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
A Reminder: If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere.
1. EDITORIAL – A FLY ON THE WALL:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
The General Board Meeting in Birmingham was exciting and exhilarating.
The Investiture of Bishop James Davis was “off the hook” with its pomp and circumstance and the music was outstanding. The message delivered by Dr. Robert Michael Franklin, President of Morehouse College, was awesome.
The General Board Meetings, as with all AME Connectional meetings, was a great venue for fellowship and for renewing old relationships and for forging new relationships. AMEs know how to have a meeting. AMEs have the meeting and then, we have “the meeting.” I suspect that as much business is conducted in the hallways and in the restaurants as in the scheduled venue.
I happened upon "a meeting" in the restaurant between two ladies
I had gone to the hotel restaurant because I wanted to get away by myself to catch up on some reading and went to a far corner of the restaurant to get some “me time.” Shortly after I sat down, two ladies arrived and they were engaged in a deep conversation as they took their seats at the table. It was obvious to me that they were having “a meeting.” They sat at the table next to me, but because of the configuration of the restaurant, they apparently could not see me, or I them, but the acoustics allowed me to hear every word they said; and they were, indeed having “a meeting.”
I was not eavesdropping and I could have moved because their conversation distracted me from my “me time,” but I heard them mention several names I was familiar with and they were fellow AMEs; and that piqued my interest; so much so, that as their conversation progressed I took out my pen and paper and took some notes. I had not intended to do that, but I did. I don’t know why I decided to take notes; but I did. I don’t normally do take notes of the conversations of people seated near me in restaurants.
I didn’t know their names then and I don’t know their names today, but their engaging conversation was one that pastors and the leadership of the Church need to hear. Even if I knew their names I would not share their names because their names are not important, but their conversation was important. I am giving them the familiar names of Sister Smith and Sister Jones.
I could tell that they loved the AME Church, but I also could tell that they had some issues that bothered them.
I was like a “fly on the wall” and I was hoping that they would be oblivious to my presence; apparently they were.
Childhood recollections
I heard Sister Smith say, “I was so blessed growing up to have grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles who showed us a good family experience. Somewhere along the way, too many of “our people” rejected this lifestyle for something else... something ugly. When I was growing up it was a given that we were going to Sunday School. I raised my own children the same way.
Sister Jones responded, “It's a matter of background, I guess. I thank God every day for my parents. I started Sunday School at age 3 and I thought that was why God made Sundays. I remember going with my Grandmother to Sunday School. Oh, yes, Christmas, Easter and Mother’s Day, we all, dreaded, but looked forward to receiving our special “piece” and memorizing it. Even a 4-line verse was a big accomplishment for the 3 and 4-year olds. Yes, Sunday was the day for Sunday School and church that became a "habit," which has continued! We tried to instill that in our children.
Nostalgic conversations about youth always head “south”
Sister Smith responded, “Church has changed. People don’t respect the church anymore. I think the changes started with the influx of drugs into the African American community. I remember that drugs became prominent in our area when my oldest child was in high school and from there it has just continued downhill for so many of our kids for so many years and for parents, too. Drugs have certainly made a difference in the way of life, as we can all witness. It seems to me that we have pretty much lost an entire generation and drugs have stopped us from making the great positive strides that we should have accomplished by now.”
Sister Jones responded, “I agree... drugs are the modern day plague; that and HIV/AIDS. The church doesn’t seem to have a clue”
When “church” is mentioned the conversation will always head “due south” - I knew it was coming next
Sister Smith said, “Our church has lost a lot of members. We are not a large church anymore – we have about 200 members, and less than half of that number attend; sometime our attendance is so pitiful. The most active workers are older people. The young people just won’t work in the church.
Sister Jones excitedly commented, “That's usually the case, isn't it? The problem is that when the older ones step aside, there is difficulty getting the younger ones to take over. It seems to me that we forget the necessity of training our young adults to take over. At least that has been the experience in my church.”
Sister Jones went to say, “I have a son and daughter-in-law who are active in the United Methodist Church. When I visit their church, I marvel at the number of people in attendance who are 45 and younger. I haven't yet figured out their formula, but young professionals may have been influenced by their long-time pastor who is active and influential in the community, plus he is and outstanding preacher. You know that the Methodists don’t allow their fulltime pastors to hold secular jobs, so they have the time to build the congregation. Our pastor works fulltime and ...”
Sister Smith interrupted, “When pastors have a job outside of the church, I am sure they are ‘stretched thin’ and they have to support their families. We don’t have the membership to pay a pastor a decent salary. She continued, “I believe that we could do better, but the people just don’t seem to want to do better. We used to pay a fulltime salary, but then we had pastors who said they couldn’t live off of the salary we paid them. And added to that, we have had a number of pastoral changes and the different pastors; and the order of worship has changed with each pastor and that has caused some of our problems.
Sister Jones responded, “One thing about my son's United Methodist Church...the pastor has had a pretty long-term tenure, as did his predecessor. The worship service is up-to-date but it isn't an extreme departure from a traditional United Methodist order of worship. My son’s church uses technology - lyrics of praise and worship songs and hymns flashed on screens and does the same thing with the Scriptures, prayers and the announcements. The pastor preaches from the lectionary and parishioners kind of know where the sermon is coming from. In our church, the sermon comes from here and yonder and we never know from one Sunday to the next where the sermon is coming from. There is no discernible continuity. And most times, the music does not have any relationship with the sermon. Our worship services lack order and we take all day.”
Uh oh, this conversation is getting ready to turn “south” on the local Church – I just know it
Sister Smith excitedly responded, “I understand what you were saying when you talk about your church services lacking order. Our worship service has all but departed from our traditional AME order of worship. Sometimes I think that I am in a nightclub, although our current pastor has returned us to a more traditional order of worship. I just wonder if pastors can just do in worship what they want to do without regard for the congregation or do they received some kind of oversight from the presiding elder or the bishop. Our previous pastor intimated that he wasn’t worried about the bishop, though I did notice that he toned it down whenever the presiding elder visited.
Sister Jones responded, “The attempt to change our method of worship in our church is not working and is not attracting new members. I am not sure what the missing ingredient is in our area...or maybe I have an idea but don't want to say.”
I think this is going to get ugly
Sister Smith said, “I think some of the AME Churches in our area are so concerned with increasing declining membership that they abandon what makes us a connectional AME Church, so they try to emulate the worship format of what they view as "growing churches."
Sister Jones responded, “Yeah, In my church, we seem to be concerned with attracting young people, so we have a lot of "contemporary" music, to the near-exclusion of the meaningful old hymns of the faith. Believe it or not, a friend at a neighboring AME Church told me that the children at her church said that if they wanted to hear that kind of worldly music, they didn't have to come to church to hear it; they could hear that in the street; that amazed me! Somebody's well-intended "purpose" had met defeat. I strongly believe that changes in the order of worship without explanation and training do more harm than good.
Sister Smith responded, “Now that is a profound revelation. I would imagine you have experienced the same thing that frustrates me...that is, a bunch of old heads sitting in a room debating what the church can do to retain and/or attract young people to the church. Simple: Ask the youth what they are looking for. As the kids say, ‘Duhhhhh.” I can see incorporating some contemporary music into the services but not to the exclusion of everything else. There has to be a blending of music and intergenerational fellowship. I think most of us understand that we need change, but a mangling of our worship does not seem helpful. And, besides, music is not the magic formula that makes churches grow. I have lived long enough and visited enough churches, AME and churches in other denominations and have seen vibrant churches whose choirs were average and whose pastors were not “hot-shot” preachers.
Sister Jones said, “I agree. I have seen growing churches where the pastor was bivocational and the music was nothing to “shake a stick” at and I have seen failing churches with fulltime pastors and great music. I think it’s the total religious program and the church’s relevance to the people it serves. It’s not the choir or the music; Duhhhhh!”
Sister Smith responded, “I could see the choir singing whatever they want to sing, but I would still appreciate the opening hymn, the sermonic hymn, and the hymn of invitation being appropriate hymns. Hymns that are inappropriate and carelessly chosen disrupt a worship service. In my experience the opening hymn, sermonic hymn and the hymn of invitation were usually chosen by the pastor to fit the sermon; the musician and choir chose their special selections. Girl friend, just don't change my AME Church so much that I can't recognize it anymore.” Sister Smith continued, “I pass a number of churches of various denominations as I drive a great distance to my church. With the service as it is now, I could stop at either one of the churches I pass along the way; Pentecostal, Baptist, non-denominational etc.; and I could attend a similar service and save a lot of gas money.” Listen, I grew up Baptist and when I was learning about the AME Church, one of the things that was stressed was the order of service was structured so that an AME should be able to attend any AME Church, anywhere in the world, and feel comfortable and at home in worship service. Once we started to mess with that, I felt we'd lost something very special. I can go to AME Churches, sometimes even my own church, because when I look at the bulletin, I recognize what's on it, but I can't even come close to judging where we are in the worship service. I am sure that Richard Allen wouldn’t understand the worship in some of our AME Churches.”
Sister Jones responded, “I am telling you, it used to be that one of the great things about being an AME was that you are never a stranger when you visited another AME Church.”
Sister Smith said, “You got that right, we are strangers in some of our ‘wild’ church services, sometimes even in my own church. We have strayed from the AME path. Sorry, I couldn't resist throwing that one in. Some of our churches need to return to the basics. Do some of our pastors not understand that?”
Sister Jones responded, “I have an opinion. I have concluded that a lot of our churches are now into "contemporary" music because they go ‘on the cheap’ to hire a musician; our church has an excellent musician now, but over the years, I have seen too many musicians who played by ear...couldn't read a lick of music. They didn’t come from an AME or other Methodist background and consequently, they couldn't follow the order of worship or play any of the hymns. Instead of the pastors insisting that their untrained musicians learn the AME order of worship, they compromised out of desperation to keep a musician and told the musician, ‘we will sing what you can play.’ What happened was the musician gradually introduced traditions of other denominations into our services.”
Sister Smith responded, “I've "been there and seen that too. In our church, we have "grown so much" that our doors are closed Monday through Saturday, we have one-hour or less of church school teaching; and one long, long service on Sunday. My church wears me out from so much loudness and hollering from praise teams to help the congregation ‘get in the frame of worship.’ I don’t think God is hard of hearing, and I am afraid God’s hearing is going to be damaged like mine from the loud music bouncing off the back wall and all the screaming in the microphone as the sermon is delivered with the assistance of the musical instruments.”
Sister Jones said, “I am all for high praise and I don’t believe in quenching the Spirit. But sometimes, I think some adults believe that their status gives them license to be undisciplined, showy and that they can do as they please...too often blaming it on the Holy Spirit.”
I thought they were finished
Sister Jones said, “I need to get this off my chest about music in the church. You know, we need to be on a “teaching mission.” Actually, I've never agreed with the notion that we should give the young people what they want in church. My feeling is that we need to bring our children and other children to church and have them participate in what they find there. Church is different, or should be different from anything they find anywhere else. It's not comprised of ‘what they want.’ They don't have the privilege of making it what they want it to be; that said, those in charge should be creative enough to make sure that certain portions of the church experience are appealing to all ages in some way; and there are many ways to do that. Other churches do that. I think that it’s okay to bring the youth in ask them ‘what they are looking for.’ What I mean is that this step will bring youth into the process and open up dialogue. But, it is not the same as giving them what they want. In some situations, the dialogue might get the response that "they are looking for something different from what they can get on the street." In other instances, they might have misguided notions of what church should be; this provides thinking adults with opportunities to open up dialogue and educate the youth on what a worship service is - a spiritual engagement with God, not entertainment. Worship is not a basketball game or other sports’ event.”
Even the youth choir
Sister Smith responded, “Children in a choir they need to be taught what it means to be in a choir and how to act in a choir - they need to understand that they're in front of all those people, to sit erect and not. text and play games between their singing moments; and look at the director when singing.
Opps, a parting shot at the adult choir
Sister Jones said, “Amen! Some adults choir members apparently never learned about the responsibilities of being in a choir. There are several adults whom I have observed over the years in all types of churches who did not learn this lesson when they were children. The children may be only modeling what they see adult choir members do: chew gum, laugh and whisper to one another, write notes, read something other than the reading along with the biblical text; or sleep during the sermon. The choir members should, at least, look like they are "interested" in the sermon.”
The preacher gets some help
Sister Smith said, “I used to sing in the choir and the members sitting in the pews behaved just as badly as the choir members. It has to be distracting to pastors to see members in the pew chewing gum, laughing and whispering to one another, writing notes, reading something other than reading along with the biblical text; texting on their cellphones; sleeping during worship; and worse, sleeping during the sermon.”
A little attack on some preachers
Sister Jones responded, “It bothers me when preachers ramble on and on about one thing or another. Pulpit associates are the worst offenders. I guess they don’t get an opportunity to preach and when they are asked to participate they go ‘hog wild’ with nonsense. I remember Bishop Cummings saying, “If you’re asked to pray, pray. If you’re asked to read the scripture, read the scripture.” Bishop Cummings also said in one of his annual conference teaching moments that worship leaders; preachers or laity, are not emcees. When they preside at a worship service, he or she should announce that the service will proceed as printed in the program unless there are changes, which he or she, at that moment, should announce the changes; and thereafter proceed. Once we are into the worship service, it should flow without unnecessary distractions. We should be focused on God and behave reverently in God’s presence. Worship services are different from programs. Lord, have mercy!! Don't get me started.”
