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 – SOME THINGS CHANGE, BUT A LOT OF THINGS REMAIN THE SAME:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
I love the church and have attended church all of my life. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t attend church. I regularly attended church while I was in college. On the first Sunday that I was at Wilberforce University, I thought that I would sleep in, but that Sunday morning was so long and Emery Hall was so quiet, I got up and dressed and went to the Church of the Holy Trinity. Not going to church just didn’t seem right.
I have seen a lot of changes in churches over the years. Choirs have gotten bigger; more instruments have been introduced in worship services. As I was growing up, AME Churches had a piano and an organ and some established churches had musicians who played a trumpet or a saxophone. In churches that had high worship there might have been a musician who played the violin. Baptist churches where I grew up were pretty close to AME Churches in how they worshipped. Their big issue was baptism by immersion; they had a problem with infant baptism, but over the years I’ve noticed that some of the Baptist churches were baptizing younger and younger children, so much so, the infant baptism issue became blurred.
The drums and the guitars and the vast array of musical instruments were found in holiness churches; they were not popularly known then as Pentecostal churches, as they are today; they were holiness churches. And, sometimes they were known as “holy-roller” churches. Their worship services were quite different. In the AME and Baptist churches, a person wishing to join the church could simply walk up when the invitation was given and become a part of the fellowship. In the holiness churches, joining church was not as casual. Those who wanted to join a holiness church had to tarry for the Holy Ghost. And, sometimes that could be a long procedure if it took the person or persons a long time to get the Holy Ghost. The person or persons tarrying for the Holy Ghost had to show evidence of having gotten the Holy Ghost by shouting or “getting happy” and speaking in tongues. Over the years, the procedure for joining changed and in many holiness churches, people can simply walk forward and affirm that they have received the Holy Ghost. The more popular term for what we used to call “holiness churches” is now “Pentecostal Churches.”
There have been many changes and denominations and churches within denominations have blended, borrowed, and changed the way they have traditionally done things.
I have seen changes in AME Churches, but as much change as we have seen; there are many things that remain the same. There are some things that I observed years ago and I see those same things today, some of which I wish would change.
There are a couple of things that I would like to see changed
“Good morning, Church.” Why does every participant in the morning worship service have a need to say, “Good morning, Church”? Even some of the people on ministerial staffs participate in this worship oddity. The Call to Worship exhorts “worshippers to prepare themselves to worship God in Jesus Christ through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.” “Good morning, Church” is an unnecessary distraction.
And if that isn’t bad enough, if a different person gets up to pray, often you will hear him or her say, “Good morning, Church,” which has nothing to do with the prayer. And in those same worship services, if another person is reading the scripture, they start out with, “Good morning, Church.” And if that were not enough, the person leading the Decalogue says, “Good morning, Church.”
And, in those same worship services the person preaching the sermon, sometimes it’s the pastor, starts out with, “Good morning, Church.” How many “Good morning, Church” greetings do we need?
One of the first things I was taught as a licentiate was when you are called upon to participate in worship, get up and do what you are assigned to do. If you are called upon to pray, pray. If you are called upon to read the scripture, read the scripture. If you are invited to do the Decalogue, do the Decalogue. If you are invited to preach, preach!
And, while we are on reading the Scripture and reading or reciting the Decalogue, God’s Word does not need any addition or modification. Persons who read God’s Word should trust that God’s Word is sufficient for salvation and God’s Word does not need any help from any of us. People who are given the opportunity to read the Word of God should not feel the need to repeat a scriptural sentence or change the way a scriptural text is written. God does not need our help; God needs us to be obedient.
Another distraction is worship participants who insist on giving a testimony before they do what they have been called upon to do. Before the Call to Worship, a testimony; before the prayer, a testimony; before reading the scripture, a testimony; a testimony before leading in the Decalogue and some pastors insist on giving a testimony before the sermon. If the worship bulletin listed “Testimony and Call to Worship”; or “Testimony and Prayer”; “Testimony and Scripture” then I could understand the need for giving a testimony each time a person or a pastor participates in each act of worship. Our liturgy and the liturgy in any other denomination that I have seen do not append a “testimony” to the liturgical acts of worship.
