Bishop Richard Franklin Norris - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. EDITORIAL – THIS IS 2009 AND WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO BEG…:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III,
The 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
Last June at the General Board Meeting on New Orleans, Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams extended and invitation for her friends, and anyone else who wanted to do so, to make a financial contribution in support of Wilberforce University. I wrote a check for $500 as a gift from my wife, Dr. Charlotte and me. I was feeling pretty good about our contribution when Dr. Johnny Barbour, the AME Publisher and my friend, came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder and with a mischievous look, said, “I don’t mean to get in your business, but didn’t you meet your wife at Wilberforce University?” I responded that I had and proceeded to tell him the story of how we met and how the now, Rev. Dr. Rodger Reed was walking with me when I met Charlotte. Dr. Barbour interrupted me with a more mischievous look in his eye and said, “You met the love of your life at Wilberforce; it’s none of my business, but I just think that Wilberforce University should be worth more than a $500 donation; that should be worth a $1000 or more, but at least a $1000.” Dr. Barbour may have just been “messin’” with me, but it caused me to think and, I believe it surprised him that I immediately went back to Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams and increased our gift to $1000 and have since increased our contribution.
I was convicted by Dr. Barbour’s comment because I remember when I went to Wilberforce University with a little less than $200 and registered as a freshman. I hadn’t thought about buying books, but that was all the money I had. My mother told me that she couldn’t afford to send me to college, but the Rev. Jesse F. Owens, my pastor at Ebenezer AME Church in Rahway, New Jersey gave me a certificate for a scholarship to Wilberforce and I was on my way. The scholarship, as I recall, turned out to be a work-study grant-in-aid. I was enrolled and that was the important thing. I couldn’t have gone to a majority institution with less than $200 and been provided with tuition, room, board, and books. I know that I am not the only one with a Wilberforce University story like that. And I enjoyed Miss Beatty’s hamburgers too.
Tears well up in my eyes when I think about those days and the opportunity Wilberforce University gave me, but not only to me, but Wilberforce gave hope and opportunity to thousands of others. Some of our bishops and leading pastors attended Wilberforce and they were in a similar financial strain as I experienced. Can you imagine Bishop C. Garnett Henning, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, Dr. Floyd Alexander, Dr. Floyd Flake walking around in high water pants; that was the style in the sixties. Wilberforce University developed many of the leaders in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. And, not only ecclesiastical leaders, but Wilberforce University laid the foundation for leaders in medicine, law, education and the sciences.
Wilberforce University, Morris Brown College, Edward Waters College, Allen University, Paul Quinn College, Shorter College, Campbell College, AME University in Liberia, Wilberforce Community College and the R. R. Wright Theological Seminary in South Africa, Payne Theological Seminary, Turner Theological Seminary, our other AME institutions and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) jumped-started a lot of careers for a lot of us. Many of us are where we are because of our black institutions.
Now, let me get real and get to the point
We need to get better at supporting our AME academic institutions. Our AME institutions and other HBCUs have launched so many of us and we fail to give financial support to the institutions that nurtured us. HBCUs have to beg their graduates for financial support. Harvard, Yale, MIT, Columbia, Stanford, Rice, and Duke would be in the same predicament if their alums were as neglectful as our alums are. We AMEs graduate and disappear. We graduate with a “thank you Lord” and keep moving with little thought of giving back to institution that prepared us.
And, let me say here, that I am not just speaking to the AMEs here in America. Wilberforce nurtured our brothers and sisters from Africa and the Caribbean and they have a responsibility to give back. All of the members of the AME Church in Africa and in the Caribbean are not poor. We have embers there who can give back too. Wilberforce Community College and the R. R. Wright Theological Seminary in South Africa and AME University in Monrovia need financial response from their alums. We AMEs need to do a better job; all of us. We need to stop “crying poor.”
When the Church or a leader in our Zion makes a call to support Morris Brown College, Wilberforce or on of our other of our institutions, some clergy and laity complain about the relevance of our institutions and complain that they don’t know where all the money is going. In case they didn’t know, let me say that it takes big bucks, a lot of money to support an academic institution; and I know everybody knows that, which amazes me that people complain.
We need to do better, not only in supporting our academic institutions, but we also need to do better in supporting the local and connectional Church obligations. We go around talking about, “God is Good” while at the same time complaining about what we don’t have.