Sister Smith said, “Some preachers need to learn how to read, especially how to pronounce the names in the Bible. I have heard some preachers mumble through the names in the scripture. They read the Scripture so poorly that the meaning and impact of the text are lost.” She went to add, “There is no excuse for a pastor to mispronounce biblical terms; they are suppose to be educated. They be always telling us to ‘be ready’ when they ain’t ready, pardon my English.”
Sister Jones, “Preachers need to be ready to preach on Sunday morning. Sometime I see my pastor writing notes all during the worship service and I be wondering what he’s doing. I found out. A couple of years ago, I was the emcee, opps, I mean worship leader for the afternoon program and went to the pulpit to make sure everything was in place. When I picked up the hymnbook, the morning worship service bulletin had some notes scribbled on it and it fell out. I read the words scribbled on the bulletin and they were the pastor’s preaching points that he had used that morning. Those speaking points looked like something my ten-year-old granddaughter had scribbled. Lord have mercy…”
Sister Smith said, “What! That’s unbelievable, but I am not surprised. I guess when we see pastors writing ferociously in the pulpit during the worship service, they be writing their sermons; pardon my English again. As they say back home, ‘Your peoples be somthin’ else!’”
Sister Jones was getting ready to respond, “Did you hear what Bishop…”
This might get juicy
But she was interrupted by three preachers who arrived loudly at the table where she and Sister Smith were sitting; and she didn’t finish the sentence.
The five of them got off into a discussion about what great restaurants that were in the area and it was evident, at least for now, sister Smith and Sister Jones’ “meeting” had come to an end.
I was the “fly on the wall” and I gathered my book, the paper with my notes and left the restaurant and went to a secluded area to organize the comments that I had heard because I felt there were some lessons to be learned…
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
- To the Editor:
Re: [tcr] Breaking News Article (8/3/10): No Rest For the Holy: Clergy Burnout a Growing Concern
This is an appropriate topic that requires vigorous discussion, planning and the implementation of some denominational policies. I know I am in the majority with of those Pastors who work 6 - 7 days per week and who "know" that if we take time off, so does the congregation and the offerings! It is a problem - a very big problem. And in this economy the problem is compounding itself. Obviously, if this were easy, most of us would have found a solution. This does require serious consideration. And the word V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N is not in The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008, nor is the concept of sabbatical. We need a mechanism for both.
Another point in the article is the recognition that most clergy members are obese -- in fact morbidly obese. I have a solution for that. Check out www.cookiecongregation.com. That is my company, and we are taking the fight against obesity to the Churches in the nation. And Pastors must lead by example. Can I submit to you an article that speaks to this issue?
Thanks for sharing the article.
The Rev. Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr., Pastor
Bryant Temple AME Church
323-754-8074
3. REPORT #1 - WOMEN IN MINISTRY CONNECTIONAL CONFERENCE, PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY AUGUST 4, 2010:
Received from the Rev. Velma E. Grant
Wednesday 10:15 p.m.
The Women In Ministry Conference got off to a dynamic start in the City of Brotherly Love – Bishop Norris said, “There is an aura of power in this place...I feel the Spirit in a special way in this place.”
There is so much to write but I cannot write it all, so those of you that are not here will just have to be content with the little that I share. We are off to a wonderful start here in Philadelphia at the Women in Ministry Quadrennial Conference 2010. The theme for the WIM Quadrennial is, “Navigating The Space Between Call And Response.” Registration started and the sisters stepped in and up, pitching in where help was needed, collected their registration bags filled with treats and waited with excitement for the evening service.
The evening service started with praise and worship followed by a dynamic intergenerational female and male dance team, “Divine Movement,” from Mt. Pisgah AME Church, Philadelphia. The Worship Leader was Presiding Elder, Henrietta Fullard who moved the service along with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Worship participants included Connectional Executive Board Members, Connectional Consultants Dr. Fry-Brown, Dr. Grant–Collier, the Rev. Sandra Smith Blair, and other clergy. The First District Mass Choir was singing the songs of Zion with joy and glee; there was certainly music in the air.
Dr. Teresa Fry-Brown was not the featured preacher but in her words for the occasion, everyone in the room could identify or see themselves in the many descriptive words/phrases that characterize a woman in ministry. In fact even if one were not a woman in ministry, the descriptive words would be appropriate for anyone who just happens to be female.
Various individuals expressed greetings beginning with the Connectional President, the Rev. Kimberly Detherage, Esq., who said “...we have reached a critical life, juncture...there is still more gains...God has more for each and every one of us...we celebrate 50 years of ordination of women...we celebrate that moment in history when we were allowed the fullest opportunity in the AME Church.” Bishop Richard Norris, Host Bishop, expressed greetings by stating “...There is an aura of power in this place...I feel the Spirit in a special way in this place...we do not relegate any gender to shoe string operation...if you got it, you can get it.” Bishop Jeffrey Leath, WIM Commission Chair, expressed greetings and stated, “it is indeed an honor to be a part of Women in Ministry and we pray God’s blessing on this meeting...we serve a universal God that relates to us in a particular manner...we want to learn to be better brother to sister...sister to sister...we want to be better listeners...it is a time to say to the sisters...we love you for who you are...we appreciate your work..the church could not be great without you...the church has not been great without you.”
The preacher for the hour was introduced by an angel of God, I refer to her as an angel because I could not understand a word that she was saying but I felt her spirit and excitement. The Rev. Nene Basunga, pastor from France made her entire introduction in the French language, conveyed to us in the English language by an interpreter. Pastor Basunga was not deterred by the language barrier but expressed her love and respect for Bishop Sarah Frances Davis in a way that touched those that heard her declaration. Only God can make us feel such love even if we do not comprehend mere words from another.
Bishop Sarah F. Davis used Jeremiah 29:4-14 as her text and used “God Has A Plan – A Testimony of a Bishop!” as her theme. She said “...sometimes God has to take you and get your attention to show you that He is the one in charge...this was God’s plan for Israel even though it looked like disaster, it was God’s plan...God has a plan for everybody in here...the fact of the matter was Israel was in exile and they were not going anywhere...we need to understand wherever God has placed us...the same God that brought us there will take us through...we have to trust God...God has a future and a hope for each of us - (1) we have to start living as though we understand that God knows where we are...God is here with us...He knows where you are, He knows why...God is waiting on us to demonstrate that we trust Him with our lives; (2) listen to the voice of God...the reason that we are bamboozled is because we do not study the Word of God; (3) remember that every promise God makes, God can deliver...God is on God’s own time...if you know the promises of God then you can get the promises in your situation; (4) God has a plan for your life...that each one of us would grow up and be fully mature Christians...we need to walk in our purpose...we might delay God’s plan but God’s plan will not be changed....God by way of experience is sitting in the driver’s seat...space has nothing to do with title, location...space is your lifetime in Christ....God has a plan for you, you can’t figure it out..God won’t let us know...if we knew, we would be too afraid...”
Bishop Davis ended the sermon by sharing her call and her response to God (over many years) to the areas of ministry which God was directing. Her sermon and testimony were an encouragement to the waiting congregation and yes, Bishop Sarah can preach and she did!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Terrific Thursday, today was indeed a terrific day as the Women in Ministry continued with a day of meeting, greeting and celebrating the achievements of yesteryear and the possibilities of the future. The praise team, praise dancers and the First District Mass choir were at today’s service to render their gifts to God in support of Women in Ministry.
It was truly wonderful to see the various Episcopal leaders and their spouses in Mother Bethel AME Church, which was the site for tonight’s worship service. Bishop Richard F. Norris, Bishop Garnett Henning, Bishop Sarah Frances Davis, Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Bishop McKinley Young and Bishop Jeffrey Leath attended the service. The supervisors in attendance were Supervisor Mary Norris, Supervisor Susan Leath and Supervisor Stan McKenzie. In attendance also was General Officer Clement Fugh, AMEC General Secretary / Chief Information Officer and a candidate for episcopal service; the Rev. Harold Mayberry; the Rev. Dr. Jeffery Cooper, candidate for General Secretary; and pastors and others whose names I cannot remember at this time (please forgive me).
The worship leader for the night was Presiding Elder Linda Faye Thomas-Martin and it should be mentioned that there were at least eight female Presiding Elders in historic Mother Bethel tonight, surely our forerunner Jarena Lee would have been proud and thankful to God for such a time as this. Also in attendance were Dr. Jacquelyn Grant Collier and another matriarch of Women In Ministry, the Rev. Dr. Lillian Frier Webb.
Memoirs of Jarena Lee were presented in the form of a re-enactment by Sister Millicent Sparks who was dressed in the attire of that time, long skirt, long sleeves and a hair bonnet. My sincere appreciation and gratitude to the sisters of yesteryear who taught/preached covered from head to toe in buildings without air conditioners and fans (Hallelujah!!). All eyes were on Sister Sparks as she presented an authentic reminder about the life experiences of Jarena Lee, the first woman to receive a license to preach in the AME Church. The words of Jarena Lee were uttered in the re-enactment and are still audible at this moment “...for unseemly as it appears for a woman to preach...nothing is impossible with God.”
Bishop Leath did not just present the preacher of the hour (Bishop McKenzie), he preached the introduction and then it was “on.” Bishop Leath said “...we are celebrating this momentous occasion on this sacred ground of the African Methodist Episcopal Church...she is not just a wife, not just a Presidential Advisor, not just a Chaplain, not just a Delta, not just a Bishop but a Holy Ghost filled woman...” The church was on fire, did I say on “fire,” and it was not just because there was a large (no pun intended) group of people of color in the church, and it was not because there was a lack of air conditioning in the church, no, the church was on fire because the Holy Spirit was in the place.
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie’s text was from Exodus 4:6-12 (emphasis on verse 12), the theme was “Speaking Truth to Power!” Bishop said “...what would it take to break through, to push past practices that hinder growth...what would it take to rise above dream dashers...to be creative without being misunderstood..for you to get off the sidelines and be on the playing field...what would it take?...it takes (1) God, (2) grace, (3) guts...In Exodus, all three things are working..God hears and God responds...Exodus moments that are as natural as breathing...Moses is the reluctant prophet in training...selected to speak truth to power...Moses is resistant to leadership...Moses had questions...how much money is in the budget, what is the time frame to get these people out of Egypt...how long is the training period...what about technical support...I need a Facebook page...what is my salary...is there a housing allowance?...Moses was looking for support...he was outnumbered, outgunned for this liberation journey....God answered, what is in your hand?...Moses had a stick...When you are called to Speak Truth to Power...you have no ready words of your own...God shapes the preaching agenda...the truth has captured and won’t let us go...Moses’ first sermon to Pharaoh did not go well...we pre-suppose that if we preach what Jesus preached then what happened to Jesus will happen to us...the word God gave to Moses to preach was revolutionary...do you think that we need to preach revolutionary sermons that inspect people’s lives...revolutionary sermons that will serve the world with truth...when was the last time you preached a revolutionary sermon and it got you in trouble...sermons that speak truth to power....Mose preached while they were in ...the social conditions of his time...the people needed to hear and see so that they could trust God...and the name of the one who was coming in the name of the Lord...Moses had a relationship with God... he preached a revolutionary...preaching truth to power ...God will take you where you need to go and not necessarily where you want to go...preaching truth to power means embracing the unique call of God...preaching truth to power will take you places...”
Bishop McKenzie preached with power, clarity and authority. Yes, pretty women can preach and they do preach revolutionary sermons.
It has been a long day but I thank God for all those brave souls who spoke “truth to power,” Jarena Lee, Dr. Jacquelyn Grant Collier, Dr. Lillian Frier Webb, the Rev. Sandra Smith Blair, Bishop McKenzie, Bishop Sarah Frances Davis, Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Dr. Teresa Fry Brown and all the other women whose names I do not know or might never know. We are standing on the shoulders of many and it does not yet appear what we shall be...but we shall be like Christ.
The Rev. Velma E. Grant is the President of the 6th Episcopal District Women In Ministry
4. AME WIM CONFERENCE THURSDAY MORNING EXCITING PANEL DISCUSSIONS:
A panel discussion with the focus: "Where Do We Go From Here?" was led by: Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Bishop Sarah F. Davis, the Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Grant Collier, and the Rev. Sandra Blair. The Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry-Brown served as the facilitator with questions fielded by the participants. Bishop Jeffrey Leath, Presiding Prelate of the 19th Episcopal District and the Chair of Women In Ministry shared his thoughts during the panel discussion. Bishop C. Garnett Henning, Presiding Prelate of the 3rd Episcopal District also attended the panel discussion. Words of wisdom and challenges and shared visions of ministry were shared during the session. The participants were encouraged and challenged during the session and there were also opportunities for meaningful dialogue and clergy reflection.
Some of the questions raised included:
1. If I knew then, what I know now, what would I have done differently in ministry? The bottomline conclusion and response was in ministry, "Trusting God in the midst of emptiness and periods of joy is paramount in the spiritual journey. Seeking counsel when you don't know the answers and having a supportive network system to carry you through can make a difference."
2. What three essential tools must you have to navigate the space between call and response? (1) "Boldness, (2) education and (3) self-awareness of one’s call are essential in looking inward and reduce mistakes. A serious prayer life and study of God's Word is critical in the growth and maturation of keeping faith, as well as one's willingness to seek out mentors who are honest with you about your strengths and weaknesses.
3. How can we share information in seeking the gifts, grace and talents in ministry needed for both the local and connectional church? "Find your own voice, learn from others, and identify your purpose in ministry. Good relationships and leadership skills; paying your dues; experiencing life and ministry as a part of God's plan, and going where you are sent are the criteria for candidacy for the local/itinerant ministry.
