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. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE:
Please click on the link below to subscribe to The Christian Recorder Online:
Subscribe to The Christian Recorder Online
2. FUNERAL SERVICE FOR THE REVEREND DR. Y. B. BRUCE:
My article on the Homegoing Service for the Reverend Dr. Y. B. Bruce will be featured in the next edition.
3. “WHERE ARE THEY NOW?” – THE REV. DR. ELLISON H. CASSON, RETIRED PRESIDING ELDER OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANNUAL CONFERENCE 5TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT OF THE A. M. E. CHURCH:
*The Rev. E. Lewis Branch
The Rev. Dr. Ellis H. Casson is a “man for all seasons” who served God through 48 years of active ministry in the A.M.E. Church throughout the west, who pastured 12 churches including his last church assignment at First A.M.E. Church in Seattle, followed by three years as Presiding Elder of the five states of the Pacific Northwest Annual Conference leading up to his retirement in August, 2001. Throughout his career in the ministry, Dr. Casson maintained his ties as a leader in the ecumenical movement and in the struggle for human rights.
In the furtherance of God’s work, Ellis Casson is an ordained African Methodist Minister. He has pastored not only First A.M.E. in Seattle, but also churches in Great Falls, MT, Bremerton and Everett in Washington; San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Monica, San Bernardino, and Pasadena in California; and Phoenix, AZ.
Dr. Casson has not only been a noted church leader, but also a leader in the struggle for equality and justice for all. During the critical days of the Civil Rights Movement, he served as the Western Regional Director of the NAACP. Wherever his church assigned him in the ministry, Dr. Casson served as President – in Bremerton, San Bernardino, Portland and Phoenix, or on the board of the local chapter of the NAACP.
Dr. Casson, with degrees from Seattle Pacific University, Evangelical Seminary, a certificate from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and two honorary doctorates has served continuously in roles to promote the struggle for freedom and human rights. While serving God as Associate Pastor and Director of Christian Education at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Casson served as Region 10 Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Administrator Assistance for Intergroup Relations to the Superintendent of Schools, Field Representative for the Civil Rights Division of the Oregon Bureau of Labor, Deputy Director of the Model Cities Program, and the first African American appointed to serve on the State Board of Education.
Since returning to the Seattle Area in 1993, in furtherance of ecumenism and human rights for all, Dr. Casson has served as Vice President of the Washington Association of Churches, a member of the Board of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Chair of the Mayor’s Council of African American Elders, and a member of the Department of Youth Services Task Force. Rev. Casson has served as a gubernatorial appointment to the Washington State African American Affairs Commission and also as its President. Dr. Casson’s ecumenical work in the greater church community regardless of denomination is a beacon for the values promoting the work for all human beings.
Dr. Casson has received numerous awards for his lifetime of service to God and humankind including the 1997 Nordstrom Community Service Award at the Salute to the Cultural Diversity. He also received awards from the Portland Model Cities Program, Portland Urban League, Houston Teachers Association, the San Bernardino NAACP, the United States Treasury Department, the YMCA, Portland’s Human Relations Commission; and numerous awards from church groups across the country.
Governor Gary Locke appointed Ellis Casson to the Washington State Human Rights Commission in 1999. He also serves on the governing commission for the Seattle Center, the Civil Service Commission of the city of Seattle, and has been elected to serve as the Chair of the Board of the Church Council of Greater Seattle 2001-2002. Dr. Casson will continue to live in Seattle and serve his community through these appointments.
*The Rev. E. Lewis Branch is a retired Presiding Elder of the California Annual Conference, 5th Episcopal District
4. MUSINGS ABOUT THE NAACP NATIONAL CONVENTION:
* Dr. Paulette Coleman
I have just come back from the NAACP National Convention and was singularly impressed by the Baptist domination of the Convention.
The first AME mention was at the opening when there was a period of silence in memory of our own the Rev. J. R. Williams, the National Convention Organist, since 1968. His successor, the Rev. Terry, a Baptist minister, had played with him for 14 years. The second, was when Ms. Lorraine Miller, the President of the Washington, DC Branch of the NAACP and our hosts mentioned the early influences in her life and NAACP journey and she named Mrs. Izean F. Davidson of the 10th Episcopal District. Mrs. Davidson was the YPD supervisor and the RAYC/grande dame (at that time) director, political/community activist, etc. even when I was growing up in Texas.
The next mention of the AME Church was by Ambassador Masakela of South Africa who cited the African Methodist Episcopal Church specifically as an African American organization that is contributing to the development of South Africa.
Oh yes, Rev. Matthew Watley preached and the Reid Temple Young Adult Choir sang at one of the late night worship services. There were no Bishops or other denominational officials present. I hope that in the future, we as a denomination can have a more intentional relationship and role with the NAACP at all levels.