The first thing that we need to do is to approach stewardship with a more positive attitude. In the past, I have heard presiding elders and pastors couch a call for a connectional financial appeal with, “This is not coming from me, this is from the bishop and I don’t know why we need all of this money. I am just doing what I am told.” No wonder the parishioners give grudgingly. You want to know where the money is going; turn to page 658 in The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008.
And, I am tired of seeing folks walk to the collection plate with their offering balled up. When you see a person put a rolled up or balled bill in the offering plate, you can be sure that the offering is not much. We, pastors and leaders, need reorient our minds from negativity to positivity, and we need to train our parishioners to take financial responsibility for the support of their local churches and our academic institutions.
We need to affirm and recognize the outstanding contributions of our academic institutions and stand up for them and support them with words and money! We should not have to beg for money. Last Saturday, I saw some “young men and women” from a local HBCU standing on a corner with a bucket asking, no begging, for contributions for their campus religious organization. I thought to myself, here are young people learning how to be beggars; they were not even offering to wash cars for donations; they just wanted people to give them money.
If all of us would give back to our academic institutions, because those institutions have already given to us, we wouldn’t have to beg for money and our institutions could get with the business of education instead of having to worry about money and keeping the doors open.
Many of our young people need our institutions; Wilberforce University and our other HBCUs are still relevant. I would hope that all of us will commit ourselves to a deeper level of support. I know that I am. Charlotte and I have put a contribution to Wilberforce University in our Wills. I have put out a call to find information about how to do a monthly debit from my checking account to Wilberforce University. I am determined that the Sydnor family will do its part and no one will have to beg me to make a contribution to the school I love.
I know that Wilberforce and our other academic institutions would love to receive thousands of dollars from individual donors, but consistent giving of whatever a person or a family can afford would be appreciated; the operative word is “consistent.” If we all did our part, consistently and regularly we can save our academic institutions – “Yes we can!”
Editor’s Note: The Editor will be attending the 11th Episcopal District Post Planning Convocation in Freeport, Grand Bahama November 19 – 22, 2009 and will be making a presentation on Technology, Media and Ministry and giving a meditation at the Even Song Service. The TCR office phone will be operative.
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
- To the Editor:
RE: Editorial, I Hope President Obama Will Not Send Additional Troops to Afghanistan
I would just like to thank you for the outstanding editorial on sending troops to Afghanistan. I know you said that this was your own opinion. But I must say as a retired Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Army I am of the same opinion. Being a combat veteran of the Viet Nam War and the First Gulf War I feel that President Obama will do the right thing and not send anymore of our brave young men and women to that war zone. Again thanks for an outstanding OP AD and I applaud you for writing it. We have about twenty-four veterans that are members of my church and I will share this article with them.
“Airborne All The Way!”
Brother Jesse A. Hill/Retired US Army
Editor's Note: Brother Hill, thank you for your kind words and thank you for taking time to write. Each time I visit Fort Campbell Army Base and see injured soldiers my heard bleeds for the wounded young me and women.
On another note, twenty-four veterans! You probably don't have a list, but if you did, I would publish all of their names. I don't imagine there is another Church in the connection with twenty-four veterans.
"Airborne, All the Way!"
3. BROTHER JESSE HILL SENT THE LIST OF THE NAMES OF ALL OF THE VETERANS:
New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
4201 W. Columbia Street
Orlando, Florida 32811
The Right Reverend McKinley Young, Presiding Prelate
Reverend Hartford Lee, Presiding Elder/North Orlando District
Reverend Henry L. Postell, Pastor
Veterans of New Bethel A.M.E. Church in Orlando, Florida:
Brother Charles Betterson (Major) US Army Retired
Brother William Sims (Command Sergeant Major) US Army Retired
Brother Johnnie Smith (Chief Master Sergeant) US Air Force Retired
Brother Randolph Whitley (Master Sergeant) US Air Force
Brother Willie Thompson (Sergeant First Class) US Army Retired
Brother Jesse A. Hill (Staff Sergeant) US Army Retired
Brother Walter Johnson (Staff Sergeant) US Army
Brother Charles James (Staff Sergeant) US Air Force Retired
Brother Darrell Bowens (Petty Officer First Class) US Navy
Brother Willie Hull (Sergeant) US Army
Brother Vernon Carruthers (Sergeant) US Army
Brother Calvin White (Staff Sergeant) US Air Force
Brother James Connelly (Sergeant) US Army
Brother Tony Wallace (Sergeant) US Army