Other Workshops
Workshop 1 - "The AME Way: Knowing it, Surviving It and Thriving it!" was led with energy and passion by Presiding Elder Anne Henning Byfield. This workshop helped participants to understand more clearly “the system” relative to the history, doctrine and polity of the AME Church and would be most beneficial for members of the Boards of Examiners, applicants for ministry and those entering the AME ministry from other denominations.
Workshop 2 - "Finding Your Passion, Funding Your Passion" was led by the Rev. Tammie Denyse, the Rev. Trina Armstrong, the Rev. VaNechia Rayford and Chaplain Ammie L. Davis. The emphasis of this workshop addressed and discussed ministerial opportunities for Women In Ministry, other than in the pastoral ministry. The participants were encouraged to engage one on one with the panel discussion presenters.
The evening worship service will be held at 7 p.m. at Mother Bethel AME Church, 419 South 6th Street in Philadelphia; telephone (215) 925-0616. The preacher will be Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 13th Episcopal District. Presiding Elder Linda Faye Thomas-Martin will serve as Worship Leader.
Each session finished with purpose and positive feedback.
Women In Ministry will gather to take a group picture prior to the evening worship service at Mother Bethel. The Rev. Dr. Mark Tyler is the pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church.
Submitted by the Rev. Dr. Charlotte Ann Blake Sydnor
13th Episcopal District
WIM Executive Board:
The Reverend Kimberly Detherage, Esq., Connectional President of WIM,
1st Episcopal District
The Reverend Carolyn Habersham - 1st Vice President
8th Episcopal District
The Reverend Francine Brookins, 2nd Vice President
5th Episcopal District
The Reverend Katurah York Cooper, 3rd Vice President
14th Episcopal District
The Reverend Dr. Betty Deas-Clark, General Secretary
14th Episcopal District
The Reverend Monica Spencer, Corresponding Secretary
2nd Episcopal District
The Reverend Karla Cooper, Financial Secretary
5th Episcopal District
The Reverend Cynthia Harvin – Treasurer
2nd Episcopal District
The Reverend Shirley Inkton-Bowers, Worship Director
12th Episcopal District
The Reverend Dr. Jacquelyn Grant, Consultant
6th Episcopal District
The Reverend Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, Consultant
6th Episcopal District
The Reverend Sandra Smith Blair, Consultant
5th Episcopal District
Submitted by Dr. Charlotte B. Sydnor
5. REPORT FROM THE 26TH CONNECTIONAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CONGRESS:
By John Thomas III
Over five hundred persons from across the globe journeyed to the Sheraton-Imperial Hotel Durham, North Carolina in the 2nd District from July 25-29, 2010 for the 26th Connectional Christian Education Congress of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church with the theme “Integrity: Walking Close With God”. Under the leadership and guidance of Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie (Chairperson of the General Board Commission on Christian Education), Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr. (Host Bishop), the Rev. Dr. Daryl Ingram (Executive Director, Department of Christian Education) and Ms. Robin Smith Porter (Host Episcopal District Director of Christian Education), the Congress distinguished itself as the preeminent educational event in African Methodism with a plethora of workshops, teaching seminars and other activities.
Learning opportunities were structured into six categories: Christian Education Workshops/plenary sessions, Youth Workshops, Music and Christian Arts Ministry (MCAM) Workshops, Christian Debutante Masters Commission (CDMC) Workshops, Health Workshops and Certification Workshops for Church School Teachers, Superintendents and Directors of Christian Education. In addition to the sessions was a major keynote address delivered by the Rev. Dr. William H. Lamar, IV, Managing Director of Leadership Education at the Duke University School. The workshops were as follows (See note*):
Christian Education Workshops/Plenary Sessions
Spirituality through the Means of Grace
Integrity as a Christian Virtue
Nurturing Christian Character
Youth Workshops
The Church and Hip-Hop Culture
The Way with Christ as a Youth
What Every Youth Wants from the Church
My Spirituality and My Parent’s Religion
Music and Christian Arts Ministry
Choir
Dance and Drama
Christian Debutante Master Commission
Youth Leadership
The Church and You
Beauty Inside-Out
Health Workshops
UPRIS and Team Leadership for Ministry
Navigating amechealth.org
Navigating Health Care Reform
Certification Workshops
Teaching I
What We Believe as AMEs
Books of the Bible
Women of the Bible
Teaching II (Part A)
Isaiah
What is your Spiritual Gift?
Teaching II (Part B)
Church History
James
Christian Educational Structure
Old Testament Survey
Teacher Selection, Evaluation and Placement
Synoptic Gospels
(*Note: A full listing of workshop presenters could not be printed due to space limitations. Please contact Dr. Daryl Ingram, the Executive Director of the Department of Christian Education for more information). He can be reached via email: dingram@ameced.com; telephone:
In addition to providing mental nourishment, the Christian Education Congress served as a hub of activity as the various ministries associated with the Connectional Christian Education Department gathered to conduct their business sessions and elections. Bishop McKenzie and Dr. Ingram merit a special commendation for officiating five AME elections in three days. (A list of all newly elected/appointed officers is at the end of this article). The auxiliaries present were: Fellowship of Church Educators (FCE), Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES), Sons of Allen, Richard Allen Young Adult Council (RAYAC), and the Music and Christian Arts Ministry (MCAM). Other Connectional bodies also participated in the Christian Education Congress. The Connectional Health Commission under the leadership of Commission Chairperson Bishop Adam Richardson, Connectional Medical Director the Rev. Dr. Miriam J. Burnett, MD and Connectional Executive Director Mrs. Gwendolyn Williams held several workshops. Representatives of the YPD, RAYAC and Lay Organization held a joint dialogue towards establishing a partnership for Youth/Young Adult Ministries. Lastly, the Council of Bishops was in session on Monday and Tuesday.
The superb educational and service opportunities notwithstanding, the 26th Christian Education Congress nurtured the spirit through three dynamic, soul-stirring worship experiences in the best tradition of African Methodism. The Opening Worship Service on Monday, July 26 featured Host Bishop Richardson as the preacher with the theme: “Learn of Me” (Matthew 11: 28-30). This message set the stage as Bishop Richardson challenged those assembled to truly learn more about Christ. The Rev. Joy Gallmon (11th District) preached the word at the Tuesday afternoon Moment of Inspiration Worship with the theme: “What We Do Matters” (Titus 2:1-8). This powerful message challenged the worshipers to live daily in integrity. The sermon for the Wednesday afternoon service was delivered by Christian Education Commission Chairperson Bishop McKenzie. Through her dynamic message “Just Can’t Keep It to Myself” (Matthew 28:20); Bishop McKenzie reminded the audience that new teaching tools are needed to effectively communicate the Christ’s message for this present age. In all of these services, MCAM delivered a powerful witness through vocal and instrumental praise and even provided a special program of their own: “An African-American Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ”.
From the informative workshops, to the smoothly-run business sessions, to the spiritually rewarding worship services, the 26th Connectional Christian Education Congress truly distinguished itself as the hallmark Christian Education event in all African Methodism. Those who attended left renewed and motivated for further service to the Kingdom of God in the Church of Allen. The next major activity for the Department of Christian Education will be the Ministries in Christian Education (MCE) meeting to be held next year in either the 8th or 13th Episcopal Districts. Given the caliber of the Connectional Congress, it is easy to believe that the MCE meeting will be just as nurturing and empowering.
6. CHRISTIAN DEBUTANTES AND MASTERS MAGNIFY CHRIST AT 26TH CONNECTIONAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CONGRESS:
John Thomas III
O Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3 (NRSV)
The youth of Richard and Sarah Allen shone in splendor as the Christian Debutante-Master Commission (CDMC) presented fourteen young women and six young men as Debutantes and Masters at the 26th Connectional Christian Education Congress held in Durham, North Carolina from July 26-29, 2010 in the Sheraton-Imperial Hotel. Under the leadership of Vashti M. McKenzie (Chairperson of the General Board Commission on Christian Education), Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr. (Host Bishop), the Rev. Dr. Daryl Ingram (Executive Director, Department of Christian Education), Mrs. Gloria Massey Ward (Connectional CDMC Administrator) and Mrs. Shirley Cason Reed (Host Episcopal District CDMC Commissioner), an exemplary program recognizing the attributes and achievements of youth in African Methodism was executed.
The CDMC traces its origins to the 34th Session of the General Session of the General Conference held in 1952 in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Julia Brown Crawford was the originator and general chairperson of the first Annual Debutante-Master Reception and Dedication Ceremony. At the 39th Session of the AME General Conference held in 1972 in Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Crawford was elected by acclamation as the CDMC Administrator with rank of General Officer. In 1976, Mrs. Crawford became a Connectional Officer over the newly legislated CDMC and served as its Administrator for many years. The second CDMC Administrator was Mrs. Loretta Hill (10th District) and the current Administrator is Mrs. Gloria Massey Ward (13th District). The CDMC provides a rites of passage experience for Christian youth as they transition into adulthood enabling them to recognize their gifts and graces and be formally introduced to Church society and promote greater Christian service. Only non-married persons may participate in CDMC programming. The CDMC is divided into the following age categories: Pre-Junior Allenites (Ages 3-8) Junior Allenites (Ages 9-12); Sub Debutante/Sub-Master (Ages 13-15); Debutante/Master (Ages 16-22). The CDMC motto is currently: “Magnifying Christ as we reflect on the Past, Experience the Present, and Focus on the Future”. The Class of 2010 participants included both high school and college students from across the Connection with various professional goals and aspirations. All of them have already contributed greatly to the work of building God’s Kingdom on earth through the AME Church.
The Christian Education Congress featured a full complement of programming for the Debutantes and Masters including workshops on the following topics: “Youth Leadership”, “The Church and You”, and “Beauty Inside-Out”. The capstone event, however, was the CDMC Dedication Ceremony on Thursday, July 27,2010 with host CDMC Commissioner Shirley Cason Reed serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies and 7th District Commissioner Felita Grady Davis as the announcer. This event marked the first time that CDMC Connectional recognition took place outside of the General Conference. With the Debutantes arrayed in white formal dresses and the Masters attired in white tuxedos with red accessories, these young persons were saluted as they began their walk towards mature Christian service. After a grand processional, Bro. Ronald N. Flamer II rendered the invocation. The customary greetings were extended by the leadership present and the honorees were formally presented to the audience. Mrs. Audreye Hall (8th District Commissioner) spoke on the significance of the Occasion and Sub-Master Camron Stevens played an outstanding cello solo. Mrs. Sharon Sheffield (11th District Commissioner) introduced Mrs. Ward who gave remarks and conducted the Memorial Service. The Rev. Harold M. Love, Jr. (13th District) delivered the challenge to the honorees: “Magnify the Lord” (Psalm 34:3-10). After the CDMC Pledge and the Dedication Song, a Candle Lighting Ceremony was held with prayers of dedication given by various clergy from the 2nd District: the Rev. Evelyn Dunn, the Rev. Conrad Pridgen and the Rev. Larry Hinton. The Rev. Willie Gholston (4th District) pronounced the Benediction. A small gala for the honorees followed.
At the closing Christian Education Congress plenary, Dr. Ingram praised the CDMC leadership and participants while sharing his dream that at the General Conference every Presiding Elder District would send at least one Debutante and one Master. He also expressed the need for equal male and female participation in the future.
The AME Christian Recorder congratulates all program participants and wishes them much success in their endeavors!
Debutantes:
Jasmine Coleman (2nd District)
Morgan Leigh Johnson (2nd District)
Aryance Parker (2nd District)
Alexis Nicole Smith (2nd District)
Kara Lynn Howard (5th District)
Zuri Britt Randell (5th District)
Imani Elizabeth Tyler (5th District)
Taniece Sasha Patterson (7th District)
Kachira J. Irby (11th District)
Jessica Kathleen Davis (11th District)
Nachia Mion Woods (13th District)
Masters:
Michael Jones (2nd District)
Anthony Winston McNeill (2nd District)
Nicholas Maurice Pyatt (2nd District)
Jordan De’Quan Smith (2nd District)
Terrance Shinault (5th District)
Chinelo Carey Tyler (5th District)
7. THE 2011 WORLD METHODIST CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA:
The Theme of the 2011 World Methodist Conference is “Jesus Christ - for the
Healing of the Nations” and will be held in Durban, South Africa August 4-8, 2011.
The World Methodist Conference meets every five years and is the collective witness of all Wesleyans (Methodists) from around the world. The Conference is open to all Clergy, Laity and youth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
If you are interested in attending please let me know.
Bishop John F. White
Office: 954-416-5133
Fax: 954-989-2277
Email: bishopwhite130@aol.com
You can find more information regarding the World Methodist Conference at www.worldmethodistcouncil.org or contact my office at 954-416-5133.
8. WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY: REFLECTIONS ON A 154-YEAR LEGACY:
*Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams
Dateline 1856: While slavery was still a way of life, Wilberforce University--named to honor the memory of William Wilberforce, the 19th century British abolitionist--was established at Tawana Springs near Xenia, Greene County, OH, by the Cincinnati Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The purpose was to provide education for escaped and freed slaves.
Dateline 1863: Events surrounding the Civil War--dwindling enrollment and financial support--caused the Methodist Episcopal Church to decide to close Wilberforce University in 1862. In March, 1863, Bishop Daniel A. Payne of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a member of the original 1856 Corporation, purchased Wilberforce on faith for $10,000. On July 10, 1863, the University was newly incorporated, making it the oldest private, coeducational institution to be owned and controlled by black people. Bishop Payne became the first black college president: Wilberforce University.
