Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor
The Christian Recorder Online will resume publication after Christmas.
We wish all of you a very Blessed Christmas.
1. SAINT JAMES AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CYNTHIANA, KENTUCKY:
Greetings, salutations, and warmest regards in the name of our precious Savior Jesus Christ the Risen Lord who through grace and mercy protects, provides, and paves the way for our future in eternity with Him.
Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church along with Ebenezer United Methodist Church and Macedonia Baptist Church would like to extend to you this invitation.
You are asked to come and be a part of their annual recognition and celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This will be a community wide event in which all of Harrison County and other communities and counties may participate.
This momentous occasion of honor will be held on Monday, January 16, 2006. The day’s schedule will be as follows:
10:00 A.M. - morning devotions at Ebenezer UMC located at 205 North Locust Street
10:30 A.M. -Community Wide March of Unity, Friendship and Alliance originating from Ebenezer UMC
11:00 A.M. - Celebration, Appreciation and Observance Program in Remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King at St. James AMEC, 312 West Pleasant St.
Featured Speaker for the MLK Program will be Dr. Mary Levi Smith, First Female President of Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky, author of, In Spite of the Odds: Using Roadblocks, Potholes, and Hurdles as Stepping Stones to Success
12:00 P.M. Noon -Fellowship Lunch
Please join us for this special commemoration of the life and times of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. He stepped out on faith on our behalf so that we could experience life’s freedoms and rights as citizens here on earth. Let us step out on Monday, January 16, 2006 to honor his courageous efforts.
In Christian Fellowship,
The members of Saint James A.M.E., Ebenezer UMC and Macedonia Baptist Churches.
“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalms 122:1)
2. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE UPDATE:
Bishop and Mrs. Richardson and the entire family of the late Sarah Speights, mother of Supervisor Connie Speights Richardson, express their sincere gratitude for the prayers and expressions of compassion received to date.
Please continue to pray for the family.
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Cassandra A. Sparrow
Executive Director
Second District Religious, Educational and Charitable Development Projects, Inc.
(RED, Inc.)
Service arrangements for Mrs. Sarah Speights
Service arrangements for Mrs. Sarah Speights, mother of Second Episcopal District Episcopal Supervisor Connie Speights Richardson and the mother-in-law of Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Presiding Bishop, Second Episcopal District.
Funeral Service:
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
11:00 A. M. (Central Time)
Vann Funeral Home
4265 Saint Andrews Street
Marianna, FL 32448
(850) 482-3300 (Phone)
Floral arrangements/tributes should be sent to Vann Funeral Home.
Vann Funeral Home
4265 Saint Andrews Street
Marianna, FL 32448
(850) 482-3300 (Phone)
Sympathy cards and messages of condolence may be sent to the Tallahassee, Florida address of Bishop and Mrs. Adam Jefferson Richardson.
ADDRESS:
3715 Forsythe Way
Tallahassee, FL 32309
FAX messages of condolence may be sent via:
(850) 893-1959
3. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: longcreek2@aol.com
Funeral services for the late Willie Eugene Ball (father of Rev. Gregory Ball, Pastor of Brown's AME Church Smithfield, VA):
Arrangements:
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Wake (10:30 AM)
Homegoing Service (11:00 AM)
1st Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church
809-811 West Saratoga Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Bishop Oscar E. Brown, Pastor
Phone: 410-728-4383
Fax: 410-383-0676
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to:
Gary P. March Funeral Home
270 Fredhilton Pass
Baltimore, MD 21229
Phone: 410-945-1100
Condolences may be sent to:
Rev. Gregory Ball and family
6 Madrone Place
Hampton, VA 23666
(757) 838-0685
4. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
SGT Melba Anita Miller, daughter and only child of the Reverend Dr. Marva Bywaters, pastor of the of Petra AME Church in Houston, Texas, departed earth for Glory on December 19, 2005.
The Homegoing Celebration will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at noon.
Condolences may be sent to:
Rev. Dr. Marva Bywaters
4919 La Branch Street
Houston, Texas 77004
713.522.4775
5. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: PastorGolphin@aol.com
Service arrangements for Mrs. Mellodey Hoskins, daughter of Reverend MacArthur Pendleton and Dr. Kathy Pendleton (Bethel AME Church - Campbellsville, KY).
Wake:
Monday, December 26, 2005 from 1:00 PM-7:00 PM
(The family will be present from 6:00 PM –7:00 PM) atLeek and Sons Funeral Home304 E WilliamsDanville IL 68132217-442-2667
The Homegoing Celebration of Mellodey Hoskins December 27, 2005
12:00 Noon
New Life Church of Faith
1419 N. Bowman Ave
Danville, IL 61832
Condolences may be sent to the addresses above or to:
The Reverend MacArthur Pendleton and Dr. Kathy Pendleton
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.
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
12/21/2005
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (12/21/05)
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. HURRICANE KATRINA IS NOT OVER; THE KATRINA EPISODE WAS A CONDITION, WAS NOT A PROBLEM:
It seems that we have gotten quiet about Hurricane Katrina. I do not hear much about Katrina and the strategy as a follow-up to all of the great work that we did immediately following the catastrophe. The Katrina issue is far from over. We still have work to do. We still have lives to put back together and to be given hope. . We have families that need to be reunited and homes that need to be refurbished or rebuilt. We have churches that need to be repaired or rebuilt and congregations that need to be re-infused, reinvigorated and to be jump-started so they can function as healthy congregations. The job is not finished.
Are all the AME Churches operational? Have all of the pastors regained their back pay and are they receiving their salaries? Are all of the members, who want to return to New Orleans, back in their homes? Have they all returned to their jobs? Will all of our children who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina have a nice Christmas?
If the answer to any of the questions is, “No,” then our Katrina effort is not complete.
I hope that the African Methodist Episcopal Church will continue its effort to comfort those person displaced by Katrina. We still have work to do and I hope that we will continue to be as excited as we were, immediately after the storm.
The six o’clock NBC news (12/20/05) featured a segment that showed that African Americans were, and continue to be, treated unfairly when trying to find housing. Blatant racism has been exposed and it tells me that the battle for equality is not a fait accompli. I didn’t need the six o’clock news to tell me that there was racial bias in the treatment of the Hurricane victims seeking housing and relocation assistance.
We must stay on the “battlefield” and continue the fight for basic human rights. Hurricane Katrina exposed the open wound and it still needs to be treated. The Church must be a “thermostat” for freedom and equality and not a “thermometer.” Richard Allen and the Free African Society was a “thermostat” for freedom and human rights. The after-affects of Katrina was not a problem, it was a condition. Problems can often be solved with a few readjustments, but it takes a long time to correct a condition.
Let’s make sure that we are not lured into a false sense of believing that our assistance immediately after the hurricane was sufficient. We “met the requirements,” but now we need to “exceed the requirements” by keeping our “hands on the plow.” We must not look back. We must move forward!
