Bishop Richard Franklin Norris - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. EDITORIAL: OUR BISHOPS AND GENERAL OFFICERS RESPOND TO ECONOMIC CRISIS BY MAKING SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL FINANCIAL SACRIFICES, AS OF 2008:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Several weeks ago, the United Methodist News Service and more recently the Associated Press exclaimed, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay.” The article also appeared in most major newspapers.
The article reported, “One of the nation's largest Christian denominations is addressing the nation's financial crisis with what it hopes will be a spiritual teaching moment as well as a cost-saver.”
The article went on to say that the 50 bishops would roll back their salaries by 4 percent next year as a “gesture of solidarity with others hurt by the global economic downturn” and went on to say, ‘The salary cut is one of the strongest statements taken yet by a faith group as U.S. churches respond to a recession that has left growing numbers of people jobless and hungry. Other denominations have eliminated jobs, frozen salaries or canceled mission trips.”
I know that a number of AMEs saw the news article because several persons forwarded the article that they had seen on various websites. In each case the article was forwarded to me without comment. No comment was needed because I think I know what each sender was thinking. I believe they were thinking, “Now why don’t our bishops take a cut in salary” or “all of the other denominations are sensitive to the economic downturn, but our Zion seems oblivious to the current economic situation."
The article about the 50 bishops taking pay cuts next year also reported that two United Methodist Boards had cut more than 90 jobs. The article closed with saying that the United Methodists bishops’ salaries will fall back about $4,700 annually to their 2008 level, $120,942, on Jan. 1 from $125,658 currently. (See The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008, page 659 to view the salaries of AME Bishops).
Appended at the end of the article were cuts other denominations have made; the Evangelical Lutherans have cut executive salaries, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has frozen salaries, the Southern Baptists had suspended some overseas missions, the Episcopal Church’s headquarters staff offered to take pay cuts, but the executives rejected the offer because “they didn't want to balance the budget on the backs of staff.” Don’t you just like those Episcopal Church executives!
And so, if one read the article, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay” the thought might be, “How has the AME Church responded?” or “Why haven’t our bishops taken a pay cut?”
If the news media had called Dr. Clement Fugh, the General Secretary and the AME Church’s Chief Information Officer or Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the President of the Council of Bishops, they would have discovered that the African Methodist Episcopal Church did indeed take drastic steps to address the current economic environment.
Dr. Daryl Ingram, the Executive Director of the Christian Education Department explained it best. He wrote, “I applaud the action of the UM Bishops regarding that (remove) their pay reduction of roughly $5,000 per bishop resulting in $125,000 savings per annum. However, the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference that was held in St. Louis, Missouri in 2008 froze personnel costs at the 2008 levels. The AME Bishops receive $63,000 annually for this quadrennium and that is roughly 53% of the reduced salary of the UM bishops. Our executive leadership to include General Officers are sacrificing with our congregants in a similar way as the UM leadership. In addition, our episcopal leadership does not receive health-care benefits like their UM colleagues. Therefore, it is important for our constituency to understand that our leaders and communion are sensitive to and appreciate the difficulties of this dire economic climate and will continue making appropriate adjustments to alleviate and ease the burdens that all congregants experience, whether in Los Angeles or Livingstone, in Chicago or Capetown, in Atlanta or Accra, in Knoxville or Kingston, in New York or Nassau.”
In other words, the AME Church took salary cuts and operational cuts across the board for the entire quadrennium – 2008 - 2012, not only the AME Bishops, but the General Officers and their departments.
The media never inquired from the AME Church the cutbacks it had taken, and unfortunately, we never told them. We did not “shout it from the rooftops,” but we should have done so.
Our biggest problem in the AME Church is that we fail to tell our stories. The African Methodist Episcopal Church does great things around the world, but few know about the great things we do. Often when AMEs greet each other the first question we ask, “What is going on in the AME Church?” or “Did you hear about…” We tend to focus and are energized on negative issues. Some of our pastors and local churches have great ideas and viable programs, but we don’t share our successes, nor do we caution others about our failures.
Unfortunately the lack of sharing is not just in local churches, but it’s a Connectional anomaly also. We need to do better, and we can.
In the news article, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay” some Methodists said the bishops' action would have been more effective - and might have saved some church jobs - if it had come earlier.
In that same vein, an AME wrote, “’Earlier; that's the operative word here, as far as our AME leadership is concerned. Whatever they may have done, it should have been done earlier and the AME Church should have been more vocal about it. All I ever wanted from the leadership of the AME Church was some ‘words’ that might have lifted our spirits when this economic downslide first happened; just some ‘thoughts’ that might have soothed us. And, again, ‘earlier’ would have been nice.”
Yes, the Bishops, General Officers and their departments have taken salary and departmental operational cuts and those cuts have already been implemented and will continue until 2012.