Dateline 1865: Shorter Hall, main campus building (dormitory, offices, classrooms) was destroyed by fire on the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It is reported that Shorter Hall during slavery was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Dateline 1878: The new Shorter Hall was rebuilt and dedicated.
Dateline 1885: Because of a severe financial crisis, President John G. Mitchell requested aid from the State of Ohio in this educational enterprise.
Dateline 1887: In March, 1887, an act was passed by the Ohio legislature to help Wilberforce University by establishing The Combined Normal and Industrial Department. The sponsors of the bill which created the act and the legislative representatives who passed the act had as their primary aim to help a worthy institution carry out its objectives.
Dateline 1891-92: Payne Theological Seminary was founded, an outgrowth of the Theological Department at Wilberforce University.
Dateline 1896: By 1896 the role of the State at Wilberforce University had increased because of increased appropriations, but it was compromised by the desire of politically-minded State trustees to take over leadership from the AME Church.
Dateline 1904: The increase in the ratio of the State to Church appointees on the State Board caused conflict, which after much acrimonious debate led to the reconfirmation of the unity of the University.
Dateline 1916: Wilberforce Academy was founded.
Dateline 1922: Shorter Hall was destroyed by fire a second time. Rebuilt in 1924.
Dateline 1923: Agents of the State attempted again to destroy the organic unity of the University by setting up an independent state school to be known as Lincoln Normal Institute. Again University appointees to the State Board were able to defeat the measure.
Dateline 1929: Under the leadership of President Gilbert H. Jones the clock-hour system was devised whereby the State would make appropriations and pay the University directly for services rendered students in the Combined Normal and Industrial Department for courses offered only in the University’s College of Liberal Arts.
Dateline 1939: Provisional Accreditation was awarded by the North Central Association.
Dateline 1941: The State of Ohio expanded its educational program and the Combined Normal and Industrial Department became the College of Education and Industrial Arts.
Dateline 1947: In the final step toward complete separation on May 22, 1947, the Davies Bill seeking to set up a separate institution was passed. As a result of the conflict in which there was apparent approval of the President, Dr. Charles H. Wesley, the University discharged him at its Annual Board Meeting on June 12, 1947. President Wesley moved to the campus of the College of Education and Industrial Arts and began a rival institution. After a court battle in which the State school was forbidden to use the name Wilberforce State College, Central State was born.
Dateline 1956: Wilberforce University celebrated the Centennial Anniversary under the presidency of Dr. Charles Leander Hill.
Dateline 1962: Accreditation by the North Central Association
Dateline 1964: Wilberforce became one of only two four-year institutions in the nation offering a mandatory cooperative education program.
Dateline 1967: Under the presidency of Dr. Rembert E. Stokes, Wilberforce University moved a part of the campus approximately one mile from its original location to a new site off U.S. Highway 42. The tornado of 1974 destroyed a part of the old campus and necessitated a further change of locale. In 1974 the famous Wilberforce University Fountain was relocated and reconstructed on the new site through the efforts of the alumni, led by Hondon Bud Hargrove, ’38, the National President.
Dateline 1977: Hastings Banda, President of Malawi and a Wilberforce graduate, made Wilberforce a gift of $2 plus million.
Dateline 1995: Wilberforce received a $1 million gift from Frederick Wolfe, trustee, which resulted in the construction of the Wolfe Building.
Dateline 2000: During the presidency of Dr. John Henderson, Ray Charles, legendary musician and singer, made Wilberforce a gift of $2 million.
Dateline 2006: “Stepping Out on Faith, Standing on Our Heritage, And Still We Rise” was the theme for the Sesquicentennial Celebration for the University.
It can truly be said in the words of “Amazing Grace” that “through many dangers, toils, and snares, we have already come.” But through it all and stepping out on faith, Wilberforce in this celebration of its 150th year looked back with pride on its history and its legacy.
Dateline 2009: The Modern Language Association (MLA) established the William Sanders Scarborough Prize for creative writing in memory of the sixth President of Wilberforce University (1908-1920).
Prominent Early Teachers at Wilberforce
Daniel Alexander Payne -First African American president of an American university
Hallie Q. Brown – A Wilberforce graduate and famous elocutionist in the 19th century. Traveled to England and raised funds to build Emery Hall, a men’s dormitory
Mary Church Terrell - Political activist; graduate of Oberlin
Colonel Charles Young - Third African American to graduate from West Point (1889) and first African American to rise to the rank of Colonel
W.E.B. Dubois - First black to receive the Ph.D. from Harvard
W. S. Scarborough - Greek scholar and author of a widely acclaimed Greek text book
Martin Delaney - A Major in the Union Army; graduate of Harvard
General B. O. Davis, Sr. - Professor of Military Science and Tactics
Geraldine Jackson, F. Isabel Askew – Wilberforce graduates and teachers par excellence for over a half-century for whom two buildings on the new campus are named
Milton S. J. Wright – Teacher par excellence for over a half-century for whom a building on the new campus is named
Prominent Graduates and Former Students*
Benjamin F. Lee - President of Wilberforce University, 1876-1884; later a bishop in the AME Church
Hallie Q. Brown - Elocutionist of note
Joshua H. Jones - President of Wilberforce University, 1900-1908; later bishop in the AME Church
Reverdy Cassius Ransom - 19th century minister, orator and leader in the civic arena, later a bishop in the AME Church
William Grant Still - World famous composer
George H. Valentine - Legendary Secretary-Treasurer of Wilberforce University; a building is named for him
*Bayard Rustin - Civil rights activist and an architect of the 1963 March on Washington
Dr. Leonidas Berry - Internationally recognized pioneer in the field of gastro-intestinal endoscopy
The Charioteers - Popular 1940’s singing group
Shelton Bell - Golden Glove Boxer
*Dave Albritton - Track star
*Frank Foster – Outstanding member of Count Basie’s Orchestra
*Horace Henderson and Benny Carter - Famous jazz musicians
Dame Marjorie L. Bean - First Bermudian knighted by the Queen of England
Colonel Charity Adams Earley - Highest ranking African American in the Women’s Auxiliary Corps; author of One Woman’s Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC
*Leontyne Price - Opera diva
William Julius Wilson, Ph.D. - Distinguished scholar, the Malcolm Wiener Professor of Social Policy at Harvard University
Nelson B. Rivers, III – Vice President, Stakeholder Relations of the NAACP
Captain Hondon Bud Hargrove - Author of Buffalo Soldiers in Italy: Black Americans in World War II
Lt. John R. Fox - Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for Extraordinary Heroism in Action; later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor
The Honorable Glenn T. Johnson – Former Judge, Appellate Court, Chicago, IL
Raymond V. Haysbert, Sr. - Owner, Chairman and CEO of Parks Sausage Company (Retired)
Dr. Rembert E. Stokes - President of Wilberforce University, 1956-1976
Reginald Burrows - Member of the Bermuda Parliament
The Rev. Dr. Wilbur Lowe – Former Member of Bermuda Parliament
Bishop Vinton R. Anderson - First African American to be elected a President of the World Council of Churches
Jamye Coleman Williams, Ph.D. – In 1984, first woman elected Editor, The AME Church Review, and the nation’s oldest literary journal, founded in 1884
Dr. Yvonne Walker-Taylor - First woman elected President of Wilberforce University, 1984-1988
Dr. Floyd H. Flake – President, Wilberforce University, 2002-2008; former Congressman from the 6th District in New York; and pastor of Allen Cathedral AME Church in Jamaica, NY
Mr. John L. Walker – Chairman, Board of Trustees, Wilberforce University, 1992-2007;
former Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Economic Policy for Africa and the
Near East, Department of Commerce
Colonel William R. Lee, Retired - Chairman, Board of Trustees, Wilberforce University, 2007-2009
Dr. Patricia L. Hardaway - Nineteenth President of Wilberforce University, 2008--; former Chairperson, Board of Trustees and former Provost
Thirty-one Wilberforceans Became AME Bishops; 7 Still Alive*
Richard H. Cain
Benjamin F. Lee
Moses B. Salter
John Hurst
Joshua H. Jones
Reverdy Cassius Ransom
George Benjamin Young
Noah W. Williams
Frank Madison Reid, Sr.
George Wilbur Baber
Joseph Gomez
Carey Abraham Gibbs
Howard Thomas Primm
Francis Herman Gow
William F. Ball
John Douglas Bright
Harrison James Bryant
Richard Allen Hildebrand*
Samuel Solomon Morris, Jr.
Hamel Hartford Brookins*
Vinton Randolph Anderson*
Frank Madison Reid, Jr.
Donald George K. Ming
Rembert Edward Stokes
James Haskell Mayo
John Ellsworth Hunter
Robert Lee Pruitt
Robert Vaughn Webster*
Cornal Garnett Henning*
Gregory G.M. Ingram*
Wilfred J. Messiah*
*Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams is a member of the Wilberforce University graduating class of 1938
9. THE BENEFIT OF WHITE, WEALTHY, PRIVILEGED:
*The Rev. Melvin E. Wilson
I understand that the actress, Lindsey Lohan, was released from jail at 3:00 a.m. this morning after completing 13 days of a 90 day sentence (14%). It is reported that she will immediately enter a halfway house for the remainder of the sentence, but we are also advised that she was released early due to “good behavior and overcrowding in the L.A. County Jail”.
What an absolute insult! I do not know Lindsey Lohan personally; am not a fan of Lindsey Lohan and have nothing against Lindsey Lohan. I hear she has some problems that she needs to deal with, but so do all of us. However, all of us know that she was not really released because of overcrowding in the jail. If that were the case, a whole lot of inmates of color should have been released long ago. She was released because: She is wealthy, and can afford the necessary legal representation that can argue on her behalf; she is white, and statistics show that the legal system tends to be more lenient and cater to white people; and she has economic value because as actress, we certainly want her to get this done and over with so she can get back to making money for herself and others.
This case is an example of the perpetuation of white, wealthy, privileged.
Black people keep asking, “When are white people going to get it and stop acting like this is not true?” I believe that white people do get it and understand that, since they created the system and know the system, they can make the system work for them. And most of the time, the system obliges.
For black Americans who look at this and many other cases and see the blatant, overt and disproportionate allowances and rule-bending that continues to take place in favor of white, wealthy people, all we can do is shake our heads and accept the fact that the justice system is designed to severely penalize “just us,” and sometimes it’s called, “Justice.”
*The Rev. Melvin E. Wilson is the pastor of St. Luke AME Church in Harlem
10. PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS BILL REDUCING COCAINE SENTENCING DISPARITY:
New Legislation Important First Step But Sizeable Sentencing Gap Remains
August 3, 2010
WASHINGTON – President Obama today signed an historic piece of legislation that narrows the crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity from 100:1 to 18:1 and for the first time eliminates the mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine.
The Fair Sentencing Act (S. 1789), unanimously passed by the Senate in March and approved by the House last week, now becomes law at a time when the U.S. Sentencing Commission is reconsidering the legitimacy and effectiveness of mandatory minimum sentencing and ahead of a report on the subject the commission is expected to release in October. As originally introduced in the Senate, the bill would have completely eliminated the discriminatory disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing under federal law. But during the bill’s markup in the Senate, a deal was struck with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members to simply reduce the disparity to an 18:1 ratio.
“Today is a landmark day in criminal justice. But while the Fair Sentencing Act is an extremely important step, it is also an incomplete step,” said Laura W. Murphy, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “A sizeable sentencing gap still remains and it is time for our country to seriously re-think mandatory minimums and a one-size-fits-all approach to sentencing. We have momentum now to impose even greater change and we should not lose it.”
More than two decades ago, based on assumptions about crack which are now known to be false, heightened penalties for crack cocaine offenses were adopted. Before the Fair Sentencing Act, those penalties required 100 times as much powder cocaine as crack cocaine to invoke equal mandatory minimum sentences. The impact of the disparity fell disproportionately on African-Americans. In recent years, a consensus formed across the political and ideological spectrum on the crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity issue, with both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama urging reform.
“Even as the president signs this bill into law, there is still work to do to address the ripple effects of this unbalanced sentencing policy,” said Jennifer Bellamy, ACLU Legislative Counsel. “The remaining disparity is at odds with an American criminal justice system that requires that all people be treated equally. There is still work to be done to remedy this injustice and we urge Congress and the administration to ensure our laws are based on fact and not injustice.”
The bill signed into law by President Obama today will fail to remedy the injustices faced by people like Hamedah Hasan who are already serving their sentences. A mother and grandmother serving the 17th year of a 27-year federal prison sentence for a first-time, non-violent crack cocaine conviction, Hassan would be released by now had she been convicted of a powder cocaine offense. Under the new 18:1 sentencing disparity, her sentence will remain unchanged. Hasan has filed a petition with the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney asking that President Obama commute her remaining sentence. The ACLU is representing Hasan.
“The bill President Obama signed into law today, unfortunately, won’t bring my mom home,” said Kasaundra Lomax, Hasan’s daughter, the oldest of three. “I wrote a letter to President Obama earlier this year asking him to please send my mom home so she can be with us. We really need her. I hope that his willingness to sign this new law means he will seriously consider commuting the remainder of my mom’s prison sentence. Only the president has the power to bring her home now.”
To learn more about the effort to commute Hamedah Hasan’s sentence, go to: www.dearmrpresidentyesyoucan.org
American Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004-2400 United States
11. WHAT HAPPENS IN LAS VEGAS DOES NOT STAY ION LAS VEGAS:
Some say “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas,” but when Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland, Supervisor Mary L. Kirkland and approximately 1000 AME’s from the Fifth Episcopal District showed up in Las Vegas for “A Call to the Wall Christian Education Summit” the word quickly spread about the anointing that fell.