Brother Michael D. Jackson (Sergeant) US Army
Brother Russell Bingham (Sergeant) US Army/ Air Corp
Brother Nathaniel Solomon (Sergeant) US Marines
Sister Linda Lampkins (Sergeant) US Air Force
Brother Charles Thomas (Corporal) US Marines
Brother Charlie Cooper (Corporal) US Army
Brother Al Everett (Corporal) US Army
Brother James Scott (Specialist Fourth Class) US Army
In Memory of Our Unsung Heroes:
Sister Margaret Slaughter (Senior Chief Petty Officer) US Navy Retired
Brother George Wilson (Sergeant First Class) US Army Retired
Brother Burgess Merritt (Sergeant First Class) US Army Retired
Brother William Slaughter (Petty Officer First Class) US Navy Retired
Brother Amber Curry (Corporal) US Army
Brother Ernest Rutledge (Private) US Army
Brother George Leach (Sergeant) US Army
Reverend McKinley Tyler (Staff Sergeant) US Air Force
Brother Harvey Hill (Petty Officer Third Class) US Navy
4. ANOTHER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL – I HOPE PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL NOT SEND ADDITIONAL TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN:
Mrs. Patrea Wilson-Carter
- To the Editor:
If I were to title my comments, it would be “…Come, Let us reason together…” I have a fresh cup of coffee in front of me and your article struck my intellect… Sir, you have a ton of valid concerns, all of which have been noted in my heart and in my head. But I will confess that I am going to respond with my head and it is my hope that you see the heart of the matter in which I propose.
You wrote:
The job of being the President is almost a “no-win” position because in every decision he makes, he pleases one segment of the population and angers another segment. I don’t believe that he can make a decision that would please 100 percent of the population; and if he did, chances are, he would anger other nations around the world. President Barack Obama is dealing with the war in Afghanistan…… But there is another landmine that worries me, and that is how the President will handle the War in Afghanistan.
Response: Our President did not run to “Win”, he ran for “Change.” Any change that is made on his watch will not be popular, but needed…Like medicine, we may not like it, but we take it…whether it tastes good or bad. In my opinion, I don’t see President Obama making decision to please anyone…in fact he has been careful to formulate committees and appoint person over those committees, to ensure that both sides of an issue are heard and then research the best approach , and then the decision is voted upon. It is this approach (one of many), that has lead to the winning of the Noble Peace Prize….America has far too long walked into the international community with it holster and gun and this has not been the case with President Obama. True Diplomacy warrants respect and an open mind and he has gotten just that. We have him to thank for cleaning up our tarnished international image.
You wrote:
Let me get to the point. I hope President Obama will not escalate the War in Afghanistan.
Response: President Obama or any other Allied Nation cannot escalate a situation that is already escalated since 2001 or so.
You Wrote:
Check with veterans’ groups, they don’t want to President to send more troops or escalate the War in Afghanistan. Check with the soldiers; check with the retirees, especially those who have been in combat, they don’t want more troops sent to Afghanistan. Americans are sick and tired of Iraq and Americans are sick and tired of the war in Afghanistan… If victory has been defined, I certainly haven’t seen it. So what does a “win the War in Afghanistan” look like? I am not sure that anyone knows. We didn’t win in Vietnam and we didn’t win in Somalia and I don’t think that we can win in Afghanistan; and a lot of Americans agree with me.
Response: Our wonderful first amendment grants the free exercise of speech and ‘to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.’ Interesting that we can do that here in American, but in the countries that you stated, could and more than likely would bring terminal consequences. I am an American, and I am not quick to say that I am sick of any international situation. In fact, I am quite interested in the direction that the ‘war on Terror’ is going. Knowledge is most certainly power and the more we educate ourselves on the history of these conflicts the better we will be able to accept the fact that we are not there to win… but to formulate international cooperation and compliance with the rules and regulations set forth in the Geneva Convention, so as to stop the inhumane treatment of human beings and to monitor the threat of nuclear armament, among other things. Must quote the Rev. Dr. King, Jr. here: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere….
America’s past wars are learning points. We should not dwell on our past but learn from it. America was not prepared to fight jungle warfare. But we are a better military force because of it. America was not an urban warfare nation, but we use our experiences and After Action Reports to strengthen our forces and to make us better prepared to protect and defend our nation as well as our interests elsewhere in the world. A real question would be would we rather have multiple 911’s or work with the international community to corral such evils as dictatorships and terrorists?
