THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER Online: THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (05/24/13)

5/24/2013

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (05/24/13)

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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

Mark and Save Date in your Calendars:

General Board Meeting - June 22-26, 2013

Bishop Sarah F. Davis Investiture – June 24, 2013

1. TCR EDITORIAL – WILL WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO:

Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III,

The 20^th Editor, The Christian Recorder

I am embarrassed to share this information, but in the spirit of transparency, this information needs to be shared with all of the subscribers and readers of The Christian Recorder.

Some of you will be surprised as I was, and am, surprised.

I was taught, “Bad news gets worse with time.” If something negative happened at school, I quickly discovered that it was best for me to hustle home as quickly as possible and let my mother hear the bad news from me rather than from the school or someone else. I lived in the era when neighbors helped raise children and a neighbor wouldn’t think twice about calling my mother to tell her that I had misbehaved. Yep, I discovered that it was better for me to tell my side of the story first.

So, I want to tell my side of the story, but first let me share something I learned in the military.

In the Army I learned that it was better to identify and address conditions and problems that needed to be addressed and solved. “Covering up the facts” was not only unacceptable, but “covering up” could get the soldier or soldiers in serious trouble. The first step in solving problems is to “lay the facts” on the table. It was also stressed that leaders have to take responsibility and to take the lead in addressing and dealing with problems. Good news was celebrated, but bad news needed to be identified and shared with the organization and solutions had to be explored and strategies implemented.

Now let me get to the point.

The news is not good

I was preparing The Christian Recorder report for the General Board Meeting that will be held in Kingston Jamaica and received The Christian Recorder subscription update from the AMEC Sunday School Union, I saw the that the hardcopy subscriptions as of May 2013 for The Christian Recorder was a dismal and embarrassing 3,829 – Three-thousand, eight hundred and twenty-nine subscriptions from a denomination that purports to have 2.5 to 3 million constituents! That indeed is bad news!

The sobering reality of the numbers, which exacerbates the issue is that among the three black largest Methodist bodies, i.e. AME, AMEZ, and CME, the subscription rate of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is the lowest, not only for The Christian Recorder; but lowest for all of our periodicals.

Why the sharp decrease?

The decrease of subscribers for The Christian Recorder and the other periodicals is a result of the “scrubbing” of the subscription database. The subscriber database had not been updated and/or deleted in the past 2-3 years.

At the close of each annual conference, the AMEC Sunday School Union works quickly to update the subscriber database, make corrections, and update renewals, but expired and deleted subscriptions are sometimes difficult to make because annual conference subscriptions are received at different times.

Unlike secular periodicals, The Christian Recorder subscription lists arrive in bulk. The AMEC Sunday School Union is cautious in deleting expired subscriptions because if a subscription is deleted, it might have to be reentered within days when the bulk subscription lists are received.

A decision to scrub the list

The AMEC Sunday School Union staff performed a major "scrubbing" late 2012 to combat returned papers that resulted in excess postage; and that “scrubbing” resulted in an updated listing of active subscribers. We needed to have accurate and up-to-date subscriber data.

Some persons, particularly individual subscribers and non-clergy subscribers have called and renewed their subscription for the first time since 2009 and 2010 because they were unaware that their subscriptions has expired. Additionally, some subscribers have passed away and the AMEC Sunday School Union was not made aware of their demise.

Another problem, though not widespread

Let me say this quickly and pass on: Bishops should insure that presiding elders furnish updated subscription lists at every annual conference. We have noticed that some presiding elders use previous subscription lists with old dates and old addresses. As pastors move and are relocated, it's imperative that the subscription lists reflect current information.

When the AMEC Sunday School Union (AMEC Publishing House) data-enters a subscription, it is either a pastor's name OR a church name, not both, because the mailing labels do not allow room for both entries. This distinction is important for pastors who are relocated from one pastoral charge to another. Problems surface because some assumed that the local church pays the subscription fee and churches will call the AME Sunday School Union and complain that they are not receiving The Christian Recorder after a pastor has moved and transferred the delivery of the periodical to his or her new residence. If the subscription is in the name of the pastor, he or she theoretically “owns” the subscription.

It’s not a problem

What we have, is not a problem, but a condition. We have a culture of indifference.

The Publications Commission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at every General Board Meeting since 2005 has made a recommendation that every pastor and every clergy person be required to subscribe to The Christian Recorder and to all of the AME periodicals. That same recommendation was made at the 2008 and 2012 General Conferences. The recommendation was affirmed each time, but nothing has changed.

I am still amazed, shocked and disappointed that there are still many persons at all levels of our Zion who refuse and fail to understand the importance of staying abreast in the profession of ministry. I am amazed that young men and women are admitted into the profession of ministry and apparently are not required or encouraged to subscribe to the periodicals of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

I have had several members of the Board of Examiners who have told me that they have taken The Christian Recorder and several other periodicals to a board session were told by many of the licentiates that they had never seen The Christian Recorder or the other periodicals.

I am amazed and perplexed that men and women come forth to enter the profession of ministry and no one asks them which periodicals they are subscribed; not the bishop, the presiding elder, the pastor or the members of the Boards of Examiners.

We tell those that are going through the ministerial credentialing process that they need to possess (and hopefully read) the Bible, The Discipline and become familiar with the AME Hymnal – Duh! Should we have to tell an applicant for ministry that he or she needs to possess a Bible, The Discipline and a Hymnal? Probably not, because if an applicant for ministry had an ounce of sense, they should know that they needed the Bible, The Discipline and the AME Hymnal. And, if they had any sense of connectional professionalism, they would know that they needed to be abreast of what’s happening and what has happened throughout the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Responsibility needs to be taken early-on in the process

On the other hand, it’s not far-fetched to think that applicants for ministry might not have thought about the importance of the AME periodicals and would not understand the importance of subscribing to them unless someone pointed out the significance of the periodicals to their ministry. If their pastors have not exposed them to the AME periodicals, that shows indifference on the part of the AME clergy.

Pastors should explain to those who express an interest in going into the ministry the importance of subscribing to the AME periodicals before presenting them to the Church Conference; presiding elders should reaffirm to the applicants of ministry the importance of subscribing to the AME periodicals at the Quarterly Conference and at the District Conference.

But that’s not enough; pastors, presiding elders and members of the Boards of Examiners should be knowledgeable enough to give a brief rundown on the significance of each of the AME periodicals.

I am going to say it

In this day and age, if a person is committed to going into the ministry and he or she cannot secure by some means $171.00 a year for the AME periodicals; he or she should not be in the ministry. It is not too much to expect those who want to be a part of our ministerial profession to pay $171.00 a year for all of the AME periodicals. It’s not too much to expect all persons in the clergy to pay $171.00 a year. Ask a doctor, lawyer or barber the costs of his or her professional journals. Stewards, trustees and presidents of local church organizations should subscribe, or have available the AME Church periodicals.

When an applicant stands before the bishop at the annual conference, he or she should have already been subscribed to all of the AME periodicals. The only correct answer when asked by the bishop: “Bishop, I am subscribed to all of the AME periodicals.”

You shouldn’t have to be told everything

Professionals should not have to be told the importance of reading their professional periodicals. I am a retired from the U.S. Army, but I am still subscribed to all of the U.S. Army periodicals. I receive the hardcopy and online copies of the periodicals. Nobody told me to do so, I am a professional and I know my professional responsibilities. No one has to tell me!

