The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor
BREAKING NEWS:
October 20, 2006 / 8:34 p.m.
Dr. Yvonne Walker Taylor died this afternoon.
Dr. Yvonne Walker Taylor was professor of English and later became the first female President of Wilberforce University. She was the first female African American college president in the United States. Her father, the Right Reverend Dougal Ormonde Beaconfield Walker, the 66th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church also served as President of Wilberforce University and thus they were the first father/ daughter president of an American academic institution of higher education. Dr. Yvonne Walker Taylor will be missed.
Information about funeral arrangements is forthcoming.
1. THE EDITOR WILL BE OUT OF THE OFFICE:
Editor Sydnor will be preaching this Sunday at the 10 a.m. worship service at Hemingway Memorial AME Church, 6830 Gateway Boulevard, District Heights, Maryland. Telephone: 301. 568-9127. The Reverend Samuel Hayward is the pastor.
On Tuesday the Editor will travel to Houston, Texas to be a presenter and preach at the Texas Annual Conference. The Right Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram is the presiding prelate and the Reverend Dr. Jessica Ingram is the Episcopal Supervisor.
The Editor will be accessible (615.714-0986) and connected to the Internet (chsydnor@bellsouth.net ) the same as he would be in his Nashville office.
2. EDITORIAL: LOCAL CHURCHES AND PASTORS NEED TO QUICKLY EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY AND HELP TO ERADICATE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE:
I am beating “a dead horse” but if anyone will listen and change than the “dead horse” just might not be dead after all.
One of the articles in this issue addresses the United Methodist Church’s program to launch online training to help local churches develop Web sites and Web ministries that help facilitate opportunities for spiritual growth. I applaud the United Methodist Church for their effort in assisting local churches to be more effective because we live in an age of technology and information.
I want the AME Church leadership to reach out more intentionally to assist churches to become more technologically proficient and efficient and I want pastors and lay leaders to respond to the Church leadership’s efforts to promote technology as a means to assist in the day-to-day efficiencies and as a tool for evangelism. I know that Dr. Clement Fugh, the General Secretary of the AME Church has been relentless in his effort to institute online reports and to do away with “stubby pencil” paper reports. And we, at The Christian Recorder, are trying to do away with hardcopy submission of articles and to transition to electronic transmissions of articles; it is more efficient, saves time and facilitates a more efficient accountability trail.
Local churches can begin the transition now and pastors and local church leaders can take step to facilitate change. I know that change takes time and we all have to be patient, but every AME Church should have a computer and if anyone reading this article is still using a typewriter, you are functioning in the last century. Every church should have a computer(s) and should be connected to the Internet, and have a Website. This is 2006 and we are getting ready to transition to 2007. We are almost seven years into this century!
Every pastor and every minister should be knowledgeable and proficient in using a computer and surfing the Internet. Every pastor should have an email address. If a pastor is reading this and does not have an email address, he or she needs to get an email address immediately do what he or she needs to do to get trained in the use of technology. A first step in getting trained would be to talk to any young person in your church and he or she could get you ‘up to speed” in a short time. After that, it takes practice and a little discipline.
Little changes can make a difference in updating efficiencies in a local church; it takes a change of mindset. For instance, the winter months are fast approaching and for the life of me I cannot understand why pastors insist on having meetings at the church, forcing folks to drive, use gas, and risk accidents when they could have telephonic meetings. There are some meetings that need to be face-to-face, but other meetings could be conducted just as efficiently, telephonically. Church members would not have to get dressed, could stay at home and the meeting would be just as productive and certainly more cost-effective. It just means that someone would need to learn how to set up a telephonic meeting. The secretary or someone would be assigned the task of taking the minutes and the minutes could be disseminated via email. The agenda could be emailed prior to the meeting.
We, especially in the black American community, need to eliminate the digital divide. Computers are here to stay; technology is not going away. The “Information Age” is here and now and computers are relatively inexpensive.
Education is inundated with technology. Young people with all of their Game-Boy and other techie toys’ experience are comfortable with technology. We, in the Church, need to master technology so that we can effectively use it as an evangelism tool. The possibilities are endless. In addition to what we do face-to-face can be extended and enriched with technology such as online Bible studies, online Sunday School sessions for those who are unable to attend worship, podcasting religious services, online prayer groups and spiritual chat sessions, telephonic meetings, and the list is endless.
Every bishop, every presiding elder, every pastor, and laity who consider themselves leaders should be leading the way in helping our community to eliminate the digital divide.
Local church leaders have a responsibility to be on the “cutting edge” of technology and to “train the flock.”