The “Good morning, Church” and the need to give a testimony each time a person participates in worship are indicative of a bigger issue. The issue is an unwillingness to follow directions and the absence of discipline.
Very quickly, some short takes
Another thing that has remained the same is the need for some of our choirs to sing a song for 10-15 minutes. Songs can get good and that’s a good thing, but choir directors, musicians need to understand worship and find a happy medium.
Another worship distraction is long morning prayers that last 15 minutes or more. Generally the parts of corporate prayer include, “Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (simply intercessory prayer in which we pray for others) and a closing.”
The worship prayer is a corporate act of worship, not an individual act of worship. In other words, prayer as a corporate act of worship should avoid, “I”, “me”, and “my,” as in, “Lord bless my wife, bless my children.” Instead corporate prayer should address the needs of the collective body with use of the words, “our” and “us”, “them” and “those” as in, “Lord bless this congregation, bless those who are sick, those who are imprisoned, and bless our congregation.”
Appropriately, there should be time in worship for parishioners to address their own personal needs when they can use “I”, “me”, and “my,” as in, “Lord bless my wife, bless my children, bless my husband.” The altar call or allowing people to pray silently as a part of the Morning Prayer allows people to pray personal prayers. Many AME Churches have incorporated altar call as a part of the worship liturgy. Unfortunately, some pastors utilize the altar call as another opportunity to give a second morning prayer without allowing people to “have a little talk with Jesus.”
And, one more thing
Most people cannot comfortably sit through an hour-long sermon. Extremely long sermons are indicative loose sermon preparation. Some speakers are gifted and can hold a congregation’s attention for an hour-long sermon, but most preachers do not have that gift; but that’s another editorial.
Some things change, but a lot of things need to remain the same.
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
To the Editor:
RE: Editorial, Helping Dysfunctional Churches to Become Healthy, Functioning Churches
Your editorial is well-founded. A couple months ago as I was attending worship service, the preacher came down and extended the call to discipleship. An individual came down and the preacher had the officers to come and fellowship this individual. One of the officers shook the person's hand and said, and I quote as I overheard, "Welcome to the club." That is why so many of our churches are becoming dysfunctional.
There are those who see the church as a club and they act that way.
Anonymous
3. JOHN-WILLIAM GOINES WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE TSU STEM PROGRAM THIS SUMMER:
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John-William Goines, the son of Mrs. Beverly T. Goines, a member of St. James AME Church in Memphis, Tennessee has been accepted into the TSU STEM program. Our family is excited about his upcoming high school graduation, acceptance into the STEM program and we are excited about him attending TSU in the fall.
The information about the Tennessee State University STEM Program was posted in The Christian Recorder Online.
The HBCU-UP Project and Faculty of TSU recruited promising high school seniors, who plan to attend TSU in the fall and who have an interest in pursuing a college degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) discipline. Students accepted into the STEM Program’s Rising Freshman Summer Institute will attend Tennessee State University June 7 thru July 9, 2010. Twenty-four students have been selected to participate will receive the following support: (1) free room and board during the five-week summer academic enrichment program, (2) a modest stipend, (3) a peer mentor/tutor to work with them during the summer and throughout the freshman academic year; and (4) a financial award based on academic performance during the freshman academic year.
4. THE GREAT GATHERING – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE TRIUMVIRATE OF BLACK METHODISM HELD IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, MARCH 1-4, 2010:
Mrs. Ernestine Lee Henning,
Episcopal Supervisor, 3rd Episcopal District
A Common Legacy
Following the establishment of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church denominations in the late 1700s and the early 1800s (a few separate congregations began even earlier) the movement for freedom and independence swept across the land forming both separate and denominational congregations. In 1870, five years after Emancipation, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church denomination was established, completing the Triumvirate of Black Methodism.
Though beginning at different times throughout that early period, these churches were yet born of a common legacy-ignited by the fire of freedom and ordained by God in the spirit of justice and liberation. Beyond religion, these churches created a base for community for social and economic advancement.