2. THE WISH LIST – CON’T:
- That our AME Congregations make Christian Education a top priority, fully support local Church School education, raise their Biblical IQs and adopt the attitude of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) regarding Bible Study. May we all be re-dedicated to the principle - "Studying the Scriptures to Serve Humanity."
Bill Dickens
Bethel AMEC
Tallahassee, FL
- That the pastor appoints members to the Steward Board and the congregation elects the remaining members of the Steward Board.
Lisa Dove
EJLISADOVE@aol.com
3. AME HISTORIOGRAPHER AS RECOGNIZED WESLEYAN SCHOLAR:
Both nationally and globally, the A.M.E Church Historiographer, the Reverend Dennis C. Dickerson, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Department of Research and Scholarship and editor of the A.M.E. CHURCH REVIEW, is known as a scholar of African Methodism.
On October 28-29, 2005 at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, he met with other scholars of the Wesleyan tradition at the 2005 Wesleyan/Pentecostal Consultation. Dr. Dickerson joined colleagues from Wesley Theological Seminary, St. Paul School of Theology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Fuller Theological Seminary, and other institutions in presenting papers on how Wesleyan theology and doctrine have informed the broad Methodist and Pentecostal experiences.
Dr. Dickerson delivered a paper on “Bishop Daniel A. Payne and the A.M.E. Mission to the ‘Ransomed’.” In the presentation, the Historiographer discussed Payne’s development of the 1856 A.M.E. creedal statement, “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother.” He juxtaposed Payne’s doctrinal posture with that of the 1908 General Conference which declared, “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Ghost Our Comforter”, Man Our Brother.” Dr. Dickerson said, “The Azusa Street revivals in 1906 had challenged the nation’s oldest black religious body to acknowledge the present reality of the Holy Ghost and to remind African Methodists that sanctifying power from the third person in the Godhead stirred the same religious enthusiasm that marked their Wesleyan origins.” The paper was received and ignited extensive discussion among his conferees.
The following month Dr. Dickerson, who recently served as President of the American Society of Church History, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he had been invited to participate in the proceedings of the American Academy of Religion. On November 21, 2005, he served as commentator in a session “W. E. B. Du Bois and the Discourse of African American Religious History and Historiography.” The Papers were given by professors at Bates College, Florida State University, and the University of Missouri, Kansas City on Du Bois and Henry O. Tanner, the black church and Du Bois, and Du Bois’ social scientific study of black religion. Dr. Dickerson critiqued these papers by drawing upon his 2003 publication in the A.M.E. CHURCH REVIEW on Du Bois, the SOULS OF BLACK FOLK, and the genesis of African American religious history. Present in the audience were A.M.E. scholars, Dr. James H. Cone of Union Theological Seminary, New York City and Dr. Larry G. Murphy of Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is appreciative for the manner in which Dr. Dickerson, the Church’s 13th Historiographer and 13th Editor of The A.M.E. Church Review represents African Methodism.
4. INTRODUCING THE 11th EPISCOPAL DISTRICT’S MEDIA TEAM LED BY BISHOP MCKINLEY YOUNG & DR. DOROTHY J. YOUNG:
Spread the word, there is no need to search, “There’s a place for you in the African Methodist Episcopal Church!”
By Angela Surcey Garner
This year’s Planning Conference for the 11th Episcopal District, was filled with much work and a new campaign for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop McKinley Young organized a new Media Ministry representing all of the Conferences in the District. The team met for the first time, on Friday, August 12, 2005 at the Enterprise Center in Jacksonville, FL. The members are Bishop McKinley Young, Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young, Rev. Kenneth Irby (Coordinator), Sis. Karen Richardson (Co-Coordinator), Sis. Angela Surcey Garner (Secretary), Rev. Marvin C. Zanders, II, Rev. Clarence Williams, Rev. Mark Griffin, Rev. Marcius O. King, Rev. John D. Williams, Sr., Rev. Anthony Reed, Rev. Gerard Moss, Sis. Mavis Bush, Rev. Mark Crutcher and Elder Thomas B. DeSue.
The logo includes the state of Florida and the Bahamas, our Cross and Anvil, exclusively representing the A.M.E. Church, and our new slogan, “There’s a Place for You in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.” The final logo is under reconstruction, will be presented in the next issue of the Communiqué and will be available for use upon completion, at the A.M.E. Church’s Website (www.ame-church.com). Our logo is the result of a vision from Bishop Young that he verbalized during one of our meetings. Sister Angela Surcey Garner submitted the first drafts of the logo; then those ideas evolved into the final drafts created by another artist who we are grateful to, Ed Hashey.
Our goals and objectives were culminated from the entire team through many discussions in meetings and conference calls, but summarized and professionally recorded by Rev. Kenneth Irby. We presented everything in a PowerPoint presentation created by the Rev. Clarence Williams at the Thursday morning plenary session of the Planning Conference. Individual presentations were also given of various ministries, including the Lay Organization, pastors and ministers, Women’s Missionary Society, Women in Ministry, Debutantes and Masters Commission and Ministers’ Spouse Alliance. Our message is one of outreach and reclamation, and seeks to let all know, “There’s a place for YOU in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.” Our goals and objectives follow. We pray all will catch the vision and get the word out in your areas.
Goals: Expansion, Exposure and Enlargement
1. Evangelism: To attract unbelievers to the body of Jesus the Christ through the African Methodist Episcopal Church tradition.
2. Reclamation: To reclaim and reinvigorate members of the African Methodist Episcopal church who have become dormant.
3. Public Teaching & Awareness: To increase public awareness through traditional and electronic media, creative marketing and targeted advertising across the state of Florida and the Bahamas Islands, with emphasis on how well we serve.
Objectives:
Launch a comprehensive outreach, media and marketing campaign within the Eleventh Episcopal District rolling out at the 2005-06 Tampa planning meeting that follows the thematic thrust: “There is a place for YOU in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.”
Restore the impact of the AMEC, once described by W. E. B. DuBois his 1903 book titled The Souls of Black Folk, “…Methodists were compelled early to unite for purposes of Episcopal government. This gave rise to the great African Methodist Church, the greatest Negro organization in the world, to the Zion Church and the Colored Methodist, and to the black conferences and churches in this and other denominations.”
Make manifest the unique and rich mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as outlined in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2000, page
The first thing you can do is take our theme back to your churches and to the streets, spreading the message and meeting people where they are. More information will post in future issues of The Christian Recorder. For related comments and questions, send E-mail to: MediaTeam11th@bellsouth.net or eedmt@bellsouth.net God bless!
5. THE ELIZABETH AREA PAYS HOMAGE TO AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE MEMBER AT AN ANNUAL DAY PROGRAM:
On Sunday, October 30, 2005, The Elizabeth Area paid homage to Rev. Mildred Jackson, Life Member of the Women’s Missionary Society. The event was held at Mt. Pisgah A.M.E Church, Jersey City, New Jersey as a part of The Elizabeth Area Annual Day Program. She has dedicated over 52 years of her life to mission’s work that has included working with the homeless and finding housing for people who were previously incarcerated.
