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. A BLESSED ADVENT AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS:
Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, Chair, Commission on Publications,
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher, and
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor of The Christian Recorder
Wishes all of you a Blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas.
2. THE EDITOR’S WISH FOR THE NEW YEAR:
The New Year is fast approaching, 2005 is almost history. Each year about this time, many of us prepare our list of resolutions for the New Year. Like many of you, I have my list of New Year’s resolutions. I don not want to share those, but I want to share my “wish list” for the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
I invite you to share your “wish list” for the AME Church. Send it to chsydnor@bellsouth.net with the subject line containing to the words, “Wish List for the AME Church.”
The Editor’s “Wish List”
- That our Church (local and Connectional) will be a “thermostat” rather than a “thermometer.” A thermostat regulates the temperature; a thermometer tells us what the “thermostat” regulated. The Church should be a “thermostat” that controls the spiritual and moral environment and not be a “thermometer” that is controlled by the worldly environment.
- That more pastors would let the laity have more responsibilities in the church. When pastors learn to delegate and share responsibilities, their ministry will be more enjoyable and more effective.
Sister Jeanette Johns, author of the book about Bishop D. Ward Nichols entitled, “The Upward Journey: A Centenarian's Chronicle” observes,
“Pastors can work themselves right into the ground and that’s no fun for them or their families; and, I believe that God wouldn't like that. Church can be as much or as little work as the pastor wants it to be. Apparently, many pastors want their ministry to be a lot of work because many of them work night and day… And, many spouses work right along with spouse pastors. So often, in the long haul, that does not pay. Sensibility pays off. Some pastors don't seem to be content unless they are working hard and ‘leading the charge.’”
- That more pastors would slow-down and be more calm in worship and administration and stop “running around” trying to do everything. Train the people and let them do what they were trained to do.
- That pastors would stop talking and carry on conversations with other ministers during worship services. Whispering, laughing, and gesturing in the pulpit during worship is distracting and does not set a good example for worship. The Reverend Walter W. Reid recently retired and former pastor of Trinity AME in Lansing, Michigan was the model example, for me, of a minister who focused upon his sermon when he went into the pulpit.
- That during the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the opening worship service at the Annual Conference, pastors would maintain dignity and worship decorum during Holy Communion and especially after, they have been communed. Pastors can be seen taking off their robes and walking in and out of the sanctuary before the end of the Communion Service.
- That church members would love and affirm their pastors and the first family.
- That mean-spiritedness would be replaced by brotherly and sisterly love; and agape love.
- That every pastor would remember the promise he or she made to the question in the Ordination Service, “Will you reverently obey your chief ministers to whom is committed the charge and government over you, following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, submitting yourselves to their godly judgment?” Our response was, “I will do so, the Lord being my helper.”
- That our bishops will remember the part in their Consecration liturgy where they were reminded that they should not be hasty in laying on hands and admitting any person to government in the church of Christ ...” We should never forget that the ministry is the “highest calling.”
- That worship services be more spiritual and more biblically based and that the sermon, and not the music be the center of the worship experience.
- That pastors understand that fellow ministers and members of the congregation respond differently to the Word and the tempo of the worship service. Not everyone has to shout and raise his or her hands; worship is not a football game. We are emotional at a football game or other athletic event because we are excited, trying to influence, and hoping for a positive outcome. In the game of Eternal Life, if we are followers of Christ, we know the outcome, that we have salvation in Christ, because He died for our sins and rose up from the grave. Our outcome is assured. We are not nearly as emotional when we look at a rerun of a football or basketball game as when we are looking at the live broadcast. So, not everybody has to “shout” in worship. Some folks are expressive and others are more reserved. One is not better than the other is.
- That more AME students would support our AME institutions of higher education, especially Wilberforce University, Payne, and Turner Theological Seminaries.
- That we do not write off Morris Brown College and the other AME institutions. They have a lot to offer. Wilberforce University was not accredited when I applied and enrolled there in 1959.
- That the Church would affirm the hard-working clergy who pastor small congregations, who might only have one or two accessions, or maybe no accessions and no baptisms. The year might have been a tough one and the “ground might not have been fertile.”
- That all of us might remember hardworking, relatively small and medium-size congregations support the Connectional Church.
- That mega-churches would adopt small congregations and let some of the so-called, “small-time” preachers preach in their mega pulpits.
- That some of our mega-church pastors would be invited to share their success stories at some of our Connectional meetings and that there would be a time for some serious questions and answers. The mega-pastors have a wealth of information that they can share about church growth.
- That there is some time allotted at some of our Connectional Meetings for small and rural church issues be addressed.
- That the Church would affirm, strategize and be intentional about bi-vocational ministry.