Just as Rosa Park's courageous "stand" is the landmark by which we date the Civil Rights Movement, there is little debate that the protest of 1787, the walk-out at the white Methodist Church (determined by historians to "around" the third Sunday in November) was the defining moment propelling the historic Black Church Movement-a movement to which we as a Methodist family, as a Black Church are heirs today.
Declaration of Liberation
Whereas; A Catalyst for the BLACK CHURCH MOVEMENT was the protest for religious, social and economic liberation led by Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and others on a November Sunday morning, 1787, and,
Whereas; During that same time James Varick and other founders, in the spirit of freedom, did establish independent churches for slave and free, and,
Whereas; In November 1997, this historic time was designated and consecrated, as Liberation Sunday to be observed nationwide the 3'" Sunday of each November as a unifying point for Black churches in the 21" Century and beyond.
"Stand fast Therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1 KJV
5. THE 6TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT SALUTES ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS:
The Sixth District joined the world in celebrating the invaluable service of administrative professionals---especially for the AME Churches of Georgia.
On the last day of Administrative Professionals Week on Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Sixth District Headquarters, Bishop William P. DeVeaux and the new Enhancement Team of the Sixth District recognized the service of its administrative professionals who assist in AME Churches throughout the Sixth Episcopal District.
The recognition service included words of appreciation and encouragement from Bishop DeVeaux, an elegant luncheon, an overview of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) by Mrs. Anita Miller of the IAAP Decatur Chapter, and the presentation of awards.
The 27 Honorees grouped according to years of service
Twenty years and above
- Mrs. Anne R. Lewis (33 years): Saint Peters AME Church of the Georgia Conference/West Savannah District
-Theresa Fowler (30 years): Greater Mount Carmel AME Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/North Atlanta District
- Mrs. Johnnie Harris (28 years): Saint Philip AME. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/East Atlanta District
- Mrs. Margaret Simmons (23 years): Saint Philip AME Church/Georgia Conference/Savannah District
- Ms. Thomasina Farr (20 years): Greater Gaines AME Church/Georgia Conference/West Savannah District
- Rosie Austin (20 years): Saint Philip AME Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/East Atlanta District
Fifteen to Nineteen Years
- Mrs. Veronica Manigo (19 years): Saint Philip A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/East Atlanta District
- Mrs. Sylvia Morris (18 years): Greater Mount Zion A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/South Atlanta District
Fourteen Years and below
- Mrs. Venus Walker (10 years): Saint Paul A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/South Atlanta District;
- Mrs. Cynthia Phillips (5 years): Saint Philip A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/East Atlanta District
- Ms. Darshea Young (3 years): Greater Gaines A.M.E. Church/Georgia Conference/West Savannah District
- The Reverend Amanda Kelley (3 years); Turner Theological Seminary
- Ms. Martha Pittman (5 years): Cleveland Chapel A.M.E. Church/Macon Georgia Conference/Griffin District
- Ms. Regina Daniels (3 years): New Bethel A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/East Atlanta District
- Ms. Cynthia Graves (2 years): Greater Gaines A.M.E. Church/Georgia Conference/West Savannah District
- Mrs. Florence Moody (4 years): Saint Mark A.M.E. church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/West Atlanta District
- Ms. Carolene Brown (7 years): Cleveland Chapel A.M.E. Church/Macon Georgia Conference/Griffin District
- Ms. Willie Martin (5 years): Greater Gaines A.M.E. Church/Georgia Conference/West Savannah District - Ms. Loretta McKnight (3 years) Cleveland Chapel A.M.E. Church/Macon Georgia Conference/Griffin District
- Ms. Jacqueline Blades (8 years) Saint Paul Worship Center/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/East Atlanta District
- Ms. Paula Williams (9 years) Bethel A.M.E. Church/South Georgia Conference/Albany-Valdosta District - Ms. Annabella Wright (9 years): Allen Temple A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/West Atlanta District
- Ms. Theresa Burrell (8 years) Allen Temple A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/North Atlanta District
- Mrs. B.B. Calloway (12 years) A.M.E. SED Headquarters
- The Reverend Rae Fitch (6 years) A.M.E. SED Headquarters/Turner Theological Seminary
- The Reverend Melvin & Willene Edmonds (2 years) Turner Monumental A.M.E. Church/Atlanta North Georgia Conference/East Atlanta District
The list appended above represents about four percent of the total 500-plus churches in Georgia.