When someone asks you what is going on in the AME Church, tell them “the Bishops, General Officers and their departments have taken salary and departmental operational cuts and those cuts have already been implemented and will continue until 2012.” Also tell them that the Connectional Officers have taken “a hit” also. No travel reimbursements to the General Board Meetings for the rest of the quadrennium.
Laity share this information with other members of the Church. Pastors share this information with your congregations. Presiding Elders share this information with the persons who attend your Quarterly Conferences and your District Conferences. Bishops share this information at all of your meetings. General Officers share this information in your periodicals. In the words of Psalm 150, “Let everything that has breath” share this information. “Praise ye the LORD.”
2. SOWING THE SEEDS OF OUR FUTURE:
*The Rev Ken Whitley
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 28, 2009 the churches of the New England Annual Conference came together to celebrate the accomplishments of our recent high school graduates. Those graduates who are headed for additional education will receive partial scholarships from the Herbert L. Eddy Scholarship Program.
The Herbert L. Eddy Scholarship Program is named after the Presiding Elder of the Boston Hartford District. His vision reaches out to encourage our youth as they reach meaningful and positive accomplishments in their lives. The secular world is all too happy to publicize the negative stories about our youth. By highlighting the positive, the church can make a Godly impression on the minds of our future doctors, plumbers, teachers, and leaders.
The celebration started at 5:00 pm at the Bethel Springfield Church where the pastor is the Rev Antonio Dawson. The program included several selections by the St Paul AME Church Inspirational Choir from Cambridge Massachusetts. St Paul’s teen liturgical dance team also blessed the attendees with dance. The celebration attendees rose to applaud with excitement as the Rev Sandra Whitley from the HLE Scholarship Committee read excerpts from each applicant’s essay on what they hoped to accomplish by completing their education.
The event needed a special speaker who could motivate and share Godly wisdom. The now retired, former pastor from St. Paul AMC Cambridge, the Rev Dr. Leroy Attles met and surpassed the challenge. This powerful preacher served St Paul as pastor for 31 years and combined his vast experience and knowledge of God’s Word to challenge and encourage our young leaders of tomorrow. He based his words on Eph 5:15-21 and the celebration theme, “Yes we can. We are determined and unstoppable.”
*The Rev Ken Whitley is the pastor of Peoples AME Church in Chelsea Massachusetts
3. NEWS FROM EBENEZER AME CHURCH, FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND:
- It's a Celebration! On Sunday, July 26th at 6:00 p.m. we will honor 30 years of ministry of our very own senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Jr.
The special musical guest will be Bishop Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Tickets are only $10 and available at Ebenezer or online at www.ebenezerame.org
- Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. JoAnn Browning, the Rev. Chandra Marriott and all "Kingdom Women With Holy Ghost Power" on a great Women's Season.
- S.T.O.M.P. (Step Team On a Mission to Praise) has formed a Young Adult Step Team. Prior experience is not needed, just comfortable clothing, willingness to learn, and love for the Lord. Practices are held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Original Sanctuary.
- Join Ebenezer AME Church for Gospel Night as the Washington Mystics takes on the New York Liberty Saturday, July 18th.
Support the Youth Ministry's annual "Back to School Supply Drive." Donations of new backpacks, notebooks, pens, erasers, glue and other supplies are needed so our children can start the school year prepared. No time to shop? Monetary donations are also accepted.
- Ebenezer will host a Youth Fair, featuring basketball, flag football, girls vs. boys relays, Wii tournaments and Gospel Go-Go Bands. There will also be health forums and screenings, including HIV/AIDS testing. (Parental consent is required to participate in health screenings).
- Mission Trip to Kenya (East Africa), July 25 - August 6, 2010. Payment options start soon so register now to reserve space.
The Missionary Society will host an Informational Resource Workshop on July 16th at 7:00 p.m. with The Honorable Peggy Magee, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. Come hear valuable information on court and land records, military discharges, marriage licenses and much more. Registration is required.
- Single Parents Ministry: Come to our July 17th meeting as we focus on "The Glorywatch: Cyber Space and You!" Learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and other cyber-communications. Technology can be misused if you are not educated. Learn to use it in the right way!
- Join the B.A.L.M. Ministry as we "Celebrate Our Marriage Commitment" on July 25th with a Commitment Service led by our Pastors, the Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning and the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning in the Original Sanctuary from 12:00 Noon - 1:00 p.m., then head to D.C. for a "White Linen Affair" at Indulj Restaurant (1208 U Street, NW), from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The cost is $70/couple, tickets available after the church.
4. THE REV. WILLIAM SMITH RECEIVES ACCOLADES FROM THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
The Rev. William Smith and his wife, Willa received notification from the State of Tennessee for 2008 for superior timelessness award. The Reverend William Smith is the pastor of Brown's Temple AME Church in Fayetteville, Tennessee, Reverend Smith and his wife operate The Rose of Sharon Funeral Service in Pulaski, Tennessee.
