11/08/2007

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (11/8/07)

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. EDITORIAL: IRS AND SOME LEGISLATORS ARE SCRUTINIZING CHURCH FINANCES:

Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III

I sat in the School of the Prophets workshop of the Tennessee Annual Conference on November 6, 2007. The Right Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie is the presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal District and Mr. Stan McKenzie is the Episcopal Supervisor.

The workshop presenters, Mr. Marcus Henderson, President/CEO of Henderson Financial Group, Inc. and Mr. Clint Story, President of the Citizens Bank, cautioned the clergy who were attending the workshop to be vigilant and accurate in filing their federal and state income taxes; and insuring detailed accurate record-keeping for their local churches.

Mr. Henderson and Mr. Story went on to say that the IRS is scrutinizing churches and looking for reasons to withdraw tax-exempt status and to determine if clergy members are paying taxes on all of their incomes. They explained that the IRS has a special oversight department that looks at churches and ministers’ income tax records; they are scrutinizing them thoroughly.

They also spoke about the importance of churches providing their pastors W-2 forms and went on to explain that income from all sources, cash and checks, should be reported when filing federal and state income taxes. They also explained that local churches should give 1099’s for any services rendered to the local church, i.e., to speakers at afternoon worship services, compensation for organists, pianists, janitors, etc.

On the same day as the workshop; as soon as I got home, I read a news article that affirmed Mr. Henderson and Mr. Story’s comments. Several newspapers reported that Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct. The article went on to say that a Senate panel was investigating Eddie Long, Benny Hinn, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar and Kenneth Copeland and that letters were sent to them demanding financial statements and records be turned over to the committee by Dec. 6, 2007. Senator Grassley’s investigation is trying to determine whether or not those ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield exorbitant lifestyles.

Based upon Mr. Henderson and Mr. Story’s presentation, the investigation and scrutiny of small and large churches and their pastors will be increased, so it is imperative that our pastors and churches maintain the highest ethical practices in filing state and federal income taxes and that churches keep accurate records and provide their pastors with W-2 Forms and other documents related to clergy and other persons who provide contractual services to local AME Churches.

Their advice: report all income, even the $50 cash love offering.

2. THE RIGHT REV. ROBERT WEBSTER INSPECTS DAMAGE AT ST. PAUL AME CHURCH:

Bishop Robert Vaughn Webster, presiding bishop of the Third Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, toured St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 1250 South Hawkins in Akron, Ohio recently to survey the results of a police cruiser crashing into the church building.

The church sustained extensive damage Friday, October 12, approximately 3:40 pm when Akron police officers swerved to avoid a motorist while on a high speed chase. The two officers involved in the crash, Brian French and Richard Kuznick, suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital.

According to the Rev. Bruce L. Butcher, senior minister at St. Paul Church, there has been no communication from the city in regard to the crash. “You would think the mayor or one of his representatives would at least call to see if the members of St. Paul, many who are also voters, were okay.” St. Paul Church, in addition to being used daily by its congregants, was also used as a meeting place by the local chapter of the N.A.A.C.P., the Coalition for a Safe Community, the Stork Nest Project, and other community groups before this incident.

Bishop Webster, accompanied by the Reverend P. Robert Tate, Presiding Elder of the Youngstown District, his wife, Mrs. Geraldine Tate, and the Reverend Stephen Jackson, pastor of St. Andrew’s AME Church, Youngstown, Ohio inspected the damage at the church. Bishop Webster made no comment to the press concerning the damage to the building.

The congregation is currently worshipping in space donated by J. E. Scott Funeral Home, 1158 South Arlington St. The church is still evaluating the extent of the damage to the building and the cost for repairs. Pastor Butcher states, “St. Paul Church has served the community for one-hundred years come next year and, with Gods’ help, we intend to be around another one-hundred years.”
Bruce Butcher

3. REVEREND RONALD E BRAXTON, PASTOR, METROPOLITAN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH CELEBRATES 40 YEARS IN MINISTRY:

“There was in me a vision, a dream, a hope of making my life count for something. I offered my life to God, and looking back over the years, one can see a living breathing, walking miracle. Some would say, ‘who would have thought?’ I say with God all things are possible.”

