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: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER IS USING TECHNOLOGY TO TAKE EVANGELISM TO THE NEXT LEVEL:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
Yesterday, I sent a video-clip of Mount Herman AME Church in Ft. Lauderdale where I preached for Founder’s Day. Dr. John White is the pastor. I made a video-clip after the worship service, using a relatively low cost, high-tech, user-friendly video recorder. The outdoor quality is diminished by noise distraction. I plan to videotape an indoor event to evaluate its quality. If we feel that the indoor quality, because I am going to share the test video with all of the subscribers, is up to standard, then I believe that the video-camera would be an ideal low-cost method for videotaping worship services. It’s a new product that I read about in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.
The Christian Recorder is attempting to carry the African Methodist Episcopal church to the next level as it relates to technology as a vehicle for evangelism. We are not doing nearly enough and we have not “scratched the surface” in the use of technology as tool for evangelism.
The Mount Herman video-clip went out to subscribers of The Christian Recorder, so those who directly access The Christian Recorder Online did not receive the video-clip. Those who are formally subscribed to The Christian Recorder receive news breaks and up-to-date news releases.
I am trying to learn the "ins and outs" of podcasting and how to send video-clips; this is an "on-the-job" learning experience.
I reiterate my belief that AME Churches need to use media resources as tools for evangelism and I want to share how to do that by learning myself; and learning from some of the pastors and laity who already have the skills for this aspect of ministry. Let me say, that I thank those of you who have offered advice and techniques for podcasting; I know far more today than I did yesterday.
Please bear with me as we take this "first leap" into this aspect of The Christian Recorder ministry. Hopefully, the technology, or my handling of it, will get better and take on a more professional presentation.
I welcome your comments/suggestions/recommendations.
Several reminders to those who wish to submit an article to The Christian Recorder, the first and foremost is that only electronic submissions of articles will be accepted; we will not accept hard-copy submissions of articles. Technology is here to stay; it’s not going away and we need to embrace it.
Submitted articles should contain a strong lead, an article-body that develops and delivers on the lead, and a definitive conclusion with an international audience in mind. Articles should address who, what, when, where, and how. Writers are discouraged from using acronyms and figures of speech that do not translate efficiently into foreign languages and other cultures. Examples like “GMKT” and phrases like, “Bring home the bacon”,” …just pulling your leg” or “That’s mixing apples and oranges” should be avoided.
- Check the submitted article carefully and get the article right the first time! If you have to correct an article, resend the entire corrected article.
- Only electronic submissions are accepted. Articles should be in IBM-compatible Microsoft Word format, 12 pt., Times New Roman, Verdana, Arial, Courier, etc., and sent as an email attachment. The email address for submissions is chsydnor@bellsouth.net
- All articles must have the name of the author(s) as a part of the article. Please provide the author’s title, i.e., Mr., Mrs., Ms (Ms without the period; it is not an abbreviation), Dr., Rev., Attorney, Licentiate, Lic., Deaconess, Chaplain, etc.
- Articles submitted to The Christian Recorder should not be submitted simultaneously to another publication, nor be under consideration by other publisher at the time of submission.
- If the article is a reprint, written reprint permission must accompany the article.
- Please, no “cut and paste” or copied articles from other sources; we do not want plagiarized articles!
- Do not abbreviate brother or sister; spell them out.
- Upper and lower case text. No all-upper-case or all-lower-case-texts. No bolding or underlining.
- Single-spaced
- No automatic formatting
- Spell-check and use standard grammar
- Make sure that all names are spelled correctly.
- No hard-copy or handwritten articles
- All articles must be accompanied by telephone phone number and a valid email address, and church affiliation.
- Members of the AME Church will take precedence over non-AMEs.
- All articles for publication will be screened, proofed and edited.
- Unused articles and photos will not be returned.
- Photos have to be in PDF, jpeg, tif or a similar photo format; or hard-copy format; not in Word format or part of a text format. Color photos are $35 each for the color separation fee. Let me know how many photos you want in the article.
2. DR. GEORGE FLOWERS WILL BE TOURING THE TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY STORM- DAMAGED AREAS:
Dr. George Flowers will be touring Tennessee and Kentucky with a team from Church World Service to assess the damages of the storm and to offer assistance to the victims.
Dr. Flowers and the team from Church World Service will be in the areas for four days along with other organizations.