* Dr. Paulette Coleman is a retired General Officer who served as the Editor of The A.M.E. Church Review
5. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEND THE 36TH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE? THE RIGHT REVEREND VASHTI MURPHY MCKENZIE WILL BE THE SPEAKER:
The 36th Annual Legislative Conference for the Congressional Black Caucus will be held September 6-9, 2006 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
The Right Reverend Vashti McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 13th Episcopal district will be for the preacher at the Annual Prayer Breakfast on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 8:30 a.m.
There are a couple of folk who plan to travel to D.C. to support Bishop McKenzie on that Saturday morning. Please let me know in the District Office OR E-MAIL ME AT stanmckenzie44@aol.com or cell, (615) 364-3311 if you plan to travel to the conference, as well.
We are trying to fill a table. Please note registration for the Conference is FREE, but you must register.
The cost of the breakfast is $50 per person or a table of 10 can be purchased for $500. Check out the conference website at www.cbcfin.org/ALC. Feel free to share this info with those who may be interested.
Supervisor Stan McKenzie
6. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE REVEREND DR. MILES R. CLARKE, US NAVY CHAPLAIN:
Congratulations are extended to the Reverend Dr. Miles R. Clarke, U.S. Navy Chaplain, in earning the Masters of Arts Degree from the United States Naval War College Newport, R.I. on June 16, 2006. The degree is in National Security and Strategic Studies. Chaplain Clarke received his commission into the Navy in 2000 and has served with the USMC with notable service in support of O. E. F. and O. I. F. Chaplain Clarke currently serves as an active duty Navy Chaplain in the 11th Episcopal District and credits the prayers and support of his family and the sustained support of his Bishop, pastors and true friends in making it through the seasons of training and preparation for transformed ministry. Ordained an A.M.E. Minister in 1995 in the 6th Episcopal District, Chaplain Clarke has pastored in Holland, South America and Florida. Lieutenant Clarke received his B.A. from Morehouse College; his M.Div. from Turner Seminary at I.T.C. and his D.Min. from Andersonville Theological Seminary. Reverend Clarke has three sons and is the very proud son of the Reverend Stella Stocker, pastor in the 9th Episcopal District- Birmingham.Congratulations may be extended to Chaplain Clarke by emailing: miles.clarke@navy.mil
Greetings from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia!
The Lifetime Theological Education department has just completed the first Summer Collegium residency, and we are preparing for the 2007 event. The theme of the 2007 Summer Collegium is Christian Education in the small church.
The Summer Collegium is an intensive, nine-day residential program for clergy and their spouses or partners in small churches of all Christian denominations. Experts in the area of small church ministry lead workshops on relevant topics, such as change and conflict, technology, finances, and spiritual resources, and participants enjoy some time in the nation’s capital.
Included in the Summer Collegium is a one-day Small Church Religious Arts Festival on the grounds of the seminary, to hold up and celebrate the arts and crafts of small congregations.
The Summer Collegium is fully funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., which allows us to offer the opportunity to 25 clergy each summer at no cost to them. This includes transportation, meals and lodging, books, pulpit supply and child care.
In 2006 we welcomed 25 pastors (including four who were locally ordained) and 21 spouses/partners – four of the participants were single – from nine denominations in the United States and Canada. We had a faculty of 25, including two artists-in-residence and two chaplains, who helped participants to focus on the uniqueness of small congregations and gave them new tools to do effective ministry. Participants and faculty were encouraged and enriched by their time.
At the end of August you will receive further information about the 2007 Summer Collegium, including some brochures to pass on to pastors who might be interested in applying. We are only able to accept 25 clergy each summer, so be sure to get those brochures out as soon as you can. We don’t want anyone to miss the opportunity to apply.
For more information on the Summer Collegium, please visit our web site at www.vts.edu/education/collegium. You may email your questions to SummerCollegium@vts.edu, or call 703-461-1752. The Project Manager of the Summer Collegium is Marilyn Johns, D.Min.
Thank you for your continued support for the ministry of smaller congregations, and for encouraging clergy you know to apply for the Summer Collegium.
7. POSITION IS AVAILABLE AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE CHURCHES:
The National Council of Churches is the leading ecumenical organization among Christians in the United States. It encompasses 35 member denominations including the major Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox communions, African-American denominations and historic peace churches. The Council serves as both a convener and voice for a faith constituency of almost 50 million people and 100,000 congregations in all 50 states. It is organized around five program commissions and does extensive work in research, Bible translation, Christian education, theological and interfaith dialogue, witness through the media, and advocacy around issues of social justice and public policy.