The summit, which took place on Friday, July 7-Friday, July 9, 2010, at the Las Vegas Renaissance Hotel, was described as life changing and life renewing. As Children, Youth, Young adults and Adults began pouring into the lobby and ballroom of the hotel it was evident that this Christian Education Summit would be one for the record books. “Look at you. “You have packed this room ready to work and to worship,” Said Bishop Kirkland, Presiding Prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District of the AME Church.
Special Guest Preachers and presenters for the three -day event included: Dr. Lance Williams, Professor at Northeastern Illinois University, The Reverend Dr. Renita J. Weems, Biblical Scholar, and author, The Reverend Tony Lee, Pastor of Community of Hope AME Church in Maryland, The Reverend Dr. Ralph Watkins, Assistant Dean of the African-American Church Studies Program and Associate Professor at Fuller School of Theology, Brother Charles Lamont Dorsey, Youth and Young Adult Minister at Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine California, and Sister L’Tanya Moore, Minister of Music at St. Phillips AME Church, Atlanta, Georgia.
“The “A Call To The Wall” Christian Education Summit Far exceeded our wildest expectations,” Said Dr. Timothy Tyler, Co-chair. My Co-chair, Dr. Betty Hanna Witherspoon and I are grateful to Bishop Kirkland for the faith he placed in our being able to coordinate this massive event,” He added.
The Tuck Pointing Plenary Session, which opened the Summit, began with a thought provoking and energetic presentation by Dr. Lance Watkins entitled “Lessons Learned from Hip Hop.” Professor Williams addressed the condition of Hip Hop today. He also talked about the effect that Hip Hop music has had on the music industry, the economy and Youth. “Those who want to oppress you don’t want you to have a spiritual perspective,” stated Dr. Williams. Day 1 of A Call to the Wall ended in Glorious Praise and worship led by Sister L’Tanya Moore, guest psalmist and workshop leader for the event. Dr. Michael Bell, Sr., Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in Washington, D.C., fired the first Preaching call at the summit with a sermon entitled, “It’s the Outcome that Really Matters.” Dr. Bell reminded the Throng of youth and adults gathered that God has brought us out of some horrific circumstances.
The Christian Education Summit was opened each day with a prayer-lab hosted by The Reverend Dorisalene Hughes and the Fifth District Prayer Ministry.
Following the Prayer Lab, The Reverend Tony Lee of the Second Episcopal District, led the Summit attendees in an early morning Bible Study. The Reverend Tony Lee captivated the youth, young adults, and Adults alike with his plain-talk teaching style. He told the crowd that “Your definition of success shapes the direction in which you aim.” The Prayer lab concluded in an altar call for those who needed healing in their bodies.
The mornings in Las Vegas were filled with prayer, good Bible study and good exercise. Mrs. Denise Hunter, First lady of FAME, Los Angeles, introduced “Let’s Move Fifth District.” This innovative exercise and fitness program to the early morning crowd by storm as they exercised to gospel music. "Let's Move 5th District" is dedicated to empowering and inspiring AME church members to take charge of their health and improve the quality of their lives, said Mrs. Hunter.
A call to the wall continued on Thursday, July 8th as the Reverend Dr. Renita J. Weems stood at the noonday service to proclaim that Moses is now dead. She preached from the subject “Joshua and ’em.” Dr. Weems took her text from Joshua 1: 1-5. Moses is dead and the whole generation that he represents. Dr. Weems challenged the Joshua Generation to step up to the plate. “It is Joshua’s generation’s time to take charge, said Dr. Weems.
Continuing the Preaching excellence, Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr. of the 12th Episcopal District, preached the Communion Worship service on Thursday night. Bishop Green encouraged the Summit crowd with the sermon entitled, “The Good News is that the Bad News was Wrong.” The solemnity and sacredness of the service was highlighted as the 1000 in attendance took communion together led by Chief Celebrant, Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland.
The approximately 500 children, youth, and young adults in attendance at the Fifth District Christian Education Summit energized and lifted the meeting on Friday during the 12 Noon Worship experience; everyone wore their Summit T-shirts and packed into the ballroom of the Renaissance for a mighty time of worship. Wall Proclaimer, Brother Charles Dorsey, Ministerial student from southern California Conference and Youth Minister at Christ Our Redeemer, Irvine, California admonished the hearers through his message entitled: “How To Be Productive Under Pressure.” The response to his message was immediate as people came down to answer the call to live victoriously.
A Call to the Wall Christian Education Summit was both inspirational and educational. Workshops during the Summit included topics such as: “Tools For Leadership,” When Tithing Becomes Tipping,” “A Word From The Wall-Preaching the Call,” R.E.A.C.H (Radical Evangelism Accessing Community Health) Evangelism Track,” “Straight Talk,” “Between Too Young and Too Old,” “ College Bound,” “ Transforming Lay Persons into Leaders,” “ Jesus Who, Jesus How, Jesus Why,” “Worship Remix,”” The Children’s Wall Workshop,” and “ Not Your Grand-mama’s Worship Service.” Pastors, ministers, and Lay -persons from throughout the Fifth Episcopal District served as facilitators for the “Mortar Mixing Sessions.” Every session was filled to capacity.
On Friday Evening, Summit registrants were treated to a night of Arts and entertainment during A Call to the Wall. The Lay Christian Arts Festival, sponsored by the Fifth District Lay Organization featured youth from all over the Fifth District who were proficient in the areas of Humanities, Oratorical, Poetry, instrumentals, vocals, painting and drawing.
Following the Lay Christian Arts Festival, the Fifth Districts laughed along with Comedian Darius Bradford of the Ricky Smiley Radio Show. The Faithfully Funny Comedy was the perfect ending to a time of worship praise, learning and fellowship.
The theme “A Call To The Wall,” was taken from the Fifth District’s Theme Tools for Rebuilding The Wall. In commenting as to why the Fifth District chose to hold its Summit in Las Vegas, Bishop Kirkland responded, “Why not Las Vegas?” He went on to say, “There is no better place to make a witness of the rebuilding power of Jesus than in a place that has long been coined as “sin city.”
Bishop Kirkland also expressed thanks to Bank of America Home Loan who gave $25,000.00 to help sponsor the summit. Bank of America Home Loans also provided workshops for participants who needed resources and information on Home foreclosure and other economic empowerment issues.
12. THE “ASSUMPTION” OF MEMBERSHIP:
Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
I wonder sometimes if I am the only one scratching my head trying to understand why some people, among those we count in membership, don’t seem to have really bought into our ministry and mission.
Over time I have found that there are some fundamental tenants of our church not taken seriously. It is even more disturbing to me to find that condition among the appointed and elected leadership. For example, during a training session for Stewards as the instructor was covering some material, that I thought very basic to who we are as Methodists, I was “floored” when one of the Stewards (appointed prior to my arrival) boldly stated, “I don’t believe in baptizing children.”
Among some of the other tenants that seem to be misunderstood or ignored is tithing. Again I find that just bit more disconcerting when the anti tithing position is taken up by an appointed or elected leader in the church. Certainly we cannot teach what we do not believe and cannot lead in a direction we will not go.
There are three (3) books connected to and under girding our mission and ministry. They are of course, The Bible, The AME Hymnal and The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008
The Bible, of course, is where we find the Gospel message, the key to Salvation. The Bible becomes our guide for living righteously and provides for us instructions for Christian responsibility. The Book of Discipline, among other things, outlines who we are as Faith Communion and what we believe. It lists our connectional leadership, our leadership responsibilities as well as the criteria for the appointment and/or election process. The Book of Discipline lists our mission, vision, purpose and objectives and also highlights general rules governing each auxiliary, section and component.
Interestingly the Book of Discipline very clearly points out that Tithing is the official stewardship position of the AME Church and every church should work toward a full tithing commitment. To that end there is a mandate spelled out for each Pastor to preach, teach, lecture and provide workshops encouraging everybody to tithe. The Presiding Elder is to speak and teach about tithing. There is also a mandate for Stewards of the local church, Commission on Stewardship and Finance and/or Christian Education Department to provide tracts and other literature on the subject of tithing at least once a quarter. In the ceremonies of every ministry, component and auxiliary folk are asked their intention –in the presence of God—to follow the rules and requirements listed in the Book of Discipline and in each instance we say—Yes we will
However, I submit that even prior to our moving up to the point of belonging to any auxiliary or accepting the nomination or appointment to any position of leadership or responsibility, as we are presented to be received into full membership, (AME Hymnal, page 800) in the presence of God and the congregation, on the day appointed, we vowed publically to, Confess our faith and Declare our purpose. Question 1: Do you here in the presence of God and this congregation renew the solemn promise contained in the Baptismal Covenant, ratifying and confirming the same and acknowledging yourself bound faithfully to observe and keep that covenant and all things contained therein? To which we answered—I do.
Upon further examination we were asked; Have you saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you possess friendly feelings toward all the members of this Church? Do you believe in the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures set forth in the Articles of Religion of the AME Church? Will you be governed by the Discipline of the AME Church? Will you try as much as possible to promote the welfare of fellow members and the advancement of the Kingdom of God? Will you give of your time, talents, and money for the support of the Gospel, Church, poor and various ministries of the Church? All to which we answered—I do, I have, I do, I will, I will, I will. The congregation is then asked; Beloved members, is there any reason why this person should not be received into full membership? Hearing none; We cordially welcome you into the fellowship. What is not said is; “We fully expect you to believe what you said you believed and do what you vowed to do!”
What I have found to be most disturbing is that in our churches we find persons who were never read into full membership! Lamentably, as a result we have persons who never vowed to do any of what the Order of Receiving Members into Full Membership attests to and we really can’t hold them responsible.
I have found that some folk are “Assumed” into full membership! In some cases people joined but have not been officially read into membership. As administrations change these people are assimilated into the general population and may as a result be placed in responsible leadership positions. In some cases Grandma was a member and Momma was a member. Children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews have been in the church from the time they were born and when they were old enough somebody put them on a committee or allowed their names to be on a ballot to be voted into an office of responsibility. Some have been appointed as a Steward, assuming that they were a member.
Consequently there are Stewards serving, Trustees serving, WMS leaders serving, YPD leaders serving, laity serving on every level of leadership in the AME Church who have been “ASSUMED” into membership. It is not a stretch from that point to assert that we have possibly licensed people for ministry, ordained Deacons and Elders who have been “ASSUMED” into membership
The concern, as I see it, is that when “ASSUMED” into membership folk never really vow to adhere to anything, we only assume they will. Many times we assume incorrectly! Some don’t accept responsibility to do anything, they never vowed to. Some are not tithers, they never vowed to be. Some don’t give of their time, talent and money, they never vowed to.
Many times folk are only interested in what interests or what is important to them. They selfishly promote what is in their own best interest, never considering the best interest of the entire body. They talk down giving, tithing and stewardship responsibility, they never vowed that they would consider any of that important.
My point is that the initial vow to adhere to what we consider our responsibility spiritually and physically is accepted in the Order of Receiving Members into Full Membership. If no vow is taken at the very onset of our relationship to God and the Church we can only assume that the proper relationship will be maintained once we begin promoting and advancing folk through the different positions of leadership and responsibility. Members must be clear about what membership entails.
13. FORT VALLEY, GEORGIA PASTOR RECEIVES MASTER OF DIVINITY:
By Alphonso B. Varner
The Fifty-First Commencement Exercise was held for graduates of Constituent Seminaries of the Interdenominational Theological Center Saturday, May 8, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. Ninety-seven graduates received degrees.
The Reverend Bertram C. Smith, Pastor of Saint Peter African Methodist Episcopal Church, Fort Valley proudly marched to the stage to receive his Master of Divinity degree conferred upon him by Turner Theological Seminary.
Pastor Smith and his wife, Wendolyn Smith were elated to see many family members, church family and friends in attendance to witness this historic academic achievement in his pursuit of excellence.
The Rev. Bertram C. Smith received his high school diploma from Central High School in Macon, Georgia. He immediately matriculated at Savannah State (College) University, majoring in Industrial Education and received his B.S. degree in 1977. He was also Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corp. He served with distinction for 10 years and was Honorably Separated from the Marine Corps with the rank of Captain.
He decided to follow in his father's footsteps, the late Reverend Peter Smith, and accepted God’s call as a minister. He was ordained a Deacon in the Macon Georgia Conference in 1988 and ordained an Itinerant Elder in 1990 by Bishop John Hurst Adams, the then Presiding Prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District.
Pastor Smith started the Adam-Smith Tabernacle A.M.E. Church in Warner Robins, Georgia in 1990. After several years, he was appointed to pastor at Duresville A.M.E. Church in Macon, and served that congregation effectively until Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Presiding Prelate of the 6th Episcopal District appointed him to Saint Peter A.M.E. Church in Fort Valley, Georgia.
Pastor Smith has served a total of twenty years as a pastor.
His civilian occupation was as a Supply Manager with Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company in Macon, Georgia. He retired in 2005.
Pastor Smith is married to Mrs. Wendolyn M. Smith. They have been married for thirty-six years. They are the proud parents of three wonderful daughters and two lovely grandchildren.
The family of Saint Peter congratulates Rev. Bertram C. Smith for his outstanding academic achievement. We pray for his spiritual success as he continues to serve God, Saint Peter family and the Fort Valley community for many more years.
