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. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“Life is always best when you live each moment as the real person you are.”
Ralph Marston
2. NEWS BULLETIN FROM THE 20TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
The 20th Episcopal District is sending out an SOS to the Connectional Church.
We have just finished holding the first Annual Conference ever held in Uganda. As we were preparing to go to the airport, we listened to a report on CNN regarding Malawi, one of the countries that make up the 20th Episcopal District. People have resorted to eating termites because there is no food because of the drought.
As a Church, we have assisted the hurricane victims in the United States. We need your help here in the 20th Episcopal District. Similar conditions exist in Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Uganda.
We are on high alert in the 20th Episcopal District.
We are appealing to you at this critical stage to help us begin the process of alleviating the pain of hunger and the unnecessary deaths of babies. Please email us so that we can begin this journey together.
Yours in His service,
Bishop Wilfred J. & Supervisor Carol I. Messiah
3. BISHOP MCKENZIE LEADS THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING:
The Lay and Ministerial Strategic Planning Meeting Leaders are focused
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the ultimate host and convener for the Strategic Planning Meeting. She facilitates a climate of openness and the result is a group of people who are engaged and excited about what they are doing.
This is the last day of the Strategic Planning Meeting (SPM) that is meeting at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville Tennessee. The various workgroups are hard at work and struggling with the issues of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Today, the SPM will be dealing with the issue of restructure. Restructure is a volatile issue because many in the AME Church resist changing of the Episcopal District boundaries. Some believe that the prosperous districts are content to remain as they are; some of the smaller districts want to keep their historical boundaries, while others want to see radical district boundary changes because of the changing demographics. Change is often difficult and often resisted.
Yesterday the work groups addressed change and the facilitators facilitated sessions on change and the importance of the leadership and the constituency to be positive and open as they addressed changes on all levels of the Church. Episcopal Supervisor Stan McKenzie noted that the United States has seen a geographical shift and that we have churches that are dying because the people have moved away. He said that AME Church strived along major water routes as blacks moved from the south to the northern industrial centers. Supervisor McKenzie said, “It is time to look at geographical shifts and it is a time for the Church to be proactive. Dr. Dennis Dickerson remarked, “People shouldn’t fear or resist restructure, the Church has always restructured. Restructure is nothing new for the AME Church. We restructured the Church in Africa at the last General Conference.” Dr. George Gee, President of Vanderbilt University in speaking about change, recently said, “The truth of the matter is that for an institution to survive, it has to grow, to look at the world as it is, rather than how they want it to be.”
Carlita and Charles Perkins of Success Result, Inc. are the facilitators of the Strategic Planning Meeting. They are doing a superb job of keeping the SPM workgroups on task. Carlita Perkins remarked that the workgroups have been diligent in staying on task.
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the convener for the Strategic Planning Meeting.
Today, the workgroups will look at the issue of restructure. The group has looked at geographical changes that have taken place in the United States and around the world and at the geographical shifts currently taking place.
More about Strategic Planning meeting in the next issue …
4. PRAYER FOR SUPERVISOR DON GUIDRY:
Please pray for Supervisor Don Guidry. He is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, November 30, 2005.
5. THE MISINFORMATION ABOUT TAKING THE “X” OUT OF XMAS:
Some people have been offended when they saw “Christmas” written as; “Xmas” and now we do not see the word, “Christmas” written as, “Xmas” as much. The folks who advocated taking the so-called “X” out of “Christmas” obviously did not understand that the “X” was not an “X” as in our alphabet. The “X’ represented the Greek letter, Chi, which looks like an “X.” The Greek letter Chi (X) was an early symbol for "Christ." In seminary when taking notes, we wrote Christian as, ”Xtian” and Christ as XP (Chi Rho – our “P” looks like the Greek letter, Rho) and Christmas as “Xmas.” So, writing “Xmas” is not putting an “X,” as in our alphabet, in Christmas; it is keeping Christ represented by the Greek letter, Chi in Christmas. And, taking the “X”(Chi) out of Christmas in not taking the “X” out of Christmas it is taking the early Greek symbol, Chi, for Christ, out of Christmas.
So, “Merry Xmas!”