Position Description:
The Development Department has the responsibility of raising approximately 50+ percent of a growing budget of $7,000,000.
The Assistant Director of Development, a grant-funded position, will work with the Director of Development to raise funds from member communions, foundations, government, corporations, individuals and foundations. Much of the Assistant Director of Development’s work will be assisting program staff with fundraising in accordance with the recently promulgated “Grants Protocol.”
Responsibilities:
- Help coordinate Development Department dialogue with staff, commissions and member communions.
- Help research funding opportunities at foundations, corporations, individuals and government, including Web-based research, personal interviews, and informal networking.
- Assist in the drafting, review and finalization of proposals for foundations, government corporations and individuals.
- Assist in monitoring grant outcomes and expenditure progress and in reporting to funding sources on a timely basis.
- Meet with potential funders and assist in the building of relationships that lead to funding proposals.
- Help prepare materials for general outreach and public relations purposes.
- Take on special responsibilities for the Council’s “Poverty Mobilization” with a focus on raising funds to support the development of the Benefit Bank and the Let Justice Roll Campaign.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Education: BA Degree.
- Experience: Three years experience in fundraising and/or closely related experience.
- Sensory or Physical Requirements: Ability to Travel
- Other Qualifications:
- Strong oral and written communications skills
- Proven success as a fundraiser in relevant situations
- Experience with e-advocacy and web-based communication
- Strong computer skills (word processing, spreadsheet & database, electronic communication).
- Organized, self-directed, patient, and energetic with a sense of humor.
- Ability and desire to work with the religious community and membership in a communion that is a member of the National Council of Churches. ***
- Demonstrated abilities to take initiative and facilitate multiple projects while working in a team environment.
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience in an ecumenical and/or interfaith organization
- Theological training
This position is financially supported by specified, individual donations and foundation grants. No general funds are allocated to this position. If such funds are not available the position is terminated.
Location: This position will be based in the NCC New York office. Extensive traveling will be required. The NCC does not reimburse relocation expenses.
Reports to: The Director of Development.
Please send a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample to:
Assistant Director of Development, Attn: Joan Gardner, National Council of Churches, 475 Riverside Drive, Rm. 812, New York, NY 10115. jgardner@ncccusa.org No calls please.
The National Council of Churches is an equal opportunity employer. For more information about the Council go to www.ncccusa.org.
*** It is a policy of the NCCC that in order to be considered for an elected or appointed staff position a candidate must be a member in good standing of one of the NCCC constituent communions.
Deadline: August 25, 2006
8. DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT POSITION OPENING AT LEXINGTON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY:
Qualities for LTS Director of Development
- Passion for Education
- Knowledge of non-profit culture
- Goal Oriented
- Responsible, Dependable, Prompt, Self-Motivated
- Presents self well to public
- Ability to plan, execute and follow-up
Areas of Responsibility
- Annual Giving Fund
- Alumni/ae relations
- Church relations
Education
- Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree
Skills Required
- Computer efficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Attention to details
- Work well with others
- Ability to travel
Contact
Sonny Wray, Vice President for Advancement
swray@lextheo.edu
Telephone: 859/280-1245
9. AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH LEADERS CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE STRONG FAMILIES, HEALTHY MARRIAGES:
Registration Open for “Breaking the Silence” Leadership Conference August 7 in Cincinnati
Download the Program Booklet here.
Washington, D.C., July 19, 2006—African American clergy and church leaders will “break the silence” about the dismal statistics affecting African American families in an all-day conference on Monday, August 7, 2006 in Cincinnati's Duke Energy Convention Center.
NCC President Michael Livingston, (left), television personality Judge Mablean Ephraim of the Divorce Court (center), and the Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith, president of Philadelphia’s Palmer Theological Seminary and pastor of the historic Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.(right), are among the notable array of speakers who will address the conference.
Recent studies show that African Americans are more likely to divorce than any other racial or ethnic group in the U.S. and are also more likely to come from single parent homes. In addition, African Americans have higher rates of health problems than other groups.
While these challenges seem difficult to overcome, the National Council of Churches USA and the Progressive National Baptist Convention Women's Department have joined together to sponsor “African American Congregations: Breaking the Silence for the Good of All Families,” an ecumenical leadership conference focused on the role of African American congregations in promoting strong families and healthy marriages. The conference is being supported by a grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation “The African American Church has always played an important role in improving the lives of African Americans. It is appropriate and significant that we begin to deal with the breakdown of the family in the church,” said Rev. Brenda Girton-Mitchell, Associate General Secretary for Justice and Advocacy for NCC.
“This conference will equip African American church leaders and congregations to strengthen Black families and the community as a whole,” she said.