3. THE MISSOURI ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
Missouri Annual Conference
October 23-29, 2006
Host Churches:
Christ Our Redeemer - Black Jack, MO
Ward Chapel - Florissant, MO
Host Pastors:
The Reverends Marvin E. Sullivan, II and Edmund E. Lowe, Sr.
Location of Conference: St. Louis Airport Hilton Hotel
Planning Meeting - Hosted by the Missouri Conference
October 30, 2006 - St. Louis Airport Hilton Hotel
4. TWO-ALARM FIRE DESTROYS EAST VILLAGE CHURCH:
A fire destroyed St. Phillips AME Church in New York City’s East Village causing its roof to collapse. The fire was thought to have been started by a gas leak. The fire started just before 9 a.m. at the St. Phillip's AME church, which resides inside a 2-story commercial building on East 12th Street and Avenue B.
5. CONGRESSMAN JAMES E. CLYBURN: NOW IS THE TIME FOR PRINCIPLES:
House Democratic Caucus Chair Urges Action in an Open Letter to Faith Community
WASHINGTON, DC -- House Democratic Caucus Chairman and leader of the House Democratic Faith Working Group James E. Clyburn is asking the faith community not to sit this election out. Yesterday, Clyburn released an open letter to leaders of the faith community asking them to get involved in the November 7th election and hold elected officials accountable for the unraveling of the country's moral fabric.
"Rather than disengaging in the political process, I see this as the most important time for people of faith to stand up for their moral beliefs and values," Clyburn wrote. "By ignoring or failing to step up and be part of the solution, we will be just as accountable for the failures of our great country as those in the government who have led us down this path."
Clyburn asked people of faith to scrutinize the records of Democratic representatives on providing for the least among us.
"The message contained in Proverbs 14:31, 'He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God,' is evident in the policies and position promoted by my Democratic colleagues," Clyburn continued.
The letter was prompted by Chairman Clyburn's travels around the country in recent weeks speaking with congregations that expressed concerns regarding the current political climate.
6. AN OPEN LETTER TO LEADERS OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY:
Dear Friends,
As Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and leader of the House Democrats Faith Working Group, I have traveled this country and visited many congregations. No matter where I visit, I find myself confronted by the same question from people of faith: does any role remain for the faith community within our government? I would like to take this opportunity to respond to the growing sense of restlessness among the faith community.
There is no dispute that America is at a crossroads. With each passing day the moral fabric of our nation appears to be further unraveling. We have lost nearly 3,000 of our sons and daughters in the Iraq War, the minimum wage has not increased in over nine years, the lives of thousands of Gulf Coast residents remain in disarray more than a year after Hurricane Katrina, and millions of Americans lack access to basic health care coverage. Recent reports of Congressional leaders involved in bribes and sex scandals have only increased the frustration that so many Americans feel toward our government's leadership. The recent release of a book, revealing the White House Office of Faith-Based Funding exploited the compassionate conservative community it was created to serve, has left many members of the faith community poised to forego their political involvement altogether.
But rather than disengaging in the political process, I see this as the most important time for people of faith to stand up for their moral beliefs and values. By ignoring or failing to step up and be part of the solution, we will be just as accountable for the failures of our great country as those in the government who have led us down this path. Martin Luther King's admonition during a sermon at the National Cathedral nearly 39 years ago still rings true today: "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people."
Good people, I call on you as a member of the faith community to begin holding our elected officials accountable for their actions. We must ensure they are offering more than rhetoric, photo-ops, and divisive speech. We must make certain that they are not turning a blind eye to those in need. My father, a fundamentalist minister, had a favorite saying: "The world would rather see a sermon than hear one."
As a member of the House Democratic Leadership, I welcome you to hold us accountable for carrying out the teachings of the Scriptures. We invite you to scrutinize our records on providing for the least among us. The message contained in Proverbs 14:31, "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God," is evident in the policies and position promoted by my Democratic colleagues.
We are not pretending to know God's will. Instead, we are committing to follow God's word and stand up for the most vulnerable Americans and to fight the countless injustices that take place each day throughout our nation. Now is the time for principles. I ask you to join with me in standing with my Democratic colleagues to actively work to help us serve the people we represent with humility and purpose.
Sincerely,
James E. Clyburn
Editor’s note: Congressman James Clyburn is a member of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The Reverend Dr. Joe Darby is the pastor.