You Wrote:
And, one more thing; those Americans, even the members in Congress who support sending additional troops and “giving the generals on the ground what they want” do not have the interests of the troops in mind and they certainly have not identified the national, vital or survival interests that would reinforce “giving the generals on the ground what they want.”
Response: I wasn’t going to comment on this one, but okay, I’ll bite again: I am prior service, enlisted to be noted…If a general says that more troops are needed, then more troops are needed. From a strategic point of view, I believe a ramp up would serve as a mask, for a pull out strategy. But what do I know, I just took orders to protect and defend the U.S. against all enemies, foreign and domestic….Please keep in mind also that America is not the only country involved. Hopefully, in the near future, I am looking for our President to help to re-establish the credibility and responsibility of the U.N. as vital and true peacekeeping force that it should be….then we should not see such a direct overload (from our country) in international affairs.
…Wow that was enjoyable…since my coffee is just about done…I will stop typing….
Happy Holidays….and thank you for your service!!!!
Mrs. Patrea Wilson- Carter
5. MIDWEST SOUTH AND MIDWEST NORTH DISTRICTS HOLD JOINT PLANNING MEETING:
*The Rev. V. Gordon Glenn III
“An Incredible Call to Serve – Influence.”
Kansas City, Kansas, November 14, 2009: At the geographical midpoint of the Midwest Conference of the Fifth Episcopal District, the newly formed Midwest South and Midwest North Presiding Elder Districts met on Saturday, November 14, 2009, to plan out the current Annual Conference year and hear reports from various components of ministry throughout the Conference.
What made this remarkable is that the Presiding Elders, the Rev. Steven A. Cousin Sr. of the South and the Rev. Donna F. Roberson of the North, decided to have it at the same time at the same location so that the Pastors, District Stewards, WMS, YPD, and Laity would all hear the same information at the same time.
To make this possible, the Elders secured meeting space at the Jack Reardon Convention Center in Kansas City, Kansas, which was the sight of the Midwest Annual Conference just a few months before.
The day started off with each Presiding Elder meeting separately with the pastors and District Stewards under their charge to go over matters germane to their respective Presiding Elder Districts including the calendar, financial matters, and introducing new transfers to the Conference.
At 10 a.m., the North and the South Districts came together for a plenary session where we received component reports from the Clergy Family Organization, The Women in Ministry, The Women’s Missionary Society, the Young People’s Division, the Lay Organization, Economic Development and the Sunday School Convention.
The meeting closed with a worship service. The preacher for the hour was recently superannuated Presiding Elder, the Rev. Theodore R. Evans, whose last charge as the supervisor of the former Omaha-Wichita District of the Midwest Conference. Rev. Evans preached from Luke 4:1-4, using as his topic “The Main Ingredient.” Rev. Evans reminded the assembled congregation that, “Whatever the church is or is not depends on us.”
The Jack Reardon Convention Center in downtown Kansas City, Kansas was transformed from merely a convention center into a sanctuary in the wake of the Midwest South and Midwest North Presiding Elder Districts having assembled there for their 2009-2010 planning meeting.
*The Rev. V. Gordon Glenn III is the Midwest South District Publicity Chair and Midwest Conference Co-Director of Public Relations
6. EVANGELISM AND CHURCH GROWTH:
By Charles Hallman, St. Paul-Minneapolis District Reporter
It takes more than the pastor, or any one person, to properly do evangelism, the Rev. Norris Jackson believes.
“For evangelism to work, it takes a team effort,” the pastor of Mayo AME Church (Matteson, Illinois) told the attendees at an evangelism workshop he facilitated at the Chicago Annual Conference in Bloomington, Minnesota, October 5th.
As the Chicago Conference Church Growth and Evangelism Director, Jackson said that the annual conference serves as an ideal time to talk about evangelism. “Oftentimes when I come to conferences, I would find that churches were not winning souls and weren’t going out,” he noted. “It wasn’t that they didn’t want to do it, but that they were not being effective.
“So what God led me to do was to pull together a teaching lesson in which I can help other churches to develop a (evangelism) team, and really do out into the community and win souls for Christ.”
But Jackson quickly adds that some think that evangelism is something that is done elsewhere. “Missions should no longer be seen as just being overseas,” he believes. “They could be in your backyard.”
Or even in your own congregation, he added: “You’ll be surprised to see how many are in the church that is not saved.”
His topic, “How to organize your evangelism team,” Jackson pointed out, “It is the church’s responsibility, but we put it off on one or two people.” He stressed that the overall goal is to become a community of Christ’s followers that is motivated by God’s grace and empowered by His spirit.