The training is aimed at empowering and equipping clergy and laity to address family issues in a way not taught in Sunday school or seminary. The conference will also focus on the development of tools and messaging around support for low income families.
Knowing that children who do not live with both biological parents are twice as likely to be poor, to have birth outside of marriage, to have behavioral problems and to not graduate from high school, participants will address the issues that undermine African American families, particularly low-income households, from entering into and maintaining healthy families and strong marriages.
The conference is open to both clergy and lay leaders. Registration is $40 and should be sent to: Breaking the Silence, National Council of Churches USA, 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 108, Washington, DC 20002.
For more information about the program, visit http://bruno.ncccusa.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ncccusa.org/news/
060711breakingthesilence.html.
10. L. A. MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA APPOINTS "JACKIE" DUPONT-WALKER TO 912 COMMISSION:
Los Angeles - After an exhaustive search and comprehensive evaluation process, Mayor Villaraigosa has appointed 14 members to serve on the 912 Commission - a Los Angeles Charter mandate (the entire commission is comprised of 29 members - 15 appointed by City Council members). This commission assumes responsibility for reviewing, evaluating, and recommending changes for the 7- year old Neighborhood Council system created by the city's Charter (which is the Constitution for the city of Los Angeles).
Commissioner "Jackie" Dupont-Walker, who serves as the AME Church's Consultant to the Social Action Commission of the General Board, is the only 912 Commissioner who served on The 1998 Charter Commission that drafted the current Charter which was approved by the voters in 2000. She was elected to that body from the 10th City Council District and tapped by her colleagues as 1st Vice Chair for the 18 month task of writing the Charter.
On the 912 Commission "Jackie" has again been tapped by her fellow commissioners for leadership as the 2nd Vice Chair. Over a 12-month period this body will convene Community Hearings, dialogue with Dept. Of Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) Staff, and invite all stakeholders who want to insure responsive, effective and productive resident participation in local government at the neighborhood and citywide levels.
Congratulatory email can be sent to: JDUPONTW@aol.com
11. DR. PATRICIA LARKINS HICKS NAMED CHAIR OF THE STRATEGIC COMMITTEE FOR THE NATIONAL LINKS, INC.:
Congratulations to Dr. Patricia Larkins Hicks, who was recently elected to Chair the Strategic Committee for the National LINKS, Inc, recently held at the National convention in Philadelphia. PA., she serves as a steward at Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, Columbus, Ohio and is the Founder and President of Outcomes Group Management, LTD. She is the lovely wife of Dr. Clayton Hicks of Columbus, Ohio. Congratulations Dr. Hicks from your friends in Florida and the Third Episcopal District. We Love You!
Congratulations may be emailed to Dr. Hicks at: patlhicks@aol.com
12. EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT MEMBER APPOINTED HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL:
Mr. Rodney Brown of the Eighth Episcopal District has been appointed principal of the Bogalusa Sr. High School. What is of note is that he is just the second African American principal of the school in 93 years.
13. ARE CHURCHES 'TOO FEMINIZED' FOR MEN?:
By Robin Russell*
Author David Murrow says a typical guy feels as comfortable in church as Tom Sawyer in Aunt Polly's parlor.
"He must watch his language, mind his manners and be extra polite," Murrow writes in his popular 2005 book, Why Men Hate Going to Church. That's because the altar flowers and felt banners, mostly female Sunday school teachers and blue-haired ladies playing the organ, all make church feel like a "woman's thing." And unless a man enjoys serving on a committee or passing out bulletins, he may feel there's not much for him to do, so he steers clear.
Today's contemporary worship services aren't much better: Their soft praise-and-worship songs and emphasis on relational needs are better suited to the needs of women than men, says Murrow, who is a member at a nondenominational church in Anchorage, Alaska.
"If church was a place where men could be real and not religious, you'd see a lot more of them," he concludes.
United Methodists may not see completely eye-to-eye with Murrow, but statistics on American church life seem to bear him out.
More than 90 percent of American men believe in God, and five out of six call themselves Christian, according to the Barna Research Group, a Christian research firm based in Ventura, Calif. But only two out of six attend church on a given Sunday.
Church attendance is roughly one-third male and two-thirds female. Nearly a quarter of married women attend church alone while their husbands sleep in, mow the lawn or play golf.
It's not that men are less religious than women, Murrow says, because other religions have little trouble drawing males. His theory is that Judaism, Buddhism and Islam offer more "uniquely masculine" experiences for men.
"Every Muslim man knows that he is locked in a great battle between good and evil," he recently told Religion News Service. But most Christians today see their faith more in terms of "having an unconditional love relationship" with Jesus, he said.
"And if that's the punch line of the Gospel, then you're going to have a lot more women than men taking you up on your offer, because women are interested in a personal relationship with a man who loves you unconditionally. Men, generally, are not."