7. PRAISE REPORT FROM BROTHER SAM DAVIS:
Just thought I would share how good God is. Last night I was talking to my son, Johnnie, because I had not heard from him in a few days. He is attending Chiropractor school, in Marietta, GA. When he called me last night, I was speechless as I listened to him share a frightening experience. He had gone to the Alabama A&M Homecoming on Saturday. After the game, he and some friends went to some of the other weekend activities. Around 2:00 A.M. Sunday morning, some friends took him to the parking lot so that he could get his car (apparently they rode together instead of everyone taking separate cars). they dropped him off and then drove off. Just as he stuck his key into the door, a guy jumped out of an SUV that was parked beside him, and pulled a gun on him. He told him to give him his wallet, and car keys.
Johnnie never carries a wallet, only a business card holder, which is where he keeps his money. He reached in the holder and gave the guy the money. The man told him to give him his car keys. Johnnie told him he couldn't give him the car keys. The put the gun up to his head and told him to give him the keys. Johnnie said, "If you are going to shoot me, go ahead. But you need to know that I am a child of God." Then he said that he smiled.
The guy said, "Oh you think this is funny. You think I am playing with you. I will kill you." Johnnie said that he didn't think anything was funny. But he was a child of God.
By this time, Johnnie's friends that had dropped him off earlier, returned to the parking lot to check to make sure that he had left. When they saw his car still there, they drove up to it, rolled down the window and asked if he was OK. He said that he was, and they drove off again.
The guy took his money and asked for his cell phone, then jumped in his SUV and drove off.
Johnnie opened up his car, locked the doors, and drove to the nearest gas station and called 911.
He was not hurt at all. The police came out and took a report and told him he was really lucky.
God is GOOD. Sunday at 3:00 A.M. I woke up, sat up in the bed and looked at the clock on the nightstand. The Lord told me to pray. I began praying for Johnnie that God would protect him, watch him, guide him, and comfort him. From 3:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., I was praying for the church, my family and friends, and myself. God answers prayer. When you can't sleep, remember to Pray because you may be saving your child's life. Have a blessed day.
Editor’s Note: The following day, Johnnie Davis responded. Appended below is his Note
8. A MESSAGE FROM JOHNNIE GREEN:
Good Afternoon! I would like to thank everyone for keeping me in their prayers and to God be the glory. Sometimes we go through life and get so caught up in our own individual goals, problems, and accomplishments until we forget about the things that matter most. We tend to forget about other parts of the world and people who have helped us along the way to get to where we are today. We often see the big picture and forget about the tiny small pictures that make up the big picture. But then again...this is America---and we take so much for granted. Everyone knows that I am not a big fan of forwarding emails, but thanks so much for the prayers and all, but what would be even better is if everyone reading this email would actually take the time send an email, text message, or make a phone call to remind and show their family, friends, and others how much they appreciate them.
Johnnie Green
9. PRAISE GOD FOR A WONDERFUL EVENING IN SONG, MUSIC EXCELLENCE, AND DIVERSITY IN MUSIC AND PERSONNEL:
On Sunday, October 15, 7-9:30 p.m., the new Schermerhorn Symphony Center held its "first Christian concert", featuring the Nashville Choir (the choral group that sings with the Nashville Symphony); the Trevecca University Madrigalians; the First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir; The Settles Connection (featuring Odessa Settles, also a member of the internationally renowned Princely Players), and the Greater Nashville Community Gospel Choir (the combined choral effort of the Pearl-Cameron Community Choir and the Belmont Church Choir), along with several solo artists.
What a tremendous opportunity and blessing for the 13th District Director of Music, Samuel Robinson, to be the only other Choral Director for the night! It was a first also in that not only was Sam highlighted as a Director, but other AMEs were in the spotlight -- as soloists, members of the choir, and as instrumentalists. Fred Francis of Greater Bethel was front and center for the lead on "For Every Mountain" sung by the Greater Nashville Community Gospel Choir. Sam conducted the Greater Nashville Community Gospel Choir, and also the Nashville Symphony as it provided accompaniment for "They Didn't Know", with Jenise Smith of Payne Chapel AME Church as soloist. The concert finale was "Total Praise" sung by all artists -- choirs and individuals -- and again, Sam was the Director. This was the first event I have attended at the Schermerhorn Center since its formal opening on September 9, 2006, but I would venture to say that it was also the first time an African-American has served as Director. If that's not correct, I'll go out on a limb and say that it's the first time an AME has served as Director!
This was an excellent model in diversity for music in Christian worship, as there was something for everybody: a wonderful anthem, 'How Great Thou Art', arranged for symphony and choir; a Negro spiritual (Ride The Chariot) sung by the Nashville Choir; contemporary songs of praise; hip-hop gospel with the singing of "Shackles" performed by former American Idol finalist, Mandisa; a hymn with a country flavor, "Power in the Blood", sung by recording artist Ashley Cleveland; "African Praise" by Odessa Settles; madrigals performed by the Trevecca University Madrigalians; and an absolutely awesome rendition of the William Tell Overture played on a harmonica, no less, by guitarist Buddy Greene, accompanied by a stringed bass! The only genre missing perhaps was gospel rap.
