Bishop
T. Larry Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
The
Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The
Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. EDITORIAL – THE DISCIPLINE - IF WE JUST FOLLOW THE RULES:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
The Bible is the required book for anyone who calls him or
herself a Christian. The Bible is our book.
It should be read, studied, and obeyed by clergy and laity. The Bible
should be our rule for living because it addresses, even in this technological
age, every aspect of life and living. Life for all of us would be much easier
if we followed the biblical principles. Our bodies would be healthier if we
followed the biblical traditions of healthful living.
The prison industry might be hard pressed to stay in business if
everyone followed the rules of the Bible. If people interacted with each other
as the Bible dictates, we all would have more meaningful relationships and
quality of life would be enhanced if we obeyed the rules of the Decalogue.
Marriages would more successful and familial relationships would
be strengthened if all of us; or at least most of us, would read, study,
understand and be obedient to the biblical principles. I believe that the quality of our lives would
be significantly enhanced if we followed the Bible and its rules for living.
Here is the setup
The Bible is our book for living, and relating to God and to
each other; no one who claims to be a follower of Christ can argue against the
of biblical living is the best option.
Most of us know better
Somewhere along the way in our homes, in churches, on the job,
in school, on the playground we have heard the statement, “If we just followed
the rules that we have in place; we wouldn’t have nearly the problems we have
when we don’t follow the rules.”
Here is where I am going
I am always amazed when I hear comments from AMEs concerning
things that should or should not happen in AME Churches. So many times, I feel like shouting, “If we
just followed the rules that we have in place…”
In the AME Church, we have the “rule book” and if we all used
the “rule book” many of our local churches would run more smoothly. Many of our
problems are exacerbated when we have clergy and laity who do not use the “rule
book”; and to make matters worse, there is no evidence that they follow the
rules of the Bible.
The Discipline is the “rule book” for the local and connectional
Church
The Discipline is
updated every four years and yet we have parishioners; and I am afraid we have clergy
too, who don’t read The Discipline. Some
people believe that The Discipline
remains the same; quadrennium after quadrennium, which tells me that they have
never read The Discipline, because if
they had read The Discipline they
would know that there a sometimes subtle, but at other times, radical changes;
and there are always changes in The
Discipline.
I suspect that some people just don’t like to follow rules; they
do what they think is expedient. Failure to follow rules is a lifestyle.
People, who don’t follow the rules in the church, probably don’t follow the
biblical rules and they probably don’t follow the rules on their jobs, nor do
they follow the rules in their homes. They are most comfortable “winging it”
and sometimes they will call it using common sense.
One Example
I heard of a preacher who said that he had a church full of
parishioners and went on to say that he did not follow any of the AME rituals
provided in The Discipline. He had a
“crowd,” according to him, but, I was thinking that the crowd probably was not
an AME Church.
So what happens when that pastor is reassigned to another
church? Will he transition the worship service in his new charge to a
nondenominational-type worship experience? And what happens when the folks he
nurtured move and go to a different church? Will they find an AME Church so
alien that they will feel more comfortable joining a non-denominational
church? I suspect so.
I believe that we have “wing it” preachers who are
breeding-grounds that train people to transition to nondenominational worship
centers.
A better example
The African Methodist Episcopal Church has everything it needs
for its success; if clergy and laity will use the available resources.
We have the resources
We have the Bible for daily living and worship, the AMEC Hymnal to help us facilitate
worship, and the AMEC Book of Worship, another
worship resource.
And, of course we have The
Book of Discipline 2012, which will be released soon. Dr. Johnny Barbour, AMEC Publisher says an
electronic format is in progress.
The Discipline ought
to “fly off” the shelves of the AMEC Sunday School Union as soon as it is
available. Dr. Barbour and the Bishops
of the AME Church should not have to beg people to purchase The Discipline. Each one of us should
have enough initiative to want to be knowledgeable about our Zion.
Who should own a
Discipline?
Every minister should own
The Discipline! Every leader of the
laity should own The Discipline.
I would even go so far to say, after The Discipline is available, when roll call is done at every annual
conference, every preacher and every lay delegate should, in addition to
answering the roll call with a Bible verse, should show physical evidence that
he or she has a Bible and owns The
Discipline. And, for the purpose of the roll call, a “real” Bible, not the
smartphone version. After roll call the smartphone versions of the Bible should
be acceptable.
Every leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Church –
stewards, trustees, stewardesses, and deaconesses, presidents of organizations,
Church School teachers, choir directors and musicians - should own The Discipline.
Pastors would be doing themselves a favor if they had lessons on
the contents of The Discipline.
Some people fight the religious program because they do not know
the rules. They don’t know the rules because no one took the time to explain
the rules of The Discipline to them.
When young people become teenagers they should be given access
to The Discipline.
Everyone who plans on entering the ministry should possess The Discipline
and have it in his or her possession by the time he or she is presented at the
Church Conference.
Every person attending the quarterly conference should have The Discipline in his or her possession.
If we would just follow the rules, the life of the Church would
be better.
Here’s the gravy
If our churches would follow The
Discipline, they might experience less problems and less conflict.
If stewards and trustees took the time to read and understand The Discipline, they might have a better
understanding about what’s expected of them; and they might function more
effectively.
Church school teacher and musicians and anyone in leadership
positions would benefit from understanding our rules as stated in The Discipline.
If pastors read The
Discipline and the Bible and fully understood their roles, they might find
their ministries more fulfilling and fruitful.
If presiding elders read The
Discipline and the Bible and fully understood their roles, they might experience
a greater expertise in managerial skills that might assist pastors and churches
to grow by leaps and bounds.
General Officers and Bishops need to take the time to study and
become more proficient in their knowledge and teaching of The Discipline.
In other words, if all of us, from top to bottom of our Zion,
followed the same rules of The Discipline,
conflict and misunderstanding would have to subside. And, if we added the
teachings of the Bible to the mix, what a Church we could have!
The revival begins in each of us. When The Discipline is available, order it, buy it, read it, understand
it, and follow it!
“If we just followed the rules that we have in place; we
wouldn’t have nearly the problems we have when we don’t follow the rules.”
2. TCR OP ED: THE
IMPORTANCE OF A BRAND: THE AME CHURCH PRESENCE IN CYBERSPACE:
*John Thomas III
Over the last decade, the Internet has become a staple of global
communication. No serious
organization—public or private—is without a website and some social media
presence. While slow to embrace the
internet age, the Connectional AME Church now has a diverse presence in
cyberspace. Searching for “AME” will
yield a host of websites ranging from Episcopal Districts to Connectional
auxiliaries to local churches.