- That the Church would encourage, strategize and be intentional about encouraging pastors to do fulltime ministry. If we do not, almost all of our churches will be bi-vocational or part-time.
- That we find a way to make our annual conferences less stressful and more relaxing. Every non-church meeting I attend asks for the participants’ evaluation and provides evaluation forms for participants’ feedback. It might be helpful to ask those who attend our meetings and conferences what they think would make for a better meeting. It might not be a bad idea for pastors to ask their members for evaluation and feedback. That is a new paradigm! It takes strength and self-confidence to ask for, and not be threatened by honest feedback. (See the next article related to subscribers not receiving the print edition of The Christian Recorder in a timely manner).
- That our pastors and leaders will read more. For instance, the Reverend Dr. William Whatley has written a wonderful little book entitled,” Less than Tipping” that gives twenty-five reasons to tithe. (Call 973.622-1344, Ext. 111)
- That our pastors and their family members will receive medical checkups.
- That our pastor families will engage the services of a financial planner early in their ministry. For those in ministry who have not engages a financial planner, it is not too late. Do it.
- That all of our pastors and family members take vacations and encourage each other to take vacations.
- That all members of the clergy from bishops to bishops and pastors to pastors be friends and collegial to one another; that we socialize and have fun with each other. There is nothing sinful about clergy families having fun and socializing with one another.
- That all clergy and laity will subscribe to The Christian Recorder and to all of our other periodicals.
3. KUDOS ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDITION OF THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER AND A RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT NOT RECEIVING THEIR PRINT EDITIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER IN A TIMELY MANNER:
The Editor of The Christian Recorder appreciates feedback.
We have received a number of compliments about the caliber of The Christian Recorder and especially about the Special Edition of The Christian Recorder. The Publisher and the staff at the Publishing House did a superb job in getting that issue published and distributed.
We have also received a number of questions and some complaints from subscribers who have not received the print editions of their newspapers in a timely fashion. That has been a problem and it is a problem that will be corrected. Several issues ago, I explained that Second Class mailings as, The Christian Recorder goes to distribution points all around the country and that Second Class mailings do not receive the same priority as First Class mail. I live in Nashville and most likely, The Christian Recorder that comes to my home, does not come from the Post Office in Nashville where the Publisher delivered the newspapers. My newspaper might have come from the distribution point in New Orleans, which is why I might get a call from someone in Texas complimenting me on an article in The Christian Recorder that I had not yet received. I very often receive calls from people about issues that I had not received. That is a problem.
The paper has been late, and for that, I apologize. We are in the process of catching-up the issues and subscribers will receive all of the issues that they have paid for. We ask for your patience. Not to make excuses, but I need to say that the AME Publishing House is not as large as the other denominational publishing houses. We do not have the staff or the financial resources. Our subscription base is improving and for that, we say thank you, but historically, we have been operating in the “red.” The Publisher, Dr. Johnny Barbour is optimistic that we are turning things around, and for that, we are thankful.
The Chair of the Publication Commission, the Rt. Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram and the Bishops of the Church directed the Editor to put together a Special Katrina Issue of the Christian Recorder and for the Publisher to publish enough copies for every AME family in America and abroad. Dr. Johnny Barbour and his staff published 66,000 copies of the Special Edition and we hope that every AME family has received their copy of the Special Edition. That was a Herculean task and the Publisher had to use resources that had not been allocated, which in the government is called an “unfinanced requirement.” When 66,000 copies are processed, something has to give. A sixty-six thousand copies run of The Christian Recorder is not “business as usual.” Added to that, the Sunday School literature had to be published, as well as the other periodicals, and the contract printing jobs that were in the queue.
Please know that all of us, and especially the Publisher, are doing our best with the resources that we have.
4. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: FifthDistPrayer@aol.com
The passing of Rev. Granville Hayes, Retired, former pastor of Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church, Moberly, MO and Lovell Chapel A.M.E. Church, Huntsville, Missouri, passed on December 12, 2005.
Service Arrangements Held
Family visitation:
Friday, December 16, 2005
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Warren Funeral Chapel
12 E. Ash Street
Columbia, MO 65203
573-443-3343 (Phone)
573-874-1521 (Fax)
Funeral Service:
Saturday, December 17, 2005
1:00 PM
St. Paul AME Church
501 Park Street
Columbia, MO 65201
5. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: PastorGolphin@aol.com
The passing of the daughter of The Reverend MacArthur and Dr. Kathy Pendleton (Bethel AME Church - Campbellsville, Kentucky). She was killed in Chicago on yesterday morning, December 17, 2005.
Arrangements are pending.
Condolences may be sent to:
Bethel AME Church
240 Lone Valley Rd
Campbellsville KY 42718
6. 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.
7. 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.