6. THE ANSWER TO QUESTION ABOUT, WHICH TWO GENERAL OFFICER POSITIONS WAS SERVED BY THE FOUR GENERAL OFFICERS WHO SERVED IN TWO GENERAL OFFICER POSITIONS:
1. Dr. Howard Gregg - Historiographer and Editor A.M.E. Church Review
2. Dr. John R. Hawkins - Secretary of Christian Education and Treasurer
3. Dr. E. A. Adams – Secretary of Christian Education and Historiographer
4. Dr. A. S. Jackson, Secretary of Christian Education and Treasurer
7. THE NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE EASTER LONG ISLAND AREA WOMEN’S MISSIONARY HIV / AIDS FORUM:
Sister Margaret N. Bell serves as the Conference President of the Eastern Long Island Area Women’s Missionary Society of the New York Conference.
Sister Carolyn Wiggins Jenkins, Area Chairperson, convened the first Area meeting for this Conference year on October 22, 2005. The Commission on Christian Social Action Sister Elfrieda Parrilla Coordinator presented a forum on HIV/AIDS Awareness. The Forum was hosted by Bethel, Bay Shore, The Reverend Charles Watkins, Pastor, Sister Jacqueline Watkins, WMS advisor and Sister Carolyn Wiggins Local President. The Reverend Ozzie Edwards, Director of HIV/AIDS Ministry for the New York Annual Conference, facilitated the lively and informative dialogue. Reverend Edwards led the participants, including local WMS Presidents Sister JoAnn McCaslin, Bethel Babylon, Sister Emma Watkins, Bethel Huntington, Sister Antoinette Miller, Bethel Setauket and other members from our local churches were present.
Through a statistical discussion about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our urban cities Reverend Edwards stated that the United States is in crisis. He stated that the United Nations reported that North America had the world’s largest increase in infections among women between 2001 and 2003. Reverend Edwards also stated the federal data shows that African American and Hispanic Women account for less than 25% of the Country’s female population, but they account for almost 80% of all female AIDS cases reported to date.
Reverend Edwards moved the discussion to the social ramifications of this epidemic by asking the question to us as Missionaries “What about the orphaned children?” We were informed that after 20 years of children losing their parents to AIDS that there is virtually no coherent support system in the nation. The Area missionaries were left with some hard data to deal with. To start we are establishing a HIV/AIDS resources center. We will begin to provide the necessary HIV/AIDS awareness materials to our local communities. These efforts will be under the Commission on Christian Social Action, which is chaired by Sister Elfrieda Parrilla, and the Reverend Sandra Leonard RN, Associate Pastor from Bethel Setauket agreed to facilitate this effort
We thank Reverend Edwards for coming out to Eastern Long Island and the Area Missionaries will certainly call on him for guidance as we disseminate information on HIV/AIDS Awareness and prevention.
By Sister Carolyn Wiggins Jenkins
8. THE REVEREND DR. LESLIE WHITE ASKS IF YOU HAVE PICTURES OF BISHOP HENRY WENDELL MURPH TO SHARE THEM/IT WITH GRANT AME CHURCH AS THEY CELEBRATE HIS 95TH BIRTHDAY:
The Grant Church Family is spearheading a birthday tribute to Bishop Henry Wendell Murph, on his 95th Birthday. One of the parts of this celebration is a pictorial tribute. We are putting together a CD of pictures that will be projected during the birthday celebration. The birthday celebration will take place on December 29, 2005.
If you have any pictures that you may be willing to submit please mail them to Grant A. M. E. Church, Bishop Murph Birthday Tribute, Attn.: Bro. Donald Scott, 10435 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, "Watts" California 90002. We will return the pictures to you.
Please mail or deliver the pictures to the church ASAP.
You shall receive official notification by both Snail-Mail and E-mail, of this blessed celebration. However, the date is December 29, 2005 at 6:45 p.m. So mark your calendar and place this event on your calendar, and plan to attend!
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 323-564-1151. Thanks so very much for your prayerful consideration.