Mainline woes
For mainline denominations, the news is even worse. Whether it's because they ordain women or because they're more established in their patterns of "doing church," mainline congregations experience the greatest gender gaps, defined as having at least 12 percent more women than men actively involved.
More than 70 percent of United Methodist churches report such a gap, compared to 55 percent of Baptist and 25 percent of nondenominational churches, according to the 1998 National Congregations Study.
Mainline denominations, as Murrow points out, also have the greatest percentage of membership losses and church closings.
"A lack of male participation is one of the surest predictors of church decline," he writes. "If you want a healthy church for the long term, attract men. This was Jesus' strategy. It still works today."
Murrow knows how to roil ecclesiastical waters, yet some United Methodists who are concerned with declining membership concede that he makes a few good points.
The Rev. Mark Winter, a general evangelist of the United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, is old enough to remember the early 1960s Norman Rockwell print, "Sunday Morning," which showed a woman leading her Sunday-dressed children out the door while her husband, still in pajamas, slinks down in a chair reading the paper, a cigarette nestled between his fingers.
"A lot of guys who spend their time hunting and fishing walk into church and think, 'This is the same as it was when I was a child. Why should I come back? It was boring then, and it is now,' he said. "As one Texan put it, 'Men don't go to church because they've been.'"
'Feminized' church
Murrow's critique of church culture is nothing new. After all, churches didn't become "feminized" overnight, says Catholic scholar and author Leon J. Podles in his 1999 book, The Church Impotent: The Feminization of Christianity. Podles traces a feminine characteristic of the church back to the 12th century, when medieval female orders began to rise and mystic Bernard of Clairvaux popularized the metaphor of the church as the bride of Christ.
The notion of each person as essentially feminine before God is evident in today's praise-and-worship songs that are "love songs to Jesus," Murrow says.
That doesn't bother Art Brucks, who helped launch the men's ministry at First United Methodist Church, Mansfield, Texas. He sings in the church's praise choir and lifts his hands during worship. But he draws the line at holding hands when praying or sharing feelings in a mixed group. He also doesn't like feminine touches during worship, like when 12-year-old girls in pink flowing dresses "slit up to the hip" performed a liturgical dance on a recent Sunday morning.
"I about got sick. I had to keep my head down and just read Scripture," Brucks said. "I think a guy is looking for Christ in a way that he can identify with in a church. My pastor nails it 90 percent of the time, so I can't complain."
It helps that his pastor, who leads the men's ministry, is "a real man, a 50-year-old guy who is physically fit, plays basketball with the guys every Sunday night after preaching four services and can still bench-press 350 pounds."
Muscular Christianity
That kind of masculine approach has been part of historical church efforts to reach men, including the "muscular Christianity" movement of the late 19th century that extolled manliness and, in the last few decades, the popularity of Promise Keepers. More recently, John Eldredge's best-selling Wild at Heart has spawned a number of wilderness retreats and Bible studies for men.
Rob Renfroe, minister of discipleship at The Woodlands (Texas) United Methodist Church, leads a Quest men's breakfast that was inspired by Eldredge's work and draws 300 men.
"Men can talk in different ways to other men. We talk about real-life issues that matter to them," he said. Men want to hear, for instance, about workplace issues, their responsibilities to their wives and families and the need for healthy male friendships. The Quest group has spawned 15 small groups that meet throughout the year, as well as service projects and mentoring programs for young boys without fathers, Renfroe added.
In spite of such efforts, the only golden age in American male church attendance to date, according to Murrow, was during the 1950s and 1960s - the heyday of the "builder generation" - when church construction was also booming. Attendance then mirrored the adult population (53 percent female and 47 percent male).
"But once the paint dried, men began to get bored. There was nothing for them to do," he says in his book. Upstart churches still tend to draw more men than denominational congregations that have been around awhile. That's because newer churches use the kinds of skills men bring to the table, Murrow explained.
"Risks must be taken. Plans must be made. Buildings must be built. Men love this stuff. But as a congregation ages, it begins to value feminine gifts such as nurturing, stability and close-knit community."
Larry Malone, director of United Methodist Men's Ministries, thinks church today is "feminized to a degree" because a disproportionate number of women are present as the power players and because there's been a "distinct absence of the right kind of male leadership."
"I think that nature abhors a vacuum. I don't think this is a master plot or scheme. It's just how things have evolved. There's not a bad guy in this," he said.
In the past, male church leadership has sometimes wrongly reflected a patriarchal mentality that said, "I'm not just the male, I'm the alpha male and I'm in charge around here," Malone said. "This is the very model that feminism had its rightful stand against. The male leadership that has been absent is servant leadership as modeled by Christ."