“You don’t live the Kingdom just on Sunday, but wherever you’re at,” Jackson continued. He offered the following Bible verses as examples: Luke 19:10; John 18:37; John 10:10; Luke 4:30 and Acts 20:29. “We should be following the example of Jesus,” Jackson noted.
According to Jackson, the church’s evangelism team must have four objectives:
First, “If you want things to change, (you must) call the church to prayer,” he says. Second, you must find “like-minded people” to include on your team.
Third, he suggests using Moses’ model in training leaders, but warned against selecting just anyone on your evangelism team: “Find people who are trustworthy,” he noted. And fourth, you must motivate your church.
“The important thing that I want people to leave here with is tools: that they have the power and ability to make it happen,” Jackson concludes. “If we trust God, and we allow God to lead and guide us, and we make our hearts sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we can go out and develop teams – to train them on how to be more efficient in winning souls for Christ.”
7. A TRIBUTE TO BISHOP JOHN BRYANT:
By Charles Hallman, St. Paul-Minneapolis District Reporter
The Fourth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is one of two Districts that include both areas of the United States and another country: it spans across seven states (Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and three Canadian provinces (Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec).
“Sometimes people (in the U.S.) see Canada as ‘northern America’ but it’s not,” the Rt. Reverend John Richard Bryant, senior bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC) points out.
Bryant earned a B.A. degree from Morgan State, a historically Black college in 1965, a Masters’ degree in theology from Boston University School of Theology in 1970, and a doctorate at Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1975. After a successful career as a pastor, he was elected and consecrated the 106th Bishop of the AME Church at the 1988 General Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Chicago Conference “is the largest and most diverse because it actually covers Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa,” says Bishop John. It is one of five Conferences under his guidance: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Canada are the others.
According to the AMEC Senior Bishop, his ministry of meeting the people’s needs during these economic times, especially in the Michigan Conference which has “a heavily Black concentration,” along with the Indiana and Illinois Conferences is challenging, he adds.
“The Detroit area really suffers a great deal economically during this period of time, so a lot of my energy has to be in trying to encourage those congregations and those people who are losing jobs and homes. Those issues are not as prominent in the Chicago Conference.”
With churches in North America, Africa, the Caribbean, the AME Church now has 41 churches in India, Bryant says proudly. Having once served there,
“The way the West did missions (in the past) created a ‘beggar mentality’ so the churches there (in Africa) tended to wait for the bishop to come bring resources (from America),” observed Bryant. This isn’t the case in India, he points out. “In India, they are not a beggar people – they won’t ask me for money, and even though there is poverty there, they have a can-do attitude.”
Moreover, by establishing the AME Church in India, “the people (are like those) in the New Testament – to become Christians, they had to sell out and have a real commitment (to Jesus Christ) because they are surrounded by Hindu culture, family and everything,” the bishop explains. “They made a real decision and a real seriousness in the way they view the Gospel.”
Finally, Bryant believes that overall, the AME Church must be more involved in people’s total lives on a regular basis, and not just on Sunday mornings. “I think we are really being challenged as a Church to address the issues that are challenging our people in these times. I talk about our young people falling through the cracks, and the Church really isn’t addressing it. When the church becomes afraid of our youth (just) as the larger White society, that spells a breakdown. So my job as (bishop) is to motivate and inspire the pastors, so that they can go back and teach and inspire the congregation to be involved in the empowerment of our people.
“That deals with the economy and things that need to be adjusted,” concludes Bryant. “That deals with our schools, and other issues right now that are not being addressed. When you look at the breakdown that was already occurring was in the society, those issues still have to be addressed that deal with the quality of life of people. I am hoping that we will be about that in this District.”
8. PRESIDING ELDER NORMAN V. OSBORNE: LEADING THE “SOARING” SOUTH MICHIGAN DISTRICT IN A MAJOR WAY:
*The Reverend Dr. Michael C. Carson
“Presiding Elders are appointed by the Presiding Bishop. Presiding Elders superintend over the sub-districts of the Annual Conference.” The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008
The Reverend Dr. Norman V. Osborne Presiding Elder of the Michigan Annual Conference “Soaring” South District has been quite busy in leading the work of the South Michigan District.
This has been a busy year for the “Soaring” South Michigan District, which began with the District Conference.