As Nashville Symphony Director, John Coates, said in his closing remarks, it was great to see a "not so segregated" worship experience. To which I'll add "not segregated in types of music, or in persons in attendance." The plan is to do it again next year. I hope that the word is more widely spread and more African-Americans and more AMEs can be in attendance.
Sam can be contacted at dirsam@bellsouth.net. The performance was recorded LIVE, and CDs will be available for purchase. There was an order form inserted in the program last night to be returned to the ushers, but hopefully, information about how to purchase them is also on the symphony's website, http://www.nashvillesymphony.org/.
- From the list of personnel in the brochure, below is the list of AMEs who are members of the Greater Nashville Community Gospel Choir. I may miss some names or church affiliations, but I'll be happy to be corrected:
Doris Bell (Greater Bethel)
Kevin Blanton (Greater Bethel)
Katherine Bowers (Greater Bethel)
Dorothy Buford (Lee Chapel)
Mattie Dixon (Lee Chapel)
Leroy Duff (Greater Bethel)
Leona Duncan (Greater Bethel)
Fred Francis (Greater Bethel)
Willa Garrett (Greater Bethel)
Ralph Holmes (St. John, Nashville)
Herb Jenkins (Greater Bethel)
Brenda Merritt (South Nashville District)
Cheryl Bryant Newsom (Payne Chapel)
Novella Page (Greater Bethel)
Sonny Palmer (Lee Chapel)
Eugenia Reasonover
Brenita Reid (Payne Chapel)
Hazel Robinson (Greater Bethel)
Ruby Robinson (Greater Bethel)
Kathryn Russell (Greater Bethel)
Sylvia Sloss (Greater Bethel)
Jenise Smith (Payne Chapel)
Robert Smith (St. John, Nashville)
Rev. Yvette Tisdale (Tennessee Annual Conference)
Valerie Yeargins (Greater Bethel)
Submitted by Sister Paula Holmes
10. LOVE AND RESPONSIBILITY ARE KEYS IN THE COVENANT
*James B. Ewers, Jr. Ed.D
While my work requires that I do a lot of reading, I also enjoy reading as a hobby.
Some of the books I read are what I consider to be “light reading” as in the books written by John Grisham. Other books challenge me and gives imparts social messages, one such book that I read recently is, “The Covenant with Black America.”
I am not quite sure about the origins of the book entitled, “The Covenant With Black America” with the introduction by Tavis Smiley. As many of you will recall, Tavis Smiley had a talk show with Black Entertainment Television a few years ago. He parted ways with BET and went on to distinguish himself in public television and public radio. He is featured nightly on one of the cable access channels and is a powerful interviewer.
It is my thinking that this book, The Covenant, rose out of a program that was televised on C-Span called The State of The Black Union. This day-long program had its beginning in 2000 and has been going strong since that time.
The premise of the program was to extol black people to take full responsibility for their lives; in all areas. Many African Americans like me grew up in the segregated South where opportunities were limited and unequally distributed, yet we never felt unequal.
I grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, yet I always thought that I would be successful at something; I just didn’t know what that would be. I firmly attribute to my mom and dad the attitude and belief of success that I had. I have no doubt in my mind that had it not been for God and for my parents, I would have been a bad statistic.
Marian Wright Edelman, leader of the Children’s Defense Fund, early in the book issues a clarion call to the black community. She writes, “Black children are disproportionately denied a fair chance and are disproportionately poor. An unleveled playing field from birth contributes to many black children getting pulled into a cradle-to-prison-to-death pipeline that we must dismantle if the clock of racial and social progress is to not turn backwards.” Some will argue with the veracity of Wright Edelman’s statements. However the question for many of us is, “How do we prepare our children to face this world?” Marian Wright Edelman in her statement of purpose says, “The Covenant With Black America calls upon all parents, educators, preachers, social service providers, community leaders and policy-makers to act now and create a brighter future for our children.” She challenges all parents, educators, preachers, social service providers, community leaders and policy-makers to “be on-call 365 days a year.”
This book has ten specific covenants:
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 and,
Covenant X: Closing The Racial Digital Divide.
My reasoning for listing each covenant is simply that it may compel you to go out and purchase this book or to check it out at your local school or public library. My hope is that there will be such a groundswell that library officials will have to order several copies of the book. Please prove me right!
There are, in my opinion, some themes that resonate throughout the book; self-love and personal responsibility are chief among them.