We have said this before and we will say it again

The Christian Recorder (TCR) is important because it keeps clergy and laity abreast of what’s going on in the AME Church, the religious community and in the world. The Christian Recorder is responsible for presenting opinions and comments dealing with contemporary issues (The Discipline, Page 154 ff)

The A.M.E. Church Review is the scholarly journal for the denomination. It has historical data, intellectual articles and addresses and is, or should be, a “must-reading” periodical for clergy; and for lay members who enjoy scholarly articles.

The Journal of Christian Education is the periodical is a “must-read” periodical for those who are involved with Christian Education. In addition to the pastor, every Church School teacher should be subscribed to The Journal of Religious Education. It is full of pedagogical materials related to religious education.

The Voice of Missions is devoted to the global ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. I suspect that our ministerial training programs in the United States are oblivious to what’s going on in Episcopal Districts 14 – 20. The AME Church is a global church and we should act like a global church.

The Women’s Missionary Magazine is another “must-read” periodical because it focuses on missionary ministry in Episcopal Districts 1 – 20; in the United States and overseas. It’s a wonderful periodical.

The Secret Chamber provides invaluable resources for personal spiritual growth. Those persons who want to be members of the clergy need to understand the importance of spiritual direction and daily spiritual reflection; and The Secret Chamber provides that resource.

The YPD Newsletter is the hidden secret in the AME Church. It is a wonderfully written and presented periodical; and it is youth-focused. It is packed full of information and directed to the youth of our Zion. I am sure churches are not subscribing in large numbers to The YPD Newsletter.

How can clergy minister to our youth if they are not connected to our youth? Every member of the clergy should be subscribed to The YPD Newsletter. The YPD Newsletter should be made available to all of the youth in our Zion.

I am Disappointed

I am disappointed, and I know I am “singing to the choir” but as it relates to our AME periodicals, we have drifted into a culture of doing “just enough to get by,” which has resulted in what I call professional mediocrity.

We have drifted to “one periodical per church” or “one periodical per pastor” at our annual conferences. I am appreciative, but amazed when I see one subscription per pastor, which means that those churches with multiple ministerial staff members have clergy who are not subscribed to the AME periodicals.

More insult to injury

Some of our churches do not support our AME religious education materials and we use other folks’ Church School materials. We have a “Their ice is colder than our ice” mentality.

There is one annual conference that submitted less than 10 subscriptions for The Christian Recorder and no subscriptions for the other periodicals. I honestly didn’t know that we had an annual conference that small.

We need a cultural shift

We need a cultural shift beginning with the clergy. Professionals should not have to be told or reminded of their responsibilities.

The news is not all bad

The Christian Recorder Online is widely read and though subscribers and readers don’t pay to subscribe, it’s not “free.” There is no “free ride.” Electronic access to TCR was the way to go, and we were hoping that TCR Online would precipitate increased subscriptions for the print edition. Apparently that failed to happen. We were thinking that professionals would understand that there is no “free ride.” There are fees to maintain the blogsite, monthly fees to send TCR Breaking News and TCR News Breaks.

Across the world, the print medium is experiencing economic challenges and many newspapers are going the way of the dinosaur. At some point, we need to ask ourselves if we want to maintain our historic presence.

As I said the news is not all bad. We were the first Methodist denomination to publish our official newspaper electronically (2004).

To date, since 2004, we have had close to 750,000 “Hits” on TCR Blogsite. Additionally, we have been using “Mailchimp.com” blogsite since 2012 and the “open” and “hit rate” for TCR Breaking News and TCR News Breaks are extremely high. We have two electronic platforms for TCR.

My wish list

I would like to see more people subscribed to the print edition of The Christian Recorder. We are the oldest continuous black publication in the United States and in the world (the 162^nd year of continuous publication); and that’s important. I would like to see that legacy continued. The 3829 TCR subscribers, which include 33 non-USA subscribers, is a dismal number. I know we can do better

I would also like to see complimentary subscriptions provided to all honorably retired pastors of our Zion. Honorably retired clergy who have given their lives to the church should not have to pay for a subscription to The Christian Recorder or to any of our periodicals.

In life there is good news and bad news. And, in life there is sunshine and rain. Most of us do not walk in the rain; we take shelter, use umbrellas, ponchos and other coverings to protect us from inclement weather. During time of intense sunshine, we seek air-conditioning, go to the beach or dress appropriately for the intense heat. In other words, we respond appropriately to the changing weather. During intense storms, most of us have the good sense to respond to the changing weather. In other words, we know what we have to do.

Appropriate response is needed

We need to respond appropriately as it relates to the issue of the low subscription rates of The Christian Recorder and the other AME periodicals. Most of us know what we need to do. Will we do what we need to do?

2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:

--To the Editor:

RE: The Con artists are still working

This morning supposedly I received a call from Bishop Norris just as he was rushing to preach at a funeral! He wanted to inform me that his niece was moving to Houston with her four children.

She then called as she was filling up her car with gas on the road in some small Louisiana town. She had already brought a home in Katy (a nice area of Houston). She worked for 20 years for Fannie Mae and had just completed a $1.5 million deal for her former AME Church and was willing to come in and work that hard for you (her new pastor).

We hung up. Then later the other calls kept coming. I didn't answer any of them because I knew what was coming next. This con works on your ego. They mentioned her joining your church, having four kids, being able to play the piano and organ, etc. And this person wants to join your church.

I am glad that I read about the con in The Christian Recorder.

Thank you for keeping us informed.

Rev. Salatheia Honors

3. I ASK:

Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry

I Ask:

I'm a steward in my local church and we hardly have quarterly conferences, but the presiding elder wants his money; he cancels or the pastor cancels. We have only had three quarterly conference since I been a member at my local Church. Please do not use my name, but it’s something I have wanted to ask. What do you do when that happens? What should the church do? How should this problem be addressed?

Name Withheld

Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry’s Response to the Question:

Dear "Withheld"

The Book of Discipline is very clear about the number of quarters to be held in each local church: See The 2008 Book of Discipline, The Role of The Presiding Elder, Page 123, Section IX, 1a; and Page 233, Section IV-B, Sessions, Paragraph 1.

How should this problem be addressed? The pastor and stewards should work with the presiding elder to maintain a viable schedule, knowing that emergencies might occur that make it necessary to reschedule. The local church and presiding elder must be open to making adjustments. The pastor should work with the Presiding Elder to maintain adherence to The Book of Discipline.

If this is a persistent problem without cause, there is a procedure for bringing charges against ministers (including bishops and presiding elders) or lay members who are willfully negligent of The Book of Discipline. See Page 283, Section II.

Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry (Retired)

African Methodist Episcopal Church

4. IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR JUNE, 2013 GENERAL BOARD MEETING FROM THE OFFICE OF THE AMEC GENERAL SECRETARY:

In an effort to "go green," as well as implement seamless communication between the Office of the General Secretary and the entire General Board, we will now utilize DropBox Teams. DropBox gives us the opportunity to enjoy safe and secure communication instantly with the use of any mobile device, tablet, or computer. Upon arrival to all meetings, you will have access to a virtual folder, which will contain all pertinent information and communications. Remember, as we travel to Jamaica, we will not do a lot of printing; therefore, DropBox will enable you to access all needed information without the hassle of paperwork. However, if you desire to do so personally, everything can be downloaded and printed from DropBox.

During this meeting, we will ensure that everyone has access to Wi-Fi for easy connectivity to DropBox during our sessions.