What men want
While Winter doesn't buy into all the "red-meat theology" promoted by some men's movement authors, he's learned from leading men's retreats in Fort Worth what United Methodist men are looking for in a church.
"Men like adventures. Men like challenges. We like in-your-face sermons. We need to be pursuing God on our own, and not expecting the preacher to change our spiritual diaper each Sunday," he said. "All week long, we're given projects, goals and challenges by our bosses. We like to sink our teeth into projects. If a pastor can theologize that this is what Jesus did, it stirs men's hearts. We want to be impacting our world for Christ."
That's part of the formula that worked for Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Columbia, S.C., a congregation whose men's group used to consist of a monthly restaurant meal that "had no energy," said the Rev. Michael Bingham.
The church now recruits men for hands-on service projects instead of committee work. Men repair homes of elderly members. They participate in rebuilding projects on the Gulf Coast. And they've gone on service missions trips to Mexico the last two years. The church also launched a popular "Men Cook With Fire" monthly get-together, where the men grill something, eat together and hear inspirational speakers. The gathering is so popular that men have begun inviting their friends, Bingham said.
"Some aren't members at any church. That's been the most pleasing," he said. "It's come out of hard prayer and trying a few things that didn't work. Men want to belong to something larger than themselves. They like doing something that matters."
UM Men responds
Malone agrees that "significance is a huge issue for guys." Trouble is, he adds, many men haven't found it at church.
"Our worst fear is getting near the end of our life and just not having mattered. This is deep in the soul of men. This is a craving in a man's soul. In a very real sense, a man wants something that is worth dying for. And if he actually has something that is worth dying for, he can live for it."
In his work with United Methodist Men, Malone sometimes uses books such as Why Men Hate Going to Church to start discussions on how to more effectively reach men.
"One of the provocative statements in the book that affects our church is that 'men follow men,'" he said. "Could that be considered true? If our biggest purpose is reaching all of God's creatures for Christ, what could a female pastor do with the fact that some men are more likely to respond to male leadership?
"The question you have to get past is, 'Should it be this way?' Of course it shouldn't be. Then you move on to the reality that this is how it is with some people."
Malone said United Methodist clergywomen need to be secure enough in their leadership to be able to engage men who are "on the periphery." Teams of men and women leaders, for instance, might help communicate messages effectively to men, perhaps even during a worship service.
Some men may have a problem that goes deeper than who's preaching on Sunday. They may be reluctant to get involved at church because they have a problem getting closer to God in the first place, Malone said. That's because they might have never dealt with their "father wounds."
Most people get their image of God from their relationship with their own fathers, he said. So if a man has a problem with Dad, he is much more likely to have a problem with God.
"It's not an accident that many men have been in church a long time and don't seem to be getting any closer to God," he said. "If you have a significant father wound, there is a part of you that doesn't want to get closer to God. You can be intellectually aware that God is not the same as my earthly father, but the reality is that men and women are profoundly affected by who they think God is.
"For some, it's a crushing, life-sucking, just absolute catastrophe. I run into guys in their 50s and 60s who have been going to church for decades and they've never, ever touched this. But the freedom that is unlocked when you're able to unpack that thing! You find that God is at the ready. You learn that what God has been intending for so long has been blocked for so long."
'Wesley men'
The church should be helping each man understand "how absolutely crucial his faith walk is" because it affects not just himself, but his marriage and his family, Malone said.
United Methodist Men wants to help men find a place in church, and more importantly, develop a sense of eternal significance, through a new partnership called Wesleyan Building Brothers, a one-year, small-group curriculum that will help move men toward what Malone calls "a full pursuit of God, who is adventuresome, powerful, loving - a Christ who is simply to be worshipped and fallen down before."
Men will first work on maturing their own faith and growing toward Christ. But it doesn't stop there. They will go on to become "spiritual fathers" by helping reproduce the Christian faith in someone else, and ultimately help that person reproduce the faith in others.
"Wesleyan Bands of Brothers" will be launched at 70-80 churches in the Tennessee Area and six to eight other areas before 2007. Eventually, some 1,000 men will be trained to help set up teams in every district so that by 2012, all 35,000 United Methodist congregations will have a Wesleyan Band of Brothers influencing their local church.
"This is a lifetime aspiration. This is different than just good, faithful men who attend church," Malone said. "If it doesn't take your breath away, if you don't realize you need God to do this, then you didn't get it."
*Russell is the managing editor of the United Methodist Reporter in Dallas. This story was originally published in the Reporter. She may be reached at rrussell@umr.org.