Loving yourself is the key to loving others. It is impossible to give love when you don’t have love. While it may sound simplistic, self-love leads to a healthy self-concept which then brings on a “can-do attitude.” One of the most over-used expressions, at least since I have been around, is, “Your attitude determines your altitude.”
Attitude and love go together. While some may disagree, we cannot wallow and fester in blame, as this mindset has already destroyed many of us. We use blame as an excuse when we fail to achieve our goals and our dreams.
We can do better and we must! In Covenant II, Edmund G. Gordon says, “Education starts at home, in neighborhoods, and in communities. Reading to children, creating time and space for homework and demonstrating through words and deeds that education is important are the key building blocks for high education attainment.” It is hard to disagree with Gordon’s, premise. Many school systems across the country are becoming more parent-friendly. Parents and schools need one another. When all of us get that message, we will be better off. As parents, we must make ourselves viable, visible and valuable in our schools.
So, pick up this book because it does provide the reader with a blueprint for what needs to be done. Pass this message on and as Tavis Smiley always says, “Keep the faith” and as the late Congressman Adam Clayton Powell used to say, “Keep the faith, baby!”
*James B. Ewers, Jr. Ed.D is a member of Bethel AME Church, Middletown, Ohio where the Reverend Dr. Wilton Blake is the pastor. Dr. Ewers is Associate Dean for Student Affairs at Miami University, Middletown, Ohio.
11. THE REV. DR. D. LOVETT SCONIERS WRITES FOR BOOK ON AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH GROWTH:
The Reverend Dr. D. Lovett Sconiers, Edward Waters College (EWC) Chaplain, and African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church Pastor, assisted in authoring the newly released book Growing the African American Church. The recently released book, edited by the Reverend Dr. Carlyle Fielding Stewart, III, is the sequel to Dr. Stewart’s book African American Church Growth: 12 Prophetic Principles, which was published in 1994. Abingdon Press is the publisher for both books which can be purchased through Amazon.com.
Rev. Sconiers has been in ministry almost 20 years, and is an Itinerant Elder, ordained by the A.M.E. Church. She has been serving as a senior pastor for six years. She is the author of chapter nine of the 177-page book on the subject of Spiritual Formation, “The Depth of Our Love for Christ Determines the Level of Our Commitment to Spiritual Formation.”
Reverend Sconiers earned her B.A, Degree at Florida State University, her Jurist Doctorate Degree at Woodrow Wilson Law School, and her Masters of Divinity Degree at Harvard University Divinity School.
“I am very excited, and feel blessed to finally have one of my works published. It is a great honor,” said Rev. Dr. Sconiers who has been employed with EWC for six years as the College Chaplain, Religious Studies Professor, and Director of Campus Ministry. “I know that God has smiled on me in a special way based on some of the well-known, influential pastors who took time to write the book.”
The book comprises the pastoral experiences of 12 authors from several denominations. Rev. Sconiers is the only author who is serving as an A.M.E. pastor. Some of the other pastors include Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, the Rev. Dr. Tyrone D. Gordon, the Rev. Dr. James C. Perkins and the Rev. Dr. Elston Ricky Perry.
The book has been praised enthusiastically as a creative and groundbreaking work; a precious gift for church growth and leadership development with theological integrity. Pastors, seminarians, professors and laypersons should deem it as required reading to enhance personal spiritual growth, as well as church and congregational growth.
12. ONLINE COURSE WILL HELP CHURCHES DEVELOP WEB MINISTRIES:
Oct. 16, 2006 News media contact: Linda Green * (615) 7425470* Nashville {610}
*By Linda Green
The communications arm of the United Methodist Church is launching an online tool to help local churches develop Web sites and Web ministries that are helpful and inviting, and that provide opportunities for spiritual growth.
In an effort to further bring the denomination into the digital age, United Methodist Communications has created Web Ministry 101, a free online training experience that provides a local church with the basic steps to establish an Internet presence.
The introductory training provides 25 how-to steps to guide a person from the purchase of a computer to launching a church Web site.
United Methodist Communications launched this online learning center Oct. 16 at http://www.web.umcom.org/.
"More people are using the Internet for information to aid in spiritual growth, learning more about Christian teachings and making connections with others who are exploring Christian faith," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top staff executive at United Methodist Communications.
A need for new tools
The Nashville-based communications agency decided to launch a course after surveying local church Web site administrators who said such online training is needed.
"This is encouraging because it indicates a desire by United Methodists to use new tools to reach people for the Christian community and Jesus Christ," Hollon said.
He likened Web ministry to the early Wesleyan movement that took the gospel to people beyond the walls of the church building and into homes, the streets and other settings.