If you have not already done so, we encourage you to visit www.dropbox.com to create your free DropBox account. Once you have created an account, you can download the DropBox App to your personal devices as well. It is accessible on any device. We are available to assist you with preparation for the upcoming General Board Meeting, as well as our future meetings. Please send your request to CIOgreenhelp@gmail.com to receive assistance from my office.

Additionally, those persons who will serve as secretary for their commission meetings are asked to prepare your report to the General Board in the designated office of the General Secretary at the designated times. We will provide computers with the official reporting template so that you will only need to fill in the required information. The report will then be uploaded to a central site so that it will be displayed on screen when you report to the full Board. There will be no need to copy your report, but it is important that you prepare the report in the office in a timely fashion. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

The General Officers will be reporting by power point at the meeting. The combined reports of the General Officers will be mailed to you before you leave for Jamaica so that you may have hard copies of the Audit Reports as required by The Discipline.

The office of the AMEC General Secretary

500 8th Avenue South

Nashville, TN 37203

Office: 615.254-0911

Fax: 615.254-0912

Email: cio@ame-church.com

5. THE AME LUNCHEON AT THE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE:

The AME Luncheon at the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference will be held on Wednesday June 05, 2013 at Noon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 700 Settlers Landing Road in Hampton, Virginia. The Cost of the Luncheon is $25.00 and it is always a great time of fellowship. If you need further information call Bethel AME Church 757-723-4065.

A Reminder: The Rev. Dr. Teresa Frye Brown, AMEC Historiographer/ Director of Research and Scholarship and Editor of The A.M.E. Church Review, is the scheduled lecturer at the HU ministers’ Conference. Let’s support her with our presence. The Rev. Dr. Leighton Ford will be the other lecturer for the conference, along with a host of presenters.

The 99^th Annual Hampton University Ministers’ Conference and the 79 Annual Choir Directors’& Organists’ Guild Workshop meets June 2-7, 2013

The Rev. Andre Jefferson is the pastor of Bethel AME Church in Hampton

6. THE 12^TH DISTRICT OKLAHOMA DISASTER RECOVERY/RELIEF EFFORT:

Message from Bishop Samuel L. Green, Presiding Prelate of the 12th Episcopal District

The state of Oklahoma was devastated this week by massive tornadoes. I ask you to join me in prayer for the victims and survivors of this natural disaster. Also I asking all 12^th District members to participate in helping those affected by the storm by bringing to your local church this Sunday nonperishable items.

The following items are needed:

Bottled Water

Gatorade

Wipes

Diapers

Baby Formula

Hand Towels

Work Gloves

Individually Wrapped Snacks

Hand sanitizer

Trash bags

Rakes

Shovels

Flashlight and Batteries

Suntan Lotion

Lotion

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Please bring as much as you can to your church on Sunday. All churches in Arkansas are asked to deliver the collected items to Shorter College by Wednesday, May 30th and churches in Oklahoma are to deliver the collected items to Avery Chapel in Oklahoma City. You are encouraged to ask your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to join us in this drive.

Also, I am asking each congregation in the 12^th to take up a special disaster recovery/relief offering this Sunday to be given to your Presiding Elder by Tuesday, May 29^th.

7. EMERGENCY RESPONSE: CENTRAL U.S. TORNADOES:

Two girls stand in rubble after a tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, May 20, 2013. A 2-mile-wide (3-km-wide) tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, destroying entire tracts of homes, piling cars atop one another, and trapping two dozen school children beneath rubble.

Church World Service is responding to the extensive damage caused by the May 20 tornadoes in the Oklahoma City and Moore, Okla. area, including providing emergency supplies immediately and more assistance in the long term. Whole neighborhoods have been decimated in the path of a massive F-4 tornado initially estimated to have been a mile wide with winds more than 200 miles an hour.

For nearly seven decades, CWS has helped communities recover from disaster over the long term. Our job is to continue to be a presence of healing to those most in need. "We have worked extensively in communities struck by tornadoes in the region," says Donna Derr, the agency's chief of emergencies. "Our job is to provide immediate assistance with CWS Kits, and focus on helping the most vulnerable, who typically have the hardest time recovering in the long term."

Our assistance starts now in providing emergency relief supplies, such as CWS Blankets and CWS Kits to those in shelters. Recovery may begin with a box of supplies but it doesn't end until everyone has a chance to recover, regardless of need.

Will you help us to be there for those most in need when attention turns elsewhere?

Ways to help

Make a donation

Use the form on this page to make a secure credit card donation.

Assemble CWS Kits

Gather with family and friends to bring together the supplies that disaster survivors really need. Get all the details here.

*Submitted by the Rev. Dr. George F. Flowers, Executive Director of Global Witness and Ministry

8. EXCITING 19^TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT PRESIDING ELDERS' RETREAT:

The African Methodist Episcopal Church has always been known to me and certainly too many of us as a teaching church. So you ask, “What new teaching has happened this time around?”

We had an exciting Presiding Elders' Retreat. Many episcopal districts may have presiding elders' retreats, but this is the first presiding elders' retreat since the 19^th Episcopal District was established 29-years ago. None of the senior Presiding Elders of the 19th Episcopal District remembers having presiding elders' retreats even while the present 19th Episcopal District was still part of the 15th Episcopal District.

The date of 8-10 April 2013 was waited for with great anticipation and anxiety by all of the twenty-five presiding elders of the 19th Episcopal District; and all 25 presiding elders attended. This event of three days took place at a resort in the Bela Bela District of the MM Mokone Conference that is rich with a true African Relaxing atmosphere. Bishop Paul Jones Mulenga Kawimbe is the presiding Prelate of the 19th Episcopal District

The programme featured two main themes, Spiritual and Business. Each session was opened with a devotional exercise with the Rev. TZ Tsitsi; on opening, evening day 1 by the Rev. SB Dire; morning Day-2 by Rev. LB Dhlamini; evening Day-2 by the Rev. SAP Mbambo; morning Day-3 by the Rev. DO Leepo; and closing, with Holy Communion celebrated, by the Rev. PJ Mengoai, the Bishop Kawimbe's Administrative Assistant.

The topics addressed were the following: Preaching by Bishop Paul JM Kawimbe; "The Presiding Elder as a Manager" by the Rev. PJ Mengoai; "Family Altar" by the Rev. LS Moobi; and "Stress Management" by Dr. Pinki Motsoaledi.

The relevant topics were testimony to various passions of Bishop Paul Jones Mulenga Kawimbe. At the top of them all is that he presented his leadership not only as the District Administrative head but ensured that all understood that he is a Spiritual Leader of the District. That in as much as he is asking of Presiding Elders to show administrative excellence, he was emphasising that we should be experts in spiritual matters as well.

The Rev. Mengoai, as always, did not disappoint in his presentation on the excellence of the Presiding Elder's office as middle management.

The stress management topic opened the eyes of many in that while the church has referral structures such as the Ministerial Efficiency Committee, this committee is not always adequately equipped to handle matters referred to it as, stress.

The Rev. LS Moobi emphasised the need for family altar. Indeed, the AME Church is a teaching church.

Matters of Pastors' Annuity and Clergy Financial Matters were also addressed, thus making this retreat a well-rounded experience.

We asked a few of the presiding elders to share what they learned in the three days. The comments ranged from leaving the retreat with readiness to deal with the modern challenges of the office of presiding elder and the need to keep focused on what is happening around us. They felt a need for more retreats, understanding that Bishop Kawimbe wants more than just administrative excellence. Leaving the retreat was like energised Generals going for war against the enemy; with spiritual nourishment and spiritual sharpened tools.