Grace and Power;
Pastor Leslie R. White
9. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY NOTICE:
We are proud to announce the birth of Miriam Joy Cousin, daughter of Rev. Dr. Joseph N. Cousin and Mrs. C. Nicole Cousin. Miriam was born on November 20, 2005 at 6:41 pm, weighing in at seven pounds and three ounces. Bishop Philip R. Cousin and Dr. M. Joan Cousin were present at the hospital as well as members of the family and the Bethel-Ann Arbor Family. Truly, this is a time of "joy and thanksgiving." Pictures of Miriam are available via the website www.miriamcousin.myphotoalbum.com Michael A. Cousin
10. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY NOTICE:
Joyfully we share news of the birth of Little Ife Ingoma Davis. Grandparents, Bishop John R. Bryant and Episcopal Supervisor, Rev Dr. Cecelia W. Bryant and proud parents (daughter) Theme Bryant Davis and Kwesi Davis.Little Ife Ingoma Davis, arrived on Thursday morning at 8:23 AM, PST, weighing in at 8 pounds and 1 ounce and 20 inches. All are doing well. Both Bishop and Rev Cecilia Bryant were at the hospital when Ife arrived.
Note: IFE means Love, and INGOMA means Song. Thus, Love Song.
11. CHICAGO AREA "WORLD AIDS DAY GOSPEL SHOUT OUT":
The Greater Westside Development Corporation, Sankofa, and Beauty for Ashes Ministry will present the -
"WORLD AIDS DAY GOSPEL SHOUT OUT"
Thursday, December 1, 2005
6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Marshall Metro High School Auditorium
3250 West Adams Street
Chicago, IL
Admission is free.
Special Guests: U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Congressman Danny K. Davis, Senator James T. Meeks, Rep. Constance Howard, and Robin Robinson (Fox TV).
Please come out and support this worthy cause.
Submitted by Pastor James Moody
Quinn Chapel AME Church, Chicago
13. RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGE OF AIDS ON WORLD AIDS DAY TOWARD AN EPIDEMIC OF COMPASSION:
World AIDS Day is 1 December and the Global AIDS Prayer Partnership is launching two new initiatives to help mobilize an evangelical response to the AIDS pandemic.
Every hour 354 people die of AIDS. That’s about one person every ten seconds. That's like a Boeing 747 crashing every hour, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. More than three million people die annually from a largely preventable but incurable disease, and the pace of this global pandemic continues to accelerate. The AIDS pandemic is the greatest humanitarian challenge the world, and the Church, has ever faced. Every 1 December, on World AIDS Day, millions of people take note of these facts and remember those who are suffering.
The Church is Responding
Until recently however, the evangelical church has been largely unconcerned and even judgmental toward AIDS and those suffering under the burden of this global emergency. That is changing as more evangelical leaders speak out and call the Church to respond. Local church participation in World AIDS Day is still lacking, but a new strategic prayer ministry is helping change that.
The Global AIDS Prayer Partnership (GAPP), a growing coalition of evangelical Christian organizations, denominations and local churches, is at the forefront of this change. GAPP is co-chaired by Dr. Paul Cedar, chair of the Mission America Coalition, and Rev. Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals. Dr. Ted Yamamori, international director of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, serves as special advisor to Brian Considine, international coordinator and executive director for GAPP. GAPP will also serve as the official voice of Lausanne on HIV/AIDS.
Now entering the second year of operation, GAPP has been building a platform for united prayer to create awareness of AIDS, and has primarily targeted the United States evangelical community in their efforts.
“There are reported a one hundred million evangelicals in the United States,” reported Considine. “If we can get just a small fraction responding to this crisis, we can make a huge difference in our world. And, the easy ‘on-ramp’ to involving the local church is prayer.”
Global Aids Sunday
GAPP and its coalition partners are introducing two new initiatives this 1 December. The first, “Global AIDS Sunday,” is an annual call to prayer, remembrance and awareness “The evangelical community has largely been absent on World AIDS Day, due principally to the secular nature of the day, but we must change that,” stated Considine.
Global AIDS Sunday will be held annually on the two Sunday’s adjacent to World AIDS Day (this year 27 November and 4 December). Resources will be made available for participating churches. “We are encouraging local churches to set aside a few minutes, on the Sunday of their choice, to remember and pray for all those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS,” Considine said. “We are also encouraging Christians to learn what is happening in their communities on World AIDS Day, to get involved and to bear the light of Christ.”