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor
1. A BLESSED ADVENT AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS:
Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, Chair, Commission on Publications,
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher, and
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor of The Christian Recorder
Wishes all of you a Blessed Advent and a Merry Christmas.
2. THE EDITOR’S WISH FOR THE NEW YEAR:
The New Year is fast approaching, 2005 is almost history. Each year about this time, many of us prepare our list of resolutions for the New Year. Like many of you, I have my list of New Year’s resolutions. I don not want to share those, but I want to share my “wish list” for the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
I invite you to share your “wish list” for the AME Church. Send it to chsydnor@bellsouth.net with the subject line containing to the words, “Wish List for the AME Church.”
The Editor’s “Wish List”
- That our Church (local and Connectional) will be a “thermostat” rather than a “thermometer.” A thermostat regulates the temperature; a thermometer tells us what the “thermostat” regulated. The Church should be a “thermostat” that controls the spiritual and moral environment and not be a “thermometer” that is controlled by the worldly environment.
- That more pastors would let the laity have more responsibilities in the church. When pastors learn to delegate and share responsibilities, their ministry will be more enjoyable and more effective.
Sister Jeanette Johns, author of the book about Bishop D. Ward Nichols entitled, “The Upward Journey: A Centenarian's Chronicle” observes,
“Pastors can work themselves right into the ground and that’s no fun for them or their families; and, I believe that God wouldn't like that. Church can be as much or as little work as the pastor wants it to be. Apparently, many pastors want their ministry to be a lot of work because many of them work night and day… And, many spouses work right along with spouse pastors. So often, in the long haul, that does not pay. Sensibility pays off. Some pastors don't seem to be content unless they are working hard and ‘leading the charge.’”
- That more pastors would slow-down and be more calm in worship and administration and stop “running around” trying to do everything. Train the people and let them do what they were trained to do.
- That pastors would stop talking and carry on conversations with other ministers during worship services. Whispering, laughing, and gesturing in the pulpit during worship is distracting and does not set a good example for worship. The Reverend Walter W. Reid recently retired and former pastor of Trinity AME in Lansing, Michigan was the model example, for me, of a minister who focused upon his sermon when he went into the pulpit.
- That during the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the opening worship service at the Annual Conference, pastors would maintain dignity and worship decorum during Holy Communion and especially after, they have been communed. Pastors can be seen taking off their robes and walking in and out of the sanctuary before the end of the Communion Service.
- That church members would love and affirm their pastors and the first family.
- That mean-spiritedness would be replaced by brotherly and sisterly love; and agape love.
- That every pastor would remember the promise he or she made to the question in the Ordination Service, “Will you reverently obey your chief ministers to whom is committed the charge and government over you, following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions, submitting yourselves to their godly judgment?” Our response was, “I will do so, the Lord being my helper.”
- That our bishops will remember the part in their Consecration liturgy where they were reminded that they should not be hasty in laying on hands and admitting any person to government in the church of Christ ...” We should never forget that the ministry is the “highest calling.”
- That worship services be more spiritual and more biblically based and that the sermon, and not the music be the center of the worship experience.
- That pastors understand that fellow ministers and members of the congregation respond differently to the Word and the tempo of the worship service. Not everyone has to shout and raise his or her hands; worship is not a football game. We are emotional at a football game or other athletic event because we are excited, trying to influence, and hoping for a positive outcome. In the game of Eternal Life, if we are followers of Christ, we know the outcome, that we have salvation in Christ, because He died for our sins and rose up from the grave. Our outcome is assured. We are not nearly as emotional when we look at a rerun of a football or basketball game as when we are looking at the live broadcast. So, not everybody has to “shout” in worship. Some folks are expressive and others are more reserved. One is not better than the other is.
- That more AME students would support our AME institutions of higher education, especially Wilberforce University, Payne, and Turner Theological Seminaries.
- That we do not write off Morris Brown College and the other AME institutions. They have a lot to offer. Wilberforce University was not accredited when I applied and enrolled there in 1959.
- That the Church would affirm the hard-working clergy who pastor small congregations, who might only have one or two accessions, or maybe no accessions and no baptisms. The year might have been a tough one and the “ground might not have been fertile.”
- That all of us might remember hardworking, relatively small and medium-size congregations support the Connectional Church.
- That mega-churches would adopt small congregations and let some of the so-called, “small-time” preachers preach in their mega pulpits.
- That some of our mega-church pastors would be invited to share their success stories at some of our Connectional meetings and that there would be a time for some serious questions and answers. The mega-pastors have a wealth of information that they can share about church growth.
- That there is some time allotted at some of our Connectional Meetings for small and rural church issues be addressed.
- That the Church would affirm, strategize and be intentional about bi-vocational ministry.