This cyber-diversity mirrors the nature of our Church. Yet, some steps need to be taken to highlight
the fact that we are a Connectional Church and not a confederation of 20
separate Districts and the Department of Ecumenical and Urban Affairs. Also, the email addresses of our leaders tell
the story of the absence of connectivity.
Most major corporations and non-profits have institutional email
addresses that are linked to the business domain (For example:
johnsmith@businessname.com or student@university.edu). While seemingly cosmetic, this uniform
email structure enhances the brand and associates the person with the
organization. It is also a part of netiquette
to differentiate between personal and professional email addresses.
Given the fact that we have General Officers, Bishops, and
auxiliaries that have all staked out their unique niches in cyberspace, what
can we do emphasize the Connection? The
following are technical workarounds that will take a minimum amount of time but
will do much to demonstrate that we are indeed still a connectional church.
Every Bishop and General Officer be provided with a
“@ame-church.com” email address and be encouraged to use it for all
correspondence.
Many of our Bishops and General Officers have email addresses
that are associated with personal identifiers or with other server accounts
(AOL, Yahoo, etc.). By using those
domain names, we give free advertising to other businesses instead of using the
institutional domain name “ame-church.com” that the Connectional church pays
for. The person’s existing personal
email can be linked to the “@ame-church.com” email with virtually no hassle and
instantaneously we create an easily identifiable system.
All Episcopal District websites and the Department of Ecumenical
and Urban Affairs be assigned subdomains from the “ame-church.com” domain name.
We can expect that every Episcopal District will have a uniquely
different website. But, this does not
mean that we have to abandon our Connection in cyberspace. The subdomain “xdistrict.ame-church.com” can
be assigned to all of our Districts and can automatically navigate to the
existing website. Again, this makes the
AME Church look more like a Connection and helps from having to remember 21
different website addresses.
There was a time when simply having an email and a website was
an achievement. But, we must understand
that in today’s technological world just having something is not
sufficient. We must make better use of
our technological resources and understand that the image we give to the
outside world needs to mirror the Connectional Church that we are. These changes could be done at the seat of
the next Connectional meeting with the General Secretary just setting up a
computer and working with every Bishop and General Officer to get the necessary
information.
This article only is the tip of the iceberg. Redundant emails, website design, and
e-commerce are all issues that need to be addressed (and will be written on at
a later date). For now, though, creating
uniform email addresses for our leaders and our Episcopal District websites is
a start and an easily obtainable goal.
*John Thomas III
Ph.D. Student
Department of Political Science
University of Chicago
Ph.D. Student
Department of Political Science
University of Chicago
3. DR. JOAN COUSIN RECEIVED
PRESTIGIOUS BISHOP'S QUADRENNIAL AWARD:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Former Episcopal Supervisor Margaret Joan Cousin received The Bishops’ Quadrennial Award, the highest
honor that the AME Bishops' Council Confers at the 49th Quadrennial
Session of the AME Church's General Conference held in July 2012 at the
Opryland Hotel & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Bishops' Council
Award Presentation read:
"The Bishop's
Quadrennial Award, African Methodist Episcopal Church is presented to Dr.
Margaret Joan Cousin Beloved wife of Former Senior Bishop Philip R. Cousin,
Sr., mother of five clergy leaders in African Methodism, doting Grandmother,
Retired educator and Episcopal Supervisor in the African Methodist Church -
your unrelenting call awakened a drowsy, indifferent church to the suffering
and stigma imposed by HIV and AIDS.
Before there was a
"Balm in Gilead" there was Margaret Joan Cousin, a pioneer without
peer in HIV and AIDS Awareness and Prevention Ministry. Yours was the lone voice calling the Black
Church to attention. When the church
seemed too aloof and too appropriate to discuss sex and sexuality, you spoke up
about empty chairs at the dinner table and the devastation HIV and AIDS was
having on African American Families.
Like a drum major, you led
the missionaries that you supervised on ways you have touched parades without
pomp and pageantry through city streets armed with literature about behaviors
that caused unnecessary deaths. You
declared war on HIV and AIDS and its impact on families.
Others have joined the
fight and today lives are being saved and much of the stigma removed. You found your niche in service, founding and
funding great causes in the places where African Methodism has a presence. We praise God for your commitment to
Christ-centered missions and the ministry of helps, proven in the countless
ways you have touched the lives of the suffering and in the way you have inspired
African Methodism to speak of the things we had been ashamed to speak and
hesitant to acknowledge! We are honored
to call you our own.
Presented this First Day
of July in the Year of our Lord, Two-Thousand Twelve; 49th General
Conference; Nashville, Tennessee.”
The Bishops of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Dr. Joan Cousin said "I want to let unborn generations know
that the African Methodist Episcopal Church led in the fight against HIV/
AIDS" and went on to say, "My passion is African American history and
the world needs to know that our Church has been on the frontline fighting
against all issues that would harm our people.”
The Award was presented to Dr. Cousin in recognition of her
30-year work and ministry in educating people about the transmission of the
AIDS virus and preventive ways to avoid getting it.
Through Dr. Cousin’s efforts along with the thousands of people
who worked with her, myths surrounding AIDS/HIV have been dispelled and the
world now knows that AIDS is a preventable disease.
Dr. Cousin's AIDS Ministry began long before it was popular to
do so as her efforts served to awaken a sleeping Church about a silent enemy
that was invading our communities in the U.S. and on the continent of Africa.
Bishop Adam J Richardson Jr. said of the award given to Dr.
Cousin, “This award is in recognition and given to individuals who are members
of the AME Church who have distinguished themselves in service to the African
and African-American communities or in other international contexts; and by
their contributions have also brought positive recognition to the African
Methodist Episcopal Church."
There have only been three women to receive this award: Mother
Charlotte Manye Maxeke, Mother of African Methodism and activist in South
Africa; Mrs. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks, the Mother of the modern Civil rights’
Movement in the United States; and Dr. Margaret Joan Cousin was the third
recipient of the prestigious award.
Bishop Richardson commended Dr. Cousin and said that it was the
privilege of the Council of Bishops to honor and recognize her pioneering work
with HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
Bishop Richardson went on to say, “Your advocacy has given
domestic and international impetus to other ministries and organizations. Your
advocacy has touched the lives of countless thousands and we want to recognize
you for the great work you have done and for the legacy you have left our
Zion."
Dr. Cousin explained, "Many people have asked me why I
stepped down from my lofty pedestal to champion the cause for people who were
infected with the virus and their families who were affected. My answer was and
will always remain the same; God gave us the ministry and the mission. I am
only the messenger."