The Reverend Ronald E. Braxton, senior pastor of the historic Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church, considered the Cathedral of African Methodism, and a candidate for the Episcopal office of Bishop, celebrates 40 years in Ministry.

At Metropolitan, Reverend Braxton has expanded the Church’s historic tradition of community outreach

- As a communal Partner with N Street Village, a transitional housing facility for low income and homeless women;

- Through the establishment of the Daniel A. Payne Reclamation Program which helps ex-offenders return to the community as productive citizens

- As host of the Campaign to end HIV/AIDS

- Galvanized the Church in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and led the Church and community to provide over a quarter of a million dollars in resources to Hurricane Katrina Victims.

Born in Norfolk Virginia, Rev. Braxton received an Associate of Arts Degree in 1968 from Kittrell College, a small college in North Carolina founded in 1886 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Later he graduated from Wilberforce and Boston Universities. Rev. Braxton anticipates receiving a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2008.

Ordained an Itinerant Deacon while a student at Wilberforce and at Boston University was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the Virginia Conference. In 1972, Rev. Braxton became pastor of his first church, Bethel AME Church, in Lynn, Massachusetts. He is married to the Rev. Dr. Marie Phillips Braxton and the father of two adult children, Shannon and Derek. Rev. Braxton is available for interviews.

Submitted by Guy D. Charity
Metropolitan AME Church
Washington, D.C. 20005

4. NEWS FROM THE NINTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:

*Licentiate Kelvin J. Anthony

After completing the six series of Annual Conferences, Bishop T. Larry Kirkland called the Planning Meeting of the Ninth Episcopal District to order. It was held on November 2-3, 2007 at St. John A.M.E. Church where the Reverend James Arnell is the pastor and also the candidate for Bishop 2008. We began the planning with great singing and preaching. The preachers who preached were Reverend Bobby Cox, Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, and Bishop John Hurst Adams.

After the sermon by Bishop John Hurst Adams, "Our Covenant is Comprehensible!" Bishop Kirkland read the appointments and history was made as the Bishop appointed the first female as a presiding elder in the 9th Episcopal District. The First Female is none other than the Reverend Dr. Letisha Watford. She is now the Presiding Elder of the Camden-Prattville District. Our Planning Meeting was packed with an enormous crowd, and we were blessed to have Retired General Officer Carl F. Hunter with us, Candidate for Bishop John White with us, and various visiting clergy.

We thank God for the leadership of Bishop Kirkland and we pray that he will come back to the state of Alabama to lead us to the 21st Century and beyond.

*Brother Kelvin J. Anthony is a Licentiate at Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church in Bessemer, Alabama

5. WE NEED TO TACKLE RACE ISSUE HEAD-ON:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
Friday, November 2, 2007

As a long-time NAACP member and officer, I'm accustomed to accusations that the NAACP plays the "race card." When I receive letters with no signatures or return addresses making that accusation, I throw them away after scanning them for threats, which I pass on to law enforcement. I choose not to tolerate the raving of those too fearful or too cowardly to identify themselves, who decry the "race card" but actually hold it, deal it from the deck and cry "foul" if anyone responds.

I do, however, respond to signed letters with return addresses, and have made a few friends in doing so. We don't always agree, but we often learn to respect each other's opinions. The opportunity to discuss ideas and issues usually benefits those on either end of the discussion.

I mention that because there are far too many cowards in our community who only express their bigotry in like-minded company or by anonymous means. Those who doubt that should listen to a little "talk radio," which often encourages anonymous listeners to go on racist rants and blame others for their own insecurities and shortcomings.

Ample evidence can also be found in the online version of The Post and Courier, which provides for anonymous reader comments. Many of those comments on issues of race are rude, profane and incredibly irrational. What amazes and amuses me is that some of those anonymous racial commentators respond not only to stories with racial implications, but also manage to find racial implications in stories on subjects ranging from tax increases to health care to dog shows!