The Presiding Elders could not stop thanking and applauding Bishop Kawimbe for his leadership of the District and bringing back the dignity of the Presiding Elder through empowerment.

Focused training such as we had is very normal in the corporate world.

Submitted by the Rev. GP Lesito on behalf of Rev LS Moobi, PE

9. BISHOP DAVID R. DANIELS RECOGNIZED AND AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORAL DEGREE BY LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL SOUTHERN SEMINARY:

Bishop David R. Daniels, Presiding Prelate of the 15^th Episcopal district has been selected by the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary faculty to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree. Bishop Daniels was selected for the special honor through the faculty's awareness of his stellar record as a pastor and bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Liberia and as an outstanding alumnus of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

The degree will be conferred upon Bishop Daniels on May 25^th at the seminary’s annual commencement ceremonies in Columbia, South Carolina.

A dinner will be given in Bishop Daniel’s honor hosted by the seminary students. The seminary has asked Bishop Daniels to share comments about his ministry in Liberia and about the state of the church in Liberia and in Africa.

10. THE REV. PHILIP R. COUSIN, JR. TRANSFERRED FROM ST. JOSEPH AME CHURCH DURHAM TO BETHEL AME CHURCH SAN FRANCISCO:

Durham, NC--- On August 16, 1992, the Reverend Philip R. Cousin, Jr. returned home to Durham, North Carolina to become the 29th pastor of St. Joseph AME Church, and became the longest tenured pastor in the history of the Church. Now he has been reassigned to serve as pastor of the historic Bethel AME Church in San Francisco, California. It is the oldest African American church in San Francisco, founded in 1852.

Cousin is a respected leader in the City of Durham, having served as a member of the Board of Education of the Durham Public Schools. He has also been elected for two consecutive terms as a Durham County Commissioner, and is the current leader of The Durham Committee of the Affairs of Black People. As pastor of St. Joseph AME, Cousin burned in 3 years the over $400,000.00 church mortgage, and oversaw the development and construction of St. Joseph's Place, a residential facility for senior citizens, as well as renovations of the church and parsonage.

Bethel AME San Francisco is ripe for the progressive leadership Cousin brings, as it has its own federal credit union, is the owner and sponsor of some 356 units of affordable housing, and handles the management of a Community based Technology Training Center (WACTC); and two actively engaged Community Development Corporations. The assets of Bethel AME San Francisco are estimated to be $85 million dollars.

Cousin's assignment to Bethel AME San Francisco is effective immediately.

11. MT. OLIVE AME CHURCH IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA IMPLEMENTS A STRATEGIC PRAYER INITIATIVE INVOLVING THE YOUTH OF THE CHURCH:

*Dr. Joseph Smiley

Under the leadership of the Rev. James Vincent Williams, pastor of Mt. Olive AME Church, all components of the church have been challenged to be involved in outreach. Towards that end, a strategic goal of the Church School and Children’s Church is to be a major and powerful outreach arm of the church. This has been achieved by implementing a comprehensive youth prayer initiative. The goal of the initiative is to train and involve all children of the church in the role of prayer as a key factor in advancing the Gospel and mission of the church.

The initiative has a 3-program prayer framework designed to impact the lives of three groups: the sick and elderly shut-in; the prison bound and military members; and teens with challenges.

First, the "Kidz That Pray Program" involves Junior and Intermediate class youth visiting sick and elderly shut-in members and nonmembers in the community. During each visit students have prayer with those they visit, read Scripture to them, deliver cards and letters made during Church School and Children’s Church, and present to them fruit and gift baskets.

Second, the "Reaching Outside the Walls Program" involves Primary and Junior class youth reaching out to two groups: the prison bound and active military members. The children prepare packets of cards and Scripture lessons offering words of encouragement. The packets are sent monthly to inmates who are members, inmates related to members, and inmates referred to the church school by anyone in the community wishing to have packets sent to someone in prison; the same process is used to reach out to persons active in the military. Children pray for the inmates and soldiers, and they commit one Sunday a month to preparing the needed packets for the "Reaching Outside These Walls" program.

And third, the "Teens Praying for Teens Program" involves Intermediate and Senior class youth reaching out to teens experiencing trials and difficulty. Church School youth come together on Sunday morning to pray as a group expressly for teens in the church and community experiencing trials and difficulty.

In each of the three prayer programs in the Mt. Olive AME Strategic Prayer Initiative, students learn about and build on their prayer lives. Moreover, students witness the importance and power of prayer in advancing the Gospel and mission of the church.

*Dr. Joseph Smiley is the Superintendent of Church School at the Mount Olive AME Church in Clearwater, Florida

12. SHORTER COLLEGE IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK GETS FIRST OFFICIAL GRADUATE IN 15 YEARS:

By Malcolm Glover

Over the next few weeks, colleges and universities across Arkansas will host Commencement ceremonies to celebrate the academic achievements of graduates. This Saturday, one private two-year college in North Little Rock will have its first official graduate in nearly 15 years.

Wilhelm Cedric Hawkins has a long history with Shorter College.

“My grandmother went to school here, my mother went to school here, and also my father so I figure that I could follow the family tradition,” said Hawkins, as he walks through halls of the main building on campus.

Hawkins says Shorter College is his heart. In the past, he worked at the college, but the long road to graduation was not easy. A major accident in 2007 made him reassess his goals.

“I got hit by a car and it broke both my legs. I was sitting at home thinking ‘Lord, I’m getting ready to get on disability and you know I like to work… so what other challenge do you have for me.’ And [God] told me school,” Hawkins said.

But thoughts of returning to school proved to be a battle at first, for Hawkins. He had to find balance in his life; because being married, having to take care of his father, and completing school work takes a lot of effort.

“I had the thought that these young people [on a college campus] are a lot smarter than I am,” said Hawkins. “But as the time grew on, I went on and registered and I have had a great time here at Shorter.”

Shorter College is a historically black liberal arts college in North Little Rock that was founded in 1886 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the sons and daughters of slaves. The college fell on hard times near the end of the 1990s, due to leadership challenges, financial struggles, and a loss of accreditation. Dr. O. Jerome Green is the current president of Shorter College. He’s held that post since July 2012.

“When I arrived at Shorter, it was virtually a ghost town. There was a skeleton crew here for a staff. There were no permanent teachers,” said Green, as he sits down in the administrative conference room. “I asked the board how many students were enrolled in the college and they said between two, or maybe four.”

Green said he had a lot of work to do and assembled a team to rebuild the college’s academic rigor and administrative capabilities. After launching a comprehensive advertising campaign, Shorter College now has 236 registered students in less than one year. President Green says the college strives to uplift people and help them fulfill their purpose and achieve academic goals regardless of socioeconomic status.

“I think I’m safe to say that by the time a student graduates we have gotten into their heads that you got to be competent, you got to have character, you got to have culture and not be culture-bound, and you got to understand and embrace citizenship so that you can participate in this community,” Green said.

Though Shorter College had some Commencement activities in the recent past, which mostly bestowed honorary degrees, the institution’s last official graduation was in 1998. That will all change Saturday, when Cedric Hawkins crosses the stage and receives an associate degree.

“Shorter and myself are just like the phoenix. You know, [a phoenix] flies gracefully through the course of 100 years. Then one day, the phoenix stands up in its nest and it burns… later the ashes regenerate,” said Hawkins. “That’s what Shorter have done, been reborn again just like I have. I fee like I’ve been better now than I was in the past.”

55-year old Cedric Hawkins says he overcame his fears, continued his education, and is now expected to graduate with a 3.7 grade point average.