The Rose of Sharon Funeral Service was notified of its superior timeliness in Dearth Certificate Filing for the Calendar Year 2008. The Rose of Sharon Funeral Home averaged 2.5 days. The death certificate is important and it takes hard work and a team effort to get this job done.
The same effort must be given at all times. Our service is the only thing that stands above the rest. It's not the merchandise.
The attachments contain the communications that have been received from the State of Tennessee Department of Public Health's Vital Statistic's Division.
5. TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE AME CHURCH:
John Thomas III
During the 2008 Presidential Election Campaign, then candidate Barack Obama made government transparency and accountability a keystone of his message. This message was framed via a backdrop of greed and deceit in Corporate America as well as government malaise which cost the American economy billions (if not trillions) of dollars. President Obama made good on his promises after his election victory by making the Presidential transition process the most transparent to date and signing key Executive Orders and Presidential memoranda to overturn certain policies restricting access to information imposed by the previous administration.
While public and private entities worldwide are adhering to demands from their constituents for increased financial accountability, the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a whole continues to be largely mired in shadow. It is easier for a tithing AME to have access to itemized expenditures for the United States Army than financial records from many Episcopal Districts and Connectional departments. Various attempts throughout history have been made to encourage financial accountability in the AME Church. At the 1956 General Conference, a courageous band of clergy and laity known as the “Brotherhood” succeeded in their quest for accountability and responsible fiscal control from the Connectional church through the creation of the General Budget Fund and the General Board. It was hoped that centralizing the operations of the Connectional Church would allow for better control of the Connectional resources as well as curtail burdensome assessments.
The current level of supervision of the financial resources of the AME Church, however, leaves much to be desired. Per the Discipline, all Connectional departments must render an accounting of their financial stewardship to the General Board at its annual meeting (163; 166). Additionally, all Episcopal Districts must submit a yearly audit of their budgets to their constituent Annual Conferences and the Statistics and Finance Commission of the General Board as well as a quadrennial audit to the General Conference (256). Furthermore, all Episcopal District budgets must be approved at the first regular General Board meeting after the General Conference (168).
The departments, agencies and Episcopal Districts of the AME Church, however, are in varying forms of compliance. While the General Officers of the Church have been diligent in providing information to the General Board regarding their finances, many Connectional agencies have not submitted an audit or balance sheet in years, if ever. Those organizations and agencies which do submit audits give them to the General Board members at the site of the meeting instead of sending them 30 days prior per the Discipline (166). This creates the unenviable situation of General Board members having to cram reading the audits between the worship service and investiture banquet and other activities - if they are even read at all. A thorough reading of audits from several Connectional departments raises questions regarding managements of funds (for example large bank charges) that need to be explained and addressed.
Likewise the audits of the Episcopal Districts are seldom seen and never heard at the General Board meeting. This is not to say that there is a complete lack of compliance. I know several Bishops who bring their audits “just in case” knowing the possibility of a full review is slim to none. And to date no Episcopal District budgets have been formally reviewed for the 2008-2012 Quadrennium, though several Districts have followed procedure and asked for increases in their funding caps due to the presence of institutions of higher learning and the hosting duties of the 2012 General Conference. After hearing numerous complaints from clergy and laity regarding the financial situation of the Church, I offered a resolution at the 2009 New Orleans General Board meeting drafting guidelines for Connectional financial reviews drawing directly upon the mandated directives of the Discipline. It is my fervent prayer that this resolution will be approved at the 2010 meeting.
The AME Church is definitely better off than the “dollar money” days, but we still have a long way to go when it comes to being a well-managed enterprise making the most effective use of our stewardship. We have an apparatus for fiduciary control that has fallen into decay and disuse. The AME Church needs to seriously consider place a Bishop in the role of the Chief Administrator. While the President of the General Board is vested with the responsibility to coordinate our financial oversight, the duties of managing an Episcopal District combined with managing the affairs of the Connectional Church is clearly too much of a task for one person. We need to take our own advice and pass the Strategic Planning legislation recommended for the 2004 General Conference.
Much of what we need to do as a Connection, however, is already laid out in the Discipline. We only need the will as concerned laity and clergy to encourage our leadership to follow through at every level. Laity cannot accuse clergy of malfeasance when they refuse to deal with financial lapses in their own organizations. Pastors cannot point fingers at presiding elders and bishops when they have accountability issues in their own congregations. Bishops must obey the laws they were elected and consecrated to execute. In Luke 16:10, Jesus tells us that "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Instead of worrying our lack of resources, we must administer what we have to the best of our ability. The spirit of thrift espoused by our forebears in the Free African Society requires us to do no less.
