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. THE TENTH ANNUAL JOINT INSTITUTE FOR MINISTERS (JIM) WILL CONVENE IN SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA APRIL 17 – 20, 2006:
The Tenth Annual Joint Institute for Ministers (JIM) comprised of the
Eight (Mississippi and Louisiana), Tenth (Texas), and Twelfth (Arkansas and Oklahoma) Episcopal Districts of the African Methodist Episcopal Church will be held this year in the Eighth Episcopal District, Clarion Hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana on April 17-20,2006.
Do you remember the Ninth Joint Institute for Ministers hosted by the Twelfth Episcopal District at the Holiday Inn Select in Little Rock, Arkansas on April 12 –14, 2005? The Right Reverend Richard Allen Chappelle, Sr., served as Host and Institute Treasurer. The Right Reverend Cornal Garnett Henning, Sr., Chairperson- Institute Dean, the Right Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram- Co-Chairperson, Dr. Eugene Brannon, Host Presiding Elder and Reverend Ricky H. Hicks, Host Pastor.
The theme selected by the Bishops “Recommitting the Church to the Struggle for Justice” laid the framework for an empowering institute.
Bishop Chappelle and Dr. Barbara Jean Chappelle and the Tall, Talented, Tough, Terrific Twelfth Episcopal District rolled out the red carpet and hosted with charm and warmth.
The Institute opened with fire as Rev. Shirley Spencer, Pastor of Greater Shady Grove of Wilmar, Arkansas preached with conviction from Isaiah 6:1-8 and II Chronicles 7:14 with the subject “Now is the Time to Act.”
Dr. C. T. Vivian of Atlanta Georgia and Presiding Elder E. Anne Henning-Byfield of Indiana Conference of the 4th Episcopal District of the AME Church were the workshop presenters. Dr. C. T. Vivian, an empowering Institute presenter pricked the members’ consciousness by reminding them “Why the Church must be committed to the Struggle for Justice. Presiding Elder E. Anne Henning-Byfield challenged them to “Recognize, Repent, Recommit and Respond to the cause of Justice” and they were reminded of the importance of justice within and without this great AME Zion. A question and answer period followed each presentation. Exciting feedback was exchanged between all parties.
Dr. Cora McHenry, President of Shorter College, our AME College in North Little Rock, Arkansas brought greetings and great news of the wonderful things going on at Shorter College.
The Rt. Reverend Samuel L. Green, Presiding Prelate of the 15th Episcopal District took the Institute to another level of spiritual enlightenment as he informed of the “Danger of being Anointed” from I Samuel 16: 13-23 and Luke 4: 14-19.
The Institute was graced by the presence of General Officers-Drs. Johnny Barbour, Clement Fugh, Daryl Ingram, Calvin Sydnor and Connectional Officer-Dr. John Q. Owens.
The Reverends, Kurbe Newsome and Lanell Ross of the 12th Episcopal District led the institute on Wednesday morning as they offered up first fruits of prayer and meditation and the Reverends, Betty Claiborne and Kenneth Harrell of the 8th Episcopal District started the Thursday morning session with fresh manner of prayer and meditation.
The Reverend Martin Odom of the 8th District instructed the Institute on “Biblical School of Justice and the Reverend Kenneth Harrell of the 8th District exhorted everyone to “Keep on Rolling.”
Presiding Elder E. Anne Henning-Byfield blessed everyone’s spirit with a dynamic message “Injustice is not the end of the Story” taken from Job 42: 10-17.
Reverend Reginald Henderson, Pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church of North Little Rock Arkansas reminded the group that the church was Christ agenda, should be our agenda as he preached the Ecumenical Worship Service with fervor and compassion from the subject, “An Unfinished Agenda”, text taken from Luke 4:14-19.
The Institute’s Freedom and Justice Tour began with a visit to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, the tour led us to historic Shorter College, Central High School and culminated at Rufus K. Young A.M.E. Church where the Rev. Kevin Washington of the 8th Episcopal District redirected us with his prolific message, “Focus on New Things,” taken from Mark 2:18-22.
Rufus K. Young A.M.E. Church prepared a soulful feast and blessed us in an extraordinary manner.
The music for praise and worship rendered by the institute musicians, especially Mr. Labaron Mizer, the Spirit of the Twelfth, R. K. Young, and Shiloh Baptist Church Choirs made hearts happy and souls rejoice because all of the participants enhanced the worship experiences with melodious songs of Zion and other offerings.
The message of “Re-committing the Church to the Struggle for Justice” by the Rt. Reverend C. Garnett Henning, Sr., the Presiding Prelate of the 8th Episcopal District and Dean of this historic 9th Joint Institute for Ministers was electrifying.