Used with permission of the United Methodist News Service
14. EFFECTIVE MINISTRY REQUIRES HEALTHY SELF-CARE, EXPERTS SAY:
By Deborah White*
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UMNS) - Taking care of yourself is essential for effective ministry, professionals in health and wholeness told leaders of the United Methodist Church.
"Your ability to serve others is totally dependent on your ability to function and be healthy," said Suzanne Hawley, site director in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
She was co-leader of the Healthy Leadership Training Event July 12-15, along with Judy Johnston, research instructor at the school.
"If we don't engage in effective self care we can burn out," Hawley cautioned. "Some of us feel guilty that we're not doing enough - even if we are burned out. We are not meant to be in a continuous state of guilt."
Hawley and Johnston guided leaders in the United Methodist Church's South Central Jurisdiction during a servant leadership self-care covenant workshop intended to help them take steps to improve their own health.
"We are here to put tools in your hands so you feel you can move forward in this pursuit of life," said Johnston, who wrote the curriculum for the workshop. Johnston and Hawley have presented the same self-care workshop to many clergy in Kansas and have trained leaders to give the workshop to church members.
"Self-care ties directly to servant leadership," Johnston said. "Servant leadership is taking time to listen to your own inner voice and others around you."
Hawley gave tips about time management, emphasizing the art of delegating. "Every time you say yes, you have to say no to something else."
Johnston, a registered dietitian, emphasized taking small steps to improve diet.
For example, healthy steps could include adding fruit to breakfast, storing cut-up fruits and vegetables in the refrigerator, reducing the size of portions or using low-fat cooking methods.
She urged participants to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day and to put money in a jar every time they refrain from drinking a can of soda. "You need tangible evidence. You won't creep back to old habits."
Johnston also recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity and seven to eight hours of sleep. She warned participants to stay away from second-hand smoke.
She told participants to think of one aspect of physical, mental /emotional, social and spiritual health and choose one specific step they could make to improve. Participants broke up into groups of people with similar goals and worked with a partner to develop plans for self-care covenants. They wrote the names of people who could hold them accountable, including other participants in the workshop.
Keys to success in self-care, Johnston said, include taking one step at a time, setting a specific and measurable goal, writing down the plan and getting social support. "Concentrate on the positive," she said.
"We have taught this to clergy in Kansas to amazing response. This is something we all need," she said. "This forces you to take the time for you."
*White is associate editor of Interpreter magazine, published by United Methodist Communications.
Used with permission of the United Methodist News Service
15. THE PASTOR’S CORNER - WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PRAY - A PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives. (I John 1: 8-10)
What Happens When We Pray a Prayer of Confession and Repentance?
The Apostle John tells us we receive forgiveness of sin and the cleansing of unrighteousness. To be forgiven and cleansed when I am deserving of judgment is a source of hope for every believer. When we sin - blow it – we experience feelings of guilt, shame and remorse. What happens when we pray a prayer of confession? We experience HOPE! A simple formula for hope is Hope = Judgment + Grace. God’s righteous and warranted judgment when coupled with God’s undeserved and unmerited favor, in the face of our wrongdoing, is truly a source of hope. God always condemns sin and judges it as an act against Him. But God upon receiving sincere confession extends to the believer not what we deserve, but instead forgiveness and cleansing from our wrongdoing. We rise from wrongdoing to experience HOPE!
What is Confession?
Sincere confession is an attitude that aligns itself under the authority and Word or will of God concerning a matter. Sincere confession can be an open profession of our faith in God, as was the case with Peter (Matthew 16: 16) when he said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Sincere confession can also be an acknowledgement of our sins or the sins of others before God.
To illustrate the idea, think of sin as having the effect of moving a person from under the covering of an umbrella in a hailstorm. Sincere confession recognizes one’s position outside the covering of the umbrella and allows us to simply step back under it, realigning us under the protective covering of God’s will to once again live in hope!
What Attitude Does God Honor In a Prayer of Confession?
The attitude we hold in our hearts is key to experiencing the hope that comes from realigning our lives under the authority and Word of God. The priestly prayer offered by Ezra for the people of Jerusalem, exemplifies the attitude God honors when we pray (Ezra 9: 5-15). A sincere attitude of confession:
1. Acknowledges the righteousness and sovereignty of God (vv. 6-9). Ezra described the graciousness, kindness, provision and protection God granted His people, Israel. He recognized God is in charge. Only if we accept God’s authority over our lives can we pray sincerely to receive forgiveness of sin. Anything less is simply going through the motions. Who is God to you? Is God the head of your life? What place does the authority of God hold in your daily living?