Dr. Cousin went on to explain that all of us have to accept the
call to educate people about the transmission of the virus and preventive ways
to avoid getting it. She said, “We have been able to dispel myths surrounding
it and we have been able to let the world know that AIDS/HIV is a preventable
disease. It is a disease of behaviors and not a gay disease.”
Dr. Joan Cousin is married to retired Bishop Philip R. Cousin,
Sr. and they are the parents of five sons: Philip, Jr., David, Michael,
Stephen, and Joseph, all of whom are pastors in the African Methodist Episcopal
Church.
4. TRAGEDY STRIKES THE 17TH
EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
September 17, 2012
It is with much regret and sadness that we announce that after
the completion of the Fifth Session of the North West Zambia Annual Conference,
held in Mansa, Zambia, Pastors and Delegates were involved in a fatal vehicle
accident while traveling home on Sunday 16th September 2012. Four Itinerant
Elders, Three Licentiates who were also Pastors and two Stewards died in the
accident. Bishop Messiah will begin holding funerals tomorrow (Wednesday,
September 18, 2012)
Their names are:
• The Rev. James Mwila
• The Rev. Muyambo Chimba
• The Rev. Patson Mwewa
• The Rev. Jackson Ng’ona
• Lic. Nelson Mpasa
• Lic. Kasongo Lumbwe
• Lic. Morgan Chipasha
• Bro. Lazarous Mungo
• Bro. Musondo Chinyangwha
Three Lay-persons are still in Mansa General Hospital in
critical condition, while eighteen others are recovering from serious injuries
at Mambillima Hospital, Mwense.
The Rt. Rev. Wilfred Jacobus Messiah visited the injured in
hospital and has assisted with the care for all by providing funds for:
• The care of the injured while in hospital
• The coffins for the deceased
• The transport cost for the deceased and injured upon release
from the hospital
• Assistance to the families for funeral costs.
The entire 17th Episcopal District is requesting that
you keep our District in prayer.
Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized. Condolences
may be sent to: wjmessiah2004@yahoo.com.
Bishop Messiah may be reached at +1 302 562 7293
5. UPDATE: 17TH
EPISCOPAL DISTRICT TRAGEDY:
The 17th Episcopal District hereby wishes to thank
the entire Connectional African Methodist Episcopal Church, for its
overwhelming response after the announcement of the tragedy that occurred in
the District on Sunday 16th September 2012.
Your outpouring of prayers, words of condolences and
encouragement through phone calls and emails, have been a source of strength
for our bereaved 17th Episcopal District Family. We would also like to thank
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor of The Christian Recorder and Mrs, Ora Easley,
the Coordinator for the Clergy Family Information Center for disseminating the
information.
Regretfully, we wish to inform you that the death-toll has risen
to ten (10) persons, with the passing of one of our YPD’ers, Brother Henry
Gunda, who succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday September 19th 2012 at Mansa
General Hospital.
A comprehensive Disaster Relief Management Plan has been
implemented by the District to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the
bereaved families and the entire Mbereshi Village Community. This will include
grief counseling for the children, family members and members of the community.
In response to the requests from persons throughout the
Connection who would like to make financial contributions, special arrangements
have been made with the Connectional Women’s Missionary Society Office in Washington,
DC through the International President Dr. Shirley Casson Reed.
Contributions can be made by check or credit card. Checks should
be made payable to the Women’s Missionary Society, indicating 17th Episcopal
District in the bottom left hand corner of the check and mailed to: Women’s Missionary Society
Headquarters, 1134 - 11th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. For Credit Card
payments, please call the office at 1 202 371 8886.
Thanking you in advance for your kindness.
For Christ, Church and Community,
Bishop Wilfred Jacobus Messiah
Presiding Prelate
Zambia, Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic
Republic of Congo
Zimco House 5th
Floor, Cairo Road
P.O. Box 36628, Lusaka
+260-211-237533
6. BISHOP CLEMENT FUGH
AND AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH DELEGATION MEETS PRESIDENT SIRLEAF:
Thursday, 13th September 2012
Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf met on
Thursday with a high-powered delegation of the African Methodist Episcopal
(AME) Church, led by the new head of the AME Church in Liberia, Bishop Clement
Fugh. He succeeds Bishop David Daniels who has taken up a new assignment in
South Africa.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the AME delegation
also included the Pastor of the Empowerment Temple AME Church, Rev. Dr. Katurah
Cooper; the Pastor of the Eliza Turner AME Church, Rev. Alvin Attah; Presiding
Elder, Rev. David A. B. Parker; Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Father
Philip A. Z. Banks; and a woman leader of the AME Church, Madam Kuler Brapoh.
Presenting the delegation and the new Bishop, Father Banks
thanked the Liberian leader for the audience. He said that the new Bishop will
strive to continue the good work and the plans left behind by Bishop Daniels
for the good of the church and the Liberian people.
In his remarks, Bishop Fugh recounted his first interaction with
President Sirleaf, which took place in North Carolina, in the United States,
during an international convention of the AME Church. He told the President
that her life story, as published in This Child Will Be Great, has attracted
his personal admiration for the Liberian leader, and he also thanked her for
supporting the work of the Church in Liberia.
He particularly thanked President Sirleaf for the support to the
African Methodist Episcopal University, which is contributing to Liberia’s
education and manpower development needs. Bishop Fugh acknowledged the improved
infrastructural development, especially the roads in and around the capital
city, adding that it was very different from what he experienced here some
years ago. “I look forward to building upon the very good relations that exist
between the Church and the Government,” Bishop Fugh emphasized.
Responding, President Sirleaf reflected on the long traditional
relations that exist between the AME Church in Liberia and the Government. She
named the construction and operation of clinics, schools and a university as
fruits of that relationship and partnership, which she hoped would continue
under the leadership of Bishop Fugh. “The doors of my office are open and the
Church should not hesitate to call upon me whenever the need arises,” she
indicated.
Bishop Fugh offered prayers for the country, the Government and
people of Liberia.
7. STANDING ON FAITH
DESPITE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION:
The Rev. Velma E. Grant
As I reflect and remember the tragedies that occurred eleven
years ago (September 11, 2001), I wonder if there will ever be peace, harmony
and tolerance in a world filled with religious pluralism. The notion of
absolute truth prompts individuals, fanatics or radicals to disrupt the lives
of others or at times kill those who believe contrary to another’s absolute
truth.
What is the underlying factor that prompts one group of
religious adherents in the 21st century, a world filled with technology and the
ability to communicate instantly with someone in the remotest corner of the
world to be more willing to persecute or ostracize others of another group.