"We at United Methodist Communications understand that Christian community is most authentic in the company of people in local congregations. But the commission we have from Jesus is to reach out to all," Hollon said. "The Internet provides us with the ability to reach people we might not reach in any other way and invite them into the community of faith. We need to have the tools and skills to communicate well. Web Ministry 101 provides these tools and offers a way to learn the skills."
Self-directed course
According to the designers, the on-demand and self-directed course will enable people to complete the program on their own time schedules. The course, which requires registration, contains four 30-minute sessions with supporting guides and resources. Each "non-techie" session is available to anyone who has Internet access and a computer with sound.
UMCom designers say Web Ministry 101 could provide entrée for connecting local churches, annual conferences, districts and agencies, and it could offer a way to effectively share resources online. Use of the Web also helps churches reach young people who spend most of their time connected to some form of electronic media.
The agency is tentatively planning an end-of-year roll out of Web Ministry 102, an online community for Web ministry and an online newsletter.
*Green is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.
Used with permission of the United Methodist News Service
13. ALASKA SUPREME COURT AWARDS PROPERTY TO CONFERENCE:
By J. Richard Peck*
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (UMNS) -- The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that a wood building that once housed a 60-member United Methodist congregation is owned by the Alaska Missionary Conference and former members who claimed the property are guilty of trespassing.
Almost eight months after the case was argued before the five justices on Jan. 25, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of Alaska Superior Court Judge Richard Savell to award disputed property of St. Paul Church to the Alaska Missionary Conference.
The five-member state Supreme Court affirmed Oct. 13 the historic "trust provisions" of the United Methodist Church. The court rejected claims made by a dissident group to a church building valued two years ago at $322,000 and a parsonage valued at $196,000.
The trust clause is a measure introduced in the 1700s by Methodism founder John Wesley to protect the security of the "preaching house" as a place for worship. The clause, declaring that the title to all local church property is held by the annual (regional) conference, has been upheld by a variety of U.S. courts during the 200-plus history of the denomination in the United States. The California Court of Appeals is the only court to rule that a local church could revoke the trust clause.
James Allen, general counsel of the United Methodist General Council on Finance and Administration, celebrated the Alaska decision. "The decision by this state Supreme Court is completely opposite the unfortunate decision in the St. Luke's case from Fresno, Calif., on enforcement of the trust clause, leaving the California case as an aberration applicable only in California," said Allen.
The finance agency and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries helped pay for legal work on the Alaska case. GCFA Legal Services worked with Bishop Edward W. Paup's team in Alaska, and acted as outside advisers to the attorneys that represented the Alaska Missionary Conference.
Paup, who presides over the missionary conference, said the decision "clearly supports the principle of connectionism in the United Methodist Church that a local church exists on behalf of the entire denomination. We do continue to pray for all those involved in this case."
"What we rejoice in the most is we were able to be a servant for the entire church in defending the trust clause of the denomination," said Lonnie Brooks, president of the Alaska Missionary Conference Board of Trustees.
While Paup welcomed the decision, which brings closure to the 4-year-old case, he said he was saddened by the fact that the good news could not be shared with Tom Dahl, the conference chancellor who died a few days after a March 28 accident in Moss Point, Miss.
Dahl was helping rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina when he fell from a ladder and never regained consciousness. "Tom gave tireless skill and commitment to this court case and was instrumental in arguing the questions in a way that led the conference to be victorious," Paup said.
Church closed in 2002
The St. Paul church was officially closed by a 61-1 decision of the Alaska Missionary Conference in 2002. "The decision to close the 18-year-old church was a difficult one," said the Rev. Rachel Lieder Simeon, the district superintendent responsible for St. Paul.
"The church was discontinued because after an 18-month assessment of the internal workings of the church, it became clear that the core leadership was unwilling to be subject to the authority of the denomination," Simeon said. "They would not take directions from the pastor, the superintendent or the bishop."
After the decision, members of the former congregation denied the conference access to the church building. The conference then went to court to assert its ownership of the property.
The state Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court's ruling that some of the former church members were "liable for trespass and conversion" when they took over the church, changed its locks and resumed holding services there.
Since then, the missionary conference has made the building available to an African Methodist Episcopal Zion congregation, and plans are under way for that congregation to buy the property.
Court rulings
Although the property deed didn't refer to the trust clause, the court found that a letter by Bishop Calvin McConnell explaining the trust clause left no room for the defendants to argue lack of intent to create a trust. Moreover, the clause was not revoked when St. Paul amended its articles of incorporation.
When comparing this case with the Fresno case, the court said the applicable Alaska law with respect to revocability of trusts was the reverse of the California law. Moreover, the court pointed out that the California Court of Appeals found that a trust had been created, which reinforced the findings of the state Supreme Court.