Rev. Jackson, a native of St. Augustine, Florida, met and married her husband, the late Rev. Jesse J. Jackson, after traveling to New York City. She worked along side her husband as the first lady of 10 churches where he pastored. She has two sons, Jesse J. Jackson, Jr., who is a musician, and Calvin W. Jackson, who is the pastor of Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Darby, PA. Also, she has two daughters-in-law, Darlene and Charlemagne, and has been blessed with four grandchildren, Calvin, Jr., Jesse, III, Aaron, and Taran, and one great-grandchild, Jemil.
In addition to her family obligations, Rev. Jackson was a school teacher for 23 years in the New York and Philadelphia areas. She has taught in Early Childhood Development as a substitute and special education teacher for elementary school grades including Kindergarten within the Christian and Public School settings.
She is currently the Vice President of the Tenants Association in the building in which she lives. She also served as the President of the New Jersey Conference Women’s Missionary Society from 1971 – 1974.
Rev. Jackson was called into the ministry in 1984 and currently serves as an Associate Minister at Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she assists with the Sick and Communion Ministries. She is also a member of the Seniors Ministry at Mount Zion. Her motto is “Let the work I’ve done, speak for me.”
Rev. Jackson is an extraordinary woman who continues to reach out to people in need and to spread the word of God. She is truly deserving of the title of Women’s Missionary Society Life Member!
Written by: Antoinette S. Johnson
Photo by: Bert Robinson
Mount Zion A.M.E. Church
39 Morris Street/Hildebrand Way
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 249-8476
http://www.mountzioname.org/
Rev. Mildred Jackson, Women’s Missionary Society
Life Member honoree at the Elizabeth Area
Women’s Missionary Society Annual Day Program
Sunday, October 30, 2005
6. BISHOP HENRY W. MURPH TO BE HONORED DEC. 29 WITH BIRTHDAY BASH; CONNECTIONAL AFFAIR EXPECTED TO DRAW MORE THAN 300:
LOS ANGELES — (December 20, 2005) — The Rt. Rev. Henry Wendell Murph is having a birthday party and the entire A.M.E. Church is invited to share in the celebration.
Murph, the 86th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will be honored through music, photography, poetry and dramatic presentation at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29.
He is the most senior of the 21 active and 14 retired bishops of African Methodism. Five of his colleagues are expected to join in the momentous affair: retired Bishop H. Hartford Brookins, along with Bishops John R. Bryant, T. Larry Kirkland and Carolyn Tyler-Guidry, presiding prelates of the Fifth, Ninth and Sixteenth districts, respectively.
In all, more than 300 dignitaries, clergy, community leaders, former parishioners, family and friends are expected to participate in the celebration at the WLCAC in Watts, 10950 South Central Avenue.
Paying special tribute will be Murph’s son, Frederick, pastor of the Brookins Community A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. The younger Murph availed himself to the Bishopric in 2004 and is prayerfully considering another bid for the Episcopacy in 2008, exactly 40 years after his father was elected.
“Bishop Murph is one of the giants of African Methodism on whose shoulders we proudly stand,” said the Rev. Leslie R. White, speaking on behalf of the thousands of persons who have been influenced by Murhph’s ministry. “It is only fitting that the denomination he gave his life to and the community he served for nearly two decades would join together to pay tribute to him.”
A native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, Murph is the son of Presiding Elder and Mrs. J. W. Murph. A graduate of Allen University, Columbia, S.C., and Oberlin Graduate School of Theology, Oberlin, Ohio, Murph actually began his pastoral ministry in Georgia. There he distinguished himself as a “master pastor,” retiring mortgages, uniting congregations and saving souls.
According to the history of St. Phillip A.M.E. Church in Savannah, Ga., for example, his greatest success during his eight-year pastorate “was in the ability to get the full cooperation of the membership” in paring Church debt and installing a new pipe organ.
Those God-given talents would prove invaluable when Murph was appointed pastor of Grant in 1950, where he served for 18 years. During his tenure, membership increased ten-fold and a new edifice was erected which stands to this day one of the most beautiful worship facilities in all of African Methodism.
A savvy statesman, Murph played a pivotal role in the decision of the General Services Administration (now the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) to house the Social Security Office in Watts – on property owned by Grant no less. He was also instrumental in leading the Watts community during the tumultuous years following the 1965 Watts riots.
In 1968, at the 38th Session of the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia, Murph was elected to the Episcopal Bench with the mandate to transform the nation’s oldest African-American denomination. He would go on to do just that, serving as presiding prelate of the Eighteenth, Seventeenth, Second, Tenth and Fifth districts and leaving in his wake a legacy of leadership, stewardship and Christian service.
In the years since his retirement in 1988, and in spite of recent illness, Murph has remained active in the Watts community and the A.M.E. Church. He is a crowd-favorite when he appears at worship events and conferences of the Church.
Murph and his wife Geraldine live in Los Angeles and have been married “forever,” says the Rev. Hester Lively, a family friend and associate minister of Grant.
Admission is $40 per person and includes a gourmet dinner. Cards, resolutions, testimonials, photos, gifts and well-wishes may be sent to Bishop Murph’s 95th Birthday Celebration, c/o Bro. Don Scott, Chairperson, Grant A.M.E. Church, 10435 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90002 or faxed to (323) 564-5027.
For more information, visit http://www.grantamechurch.org/ or call (323) 564-1151.
7. GREAT THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
- The Fourth Episcopal District has a bound 2006 Fourth Episcopal Directory. The Directory has the mailing addresses and email addresses for those who have email addresses of active and retired Bishops, General and Connectional Officers. It even has an index with an alphabetical list of all of the persons listed in the Directory.
Kudos to the Fourth Episcopal District for a great publication. If you do not have one of the Directories, you should order one by emailing 4thadministrator@sbcglobal.net or by calling 773.373-6587.
- The Thirteenth Episcopal District has an electronic 13th Episcopal District Directory.
- The First Episcopal district has a District Newspaper, The First District Flame, which is full of great information about news events in the First Episcopal District.
8. 2005 ACCOUNTABILITY OF RESOURCES OF THE THIRTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Bishop
Mr. Stan McKenzie, Supervisor of Missions
- $ 12,940 in grants awarded to churches and individuals in the 13th District through Believe, Inc.