It is the goal of the SED Enhancement Team‘s outreach to administrative assistants is to help make the episcopal office more accessible to each local church through improved communication and helpful mentoring and training workshops.
Launched in October 2009, the Enhancement Campaign has the potential to bless the leadership and membership of the AME churches of Georgia within their respective counties in supportive and transforming ways.
Mrs. B.B. Calloway, the Coordinator of the Enhancement Campaign / Team and twelve-year Office Administrator for the Sixth Episcopal District Office, solicits the support of each local church as exciting enhancement developments get underway.
Mrs. Calloway humbly thanks Bishop and Dr. Pam DeVeaux for this privilege and for the opportunity to serve.
Mrs. Calloway also expressed appreciation for the untiring efforts of the members of the Enhancement Team whose support insured the success of this first gathering: the Reverend James Alexander (St Paul/Columbus); the Reverend Conitras Houston (SED HQ); Sister Annabella Wright (Allen Temple/Atlanta); and Ms. Theresa Burrell (Allen Temple/Woodstock).
Congratulations to all SED administrative assistants! Your invaluable service has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated.
All praises to God!
Submitted by Mrs. B.B. Calloway
6. 13TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT NEWS:
The Rev. William Smith
- Effective March 31st, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie appointed the Reverend William Howard Smith to the pastorate of Canaan AME Church in Columbia, Tennessee. Smith has been an Itinerant Elder since 1979, and has served in the Tennessee, East Tennessee, and West Kentucky Annual Conferences and is thankful to have the opportunity to serve again in the Tennessee Annual Conference just a few miles down the road from where his ministry began at St. Paul AME Church in Columbia. For eleven years, he served at Canaan’s sister Church, Jones Chapel AMEC, Mt Pleasant, Tennessee. Smith said, “I am thankful that Bishop McKenzie, Presiding Elder Troy Merritt and the Canaan membership are giving me the opportunity to be in service.”
- On Wednesday, April 21, 2010, The Tennessee State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers’ Executive Director Notified, the Reverend William Howard Smith and his wife, Willa Rose Sherrell Smith, that Michael Yearby was granted his Funeral Director’s License. Yearby completed his two year apprenticeship at the establishment named “The Rose of Sharon Funeral Service” located in Pulaski, Tennessee. Yearby was born in Canada and reared in Lawrence County, Tennessee. He and his wife, Joyce Hagwood Yearby, were tutored by the Smith’s and worked under their direct supervision. The Smith’s are proud of his accomplishment being that he successfully passed the State Board Exam on the first try.
7. UPDATE FOR BISHOP CAROLYN TYLER GUIDRY:
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry was released from Methodist Rehabilitation Center on Tuesday, April 27, 2010. She will continue her rest-recuperation at the 8th District Episcopal Residence:
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry
201 Sawbridge Drive
Ridgeland, MS 39157
8. UPDATE FOR 17TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT SUPERVISOR YVONNE KAWIMBE:
The Rev. Paul M. Mugala, Sr. [mugalapm@yahoo.com], pastor of Pleasant Valley AME Church in Michigan spoke with Bishop Paul Kawimbe this morning who advised that our beloved Mother Yvonne Kawimbe, Episcopal Supervisor of the 17th Episcopal District is doing much better.
Please find below the hospital contact information for Episcopal Supervisor Yvonne Kawimbe:
Physical Address:
Vereeniging Medi-Clinic
Cnr Joubert Street & Hofmeyer Avenue,
Vereeniging, 1939
South Africa
Postal Address:
Vereeniging Medi-Clinic
P O Box 760, Vereeniging, 1930
South Africa
Telephone Contact Numbers:
Main Hospital Phone #: 27-16-440-5000
WARD D - Phone#: 27-16-440-5570 - direct to the Hospital location where she is currently.