Dr. George F. Flowers
Department of Global Witness and Ministry
3. THE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS AND THE GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMISSION SUPPORT A CALL TO PRAYER ON SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 2008 AS A CONNECTIONAL DAY OF PRAYER:
Prayer Makes a Difference
Let Us Pray For:
• Our beloved “Connection” of General, Annual, P.E. District, and Church Conferences
• The Bishops, General Officers, Presiding Elders, Pastors, Clergy, and Lay youth and adult members as we prepare for the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference
• One another as we seek to live ‘saved’ lives at home, at work, in the community and everywhere
• Salvation in our suffering world’s human and spiritual conditions
Nature of the Prayer Call:
- Sunday, April 13th—Prayer Worship Service(s) or Convocations
- Saturday, April 12th—Prayer meetings, vigils, retreats, walks and related prayer centered, salvation-centered, evangelical and therapeutic programs or activities
Ad Hoc Prayer Committee for the 48th Quadrennial General Conference Commission:
The Right Reverend Sarah F. Davis – Chairperson; Presiding Prelate, 18th Episcopal District
The Reverend Dorisalene Hughes – Coordinator; Prayer Leader, 5th Episcopal District
Exhorter Dr. T. Carlton Richardson – Assistant Coordinator; Prayer Leader, 2nd Episcopal District
For Prayer Support and Materials: PrayerAMEC2008@aol.com or telephone: 202-674-PRAY/202-674-7729
4. ST. PAUL AME CHURCH LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY WELCOMES NEW PASTOR AND FIRST FAMILY:
Historic St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lexington, Kentucky undergoes a spiritual transformation with the appointment of the dynamic ministerial team the Reverends Troy and Maxine Thomas from Philadelphia, PA.
It happened on Saturday, December 2, 2007 at Greater Bethel AME Church in Nashville during the closing of the 13th District Planning Meeting when to the surprise of some and delight of others the Right Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District appointed the Reverend Troy I. Thomas as pastor of Historic St. Paul Lexington.
The spiritual transformation began on Sunday, December 9, 2007 when Reverend Troy and his family, the Reverend Maxine, Tricia, and their daughters, Traci and Trina arrived at Historic St. Paul for the first time. He came in reviving, rejuvenating, and uplifting the congregation with his energizing manner of delivering the Word. As the members sat in awe of this great transformation taking place, they were compelled to get excited and proclaim that God is still in control and Jesus Christ is the King of our life.
Before his sermon Reverend Thomas announced that he loves to preach (and preach he does) and he told the congregation “If you don’t help me, I will preach all day.” His first sermon at St. Paul: “There’s a Blessing in Pressing.” Philippians 3:13-14; Forgetting those things behind and pressing forward – too many believers give up, throw in the towel, become negative. Life gets tough, we all go through some stuff, but you have to learn how to forget some stuff, the good is in front of you St. Paul. God wants us to understand this morning that there is a blessing in pressing.
We are at a new level of worship, praise, celebration and commitment, pressing our way through believing that healing, deliverance and financial restoration will come. Pastor Thomas implored us to see a brighter day ahead for St. Paul, to forget about yesterday and press on, the past is the past.
And so, it goes Sunday after Sunday such sermons as: Where Is Your Faith? Hebrews 11:5-6; by faith we believe, we receive, we take back; What a Night! Luke 2: 8-10, This might remind you of a night that was not so holy, but in the Christian church, one night stands out above all others – a night God had already preordained – one night when God spoke. Every night ends with a day of rising.
January 2008, the first Sunday of the New Year the St. Paul Church Family experienced first hand the realization of just what God has done, and is doing for us as a church when the dynamic duo delivered a dual sermon entitled, “Do Something about It,” taken from Nehemiah 2:17-18. We have too many excuses – too old, too young, can’t pray, too busy, etc. The preachers encouraged us to develop a Nehemiah spirit – when there is a problem, face it; God will give you the strength. See the need and rise to the occasion. Capture the vision and Do Something about It. “My God is Able,” from Jude 1: 20-25. God is beyond our everyday circumstances – believe that God is able. Jude brings us to the conclusion to commit to a God who is able to keep you from falling, not only physically, but from falling out of spiritual grace and keep our spirits from falling. No matter what is said: God is Able.
February 3, 2008 Reverend Maxine Thomas was appointed as assistant pastor of Historic St. Paul AME Church and delivered the morning message entitled, “God is not Through with Me Yet,” taken from Ephesians 2:10. Rev. Maxine said, “We are all a work in progress.”