- $ 11,608 in Benevolence ($3,470 directly to churches in the 13th District)
- $ 97,731.66 in Debts paid off:
> $80,731.56 paid to Second Presbyterian Church (Clayborn Temple, Memphis)
> $17,000 paid for demolition of ancillary building (Clayborn Temple, Memphis)
- Thirteen churches assisted by the Nehemiah Nation
- 173 Continuing Education Certificates earned through Payne Theological Seminary
- Five Clergy Institutes held at the seat of all Annual Conferences
- Three new churches planted
- 1,200 people at the Christian Education Leadership Congress in Louisville, Kentucky
- 13th District Living Well and Walking Ministry begun
- Annual Conference and District Prayer Ministry encouraged
- Living Well Annual Conference Institutes
- 1st Annual A.M.E. Works Day
- Two “Cross to Pentecost” Revivals held (Lexington, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee)
- The Cross to Pentecost Devotional Guide published and sold out
- Over 300 copies of The Anvil sold in the 13th District
- Bishop McKenzie visited 85% of churches in the District
- $43,000 raised for Katrina effort
- 11 tractor-trailers went south from the District with supplies for Katrina victims
9. ARTICLE IN THE CHARLESTON.NET FEATURES SISTER EVA BROWN, MOTHER-IN-LAW OF THE REVEREND KENNETH GOPHIN AND THE MOTHER OF DIANNA GOLPHIN:
In the past two years, Eva Brown, 68, has devoted more than 4,000 hours of her time to helping elderly people in McClellanville, South Carolina where she lives and grew up. On weekdays, she visits two elderly women to help with light housework - cooking, cleaning, and gardening.
For this, she recently received the President's Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. But, that's not what keeps her going. Her work helps the women remain independent and reduces their risk of having a fall.
The article was written by Michael Gartleand and may be seen in its entirety at
http://www.charleston.net/stories/default.aspx?newsID=59682§ion=localnews
Mrs. Eva Brown. She is a life long member of Greater Mount Zion AME Church in McClellanville, SC.
10. THE 2006 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY:
"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" from Matt. 18:20 is the theme of the 2006 edition of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
An ecumenical group in Ireland chose it.
Jointly prepared since 1968 by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Roman Catholic Church, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally celebrated from 18-25 January, although in the Southern hemisphere, other dates are sometimes chosen, for example, around Pentecost.
Setting out their reasons for choosing Matt. 18:20 as the central biblical text and theme for 2006, the Irish preparatory group explained that they "wished to draw attention to Jesus as the source of our unity" and to underline "the simplicity of two or three coming together in Christian mutual love as a vital means of building up relations between divided peoples and communities."
They were, moreover, "mindful that hope for the future, and peace and reconciliation in the present necessarily involved dealing with painful memories and hurtful grievances of the past."
It is "in that spirit," they say, "that all Christians who use these Week of Prayer resources are encouraged to come together in prayer and in mutual love to seek to understand each other amidst differences".
Week of Prayer resources include an introduction to the theme, a suggested ecumenical worship service that local churches are encouraged to adapt for their own particular liturgical, social and cultural contexts, biblical reflections and prayers for the "eight days," and additional prayers from, and an overview of, the ecumenical situation in the particular country that has prepared the material - in this case, Ireland.
The 2006 Week of Prayer materials are available on the WCC website at:
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/wop2006contents.html
11. NCC WELCOMES THE SENATE'S CAUTION ABOUT RENEWAL OF THE USA PATRIOT ACT:
New York, December 19, 2005 -- The National Council of Churches today praised the U.S. Senate for its caution when it declined to end a filibuster blocking the renewal of the USA Patriot Act.
"The Patriot Act was hastily enacted after 9/11 in an attempt to protect U.S. citizens from further terrorist violence," said Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, associate general secretary of the NCC for International Affairs and Peace. "It's now time to ask ourselves what this law has meant with respect to our most basic freedoms."
Last month, the General Assembly of the NCC and Church World Service passed a resolution calling for "ever-vigilant" support of civil and religious liberties. The resolution expresses concern that the Patriot Act "has the potential for vastly eroding" those liberties.
"The provisions of the act are in seeming conflict with the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures," the resolution states. "These provisions include: delayed-notice search warrants to secretly investigate potential criminals; national security letters to secretly gather private and confidential information; relaxed restrictions on wiretapping; and extensive use of deportation and denial of immigrant applications based on unknowing associations."
Last week President Bush admitted authorizing wiretaps on U.S. citizens and said they were necessary to uncover terrorist plans. Even so, many of the 40 Democrats and four Republicans who voted against a motion to end the filibuster cited this unusual measure as one of their concerns.
In a series of public statements, Mr. Bush has defended the Patriot Act as a necessary weapon for the war on terrorism. "In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment," he said. The Patriot Act's 16 major provisions will expire Dec. 31 unless Congress extends them.
"We're not calling upon the government to abandon its responsibility to defend its citizens," said the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the NCC. "At the same time, there is no more eloquent rebuke to our terrorist enemies than to show we will never back away from the religious and civil liberties they seem to hate so much."
The full text of the General Assembly's "Resolution on the Threat to Civil and Religious Liberties in Post-9/11 America" can be found at http://www.ncccusa.org/news/051130GAResolutions.html#Liberties
The National Council of Churches USA is composed of 35 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and peace communions representing 45 million Christians in 100,000 local congregations in the United States.
12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: StanMcKenzie44@aol.com (Supervisor Stan McKenzie)
Mrs. Sarah Speights, the mother of Second Episcopal District Episcopal Supervisor Connie Speights Richardson and the mother-in-law of Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Presiding Bishop, Second Episcopal District passed this morning.
Service arrangements are pending.
Contact Information:
Office:
Second Episcopal District AME Church
1134 11th Street, NWWashington, DC 20001
202) 842-3788 - Phone(202) 289-1942 – fax
Residence:
6209 Stoneham Lane
McLean, VA 22101
703-442-0261 (Phone)
Tallahassee, Florida Address
3715 Forsythe Way
Tallahassee, FL 32309
(850) 893-1939 (Phone)
(850) 893-1959 (Fax)
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: gedmaur@cwbda.bm
At about 3:30 this morning, after a brief illness, God called Sister Augusta Henrietta Douglas, mother of the Reverend V. A. Deyone Douglas, Pastor of St. Luke AME Church and the Rev. C. Maureen Clemendor, Local Elder of St. Philip AME Church in Bermuda, to her heavenly reward.
Three other daughters and a son also survive Mother Douglas, as she was affectionately known. A home going service is being planned and more information will be forthcoming. We ask that you keep the family in our prayers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Matilda Smith Williams Senior’s Residence of Agape House.
Messages of condolence may be forwarded to:
Rev. V. A. Deyone Douglas
St. Luke A.M.E. Church
P.O. Box DD133
St. David’s DDBX
Tel: (441) 297-1564
Fax (441) 297-2457
dvadboston@yahoo.com
Rev. C. Maureen Clemendor
St. Philip A.M.E. Church
P. O. Box HS14
Smith’s HSBX
Tel: (441) 293-0882
Fax: (441) 293-7936
Email: stphilipame@tbinet.bm or gedmaur@cwbda.bm
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: hilldrkenneth@comcast.net
Mrs. Hannah Heard the mother of Mrs. Sarah Twiggs (immediate past Conference Branch WMS President, East Tennessee Conference and wife of The Reverend Lawrence O. Twiggs.
Service Arrangements:
(1st Service)
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Columbus, Ohio
Family hour: 6: 00 PM
Funeral 6:30 PM.