6. MOUNT HERMON AME CHURCH FIRST ANNUAL MAN-UP FATHER’S-TO-DAD EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR:
By Marissa C. Brown
The first annual “Man-Up Father’s-to-Dad Empowerment Seminar” will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009; 8:00-5:00 p.m., located in the Family Life Center, Mount Hermon African Methodist Episcopal Church, 401 Northwest 7th Terrace, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This seminar is free and a complimentary lunch will be served.
The Reverend Michael K. Bouie, M.Div., pastor, of Mount Hermon is excited about the men of Mount Hermon and of the South Florida community coming together in this collaborative effort of supporting this special event. The purpose of the seminar is to enlighten and teach men how to become dads in mentoring their children and utilizing their gifts from God and necessary tools for spiritual and successful parenting.
Mr. Harry Robinson stated that in today’s society the family unit of African American families is steadily increasing in divorce, broken homes, juvenile delinquency and all of the many distractions of the family. Many African American men are in dire need of a positive father role model in their lives and are searching for instructions and leadership on becoming that Man of God whom they have been called by God to become. The seminar will enhance the skills and abilities of fathers and pre-assess the needs of fathers in becoming more productive dads and providing the skills needed for dads interacting with their children.
The Presenter for this session will be Mr. Harry Robinson, Jr., Founder and CEO of Father’s-to-Dad Program. He is a graduate to Tuskegee University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Robinson is active in the community in serving and mentoring young men in numerous community service projects, the YMCA, a recipient of the 2008 “ Man of Valor” community service award, a member of Blanche Ely High School Parents Guild 2009. An active member of Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church, he serves as teacher of the Men’s Bible class and of the Sons of Allen Fellowship.
The community is cordially invited to attend. For further information, please call (954) 463-6309.
7. ST. PETER'S YOUTH WINS ESSAY CONTEST:
Coach Alphonso V. Varner
A weekend of joyful experiences was held at the Macon District Church School Convention. The Macon District is in the Sixth Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The activities of the Macon District Conference included essay writing, a hallelujah worship service, planning meeting and workshops were held at Adams-Smith Tabernacle AME Church in Warner Robins, Georgia, June 11 - 13, 2009. The Reverend Deborah Frank Watson was the host pastor. Sister Annie Marshall serves as the District Christian Education Director along with Sister Felicia Meadows; and the Reverend Alan Hale Wicker is the efficient Presiding Elder of the Macon District.
The Convention’s Theme: "Unexpected Greatness"; and the Christian Education Theme: "A Child Shall Lead Them" was most appropriated for this occasion was taken from I Samuel 16:11: “So he asked Jesse, ‘are these all the sons you have?’ ..."There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep". "Samuel said, ‘send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’"
The weekend began on Thursday with a Welcome/Fellowship meal, courtesy of the host church. Nineteen youth presented their essays before the judges of the contest. The title of the winning essay was, "Unexpected Greatness." The judges included a retired educator, the Rev. Dr. Gloria Wicker, and two U.S. Government employees, Sister Brenda Phillips and Sister Janie Grayer.
The Opening Worship Service was held Friday evening. The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon was the worship leader. The Macon District Choir simply “blew the roof off the house” singing the songs of Zion.
The celebrants who effectively carried out the order of service included, the Reverend Deborah Watson, the Call to Worship; the Rev. Dante Rome lined the opening hymn; the Rev. Charles Lewis prayed a powerful Prayer; the Bertram C. Smith, the Troy Daniel and the Marlette F. Gilbert each read the Old Testament, the Epistle, and the Gospel lessons; the Cynthia F. Hughes led in reading of The Decalogue; the Rev. Marvin Colbert led in the benevolent offering; and the Lusora Brown lined the sermonic hymn.
Presiding Elder Alan Wicker took the congregation to a new level with his powerful preaching of the Word using the texts, Acts 2:1-4; and Samuel 15:13. His unique subject was, "Firefly (Lightning bug)." His key points included the statement by Jesus that he was the light of the world and that we, as Christians, should spread our light in the darkness. The preacher went on to say that we should let God's Holy Spirit Light shine in us and that we should keep your light burning through prayer, always representing God in word and deed and that we should always do something good for others.
The sermon ended with the congregation lifted their voices singing, “Jesus, the Light of the World.”
The Reverend Maria Gordon gave the announcements and Sister Annie Marshall quoted several scriptures in reference to Love Feast. Elder Wicker and the Ministry Teams conducted a Love Feast to an overflowing congregation.
The Macon District Planning Meeting and workshops were conducted Saturday morning. The youth were grouped by ages from beginners to seniors. The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon conducted the workshop for adults.
The District Christian Education Committee gave honors and praises to Sister Rosalind Parker, the Youth Advisor for St. Peter AME Church and a District YPD Officer; and to Sister Felicia Meadows, the District Church School Superintendent.