Those who cover their racism in the cloak of anonymity make it plain that the issue of race still lives and still hinders the well-being of our community. Many elections are driven not by concrete issues, but by well-crafted efforts to arouse voters' fears of those who are not white, by evangelical protestant Christian, heterosexual practitioners of what passes for "conservatism" these days. Many actions that impact public education are fueled by the fear that white children might have to attend schools that are predominately nonwhite. Decisions in areas ranging from employment to law enforcement to mortgage approval are often colored by the racial perceptions of decision makers.

My personal belief is that although bigotry is as old as time and crosses cultural boundaries; it's particularly pernicious in America. In the days when our nation's white elite class often owned slaves, there was a need to prevent poor white citizens from finding a common interest with the slaves and a need to justify why "good Christians" could "own" other people. What better way than to instill in the poor white class the enduring fear that the slaves were not only different, but were less than human, totally immoral and downright dangerous to their well being, and to call the evil of slavery a benign attempt to teach "savages" religion and morality? That antebellum means of social control still lives in many hearts and minds and still subtly, but deliberately, drives much of what happens in our community, state and nation.

If we are to make progress as a community, then we need to tackle the issue of race head-on. Those in the political, faith, education, media and business communities should be aggressive in creating cross-cultural dialogue that leads to new understanding and makes either overt or anonymous racism unacceptable, and that dialogue should include more than predictably familiar faces.
That dialogue should include those who erroneously and ignorantly see crime and immorality as "black" problems and not as a "people" problem. That dialogue should include not only those who face up to our sad racial past, but also those who celebrate it as glorious. That dialogue should include black folk who publicly smile at and agree with white folk that they later quietly curse, and white folk who are genuinely afraid of black folk and are outraged when black folk don't agree with them or follow their directions. That dialogue should not be an end in itself, but should lead to the implementation of new and aggressive strategies that bring true equity and diversity.

When our community has that kind of dialogue on an ongoing basis that leads to concrete action, then we can come together, grow and prosper, and make organizations like the NAACP obsolete. Until that happens, there's still a need for organizations like the NAACP to pick up the "race card" that's often arrogantly laid at the feet of the black community by new faces with old Klan mindsets, throw it back in their faces and work to assure that all citizens have a clear and unhindered chance to achieve what the Pledge of Allegiance calls "liberty and justice for all."

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, SC and serves as the first vice-president of the Charleston Branch NAACP.

Reprinted with the permission of The Charleston Post and
Courier

5. THE CAMPBELL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF MEDIA, PA CELEBRATED ITS 180TH ANNIVERSARY:

The Campbell African Methodist Episcopal Church of Media, PA celebrated its 180th Anniversary during the month of October 2007; we are proud of this milestone. According to records, Campbell is the oldest church of any denomination still in existence in Delaware County of Pennsylvania. As this establishes Campbell AME as a Pennsylvania and African Methodist historic treasure, to mark this great milestone, our church planned a series of events to be held in the month of October

Guided by the spirit, we have selected as our theme for this celebration “Campbell – Grounded in the Past, Rooted in the Present and Moving toward the Future”. Inspired by Psalms 1 verse 3

“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season: his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” Almighty God has truly favored and prospered us over the generations.

Special events and worship opportunities were held throughout the month of October.

The 180th Anniversary celebration culminated on Sunday October 28, 2007 with Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, Prelate of the First Episcopal District, preaching at the 11:00 AM worship service for Campbell’s Family and Friends Home Coming Day. His sermon topic was “Why are you here?” The sprit was high during the worship experience. Dinner was served after the service

Varma R. Mitchell, Chairperson
Rev. Lanxton Washington, MDIV, Pastor
180th Anniversary Committee

6. FINDING A NEW WAY IN A NEW AGE:

By George R. La Sure, D.Min.

When the kernels of freedom started crackling in the crucible of racial inequity and hate, the late Reverend Richard Allen, by the mercies of God, had a mind to stand up and step out, unflinchingly, into the light of a brand new day. When life appeared to be at its lowest and darkest point, the brilliant light of freedom burst forth and a new and invigorated zeal to serve the Creator was born in free Africans who embraced the basic tenets of Methodism in their continuing quest to be free.

