, service, finding streams of resources, getting goods and services down to the grass root/local church.
E. That the Advisory Board be amenable to the Department, which reports directly to the General Board. That the Advisory Board be required to organize and develop an action plan, which the Commission of, must ratify, said department. It is further understood that the Chairperson of the Commission shall be a bona fide member of the Advisory Board.
F. That all entities within the denomination adhere to the formulation of the Connectional Churches calendar. This calendar will govern the holding of events, which shall not be in conflict with each other. Dates maybe “claimed” for the entire quadrennial, with places to be designated when venue is not finalized at the time of date allocations. Those departments/individuals that will not adhere to the connectional mandate shall be answerable to the Commission under which they serve.
III. THE GENERAL CONFERENCE
Some of the legislation, which was passed without “proper/adequate” deliberation, must be revisited, reconsidered, and interpreted in the light of current practicalities.
A. The reduction of delegations be set aside or modified pending validation of the “saving” which is alleged to accrue; Freeze the delegation at the last General Conference’s levels except for the newly created District Overseas. A reduction of a delegation of 100 to 75 will create more animosity and ill will in ZION / Episcopal Districts than the alleged benefits of manageability.
B. Revisiting the legislation calling for a youth being elected who has never attended a General Conference. This legislation while well-intended and noble fails to take into consideration the reality that we would indeed be electing someone who has never legally been considered a member of the Annual Conference. The law presently calls for one person as delegate to the Annual conference from each local charge. There is no requirement for each local charge to send a second person legally except at Electoral College time, and this is only to the Electoral College. The sail should be set to superimpose this legislation on the Annual Conferences, which would immediately begin electing two persons from each local church, one adult and one youth. Within the next three years, enough youth would have been exposed to the church process and procedure and be prepared to be elected and serve in a General Conference.
IV. FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY
That the General Board prepare and present a comprehensive line item Budget to the General Conference so that specific items can be adjusted for the good of the order.
A. The call for uniformity or accounting practices via approved legislation be enacted with all deliberate speed with the necessary training and sage guards clearly delineated. This is also legislation which did not carry funding with it.
B. The Committee on Redistricting as approved by legislation should coexist with the Strategic Planning Committee, and that funding be made available for both.
C. The indigenous Bishops resources be supplemented during the remainder of this quadrennial using the funds which have accrued in the Episcopal Fund by the death of two of our members since the General Conference.
V. DENOMINATIONAL PRIDE AND RESPECT
The call is to plan and implement a denominational celebration, the 50th Birthday of our General Board and our transition.
A. This could take place during the week of our 2006 General Board in South Carolina or during the actual time of its creation in May/June, 1956.
B. That this celebration is a time of renewal, rededication and sail setting.
VI. QUADRENNIAL FOCUS
The Council of Bishops is providing additional leadership via declaring the focus for the Quadrennial 2004 – 2008. The yearly themes are as follows:
June 2005 – May 2006, “Living Well”
“I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10
June 2006 – May 2007, “Serving Well”
“Equipping the saints for service…” “Faith without works is dead.”
June 2007- May 2008, “Managing Well”
“God has given us the ability to create wealth.”
June 2008 – May 2009, “Finishing Well”
“I have fought the good fight and kept the faith…”
The Christian Education Department, Dr. Daryl Ingram and the Writer’s Guild who prepare Sunday School lessons, will utilize the International Sunday School material and interpret the theme for Sunday School students and teachers. They chose the breakdown of the theme in to four quarter topics and the Scriptures. Vacation Bible School, beginning in 2006, will reflect the Quadrennial theme. All other AME Church publications will reflect at various times this four year focus. The Council of Bishops has made available at this session of the General Board a book reflecting this theme. The book consists of sermons, reflections, Bible study, devotions, worship and scholarship. You are invited to secure this thought provoking, well-written document.
Ella Wilcox further states:
Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate,
As we voyage along through life:
“Tis the set of a soul
That decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.
And so as we open this session of the General Board I’m reminded of that old corn field ditty which while we would admit isn’t theologically correct, but it sounds good:
Like a ship that’s tossed and driven,
Battered by an angry sea,
When the storms of life are raging
And their fury fall on me,
I wonder what have I done
That makes this race so hard to run,
Then I say to my soul, take courage,
The Lord will make a way some how.
Refrain
The Lord will make away some how,
When beneath the cross I bow;
He will take away each sorrow,
Let Him have your burdens now;
When the load bears down so heavy
The weight is shown upon my brow,
There’s a sweet relief in knowing,
The Lord will make a way some how.