Hawkins promises to help his alma mater grow by giving back to the college, faculty, and staff who have helped him accomplish his goals.

The work continues for Cedric Hawkins, he hopes to attend Little Rock’s Philander Smith College in the fall to study Business Administration. After that, he wants to get his master’s degree.

13. FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL TO HELP ROUND OUT DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S COMMUNITY CONCERTS SERIES FINAL STOP AT PAUL QUINN COLLEGE:

Dallas – May 22, 2013 – Returning for a night of classical music under the stars, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will make Paul Quinn College their final stop for the annual Community Concerts Series. The College has added a classic “Quinnite Nation” twist to the festivities with the inaugural PQC Food Truck Festival along the “Avenue of Roses” at 7 p.m. The free performance will begin 8 p.m. Tue, June 11, 2013 at 3837 Simpson Stuart Road. Families are encouraged to bring blankets and/or festival chairs to enjoy the performance.

At the PQC Food Truck Festival, concert-goers will get the chance to enjoy tasty meals on wheels from such vendors as Three Lions, Rock and Roll Tacos, Nammi, Easy Slider, The Butcher’s Son, and What’s da Scoop?.

“The Dallas Symphony is delighted to partner with President Sorrell in presenting a full orchestra concert on the campus of Paul Quinn College for the third consecutive year,” says Dallas Symphony President and CEO Jonathan Martin. “Our important collaboration reflects our shared mission of presenting quality entertainment and uplifting music to the students, families and neighbors of southern Dallas.”

"Our partnership with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an example of why Dallas is entering a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity," said Michael J. Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College. "We are now becoming a city which truly builds bridges between our unique communities and institutions in order to foster 'One Dallas’. We love being a part of the Community Concerts Series and look forward to supporting the DSO for years to come."

Associate Conductor Thomas Hong will lead the DSO in a wide variety of classical and popular favorites, such as music from “E.T.” and the “Star Wars” trilogy by Williams, Rossini’s “William Tell Overture” and Sousa’s “Daughters of Texas March.”

In partnership with Dallas City Councilman Tennell Atkins, the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Department and the Office of Cultural Affairs, the DSO has been performing outdoor concerts in Dallas for more than 40 years. The 2013 Community Concerts Series is made possible by generous support from the following businesses: 7-Eleven, Inc.; Ernst & Young; ExxonMobil; and Methodist Dallas Medical Center.

About Paul Quinn College

Paul Quinn College, a finalist on the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll and the 2011 HBCU of the Year, is a private, faith-based, four-year liberal arts-inspired college founded by and affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Eddie Francis

Director of Communications

14. CHURCH WORLD SERVICE COMMENDS SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCING IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL:

In a statement released on May 22, 2013, CWS commended the Senate Judiciary Committee for its vote to send a bipartisan immigration reform bill to the full Senate for consideration:

"The CWS network of people of faith, refugees, volunteers, refugee resettlement staff, and community members made thousands of phone calls, hosted prayer vigils, and met with their Senators to encourage support for immigration reform. We will continue these phone calls, actions, and advocacy with all members of congress to improve the bill and see it agreed to by the full Senate, and the House," Kekic added.

CWS commends Senator Patrick Leahy and his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee for moving forward Senate Bill 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, for a full vote in the coming days.

"This is a significant step forward for hundreds of thousands of families caught in the grip of an antiquated and harmful immigration policy," says Erol Kekic, director of Church World Service's Immigration and Refugee Program. "Our staff and our peers see the need for change every day. While we wish the bill did more to protect families, it is still positive change.

CWS, which for years has provided services to refugees and immigrants across the U.S., pledged to help improve this bill through the amendment process and urged all Senators to support a timely process to consider, improve, and enact the legislation.

CWS is one of just nine organizations the government works with to resettle refugees within the U.S.

15. SPELMAN COLLEGE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE CHALLENGES WOMEN OF COLOR TO EMBRACE FUTURE FILLED WITH INCREASED FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:

ATLANTA (May 21, 2013) - Power, purpose, fitness and well-being provided the framework for the Ninth Annual Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference (Spelman - WOCC). Thursday marked the conclusion of two days of discussions designed to equip attendees with action items to help achieve long-term financial success. Held at the Georgia International Convention Center, May 15 - 16, the Women of Color Conference attracted a diverse representation of more than 500 of the nation's best and brightest women in an array of fields, including business, finance, arts, public policy, entertainment and education.

Hosted by Atlanta radio personality Jennifer Keitt of "Today's Black Woman" on KISS 104.1FM, the Legacy of Leadership Awards Dinner honored entrepreneur, activist and actress Nicole Ari Parker and famed crisis communications expert/author Judy Smith -- the real-life inspiration for ABC's hit series "Scandal." The elegant affair paid tribute to Parker and Smith for their professional and philanthropic endeavors featuring an electrifying spoken word and tribal dance tribute by Atlanta-based African dance company Giwayen Mata.

"I think it's very important to pay it forward and each individual has to decide how they want to do that," said Smith. "People think it has to be in big ways, but it doesn't. It can be in small ways daily and that adds up.... It doesn't always have to be in a financial way either," she added. "Sometimes just showing up and supporting each other is a great way to give back."

"This is an entrepreneurial conference, but I love that we're discussing how health and wellness are part of the wealth equation," said Ari Parker. "Spelman is integrating the importance of physical, spiritual, emotional and relationship health into the whole spectrum of how to pursue your dreams, develop your entrepreneurial ideas and be successful.... you can't leave the body and spirit out of that. It's been wonderful to be a part of this conference."

Convened by Dr. Jane Smith, conference founder and Executive Director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement at Spelman, the Women of Color Conference gathered notable thought leaders and industry influencers to examine 21st century wealth building, developing businesses and using both to make important, sustainable contributions to their communities.

"The ultimate goal of the Spelman Women of Color Conference is to connect women of color from different demographic and socio-economic backgrounds, and help them realize their common interests," said Dr. Smith. "One thing that has grown out of this is the importance of inter-generational work. You have students and women from around the world as young as 18 into their 70's; all equal... talking to one another, with no gap between the young and the elders."

To effectively convey the 2013 conference theme of Strategic Leadership: Building Wealth, Entrepreneurship and Paying it Forward, Spelman College invited a dynamic team to strategically deliver messages about personal finance and business development.

Key conference panelists included: Newsweek/ Daily Beast Senior Reporter Allison Samuels, CNBC Senior Commodities / Personal Finance Correspondent and "Today Show" contributor Sharon Epperson, Author/ Financial Advisor Gail Perry-Mason, Editor-In-Chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) George Curry, The Coca-Cola Foundation Executive Director Helen Smith Price, Chief Financial Officer of JP Morgan Chase Foundation and the JP Morgan Chase & Co. Global Philanthropy Division Dalila Wilson-Scott, and Delta Air Lines General Manager of Global Diversity Letty Ashworth.

Kicking off the 2013 pre-conference activities with a holistic message, Ari Parker joined clinical psychologist Dr. Brenda Wade to explore the direct impact of wellness on leadership and success. Both Parker and Wade highlighted the need for a "balanced life" and to start thinking of ways to better maintain a healthy "mind, body and spirit."

Actress and sought after "Life Stylist" AJ Johnson shared those sentiments. "We [women] take care of everyone else, solve other people's problems, while ignoring our personal physical and mental health issues," declared Johnson. She urged attendees to "stop" and realize the connection between physical wellness and professional success. "If you are not doing everything you possibly can to optimize the health of your temple, you are asking to be less than your best," Johnson said. "In this moment, choose to take care of your temple."