Founder’s Day was celebrated on Sunday, February 10, 2007 with the congregation dressed in African attire and bright colors. The sermon for the celebration was “This is my Story,” taken from Acts 3: 6-10. The preacher focused upon the fact that all of us have struggled in some form or the other and all of us have a story to tell. Too often in the church we don’t know each other’s story. When God steps in our story gets changed, it is rewritten and new chapters are added. Whatever your story, it is just a foretaste of God’s love.
If asked to describe Pastor Thomas the response would be, he is an enthusiastic, energetic, press-forward, spiritual motivator. With the brief sermon excerpts listed, I can not begin to apprise you of the wonderful, motivating, uplifting, spiritually rewarding, soul-stirring, heart-changing sermons we have been blessed to hear, since the spiritual transformation began at Historic St. Paul; rarely do we see such energy, such enthusiasm, such excitement about the Word and understand the potential possibilities of the church.
I feel privileged to see the change in attitudes toward praising. I am blessed by the joyful spirits of the saints, hopeful about the increased attendance in worship services, Bible Study and prayerful spirit of the church.
I am thankful for Bishop McKenzie’s foresight to reach beyond the boundaries of Kentucky and Tennessee and infuse some “new blood,” with a fresh approach, a willingness to serve all people, and a return to what we once St. Paul Lexington. Truly we are experiencing the blessings and favor of God.
The Thomas’ are now native Lexingtonians; they reside at 1325 Copper Run Boulevard. On Sunday, March 9, 2009 we will celebrate this blessing of the Thomas Family with a “welcome to St. Paul and the Lexington Community program” and reception at 4:00 p.m. St. Paul AME Church extends a welcome to everyone to come and share with us in welcoming the Thomas family.
Doris J. Coffey, St. Paul AME Church
5. THE ALLEGHENY SCRANTON DISTRICT CELEBRATES FOUNDER’S DAY, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA:
The Allegheny Scranton District celebrated Founder’s Day on Sunday, February 10, 2008 at Calvary A.M.E. Church in Braddock, PA. The host pastor was the Reverend Lois Thomas.
Due to inclement weather, about a half hour before the service was to begin, the electricity in the church went out; but all in attendance shook Satan off our backs and the service began with candles being lit in the sanctuary. This was a surreal experience as to how Richard Allen and members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church worshiped back in the day when there was no electricity.
The ministry of music being provided by various choirs of the District; Wayman Chapel – New Brighton; Calvary - Braddock; and St. John – Bridgewater, the Holy Spirit was in the place. Feet were tapping and hands were clapping!
Reverend Dr. Eric L. Brown, Presiding Elder of the Allegheny Scranton District, introduced the Reverend P. Robert Tate, Presiding Elder of the North Ohio Conference, Youngstown District; the guest preacher for the occasion.
Presiding Elder Tate preached with power and conviction from the subject, "Servants Called to Make a Difference" taken from I Peter 4:10-11. He stated "that which we have already, hold fast until I come". The three things that everyone has are body, soul and spirit. With the body, we can't make a difference without God. God's church has many vessels which are planted but it takes water and cultivation for it to grow - God will give the increase. With the soul - God breathed life into you. With the spirit - we all can make a difference with God.
As we celebrate Founder's Day, Richard Allen was a servant who truly was called to make a difference!
Submitted by – Shelly Brown
Allegheny Scranton District Secretary
6. BISHOP WILLIAM PHILLIPS DEVEAUX TO PREACH AT CANDLER SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY:
Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, the presiding prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District (State of Georgia) of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church will preach at the 11:00 a.m. chapel service in William R. Cannon Chapel at Emory University in celebration of the A.M.E. Church Founder’s Day on Thursday, Feb. 21.
DeVeaux is recognized in the field of theological education for his achievements as the executive director of the Fund for Theological Education Inc. During his tenure, scholarships to Black, Hispanic and students of other ethnic backgrounds were granted to support their theological education.
DeVeaux attended Howard University where he was elected junior and senior class president and Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. While a student at Howard, he answered the call to ordained ministry. He later served in the United States Army as a chaplain.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, he earned a bachelor of sacred theology degree from Boston University as well as master's and doctorate degrees from Vanderbilt University. He has served on the faculties of Meharry Medical College, Princeton Theological Seminary and Howard University School of Divinity.