The three finalists of the essay contest are: First place, Terrance Howard, St. Peter AME Church, Fort Valley where the Reverend Bertram C. Smith serves as pastor; the second place winner was Brittney Brown, St. Peter AME Church, Fort Valley, where the Reverend Bertram C. Smith serves as the pastor; third place, Tonyesia Cornelious, Stinsonville AME Church, in Macon where the Reverend Lusora Brown serves as pastor Each finalist received a Certificate and the First-place winner received $100.00; the second-place winner received $50.00 and the third place winner received $25.00.
The session ended with a Pizza Party.
8. SPREAD THE WORD:
Dr. Clement W. Fugh
A strategy session to plan the Official Launch of the Recovery Movement will be held during the Thirteenth Episcopal District Christian Education and Leadership Conference, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 23, 2009, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Agenda will include a word from Dr. Clement W. Fugh, Recovery Team Leader, The introduction of the Coordinator, Dr. Phyllis Qualls Brooks, and the presentation of Reverend Tyronda Burges who will serve as the Point Person for the Official Launch to be held 7:00 a.m., Saturday, November 14, 2009, during a breakfast at the site of the Thirteenth Episcopal District Planning Meeting, Maxwell House Hotel, Nashville, TN. The July 23rd meeting is open to all. Opportunities will be made available for recruits to choose the areas in which they would like to be involved and to sign up.
The excitement grows when we think of the General Conference returning to the Thirteenth District in 2012, and to Tennessee for the first time since 1924.
I look forward to seeing you in Murfreesboro on Thursday evening, July 23rd, at 4:00.
Dr. Clement Fugh is a 2012 Candidate for Episcopal Service
9. PH.D CANDIDATE JOHN THOMAS III SHARES HIS ACADEMIC STUDY EXPERIENCES IN HIS FIRST WEEKS IN BRAZIL:
Prologue
Welcome to the first edition of “Field Notes: Brazil.”
The “Field Notes” concept originated during a week-long excursion to Peru in February 2007 where I served as the Black History month lecturer for the Peruvian-American Cultural Institute (ICPNA). I did a subsequent edition chronicling my two months in Peru and Ecuador last summer. I realized that typing the field notes not only saves me having to repeat the same story a few hundred times, but allows me to record observations that I might miss as well as reflect on how my travel has grown and changed me. I’ve always believed that we find out the most about ourselves when we are in unfamiliar environments, so I thank you for accompanying me on this journey through Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
For those of you included in the previous emails, the format should feel familiar to you…but we have listened to your suggestions and made a few changes. The most noticeable is that I will write only ONCE a week. Another suggestion was made regarding the length. While some people enjoyed the depth of my observations, others asked for a more cursory treatment. I will try to better about redundant writing, but there are some things that just can’t be summarized (Sorry Aaron!)
Salvador da Bahia is a bustling city in the Northeast of Brazil with around 4 million inhabitants. It is popularly known as the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. It is here than one will find the purest traces of African inspired music, dance and religion in the Americas. Because of this, Salvador attracts a LOT of tourists, scholars, and journalists. Additionally, a growing sector specializing in Black tourism from the United States exists as Black United States citizens seek to acquaint themselves with cultural strains that have been lost through the sands of time (It’s a heck of a lot cheaper to go to Brazil than Benin). Salvador (as other parts of Brazil) also has a well-established sex tourism industry whose effects ripple widely and deeply throughout the society here (More than one African-American woman rolled her eyes at me when I said I was going to Brazil for the summer.)
So, why am I here? My primary interest in my graduate studies is the formation and development of Black social movements in the Andes. While I am not interested in becoming a “Brazilianist”, I have realized that much of the work on race in Latin America is based on Brazil. Additionally, for the activists I’ve worked with and studied, the goals achieved by the Black movement in Brazil are akin to the “Holy Grail”. The establishment of a process of Affirmative Action for universities, government mandates to include Black culture in the educational process, and a government ministry dedicated to reducing socioeconomic inequality are just a few of the goals that have been achieved over the last twenty years. Yet, there is still much work to be done to address the legacy of institutional racism in Brazil. (The same can also be said about racism in the United States as well).
So I’ve come to Brazil to gain some perspective about the “Black movement” here and better understand how my cases relate (don’t relate) to the Brazilian reality. Also, learning Portuguese is important for my development and marketability as a Latin American scholar (You’d be amazed at the number of Spanish/Portuguese or Portuguese only conferences that take place OUTSIDE of Brazil). And…Brazil (especially Salvador) is a lovely and interesting place to be. For the next 6 weeks, I will be taking Portuguese classes in Dialogo Institute: Salvador’s best known school for foreigners to learn Portuguese. After I finish my language classes, I will have the last three weeks for research as well as final preparations for the comprehensive exam in American Politics I’m taking on September 16th. This trip is made possible by the generosity of United States Department of Education (i.e. your tax dollars). Now, dear reader let us move on to the journey!