9. MILITARY DISCOUNTS AND FEDERAL EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS:
This might be of interest to those on active duty, retired and federal employees. I have confirmed that Home Depot and Lowes give 10% year-round discount to federal employees to include active and retired military. All Federal employees are able to get a 15% discount on their personal cell phones by calling their carrier and mentioning the "Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 - Discount to Federal Employees Past and Present."
Editor’s Note: I just checked with my mobile phone provider, Verizon and they do indeed give discounts to active and retired military and to federal employees.
It’s amazing that none of the facilities volunteered information about discounts for military (active and retired) and federal employees. I guess that a person as to ask for the discounts.
On another note, I asked a worker at McDonalds why she didn’t just assume that I was a senior citizen and give me the senior citizen’s discount without my having to ask. She responded that she was not allowed to assume anyone was a senior citizen and couldn’t ask a person if he or she was a senior citizen.
10. THE PLUSSES AND MINUSES OF INTEGRATION:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
Black people, even though we lived “across the tracks,” had more control of our communities, our schools and our homes before integration,
It was unheard of for any child to curse their parents and get away with it. It was unthinkable for any student to curse a teacher. It was unthinkable for any child to call the police on their parents when they were chastised or punished.
Although we were issued used books, the teachers were more dedicated and insisted and made us do our school work.
More black men graduated from college than they do now. The black male respected the black female and didn’t call them ugly names. Not only that, but they respected themselves. They dressed properly and groomed themselves like gentlemen should.
The black men taught their sons good work ethic, and not only their sons, but other young men in the community; there were some good role models in our black communities. Admittedly, there were a few “bad apples” that did not measure up, but that number was scarce.
Culturally, we have lost ground. Some of us feel that God didn’t treat us right so we spend our finances trying to correct it. We don’t like our noses, our ears, our hair, our lips and even our color. Many blacks feel that they could do a better job than God.
Women, before integration, sacrificed for their children; their children came first. But now, the children are sacrificing for their mothers so that their mothers can sit for hours in a beauty salon.
In the field of education, we have made some gains, but we have more black men incarcerated than we have in colleges.
Many of our black males get involved in crimes and drugs and when they are caught they have the audacity to scream, ”They are picking on me because I’m black.”
Now, I know that there will always be racial prejudices and some blacks have been falsely accused and prosecuted, but some of our black males use race as an excuse to commit crimes and “play the race card” when they get caught.
Economically, some gains have been made, but some of us have developed a serious case of “convenient amnesia” when we get in positions of authority. I have observed snobbish black clerks and receptionist and what some of them don’t realize is that we are still in a period of “Integration 101.”
When some of us move to the suburbs and live in our split-levels houses with multiple garages, we forget and neglect our brothers and sisters who live in poverty and struggle economically.
Even today, there are some of us who are not fazed by the celebration and recognition of Black History Month or Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations; and that, my friends, is sad.
Gone are the corner stores when the owners knew their customers by name and where they lived. Gone are the days when you could buy groceries on credit and pay Papa Jake on Saturday evening. Gone are the days when you could see Papa Jake in church on Sunday when the store was closed.
In the field of religion, there are some folks who feel that the church “across the tracks” can give them a smoother “ride to glory” and that our AME pastors are not “equipped” to lead them; so we see an exodus from black churches to the churches across town.
Many in our black communities have abandoned the church that once held their communities together. Our fore-parents built worship places with much less and many of the churches they built are still standing.
Today, with the economic gains we have made, many of our churches struggle to meet their expenses.
We have the same God and the same Gospel that brought us through turbulent times; and that’s why we used to sing “nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen.”
Something has happened to our psyche that makes us think that shopping and hoping around from one church to another would lessen our responsibility and duties as a Christian. The Word of god does not change, regardless of where it is preached and who preaches it.
In the field of sports, there is no doubt that we have excelled, but some have been mesmerized by the instant success, popularity and fame. Sad to say, many of those who excel in sports and entertainment are not mature enough to handle success. They are caught up with the concept that they can do anything they desire and get away with it.
In the field of politics, we have made tremendous gains, but there are those who have brought disgrace to their families and their communities and have betrayed the trust of the people by thinking that they could join the motley crew of “political crooks” and get away with it. They become intoxicated with position, power and greed; what a pity.