14. THE 15TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT PASTORS AND SPOUSES RETREAT HELD IN EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE IN SOUTH AFRICA:
Pastors and spouses came from the Cape, Eastern Cape, Kalahari and Queenstown Conferences to attend the 15th Episcopal District Pastors and Spouses Retreat at Castleton, Plettenberg Bay under the leadership of Bishop Wilfred J Messiah and Episcopal Supervisor, Mrs. Carol Messiah. The Guests of Honour are the Rev Dr Jonathan L. Weaver and his wife Dr. Pamela Weaver. The Rev Charlin Legolie was the host pastor and the Rev Anthony Jacobs was the host presiding elder of the Pastors and Spouses’ Retreat.
The Friday evening commenced with Devotions by Women In Ministry under leadership of the Rev Audrey Ngamlana of the D.G. Ming AME Church, Zwide. The ice-breaker activity consisted of pastors and spouses introducing themselves and sharing the challenges and victories of their ministries. Focus was on affirming the strengths of the individuals and couples ministering to the people. The night concluded with intercessory prayer.
The Rev. Dr. J. L. Weaver made a presentation entitled, "Enlarging our Territory through Economic Empowerment." The interesting presentation dealt with lessons the 15th Episcopal District can draw from the "Collective Banking" model which now has seven chapters in the United States. Presiding Elder Hanse affirmed the presentation by citing examples from his native Namibia where AME and Lutheran Churches have formed a partnership with Nedbank, Old Mutual and Mutual and Federal banks.
The final session of the 15th Episcopal District Pastor’s Retreat dealt with the topic issue of "Sexual Harassment Policy of the AME Church." This topic was first dealt with by Bishop Leath at the 15th District Midyear 2010. Today, as I write, Rev J L Weaver deals this with issue using clear examples and illustrations. Clergy who have missed out at the Episcopal Midyear are now getting to chance to sign off the documents.
The date of this event was July 30- 31, 2010, under the leadership of Bishop and Mother Wilfred and Carol Messiah. The facilitators were Drs. Jonathan and Pamela Weaver from the 2nd Episcopal District. The Eastern Cape, Queenstown, Kalahari and the Cape Conferences all took part in this event.
Pastors attending the Pastors and Spouses Retreat from Cape Conference:
1. The Rev. Bongani Jantjies
2. The Rev. Nomsi Teto
3. The Rev. T. C. Mpona
4. The Rev. Sekoboto Tau
5. The Rev. John Cyril Daniels
6. The Rev. Lauan Berends
7. The Rev. Christie Coetzee
8. The Rev. Granville Abrahams
9. The Rev. Vernard Bailie
10. The Rev. Alistair Didloff
11. The Rev. Dirk Mason
12. The Rev. Paul Messiah
13. The Rev. Willem Burger
14. The Rev. Jo-Andre van Schalkwyk
15. The Rev. Moshoeshoe Mtamo
16. The Rev. Arasco Lombard
17. The Rev. Joey Volmink
18. The Rev. Sammy Engelbrecht
19. The Rev. Willem Hanse
20. The Rev. Sydney Williams
21. The Rev. Juliana Williams
22. The Rev. Angelo Forbes
23. The Rev. Quinton Liebenberg
24. The Rev. Wilson Price
25. The Rev. Dawid Moses
Additionally, twelve (12) pastors from the Eastern Cape, one (1) from Kalahari, and seventeen (17) pastors from Queenstown attended the retreat.
Submitted by Sister Charlene Jordaan, Secretary to Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah, the Presiding Prelate of the 15th Episcopal District. Presiding Elder Willem Simon Hanse, et.al contributed to this article.
15. PASTOR OF ANDERSON CHAPEL AME CHURCH, KILLEEN, TEXAS OPENING COGIC CONVOCATION PREACHER:
The Rev. William M. Campbell, Jr was the preacher for the opening sermon at the Holy Convocation of the Texas Southeast Second Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) on Wednesday, August 4, 2010. The Holy Convocation was held at the Killeen Civic & Conference Center in Killeen, Texas. The host bishop of the COGIC Texas Southeast Second Jurisdiction is Bishop A. L. Thomas, Sr.
16. A FAITH-BASED RESPONSE TO THE SLOW DEATH STALKING AFRICAN AMERICANS:
The Rev. Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr.
The statistics are alarming, but the alarm bells are eliciting few serious responses. More than 7 out of 10 African American men and nearly 8 out of 10 African American women are overweight or obese. The disease burden on African Americans because of being overweight and obese is devastating. Disproportionately, African Americans are found in renal dialysis centers, stroke centers, in operating rooms for amputations, and in cardiac care units of hospitals. Abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high levels of LDL cholesterol, and high blood sugar levels are a group of risk factors that lead to increased risks for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Ironically, these risk factors can be positively impacted by lifestyle changes. As the historical epicenter of the African American community, the African American Church is in a position to take on a new role in addressing this public health crisis. The Cookie Congregation LLC – is a company that has emerged to uniquely address the problem of obesity in the African American community through these powerful institutions.
Two years ago, beginning at Bryant Temple A.M.E. Church, in Los Angeles, an innovative approached was developed to change the eating habits of its members and to promote significant weight loss – using nutritionally designed “cookies” as the foundational tool. The Pastor of that Church, Rev. Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr., lost 55 pounds on a “cookie diet” and decided to encourage other members of his congregation to follow his example. Rev. Oden reached out to Neil Friedman, his personal weight management coach, and together they designed a specialized approach to addressing the issues of obesity that would be accessible to the faith-based community.
The cornerstone of their program was to include the power of spiritual discipline: prayer. Prayer was introduced as a foundational approach to weight management, an element missing from other popular weight management programs. The church for many African Americans is the place for empowerment and change. Prayer, along with health education, exercise and diet – using the meal replacement tool of cookies, all began to drastically transform the Cookie CongregationTM clients for the better.
After Bryant Temple AME Church became the proving ground, churches throughout Los Angeles, Southern California, and now nationwide have become part of the Cookie Congregation revolution. The results have been astounding. There are Pastors and members who have lost more than 100 pounds in their first year, and hundreds more that have lost more than 50 pounds, and the numbers are growing daily. Pastors are expected to be role models in this program and to become the Chief Health Advocates for their congregations.
The emphasis of the Cookie CongregationTM is not only weight loss, but also addressing the Metabolic Syndrome. Working with their client’s physicians and primary care practitioners, there have been many cases of their clients’ no longer needing medication to control their high cholesterol and high blood sugar levels. Many of their clients with hypertension have celebrated having their prescriptions modified because their blood pressure is being managed much better.
Those interested in the Cookie CongregationTM please visit their website: www.cookiecongregation.com; or call toll free (in the U.S.) 877-355-3438 to ask to Rev. Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr. – at Cookie Congregation/Cookie Nation.
17. WANNA PLAY GOLF IN LOUISVILLE:
Quinn Chapel Community Development Corporation Presents the George “G” Johnson Golf Open
The Quinn Chapel Community Development Corporation (C.D.C.) is pleased to announce the second golf tournament. Staying true to its commitment of “Reaching UP to God, Reaching IN with Fellowship, and Reaching OUT in Service, to transform the world for God’s tomorrow,” a wonderful event has been planned.
The Quinn Chapel C. D. C., working with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Louisville, Kentucky, will host the George “G” Johnson Golf Open on Saturday, August 28, 2010, at the Bobby Nichols Golf Course, 4301 East Pages Lane, Louisville, Kentucky. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m.; Tee off will be at 9:00 a.m.; Lunch, Awards and Silent Auction will begin at 2:00 p.m.
The cost is $100 per player, which includes tournament play, lunch, and a souvenir gift. The special cost for students is $75 per player. The deadline for entry and payment is August 21, 2010.
Tournament Sponsors are also welcomed to participate in sharing donations, meals, and/or gifts; course hole sponsorship are also available ($100 Hole Sponsorship; $450 for Foursome and Hole Sponsorship; and $250 for Corporate Sponsors).
The Quinn Chapel Community Development Corporation is inviting golfers of all levels to participate in this fun-filled event. Please make all checks payable to “Quinn Chapel CDC Golf Open” and mail to: Quinn Chapel CDC, George “G” Johnson Golf Open, 1901 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40203.
For more information or concerns, please contact Charlie Johnson, (502) 589-3802, Winston Pittman, (502) 449-1900; and/or Quinn Chapel CDC, (502) 583-0324.
18. THE FOURTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT’S ACTIVE MINISTRY DIRECTED TOWARDS THE ECOLOGY AND GLOBAL WITNESS:
*The Reverend Dr. Michael C. Carson is the Fourth Episcopal District Director of Public Relations and pastor Union Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church Benton Harbor, Michigan
“Mercy, Mercy Me.” Marvin Gaye
“A Sustainable Friendship: The Church and The Planet: An Eco-Friendly Camp Meeting: The Fourth Episcopal District 2010 Mid-Year Convocation” and “A Mandate For Global Impact: Worship-Wellness-Witness Hebrews 12:22-28” Fourth Episcopal District Christian Education Congress.
As always the Fourth Episcopal District is on the move and on the “cutting-edge” of ministry. As we are now in the midst of the 2010 Annual Conference Series, permit me to share with you some memorable events that helped to bring us to this propitious time in the life of the Fourth Episcopal District and African Methodism.
The Fourth Episcopal District’s Mid Year Convocation took place at the Radisson Hotel located in Kalamazoo, Michigan those in attendance at the Fourth Episcopal District’s Mid Year Convocation received both Physical and Spiritual feedings.
Ecology or "living relations" is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the distributions, abundance, and relations of organisms and their interactions with the environment. Ecology is the study of ecosystems. Ecosystems describe the web or network of relations among organisms at different scales of organization.
Like many of the natural sciences, a conceptual understanding of ecology is found in the broader details of study, including: life processes explaining adaptations, distribution, and abundance of organisms, the movement of materials and energy through living communities, the successful development of ecosystems, the abundance and distribution of biodiversity in context of the environment.
Senior Bishop John Richard and Senior Episcopal Supervisor Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant “served up” the right “recipe” for a well-balanced weekend lifting up the need for our to be “sweet to” and observe the holiness of the land.
What were some of the ingredients for such a meeting? Well let’s look at the opening Ecological Banquet hosted by the Women’s Missionary Society.
The Eco-Friendly menu was as follows: market green salad with sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, radish sprouts, and carrot flourishes with choice of Ranch or Italian Dressing. Fresh baked garlic breadsticks bowtie pasta, wild mushroom ravioli, choice of smoked tomato marinara or pesto Alfredo Sauce, sliced grilled chicken breast, sautéed vegetables, chocolate and Oreo mousse, freshly brew coffee, decaffeinated coffee, assorted herbal and organic teas and assorted soft drinks.
The Keynote Speaker: Former U. S. Senator Peter C. Groff, Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships as the U. S. Department of Education blessed all in attendance.
The Rev. Dr. Bryant recognized Camp Baber’s First Committee For exemplary leadership: Sister Juanita Johnson-Abel, Sister Shirley J. Brown, Sister Sara Clark, Sister Delores Clements, and Sister Martha Huggins.
Fourth Episcopal District W.M.S. President Joyce Keys Garrison and Fourth Episcopal District Lay Organization President Madge M. White, and Michigan Conference Lay President Betty J. Tuggle helped to make this a major event.
The Mid-Year Convocation experienced great preaching! Those that shared the preached word with the convocation worshippers was the Reverend Tyson Parks, Presiding Elder for the Illinois Conference North District, The Right Reverend Julius McAllister, Sr., Presiding Prelate for the Twentieth Episcopal District of the AME Church; the Reverend Vivian Clarington, pastor of St. Peter AME Church in Decatur, Illinois; the Reverend Dr. Staccato Powell Pastor of the Grace AME Zion Church in Raleigh, North Carolina; and Bishop Edgar Vann, pastor of Second Ebenezer Church in Detroit, Michigan.
During the worship services the Holy Spirit had his way and persons were captivated by his power. Prayer lines, dancing in the Holy Spirit, and persons shouting or simply rocking back and forth by means of contemplative meditation broke out in the sanctuary.
Fourth Episcopal District Director of Music, the Reverend Anthony Vinson, Sr., recently elected director of the Connectional Music and Christian Arts Ministry left no stone unturned as to the high quality of music during the worship services!
During the Convocation the “Stakeholders” every organization that helps to ensure that the ministry of the Fourth Episcopal District operates smoothly met in order to conduct a check-up and plot out new initiatives for the year.
Former Fourth Episcopal District Supervisor, Mother Beverly A. Thomas shared about the Beverly Thomas Fine Arts Institute’s Summer Camp for youth ages 13-19.
Michigan South District Presiding Elder Norman V. Osborne and Dr. Pamela Osborne, Esq.; and Michigan North District Presiding Elder H. Michael Lemmons and Mrs. Anita Lemmons made sure that all present were well-provided for.
The charge God handed to Adam and Eve was that they were to cultivate and keep the garden (Genesis 1:26-28). All of ecology is for our use but only through the guidance of God. Thus we are to be effective stewards. To accomplish this we must “study to show ourselves approved” (2 Timothy 2:15) along with being prayerful and knowledgeable so that we might rightly handle what we have been given charge over.
It is true that “this world is not our home.” But we are to “occupy until” Jesus returns. (St. Luke 19:13) We are to take what has been given to us and develop it, use it wisely, not horde it, nor keep it from those needing it. To not be good stewards over what God is providing us is to pass up rich opportunities to evangelize. In showing our care for the ecology is showing our care for the church!
The Fourth Episcopal District’s Christian Education Congress hosted at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard, Illinois was a spiritually uplifting worship, classroom, teaching, and major opportunity for fellowship event!
It was very evident that Senior Bishop Bryant and Senior Supervisor Rev. Dr. Bryant as always left no stone unturned as they planned for this meeting.