Mrs. Ann Gilkey, Public Relations Director for the Twelfth Episcopal District, presented Bishop Cornal Henning with a photo album of all the activities starting with day one of the institute.
The Ninth Annual Joint Institute for Ministers was a refreshing, renewing, empowering experience, and the Episcopal leaders, Presiding Prelates Henning and Chappelle were congratulated on their excellent leadership.
Bishop Richard Allen Chappelle, Dr. Barbara Jean Chappelle and the 12th Episcopal District Family received kudos for the fine way in which they hosted this year’s Joint Institute for Ministers.
The preached Word, workshops, and presenters amplified the theme and focus of this year’s Joint Institute for Ministers, and this year’s 362 pre-registrants, 22 on-site registrants, and especially the 243 on-site participants were equipped with the tools to re-commit the church to the struggle for justice.
We are all looking forward to seeing all of you at the Tenth Joint Institute for Ministers in April.
Article submitted by: Mrs. Ann Gilkey, 12th District Public Relations Director
The Rev. Charles Frost, 12th District Secretaries Coordinator
2. LIBERIA (PART 2):
- Background
Liberia is a little larger than Tennessee and is located in West Africa. It is about six-thousand miles from the U.S. Mainland. Liberia is bordered on the southwest by the Atlantic Ocean, and surrounded by Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d'Ivoire (pronounced, cwoatie-vua). The American Colonization Society (ACS), made up of Quakers, who opposed slavery and slaveholders, who opposed freedom for blacks and felt that freed blacks should be repatriated to Africa, formed Liberia. The first blacks were repatriated to Liberia in 1822 and we saw the place where those repatriated blacks arrived in what is now, Monrovia. The American repatriates were known as Americo-Liberians.
Liberia experienced challenges from its beginning. Malaria and yellow fever, attacks from their neighbors, and internal conflicts. In recent years, Liberia has been plagued with civil war and unrest since 1979.
Liberia’s current President is Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is the first elected female head of state on the continent of Africa. Many of us had the opportunity to meet President Johnson Sirleaf and she was a gracious lady.
Eliza Turner AME Church is a large structure and the largest AME Church in Liberia. The sanctuary holds about 600 - 800 worshippers. It is a large church. The Reverend G. Keah Wakia is the pastor. Other pastors include the Reverends William Henry Heard, T. Ebenezer Ward, Dunmore Clarke, Frank Madison Reid, Jr., Fred Lucas, Jr., Frank Madison Reid, III, Anna R. Walker, and David R. Daniels. Other pastors served with distinction.
Next to Eliza Turner is the African Methodist University (AMEU). Bishop C. Garnett Henning, Sr., the 112th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the 26th bishop of the 14th Episcopal District founded AMEU. It was Bishop Henning’s desire to transform Monrovia College and Industrial Training School into a four-year degree granting institution, which became a reality in 1995. Bishop Henning, who had asked the church to send him to the 14th Episcopal District, established AMEU, as he said, “As an act of faith.” AMEU is the second largest university in Liberia. Presently, the AME University offers undergraduate programs in three colleges, the Bryant Theological Seminary, the College of Business and Public Administration and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. With an enrollment of over 2600 students, AME University is the largest AME institution of higher learning.
The President of AME University is Dr. Levi B. Zangai. The first President of AME University was Dr. Louise York, who had also served as the President of Monrovia College.
The Bryant School of Ministries was founded and established on April 10, 1992 by the then Reverend David R. Daniels, Jr., pastor of Eliza Turner Memorial AME Church. The vision for the school was the result of the Right Reverend John R. Bryant and the Reverend Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant’s desire to provide theological education for the pastors in the Liberia Annual Conference.
- The Celebration began
We arrived on Sunday evening and got settled late Sunday night and early, early Monday morning. It was after midnight before some of us went to our rooms. Monday was a rest day for the folks who traveled to Liberia from the United States.
The first worship service that we attended was held at Eliza Turner Memorial AME Church on Tuesday evening, February 21st. The Reverend (now Doctor, as he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree later in the week) Ronnie Brailsford was concluding a three-day revival. The church was full, the choir sang and the music sounded very American. The sermon was a fire-setter. It was a hot night. The fans in the ceiling of the sanctuary struggled to provide a breeze and the breeze the fans provided was welcome; for without the breeze provided by the fans, it would have been a long, hot night…
(TO BE CONTINUED)
3. TENNESSEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE MINISTER PROMOTED:
Albert Strawther, a Lebanon native and an A.M.E. preacher, was promoted from captain to lieutenant colonel on Wednesday, March 1, 2006. He was head of the Tennessee State Highway Patrol’s driver education unit.