The event is sponsored by the A.M.E. Connection, a student organization at Candler that seeks to provide educational support, networking, spiritual well-being and a sense of community for students who are members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The AME Connection also seeks to provide a connecting link between local AME churches and students, and develop ways of working together ecumenically with other campus organizations. Some of the organization’s recent projects include: providing Thanksgiving Dinner for Alternate Life Paths Program Inc., a not-for-profit organization to assist "high-risk" and "at-risk" youths; and donating items to Big Bethel AME Clothing Bank.
7. CHAPLAIN BROWN ADDRESSES STUDENTS AT EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE:
On January 28th, Chaplain David R. Brown had the opportunity to address students at Edward Waters College regarding the unique ministry of the Navy Chaplain. Chaplain Brown, who is currently stationed in Atlanta, GA, serves as a chaplain program officer for Navy Recruiting Region East. Chaplain Brown was hosted by the Rev. D. Lovett Sconiers, JD, MDIV, who serves as the Director of Campus Ministry, Chaplain and professor of religion for the college.
The students from the Introduction to Biblical Studies were shown a video presentation about navy chaplains followed by a brief period of questions & answers. After the presentation, the students asked a range of questions about chaplain ministry as well as military pay and benefits, deployment, family life, and travel.
“I started out in ministry as the pastor of a local church”, Chaplain Brown said, “and I really enjoyed it. Then I was introduced to a Navy Chaplain recruiter, and it completely changed my life.” One student asked Chaplain Brown to name some of his favorite places he has visited around the world. “Tokyo, Rome and Antigua top the list,” he answered.
Chaplain Brown has been an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church for thirteen years and has been an active duty chaplain for twelve years. As a chaplain program recruiter, he is responsible for the following Navy recruiting districts: Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, New Orleans, Nashville, Ohio and Michigan.
8. WILL YOUNGER ADULTS UNDER 40 YEARS OLD BE ABLE TO FIND YOUR CHURCH:
*Lynette Hawkins
Will younger adults under 40 years old be able to find your church? I ask this question after visiting a church in Virginia a few weeks ago. I looked around and more than fifty percent of the congregation was under 40 years old. This was inspiring. When the pastor greeted guests, he asked how they found the church. Interestingly, several people mentioned the web. This was not surprising given the findings of the CyberFaith Report for Pew Internet & American Life Project that reveals more than 3 million people a day visit the Internet for religious and spiritual information. As I think about Lenten season and Easter Sunday, I can not help but wonder if the next generation of believers will find you this season?
Long are the days that young adults and young families think first to pull out a gigantic copy of the yellow pages to find the address of a church. Today, the first impulse may be to "Google" to see where the local churches are located. Recently, I spoke with a young man 26 years old who was just settling into a new community. He mentioned that he had visited a couple of churches. I asked how he found them and his answer was simply, "I surfed the web for churches and found several in my zip code." Another interesting point from a NC city's chamber of commerce web site's statistics revealed approximately 60,000 hits(visits) a month with about 7,000 of those hits viewing local churches' information. Again, these small revelations make me wonder, will young adults find your church this Easter?
Welcome to this issue of BMG Awesome Insight Newsletter. Whether you are trying to reach the "unchurched young adults" in the community or you want to hear "awesome" more, this issue shares a few tips to help reach out. As you know Easter is often a time when unchurched people decide to attend church. For some, that means looking to find a church to attend. The opportunity to renew our spirits and share our faith is here. Let's make every effort to grow in our own understanding so we can even more readily share our faith with those that may not know Christ.
As we embrace this season, it is my prayer that congregations continue to seek ways to reach the unchurched, share the Good News and make disciples. I urge you to share this issue of BMG Awesome Newsletter for Church Leaders with a colleague in ministry. Encourage them to sign up for the newsletter at www.awesomeinsight.com.
*Lynette Hawkins
info@awesomeinsight.com
BMG Awesome Insight Newsletter
A Church Leader's Guide to Communications
Editor's Note: The BMG Awesome Insight Newsletter is an outstanding resource; simply go to http://www.awesomeinsight.com/
9. “HOW MANY TREES WILL DIE FOR THE 48TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH”:
Although to date, African Methodism has not been at the forefront of the call for environmental justice; a thread of eco-spirituality runs vibrantly through our worship. In our doxology we sing——
“Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below.”
In our confession of faith we open with these words——
“I believe in God the Father Almighty
Maker of Heaven and Earth۰۰۰”
In our hymns, both ancient and modern, reverence for creation is extant:
“O Lord, my God
when I in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.”