Week 1
Getting there…
As some of my friends know, my experiences in airports have become the stuff of legend. I’ve experienced everything from being blacklisted on the no-fly list to being double charged for a sizeable amount of overseas luggage to being accused of bribery of immigration officials. And of course there’s always the ritual of packing the bag the night before. So, what happened on my way to Brazil you ask? Absolutely nothing. That’s right: after having PRE-PACKED my bag the week before, I calmly made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. The only brief hitch was when American Airlines asked to see my Brazilian visa. Because Americans have to pay $100 plus processing costs for the Brazilian visa, I opted to travel on my Barbados passport—which gives me three months before having to leave and reinter. I explained this to the gate agent who began to tell me of his numerous goings and comings to Brazil as well as his take on Brazilian race issues as a Black man. Aside from the circumlocutous route of Nashville-Dallas-Miami-Salvador, I had no travel hitches at all and even managed to get a few phone calls out of the way before I left the US. I left Miami around 9:30 pm on Thursday night and arrived in Salvador on 6 am Friday morning. After customs and immigration, I met my friend Egypt from Princeton with whom I would be staying.
Beginnings and the Odd couple
Egypt is a late 30 something bi-racial woman from Seattle whom I met in my time at Princeton. Egypt has led a rather free-spirited life and lived in Brazil for a time in the 90s. After finishing her stint at Princeton in 2006, she decided to roam around for a bit before settling back in Salvador. Currently, she is house-sitting for an Australian couple which headed back to their country to attend to their business. I decided to rent a room from Egypt since we had gotten along well at Princeton and I was leery of the unpredictability of a home-stay. Egypt agreed but warned me that her house was a “little” ways from Salvador. She assured me, though, that she frequently went to the city by car and that my school was easily accessible by bus. As Egypt and I drove from the airport to her house, I began to take in the sights and sounds of Salvador. Much appeared similar to my experience in various parts of the Dominican Republic as well as Cartagena, Colombia. I suppose that all Latin American coastal towns have similarities. One thing that I DID see in Brazil that I haven’t seen as yet in other places is the abundance of Black faces on advertisements. As we approached Egypt’s house by the bay of Sao Tome da Paripe, I realized just how far I was from Salvador proper.
After I moved my stuff into my room, Egypt informed me that we would have house guests: Lucio (a Brazilian applying for a Ph.D. in Political Science at UCLA); Claudia (an Afro-Brazilian activist/educator and Lucio’s girlfriend); as well as Spike (a musician based in Salvador). Dinner conversation was lively and I received complements on my Portuguese (which turned out not to be too bad for a foreigner just moving to Brazil). Egypt had me to sign a contract stipulating certain house rules. She also intimated that a rent increase was needed (we originally agreed to $150 but after another house stay she realized that $175 was more appropriate). We had already discussed the $175 a week and after I reminded her of it, she seemed relieved.
Sunday was a day off and I recuperated some of my lost sleep in preparation for the beginning of my matriculation at Dialogo. Egypt drove me into the city, but I found she had not idea where the school was so we ended up calling to make sure I knew where I was going. The first day of class was interesting as there were around 15 of us who were new to Dialogo combined with a group of 10 students studying abroad through Temple University (several of whom had arrived on the plane with me). After a preliminary interview, I found myself placed into the advanced class along with an English student named Hannah who arrived after spending a year abroad in Spain. We were joined by another English woman, a Ph.D. student named Olivia who was finishing out her last week in Brazil. Our professor, Tatianna, was an energetic thirty something Brazilian woman who labeled herself as “an obsessive compulsive storm”. Needless to say, our class was interesting. Afterwards, we had the obligatory welcome session where I met the rest of the new students. Additionally, I noticed that there were several African-American students in residence at Dialogo. After school, I spent lunch with Egypt, her friend Alessandra and her boyfriend Georges. Alessandra happened to live right across the street from Diaologo and we enjoyed a rather pleasant coffee and conversation. After we left, Egypt told me that Alessandra was bi-polar schizophrenic and had recently come back from the mental hospital. Egypt was happy to see that her friend had recovered and was on new medication.
Tuesday, I took the bus from Sao Tome da Paripe to Salvador. Both Egypt and I had underestimated the commute. I got up early because I knew that the commute would be long, but after an HOUR AND A HALF commute involving two buses, I knew that I would need to change lodging. I felt myself also missing out on the life of Dialogo—as it were. Even though I had Brazilian contacts, I knew I was missing out on some of the fellowship with the other foreign students as well as taking in the city of Salvador itself. Additionally, I realized that Egypt and I while good friends were probably not the best of roommates. (Incidentally, I wish to give a shout out to my old college roommate Aaron Butler. My brief experience in Brazil with another roommate taught me just how good of a roommate he was). I began to make provisions to change lodging on Wednesday. The rest of the week I began to meet some of the other students, but due to my commute I was not able to engage in too much fellowship. Furthermore, Egypt’s grandmother took ill in the US and she had to make immediate preparations to fly back which pushed my departure time from Saturday to Friday.