The second in command was labeled as being highly qualified for executive staff position by Kroll Government Services, a national consulting firm that performed his background check.
Additionally, he is a licensed Funeral Director and co-owner of Strawther and White Funeral Home in Gallatin, Tennessee
4. BRYANT TEMPLE A.M.E CHURCH WILL HOST NATIONAL WOMEN AND GIRLS HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY AND THE 3rd ANNUAL "WOMEN'S HEALTH AWARENESS FAIR":
Bryant Temple A.M.E Church, Los Angeles, along with the Youth and Young Adults from Audubon Middle School and Crenshaw High School will host National Women And Girls HIV/Aids Awareness Day and the 3rd Annual "Women's Health Awareness Fair"
Date/Time: FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 2006, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.:
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Activities will include discussion panel, a concert, as well as a special presentation.
SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2006, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.:
The 3rd Annual Women's Health Awareness Fair will feature free health screenings, counseling, referrals and health awareness - rapid HIV testing, diabetes, hypertension, nutrition and more!
Where: 2525 W. Vernon Ave. [Los Angeles] corner of 4th Ave. and Vernon
(Bryant Temple AME Church lot)
Admission: FREE
Our Goal: To address significant health issues affecting women in our community by providing education and free screenings. Free screenings could save the life of women. Education and early detection are key factors to preventive health care. Our primary focus is HIV/AIDS education and testing.
Massages, beauty products, skin care and other fun activities are planned.
5. 20TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT - ZIMBABWE, MALAWI, TANZANIA & UGANDA:
The Rt. Rev. Wilfred Jacobus Messiah - Presiding Bishop
Mrs. Carol Isabella Messiah - Episcopal Supervisor
20th District Church Growth & Evangelism Easter Revival
Bulawayo City Hall - Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
April 9th - 16th, 2006
Host Pastor - The Rev. E. B. Ginya
Episcopal District Director - Church Growth & Evangelism
Host Church - Gumtree AME Church - Bulawayo
20th District Midyear & Board of Christian Education Congress
Agst Buildings - Lilongwe, Malawi
May 3rd - 7th, 2006
Host Pastor - The Rev. Norah Tchuwa
Host Church - Bethel AME Church
Third Session - Malawi North Annual Conference
August 2nd - 6th, 2006
Kavura AME Church - Ekwendeni
The Rev. Gift Chavula - Host Pastor
The Rev Laston Gumbo - Host Presiding Elder
Third Session - Malawi Central Annual Conference
August 9th - 13th, 2006
Mtendele AME Church - Mzimba
The Rev. Jonathon Theu - Host Pastor
The Rev. J. Theu - Host Presiding Elder
Second Session - Malawi South Annual Conference
August 16th - 20th, 2006
Matawale AME Church - Zomba
Pastor J. J. Joshua - Host Pastor
The Rev. Kitson Chiswe - Host Presiding Elder
Third Session - Southwest Zimbabwe Annual Conference
August 23rd - 27th, 2006
Victoria Falls AME Church - Victoria Falls
The Rev. Africa Jubane - Host Pastor
The Rev. Phillip Gava - Host Presiding Elder
Third Session - Northeast Zimbabwe Annual Conference
August 30th - September 3, 2006
Matema AME Church - Nyanga
The Rev. Frederick Matsaru - Host Pastor
The Rev. F. Matsaru - Host Presiding Elder
Second Session - Central Zimbabwe Annual Conference
September 6th - 10th, 2006
Allen Chapel AME Church - Kadoma
The Rev. William Kansapato - Host Pastor
The Rev. Isaac Manda - Host Presiding Elder
Second Session - Tanzania Annual Conference
September 13th - 17th, 2006
Mbeya AME Church - Kusango
The Rev. Wilson Ngulube - Host Pastor
The Rev. W. Ngulube - Host Presiding Elder
Second Session - Uganda Annual Conference
October 18th - 22nd, 2006
Kampala AME Church - Kampala
The Rev. Abert Mugyimba - Host Pastor
The Rev. Nicodemus Munyarugyendo - Host Presiding Elder
Mid-Quadrennium Convocation
December 1st - 3rd, 2006
Lilongwe, Malawi
All Are Welcomed To Attend. For Further Information You Can email THE Right Reverend Wilfred Messiah at wjmessiah2004@yahoo.com or Supervisor Carol Messiah at supervisormessiah@telkomsa.net
6. BE CAREFUL AND PROTECT YOUR HOTEL ROOM CARD KEYS:
The Washington Post reports that many hotel room cards have your personal information. Each card has your 16-digit credit number, a date, a person's name and the name of a bank. Your room card-key functions exactly like a credit card, allowing the carrier to pay for merchandise at any store or market where customers do their own swiping.