Those who have sacrificed and have given their lives for the sake of equality would be shocked at some of the results of their sacrifices.
It is this writer’s opinion that our minuses are greater than our plusses when it comes to evaluating the accomplishments of integration.
What do you think?
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts (Ptaegar@aol.com) is a retired AME pastor who lives in Eatonville, Florida.
A real story: Some years ago at the AME General Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, there was an elderly gentleman who was attending his first General Conference. As he walked down the halls he shook his head and said, “Um, um, um; how can they get anything done with all of these people going in and out of these saloons.
11. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- The Reverend Joseph B. Pridgen, pastor of Union Hill A.M.E. Church in Wilson's Mills, North Carolina will unite in marriage with Ms. Kenya Janell Harris on Saturday, the 29th of May in the year of our Lord Two thousand Ten. The wedding will take place at the Bethel AME Church in Greensboro, North Carolina at twelve o'clock noon. The Reverend Joseph B. Pridgen is the son of Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Conrad K. Pridgen, pastor and first lady of Ward Memorial A.M.E. Church, Washington, DC. The Reverend Dr. Conrad K. Pridgen, father of the groom, will perform the wedding ceremony.
Congratulatory responses can be sent to:
THE Rev. Joseph B. Pridgen
129 Henly Place
Smithfield, NC 27577
Congratulatory responses can be emailed to: anointeddestiny@yahoo.com
- Tiffany Marie Kelly, a sophomore at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., pastor and first-lady of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge was selected to represent a new school, "The Mentorship Academy" via the Internet in a commercial. Her talent agent and others recommended Tiffany and after several auditions she was selected to appear in this Internet and television commercial. To view the commercial see www.mentorshipbr.org. (Tiffany Marie Kelly is the young lady wearing the blue shirt).
Congratulatory responses can be emailed to: hokellyj@yahoo.com
12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Ms. Donna Rae Louden, the cousin of the Rev. Ellis B. Louden, pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church in Dover, Delaware (Delaware Conference, Dover District). The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Viewing and Funeral, Friday, April 30, 2010
Viewing - 10:00 a.m.
Funeral - 11:00 a.m.
Ebenezer A.M.E. Church
1109 Emerson Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847-328-1707
Fax: 847-328-0596
The Rev. Oscar Crear, pastor
The Rev. Ellis B. Louden, Eulogist
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
- The Rev. Ellis B. Louden and Family
3 Michael Court
Dover, DE 19904
- Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church
101 N. Queen Street
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: 302-678-9478
Fax: 302-678-9192
- Ebenezer AME Church
1109 Emerson Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: 847-328-1707
Fax: 847-328-0596
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of one of our Eighth District pastors, the Reverend John K. Colenberg, who passed on Monday, April 26, 2010. He pastored two churches; Allen AMEC in Woodville, Mississippi and Bethel AMEC (Kingston) in Natchez, Mississippi. He leaves his five children and two pastoral brothers; the Rev. Anthony C. Colenberg also an AMEC pastor in the South Mississippi Conference, Natchez-Port Gipson District; and the Rev. Dr. Elvis Eli Colenberg, pastor of the Hollywood Missionary Baptist Church, and many other siblings and cousins.
Funeral arrangements for the Rev. John K. Colenberg:
Saturday, May 1, 2010
12:00 Noon
Hollywood Missionary Baptist Church
1700 Hollywood Road
Fayette, MS 39069
Viewing Hour from 11 am to 12 Noon
Professional services entrusted to:
Spencer Funeral Home
131 Charles Evers Street
Fayette, MS 39069
Condolences may be sent to the church, in care of the family of Rev. John K. Colenberg or to the Funeral Home.
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Linda Marie Jackson Lewis, the sister of the Rev. Ray Jackson, pastor of Turner Chapel AME Church, Greenwood, Mississippi.