Retired Bishop Philip Robert Cousin, Sr., visited the Congress to share with us and bring warm greetings.
Let’s again first look at the physical nourishment menu - the Clergy Family Organization’s “White Linen Soiree” was a fashionable and very tasty event to be sure.
We enjoyed: mini Cuban sandwiches, mint sweet tea, sweet potato fries, mango sorbet, Crudités w/dips and calamata olives, coffee and tea. We also enjoyed salsa dancing and great fellowship.
The preaching assignments were masterfully handled by Mr. Michael Bell, Jr., and Ms. Christina Dawn Reed; the Reverend Virginia L. Howlett pastor of Wilkerson Chapel in Belleville, Illinois; the Reverend Darren K. Penson pastor of Allen Temple AME Church in Detroit, Michigan; Christian Methodist Episcopal Bishop Henry Williamson; the Reverend Willacin V. Gholston; the Reverend Dr. Freddie Haynes, pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church and Conference Center in Dallas, Texas; and the Reverend Matthew Watley Executive Pastor of Reid Temple in Glenn Dale, MD.
There was an all Male Choir, Mass Youth Choir, soloists, and the Praise Team that blessed us throughout the congress.
During the Congress the “Men of Allen Liturgical Dance Ministry” from The Greater Allen Cathedral AME Church of New York where the team of The Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake and the Reverend Dr. Elaine M. Flake oversee the work. The Men of Allen ministered “up a storm!”
There were young men from Canada that ministered in dance. Bishop Bryant commented, “Something needs to happen-the young men can dance at the party but when it comes down to the church it’s not manly to dance for the Lord and be a man? The devil is a lie!”
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Marcus Pastor of Turner Chapel AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia led the Thursday and Friday Clergy training sessions by masterfully teaching and preaching.
There was great teaching that took place during the Congress. The Church School under the guidance of Reverend Ernest Garrison offered a number of classes for persons seeking certification. The Women’s Missionary Society under the supervision of Senior Supervisor Rev. Dr. Cecilia Williams Bryant “handled their business.”
The YPD met, the Lay met, and there was a Music and Christian Arts Seminar. The Liturgical Dance group met. The Sons of Allen and Daughters of Destiny met. And, Oh by the way, the Friday Evening “Pan African Gospel Celebration Worship Service” inspired all in attendance. During this worship service there was a masterful Rites of Passage celebration.
Gospel Artist Jonathan Nelson was present and actively ministering at the Congress.
The Fourth Episcopal District’s Male Choir, Youth Choir, and Mass Choir blessed us along with a great Fourth Episcopal District Praise Team. Fourth Episcopal District Director of Music Reverend Anthony Vinson assembled a great mix of singers and musicians that blessed the meeting very well!
Did I mention, The Legacy Destiny Tea, A Celebration of Wellness, The Sunrise Service of Sacrament, The Fourth Episcopal District’s Bible Bowl, the Dance Ministry, and a Rap Contest? The four days were truly filled with great teaching and celebration under the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
The Reverend Dr. James F. Miller Fourth Episcopal District Director of Christian Education and pastor of DuPage AME Church in Lisle, Illinois along with his staff, and the membership did a masterful job of hosting this event.
As always Fourth Episcopal District Administrator Ms. Jo Ann Hawkins and Fourth Episcopal District Secretary Ms. Ni Jonna Edge made that sure that everything was in order.
Now the Fourth Episcopal District is in the midst of the 2010 Annual Conference Series and is pressing on into the future!
Through Bishop John and Rev. Dr. C’s leadership the Fourth Episcopal District is very aware that the church will be held accountable concerning how we treat the ecology and the effective global witness we demonstrate daily. Therefore let us through the power of the Holy Ghost serve as great stewards over the land and all that is within it!
Peace With Justice, Be Blessed Real Good, Attend Worship, and Families Matter.
Dr. Carson can be reached at carsonvision@acd.net
*The Reverend Dr. Michael C. Carson is the Fourth Episcopal District Director of Public Relations and pastor Union Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church Benton Harbor, Michigan
19. A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF BETHEL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PENNSAUKEN, NEW JERSEY:
*The Reverend Lanxton L. Washington
The week started July 19, 2010 with Vacation Bible School, whose theme was “Committed to the Call” utilizing the Book of Philippians. The church enrolled 75 children. The Vacation Bible School began with the teens of the church leading in a spirit-filled devotion and then assembling for classes.
Thanks to a member of the church, we were afforded the use of four classrooms at the Junior High School across the street from the church.
We provided a dinner meal to every participant at 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, we had an enrollment of thirty additional children, giving us an attendance of 105 students.
The agenda was the same each night; dinner at 7:30 p.m. and then the summary with adjournment at 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday night the attendance decreased to 102 and Thursday, it decreased again to 88, but on Friday, the closing session we had 133 attendees including adults. Thursday’s meal was a pizza party sponsored by a prominent family and the local Church Women’s Missionary Society.
At the closing session, we had a wonderful Bar-B-Que, consisting of chicken, ribs, pork chops, hot dogs, hamburgers, homemade potato salad, watermelon, and beverage. In addition, we had a four-piece combo and a moon-bounce for the youth and for those who felt young.
The week continued on Saturday with the young people’s choir, the Joyetts visiting a nursing home and a senior member home serenading them with song. It brought great joy to two (2) members who are unable to attend church. That evening we had in concert the renowned Brockington Ensemble who is celebrating 47 years in praising the Lord. They sang such songs as Give Him the Glory, Give Him the Praise, Jesus I Love You, He Has Been Good to Me, I Desire to Follow Jesus, You Can’t Make me Doubt Him , I Love to Praise Him, Trust In The Lord, My Hope Is Built and How Great Is Our God. It was a wonderful spirit filled evening. As the pastor was attempting to give closing remarks and the benediction a choir member got so filled with the spirit she interrupted him saying, “Nobody is going to shut me up but God. The pastor just moved out of her way. The evening ended with as meal provided by the church.
We closed out on Sunday with a powerful sermon by the Reverend Micah C. T. Sims, who encouraged the church to “Hang in There.” We then took our youth choir, the Joyetts, to a sister Church, Jacobs Chapel AME Church where the Reverend Terrell Pearson is the pastor to support their Capitol Campaign.
It was a God-blessed week at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Pennsauken, New Jersey (Camden-Trenton District where the Reverend Robert C. Wade, D.Min serves as the presiding elder and who is a candidate for Episcopal Service. The Right Reverend Richard F. Norris is the Presiding Prelate of the 1st Episcopal District.
*The Reverend Lanxton L. Washington, M.Div, Pastor Bethel AME Church, Pennsauken, New Jersey
20. OLD WOUNDS AND NEW PAIN:
*Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad
The past can be like an old wound that never heals, especially when the scab keeps being picked at. In the wake of Oakland transit cop Johannes Mesherle’s recent involuntary manslaughter conviction for the on-duty shooting death of unarmed, 22 year-old Oscar Grant, the injury of his death and so many black men before him is as raw and bloody now as it was the day they were killed.
The pain runs deep not just because another mother lost her son to a quick-triggered cop; or because no black jurors were yet again allowed to stand in judgment of a white man; or because some observers claim that Grant’s prior trouble with the law made him a willing partner to his own summary execution.
The hurt runs deep because at the root of the outcry over the failure to get a murder conviction for another willing executioner of a black man is the painful reminder, and concurrent denial, of the cheapness of black life in America.
Just remembering the horrors of slavery or the tragedy of Scottsboro in this context is enough to make many want to scream, holler, burn, and pillage. And yet such hot memories are too often soothed by the cool comfort of our post Civil Rights, post Jim Crow triumphalism. However, by the measure of police brutality, outside of the South, not much has changed.
In a 1929 Illinois Crime Survey, researchers found that African Americans made up 30 percent of the recorded police killings but only 5 percent of the population. In one case, for example, a manhunt for a sixteen-year-old Chicagoan accused of breaking a restaurant window, ended with police entering his home without a warrant, guns blazing. Alfred Lingle died in a hail of thirty-five bullets.
North of the Mason-Dixon Line unlawful police violence has produced long suffering in silence. In response to a 1930 federal report of police brutality, Lawlessness in Law Enforcement, which highlighted conditions in the Jim Crow South, members of the Philadelphia black press cried foul. They told officials that the report prominently covered brutality in the “uncivilized wilds of Mississippi.” However, nothing in the urban North appeared, such as the local beating of a sick elderly black woman; the torture of a man “choked, hung upside down, his joints twisted and told that Negroes should be treated like dogs; and the “drag net” arrests and beatings of blacks on the “steps of their own homes.”
There is a thin blue line separating the past from the present, as evident by the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on the steps of his own Cambridge home last summer; the perjury and obstruction of justice conviction last month of Jon Burge, former Chicago Police Commander, accused along with dozens of other officials in the abuse or torture of nearly 200 African Americans arrested between the 1970s and 1990s; and the recent federal indictment of six New Orleans officers charged in connection with the execution-style shootings of six unarmed Katrina victims, two of whom died.
Society’s enduring denial of police repression in black communities inflicts the most harm, ripping off the scab of racial injustice every time an officer’s humanity is affirmed by the presumption of innocence and little to no punishment. In Mesherle’s case as was true for the officers acquitted in the killings of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell, it is the innocence of fear of black men that decriminalizes murder in police killings, rendering them tragic “accidents.”
Fear affirms the shared humanity of all who presume the guilt of black men. The burden of blackness is to prove one’s innocence, to justify one’s humanity; the privilege of whiteness is to take both for granted.
Recall New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s smear that the slain Patrick Dorismond was “No altar boy” after he was goaded into a fight with undercover narcotics agents (later acquitted) while innocently and soberly minding his own business.
“Again? Again? Again?” were the anguished cries of Dorismond’s mother as she mourned, side by side, with Kadiatou Diallo at Sean Bell’s funeral in 2006.
Wanda Johnson, the mother of Oscar Grant, now feels the sharp sting of the scab pulling from an old and festering wound. We hear her cries of pain, “my son was murdered,” linking her to a troubling past and present.
As for the future, in order for wounds to heal scabs must not be allowed to form. Wounds must be thoroughly cleaned, properly treated, and vigilantly monitored for healthy tissue to grow.
*Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad is a member of Bethel A.M.E. in Bloomington, Indiana and is an assistant professor of history and author of The Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America (Harvard).
21. A MESSAGE FROM THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION:
Please watch this video to the end and share with friends
Click here to view video: http://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights-racial-justice/would-you-ask-man-his-papers
Would You Ask This Man For His Papers?
Would you ask this man for his papers? Why? Because of the color of his skin? Because of the language he's speaking? Because he's doing yard work?
The fact is; there is no way to tell who is documented and who is not. If SB 1070 is allowed to go into effect, American citizens WILL be subjected to racial profiling. People in this country legally will be stopped, interrogated and harassed simply because of what they look like or the language they are speaking.
That's not right and it's not constitutional. Help us protect the constitution. Help us stop SB 1070. What Happens in Arizona, Stops in Arizona.
Published on American Civil Liberties Union (http://www.aclu.org)
Source URL: http://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights-racial-justice/would-you-ask-man-his-papers
Editor’s Note: Let us not forget the famous statement attributed to the German Pastor, the Rev. Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group.
In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me —
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
22. THE THIRD EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2010 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE - UPDATED:
The Right Reverend C. Garnett Henning, Presiding Prelate
Mrs. Ernestine Lee Henning, Episcopal Supervisor
West Virginia Annual Conference
Lay Annual Meeting- August 14, 2010
WMS Annual Meeting - August 25, 2010
Annual Conference - August 26 - 29, 2010
Host Church: St. Matthew AME
Phone: 304-252-1002
103 Mills Avenue; Beckley, WV 25801
The Reverend Debra Smoot, Pastor
Host Presiding Elder: The Reverend Alton Dillard, Sr.
The Reverend Daryl Walker, Revivalist
Pittsburgh Annual Conference
Lay Annual Meeting- September 11, 2010
WMS Banquet - September 13, 2010
WMS Annual Meeting - September 14, 2010
Annual Conference - September 15 - 19, 2010
Host Church: ST. PAUL AME
Phone: 724-225-5689
16 Ridge Avenue; Washington, PA
The Reverend Arthur E. Doctor, Jr., Pastor
Host Presiding Elder: The Reverend James H. McLemore
The Reverend Ann Lightner-Fuller, Revivalist
South Ohio Annual Conference
Lay Annual Meeting- September 18, 2010
WMS Banquet - September 20, 2010
WMS Annual Meeting - September 21, 2010
Annual Conference - September 22 - 26, 2010
Host Church: QUINN CHAPEL AME
Phone: 513-825-4900
10998 Southland Blvd.
Forest Park
Cincinnati, OH 45240
The Reverend Frederick A. Wright, Pastor
Host Presiding Elder: The Reverend Wilton E. Blake, I
The Reverend Dr. Norvell Goff, Sr., Revivalist
Ohio Annual Conference
Lay Annual Meeting- October 2, 2010
WMS Annual Meeting - October 5, 2010
Annual Conference - October 6 - 10, 2010
Host Church: TRINITY AME CHURCH
Phone: 937-325-1372
554 Selma Road; Springfield OH 45506
The Reverend Dwight E. Smith, Pastor
Host Presiding Elder: The Reverend Brenda J. Gregg
The Reverend Roderick D. Dawson, Revivalist
North Ohio Annual Conference
Lay Annual Meeting- October 16, 2010
WMS Banquet -October 18, 2010
WMS Annual Meeting - October 19, 2010
Annual Conference - October 20 - 24, 2010
Host Church: LEE MEMORIAL AME
Phone: 216-761-4447
861 E. 105th Street; Cleveland, OH 44108
The Reverend Wesley I. Reid, Pastor
Host Presiding Elder: The Reverend James H. Harris
The Reverend Dr. William Whatley, Revivalist
Planning Meeting
November 11-13, 2010
Location: Crowne Plaza, Columbus - Dublin
600 Metro Place North; Dublin, Ohio 43017
Phone: 614-764-2200
23. THE HARDEST THING FOR SOME OF US TO DO-----APOLOGIZE:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
There are some of us who would do anything and everything to get around apologizing. Webster defines ‘apology” as an expression of sorrow. There are times that we regret doing or saying something that was wrong, but some of us find it difficult to apologize even when we know we are wrong. I don’t know what it is, but it puzzles me to see people, especially church-folk, who refuse or find it difficult, to apologize when they know and have been proven to be wrong of saying or doing something they had no business saying or doing.