7. “DO YOU TALK TOO MUCH?”:
“Do you talk too much?” this was the question asked on Sunday, February 26 at Johnson Chapel AME Church/Malakoff for its Annual Lay Program.
The Reverend Mark Jackson graduated in 1997 with a Master of Divinity and was the former Dean of the Chapel at Paul Quinn College; former pastor of St. James in Terrell, Texas, and is presently the senior pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in Athens, Texas.
Rev. Mark Jackson’s Black History presentation focused upon the notion that there is a time to speak and a time to listen. Rev. Jackson explored the theme and asked the question, “Do you talk too much?” He took his text from Proverbs 18:21; Matthew 12:36; and James 1:19. He said, “People pray, pray, and pray but oftentimes bring harm by what they say.”
“With this question, “Do you talk too much?” there are times when things should not be said and we should know when to be quiet,” said Jackson. Jackson stated that when we are talking there are times when we do not even know what we are saying. People do not realize that the words coming out of our mouths have a negative or positive reaction on others.
Words often have an impact on families, finances, even on us. Words have an effect on everything that we do.
Jackson said, “The tongue holds power - you have to build yourself, your church, your family up; you must know that wherever you are God is there also and can build up anything into greatness.”
“One thing that we as people must realize is that we should “Walk by faith and not by sight,” said Jackson.
People today must know that they live by the words, which are spoken. If the word is “possible,” then people should know by faith that anything is possible. If the word is “healing,” then people should know that God is a Healer. There is no need for us to have our heads hung low, but we should hold our heads high and know that God is an awesome God.
The congregation was moved by the strong message given by Rev. Jackson and expressed their thankfulness and praise for a favorable way in which he closed out Black History Month.
Now, ask yourself that question, “Do you talk too much?” What is your answer?
Submitted by Delanda S. Johnson
8. A MESSAGE FROM TAVIS SMILEY:
At the close of the 2005 State of the Black Union in Atlanta, we invited the public to weigh in on the most challenging issues facing Black America. I am happy to report that because of the huge response, we now have a document that outlines how individuals, groups, communities and the body politic can move forward to make this nation better. When we make Black America better, we make all of America better. We all want an America as good as its promise.The Covenant book is made up of 10 chapters on the issues identified by the public. They include economic disparity, health, education and environmental justice. While the completion of the book marks the end of one journey, it is in many ways the first step for those who want to move forward toward real progress in improving Black communities.
The Covenant
COVENANT I
Securing the Right to Healthcare and Well-Being
COVENANT II
Establishing a System of Public Education in which All Children Achieve at high levels and reach their full potential
COVENANT III
Correcting the System of Unequal Justice
COVENANT IV
Fostering Accountable Community-Centered Policing
COVENANT V
Ensuring Broad Access to Affordable Neighborhoods that Connect to Opportunity
COVENANT VI
Claiming Our Democracy
COVENANT VII
Strengthening Our Rural Roots
COVENANT VIII
Accessing Good Jobs, Wealth and Economic Prosperity
COVENANT IX
Assuring Environmental Justice for All
COVENANT X
Closing the Racial Digital Divide
www.covenantwithblackamerica.com
9. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT:
Hello AME Family!
Wanted to make you aware of a big decision I have made.
I am gong to Seminary in the fall in preparation of the full ordination process for ministry in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I will preach my Trial Sermon on Sunday, March 26 -- 4 p.m. at the church.
I solicit your continued prayers, and if you are able, I would love to have you come share in the day.
God bless,
Morgan
Morgan DixonDuPage AME Church4300 Yackley AvenueLisle, IL 60532630-969-9800630-969-9807 faxwww.DuPageAMEC.orgThe Rev. Dr. James F. Miller, Pastor
Editor’s note: Great decision! Congratulations! Please keep The Christian Recorder updated as you progress in your theological studies.
10. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT:
We are proud to announce the birth of Keith, Jr. son of Rev. Keith Links and Mrs. Karmen Links of Trinity AME Church, Touwsriver, Cape Town in the 15th Episcopal District, Cape Annual Conference, South Africa.
Keith, Jr. was born on March 1, 2006, at 00h40 am, weighing in at 2.8kg.
Rev Keith Links was present at the hospital.
Truly, this is a time of "joy and thanksgiving." Keith L. B. Links
19. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY 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)
20. CONGRATULATION FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The staff of The Christian Recorder congratulates and shares your joy.
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