What does dedication to one’s religious beliefs look like in the
21st century? Does it look like an individual that is ready to endure religious
persecution or ready to die prematurely at the hands of another who does not
embrace the same theology? Does religious dedication look like an individual
who believes that it is just and necessary to persecute or even murder those
who do not embrace the same tenets and practices?
Over the years there have been numerous reported incidences of
religious persecution against Christians who are the minority group in a
majority non-Christian state or nation. In the country of Iran, Christian
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was arrested because he was unwilling to reject his
belief in Christianity. He was jailed for approximately three years and
although he is presently released from prison because of an international
outcry, there are still many other Christians languishing in the jails or
prisons of the Islamic country of Iran and others.
Christianity is now considered the third largest religion in the
primarily Hindu nation of India and although the religion is rapidly growing
there is still a constant threat of religious persecution from the Hindu
majority. Christians churches have been burned, members attacked or killed,
Bibles have been burned and there are constant threats against those who
convert from Hinduism to Christianity. Religious persecution in one form or
another seems to be occurring on a daily basis but because of modern technology
the atrocities are broadcast worldwide instantaneously.
The September 7, 2012 edition of the Atlanta Journal
Constitution (AJC) included an article about a young Pakistani girl charged
with blasphemy for allegedly burning pages of a Quran, the holy canon of Islam.
This young girl is part of a Christian minority living in a primarily
theocratic Islamic nation.
Due to the age of the young girl and the apparent discrepancies
in the story, the girl received overwhelming support despite the blasphemy
charges leveled against her and despite the threat of violence from her non
Christian neighbors and community. The threat of violence was so profound that
the young girl and her family had to be sequestered away to protect her life.
A later report in the September 9, 2012 AJC newspaper detailed
the release of the young girl who was imprisoned due to the bogus blasphemy
charges. The same article stated that a Muslim cleric from the girl’s
neighborhood was arrested because of his alleged actions in placing the pages
of the Quran in the girl’s bag. Such turn around of events are rare in Pakistan
whose blasphemy laws have a direct negative effect on the lives of the
Christian minority in the nation. According to the AJC newspaper “…the laws are
misused to wage vendettas or target Pakistan’s vulnerable minorities like the
Christians.”
How does one live a life targeted by vendettas or fear of
religious persecution? If one is a
Christian I believe that one lives such a life with the faith and assurance
that God is above all and that God will reward the faithful. I believe that
anyone that embraces Christianity should at least use Jesus Christ as a model,
loving, patient, but unafraid and willing to stand confidently in the God that
sent him with a message.
Religious persecution is not new and I believe that it will be
around as long as there are people with a mind to choose and embrace their own
theology whether or not that theology is an individual choice or a choice that
is made by others. I reflect on the
Great Commission and remember that Jesus’ instructions were to make disciples
not terrorize or kill, or force people to become disciples. The passage located
in the gospel of Matthew chapter 28:18-20 (NIV) states “Then Jesus came to them
and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the
age.’”
Christians have a duty to honor the Great Commission and that
can be done by living a life worthy of Christ’s affirmation and Christians also
have a reminder that despite religious persecution Jesus said “And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age.” That is the entire reminder that
is needed to stand and be faithful- because Jesus is standing along with you.
8. PASTORAL APPOINTMENTS
AT THE 145TH SESSION OF THE PITTSBURGH ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
The 145th Session of the Pittsburgh Annual Conference
Closed on Sunday, September 16, 2012 and the following appointments were made
by Bishop McKinley Young, the Presiding Prelate of the Third Episcopal
District:
*Asterisks indicate change in pastoral appoints
Presiding Elder of the Allegheny-Scranton District, the Rev. Dr.
Eric L. Brown
St. James, Pittsburgh, the Rev. Rodrecus Johnson, Jr.
*St. James, Erie, the Rev. Kary Williams
*Payne Chapel, Duquesne, the Rev. Dr. Helen Burton
First Church, Clairton, the Rev. Dr. Judith Moore
Wayman Chapel, New Brighton, the Rev. Samuel Chambers
*St. Mark, Wilkinsburg, the Rev. Arthur Doctor
*Greater Morris, Farrell, the Rev. Geoffrey Tate
*Bethel, Tarentum, the Rev. Melva Hartzog
St. John, Bridgewater, Rev. Linda Moore
*Bethel, Scranton, the Rev. Melody Essex (transferred from the
North Ohio Conference)
*Greater Allen, Pittsburgh, the Rev. Dr. Floyd Alexander,
Supplying
*Bethel, Meadville the Rev.
Tiffany Holden
*Bethel, New Castle, the Rev. Charles Ruff
St. Paul, Milton the Rev. Donald Spiller
Bethel, Mt. Union, the Rev. Sylvia Morris
Bethel, Williamsport, the Rev, Dr. Donna King, Supply
Bethel, Lewistown, the Rev. Bernard Carpenter
Bethel, Wilkes-Barre, the Rev. Anthony Vieney
*New Life, Pittsburgh, the Rev. Regina Ragin Dykes
The Rev. JoElla Williams was transferred from the Pittsburgh
Conference to the Ohio Conference
Presiding Elder, Pittsburgh District, the Rev. Dr. James H.
McLemore
Bethel, Pittsburgh, the Rev. Dr. Steven Jackson
Park Place, Homestead, the Rev. Kevin Parks
Brown Chapel, Pittsburgh, the Rev. Andrew Newberry
*St. Paul, Washington, the Rev.
Dr. Samuel Ware
St. Paul, McKeesport, the Rev. Yolanda Wright
St. Paul, Uniontown, the Rev. Alfred Thompson
Trinity, Pittsburgh, the Rev. Margaret Tyson
Wayman-Quinn, Monesson, the Rev. Rhonda Higgins
Bethel, Monoongahela, the Rev. Mortty Ivy
*Bethel, Monoroeville, the Rev. Donus Crawford, Jr.
Mt. Zion, Brownsville, the Rev. Carl Kemp
Christian Chapel, Penn Hills to be supplied
Payne Chapel, Connellsville, the Rev. Alfred Thompson
Bethel, Johnstown, the Rev. Lloyd King
Christ Temple, McKeesport, the Rev. Buena Dudley
*Bethel, Irwin, the Rev. Darrell Lowe
Allen Chapel, Elizabeth, the Rev. Marilyn Fisher
Bethel, Greensburg, the Rev. Cordell Bennett
Payne Chapel, Canonsburg, Brother Frank Brown, Supply
St. Paul, West Newton, the Rev. John Higgins
St. Stephen's Latrobe, the Rev. Prudence Harris
*Israel, West Middletown, the Rev. Dr. Samuel Ware
St. Paul, Pittsburgh, the Rev. Cheryl Ruffin
Submitted by the Reverend Dr. Eric L. Brown, Presiding Elder of
the
Allegheny Scranton District, Third Episcopal District
9. MT. ZION A.M.E. CHURCH
– NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ HOSTS “BACK TO SCHOOL BLOCK PARTY”:
By Wilma S. Robinson, Event Coordinator
On Saturday, August 11, 2012, Mt. Zion AME Church, New
Brunswick, New Jersey, the oldest African American Church in Middlesex County,
celebrating 185 years in the City of New Brunswick, hosted its First Annual
Back to School Block Party. The focus of the event was to provide backpacks and
school supplies to students from the New Brunswick Community.