The court also found that the St. Paul congregation's act of advising the missionary conference that there was no trust language in the deed merely reinforced the fact that the congregation did with intent and foreknowledge affiliate with the United Methodist Church.
The state Supreme Court stated that the Superior Court was correct in holding the defendants personally liable. The defendants have 10 days from the ruling in which to request a rehearing by the court.
Cam Carlson, a defendant in the case, said group members have not yet met with their attorney to decide whether to request a rehearing. The group will probably draft a response at that time, she said.
Carlson told United Methodist News Service on Oct. 17 that individuals involved in the case have paid "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in legal fees. She said it was against their policy to reveal how many people were paying these costs.
Brooks said no responsible attorney would advise them to request such a rehearing in the face of this kind of decision.
Building to be sold
The missionary conference was awarded $1,000 costs by the court and it has until Oct. 23, to present a case for additional reimbursement from the appellants for costs in the appeal process. Brooks said Fairbanks attorney Joe Sheehan will present the claim to the court.
Plans to sell the St. Paul Church building are moving ahead.
"The conference has a contract with St. James Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to sell them the church building, which they currently occupy and maintain, at our unrecovered cost of litigation," Brooks said. "We still don't know what that cost is because we have to go back to the Superior Court, from which Judge Savell has since retired, to assert our claim for cost and fees. We already have agreed with the defendants, and the Superior Court has entered a judgment affirming the settlement, on damages of $20,000."
That settlement was contingent on a property decision of the Supreme Court in favor of the missionary conference. *Peck is a retired clergy member of the New York Annual Conference and communications coordinator of the Commission on United Methodist Men.
Used with permission of the United Methodist News Service
14. DEER PRESENT UNIQUE CHALLENGES TO AREA DRIVERS:
Each year, car collisions with deer account for more than 150 human and nearly one and a half million deer fatalities. October through December is the high season for the crashes, since it is a time for both wandering deer and shortened daylight hours.
Most collisions with a deer occur during this time of year when deer are mating and migrating. "Drivers need to be particularly cautious with the season's shortened daylight and deer foraging near roadsides. It's a very dangerous combination," cautioned Ray Palermo, director of public relations for national car insurer, Response Insurance. "To compound it, more drivers are on the road at dawn and dusk, the very time of day when deer are most active."
An adult deer can weigh more than 200 pounds and a car striking one can not only result in the death of the deer, but also incur, on average, two thousand dollars in damage to the vehicle. Palermo suggested a few basic cautions for drivers:
* Scan a wide swath of the roadside. Slow down when approaching a deer standing near the side of a road and be prepared. If startled, the deer can bolt onto the roadway and into your path. If necessary, honk your horn and flash your lights to try to scare it away.
* Be alert for more deer than you may see at that moment. Where there is one deer, there are often more nearby.
* In many instances, it is best not to swerve around the deer since the deer may move in the same direction. You may also inadvertently hit another vehicle, or go off onto a dangerous shoulder. Unless certain of those road factors, it is often best to simply brake and continue in your lane of traffic.
* Be particularly careful at dawn and dusk and when driving either over a hill or around a curve, where visibility is limited. Use your high beams to give you a greater area of visibility and allow you to see the deer's eyes sooner.
* Deer whistles or ultrasonic deer avoidance systems attached to vehicles have never been proven to work by independent studies and may give drivers a false sense of security.
* Take deer crossing signs seriously, particularly those installed specifically for this time of year. Be particularly cautious in wooded and agricultural areas where there is little distance between the road and the woods.
A free brochure, Car + Deer = Damage, can be downloaded at their website: http://www.blogger.com/www.Response.com.
Response Insurance is a direct to the consumer auto insurer that regularly provides to the public news and information regarding driver safety and transportation issues. They issue safety tips, reports, analyses, and conduct original research as a public service.
Ray Palermo
Director of Public Relations & Communications
Response Insurance Group
500 South Broad Street
Meriden CT 06450
Tel: 203-634-7251
Fax: 203-634-7320
15. CONNECTIONAL LAY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Connectional Lay Organization’s 3rd Vice President, Johnny Tellis Jr., lost his father, Johnny Tellis Sr. on Friday, October 13, 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri.
Johnny Tellis Jr. can be reached at the family home:
3903 Delle Fontaine,
Kansas City, Missouri 64130,
Telephone: 816-521-0922.