With physical and emotional well-being in focus, participants engaged in wide-ranging discussions about implementing practical solutions to achieve financial success, dispelling long-held misconceptions about wealth building, developing tools to break negative cycles and steps to securing comfortable retirement. However, elevated discussions and critical information provided to participants from speakers such as Sharon Epperson and Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter distinguish the WOCC.

A program highlight was The Role of the Media in Wealth Building panel, which featured veteran media experts Epperson (CNBC), Samuels

(Newsweek), Perry-Mason and Curry (NNPA) and offered an analysis of economic trends in reporting. A commodities and personal finance expert, Epperson aims to motivate women to take more proactive approaches to long term saving and offered practical methods to making saving a fun and routine part of one's life.

"The fact is; you'll likely reach a point when you can't or won't want to continue working. Now is the time to start planning how you can make certain you'll be financially secure," she advised.

In the groundbreaking CEO to CEO session, Spelman College President Dr. Beverly Tatum teamed with President and CEO of V&J Holdings, Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter for a candid conversation about the rewards and challenges of building a multi-billion dollar franchise and how commitment to empowering people through business and philanthropy is important to building wealth.

Dr. Smith says the decision was made to focus on women of color and not just African Americans. "The majority of the women who attend are African American, but we have many others represented who contribute an important part to the dialogue which ultimately trickles down to our students and into our curriculum. Dr. Smith's final words offer the best summation of what the Women of Color Conference espouses: "Yes, we are in the business of empowering women who are African American but those women must then empower the world!"

16. THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES 59 YEARS AFTER BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION:

May 18, 2013 · Print This Article

Damon Hewitt, Director of the Education Practice Group at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

On May 17, 1954, the United State Supreme Court decided a case that changed the course of American history. In Brown v. Board of Education, which was litigated by the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, a unanimous Court declared segregated education systems unconstitutional, marking the beginning of the end of America’s racial caste system.

As we mark the fifty-ninth anniversary of that landmark decision, it is appropriate to reflect on the progress of civil rights efforts since Brown was decided. But some are now questioning whether American institutions should still use race-conscious tools to promote diversity and inclusion in education and beyond. That issue is being played out in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, the latest challenge to higher education affirmative action programs.

But what we have learned since Brown suggests that we should be asking an entirely different question: In light of significant progress through mighty struggles, and with American society becoming increasingly diverse, can we afford at this point to allow our institutions to go in the opposite direction?

The closing doors of opportunity in states that have banned affirmative action programs have made the stakes clear. After Proposition 209 in California banned race-conscious admissions, the selective institutions with the University of California system became more segregated. And Texas’ own history provides another reminder. During the most recent years when UT-Austin did not consider race in admissions and instead used only race-neutral efforts, the percentage of African-American students never comprised more than 4.5% of enrollment, despite making up 12-13% of high school graduates in Texas and over 10% of the state’s workforce.

The stakes are high not just for those who seek admission to college; all Americans stand to lose. For example, colleges and universities realize that declining enrollment of African-American students limits their ability to realize the educational benefits of diversity and is not conducive to training the leaders of tomorrow who must be able to navigate diverse workplaces and environments. The issues in play in the Fisher case could also impact K-12 education, where waning political will has led in part to a significant re-segregation of America’s public schools. These trends exacerbate ongoing problems such as gaps in fiscal and human resources, access to college-preparatory curriculum and student achievement, as well as racial disparities in school discipline—what we have come to refer to as the School to Prison Pipeline.

Ironically, these are the very types of problems that the litigation effort behind Brown was designed to address. And many of these issues are evident in the nearly one hundred K-12 school desegregation cases that the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund continue to litigate.

The persistence of these issues nearly sixty years later reminds us of the work left to be done. And it points to the need for America to do more –not less—to promote equity, inclusion and opportunity. This is especially true in higher education and the continued need for affirmative action programs. With the changing landscape of higher education institutions, and the perverse impact of the “new economy” on college access and affordability for all, especially children of color, the nation finds itself at a critical juncture when it can ill afford to lose a vital tool to opening pathways to opportunity. Doing so now would not only mean a change in policy – it would mean turning our back on the unfulfilled promise of Brown.

17. HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN WHITE STUDENTS:

By Alyssa Paddock

For several months, students at Howard University’s school of communications have been writing stories for The RootDC about a range of local and national issues. The students have written about college students struggling to pay rising tuitions after their parents had lost jobs and homes to foreclosures and the impact of funding cuts to public school arts programs in poor communities, among other issues. Today, The RootDC is publishing the story below by Allyssa Paddock on the increase of white students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

White students are becoming a more frequent sight on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the country. Although African Americans still make up the large majority of the students at HBCUs, the enrollment rate of white students has grown in recent years.

As more African-American students attend majority white institutions, there are more available slots open at HBCUs for non-black students and more possibilities for diversity on the campuses.

Although HBCUs were originally created to educate black people who were excluded from attending white colleges and universities during the era of racial segregation, over time they became a source of pride for many in the black community. These institutions once provided educational opportunities that blacks could not get anywhere else and helped graduates launch impressive careers. They also churned out some of the country’s leading black political and cultural figures, such as author and Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison and the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who both graduated from Howard University.

As a result, many people are very protective of the unique historical legacy and mission of HBCUs, and opinions are still divided over whether the increasing diversity on formerly all-black campuses is a positive development.

“Although I appreciate all races and have friends of all kinds at home, I definitely think that Howard was created for black students and the integrity of the majority black institution should remain that way,” said Courtland Lackey, a junior at Howard. “I don’t see why other races would attend when it was created for the benefit and growth of our black race and culture.”

Several white students who attend HBCU’s said that in many cases they welcomed being in a different kind of cultural environment. Jillian Parker, a senior at Howard University, who is white, said she learned a lot at Howard and really enjoyed her experience for unique reasons.

“As a school, I love it and I love the people. I really enjoy being unique and for that reason I appreciate my experience,” she said. “I feel as though you have a bit more notoriety being so different at a place like this. I think that I truly learned one hundred times more in terms of life and culture than I ever would have at a predominantly white university. It has been a blessing and a growing experience.”

But others said it’s a tough adjustment going to a black school Daryl Bradley, a white freshman said that her experience on campus has been mixed.

“I would only suggest it to another white person if I knew they had a strong self-esteem and were outgoing enough to make friends easily,” she said in an interview. “Being the minority is something “white people” are not used to.”

Many public HBCUs are required by law to meet certain racial diversity quotas in order to maintain state accreditation and funding. They do this by recruiting students from high schools with large numbers of white and Hispanic students. As a consequence, public HBCUs, such as Delaware State University, which is 13 percent white according to collegeboard.com, have higher minority populations than HBCUs such as Hampton University which is five percent white, and Howard, which has a student body that is one percent white.

Overall, the percentages of minority students at HBCUs are rising at a much higher level on public campuses than on private campuses. On public campuses, scholarships are being offered to increase minority attendance and many non-black students, including Latinos and Asian, are choosing these institutions as the best education for their dollar. At private campuses, students of other races may choose an HBCU for the cultural experience, the educational rigor, or an athletic or academic scholarship.

On an individual level, many HBCU students and professors welcome the idea of more integrated and diverse campuses and classrooms. Others believe predominantly black institutions were founded for the development and success of black individuals and feel strongly that those ideals should remain.

Some students such as Sydney Satchel, a junior at Howard, support the idea of an integrated institution and readily accept the addition of white and other non-black students – as long as they remain a minority on campus.