The Back to School Block Party provided a host of activities to
benefit the members of the New Brunswick community and prepare students for the
new school year.
Praising Healthy, coordinated by its President, Sister Linda
Bright invited the St. Peter’s University Hospital Mobile Unit, Robert Wood
Johnson University Wellness Center. The
Eric B. Chandler Center/UMDNJ and NJDHS Commission for the Blind offered free
health screenings, dental exams, eye exams, healthy snacks, and an obstacle
fitness course for the youth.
With the 2012 Presidential Election months away, Sister Joyce
Watson held a voter registration drive encouraging attendees to register and
exercise their right to vote.
The Reverend Angela Battle coordinated the Job Fair to assist in
providing internships, part-time and full-time employment for the unemployed.
The Mt. Zion AME Church Local Young People’s Department (YPD)
Director, Sister Jennifer Little-Greer, and the YPD held a car wash to raise
funds for future activities.
Pastor Daylan K. Greer, Sr., First Lady, Sister Jennifer
Little-Greer, and the great members of Mt. Zion gave generously of their time
and talents working late to set-up tents and stuff backpacks. In addition,
members gave free-heartedly of their finances in support of this community
service project. We extend our gratitude
and appreciation to Magyar Bank for providing backpacks.
Missionary President, Sister Yvonne Johnson, and her committee
distributed backpacks filled with school supplies to eagerly awaiting students.
Over 100 students felt the generous impact that Mt. Zion AME
Church made in preparing them and getting them off to a great start for the
2012-2013 academic school year.
Participants, including parents, students, local politicians,
educators and community leaders, commended the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church family
for their strong tradition of serving the needs of the New Brunswick community.
Pastor Greer commented, “Mt. Zion is a beacon of hope in the community, and we
will continue to be a blessing for years to come.”
NAACP President James Harris, Sister Beverly Marshall and Mt.
Zion AMEC Pastor Daylan K. Greer.
Sister Wilma Robinson, Event Coordinator, New Jersey State
Congressman, Frank Pallone, and Mt. Zion AMEC Pastor Daylan K. Greer express
the importance of enhancing church and community relations.
10. OCTOBER IS NATIONAL
DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH:
Marion M. Crayton
October is National Disabilities Awareness Month which is the
ideal time to make everyone aware that a resolution on “Persons with
Disabilities in the AME Church” was read and approved at the General Conference
in Nashville, Tennessee. The resolution says that the AME Church must be
intentional in fully including persons with disabilities in polity, places of
worship, and practices of faith.
The resolution was written by the Rev. Dr. Marion Morton Crayton
who leads the Disability Accessibility Task Force at Turner Memorial AME Church
in Hyattsville, Maryland where the pastor is the Rev. William H. Lamar, IV.
The Rev. Dr. Miriam Burnett is the Medical Director of the
Connectional Health Commission of the AME Church and has just appointed Dr.
Crayton as Director for Disabilities Advocacy of the commission. Dr. Crayton
also serves as an Educational Consultant on persons with disabilities for the
Health and Wholeness Advisory Committee for Second District Religious,
Educational, and Charitable Development Projects, Inc. and the Ecology
Temperance and Health Committee of the Washington Annual Conference, Second
Episcopal District both under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Cassandra Sparrow.
Dr. Crayton can be contacted at marioncrayton@comcast.net for further information.
Resolution: Persons with
Disabilities in the A.M.E. Church
(Read before the A.M.E. General Conference at Nashville, Tennessee on
Tuesday, July 3, 2012)
Whereas the
Mission and Purpose of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to
the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all
people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed,
Whereas the
word of God says that the Church shall be called a house of prayer for all
people,
Whereas
the very heart and life of the A.M.E. Church must fully identify with
the poor and oppressed in their struggle for human dignity and the
participation in human development is not optional,
Whereas
African Methodism should cooperate and undergird other forces, institutions,
organizations, and coalitions of national and international origin for the
purpose of bringing about economic and social justice for the oppressed of the
earth,
Whereas
persons with disabilities make up the world’s largest minority group,
Whereas 10%
of the world’s population has disabilities, and
Whereas
there are approximately 2.5 million persons in the A.M.E. faith tradition
worldwide, therefore there are about 250,000 persons with disabilities in the
A.M.E. Church;
Be
it resolved that the A.M.E. Church must be intentional in
fully including persons with disabilities in polity, places of worship, and practices
of faith,
Be
it resolved that “The Doctrine and Discipline of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church” must include language that reflects the
intentional inclusion of persons with disabilities in the A.M.E. faith
tradition and the appropriate ruling authority ensure that this language is
added,
Be
it resolved that A.M.E. churches be provided resources
that will support them in their effort to include persons with disabilities and
presiding elders ensure that this takes place,
Be
it resolved that the A.M.E. Church must sensitize its
congregants to the oppression and inequitable experiences of persons with
disabilities and pastors ensure that congregations are made aware of these
issues, and
Be
it resolved that these actions must take place in the
A.M.E. Church to ensure social justice for a population of God’s people who
have historically been marginalized and overlooked by the household of faith.
Resolution humbly submitted by Rev. Marion Morton Crayton, M.S.,
M.Div., Ed.D. – Turner Memorial A.M.E. Church, Hyattsville, MD; Rev. William H.
Lamar IV, Pastor
11. BETHEL AME CHURCH HOSTS
OFFICIALS OF THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER:
On
September 9, 2012 the Rev. Sheiler Stokes, First Gentleman Mr. James W. Stokes,
Jr. and the members of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Jeffersonville, Indiana hosted Prime Minister Rafini and U.S. Ambassador Bisa
Williams of the Republic of Niger.
The Prime
Minister and U.S. Ambassador from the Republic of Niger were invited to
Louisville, Kentucky by Global Solidarity Initiative, Inc. to initiate
collaborative support by partnering with religious, business and governmental
entities for both humanitarian and economic development within the country of
Niger. Ambassador Williams was the guest
speaker at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jeffersonville,
Indiana on Sunday morning.