Funeral Arrangements for Johnny Tellis Sr will be held on Wednesday October 18, 2006 at:
Mariah Walker AME Church
2704 Linwood St
Kansas City, Missouri 64128
816-861-7652
Visitation will be begin 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Funeral Service will begin at 10:30 AM
The funeral service has been entrusted to:
Park Lawn Funeral Home
8251 Hillcrest St
Kansas City, Missouri 64138
816-523-1234
Please keep Johnny Tellis and his family in prayer during this very difficult time.
Carl Davis
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the death of Rev. Donald Oliver, who went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, October 11, 2006. Rev. Oliver was an Itinerant Elder of the Chicago Annual Conference, Fourth Episcopal District, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Oliver worshipped at the Carey Temple AME Church, Chicago, IL.
Services for Rev. Donald Oliver are as follows:
Friday, October 20, 2006
All day viewing and visitation at the:
A. A. Rayner & Sons Modern Funeral Service
5911 W Madison
Chicago, IL 60644
Tel# 773-626-4222
Fax# 773-626-5223
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Visitation/Viewing 11 a.m. at the Church
12 Noon Funeral Service
King David Missionary Baptist Church
3322 W Gladys
Chicago, IL
Eulogist will be Rev. A. I. Dunlop, Pastor, Carey Temple AME Church
Officiating Rev. Melvin Brown, Pastor King David MB Church
Internment/Graveside will be at the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Roosevelt & Manheim Roads, Hillside, IL
A repast will be held at the King David Church for family and friends after the graveside service.
Condolences may be sent to the Oliver Family, care of Rev. Oliver’s sister:
Mrs. Barbara Weatherspoon
1335 North Mason
Chicago, IL 60651
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Regretfully announcing the passing of Sister Marie Davis, (Life Member of the Women's Missionary Society of the AMEC) widow of the late Rev. Willie L. (W. L.) Davis who pastored for many years in the North Texas and Northwest Texas Annual Conferences.
Sister Marie Davis went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, October, 14, 2006. She was a member of St. Luke A.M.E. Church-Garland, Texas.
Service arrangements for Sister Marie Davis:
Viewing
Saturday, October 21, 2006
9:45 A.M.-10:45 A.M.,
Homegoing Celebration
11:00 A.M. St. Luke A.M.E. Church
The Rev. Charles E. Franklin-Pastor
521 W. Avenue E
Garland, Texas 75040
Ph: (972) 487-9703
Sister Marie Davis' final earthly care has been entrusted to:
Thomas & Son Funeral Home
114 E. 1st North Street
Kaufman, Texas 75142-1206
Ph: (972) 932-2318
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Mattie F. Thrower (Niece)
712 Maple Glen
Garland, Texas 75043
h: (972) 240-1769
or
Mrs. Charrise H. Gaiter (Foster Daughter-Cousin)
3309 Forest Creek Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76123
Ph: (817) 423-9773
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are sad to announce the home going of Mrs. Willie Mae Lee on October 15, 2006. Mrs. Lee is the sister of Mrs. Shirley Love Smith (Spouse of Pastor Hector Smith of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Stuart, FL.).
Service Arrangements for Mrs. Willie Mae Lee:
Saturday, October 21, 2006
10:00 A.M.
St. Stephens A.M.E. Church
3400 N.W. 215th Street
Miami Gardens, Florida 33056
The Rev. Charles L. Scott, Pastor
Condolence may be sent to:
The family of Mrs. Willie Mae Lee
c/o Royal Funeral Home
17475 27th Avenue
Miami Gardens, Florida 33056
Phone: (305) 625-6818
Fax: (305) 625-1002
OR
Mrs. Shirley L. Smith3530 NW 208th TerraceMiami Gardens, Florida 33056Phone: (305) 627-6403
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Sister Elizabeth V. Williams, the mother of Rev. C. Carlton Woodward, pastor of St. Stephen Community AMEC in Harlem, New York (New York Conference, Manhattan District). Sister Williams passed away on Monday, October 16th. The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Wake, Sunday, October 22, 2006
3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Funeral Service – Monday, October 23, 2006
Service – 11:00 a.m.
St. James AMEC
588 M. L. King Blvd.
Newark, NJ 07102
Rev. William D. Watley, Pastor
Phone: 973-622-1344
Fax: 973-622-6912
Condolences may be sent to:
Rev. C. Carlton Woodward and family
16 Brennan Street
Huntington, NY 11743
or
Faxed to St. James AMEC
See above information
20. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Henry Jefferson, retired minister in the Virginia Annual Conference, and father of the Rev. Andre' P. Jefferson, pastor of Bethel AMEC in Hampton, Virginia. Reverend Jefferson passed away on October 19th. The funeral arrangements are incomplete.
21. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
The Clergy Family Information Center
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator
Email: Amespouses1@aol.com
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936
Fax: (615) 833-3781
Cell: (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.