From the point of our heralded and oft’ chronicled and embellished beginnings, the African Methodist Episcopal Church has risen to the point of having an established presence throughout the United States, Africa, the Caribbean and South America and London, England as an entity that not only embraces the fullness of God but, also kindles a fire and a zeal for freedom. Some 218 years from the Saint George’s walkout until now the AMEC has accomplished a great deal of good in the lives of men and women who have struggled and prayed for a better day, for themselves and, their children. From its very beginning, the AMEC has embraced education as the means for future progress for its people.

From the point of beginning, the strength and back bone of the AMEC has been the rural and small membership church which has been established in just about every community where Black folk live. In numerous instances it has represented the only place where we could go and grow and wax strong in our relationship with God. Much of the progress noted by Blacks in numerous small and larger communities can be traced to the nuggets of freedom gleaned from their spiritual nurture in the AMEC.

Historically, though the rural and small membership church has represented much of the spiritual backbone of the AMEC, it has not yet gained full access to the political and ecclesiastical power structure of the connectional church. Continuing on a historical note, many churches with memberships of 500 or more have been established in large urban centers which are shepherded by pastors who have demonstrated an undying commitment to make significant and lasting contributions to the total fabric of the AMEC.

In recent years we have experienced outstanding church growth in many of our large urban centers. By today’s standard of church measurement, we now embrace what has come to be known as the “mega church”. The “mega church” consists of large memberships with a strong financial base to fund key and significant ministries that benefit the parishioners and the surrounding communities. So it is that the present day AMEC denomination consists of three types of churches: the rural and small membership church, the large church (500+ members) and, the “mega church” (1,500+ members). The differences between the three are vast and numerous, from worship style to levels of ministry, to types and styles of pastoral care and counseling, to types of available equipment and levels of education, to size and conditions of physical facilities, to the level of financial resources on hand, to various levels of expenditure for necessary budgetary items.

In the midst of all of the critical issues that face the rural and small membership church, there is an on-going need to provide the very best information and Christian Education instruction possible. This activity will do much to upgrade the congregation’s awareness of its history, doctrine and discipline and, current workings of the AMEC. Local congregants, many times, have difficulty embracing the total concept of a connectional church when, in numerous instances, congregants have not had active participation in the connectional process (i.e. Church School Convention, District Conference, Annual Conference, General Conference, WMS, YPD, Lay Organization, Sons of Allen, etc.). One writer has said “when they know better, they do better”.

No matter the size or the type of church, there is an ever-present need for Christian Education activity to go forth. No matter the size or the type of church, there is a continuing mandate to provide for the membership, particularly its officers and leaders, a better understanding of the historical background, the structure, the organization and the doctrine and discipline of the AMEC. It has been too often the case that this level of instruction and awareness has fallen by the wayside.

When persons join the AMEC they are charged, before a praying congregation, to strictly adhere to the Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. They agree to do so and, often this represents a formalized procedure that has very little substantive follow-up. Very often we allow new members to “escape” the essential elements for becoming a strong and purposeful AMEC member. Many times we, Pastors and Laity, miss the opportunity to mold and shape new members in the way that we should.

Pursuant to this goal, more in the way of formalized instruction with a pre-determined end result should be provided on a mandatory basis to new members before they are welcomed into full fellowship. In order to meet this goal, additional formalized training in matters relating to the Doctrine and Discipline of the AMEC must be provided to Pastors and Laity. A better informed clergy will contribute a great deal toward increasing the requirement for a higher level of training in the local church. To a great extent, the Pastor leads the way.

Christian Education serves a much higher purpose than providing the essentials for becoming an effective AME via new member training. Christian Education, properly administered and applied, serves as a great deterrent to church conflict. Very often, the real source for church conflict in the local church is the lack of proper information and instruction relating to the roles and responsibilities of persons who serve in key positions of the church.