This was
the Prime Minister’s first visit to the United States and in an effort to
demonstrate his passion for world peace, attended his first ever church
service.
Bethel, celebrating
its 170th Anniversary, is the oldest African American Church in
Jeffersonville, with the African Methodist Episcopal Church being the oldest
African American Church in the United States.
This
historic event was not only a first for the Prime Minister; it was also a first
in the life of Bethel.
The Prime
Minister was overwhelmed by the love he received from the moment he stepped out
of his car and expressed how wonderful it was to be in service with such a warm
and caring group of people. He could see the message of solidarity and peace
was well received by this congregation and hoped that as he leaves, this
message will be shared with others and that young Americans and not so young
Americans can begin to share in this type of experience. He further stated he enjoyed the service and
this experience would remain in his heart forever.
Also,
present was Presiding Elder E. Anne Henning Byfield who represented Bishop John
R. Bryant, Senior Bishop of the AME Church and Presiding Prelate of the Fourth
Episcopal District.
The visit
was also in keeping with the goals of the Fourth District’s Global Initiative
of Eradicating Poverty and Hunger, Promoting Gender Equality, Ensuring
Environmental Sustainability, and the development of Global Partnerships.
Both the
Prime Minister and the U.S. Ambassador were presented with a picture from
Bishop Bryant of the Bishops in the AME Church praying for then Senator Barack
Obama, a candidate for the presidency.
12. SISTER SARAH AND THE BELL:
By William
H. Lamar IV
Sister
Sarah, age 100, had grown up at St. Phillip AME and remembered everyone who
founded it. One day, the Rev. Bill Lamar writes, he asked her about the old
bell. And then he listened.
It was
still a few hours before church, but my head was already ringing with a sermon
that married rural African Methodist burning and seminary learning. Looking in
the mirror, I rehearsed again and again the greeting I would make, the first
words I would ever say to my first congregation. I ran over the checklist in my
mind: Greet the people in the name of the Triune God. Celebrate the faithful
ministry of my predecessor who had retired. Honor the ministries they had
developed in the past. Cast a hopeful vision for the future.
Right.
Check. Got it.
I was as
frightened as my comments were formulaic. Would they see right through me? Could I pastor these people? Carefully
tucked away in my briefcase, an official “Certificate of Appointment” said the
bishop considered me to be their pastor. But would they? What would they think
of this 25-year-old stranger?
I barely
remember pulling up to St. Phillip AME Church that morning. Truth is, I wasn’t
very aware of it even then. My mind was focused on getting through the next few
hours without embarrassing myself. I didn’t notice the condition of the
building, the upkeep of the grounds or the cemetery next door. I completely
forgot the advice a friend gave me:
Count the cars in the lot to get a crowd estimate, a preview of how many
folks showed up to smoke over the new pastor.
But as I
made my way to the entrance, my eyes fell on a rusty old bell, bolted to the
brick church sign out front. Something about it would not let me go. It was
stately and substantive, like an elder standing watch over the church and the
community. In an age when few churches or people rang bells anymore, it was
stability itself, stubborn even. There it stood. I liked it. What it had, I
needed. As I entered the building, I made a mental note: Find out more about that bell.
The people
were kind and hospitable, and I got through the service without any problems.
But the whole time I felt like I had crashed a party. It was like a
never-ending version of that moment you see in movies when glasses are clinking
and forks and knives are clanking and everyone’s laughing and having a good
time. Then I walk in, it all stops and everyone turns and looks at me. Forever.
I wondered
if I should show them the certificate from the bishop. No, I wasn’t so dazed to
think that would make them trust and welcome me. It sure wouldn’t make them see
me as their pastor. I didn’t want to bang on the door with a warrant. I wanted
them to open the doors and welcome me.
I had work
to do. I needed to get their story. So for weeks and months, I visited with
people. I asked questions. I asked about their lives as individuals and as a
community. Who are you? What’s your name?
How are you connected to this community?
Who are your people? How long have you been coming to church here? Tell
me your story.
But mostly
I listened. People are used to pastors talking and talking and talking. I
listened, speaking only when asked or when I really had something to say. And
one of the people I listened to most was Sarah Glenn.
Although
she was 100 years old, Sister Sarah didn’t wear glasses and used a cane only
when she wanted to -- which wasn’t often. She drank “life-everlasting tea,” a
homemade herbal health tea long part of rural African-American culture in many
parts of the South. Apparently the stuff worked. Her skin was a beautiful
bronze and she laughed easily despite all the trouble she had seen in her life.
One day, I
asked her about the bell. And then I listened.
Since 1900,
the church had stood near the crossroads of U.S. 27 and Florida 59, just
outside of Monticello, Fla. Before 27 became a U.S. highway, people called it
“the big road,” Sister Sarah said. For generations, she said, it was the major
thoroughfare through what was then an isolated part of Florida, and she
remembered seeing Native Americans, “colored people” and whites traveling the
road all day long on horseback, in farm wagons and by foot. As a child, she had
known people who had lived during “slavery time.” She had grown up in the church and had known
and still remembered the men and women who founded it. Decades before phone
lines would reach this part of the state; they had bought and installed the
bell as a way to communicate with each other. When it rang out on Sunday
mornings, children and whole families in “Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes,” streamed
down every road to the church -- the big road and the little road and every
footpath in between -- excited about studying the Scriptures. The bell was a
herald of worship, learning and fellowship. For a recently emancipated people,
it sounded of respite and dignity.
But when
the bell rang during the week, it spoke of other things. Monday through
Saturday, if the bell sounded, it meant someone had died, and immediately
everyone stopped what they were doing. In the fields, the men would put down
their hoes and plows, grab picks and shovels, walk to the cemetery and begin to
dig a grave. The women would go to the deceased’s home, wash the body and place
it on a “cooling board” so that family and friends could view the remains.
Within 24 hours hymns had been sung, the eulogy preached and the body buried.
The same bell that rang in Sabbath joy also tolled death and loss.
A few years
later, we built a new sign in front of the church, and we made sure the bell
was still a prominent part of it. Though it hadn’t rung in years, it still
spoke to this whole community, which now included me. It told me that these
people did not need me to tell them their story. Thanks to Sister Sarah and
other saints, they already knew it. They remembered it. And they told it to
their children. My call was to listen to them and then refract their stories
through the glorious lens of the gospel.
So how do
you lead and preach to people you do not know?
You listen. You get their wisdom. And you pay attention to rusty old
bells.