2. Acknowledges our sin/transgressions against God (vv. 10-12). We’ve all been deeply hurt and received an apology from someone who didn’t mean it. It probably sounded something like this, “Sorry about that.” The attitude here does not acknowledge the wrongdoing or the damage caused by the person’s actions. It was obvious the person lacked sincerity of heart. Again, it’s simply going through the motions. God would no more accept this than we would. Ezra acknowledged the people’s disregard for God’s commands. He then stated specifically the actions that hurt their relationship with a loving, Almighty God.
3. Acknowledges God’s righteous judgment of our sins – no excuses (vv. 13-14). To admit that one is deserving of the punishment one could receive is to accept responsibility for one’s actions. Ezra admitted God had “punished us less than our sins have deserved.” There was no denial of ownership for the people’s choices. When the criminal who hung on the cross next to Jesus spoke to his taunting friend he said, “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.” It was this man who passed from this life possessing the hope of everlasting life. Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
4. Seeks or acknowledges God’s grace in the matter – throws self upon God (v. 15). Ezra throws himself and the people of Jerusalem at the mercy of God. He understands he hasn’t a “leg to stand on” before God allowing the hand of God to lift him and the people from their guilt into a right relationship with Himself. Ezra seeks grace, not justice.
Jesus Christ went to the cross to open the door for every human being to go from a life of guilt, shame, and remorse to a life of hope. The steps to receive the gift of salvation that is ours today are the same: 1.) Acknowledge God’s sovereignty; 2.) Admit one’s sin; 3.) Accept God’s right to judge; 4.) Seek God’s grace. If you’ve never received Jesus as your Savior you can do so by simply praying a prayer of confession. What happens when we pray a prayer of confession? We live lives of HOPE!
Pastor Jim Moody
Quinn Chapel, Chicago
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: sixdistr@bellsouth.net
We regret to inform you of the home going of Mrs. Sandra Griffin Lewis. She passed on July 23, 2006.
Mrs. Lewis was the wife of the Reverend Sims Lewis (retired) of the South Georgia Conference, Albany-Valdosta District; the sister of Reverend Willie F. Griffin, pastor of Bethlehem AME Church, Cairo, GA and the sister in law of the Reverend D. D. Davenport, pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church, Americus, GA.
Mrs. Lewis served as the current WMS President of the South Georgia Conference.
Arrangements are being handled by:
Stevens Funeral Home
215 E Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Valdosta, Georgia 31601
229-244-1717229-244-3353 Fax
Homegoing observance:
Friday, July 28, 2006
1:00 AM
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church
419 South Ashley Street (P.O. Box 395)
Valdosta, Georgia 31603
229-244-8065
229-244-8084(fax)
The Rev. Bruce L. Francis, Pastor
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Sims Lewis, Husband
1303 Old Lake Road
Valdosta, Georgia 31601
229-247-9867
E-mail correspondence may be forwarded to the church, stpaulpastorblf@aol.com
BBCalloway
Sixth Episcopal DistrictOffice Administrator
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: sixdistr@bellsouth.net
Presiding Elder Henry Frasier of the Georgia Conference, West Savannah District, along with his wife, Leary May Frasier, mourn the loss of Mrs. Mamie Henry, his wife's mother.
The homegoing service will be held on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Walthourville, GA. (912-368-2696--church)
Professional Services entrusted to:
Dorchester Funeral Home
7842 East Oglethorpe Highway
Midway, GA 31320
912-884-2431
Condolences may be sent to:
Presiding Elder Henry and Leary May Frasier
P.O. Box 255
Walthourville, GA 31333
912-368-7189
We appreciate your sharing this information with the Connection. Thank you.
BBCallowayOffice AdministratorSixth Episcopal District
Please remember the family in your prayers.
19 CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
From: artx@sbcglobal.net
Presiding Elder Norman V. Osborne of the Michigan Conference, South District mourns the passing of his father, Mr. Clarence Osbourne who died on Wednesday, July 19, 2006.
The Homegoing Service will be held on Tuesday, 11:00 A.M.
July 25, 2006
Bethel A.M.E. Church
5050 Richard Allen Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48202
The Rev. Dr. Michael Cousin, Pastor
(313) 831-8810 Phone
(313) 831-7920 FAX
The family visitation will precede the service at 10:00 A.M.
Professional services are entrusted to:
Swanson Funeral Home, Inc.
14751 W. McNichols
Detroit, MI 48221
(313) 272-9000 Phone
Condolences may be sent to:
Presiding Elder Norman V. Osborne and Family
19512 Canterbury Road
Detroit, MI 48221
The Rev. Dr. Robert Brumfield, Admin. Assistant
South District, Michigan Conference
21. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action Clergy Family Information Center
Ora L. EasleyEmail: Amespouses1@aol.comPhone: (615) 837-9736Fax: (615) 833-3781Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936Cell: (615) 403-7751
22. 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