A New Place
After visiting two families, I settled on an apartment with two women in a neighborhood known as Graca (grace) which was around 15 minutes from my school by walking. Mara is in her late forties and retired while Luzia is in her mid thirties and working as a medical supply salesperson. Luzia is one of the most attractive Brazilians (to date) that I have met (She also has a boyfriend in Rio de Janeiro). Luzia and Mara both are generous people and I’m only the second male in a long list of house guests that they’ve hosted. My rent includes breakfast, though I can also eat lunch for an extra fee. (A Brazilian breakfast includes bread, fruit, and coffee or tea. Additionally, I’m becoming found of tapioca and milk…Brazilians use a LOT of tapioca). The day after I moved in, I had a meeting with Clovis Oliveira—an Afro-Brazilian academic and friend of a former University of Chicago colleague. Mr. Oliveira requested that I meet him at “Shopping Salvador”: the second largest mall in Brazil. After practically losing myself in the mall, I found Mr. Oliveira and to my surprise he was with an African-American sociology student from Duke named Elizabeth. Needless to say I was somewhat surprised, but took it in stride and gained some useful contacts from Clovis. Elizabeth and I bonded over our mutual sense of distaste for Clovis’ inhospitality (it was left up to us to figure how to leave the rather out of the way mall and Elizabeth had spent LESS time in Salvador than I did). Nonetheless, we managed to find our way home…three hours and several failed bus attempts later. Running late, I made my way to Pelourinho (the historic and tourist district of Salvador) to meet Claudia who was visiting a museum exhibit in preparation for a visit by her students. We had a lovely conversation about Salvador, being Black in Brazil, and how she ended up as a Black movement activist. Claudia travels a lot, but she promised to take me to Liberdade (liberty) the largest Black neighborhood and the true heart of the Black cultural sector.
Somewhere in the midst of all this, I managed to procure a cell phone. Those of you who have journeyed with me know that I have an unlocked phone which can be used all over the world. Or at least so I thought. After going through FIVE cell phone stores in the mall, I stopped at this place with Egypt to get a chip. The woman looked at my passport and commented: "You look different in this picture. You've gotten fatter." Gotta love Brazil. After spending an hour on the phone with the company, I finally activated my chip...yet the phone wouldn't work. The next day I learned (or rather remembered) that Brazilian cell phones function on a different frequency than American phones and I could only buy a chip from ONE company. (Incidentally, the salesperson from this company was FAR nicer than the one from the other company). After a few minutes of waiting, I finally had a Brazilian cell phone chip all of my own.
Sunday, I had lunch with a German student from Dialogo named Julia and spent the evening with several other students and our professor at a mall. I originally was going to see the movie “Jean Charles” (a chronicle of the Brazilian immigrant to London who was mistakenly shot by the London Police)…but due to the slow Salvador bus system (and “system” is a courtesy) I got there after the movie had started but was not allowed to enter. To pass the time until my party left the movie, I visited the large “Temple of Faith” of the Universal Church of Jesus Christ (Igreja Universal de Jesus Cristo). The “Igreja Universal” is one of Latin America’s fastest growing Pentecostal denominations and strongly rooted in prosperity theology combined with supererogation (i.e. God will take care of all your problems right now and if you give all you have you will be doubly blessed). I was someone unmoved by the pleas to hug myself, touch my heart, and cry out to God. Maybe it was the televangelist feel or the big lighted throne on the stage in space of a pulpit chair symbolizing the presence of the Lord. I left early, but will go back for a full service at some point soon. I met up with my friends and after a snack and ice cream, I headed back to my home having an interesting conversation with a rather sheltered English woman named Kate who was still getting over being dumped by her Brazilian fling.
That’s it for now…stay tuned for further updates. If you have any specific issues or questions that you would like me to write about, feel free to email and I will incorporate them in my next journal. Also, you can expect the other journal to be MUCH shorter due to the absence of a prologue.