Reprint
permission from Faith & Leadership website: http://www.faithandleadership.com/content/sister-sarah-and-the-bell?page=full&print=true
13. A PRIMER ON BASICS OF HIV/AIDS
(PART 4. A FIVE-PART SERIES
CONTINUES)
By A. Oveta
Fuller
This series
clarifies key terms and concepts so each person can start with a solid foundation
in moving towards zero.
If
biomedical advances along with consistent health care can lead to making
HIV/AIDS a chronic disease, what goes wrong? Why have over 25,000,000 people
already died of AIDS or related complications? Why will 2,000,000 people die of
HIV/AIDS this year? Some of Magic
Johnson’s story with HIV is provided below.
When
diagnosis occurs late in the infection, it is more difficult to maintain a
protective level of CD4 cells. Many people do not know they are HIV+, or they
cannot get to required medical care or follow care instructions.
In the USA,
1 out of every 4 HIV+ persons does not know they have been infected. HIV is in
the body and is silently killing CD4 immune cells. An infected person has
detectable antibodies that were formed when the virus was first encountered.
Yet, such antibodies do not stop virus from making more virus, or from hiding
out inside of immune cells. If HIV is in the body, without anti-viral drugs,
depletion of CD4 cells happens whether one is aware of infection or not.
An HIV+
person who does not know they are infected will not take the necessary steps to
reduce virus replication and loss of CD4 cells. The steps are to secure medical
care, manage life choices or behaviors, comply with ARV therapy.
A critical
part for each person in taking control of HIV/AIDS is completing HIV counseling
and testing so to “know your status”.
Request the test in annual physicals or in other routine care. If the
virus is inside the body, antibodies to HIV are present (HIV+). If a person has never been exposed to the
virus, or it has not entered the body; there are no HIV antibodies (HIV-).
An HIV+
result is followed by a test to confirm results and by immediate connection to
medical care. Blood tests can determine progress from a healthy immune system
(>900 T-cells/ul) to a immune deficient state (<300 and="and" anti-retroviral="anti-retroviral" antibody="antibody" at="at" cd4="cd4" cell="cell" determine="determine" determining="determining" from="from" hiv="hiv" indicate="indicate" least="least" levels="levels" medications="medications" of="of" positive="positive" presence="presence" results="results" should="should" span="span" specific="specific" start.="start." t-cells="t-cells" tests="tests" to="to" two="two" ul="ul" when="when">
ARVs can
reduce the amount of HIV made and lower the viral load. ARVs and other
medications can help to manage opportunistic infections such as thrush,
pneumonia, herpes, and minimize further immune system damage. Consistent ARV
use lowers the chance of transferring virus to another person by contact with
blood, sexual fluids or during childbirth (for females).
Medical
care and vigilance have contributed to how Magic Johnson has lived with
HIV/AIDS for over 20 years. “While he
once took upwards of 15 pills several times a day, he now requires just a few
daily medications. He rises around 5 a.m. each day for a vigorous workout –
everything from stretching and running to Tae Bo – before spending his days
overseeing his large business empire.”+
The report
continues, “Johnson worries that his strong health could encourage complacency,
and he sees the November 2011 anniversary of his historic announcement as a
call to renew dedication to the cause.”
‘"I
often say I'm good for the virus, and bad for it," Johnson said.
"Good because I'm doing well, and that I can go out and try and raise the
awareness level, get people to go get tested ... but on the flip side of that,
people see that I'm doing well, so they've kind of relaxed on HIV and AIDS.
People think that now if they get the virus, they'll do well, but a couple
million will die this year."’
Bottom Line
#4: Even with current medical advances,
vigilance is necessary to prevent HIV infection and progression to AIDS or
death. Complacency and lack of knowing only help to spread HIV/AIDS.
+ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/magic-johnson-hiv-20-years-later_n_1081752.html.
Accessed August 9, 2012
14 MEDITATION BASED ON
PSALM 8:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
Denominational and ecumenical obligations and service on more
than a few organizational Boards of Directors often cause me to travel by car -
and to appreciate America’s Interstate Highway system. Interstate highways allow travelers to
maintain a steady rate of speed to get from point to point in a minimal amount
of time.
Interstate highways are fast and efficient, but they can also be
monotonous. With the exception of
Interstates that wind through mountains, they all look essentially the same
from state to state and have the same gas stations and “chain” restaurants
along the way, all geared to getting you off and on the Interstate and moving
along in the shortest amount of time.
I appreciate Interstate Highways when I’m on a tight schedule,
but when my time is flexible; I choose “back roads” - U.S. Highways and State
Roads that predate the Interstate Highway system. The speed limit is lower, you have to slow
down in small towns, cell phone service can be spotty, there are no “Rest
Areas” and the restaurants may not be the familiar “chain” places, but the
local scenery and the unfamiliar but pleasant sights can be soothing and
entertaining. “Back roads” allow you to
slow down, take in sights along the way, and ultimately appreciate the fact
that they’re now optional rather than necessary routes.
It’s good now and then to replicate the “back road” experience
in our daily lives. We live in a world
of constant and pressing demands and obligations where it’s easy to focus on
meeting those demands, often at the cost of our peace of mind and
well-being. When we take the time,
however, to slow down and consider our blessings, we find a new perspective on
life. We can appreciate and praise the
God who allows us to meet life’s demands and obligations and to reflect on and
give thanks for the blessings that life’s fast pace often causes us to overlook
or take for granted.
Take the time daily to veer away from life’s busy roads and to
spend a few minutes on life’s “back roads” of positive and relaxed reflection
on your many blessings. You’ll find new
energy to face what lies ahead, new hope for tomorrow and an appreciation of
why one songwriter slowed down, contemplated life’s often overlooked blessings
and said, “Our God is an awesome God!”
If you are in the Charleston South Carolina area, join us on the
Fourth Sunday in September for Church School at 9:45 am and for Worship at 8
a.m. and 11 a.m. as we celebrate Christian Education Day. Members of the Christian Education Department
will lead both Worship Services, the Eight O’clock Choir will offer praise at 8
a.m. and The Combined Choir, Mime Ministry and Young Adult Choir will offer
praise at 11 a.m.
Sunday’s Scripture Lessons are:
Psalm 111:1-10
I Corinthians 1:18-25
Matthew 13:44-52
Sunday’s Sermons are:
8 a.m. - “Can You Share the Good News?”
11 a.m. – “What Can You Share?”