Or
“I believe for every drop of rain that falls
a flower grows۰۰۰۰
Every time I hear a new born baby cry
Or touch a leaf or see the sky,
Then I know why I believe.”
Surely, we realize that the God of our redemption is also, Lord of all creation. Yet we too, like other Black denominations have sat in idle distraction as our home——planet earth——was being openly and violently ravaged. We are under prepared to face the consequences.
The waters, the air, the ecosystem, the forests —— all that was “good” in the beginning —— is now toxic, weak, vulnerable and endangered.
“Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.”
In his work, The Cosmic Circle — Jesus and Ecology, Edward P. Echlin writes:
“Thirsty Palestinian Arabs and African peasants struggle to survive on fewer than 30 litres of water per day. In Britain, people consume an estimated 135 litres a day. In Las Vegas, people consume an estimated 1500 litres a day. “ What about us? What about the African Methodist Episcopal Church? Will we be guilty of perpetuating the holocaust against the earth? Will indulgence, excess and waste be our global ecological witness at the 48th General conference in St Louis? Or will we as “stewards of the mercies of God” initiate policies, practices and liturgies for the renewal of the earth?
“The earth is the Lord’s
and the fullness thereof.
The world and they who dwell therein.”
(Psalm 24:1)
“They who dwell therein” includes the birds, the butterflies, the bees, as well as, all lions and tigers and alligators. To our shame, humanity is on a path that will render “the fullness” a wilderness. The Hour of Repentance has come. A radically fresh understanding of our relationship to planet earth can emerge from prayer, reflection and honest discussion both locally and connectionally. Psalm 8:6 says that
we have been “given dominion.” In humility, let us shape an ecological witness of grace and sustainability. Let us covenant in all things to acknowledge, preserve and protect the integrity of creation. Let us pass on to succeeding generations a legacy of Earth care and reverence that they will faithfully honor.
I would like to offer to those who will receive them, 12 steps to Ecological Compassion, as we worship and witness in this nuclear millennium. May the ancestors, in the “cloud of witnesses” who surround us in St Louis, rejoice and be glad!
(Proverbs 3:19-20), (Proverbs 8:22-32), (Isaiah 63:17-18; 21-22).
Bless Creation Daily (I Chronicles 29:10-13) (Psalm 145:6).
Pack with Simplicity (Jeremiah 29:7) (Matthew 6:26-29).
Recycle Daily (Matthew 16:19) (Galatians 5:25)
Conserve Water (Psalm 8:6) (Psalm 23:106) (Matthew 9:13)
Conserve Electricity (Ephesians 3:20) (II Corinthians 6:1-7).
No Smoking (Romans 12:1) (I Thess 1:5).
Use Recycled Paper (2 Chronicles 7:14) (Hebrews 9:14).
Walk (Genesis 17:10-2) (Isaiah 30:20-21).
Minimize use of cell phones, iPods, computers, televisions, radios (I Corinthians 4:20) (Revelation 7:15).
Minimize Credit Card Debt (Proverbs 10:4) (Hebrews 18:5).
Portion Control (prevents excess and waste) (Deut 8:3) (Matthew 6:16-18) (Romans 14:17).
Plant a tree, dig a well, provide seeds, and/or donate a generator!
At the close of the General Conference, give a personal financial gift to:
Rebuild New Orleans (8th District).
Development (Districts 14 – 20).
Bless the Dalits of India (5th District).
II Corinthians 8:1-9, 9:1-7
Colossians 3:8-17
Hebrews 13:16.
Whoever in the Redeeming Love of Jesus Christ lives a life of Ecological compassion will make heaven smile. You will evoke a new humanity, a more abundant posterity, a song of healing. The 48th General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is positioned to be God’s transforming presence in the world. We can exchange Sacrament for indulgence, simplicity for excess, humility for chaos, cleanliness for clutter and preservation for duplication as we struggle to restore the goodness of the planet. Let us make Kingdom use of all our time and all of our resources,
“Sing, O Heavens, for the Lord has done it;
shout, O depths of the earth,
break forth into singing,
O mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And will be glorified in Israel.”
(Isaiah 44: 23).
Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant
Episcopal Supervisor
Fifth Episcopal District
10. MY OPINION – A NEED FOR A FISCAL TRANSFORMATIONAL MOVEMENT:
The AME Church is no stronger in the broken places of Budget Development than it was in 1956. “Fo, and No Mo” became the rallying cry of a General Conference Delegation determined to eradicate a system plagued with “Special Appeals” after the budget had been adopted. This “Four Dollars and No More per Member Budget Formula” was a resounding repudiation of a flawed budget development system that provided gaping loopholes for Episcopal Leadership abuse.
In case you have not been paying attention, the fiscal system of the AME Church continues to be Undercapitalized, Poorly Subsidized, and Scarcely Scrutinized during a time of “National Economic Distress.” Tradition (“The AME Way”), which is the critical bulwark that has kept the church out of bankruptcy, is showing signs of cracking. Consequently, the system is perceived as a “bottomless pit” which fosters a spirit of no confidence at the local church level. Pastors, who are usually the “First Responders” to the onslaught of heated inquiries, are ill equipped to explain away our seriously flawed Budget process.
Our general constituency, battered by a sinking housing market, rising unemployment and a serious credit crunch, is demanding that any increase of the 2008/2012 budget be based, in large measure, upon a critical analysis of the present and prospective net impact of such an increase on the fiscal dynamics of the local congregation. Historically, we have closed each successive General Conference “sine die” with a seriously flawed budget document which: 1) significantly enhanced Administration and Support of the hierarchical structure; 2) gave lip service and a small bone to Higher Education, and 3) provided little more than a “process” for the assignment of pastors to the local church. We should be worried that all the problems weighing on the economy, and our own fiscal irresponsibility, could prompt our members to sharply limit, or even stop supporting the “Connectional Apparatus.”
Additionally, the budget development process is systemically shrouded in secrecy. The CFO, Council of Bishops, and the General Board’s Commission on Statistics and Finance, carry every proposed budget element close to the vest, much like the induction rites of a secret society. The process denies input or participation from the very stakeholders who are expected to enthusiastically endorse and support the final product. This cause and effect scenario sets in motion distrust and hostility, which manifests itself in counter-productive ways at the General Conference level, at the point of decision. Thus, we are forced to expend an inordinate amount of time, which impacts cost, debating and yelling about the efficacy of each line item proposal.
On page 45 of the 2004 “Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,” we are formally known as “The African Methodist Episcopal Church, Incorporated.” By definition the AME Church is the “Body Corporate.” Within that context, the Body Corporate has an inherent responsibility to its stakeholders to meet its mission objectives in the most efficient and effective matter possible, while maintaining a targeted level of fiduciary solvency and accountability.
In a Balance Sheet of a “Solvent” corporation, the Assets and Liabilities are always equal. The successful corporation, of course, owns more than it owes, and any excess of assets over the claims of creditors (known as dividends or profits) belong to the “owners” of the corporation. However, in the AME Church’s “Upside Down” corporate construct, the principal providers of the asset base (the local church), receives little more than a continuous bombardment of new or additional financial requirements (via Apportionment Sheets), which are directed toward financing the corpus, to feed the head…dividends expected, but none received.
Rural America has an expression: “If the Ox is in the ditch, someone has to get in the ditch and get him out, then, build a fence so that he does not venture in again.” At this junction of our history, we need leaders with uncommon common sense – people who know the church – who are true to their calling – who know that our fiscal crisis gives us an opportunity to become stronger in our broken places. This type of leader must have the confidence and courage to “Get the Ox out of the Ditch, and build a fence to keep him out!”
Regrettably, I have observed that candidates for “Episcopal Service” have offered nothing more than their oratorical prowess, which is easily dissipated from their airy lack of substance on matters of our fiscal broken places as a church. I have also observed that the AME Church’s Episcopal leadership lacks the inherent unity necessary to bring about the harmonic convergence required to direct the church toward a common remedy, and an appreciable level of fiscal responsibility. As a consequence, we continue to experience “fiduciary reform inertia” which, if not corrected will contribute to a radical falling away of support at the local church level.
Thus, my call for a “Fiscal Transformational Movement” to stop the deficit budget madness, which continues to be characterized by unfunded and under-funded economic trauma, along with exorbitant interest payments on loans from “other folks” financial institutions. The urgency of our predicament reminds me that: “Procrastination is the archenemy of crisis management. Sometimes a crisis becomes one simply because someone has failed to lead.” By definition, a crisis is a crucial or decisive point or situation, a turning point. Our budget dilemma is a turning point, a defining moment in the life of African Methodism when we have an opportunity to choose to lead.