The “Soaring” South Michigan District Conference was held on April 13-15, 2009. It was an event filled with excellent teaching, preaching, fellowship, fun, and food that greatly blessed those present in our head and heart!
The District Conference was hosted by Saunders Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Detroit, Michigan where Reverend Dwayne A. Gary and Mrs. Faith Gary served as the host pastor and spouse.
The Rev. Dr. Robert Brumfield, “Soaring” South District administrative assistant and pastor of Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, Michigan; the Reverend Andre’ L. Spivey, program assistant and pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Detroit, Michigan; Sister Betty J. Tuggle, Michigan Conference Lay President, and Member of Mount Zion AME Church in Battle Creek, Michigan, following Elder Osborne’s leadership, laid out a wonderful program for all attending the conference.
The membership of Saunders Memorial entertained and fed those that attended with such food and Christian kindness-My God!
There was anointed preaching by the Rev. H. Michael Lemmons, Michigan Annual Conference North District Presiding Elder; the Rev. Dr. James Perkins pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan; the Reverend Welton Smith, IV, pastor of New Life Family Church Detroit, Michigan, and the Reverend Kevin Cosby pastor of Connor-Mayo AME Church in Dowagiac, Michigan.
Dr. Alicia Alverez shared with the conference points of law regarding AME Church business.
The Rev. Dr. Cecelia Greenbar, Fourth Episcopal District Ministerial Retreat Director and pastor of Trinity AME Church in Detroit, Michigan spoke about on the Retreat that took place on May 11-14, 2009 at beautiful “five-star” Camp Baber in Cassopolis, Michigan.
Dr. Greenbar also blessed the conference by presenting on “Using Technology in Worship.” She taught on how to have great music in worship even when there is no musician on staff. She demonstrated how an iPod or MP3 Player along with a projector can enable worship to “not miss a beat” due to the absence of a musician.
The Reverend Bobette Hampton, Southwest Michigan AME Church Ministerial Alliance Vice-President and the Reverend Dr. Michael C. Carson, President of the Ministerial Alliance led a discussion on the hosting of the 123rd Session of the Michigan Annual Conference that took place August 19-23, 2009 at the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
June 12-13, 2009 the Mount Zion AME Church in Battle Creek, Michigan was the host church for the “Soaring” South District’s Sunday School Convention. The Rev. Dr. Micheal Smith and Mrs. Micsha Smith serve as the host pastor and host First Lady. The theme of the conference was “Mission Possible” based on St. Luke 18:27.
The Reverend Jerry Hatter, Michigan South District Sunday School Superintendent and pastor of Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan and the Reverend Anna Higginbotham, Assistant Church School Director of Smith Chapel AME Church in Inkster, Michigan did a marvelous job of making sure that this meeting would be one to be remembered!
The Rev. Ernest J. Garrison, Fourth Episcopal District Director of Sunday School and pastor of Vernon Chapel AME Church in Flint, Michigan and Mrs. Joyce Keys Garrison, Fourth Episcopal District Women’s Missionary Society President were in attendance. Pastor Garrison presented on “The Mission of the Church School.”
After a major evening worship service highlighting various dance ministries of the South District the venue changed from the church to the Full Blast Recreation and Sports Center in Battle Creek for a wide complement of activities.
On Saturday there were a number of workshops addressing the use of technology in worship and public relations. Also there was invaluable information on how to guard against persons that use the internet for wrong reasons.
The membership and culinary staff of Mount Zion left no stone unturned concerning the entertaining of the Convention-excellent!
Presiding Elder Osborne and Dr. Pamela Osborne, Esq. served as the Host Presiding Elder and Spouse for the 123rd Session of the Michigan Annual Conference.
Truly Presiding Norman V. Osborne has been very busy leading the “Soaring” South Michigan District by example!