- That the Church would encourage, strategize and be intentional about encouraging pastors to do fulltime ministry. If we do not, almost all of our churches will be bi-vocational or part-time.
- That we find a way to make our annual conferences less stressful and more relaxing. Every non-church meeting I attend asks for the participants’ evaluation and provides evaluation forms for participants’ feedback. It might be helpful to ask those who attend our meetings and conferences what they think would make for a better meeting. It might not be a bad idea for pastors to ask their members for evaluation and feedback. That is a new paradigm! It takes strength and self-confidence to ask for, and not be threatened by honest feedback. (See the next article related to subscribers not receiving the print edition of The Christian Recorder in a timely manner).
- That our pastors and leaders will read more. For instance, the Reverend Dr. William Whatley has written a wonderful little book entitled,” Less than Tipping” that gives twenty-five reasons to tithe. (Call 973.622-1344, Ext. 111)
- That our pastors and their family members will receive medical checkups.
- That our pastor families will engage the services of a financial planner early in their ministry. For those in ministry who have not engages a financial planner, it is not too late. Do it.
- That all of our pastors and family members take vacations and encourage each other to take vacations.
- That all members of the clergy from bishops to bishops and pastors to pastors be friends and collegial to one another; that we socialize and have fun with each other. There is nothing sinful about clergy families having fun and socializing with one another.
- That all clergy and laity will subscribe to The Christian Recorder and to all of our other periodicals.
3. KUDOS ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDITION OF THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER AND A RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT NOT RECEIVING THEIR PRINT EDITIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER IN A TIMELY MANNER:
The Editor of The Christian Recorder appreciates feedback.
We have received a number of compliments about the caliber of The Christian Recorder and especially about the Special Edition of The Christian Recorder. The Publisher and the staff at the Publishing House did a superb job in getting that issue published and distributed.
We have also received a number of questions and some complaints from subscribers who have not received the print editions of their newspapers in a timely fashion. That has been a problem and it is a problem that will be corrected. Several issues ago, I explained that Second Class mailings as, The Christian Recorder goes to distribution points all around the country and that Second Class mailings do not receive the same priority as First Class mail. I live in Nashville and most likely, The Christian Recorder that comes to my home, does not come from the Post Office in Nashville where the Publisher delivered the newspapers. My newspaper might have come from the distribution point in New Orleans, which is why I might get a call from someone in Texas complimenting me on an article in The Christian Recorder that I had not yet received. I very often receive calls from people about issues that I had not received. That is a problem.
The paper has been late, and for that, I apologize. We are in the process of catching-up the issues and subscribers will receive all of the issues that they have paid for. We ask for your patience. Not to make excuses, but I need to say that the AME Publishing House is not as large as the other denominational publishing houses. We do not have the staff or the financial resources. Our subscription base is improving and for that, we say thank you, but historically, we have been operating in the “red.” The Publisher, Dr. Johnny Barbour is optimistic that we are turning things around, and for that, we are thankful.
The Chair of the Publication Commission, the Rt. Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram and the Bishops of the Church directed the Editor to put together a Special Katrina Issue of the Christian Recorder and for the Publisher to publish enough copies for every AME family in America and abroad. Dr. Johnny Barbour and his staff published 66,000 copies of the Special Edition and we hope that every AME family has received their copy of the Special Edition. That was a Herculean task and the Publisher had to use resources that had not been allocated, which in the government is called an “unfinanced requirement.” When 66,000 copies are processed, something has to give. A sixty-six thousand copies run of The Christian Recorder is not “business as usual.” Added to that, the Sunday School literature had to be published, as well as the other periodicals, and the contract printing jobs that were in the queue.
Please know that all of us, and especially the Publisher, are doing our best with the resources that we have.
4. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: FifthDistPrayer@aol.com
The passing of Rev. Granville Hayes, Retired, former pastor of Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church, Moberly, MO and Lovell Chapel A.M.E. Church, Huntsville, Missouri, passed on December 12, 2005.
Service Arrangements Held
Family visitation:
Friday, December 16, 2005
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Warren Funeral Chapel
12 E. Ash Street
Columbia, MO 65203
573-443-3343 (Phone)
573-874-1521 (Fax)
Funeral Service:
Saturday, December 17, 2005
1:00 PM
St. Paul AME Church
501 Park Street
Columbia, MO 65201
5. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: PastorGolphin@aol.com
The passing of the daughter of The Reverend MacArthur and Dr. Kathy Pendleton (Bethel AME Church - Campbellsville, Kentucky). She was killed in Chicago on yesterday morning, December 17, 2005.
Arrangements are pending.
Condolences may be sent to:
Bethel AME Church
240 Lone Valley Rd
Campbellsville KY 42718
6. 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.
7. 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.