“I think that it is a learning experience for both cultures to blend at a majority black institution and therefore I fully support white attendance at Howard and all other HBCUs. I think white students at Howard can bring new opinions to the area and institution and receive many good lessons as well,” she said. “However, I hope that the majority of HBCUs always remain predominantly black and carry on the traditions, culture, and legacy they were created for.”

JoVon McCalester, a political science professor at Howard and alumnus of the university, has seen the increase in diversity firsthand in the past decade.

“I think a white person attending an HBCU is a positive thing and fosters a couple of different perspectives. One, I think it gives white students a chance to be a minority and therefore the ability to be more sympathetic to minorities in society.”

He continued:”It gives them another view point of the same narrative in terms of them being able to hear opinions from an entirely different perspective than they had growing up.”

Sheryll Cashin, a law professor at Georgetown University and an expert on American race-relations, believes that white students attending HBCUs reflect larger cultural shifts that the country is experiencing.”

“I think that it is indicative of our growing comfort with difference,” she said. “There is a growing class of a group of people who I call the culturally dexterous, people who welcome diversity. A person who is culturally dexterous willingly interspaces an area where they are a minority. I believe that with that group growing, the diversity in HBCUs and other institutions will continue to increase.”

Greg Squires, a professor of sociology and public policy at George Washington University, said even as predominately white institutions become more diverse and reach out to students of color, “I think there is justification for black schools to remain the way they were built, as vehicles for expanding opportunity for black people.

“Black institutions and institutions for women have a certain right to remain not diverse if they so choose that other institutions do not.”

Still, as the number of white faces at HBCUs increase so do questions about what their presence means and what kind of impact they will have on HBCUs collectively over time.

“HBCUs should be conscious of their historical mission and should continue to be places that lift up and support black students,” Cashin stated. “But they should not exclude white students. They should be open to those who are attracted to them. It would be the height of hypocrisy and immoral to exclude someone solely because of their race.”

18. GETTING TO GROUND ZERO: ORIGINS OF HIV:

*Dr. Oveta Fuller

“In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth…” begins a familiar passage for Christians.

“Where did HIV/AIDS come from?” This question inevitably is asked at science-based teaching sessions. It comes up sooner or later with religious leaders, seminary students, lay leaders, university students and in general conversation. People want to know where HIV came from.

Speculation, ideas and theories abound. They range from the idea “that scientists developed an HIV/AIDS-like microbe as an experiment and then something went wrong”; to “HIV was strategically developed and released in central Africa to weaken countries for take-over of rich natural resources.”

Misconceptions abound about HIV/AIDS, its origins, its impact and its control. What are the facts?

HIV is a member of a large family of viruses - the retroviruses. Research shows that the immediate ancestor of circulating HIV-1 strains was a retrovirus found in chimpanzees in the central African country of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The results published by Dr. Beatrice Hahn and colleagues in one of the top research journals Science (Feb. 1999*) show that simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) made the jump into humans by the late 1800’s. Although we did not recognize HIV/AIDS until 1981, AIDS as a disease had affected people for almost a century. In the 1980s as the numbers of infected people increased, HIV/AIDS emerged as a “new” human infectious disease.

Interestingly, infection of chimpanzees with SIV does not lead to disease. However, SIV does cause an immune deficiency disease in other primates such as Macaque monkeys and humans. As with many animal viruses, when transferred into humans, mutations occur to allow the animal virus to survive in humans as a new host. The process with SIV led to the new disease causing (pathogenic) human virus, HIV.

HIV emergence is similar to swine influenza virus emergence in 2008-09. It is similar to what we hope does not occur widely with emergence of avian “bird” influenza. One brought a native virus of pigs into humans. The other would move a native virus of wild birds into humans.

When an animal virus is exposed to humans and is able to get past host defenses, it produces multiple progeny (more viruses). Those that are best suited to reproduce in the new host species survive over several virus generations (one generation is about 24 hrs for retroviruses). A new best fitted virus for survival in that species emerges. It is genetically related to the old virus, but has some new distinct genes and features.

Dr. Hahn and colleagues collected extensive data from SIV found in the feces of chimpanzees. The closest genetically related SIV to HIV was found in samples from the DRC. This aligns with the epicenter of HIV/AIDS in central sub-Saharan Africa. Along with published findings from others about the genetic structures of HIV and SIV strains, they could pinpoint the location and estimated time that SIV moved from chimpanzees to humans. Required adaptations of SIV to humans are similar to movement of swine influenza from pigs into humans as occurred in central Mexico in 2008-09. That new human “swine flu” spread to other areas by respiratory transfer. Swine influenza eventually spread to people on every continent as a “new flu” pandemic. Fortunately, surveillance and a rapidly developed vaccine made for a relatively low level of mortality from swine influenza.

Emergence of HIV from SIV was a longer process unfortunately with high mortality. Undetected and unchecked for decades, the virus spread to every continent. HIV emergence to a worldwide epidemic was enhanced by increased ease of human travel, by medical advances of blood transfusion technologies and possibly in vaccine campaigns, and by its major mode of transmission to take advantage of humans as sexual beings. By the late 1980s HIV was a global human pathogen. Today, over 65,000,000 people worldwide have been infected.

How did SIV move into humans?

In the DRC and other places, chimpanzees are a valued food source. Any animal has to be prepared before it can be consumed as food. Like most hunted animals, chimpanzees have to be skinned and dressed. This process allows direct contact of hunters with blood of the animals. Any cut on the hands or arms, or even a cuticle tear, could allow entry of SIV in chimpanzee blood into the bloodstream of hunters. Once there, it eventually genetically adapted to efficiently reproduce in humans. Competency to make more of itself, to avoid host immune system defenses and to transmit from one human host to another are required features of a successful microbial pathogen. HIV/AIDS in humans does each of these well.

Although today HIV mainly is sexually transmitted, the initial move of SIV into humans was not though sexual transmission. It was a result of human exposure to animal blood through hunting and dressing of the catch. It was not preplanned nor a conspiracy. It was an event of nature.

An amazing feature of creation is an ability to adapt to a changing environment. This is built into nature for sustainability. Many think that scientists developed genetic engineering. However, nature carries out genetic engineering all the time. It happens in the cross pollination of plants, in production of new breeds of animals and in movement of virus and other microbial pathogens from one animal to another. Emergence of swine influenza and HIV/AIDS are recent examples.

Human actions such as multiple uses of needles in vaccine campaigns, lack of early political concern and actions and the judgmental attitudes that enhance stigma and discrimination all contributed to emergence of HIV/AIDS as a pandemic. Meticulous execution of research by several groups using established principles of the scientific method and rigorous peer review confirm that HIV/AIDS originated from SIV.

Thus, HIV is the product of a collision of nature’s adaptability with the resourcefulness of man as a dominant hunter. Such a move into humans occurred almost a century (at least many decades) before HIV/AIDS became a broadly recognized immune deficient infectious disease caused by a newly “discovered” human retrovirus.

Some may think this origin is less attractive than a purposefully genetically engineered virus, a laboratory accident or a conspiracy to take over lands with rich natural resources. Transfer of SIV into humans to produce a closely related cousin, HIV, is an example of the splendor of nature.

Amazingly, nature’s built in adaptability functions in the presence, or absence, of human actions (increased contact from travel, apathy, silence and stigma that enhance HIV spread or any technology invented by humans).

It is awesome, mind-blowing that God created it as such.