(2nd Service)
Thursday Dec 22, 2005
11:00 AM
Mt. Olive Baptist Church
Anniston, Alabama
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Sarah Twiggs and Family
6420 Ridge Lake Road
Hixon, TN 37343
423-842-6346 (Phone)
From Mamie Hamler & Presiding Elder Kenneth H. Hill
Chattanooga District - East Tennessee Conference
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Presiding Prelate 13th Episcopal District
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: PastorGolphin@aol.com
Mrs. Mellodey Hoskins, daughter of Reverend MacArthur Pendleton and Dr. Kathy Pendleton (Bethel AME Church - Campbellsville, KY) passed in Chicago, IL on December 17, 2005.
Services are entrusted to:
Leek and Sons Funeral Home
304 East Williams
Danville, Illinois 61832
Condolences may be sent to:
Reverend MacArthur Pendleton and Dr. Kathy Pendleton
Bethel AME Church
240 Lone Valley Rd
Campbellsville, KY 42718
From: Rev. Kenneth Golphin
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The passing of Mrs. Dorothy Woods Hill of Rutherford, TN, on Saturday, December 17, 2005. Mrs. Hill is the mother of Rev. Willie V. Woods, Pastor of New Allen A.M.E. Church, Memphis, TN and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Mondella Woods, President of the 13th Episcopal District M-SWAWO. Service arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Condolences may be sent to:
Rev. Willie V. Woods and Family
9178 Afton Grove
Cordova, TN 38018
(901) 756-6171 (Phone)
Email Condolences: Mbswoods@aol.com
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Mrs. Ruth D. Barber of Pasadena, CA passed on last Friday, December 16, 2005. Mrs. Ruth Barber is the mother of the Reverend Nolan Watson, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church -Little Rock, AR, of the 12th Episcopal District, where Rev. Richard A. Chappelle is Bishop
Service Arrangements:
Friday, December 23, 2005
1:00 AM
Calvery C.M.E. Church
135 Glorieta Street
Pasadena, CA
Condolences may be sent to:
Reverend Nolan Watson and Family
Bethel AME Church815 West 15th Street Little Rock , AR 72202 501-374-2891 (Phone)
Email Condolences:nwatson7@alltel.net
18. 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.
19. 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. HURRICANE KATRINA IS NOT OVER; THE KATRINA EPISODE WAS A CONDITION, WAS NOT A PROBLEM:
It seems that we have gotten quiet about Hurricane Katrina. I do not hear much about Katrina and the strategy as a follow-up to all of the great work that we did immediately following the catastrophe. The Katrina issue is far from over. We still have work to do. We still have lives to put back together and to be given hope. . We have families that need to be reunited and homes that need to be refurbished or rebuilt. We have churches that need to be repaired or rebuilt and congregations that need to be re-infused, reinvigorated and to be jump-started so they can function as healthy congregations. The job is not finished.
Are all the AME Churches operational? Have all of the pastors regained their back pay and are they receiving their salaries? Are all of the members, who want to return to New Orleans, back in their homes? Have they all returned to their jobs? Will all of our children who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina have a nice Christmas?
If the answer to any of the questions is, “No,” then our Katrina effort is not complete.
I hope that the African Methodist Episcopal Church will continue its effort to comfort those person displaced by Katrina. We still have work to do and I hope that we will continue to be as excited as we were, immediately after the storm.
The six o’clock NBC news (12/20/05) featured a segment that showed that African Americans were, and continue to be, treated unfairly when trying to find housing. Blatant racism has been exposed and it tells me that the battle for equality is not a fait accompli. I didn’t need the six o’clock news to tell me that there was racial bias in the treatment of the Hurricane victims seeking housing and relocation assistance.
We must stay on the “battlefield” and continue the fight for basic human rights. Hurricane Katrina exposed the open wound and it still needs to be treated. The Church must be a “thermostat” for freedom and equality and not a “thermometer.” Richard Allen and the Free African Society was a “thermostat” for freedom and human rights. The after-affects of Katrina was not a problem, it was a condition. Problems can often be solved with a few readjustments, but it takes a long time to correct a condition.
Let’s make sure that we are not lured into a false sense of believing that our assistance immediately after the hurricane was sufficient. We “met the requirements,” but now we need to “exceed the requirements” by keeping our “hands on the plow.” We must not look back. We must move forward!
2. THE WISH LIST – CON’T:
- That our AME Congregations make Christian Education a top priority, fully support local Church School education, raise their Biblical IQs and adopt the attitude of the Bereans (Acts 17:11) regarding Bible Study. May we all be re-dedicated to the principle - "Studying the Scriptures to Serve Humanity."
Bill Dickens
Bethel AMEC
Tallahassee, FL
- That the pastor appoints members to the Steward Board and the congregation elects the remaining members of the Steward Board.
Lisa Dove
EJLISADOVE@aol.com
3. AME HISTORIOGRAPHER AS RECOGNIZED WESLEYAN SCHOLAR:
Both nationally and globally, the A.M.E Church Historiographer, the Reverend Dennis C. Dickerson, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Department of Research and Scholarship and editor of the A.M.E. CHURCH REVIEW, is known as a scholar of African Methodism.
On October 28-29, 2005 at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, he met with other scholars of the Wesleyan tradition at the 2005 Wesleyan/Pentecostal Consultation. Dr. Dickerson joined colleagues from Wesley Theological Seminary, St. Paul School of Theology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Fuller Theological Seminary, and other institutions in presenting papers on how Wesleyan theology and doctrine have informed the broad Methodist and Pentecostal experiences.
Dr. Dickerson delivered a paper on “Bishop Daniel A. Payne and the A.M.E. Mission to the ‘Ransomed’.” In the presentation, the Historiographer discussed Payne’s development of the 1856 A.M.E. creedal statement, “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother.” He juxtaposed Payne’s doctrinal posture with that of the 1908 General Conference which declared, “God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, the Holy Ghost Our Comforter”, Man Our Brother.” Dr. Dickerson said, “The Azusa Street revivals in 1906 had challenged the nation’s oldest black religious body to acknowledge the present reality of the Holy Ghost and to remind African Methodists that sanctifying power from the third person in the Godhead stirred the same religious enthusiasm that marked their Wesleyan origins.” The paper was received and ignited extensive discussion among his conferees.
The following month Dr. Dickerson, who recently served as President of the American Society of Church History, traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he had been invited to participate in the proceedings of the American Academy of Religion. On November 21, 2005, he served as commentator in a session “W. E. B. Du Bois and the Discourse of African American Religious History and Historiography.” The Papers were given by professors at Bates College, Florida State University, and the University of Missouri, Kansas City on Du Bois and Henry O. Tanner, the black church and Du Bois, and Du Bois’ social scientific study of black religion. Dr. Dickerson critiqued these papers by drawing upon his 2003 publication in the A.M.E. CHURCH REVIEW on Du Bois, the SOULS OF BLACK FOLK, and the genesis of African American religious history. Present in the audience were A.M.E. scholars, Dr. James H. Cone of Union Theological Seminary, New York City and Dr. Larry G. Murphy of Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is appreciative for the manner in which Dr. Dickerson, the Church’s 13th Historiographer and 13th Editor of The A.M.E. Church Review represents African Methodism.