Try to do my best in service,
Try to live the best I can,
When I choose to do the right thing,
Evil’s present on every hand,
I look up and wonder why
That good fortune pass me by,
Then I say to my soul be patient,
The Lord will make a way some how.
Often there’s misunderstanding
Out of all the good I do,
Go to friends for consolation
And I find them complaining too,
So many nights I toss in pain,
Wondering what the day will bring,
But I say to my heart, don’t worry,
The Lord will make a way some how.
5. ST. JOHN AME CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE, ALONG WITH GREATER WHITES CHAPEL CME CHURCH PRESENTS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO EDUCATE TEEN GIRLS AGES 11- 16:
WHAT: “All About Me”
WHO: Robertson County Health Department, St. John AME
Church, Greater Whites Chapel CME Church
WHEN: July 30, 2005, 10:00am-12:00pm
WHERE: St. John AME Church
Springfield
CONTACT: Erica Armstead
Public Health Educator
Robertson County Health Department
615-384-4504
The Robertson County Health Department has teamed up with St. John AME Church and Greater Whites Chapel CME Church to offer the community “All About Me”. This is a free program designed to educate teen girls, ages 11-16, about the risk and consequences of sexual activity and the significance of defining their own spirituality.
When teens give birth, their future aspirations decline. Teen mothers have a decreased chance to complete high school, are more probable to be single parents, and are twice as likely to live in poverty than other teens.
The program will be presented July 30, 2005, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at St. John AME Church located at 402 15th Ave W Springfield, TN. Participating pastors will teach the spiritual component and a health educator will teach the component on the risk and consequences of sexual activity. All participants will have to provide proof of parental consent in order to attend the presentation. No one will be admitted without a completed and signed parental consent form. These forms are available at participating churches or the Robertson County Health Department.
This event will support the LifeStyle/LifeStart component of the Tennessee Department of Health’s Better Health: It’s About Time! Initiative as well as “Living Well” our Denomination’s theme for 2005. For more information about the initiative, visit www.tennessee.gov/health. For more information about the “All About Me” program, contact Erica Armstead at the Robertson County Health Department at 384-4504 or Janie Dowdy-Dandridge, Pastor St. John AME Church, Springfield, TN. at 931 575-8945.
Submitted by the Reverend Janie Dowdy-Dandridge
St. John AME Church, Springfield, Tennessee
6. BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Regretfully we share the following bereavement notices:
From: Ldmwashington@aol.com
Rev. Leroy Washington, Jr., pastor of Mt. Zion AME church in Daytona Beach, Florida, sister expired on Saturday, July 2, 2005.
Condolences can be sent to:
Rev. and Mrs. Leroy Washington, Jr.
449 S.M.L. King Jr. Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
From: washingtor@sbcglobal.net
We solicit your prayers for Mrs. Gladys F. Nettles wife of Rev. Gregory Nettles, Pastor of Allen Temple A. M. E. Church Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
Mrs. Gladys F. Nettles' sister passed and will be funeralized on Monday, July 11, 2005 at 11 a. m. at the Tabernacle of Faith Baptist Church in Los Angeles, CA.
We ask traveling Grace as they travel to the service.
Condolences can be sent to:
Mrs. Gladys F. Nettles
317 Lakeside
Camden, AR 71701
Phone 879-836-8952
Please remember the Washington and Nettles families in your prayers.
7. BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Rev. Richard Walker, the pastor of Union Bethel AMEC in Smithfield, Va. expired on Tuesday, July 5, 2005.
Funeral Arrangements:
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
12:00 NOON
St. John AME Church
545 E. Bute StreetNorfolk, VA 23510757-625-2713 (Phone)
Condolences can be sent to his wife, Mrs. Margaret Walker.
Mrs. Margaret Walker
1004 Blywood Lane
Suffolk, Va. 23434
Sidney Williams
8. ALL BEREAVEMENT AND FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS RECEIVED FROM THE CLERGY FAMILY INFORMATION CENTER:
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action
Clergy Family Information Center
CONN-M-SWAWO+PK’S
Mrs. Ora L. Easley - Administrator
Email: Amespouses1@aol.com
(Nashville, TN Contact)
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Fax: (615) 833-3781
(Memphis, TN Contact)
(901) 578-4554 (Phone & Fax)
Ora L. EasleyEmail: 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