Proposed Fiscal Transformational Remedies
1) Revision of the Budget Development Process to include a provision for Annual Conference Ratification of the proposed budget, at the site of each Annual Conference, after the election of delegates. This adjustment would lend transparency to the issues and offer an opportunity for “informed” expressions from the “Designated Payees” or Constituent Stakeholders. The need for Transparency and Accountability in the budget development process cannot be overstated.
2) Reduce travel and related funding, for the 2008/2012 Quadrennial, system-wide by 25%.
3) Restrict Departmental Seminars and Institutes to a Semi-Quadrennial format.
4) Study the “Economies of Scale” theory, and reconsider combining and/or dissolving departments and functions where critical factors of funding, staff, production, property and mission could result in the greatest profit. This planning application could lead to new, lower, minimum-cost combinations of critical factors.
5) Passage of a “Hold the Line” budget for the 2008/2012 Quadrennial, with the exceptions of a 4.3% CPI increase and a $500,000 set aside to fund the 2012 General Conference. This adjustment would provide sufficient time for the system to recover from the present Economic Recession. We must not ignore the reality that every local church is adversely affected by joblessness, mortgage defaults, higher energy and auto fuel costs, and higher food, clothing, and education costs.
6) Downsizing the “Administrative” burden doing the 2008/2012 Quadrennial by:
a) Not electing new Bishops at the St. Louis General Conference.
b) Utilizing the experience and availability of Retired Bishops to cover certain aspects of the work.
c) Organizing an “Intensive and Intentional” Redistricting Analysis, and preparing enabling legislation to accomplish the proposed redistricting by 2012.
d) Reducing General Conference travel and sustentation expenses of Episcopal Districts 14-20 from $1M to $500K.
e) Discontinue “Stipends” for participation on Connectional Boards, Commissions, and Committees. Pay only travel and sustentation as warranted.
7) Create the proposed “Reserve Development Fund” with a 7% set aside of the General Budget for two Quadrennials. Use 80% to fund succeeding General Budgets and 20% to recapitalize the fund.
Wrap Up
In 1912, the finest and safest vessel that has ever been built, the unsinkable “Titanic,” struck an iceberg and sank with nearly everyone on board. The staggering fact is not that the ship went down, but that she went down after fifteen hours of radio warnings, her engines at full speed, her band playing, her passengers dancing, and, apparently nobody caring a darn that there was ice ahead. That to me is the staggering reality about my beloved AME Church Ship of Zion –years of warnings of impending danger everywhere, engines of “same old – same old” at full speed propelling us, Episcopal bands playing, clergy and lay passengers dancing, and nobody caring a darn that we are no stronger in the fiscal broken places than we were in 1956.
Rev. Richard E. Tankerson, Pastor
Greater Ball Tabernacle AME Church
111 Dunaff Street
San Antonio, TX 78219
Email: rtankerson@satx.rr.com
210-481-1538 (Res.)
210-310-8425 (Cell)
11. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Funeral information for Mrs. Eunice Pettigrew, the mother of Mrs. C. Ann Thomas and the mother-in-law of the Rev. Dr. Mickarl D. Thomas, Sr., pastor of Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church in Chicago, IL.)
The funeral has been held
Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Mickarl D. Thomas, Sr.
Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church
4017 S. Drexel Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60653
773-285-5819
Email: grantmame@ameritech.net
12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We sadly announce the death of Mr. Edward P. Griffin of Youngstown, Oh. Mr. Griffin was the brother of the late Rev. Archie C. Griffin, Sr., former pastor and presiding elder in the East Tennessee Conference, and the uncle of Rev. Etta Griffin Garth - Retired from the West Kentucky Conference, Rev., Dr. V., Cora Griffin Stovall-Pastor of Mount View AME Church in Winchester, Tennessee, and Rev. Archie Griffin, Jr., - Pastor of Berry Chapel AME Church in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The funeral will be held on Friday, February 15, 2008 at Saint Andrews AME Church, Youngstown, Ohio at 11:00 a.m.
Family contacts:
Rev. Etta Griffin Garth
4410 Delashmitt Road
Apartment 15
Hixson, TN 37343
Rev. Dr. V. Cora Griffin Stovall
funnyeyez@hotmail.com
Rev. Archie C. Griffin, Jr.
gsandrajc@aol.com
Submitted by:
Rev. Dr. V. Cora Griffin Stovall
13. 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
14. 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