Folk who have been baptized in one faith; folk who pray and break bread together find it hard to apologize. Some feel that it is demeaning. Some feel that it is too submissive. Some feel it is a sign of weakness. Others just have too much “pride” to permit them to apologize.
It is a good thing to be apologetic as long as it is not synthetic. Some of us apologize reluctantly and half -hardly. There is one thing for sure and that is we should never have to apologize for doing the right thing.
I recall, some years ago there was a popular circular song entitled “I apologize” recorded by many great recording artists. In that song, if I can recall some of the lyrics, it went something like this:
If I told a lie, if I made you cry when I said good-by I’m sorry. From the bottom of my heart I apologize.
If I caused you pain I know I am to blame I must have been insane. From the bottom of my heart I apologize.
I realize I’ve been unfair, give me one more chance. From the bottom of my heart I apologize.
Keeping in mind that this was not a song written by church folk, but it has implications that people, especially church folk, should embrace. We should never be ashamed or embarrassed to apologize when it has been proven that we had been wrong or insulting.
Being able or being willing to apologize is a sign of maturity. It is a sign of intelligence. It is a sign of compassion. And it is a sign of inward strength.
Some of us are in the arrears when it comes to apologizing. Sadly to say but there are some who would go to their graves first rather than to admit they were wrong and apologize. What is so wrong to admit when we are wrong or said something that we shouldn’t have said? Apologizing can break down walls that divide us. It can clear the air of suspicion. It can heal our selfish blindness. It can restore faith and trust in us. It can restore respect and confidence. There are those, in the position of leadership, who feel that admitting and apologizing for being wrong, would weaken their ability to lead. In a matter of fact it will strengthen your leadership.
We should never apologize for going to church, prayer meetings, bible study and rehearsals. We should never apologize for having a testimony.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood before King Nebuchadnezzar without an apology. Daniel did not apologize for opening his windows and praying three times daily. Peter and John stood before the council without an apology. As Paul stood before the council he did not apologize for his testimony of conversion on the Damascus Road.
I recommend that if you know that you have said or done something to someone that was wrong and you know it, be strong enough to go to that person and lift the load from your heart and say I apologize. You will be surprise how much a difference it would make in your life. Apologizing does not make you less a man or woman, do it and do it now.
Oh by the way, I do not apologize for writing this article.
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts (Ptaegar@AOL.Com) is a retired AME pastor who lives in Eatonville, Florida
24. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Congratulations To Mrs. Ella Belle Richardson Couch As She Celebrates Her 100th Birthday
Mrs. Ella Belle Richardson Couch, widow of the Reverend W. T. Couch of the Tennessee Annual Conference, 13th Episcopal District, will celebrate her 100th birthday on Monday, August 2, 2010. Mrs. Couch is currently the oldest member of St. Peter's African Methodist Episcopal Church, Clarksville, Tennessee. She continues to play the organ every Sunday at St. Peter's Church as she has done for nearly fifty years. Mrs. Couch will be honored on Sunday, August 1, 2010 with an ice cream social following the morning worship service.
Mrs. Ella Belle Richardson Couch was born, August 2, 1910, in the small rural community of Knowlton, Arkansas, near Memphis, Tennessee. She was baptized in the AME Church as an infant and has never been a member of any other denomination. As a child, she took piano and pipe organ lessons. Around the age of 12-13, she began to play at churches in Memphis, Tennessee. She married William T. Couch, an AME Church minister in a private ceremony on October 3, 1935, at the age of 24. With affection for each other, Ella and her husband called each other "Couch." The Reverend William T. (W. T.) Couch passed on October 3, 1971, on the 36th year anniversary of their marriage.
Mrs. Ella Couch has a great love of word puzzles and Bible puzzles. She says "the puzzles keep her straight in the head and keep her mind fresh." Besides the puzzles, in her home there are books everywhere. She also admits that she enjoys game shows and court shows on TV. She is still capable of taking care of herself, in spite of the fact that people come by or call daily to check on her. She does her own cooking and cleaning. Although, she does not have biological children, she has been blessed with Godchildren who share in her life and bring her joy.
Birthday cards can be sent to:
Mrs. Ella B. Couch
722 Main Street
Clarksville, Tennessee 37040
eCards and birthday well-wishes for Mrs. Ella Belle Richardson Couch can also be emailed to: mfallsscott@aol.com (Mary Falls Scott - Goddaughter)
- A Celebration of Ministry and Service for Presiding Elder And Mrs. Robert L. Mitchell, Suwannee North District-East Conference of the Eleventh Episcopal District
The Suwannee North District of the East Conference of the Eleventh Episcopal District is excited about the upcoming Retirement Celebration honoring the Reverend Dr. Robert L. Mitchell, Presiding Elder and Consultant Mrs. Deloris Middlebrooks Mitchell for their distinguished years of service rendered to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Presiding Elder and Mrs. Mitchell will leave a rich legacy of service to the Eleventh Episcopal District, the East and Central Conference, Edward Waters College (24th President) and our great Zion.
The black-tie gala event will take place on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at the University Center, located on the campus of the University of North Florida at 12000 Alumni Drive, Jacksonville, Florida at five o'clock in the evening. The celebration will be commemorated with a Souvenir Journal that will highlight the historical ministry of this dynamic team.
For information on the gala event tickets and for inclusion in the Souvenir Journal celebrating these glorious years of ministry and service to God and His people contact:
Greater Grant Memorial AME Church
5533 Gilchrist Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32219
(904) 764-5992
The Rev. T.D. Hansberry, Pastor
- Congratulations to Captain John W. Morrison, United States Navy Chaplain Corps
Congratulations to Captain John W. Morrison, United States Navy Chaplain Corps, on the occasion of his retirement after 30 years of active duty service to his country!
During the span of his career, Chaplain Morrison has served with distinction in such places as Italy, Japan, and Washington, D.C. He has been a pastor, mentor and friend to generations of AME Chaplains serving in the Navy. His absence from our Corps will be as conspicuous as the indelible legacy in which he leaves.
God bless you Chaplain Morrison! "Fair Winds and following seas."
Congratulatory wishes may be sent to Chaplain Morrison: jwmorr@msn.com
- Congratulations to the Reverend Minnie Autry
The Reverend Minnie Autry, pastor of New St. James AME Church in Detroit, Michigan, was the proud recipient of a Master of Divinity degree, which was bestowed upon her at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. The Reverend Autry serves in the North District of the Michigan Annual Conference; the Reverend Dr. H. Michael Lemmons is the Presiding Elder and the Rt. Rev. John R. Bryant, Presiding Prelate, Fourth Episcopal District, Senior Bishop of the AME Church.
Congratulatory responses can be sent to:
The Rev. Minnie Autry
18510 Lumpkin
Detroit, MI 48234
Phone: (313) 366-9881
Or
The Rev. Minnie Autry
New St James AME Church
9321 Rosa Parks Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48206
Phone (313) 867-2851
Or emailed to: minnieautry@sbcglobal.net
- Congratulations to Kimberleigh Michelle Yates
Kimberleigh Michelle Yates is graduating with a B.S. (Pre-Physical Therapy) from Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University's (FAMU) School of Allied Health & Sciences. Kimberleigh plans to continue at FAMU to earn the Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is a member of Beta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is the daughter of Presiding Elder Elizabeth E. Yates and Brother Kenneth M. Yates of Jacksonville, FL. Her pastor is the Reverend Tony. D. Hansberry of Greater Grant Memorial AMEC-Jacksonville, FL. Kimberleigh will graduate on August 6, 2010 at 6:00 PM in the FAMU’s Al Lawson Auditorium.
Congratulatory responses can be forwarded to: eyates7455@aol.com
25. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to share news of the passing of the Reverend Elmer Lessridge Kelly, Director of Evangelism for the South Mississippi Conference. Rev. Kelly was a member of St. Paul AME Church, Madison, Mississippi. The Reverend Archie Smith is pastor of St. Paul AMEC and the Reverend William Love is Presiding Elder of the Jackson/ Meridian District, South Mississippi Conference.
The Reverend Elmer Lessridge Kelly passed away suddenly at 6:00 A.M. on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 in his home. He was born August 17, 1956 and received his call to preach in July 1978.
Service Arrangements for the Rev. Elmer Lessridge Kelly:
Funeral:
Saturday, August 7, 2010
11:00 A.M.
St. Paul AME Church
816 Madison Avenue
Madison, Mississippi 30110
Professional Services are entrusted to:
Peoples Funeral Home Inc.
886 North Farish Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39202
(601) 969-3040
(601) 355-4707 - Fax
Condolences may be sent to:
The Kelly Family
c/o Mary Kelly or Janice Pee
11 Misty Cove
Jackson, Mississippi 39212
Office of the Eighth Episcopal District-A.M.E. CHURCH
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Presiding Prelate
5450 Executive Place
Jackson, MS 39206
601 366-8240
601 366-8175 fax
26. CLERGY FAMILY / CONNECTIONAL OFFICER BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to share news of the passing of Mr. Fred Sanders, the father of Mrs. Felicia Stallworth, First Lady of Bethel AME Church, Mound Bayou, Mississippi and the father-in-law of the Reverend Timothy A. Stallworth, Sr., Pastor of Bethel AME Church, Mound Bayou, Mississippi and Vice President of the Connectional Sons of Allen.
Service arrangements for Mr. Fred Sanders:
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Family Visitation: 12:00 Noon - 2:00 p.m.
Homegoing Services: 2:00 p.m.
Temple of Love Missionary Baptist Church
9297 Highway 433 South
Benton, Mississippi 39039
Telephone: (662) 673-0296
Professional services entrusted to:
Shaffer & Collins Funeral Home
247 West Sixth Street
Yazoo City, Mississippi 39194
(662) 746-3985
(662) 746-4764 Fax
Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. and Mrs. (Felicia) Timothy Stallworth, Sr.
4616 Meadowridge Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39206-5413
Or emailed to:
Mrs. Felicia Stallworth: FeliciaStallworth@yahoo.com
The Rev. Timothy Stallworth, Sr.: timothyastallworthsr@yahoo.com
Telephone contact numbers: (601) 981-2756 and (601) 291-6184
27. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Regretfully, we announce the passing of Mrs. Aretia Hodges, the Mother of the Reverend Saundria Hodges-Wilson, Pastor of Bethel AME Church, (Calvin Center), Cassopolis, Michigan, located in the Soaring South District, Michigan Conference of the Fourth Episcopal District.
Service Arrangements for Mrs. Aretia Hodges:
Family Visitation and Viewing:
Sunday, August 8, 2010
6:00 P. M. - 8:00 P. M.
Halbritter Funeral Home
615 E. Main Street
Niles, Michigan 49120
Homegoing Celebration Service:
Monday, August 9, 2010
11:00 A. M.
Franklin AME Church
The Reverend Jared Graves, Pastor
811 Sycamore Street
Niles, Michigan 49210
Services entrusted to:
Halbritter Funeral Homes
615 E. Main Street
Niles, MI 49120
Phone (269) 683-3000
Fax: (269) 683-7140
Expression of Sympathy and Condolences can be sent to:
The Reverend Saundria Wilson
924 Cherry Street
Niles, MI 49120-0595
Email: Saundria.wilson@yahoo.com
28. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Dr. George B. LaSure, a faithful itinerant elder of the Sixth Episcopal District, Augusta-Athens District passed from labor to reward on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Minnie LaSure and family. Dr. LaSure formerly served as pastor of Cosmopolitan AME Church (Atlanta, GA) and most recently, Greater Saint James AME Church of Thomson, GA. Let us keep the immediate family, church family, SED pastors and his friends in prayer during this time.
Services will be held on Monday, August 2, 2010 @ 11:00 AM
Turner Monumental A.M.E. Church
66 Howard Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30317
404-378-5970
404-378-7979(fax)
Bishop Frank C. Cummings, Eulogist
The Reverend Bruce Francis, Pastor
The Reverend Mark Pierson, Presiding
Professional Services Entrusted to:
Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home
914 Scenic Highway
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
Phone: 770- 338-5558
Fax: 678-992-7999
Expressions of sympathy and condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Minnie LaSure
1685 Butler Bridge Road
Covington, Georgia 36016-4937
Phone: 678-625-2501
29. SERVICE INFORMATION UPDATE FOR MR. DAVID COOPER:
From: Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr.
Update: passing of Mr. David Cooper, the brother of Bro. David Fielding, 12th Episcopal District Lay President.
Condolences can be sent to:
Brother David L. Fielding
909 South Vine St.
Magnolia, AR 71753
Or
Emailed to: dcfielding@suddenlink.net
30. 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
31. 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