*The Reverend Dr. Michael C. Carson is the Fourth Episcopal District Director of Public Relations and pastor of Union Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He can be reached at carsonvision@acd.net
9. THE 16TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2010 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
The Right Reverend Sarah Francis Davis, Presiding Prelate
Mr. Claytie Davis, Jr., Episcopal Supervisor
February
03 Haiti WMS Annual Convention, Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti
04-07 Haiti Annual Conference, Mary Beckett AMEC, Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti
10 Dominican Republic WMS Convention, Impacto de Vida, La Romana, Dominican Republic
11-14 Dominican Republic Annual Conference, Impacto de Vida, La Romana, Dominican Republic
24-26 Global Development Council Executive Meeting, Lyon, France (16th District Hosting)
March
17 Guyana/Suriname WMS Convention, Franklin Talbot AMEC, Georgetown, Guyana
18-21 Guyana/Suriname Annual Conference, Franklin Talbot AMEC, Georgetown, Guyana
24-29 Invitation to Dialogue with Brazilian Black Methodist, Rio de Janeiro Brazil
April
07 Jamaica WMS Annual Convention, Selby’s Temple AMEC, Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica
08–11 Jamaica Annual Conference, Selby’s Temple AMEC, Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica
13 AMEC Connectional Day of Prayer
14 Windward Islands WMS Annual Convention, Fountain AMEC, Port of Spain, Trinidad
15-18 Windward Islands Annual Conference, Fountain AMEC, Port of Spain, Trinidad; Venue: Crown Hotel, 3rd Ave, Barataria Port of Spain, Trinidad
21 Virgin Islands WMS Annual Convention, Bethel AMEC, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
22-25 Virgin Islands Annual Conference, Bethel AMEC, St. Croix, Virgin Islands
May
05 European Conference WMS Annual Convention, The Netherlands, Holland
06-09 European Annual Conference, Grady’s Chapel AMEC, The Netherlands, Holland
July
13-17 16th District Christian Education Empowerment Conference,
St. Michaels, Barbados, Barbados Beach Club
10. EXCELLENT WEBSITE FOR PASTORS, CONNECTIONAL AND LOCAL CHURCH LEADERS:
The Albans Institute
http://www.alban.org/
11. MILLION DOLLAR GRANT MEANS FORMATIVE TRAINING FOR ASBURY STUDENTS:
WILMORE, KY (November 16, 2009) – Asbury Theological Seminary received a $1 million grant Thursday, Nov. 12, from the Lilly Endowment’s initiative on Sustaining Pastoral Excellence (PSALM). This grant continues programs begun in 2003 under the “Pastoral Seasons as Life and Ministry” project, which received a $2 million Lilly grant. Asbury Seminary was also awarded more than $50,000 from the Lilly Foundation in 1992-1994. At the core of the project is Seminarius, a program that invites students to participate in the rhythms of the Christian life in personal and communal practices. It parallels the seminary’s Christian Formation Plan, a measurable quality enhancement plan rooted in Asbury’s historic commitment to holistic spiritual formation.
Seminarius, overseen by vice president for community life J. D. Walt, calls Asbury to a journey in wholeness and holiness. “This $1 million grant extension from the Lilly Endowment enables us to better shape a learning experience that nourishes and forms the whole person,” Walt says. “It allows our faculty and staff to more richly participate in the shaping of our students (and vice-versa) beyond the essential curricular learning of the classroom. We are very thankful for the vision and generosity of the Lilly Endowment.”
12. CHECK IT AT THE DOOR:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
I love to watch western movies. In some of them I often saw signs that read “Check your weapons” and ‘No weapons allowed.” Sometimes there would be a deputy Sheriff who met strange cowboys at the entering of the town and demanded that they hand over their weapons and that they could pick them up when they were ready to leave.
Even in the saloons the barkeeper would take the weapons and put them under the bar until the cowboys got ready to leave.
I have also gone to night clubs and restaurants that provided a “check room for hats, coats and other accessories that one didn’t need while inside. Persons who checked items were given a claim check so that a person’s item could be identified and not confused with another person’s item. If you are wondering what my point is, it may well be good if the churches would adopt the idea of a “check room,” figuratively and physically speaking.
We are admonished to: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. Psalms 100:4
This simply means that when we enter the place of worship we must leave every thing that would distract or prohibit us from worshipping in spirit and in truth, at the door. Some of us go to church with all kind of stuff with us that inhibit us from freely worshipping in Spirit and in truth. What we must do is to check our stuff at the door. And if you deem it necessary you can pick it up when you leave.
When we enter the house of worship and when we become members of a congregation, we are then brothers and sisters in Christ. During my ministry, I have had members who felt that it was an insult when I didn’t address them by their professional titles in church, and at other church meetings. One member left after he saw that I would not recognize and address him by his professional title.
I made it plain that I would recognize and address persons by their professional titles on the job or at any other gathering, but within the confines and activities of the church, I shared that I would address them as “brother” and “sister,” not, “doctor” or “attorney.”
Titles are not necessary in worship. People know who you are and what you do, so there is no need to address you by your title during worship.
What the church needs most are people with testimonies and not titles.