Three Million Voices
The second initiative, “Three Million Voices,” is representative of the three million people who die annually due to AIDS and AIDS-related diseases. The purpose of this campaign is to mobilize intercession and compassionate action for those who die annually from AIDS. The hope is to help millions of children left orphaned or vulnerable, and assist devastated families and communities and potentially even entire nations.
A “Declaration of Commitment” to a lifestyle of prayer-care-share toward the end of AIDS is the centerpiece of this new initiative. Church leaders across America are signing the declaration and calling the Church to do likewise. Haggard, one of the original signers, stated “I have personally signed the declaration because it speaks to the heart of what I believe must be the Church’s response to the AIDS pandemic and I encourage all Christians in (the United States) to join with me in this commitment to a lifestyle of prayer-care-share to end AIDS." Organizers hope to have 100,000 signatures to present at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto next summer. Online signing will begin 1 December.
“The evangelical community must rise up to the challenge of AIDS, both locally and globally, if we are to be relevant in the twenty-first century,” emphasized Considine. “To that end, we seek to build a movement towards an epidemic of compassion and for Christians everywhere to pray to end AIDS.” Global AIDS Sunday and Three Million Voices are two ways to get involved this World AIDS Day.
For more information, visit www.praytoendAIDS.com and www.globalaidsprayer.org or email Info@GlobalAIDSPrayer.org.
HIV/AIDS and the Gospel will be the focus of the December issue of www.LausanneWorldPulse.com, available online 1 December.
14. CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2005 FROM THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES GENERAL SECRETARY:
"This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." Luke 2:12
It was in the midst of last year's Christmas season that the December 26th tsunami killed thousands of people on the shores of the Indian Ocean. Who can forget the images of the killer waves, the many victims and traumatized survivors on the shores of Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and even Somalia? All around the world, these images prompted an unprecedented response to appeals for emergency relief, an extraordinary expression of solidarity with the victims by people from all walks of life.
The year that followed has renewed our awe of nature's power, with an unusual frequency of violent storms, floods and hurricanes such as Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico, and the terrible earthquake that devastated whole villages and cities in Kashmir. In Brazil, where the World Council of Churches will hold its 9th Assembly in February 2006, the national weather service recently used the term "hurricane" for the first time following an unprecedented storm in 2004. Vast areas of the country suffer from a terrible drought, as if our physical environment will no longer tolerate the careless and merciless attack on its integrity, demonstrating its power to humanity and reminding us of our vulnerability. Repeatedly, it has been the poor and marginalized who were most vulnerable and, thus, the most severely hit. The gaps between rich and poor, the traces of racism and caste-ism, the ills dividing humanity were exposed in these crises.
As we prepare ourselves again to celebrate Christmas, the story of the birth of Christ speaks in new ways against the background of this experience. We see before us the image of a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger that was, according to the tradition of the early church, hewn into the rock of a cave in Bethlehem. Throughout history, this image has comforted victims of oppression and violence in many parts of the world. It has led humans to realize that Jesus was one of us, indeed: someone down-to-earth. It has encouraged some to believe that God's presence with us in Jesus is powerful enough to transform this earth. It has motivated others to accept their own responsibility and to stand in solidarity with all who work for change and alternatives to existing conditions. Through Jesus Christ, the incarnation of the divine, God has invested love in humanity. God became a human being, born of a woman, who suffered as we suffer and died as we shall die."
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And, being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:5-11). Dare we invest less in humanity than God has done? Dare we invest less in ourselves than God has deemed appropriate?
When we pray in the words of the theme of the forthcoming WCC Assembly, God, in your grace, transform the world, we confess our readiness to proclaim the good news that the Triune God has acted to dignify humanity through God's incarnation in Jesus Christ and to begin the transformation of a world that knows little of grace and mercy. With the birth of the child in Bethlehem, God is at work within creation to bring about needed change through grace. Churches and their members worldwide stand on the side of the poor; this is especially true of Christians in Brazil who engage in struggles for the landless, the right to water for all, and the care of creation. Brazilian churches are working together, in the power of the Holy Spirit, with the hope of overcoming violence and helping to establish justice and accountability in politics.