John Thomas III, an AME, is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago
10. THE 2009 5th Episcopal District ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
The Rt. Rev. Theodore Larry Kirkland, Presiding Bishop
Mrs. Mary Kirkland, Episcopal Supervisor
The Pacific Northwest Annual Conference:
August 3 – 9, 2009
Host: Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington
The Rev. Warren Freeman, Host Pastor
The Desert/Mountain Annual Conference:
August 17 – 23, 2009
Host: Campbell AME Church, Denver, Colorado
The Rev. Regina Groff, Host Pastor
The Mid-West Annual Conference:
August 24-30, 2009
Host: First AME Church, Kansas City, Kansas
The Rev. Anthony Steele, Host Pastor
The Missouri Annual Conference:
September 22 – 27, 2009
Hosted by: St. Peters AME Church, St. Louis, Missouri
The Rev. Brenda Hayes, Host Pastor
The California Annual Conference:
October 5 – 11, 2009
Host: St. Andrews AME Church, Sacramento, California
The Rev. Tyrone Hicks, Pastor
Co-Host: Allen Chapel AME Church, Sacramento, California
The Rev. Clifton N. St. James, Pastor
Co-Host: Murph Emmanuel AMEC, North Highland, California
The Rev. Elmer Redding, Pastor
The Southern California Annual Conference:
October 25 – Nov. 1, 2009
Host: Bethel AMEC, Los Angeles, California
The Rev. Kelvin Calloway, Host Pastor
Planning Meeting – Nov. 2 & 3, 2009,
Hosted by the Southern California Conference
11. AN UNUSUAL DISCOVERY:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
Have you ever thought about how much scripture is implied in some secular songs of yesteryear, unintended of course?
If you will, take a journey with me through memory lane, of course you will need your Bible. After you read this you will probably ask, “Who in the world would have thought of that?”
Get your bible and read.
Do you remember these songs?
“Things I used to do, I don’t do them no more”
Read: II Corinthians 5:17
“On the sunny side of the street”
Read: John 12:35 John 8:12
“All of me, why not take all of me”
Read: Deuteronomy 6:5
“What love got to do with it?”
Read: I John 4:11
“R –E- S- P- E- C- T”
Read: Philippians 4:11
“Love makes me treat you the way that I do”
Read: Romans 12: 10
“You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run”
Read: Ecclesiastes chapter 7:1-8; Matthew 10: 14
“Mamma may have, Papa may have, God bless the child who has its own”
Read: Jeremiah 31:29; Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11
“When the Saints go marching in”
Read: Revelation 7:9-12
“Oh Yes, I’m a great Pretender”
Read: Matthew 6: 16 Mark 12: 40
“Your cheating heart will tell on you”
Read: Matthew 6: 21; Mark 7: 21; Proverbs 23: 7
Isn’t it ironic that we can never get away from the Word of God?
The Word is like hidden nuggets, if you dig long enough you will find therm.
Surprised?
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts is a retired Itinerant Elder who lives in Eatonville, Florida
12. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY NOTICE:
Mrs. Lillian T. Simmons of Slidell, Louisiana will celebrate her 101st birthday on July 25, 2009. The birthday celebration event will be held at three o'clock in the afternoon in the Catherine Fields Center of the Mt. Olive AME Church located at 2457 Second Street in Slidell, Louisiana.
Mrs. Simmons, a daughter of the African Methodist Episcopal Church parsonage, was born on July 25, 1908 in Madisonville, Louisiana. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Louis Thomas, who was an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Simmons' membership in the African Methodist Episcopal Church is extensive: Ebenezer AME Church, Bremerton, Washington; St. Stephens AME Church, Enid, Oklahoma; Ball Chapel AME Church and Anderson Chapel AME Church, Wichita Falls, Texas; Armstrong AME Church, Arlington, Texas; St. Paul AME Church, New Orleans, Louisiana; Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, Pearlington, Mississippi; St. James AME Church, Picayune, Mississippi and Mt. Olive AME Church, Slidell, Louisiana, where she currently holds membership.
Mrs. Simmons is the beloved aunt of the Rev. Frederick Leroy Fields, who is a pastor in the 8th Episcopal District. The Rt. Reverend Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the President of the Council of Bishops is the Presiding Prelate of the 8th Episcopal District.
Birthday cards and birthday well-wishes can be sent to:
Mrs. Lillian T. Simmons
2025 Kaylee Street
Slidell, LA 70461
Or, Birthday greetings can be emailed to:
fredfields@charter.net or fields@peoplepc.com
13. MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM BISHOP JAMES HASKELL MAYO AND THE MAYO FAMILY:
Bishop James Haskell Mayo and the Mayo family express their profound gratitude and deep appreciation for the many kind expressions and sympathies that have been accorded to the family.
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of the Dr. D. Musuleng Cooper, on Monday, July 5, 2009. She was the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Gender, Vice Chair of Monrovia College Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the DEEP and all our AME Church Schools in Liberia and Special Advisor to the Bishop of the 14th Episcopal District on all governmental Affairs, Matters and also on Education.
More information will be forthcoming on the Celebration/Homegoing of a major servant of the Lord in the 14th.
Bishop David Rwhynica Daniels, Jr., Presiding Prelate
Fourteenth Episcopal District
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
The Clergy Family Information Center
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action
Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936
Fax: (615) 833-3781
Cell: (615) 403-7751
16. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris; 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