4. INTRODUCING THE 11th EPISCOPAL DISTRICT’S MEDIA TEAM LED BY BISHOP MCKINLEY YOUNG & DR. DOROTHY J. YOUNG:
Spread the word, there is no need to search, “There’s a place for you in the African Methodist Episcopal Church!”
By Angela Surcey Garner
This year’s Planning Conference for the 11th Episcopal District, was filled with much work and a new campaign for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop McKinley Young organized a new Media Ministry representing all of the Conferences in the District. The team met for the first time, on Friday, August 12, 2005 at the Enterprise Center in Jacksonville, FL. The members are Bishop McKinley Young, Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young, Rev. Kenneth Irby (Coordinator), Sis. Karen Richardson (Co-Coordinator), Sis. Angela Surcey Garner (Secretary), Rev. Marvin C. Zanders, II, Rev. Clarence Williams, Rev. Mark Griffin, Rev. Marcius O. King, Rev. John D. Williams, Sr., Rev. Anthony Reed, Rev. Gerard Moss, Sis. Mavis Bush, Rev. Mark Crutcher and Elder Thomas B. DeSue.
The logo includes the state of Florida and the Bahamas, our Cross and Anvil, exclusively representing the A.M.E. Church, and our new slogan, “There’s a Place for You in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.” The final logo is under reconstruction, will be presented in the next issue of the Communiqué and will be available for use upon completion, at the A.M.E. Church’s Website (www.ame-church.com). Our logo is the result of a vision from Bishop Young that he verbalized during one of our meetings. Sister Angela Surcey Garner submitted the first drafts of the logo; then those ideas evolved into the final drafts created by another artist who we are grateful to, Ed Hashey.
Our goals and objectives were culminated from the entire team through many discussions in meetings and conference calls, but summarized and professionally recorded by Rev. Kenneth Irby. We presented everything in a PowerPoint presentation created by the Rev. Clarence Williams at the Thursday morning plenary session of the Planning Conference. Individual presentations were also given of various ministries, including the Lay Organization, pastors and ministers, Women’s Missionary Society, Women in Ministry, Debutantes and Masters Commission and Ministers’ Spouse Alliance. Our message is one of outreach and reclamation, and seeks to let all know, “There’s a place for YOU in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.” Our goals and objectives follow. We pray all will catch the vision and get the word out in your areas.
Goals: Expansion, Exposure and Enlargement
1. Evangelism: To attract unbelievers to the body of Jesus the Christ through the African Methodist Episcopal Church tradition.
2. Reclamation: To reclaim and reinvigorate members of the African Methodist Episcopal church who have become dormant.
3. Public Teaching & Awareness: To increase public awareness through traditional and electronic media, creative marketing and targeted advertising across the state of Florida and the Bahamas Islands, with emphasis on how well we serve.
Objectives:
Launch a comprehensive outreach, media and marketing campaign within the Eleventh Episcopal District rolling out at the 2005-06 Tampa planning meeting that follows the thematic thrust: “There is a place for YOU in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.”
Restore the impact of the AMEC, once described by W. E. B. DuBois his 1903 book titled The Souls of Black Folk, “…Methodists were compelled early to unite for purposes of Episcopal government. This gave rise to the great African Methodist Church, the greatest Negro organization in the world, to the Zion Church and the Colored Methodist, and to the black conferences and churches in this and other denominations.”
Make manifest the unique and rich mission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as outlined in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2000, page
The first thing you can do is take our theme back to your churches and to the streets, spreading the message and meeting people where they are. More information will post in future issues of The Christian Recorder. For related comments and questions, send E-mail to: MediaTeam11th@bellsouth.net or eedmt@bellsouth.net God bless!
5. THE ELIZABETH AREA PAYS HOMAGE TO AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE MEMBER AT AN ANNUAL DAY PROGRAM:
On Sunday, October 30, 2005, The Elizabeth Area paid homage to Rev. Mildred Jackson, Life Member of the Women’s Missionary Society. The event was held at Mt. Pisgah A.M.E Church, Jersey City, New Jersey as a part of The Elizabeth Area Annual Day Program. She has dedicated over 52 years of her life to mission’s work that has included working with the homeless and finding housing for people who were previously incarcerated.
Rev. Jackson, a native of St. Augustine, Florida, met and married her husband, the late Rev. Jesse J. Jackson, after traveling to New York City. She worked along side her husband as the first lady of 10 churches where he pastored. She has two sons, Jesse J. Jackson, Jr., who is a musician, and Calvin W. Jackson, who is the pastor of Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Darby, PA. Also, she has two daughters-in-law, Darlene and Charlemagne, and has been blessed with four grandchildren, Calvin, Jr., Jesse, III, Aaron, and Taran, and one great-grandchild, Jemil.
In addition to her family obligations, Rev. Jackson was a school teacher for 23 years in the New York and Philadelphia areas. She has taught in Early Childhood Development as a substitute and special education teacher for elementary school grades including Kindergarten within the Christian and Public School settings.
She is currently the Vice President of the Tenants Association in the building in which she lives. She also served as the President of the New Jersey Conference Women’s Missionary Society from 1971 – 1974.
Rev. Jackson was called into the ministry in 1984 and currently serves as an Associate Minister at Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she assists with the Sick and Communion Ministries. She is also a member of the Seniors Ministry at Mount Zion. Her motto is “Let the work I’ve done, speak for me.”
Rev. Jackson is an extraordinary woman who continues to reach out to people in need and to spread the word of God. She is truly deserving of the title of Women’s Missionary Society Life Member!
Written by: Antoinette S. Johnson
Photo by: Bert Robinson
Mount Zion A.M.E. Church
39 Morris Street/Hildebrand Way
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 249-8476
http://www.mountzioname.org/
Rev. Mildred Jackson, Women’s Missionary Society
Life Member honoree at the Elizabeth Area
Women’s Missionary Society Annual Day Program
Sunday, October 30, 2005
6. BISHOP HENRY W. MURPH TO BE HONORED DEC. 29 WITH BIRTHDAY BASH; CONNECTIONAL AFFAIR EXPECTED TO DRAW MORE THAN 300:
LOS ANGELES — (December 20, 2005) — The Rt. Rev. Henry Wendell Murph is having a birthday party and the entire A.M.E. Church is invited to share in the celebration.
Murph, the 86th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will be honored through music, photography, poetry and dramatic presentation at 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29.
He is the most senior of the 21 active and 14 retired bishops of African Methodism. Five of his colleagues are expected to join in the momentous affair: retired Bishop H. Hartford Brookins, along with Bishops John R. Bryant, T. Larry Kirkland and Carolyn Tyler-Guidry, presiding prelates of the Fifth, Ninth and Sixteenth districts, respectively.