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the pastor of Morris Brown AME
Church in Charleston, South Carolina
15. EPISCOPAL AND CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Dr. Joan Cousin
received prestigious Bishops’ Quadrennial
Distinguished Service Award at the 49th Quadrennial Session of
the General Conference:
Dr. Joan Cousin may mjoancousin@aol.com
Or congratulatory cards can be sent to:
Dr. M. Joan Cousin
Episcopal Supervisor, Retired
1322 Rosemary Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
Telephone: 815-577-9706
- Congratulations to
Bishop McKinley Young and Episcopal Supervisor Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young as
they celebrate their 45th Wedding Anniversary
Bishop McKinley Young and Supervisor Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young,
Episcopal Team of the 3rd District will celebrate their 45th Wedding
Anniversary on September 23, 2012 … "Many more to come."
Congratulatory messages can be sent to:
Bishop McKinley and Dr. Dorothy Jackson Young
Third Episcopal District Headquarters
288 South Hamilton Road
Columbus, OH 43213
- Presiding Elder and Mrs. Willis N. Huggins, Sr., 9th
Episcopal District, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Presiding Elder Willis and Mrs.
Hattie Huggins, West Birmingham, Ensley, Greensboro District, 9th Episcopal
District, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Monday, September 10, 2012.
Their celebration event was held on Saturday, September 8, 2012 with a Renewal
of Vows Ceremony held at Bryant Chapel AME Church in Birmingham, Alabama, the
Rev. Damien Littlejohn, pastor. The ceremony participants were: the Rev. Dr.
J.C. Carter, Retired pastor - 1st Baptist Church - Sheffield AL, the Rev. Dr.
W. E. Marshall, Metropolitan AME Church - Mobile AL., the Rev. Raymond
Swafford, Oak Grove AME Church, Florence AL and the Rev. Gloria Hall, Bethel
AME Church in Ensley, Birmingham AL.
The children of Presiding Elder and
Mrs. Willis N. Huggins, Sr. are: sons; Kerry Huggins, the Rev. Willis Huggins
Jr. and daughters; Kimberly Huggins Marshall, Dr. Gwendolyn Huggins Hardnett
and Sherrell Huggins.
Belated congratulatory well wishes
can be sent to:
Presiding Elder and Mrs. Willis
Huggins
1104 Turtle Lake Drive
Birmingham AL. 35242
Email: Whuggins000@gmail.com
Another African Methodist, Cheryl
Brown has "thrown her hat" into the ring for Public Office.
Meet and Greet Invitation - September 20, 2012
Your involvement can make the
difference!!
Let Sister Cheryl know that we are
proud of her and will support her.
SIStah "Jackie", Jacquelyn
Dupont-Walker, Director, Social Action Commission - AME Church
Email Responses:
16. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the death
of Mr. Samuel Webster Druid, brother of Presiding Elder Richard T. Druid,
Atlantic City District of the New Jersey Annual Conference.
The funeral will be held on Friday,
September 21, 2012 at Davis-Struempf Funeral Home, 1975 E.W. Connector Austell,
GA 30106.
Please send words of condolence to:
Presiding Elder Richard T. Druid
5 Hemlock Drive
Edison, New Jersey 08820
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with regret that we share with
you the passing of Mr. Jim Willis of Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Willis passed on
Tuesday, September 18, 2012. He was the brother of the Rev. George S. Willis,
III, retired 10th Episcopal District Itinerant Elder and member of Baker Chapel
AME Church, Fort Worth, Texas; Rev. Walter R. McDonald, Pastor.
Mr. Jim Willis's final earthly care
has been entrusted to:
L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden
Funeral Home
1951 McGuffey Road
Youngstown, Ohio 44505
Telephone: (330) 744-7770
Visitation: Sunday, September 23,
2012 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at St. Andrews AME Church
Homegoing Celebration: Monday,
September 24, 2012 - 11:00 A.M. at St. Andrews AME Church
St. Andrews AME Church
The Rev. Dr. Eugene L. Schoolfield,
Pastor
521 W. Earl Avenue
Youngstown, Ohio 44511
P
Telephone: (330) 333-3034
Fax: (330) 783-1310
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. & Mrs. George S. (Kay)
Willis, III
P.O. Box 6903
Fort Worth, Texas 76115
Phone: (817) 927-8355
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of
Mr. Perry Curtis Harvey, Jr. of Tampa, FL, who passed away Wednesday, September
12th. Mr. Harvey was the eldest brother of Mrs. Dorothy Keel and brother-in-law
of Reverend Jimmie B. Keel, Presiding Elder of the South District - East
Conference. Please keep the family in your prayers.
VISITATION:
Friday, September 21st from 5:00 pm
- 9:00 pm
Wilson Funeral Home
3000 N, 29th Street
Tampa, FL 33605
Telephone: 813-248-6125
Fax: 813-247-1921
The Homegoing Celebration:
Saturday, September 22, 2012
11:00 AM
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
3005 Ellicott Street - Tampa, FL
33610
Telephone: 813-236-3611
The Reverend T. W. Jenkins,
officiant
Interment to follow at:
Memories Mausoleum, Tampa, FL.
Expressions of Sympathy May be Sent
to:
The Rev. Jimmie B. and Mrs. Dorothy
Keel
6705 N 32nd Street
Tampa, FL 33610
Or
Wilson Funeral Home
3000 N, 29th Street
Tampa, FL 33605
Telephone: 813-248-6125 Fax:
813-247-1921
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing
of Mrs. Elizabeth LaDuna Dubose, the mother of the Rev. Martha A. Lang, pastor
of Mt. Tabor AME Church in Philadelphia.
The funeral service for Mrs.
Elizabeth LaDuna Dubose was held on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at St. Peters
Baptist Church in Mobile Alabama.
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Martha A. Lang
1233 W. Jefferson Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
20. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Retired Presiding Elder, the Rev.
Marcus H. Elliott, Jr. passed on Saturday, September 8, 2012 after a lengthy
illness. The Rev. Elliott is survived by his spouse, Mrs. Mozell Elliott, a
son, Marcus (Ramona); three daughters, Erma Jean Williams (Oliver), Anita
Brannon (Presiding Elder Eugene), Melanie Hillard (Jessie); a step-son, the
Rev. Bill A. Bowers (Sandra); eleven grandchildren; two great grandchildren;
and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The funeral was held on Friday,
September 14, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Union AME Church.
The Rev. Chestine Sims officiated
and Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., Presiding Prelate of the 12th Episcopal
District was the Eulogist.
Condolences may be shared with the
family at #12 Eagle Talon Cove, Little Rock, AR 72211 or 1000 Dennison Street,
Little Rock, AR 72202.
21. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley,
Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family
Information Center
Phone: (615) 837-9736
(H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936
(O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
22. 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.
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for Submitting Articles to TCR
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