For a recent summary see:

http://www.prn.org/index.php/progression/article/origin_of_the_aids_pandemic_58

*The Rev. Dr. A. Oveta Fuller is an Associate Professor in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School and Adjunct Faculty at Payne Seminary. She served as pastor of Bethel AME Church in Adrian, MI for seven years before primarily focusing on global HIV/AIDS ministry. Currently, she serves at Brown Chapel AME Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan in the 4^th Episcopal District while continuing HIV/AIDS research in parts of Zambia and the USA.

19. HOPE IN THE DAY OF THE LORD II PETER 3: 1-15:

*Bill Dickens, Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington

Basic Need

As a kid growing up in the 60s, one of my favorite TV drama shows was Dragnet, starring Jack Webb and Harry Morgan. The lead character, Detective Joe Friday, was a stoic, taciturn, no-nonsense LA cop who was exclusively committed to solving high-profile crimes. His signature line when questioning suspects was - “just stick with the facts”. The Adult AME Church School Lesson for May 26, 2013 represents a creative application to Joe Friday’s ‘MO” by encouraging believers to just “stick with the facts” regarding the day when our Lord Jesus the Christ will return. Facts are important because they are indisputable data needed for making choices. We need facts in order to make the best choice in our moral, social, professional and spiritual development. Without facts our decision-making activity would be left up to chance. The hope of Jesus’ return is too important to be equated with the roll of the dice. Facts lead to truth and truth leads to hope.

Basic Lesson

Since April 21, 2013, every Church School Lesson has focused on the topic of hope. It is appropriate that we conclude our Spring Quarter with the Apostle Peter reaffirming to readers hope in the Second Coming. The first three verses of II Peter Chapter 3 serve as a reminder that the Church should remember and implement the sound spiritual wisdom communicated by the Old Testament prophets and the words of Jesus regarding the end times. The verses stress an eschatological theme with a reference to the rise of scoffers or deceptive teachers who will offer anti-Biblical messages seductively covered in appealing rhetoric (verses 4-6). Peter reminds his readers that the spiritual charlatans can’t be trusted because they ignore too many facts. The deceivers ignore the fact that God is the master Creator (verse 5), they do not comprehend the final judgment (verse 7) do not understand that God’s math is different from human calculation (verse 8) and most importantly, fail to understand that God does not renege on his promises (verse 9). The Day of the Lord will come quickly and unexpectedly (like a thief). Our role/responsibility as Christians is to wait with patience, striving for perfection or maturity (verse 14). We seek patience in Jesus’ return just like He showed patience for our own salvation (verse 15).

Basic Application

A popular cliché states, “Good things come to those who wait”. If we accept the general truth of this statement, why is impatience so prevalent in our day-to-day experiences? One likely reason for impatience is due to the uncertainty of waiting. We don’t like waiting because we aren’t sure what we are waiting for will come true. Hope is confident expectation. Confident expectation enables us to cope with uncertainty and manage risk. My hope is the residents of Moore, Oklahoma will find a way to repair their lives after the destruction caused by the ferocious tornado earlier this week. FEMA recovery activities will be slow and the path to rebuilding will take a long time with many becoming frustrated and impatient. Peter, despite impatience within the early church, exhorted his readers to remain vigilant and hopeful about the Lord’s return. Our hope is indeed built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

*Brother Bill Dickens is currently the Church School Teacher at Allen AME Church in Tacoma, Washington. He is currently a member of the Fellowship of Church Educators for the AME Church.

Editor’s Note: Dr. Bill Dickens has been asked by the AME Sunday School Department to write the Adult Quarterly Lessons for the Winter 2013-2014 Quarter. He will need the month of June to complete the lessons (including a teacher's guide). He will temporarily suspend writing the Church School submissions for the TCR to focus on this writing task. His column is scheduled to resume in July.

20. MID-WEEK MEDITATION BASED ON I SAMUEL 16:1-13:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby

The Darby family’s recent move from a church parsonage to our own residence required purchasing some furniture. Tuesday’s delivery of the last purchased item - a sofa - came with a laugh at my expense. I immediately saw that something was wrong when the delivery men brought it in - it was bright blue plaid with red trim - not at all what we ordered and downright ugly!

I stopped them and told them that they delivered the wrong sofa and had to take it back. They just patiently smiled, actually put the ugly thing down in the family room......and then removed the bright blue, plaid red trimmed protective padding to reveal the sofa we’d actually ordered! I’m now getting rightfully teased because I assumed that unattractive furniture pads were the exterior of the sofa - I didn’t realize that the pads only covered what was actually inside.

My furniture delivery experience can actually be instructive to all of us as we move through life. It’s easy for all of us to judge those around us by how they look and by what they say, and to easily “write off” people who actually have much to offer, if we look beyond the surface. It’s very easy for all of us to let our trials, missteps and mistakes fill us with personal guilt and uncertainty as to our worth and ability, and to settle for just getting by and surviving, believing that we can do no better.

We’d do well to remember that the God who made us and knows us best looks beyond what’s outside and sees us for what we are - sinners saved by His grace, with our own potential and possibilities - even if they’re unseen and unappreciated by those around us.

Take the time each day to look beyond the surface and see the good in yourself and in those around you, and to believe by faith that visible and personal frailties can be cast aside or cleaned up by the God who can bless us “from the inside out.” We can then walk by new faith, experience new and confident joy and say with one writer, who saw how God’s grace changed him and changed his life, “He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.”

Get Ready for Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship!

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual Conference

21. EPISCOPAL AND CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-- Congratulations to Adam Scott Green, the son of Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr. and Dr. Ava SB Green

Congratulations to Adam Scott Green, the son of Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr. and Dr. Ava SB Green, who graduated on May 16, 2013 from Medstar Washington Hospital Center-Washington, DC Department of Spiritual Care, Clinical Pastoral Care after completing the requirements of one unit of Level I Clinical Pastoral Education according to the standards of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.

Adam is currently a Graduate Student at Georgetown University.

Congratulatory messages may be sent:

Adam Scott Green; asg56@georgetown.edu

Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr.: bishopsam@12thdistrictame.com

-- Congratulations to Chasity Clarissa Broughton and Rickey Eugene Taylor

- Congratulations to Miss Chasity Clarissa Broughton, daughter of Ms. Yvette Broughton, and granddaughter of the late Rev. Dennis W. Broughton, Sr. and Mrs. Wilhelmenia B. Broughton (7th Episcopal District WMS Treasurer) and the niece of the Rev. Dennis W. Broughton, Jr. Chasity received her Bachelor of Arts Degree, May 11, 2013, from Georgia Southern University.

- Congratulations to Mr. Rickey Eugene Taylor, son of Dr. Wilma Broughton and the grandson of the late Rev. Dennis W. Broughton Sr. and Mrs. Wilhelmenia B. Broughton, (7th Episcopal District WMS Treasurer), and the nephew of the Rev. Dennis W. Broughton, Jr. Rickey received his Bachelor of Science Degree, May 10, 2013 from Clemson University.

-- Congratulations to the Louisville-Paducah District of the West Kentucky Conference, 13th Episcopal District graduates receiving Bachelors and Masters’ Degrees

- The Reverend Nachia Mion Woods, itinerant deacon at St. Paul AMEC, Louisville, Kentucky, graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, Cum Laude, on May 11, 2013.

- Ms. Raqueal Marie Pullums, daughter of the Reverend Reginald Pullums, pastor of St. Paul AMEC, Woodburn, Kentucky, graduated from the University of Louisville, Bachelor of Science on May 11, 2013.