In all, more than 300 dignitaries, clergy, community leaders, former parishioners, family and friends are expected to participate in the celebration at the WLCAC in Watts, 10950 South Central Avenue.
Paying special tribute will be Murph’s son, Frederick, pastor of the Brookins Community A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles. The younger Murph availed himself to the Bishopric in 2004 and is prayerfully considering another bid for the Episcopacy in 2008, exactly 40 years after his father was elected.
“Bishop Murph is one of the giants of African Methodism on whose shoulders we proudly stand,” said the Rev. Leslie R. White, speaking on behalf of the thousands of persons who have been influenced by Murhph’s ministry. “It is only fitting that the denomination he gave his life to and the community he served for nearly two decades would join together to pay tribute to him.”
A native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, Murph is the son of Presiding Elder and Mrs. J. W. Murph. A graduate of Allen University, Columbia, S.C., and Oberlin Graduate School of Theology, Oberlin, Ohio, Murph actually began his pastoral ministry in Georgia. There he distinguished himself as a “master pastor,” retiring mortgages, uniting congregations and saving souls.
According to the history of St. Phillip A.M.E. Church in Savannah, Ga., for example, his greatest success during his eight-year pastorate “was in the ability to get the full cooperation of the membership” in paring Church debt and installing a new pipe organ.
Those God-given talents would prove invaluable when Murph was appointed pastor of Grant in 1950, where he served for 18 years. During his tenure, membership increased ten-fold and a new edifice was erected which stands to this day one of the most beautiful worship facilities in all of African Methodism.
A savvy statesman, Murph played a pivotal role in the decision of the General Services Administration (now the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) to house the Social Security Office in Watts – on property owned by Grant no less. He was also instrumental in leading the Watts community during the tumultuous years following the 1965 Watts riots.
In 1968, at the 38th Session of the General Conference of the A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia, Murph was elected to the Episcopal Bench with the mandate to transform the nation’s oldest African-American denomination. He would go on to do just that, serving as presiding prelate of the Eighteenth, Seventeenth, Second, Tenth and Fifth districts and leaving in his wake a legacy of leadership, stewardship and Christian service.
In the years since his retirement in 1988, and in spite of recent illness, Murph has remained active in the Watts community and the A.M.E. Church. He is a crowd-favorite when he appears at worship events and conferences of the Church.
Murph and his wife Geraldine live in Los Angeles and have been married “forever,” says the Rev. Hester Lively, a family friend and associate minister of Grant.
Admission is $40 per person and includes a gourmet dinner. Cards, resolutions, testimonials, photos, gifts and well-wishes may be sent to Bishop Murph’s 95th Birthday Celebration, c/o Bro. Don Scott, Chairperson, Grant A.M.E. Church, 10435 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90002 or faxed to (323) 564-5027.
For more information, visit http://www.grantamechurch.org/ or call (323) 564-1151.
7. GREAT THINGS GOING ON AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
- The Fourth Episcopal District has a bound 2006 Fourth Episcopal Directory. The Directory has the mailing addresses and email addresses for those who have email addresses of active and retired Bishops, General and Connectional Officers. It even has an index with an alphabetical list of all of the persons listed in the Directory.
Kudos to the Fourth Episcopal District for a great publication. If you do not have one of the Directories, you should order one by emailing 4thadministrator@sbcglobal.net or by calling 773.373-6587.
- The Thirteenth Episcopal District has an electronic 13th Episcopal District Directory.
- The First Episcopal district has a District Newspaper, The First District Flame, which is full of great information about news events in the First Episcopal District.
8. 2005 ACCOUNTABILITY OF RESOURCES OF THE THIRTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Bishop
Mr. Stan McKenzie, Supervisor of Missions
- $ 12,940 in grants awarded to churches and individuals in the 13th District through Believe, Inc.
- $ 11,608 in Benevolence ($3,470 directly to churches in the 13th District)
- $ 97,731.66 in Debts paid off:
> $80,731.56 paid to Second Presbyterian Church (Clayborn Temple, Memphis)
> $17,000 paid for demolition of ancillary building (Clayborn Temple, Memphis)
- Thirteen churches assisted by the Nehemiah Nation
- 173 Continuing Education Certificates earned through Payne Theological Seminary
- Five Clergy Institutes held at the seat of all Annual Conferences
- Three new churches planted
- 1,200 people at the Christian Education Leadership Congress in Louisville, Kentucky
- 13th District Living Well and Walking Ministry begun
- Annual Conference and District Prayer Ministry encouraged
- Living Well Annual Conference Institutes
- 1st Annual A.M.E. Works Day
- Two “Cross to Pentecost” Revivals held (Lexington, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee)
- The Cross to Pentecost Devotional Guide published and sold out
- Over 300 copies of The Anvil sold in the 13th District
- Bishop McKenzie visited 85% of churches in the District
- $43,000 raised for Katrina effort
- 11 tractor-trailers went south from the District with supplies for Katrina victims
9. ARTICLE IN THE CHARLESTON.NET FEATURES SISTER EVA BROWN, MOTHER-IN-LAW OF THE REVEREND KENNETH GOPHIN AND THE MOTHER OF DIANNA GOLPHIN:
In the past two years, Eva Brown, 68, has devoted more than 4,000 hours of her time to helping elderly people in McClellanville, South Carolina where she lives and grew up. On weekdays, she visits two elderly women to help with light housework - cooking, cleaning, and gardening.
For this, she recently received the President's Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. But, that's not what keeps her going. Her work helps the women remain independent and reduces their risk of having a fall.
The article was written by Michael Gartleand and may be seen in its entirety at
http://www.charleston.net/stories/default.aspx?newsID=59682§ion=localnews
Mrs. Eva Brown. She is a life long member of Greater Mount Zion AME Church in McClellanville, SC.
10. THE 2006 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY:
"Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them" from Matt. 18:20 is the theme of the 2006 edition of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
An ecumenical group in Ireland chose it.
Jointly prepared since 1968 by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Roman Catholic Church, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally celebrated from 18-25 January, although in the Southern hemisphere, other dates are sometimes chosen, for example, around Pentecost.
Setting out their reasons for choosing Matt. 18:20 as the central biblical text and theme for 2006, the Irish preparatory group explained that they "wished to draw attention to Jesus as the source of our unity" and to underline "the simplicity of two or three coming together in Christian mutual love as a vital means of building up relations between divided peoples and communities."
They were, moreover, "mindful that hope for the future, and peace and reconciliation in the present necessarily involved dealing with painful memories and hurtful grievances of the past."
It is "in that spirit," they say, "that all Christians who use these Week of Prayer resources are encouraged to come together in prayer and in mutual love to seek to understand each other amidst differences".
Week of Prayer resources include an introduction to the theme, a suggested ecumenical worship service that local churches are encouraged to adapt for their own particular liturgical, social and cultural contexts, biblical reflections and prayers for the "eight days," and additional prayers from, and an overview of, the ecumenical situation in the particular country that has prepared the material - in this case, Ireland.