When we ask you this Christmas to draw nearer to the suffering and marginalized in your thoughts, prayers and deeds, we ask you to pray especially for the people and churches in Brazil. Called to be co-workers with God, our participation in God's mission begins where we live, yet our common responsibility leads us to ecumenical co-operation for the sake of the whole world.
May the blessings of Christmas bring you peace and joy.
Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
December 2005
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Mr. Zach Marvin Gunn, brother of Rev. Wallace l. Gunn, Sr., pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Shelbyville, Kentucky, West Kentucky Conference, 13th Episcopal District, died on Thursday, November 24, 2005.
Funeral arrangements:
Thursday, December 1, 1:00 p.m.
Broadway A.M.E.Z. Church
Louisville, Kentucky 40203
Condolences can be sent to:
Rev. Wallace l. Gunn, sr.
4114 Royal Oak Drive
New Albany, IN 47150
Please keep the family in prayer,
Submitted by:
Rev. Linda Thomas Martin, Presiding Elder
West Kentucky Conference
Thirteenth Episcopal District, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Capt. Sandor Lebron Gordon, on Sunday, November 27, 2005, as a result of an auto accident. He was the son of Rev. and Mrs. Sammie L. (Hester) Gordon, Pastor and First Lady of Mt. Moriah AME Church (Wateree District) of the Central Conference, 7th Episcopal District.
Mr. Sandor Lebron Gordon was a recipient of the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. He served in Iraq from December 2003 to March 2005 as a Captain with the 3rd Battalion, 178th Field Artillery.
Funeral Services are scheduled for:
Friday, December 2, 2005
2:30 PM
Jonas T. Kennedy Gymnasium
Claflin UniversityOrangeburg, SC 29115
(No wake will be held.)
Services are entrusted to:
Glover Funeral Home
2562 Charleston Highway
Orangeburg, SC 29115
(803) 536-3200
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. & Mrs. Sammie L. Gordon
1155 Glenwood Drive
Orangeburg, SC 29115
(803) 534-5351
Please remember the family in your prayers.
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with the deepest regret that we inform you of the passing of the Reverend Matthew Trammel who retired as an Itinerant Elder in the Tenth Episcopal District after more than 40 years of service (27 years at Bethel A.M.E. in Belton, TX). His wife, Essie Trammel and their eight grown children survive Reverend Matthew Trammel.
ARRANGEMENTS:
Going-Home Service
Thursday, December 1, 2005
1:00 PM
Bethel A.M.E. Church
401 S. Davis Street
Belton, TX 76513
254- 939-6090 (Phone)
Rev. Dr. William Quickley, Pastor will officiate
Funeral services are entrusted to:
Bradford-Dawson Funeral Home
718 S. 7th Street
Temple, TX 76504
(254) 773-2053 (Phone)
Condolences may be sent to the home address below:
Mrs. Essie Trammel and Family
220 W. Avenue H
Belton, TX 76513
254-939-5531 (Phone)
Prayerfully,
Adrienne Evans-Quickley
Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, Presiding Prelate
The Rev. Dr. Jessica Kendall Ingram, Supervisor
Mrs. Verdene K. Austin, Clergy Spouses President
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
On November 26, 2005, Deacon George Mason III, the father of Reverend George Mason IV, Pastor of Brooks Chapel A.M.E. Church, Tulare, California went home to be with the Lord.
Funeral service for Deacon George Mason III will be held on:
Saturday, December 3, 2005 12:00 NOON
New Jones Baptist Church
Hwy 17
Emelle, Alabama
Mortuary:
McInnis Mortuary
110 Marshall Street
Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-9138
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Mary Mason & Family
530 Dan Mitchell Road
Emelle, Alabama 35459
(205) 652-7253 (Phone)
Or to:
The Reverend George Mason IV & Family
P.O. Box 81323
Bakersfield, CA 93380
(916) 416-9487 or (916) 416-9486
Please remember thefamiy in your prayers.
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action Clergy Family Information Center
Mrs. Ora L. Easley - Administrator Email: Amespouses1@aol.com
(Nashville, Tennessee Contact) Phone: (615) 837-9736 Fax: (615) 833-3781
(Memphis, Tennessee Contact) (901) 578-4554 (Phone & Fax)
Please remember these families in your prayers.
20. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the Editor of the Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray that the peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