Some years ago, as I was appointed as the pastor of a thriving church in North Georgia, the “Chairman” of the Trustee Board invited me to attend my first meeting of the Trustee Board. When I arrived for the meeting, I was informed by the “Chairman” that we would wait for a few minutes until we had enough Trustee Board members to constitute a “quorum”. A few minutes passed by and the “Chairman” informed me that we could go ahead with the meeting. The “Chairman” introduced me to the members of the Trustee Board and asked me if I might have some remarks to make. As I greeted the Trustee Board and offered thanks for a very nice introduction by the “Chairman”, I proceeded to offer bits and pieces relating to the organizational structure of the local church. In so doing, I was able to point out that the Pastor serves as the Chairman of the Steward and Trustee Boards and, that he also serves as the Ex-Officio Chairman of all Boards and Auxiliaries. I further informed the Trustee Board that the “Chairman” was, in fact, my Chairman Pro Tempore who would be empowered to act in my stead, if authorized to do so. I made a special effort to be caring and, not hostile in pointing out the appropriateness of standards outlined by the Doctrine and Discipline of the AMEC. During this meeting, it became very clear to me that the “Chairman” and others on the Trustee Board had very little understanding about their roles as outlined in the Discipline.

The point to be made is that appropriate exposure to on-going AMEC Christian Education goes a very long way toward minimizing the potential for conflict in the local church. Much of church conflict stems from erroneous impressions and expectations based on flawed information. Christian Education, properly applied, becomes the essential back bone of the church. The Bible and Christian Education provide the Why and the How of our faith.

In this New Age we must find a New Way to impact the essential truths of our faith. In this New Age we must find a New Way to impact a new word relating to our background, our mission and our purpose. In this New Age we must find a New Way to worship God in spirit and in truth as an informed people. This New Day in this New Age is anchored in Christian Education.

7. THE AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY, EMANCIPATION REVELATION REVOLUTION, PRODUCED, DIRECTED AND EDITED BY NINA MAY, TO BE SHOWN AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY:

Howard University is hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary, Emancipation Revelation Revolution, about the history of the Civil Rights’ movement and the role that both parties have played. The panel discussion to be held after the screening, will discuss the information in the film that is not being taught in schools today, and the impact revisionism is having on the black community. This controversial, yet timely film is causing revolutionary changes in lives and communities around the country. The invitation and panelists are included below.

You are invited to attend a screening of the award-winning documentary, Emancipation Revelation Revolution, produced, directed and edited by Nina May on Monday, Nov. 12, 2007 at Howard University.

The 90-min film will be shown in the College of Medicine Auditorium, Building no. 45, 520 W. St., N.W., Washington, D.C.

Movie will begin promptly at 6:45 and the panel discussion will begin at 8:15

Panelists:

Dr. Alveda King
Mayor Marion Barry
Bishop Harry Jackson
Dr. Wilmer Leon
Niger Innis
Dr. Clarence LuSane

The College of Medicine Auditorium is located in the original site of Freedman’s Hospital which was built in 1862 as the first African American hospital in the U.S.

Please RSVP to Kelly Alexander at kellyalexander43@GMail.com or 703-595-0112. For more information about the film, go to www.ERRVideo.com. (This is a Renaissance Women Production.)


If you would like to interview the Director/Producer, Nina May, please call 910-270-8966

8. BISHOP JOHN BRYANT WILL BE PREACHING AT ST. LUKE, NYC:

Unity Pre-Revival Prayer Breakfast will be held at St. Luke AME Church on Saturday, December 1, 2007 – 8:00 a.m. at 1872 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10031 where the Reverend Melvin E. Wilson is the pastor. A $10.00 donation suggested

The breakfast preacher will be the Reverend Darnell Montgomery, pastor of Metropolitan AME Church, Harlem USA

The Revival will be held on Monday through Wednesday, December 3rd – December 5th, 2007 with the Right Rev. John Bryant, Presiding Bishop, 5th Episcopal District as the Revivalist

For Pre-Revival Prayer Breakfast tickets please contact St. James/St. Philip AME Church at 212 369-2020 or 718 474-5320, St. John at 212, Metropolitan AME Church.

9. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

With sorrow we announce the passing of Dr. Verree Twiggs Stormes, mother of the Reverend Lawrence Twiggs, pastor of Allen Temple AME Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee and former presiding elder of the East Tennessee Annual Conference, 13th Episcopal District. Dr. Verree Twiggs Stormes was a retired professor from the Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida.

Service arrangements for Dr. Verree Twiggs Stormes:
Funeral:

Friday, November 9, 2007
11:00 a.m.
St. Stephen AME Church
913 West 5th Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209

Phone: (904) 358-2399

The Reverend Michael L. Mitchell, Pastor

Professional services are entrusted to:
Wendell P. Holmes Funeral Director
2719 West Edgewood Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32209
Phone: (904) 765-1641
Fax: (904) 765-9579

Contact phone numbers for Reverend and Mrs. Twiggs:
904-924-7070 (Phone)
423-903-5849 (Cell)

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Reverend and Mrs. Lawrence Twiggs & Family
P.O. Box 250
Hixson, TN 37343

Email: Verreegood@comcast.net

10. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

With sorrow we announce the passing of Mr. Charles L. Baker, husband of The Reverend Jacki Baker, minister at Reid Temple AME Church - Glen Dale, Maryland.

The funeral has been held

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Reverend Jacki Baker
3811 31st Street
Mt. Rainer, Md. 20712

11. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

With sorrow we announce the passing of The Reverend Bertha Tanzemore, sister of The Reverend Pearl Geter, Pastor of Allen Union Bethel AME Church - Denton, Maryland and The Reverend Doretha Gilliam, minister at Bethel AME Church- Baltimore, MD.

The funeral has been held.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Reverend Pearl Geter
2016 Brunt Street
Baltimore, MD 21217

12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

It is with regret that we share news of the passing of Rev. Ozell Von Stephens, husband of Mrs. Carl Stephens.

Service arrangements for Rev. Ozell Von Stephens:

Visitation at the Mortuary:
Friday, November 9, 2007
Chandler's Funeral Chapel
1425 Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Way
Sarasota, FL 34234
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Viewing prior to Funeral Service
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Payne Chapel AME Church
1910 Central Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: (941) 953-3291
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Funeral Service
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Payne Chapel AME Church
1910 Central Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: (941) 953-3291
11:00 a.m.

Send condolences and expressions of sympathy to:
Mrs. Carl Stephens address
3228 Goodrich Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34234

Services entrusted to:
Chandler's Funeral Chapel
1425 Dr. M. L. King, Jr. Way
Sarasota, FL 34234
Phone: (941) 355-3125 F: (941) 355-3130

13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

It is with regret that we share news of the passing of Mrs. Elrea Gibbs, wife of the Rev. James Gibbs, pastor of Snow Hill AME in Malone, Florida.

Service arrangements for Mrs. Elrea Gibbs:

Visitation at the Mortuary
Friday, November 9, 2007
Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc.
551 W Carolina St
Tallahassee, FL 32301
All Day
Phone: (850) 224-2139

Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. Memorial Service and Wake
Friday, November 9, 2007
Flipper AME Chapel
708 W Osceola St
Tallahassee, FL 32310
4:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
Phone: (850) 576-2343
FAX: (850) 576-2348

Viewing prior to Funeral Service
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Bethel AME -Tallahassee
501 W Orange Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32310
12:00 p.m.- 12:55 p.m.
Phone: (850) 576-7501
FAX: (850) 224-2064

Funeral Service
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Bethel AME -Tallahassee
501 W Orange Ave.
Tallahassee, FL 32310
1:00 p.m.
Phone: (850) 576-7501
FAX: (850) 224-2064

Services entrusted to:
Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc.
551 W Carolina St.
Tallahassee, FL 32301
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Phone: (850) 224-2139

Send condolences and expressions of sympathy to:
Rev. James Gibbs and family
602 Snellings Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32305

14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:

The Clergy Family Information Center
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action

Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
E-mail: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936
Fax: (615) 833-3781
Cell: (615) 403-7751

15. 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.