The 2006 Week of Prayer materials are available on the WCC website at:
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/faith/wop2006contents.html
11. NCC WELCOMES THE SENATE'S CAUTION ABOUT RENEWAL OF THE USA PATRIOT ACT:
New York, December 19, 2005 -- The National Council of Churches today praised the U.S. Senate for its caution when it declined to end a filibuster blocking the renewal of the USA Patriot Act.
"The Patriot Act was hastily enacted after 9/11 in an attempt to protect U.S. citizens from further terrorist violence," said Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, associate general secretary of the NCC for International Affairs and Peace. "It's now time to ask ourselves what this law has meant with respect to our most basic freedoms."
Last month, the General Assembly of the NCC and Church World Service passed a resolution calling for "ever-vigilant" support of civil and religious liberties. The resolution expresses concern that the Patriot Act "has the potential for vastly eroding" those liberties.
"The provisions of the act are in seeming conflict with the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures," the resolution states. "These provisions include: delayed-notice search warrants to secretly investigate potential criminals; national security letters to secretly gather private and confidential information; relaxed restrictions on wiretapping; and extensive use of deportation and denial of immigrant applications based on unknowing associations."
Last week President Bush admitted authorizing wiretaps on U.S. citizens and said they were necessary to uncover terrorist plans. Even so, many of the 40 Democrats and four Republicans who voted against a motion to end the filibuster cited this unusual measure as one of their concerns.
In a series of public statements, Mr. Bush has defended the Patriot Act as a necessary weapon for the war on terrorism. "In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment," he said. The Patriot Act's 16 major provisions will expire Dec. 31 unless Congress extends them.
"We're not calling upon the government to abandon its responsibility to defend its citizens," said the Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the NCC. "At the same time, there is no more eloquent rebuke to our terrorist enemies than to show we will never back away from the religious and civil liberties they seem to hate so much."
The full text of the General Assembly's "Resolution on the Threat to Civil and Religious Liberties in Post-9/11 America" can be found at http://www.ncccusa.org/news/051130GAResolutions.html#Liberties
The National Council of Churches USA is composed of 35 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and peace communions representing 45 million Christians in 100,000 local congregations in the United States.
12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: StanMcKenzie44@aol.com (Supervisor Stan McKenzie)
Mrs. Sarah Speights, the mother of Second Episcopal District Episcopal Supervisor Connie Speights Richardson and the mother-in-law of Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Presiding Bishop, Second Episcopal District passed this morning.
Service arrangements are pending.
Contact Information:
Office:
Second Episcopal District AME Church
1134 11th Street, NWWashington, DC 20001
202) 842-3788 - Phone(202) 289-1942 – fax
Residence:
6209 Stoneham Lane
McLean, VA 22101
703-442-0261 (Phone)
Tallahassee, Florida Address
3715 Forsythe Way
Tallahassee, FL 32309
(850) 893-1939 (Phone)
(850) 893-1959 (Fax)
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: gedmaur@cwbda.bm
At about 3:30 this morning, after a brief illness, God called Sister Augusta Henrietta Douglas, mother of the Reverend V. A. Deyone Douglas, Pastor of St. Luke AME Church and the Rev. C. Maureen Clemendor, Local Elder of St. Philip AME Church in Bermuda, to her heavenly reward.
Three other daughters and a son also survive Mother Douglas, as she was affectionately known. A home going service is being planned and more information will be forthcoming. We ask that you keep the family in our prayers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Matilda Smith Williams Senior’s Residence of Agape House.
Messages of condolence may be forwarded to:
Rev. V. A. Deyone Douglas
St. Luke A.M.E. Church
P.O. Box DD133
St. David’s DDBX
Tel: (441) 297-1564
Fax (441) 297-2457
dvadboston@yahoo.com
Rev. C. Maureen Clemendor
St. Philip A.M.E. Church
P. O. Box HS14
Smith’s HSBX
Tel: (441) 293-0882
Fax: (441) 293-7936
Email: stphilipame@tbinet.bm or gedmaur@cwbda.bm
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: hilldrkenneth@comcast.net
Mrs. Hannah Heard the mother of Mrs. Sarah Twiggs (immediate past Conference Branch WMS President, East Tennessee Conference and wife of The Reverend Lawrence O. Twiggs.
Service Arrangements:
(1st Service)
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Columbus, Ohio
Family hour: 6: 00 PM
Funeral 6:30 PM.
(2nd Service)
Thursday Dec 22, 2005
11:00 AM
Mt. Olive Baptist Church
Anniston, Alabama
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Sarah Twiggs and Family
6420 Ridge Lake Road
Hixon, TN 37343
423-842-6346 (Phone)
From Mamie Hamler & Presiding Elder Kenneth H. Hill
Chattanooga District - East Tennessee Conference
Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, Presiding Prelate 13th Episcopal District
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: PastorGolphin@aol.com
Mrs. Mellodey Hoskins, daughter of Reverend MacArthur Pendleton and Dr. Kathy Pendleton (Bethel AME Church - Campbellsville, KY) passed in Chicago, IL on December 17, 2005.
Services are entrusted to:
Leek and Sons Funeral Home
304 East Williams
Danville, Illinois 61832
Condolences may be sent to:
Reverend MacArthur Pendleton and Dr. Kathy Pendleton
Bethel AME Church
240 Lone Valley Rd
Campbellsville, KY 42718
From: Rev. Kenneth Golphin
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The passing of Mrs. Dorothy Woods Hill of Rutherford, TN, on Saturday, December 17, 2005. Mrs. Hill is the mother of Rev. Willie V. Woods, Pastor of New Allen A.M.E. Church, Memphis, TN and the mother-in-law of Mrs. Mondella Woods, President of the 13th Episcopal District M-SWAWO. Service arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Condolences may be sent to:
Rev. Willie V. Woods and Family
9178 Afton Grove
Cordova, TN 38018
(901) 756-6171 (Phone)
Email Condolences: Mbswoods@aol.com
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Mrs. Ruth D. Barber of Pasadena, CA passed on last Friday, December 16, 2005. Mrs. Ruth Barber is the mother of the Reverend Nolan Watson, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church -Little Rock, AR, of the 12th Episcopal District, where Rev. Richard A. Chappelle is Bishop
Service Arrangements:
Friday, December 23, 2005
1:00 AM
Calvery C.M.E. Church
135 Glorieta Street
Pasadena, CA
Condolences may be sent to:
Reverend Nolan Watson and Family
Bethel AME Church815 West 15th Street Little Rock , AR 72202 501-374-2891 (Phone)
Email Condolences:nwatson7@alltel.net
18. 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.
19. 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.
12/20/2005
Breaking News: Supervisor Connie Richardson Mother Passed Today
The Christian Recorder received word today of the passing of Supervisor Connie Richardson Mother Today. More information will be disseminated when the details are received from the Commission on Social Action Clergy Family Information Center and AME Spouses (Sister Ora Easley).
12/19/2005
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (12/19/05)
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.