Service arrangements for Mrs. Linda Marie Jackson Lewis are as follows:
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Viewing: 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Funeral Services: 11:00 am
Leonard Chapel AME Church
3720 Leonard Chapel Road
Independence, Louisiana 70443
The Rev. Wardell Dyson, Jr., pastor
985-748-5367
Eulogist, the Rev. Otis S. Lewis, Presiding Elder
Greater New Orleans-Greensburg District, Louisiana Conference
Professional services provided by:
Richardson's Funeral Home
501 NW Central Ave.
Amite, Louisiana 70422
Expressions of sympathy may be mailed to:
The Rev. Ray Jackson & Family
426 Jackson Lane
Independence, Louisiana 70443
Phone: 985-517-7496
Email: Turnerchapel456@bellsouth.net
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Fred Coleman, the brother of Sister Joycelyn Dixon, the wife of the Rev. Dr. Waymon Dixon, pastor of St. Paul AMEC, Delray, Florida. Brother Coleman was a member of St. Paul AMEC, Leesburg, Florida where the Rev. Terence Blair is the Pastor. He was a graduate of Florida A&M University / Florida State University with a B.S. in Engineering and was employed as an Engineer at Sparton Microelectronics. Mrs. Beverly Coleman, his wife and their two sons will always cherish their beautiful memories.
The following information has been provided regarding homegoing services for Brother Fred Coleman:
Saturday, May 1, 2010 -1:30 p.m.
St. Paul AMEC
110 S. Lake St.
Leesburg, Florida 34748
Phone: 352.787.5248
The Rev. Terrance Blair, Pastor
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
- The family of Fred Coleman
St. Paul AME Church
110 S. Lake Street
Leesburg, Florida 34748
- Email to: wtdixon@bellsouth.ne t
561.278.5528 - Phone
The Rev. Vincent Mitchell, Presiding Elder
North District, South Conference
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Home going celebration of Rev. U. A. Russell, who faithfully served as Pastor in the Island towns of Key Largo and Marathon Florida for many years, will be held at New Bethel AMEC in Clewiston, Florida on Thursday night April 29, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
The Rev. U. A. Russell served faithfully as an associate Minister at New Bethel Clewiston after retiring. Servant of God well done!!
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Family of the Rev. U. A. Russell
c/o New Bethel AME Church
P. O. Box 595
Clewiston, Florida 33440
The Rev. Emmanuel Menager, Pastor
New Bethel AMEC Clewiston
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Brother Richard Laster; the son of Mrs. Mary Palmer Walker. Mrs. Mary Palmer Walker is the widow of Reverend E. N. Palmer and Reverend James Walker. She is a Life Member of the Women's Missionary Society. Richard was the pianist and songbird for the Southeast Alabama Conference and wiregrass area. Brother Laster was a member of New Zion AME Church, Enterprise. Reverend Lisa Cade, Pastor.
The following information has been provided regarding homegoing services for the songbird of the Southeast Alabama Conference and wiregrass area:
Homegoing Services
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
1:00 p.m.
Saint Paul AME Church
774 Andrews Avenue
Ozark, Alabama 36360
The Reverend Fred Flowers, Pastor
Professional care entrusted to:
Lewis & Lewis Funeral Home
866 E. Broad
Ozark, Alabama 36360
(334) 445-0902
The family hour will be Monday, April 26, 2010, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Mrs. Mary Palmer Walker
1488 Martin Luther King Avenue
Ozark, Alabama 36360
(334) 774-4840
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Mr. O .Z. Hair, the brother of Reverend Carl V. Hare, pastor of Bethany AMEC (Philadelphia Conference, Philadelphia District) and the Reverend Jimmy Hare, associate minister at Emmanuel AMEC (Philadelphia Conference, West District). The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Funeral, Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.
Mt. Olive AME Church
Little Mountain, SC
The Rev. Michael Harp, pastor
Professional care entrusted to:
Wilson Funeral Home
64 Boundary Street
Newberry, SC 29108
Phone: 1-803-276-3189
Fax: 1-803-276-3184
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
- The Rev. Carl V. Hare
3082 S. Congress Road
Camden, NJ 08104-3104
- The Rev. Jimmy Hare
1400 Longford Road
Collegeville, PA 19426
- The Wilson Funeral Home
19. 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
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
BLOG: http://ameccfic.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
20. 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