There is an exception and that is if an individual is a visitor he or she should be recognized by his or her title. But if they become members of the church, they become sister and brother. If I address one member by his or her professional title, then why shouldn’t I address the mechanic the clerk, the garbage collector and the hairstylist by their titles? They are just as important as the doctor, professor and politician in the sight of God.
Too many of us are “hung up” on titles. You may not realize it but those who are fortunate to have achieved degrees make some folk feel inferior and useless when they are around touting their titles. That is not what education supposed to do. Titles, in church, have no special privileges.
When we come to worship we should check our titles and professional status at the door. Check your attitude, check your cell phone and your Blackberry; leave them at the door.
And if, after worshipping, you find it necessary to pick them up when you leave, you may do so.
When we come to partake of the Holy Communion I don’t see titles I see souls refreshing their memories. I don’t see titles I see souls coming repenting for their sins. I don’t see titles I see souls who are heartily sorry for their misdoings. I don’t see titles I see souls coming in humble submission. I don’t see titles I see souls coming acknowledging that God is.
So the next time you go to worship why not stop by the “check” room figuratively and physically?
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts, author, teacher, counselor, and humorist is a retired Itinerant Elder who lives in Eatonville, Florida
Do you get it?
Two men were out fishing in a boat when a turbulent wind came up and overturned the boat and both of them were tossed into the water. One of them could swim but the other couldn’t. The swimmer swam to the bank, stood up and then jumped back into the water went and got his friend and brought him to shore. A curious bystander asked the man, why he didn’t bring the friend when he came out. The man said, "You see I had to save myself first."
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to share news of the passing of Mr. Altan L. Williams, the thirty-one year old nephew of the Reverend Bruce Butcher, president of the National Payne Theological Seminary Alumni Association and pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Akron, Ohio. Mr. Williams died this past weekend in a tragic car accident in Detroit, Michigan.
Service Arrangements for Mr. Altan L. Williams:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Viewing: 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM ET
Harold D Murdock Funeral Home
8033 Puritan Street
Detroit, Michigan 48238
(313) 345-8100
Friday, November 20, 2009
Family Hour: 10:30 a.m. ET
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. ET
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
23455 West Nine Mile Rd
Southfield, Michigan 48034
(248) 353-0675
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The family of Altan L. Williams c/o/ the Funeral home and church, addresses are listed above
Or expressions may be emailed to:
The Rev. Bruce Butcher: brucebutcher@earthlink.net
Or sent to:
The Rev. Bruce Butcher
St. Paul A.M.E. Church
1250 S. Hawkins Avenue
Akron, Ohio 44320
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of the Reverend Joseph J. Grant and Mrs. Lillie Mae Grant, parents of Dr. Jacquelyn Grant Collier, Presiding Elder Rosalyn G. Coleman, Reverend Dr. Debora F. Grant, Reverend Joseph H. Grant, Frank Grant, Patricia A. Smalls, and Dell Omega Grant. Mrs. Grant died on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 1:50 p.m. and the Reverend Joseph J. Grant died on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 12:50 a.m.
The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements for Reverend Joseph J. Grant and Mrs. Lillie Mae Grant:
Family Visitation Hour:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wilds Funeral Home
130 Merriman Road
Georgetown, SC 29440
Phone: (843) 546-6901
Celebration of Life Service:
Friday, November 20, 2009
1:00 p.m.
Bethel AME Church
417 Broad Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
Phone: (843) 546-4898
The Rev. M. Charmaine Ragin-Whittleton, Pastor
Funeral Home:
Wilds Funeral Home
130 Merriman Road
Georgetown, SC 29440
Phone: (843) 546-6901
Fax: (843) 546-6719
Email: bhuell@aol.com
Expressions of Sympathy and Condolences may be sent to:
The Family of the Late Rev. Joseph J and the Late Mrs. Lillie Mae Grant
C/o Presiding Elder Rosalyn Grant Coleman
805 Palm Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
Phone: (843) 904-6486
Fax: (843) 904-6487
Email: RCOLEMAN003@sc.rr.com
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Mr. Joe Columbus Rischer, the father of Sister Carol McDonald and father-in-law of the Rev. Walter R. McDonald, Pastor of Baker Chapel AME Church in Fort Worth, Texas (Northwest Texas Conference).
The Funeral has been held.
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Walter and Sister Carol McDonald
7501 Sagehill Ct.
Fort Worth, Texas 76123
Phone: (817) 294-2002
16. 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
17. 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
