Bishop T.
Larry Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
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 – WHAT AT FIRST LOOKS GOOD IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Completed deals usually have two components – a good deal for
one side and a bad deal for the other side.
Earlier this week a TCR News
Break was posted - “Morris
Brown College is Mired in Millions of Dollars of Debt - Trustees of Bankrupt
Morris Brown College have rejected an offer of nearly $10 million.”
If a person just read the headline and
failed to read the entire article, it
would seem that the $10 million offer was a good deal and a God-send the AME
Church should “jump at and accept” because Morris Brown’s debt would be eliminated.
There is an old saying, “Put it in a book
and they will never see it” or “Put it at the end of a news article or towards
the back of the newspaper and they will never see it.”
In the TCR
News Break, if you only read the first paragraph, you would think the AME Church
and Bishop Preston Warren Williams II would be foolish to reject such a
generous offer of “$10 million to erase the school’s $35 million debt and
resolve the legal woes of Morris Brown College.
After Bishop Williams rejected the city’s
officer, Atlanta mayor, Kasim Reed went on to threaten that the AME Church’s
rejection “imperiled not only the school’s future, but the city’s vision of
revitalizing the area around the campus and the Georgia Dome in conjunction
with the new Atlanta Falcons stadium.”
If you just read the first paragraph and
skimmed the rest of the article, the city’s deal looked pretty good, but if you
read carefully got the “rest of the story” you would conclude that the city’s
offer fell far short of good news.
I must confess that I am not privy to all
of the facts and I just have information that I have read in the newspaper and
bits of information I have heard, and I do not know the mayor of Atlanta.
It’s amazing what happens
when one follows the money
And let me say this, $10, $15, $20 million
sounds like a lot of money to those of us of who are considered “normal” people
and that kind of money would put most of us and many of our churches on “easy
street,” but for a city like Atlanta or the owners of sports’ conglomerates, it’s
“chump change.”
Let’s dig a little deeper
A recent article (May 2013), The New York Times published an article
about two black churches in Atlanta that were in the “footprint” of the plans
for a new stadium. The “power-brokers” of Atlanta want to dismantle the stadium
that has been the home of the Atlanta Falcons and build a “billion-dollar
luxury stadium with a retractable roof that would be ready for the 2017 season.
But, two black churches with deep history stand in the way.”
One of the churches is Friendship Baptist
Church, Atlanta’s first autonomous Baptist congregation and one of the most
historically important churches in an area populated by a number of strong
black churches. The other church in the “footprint” of the proposed site of the
stadium is Mount Vernon Baptist.
And, let me say for those of you who may
not be familiar with that area in Atlanta; Morris Brown College is a major
piece of property in the “footprint” of the new stadium. I am not an engineer
or a surveyor and I don’t live in Atlanta, but I would bet that the Morris
Brown property has more than enough land for the new stadium if Friendship
Baptist Church and Mount Vernon Baptist Church refused to sell their
properties.
Let me get back to The New York Times news article
The news article states, that the land that
Friendship Baptist Church sits on is valued at just over $2 million, but that
the city plans to offer much more than that.
One local news source reported that the
church was offered $10 million. The New
York Times article states “A new home for the Falcons, who came within a
game of making the Super Bowl last season, is high on the agenda for Mayor
Kasim Reed.”
Friendship Baptist Church
takes a hard stand
Mr. Lloyd Hawk, the chairman of the
Friendship Baptist Church’s board of trustees said, “If they offered us $50
million and said you have to move to Alpharetta, a northern suburb of Atlanta,
we’d say no.”
Friendship Baptist church sits on about an acre
of land (my guesstimate) and reportedly was offered $10 million and Morris
Brown a “stone’s throw away sits on 37.77 plus acres of land is offered $9.7
million.
With that perspective
It seems to me that something is wrong with
that picture; and to add insult to injury, reportedly, Mayor Kasim Reed said,
"I'm going to use all of my power as mayor to make sure that Friendship
Baptist Church locates just a short distance from where we are today. And they
will be a stronger church, a stronger organization that is much more capable
because of the millions of dollars that we are going to pay for that
church." Mayor Reed’s statement sound enthusiastic and affirming.
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), Mayor Reed is quoted as
having said, “Giving Morris Brown an opportunity to become healthy again and …
provide accredited degrees to its students was an essential priority for this
administration.” Mayor Reed’s statement
concerning Morris Brown College does not sound nearly as enthusiastic as his
statement about his hopes for Friendship Baptist Church.
I guess Mayor Reed’s plan is to fulfill the
city’s obligation to Friendship Baptist Church “off the back” of Morris Brown
College.
Actually $9.7 million,
not $10 million
According to the AJC article “Reed and Invest Atlanta,
the city’s economic development arm, presented Morris Brown with a $9.7 million
proposal that would have:
- Purchased all the
property tied up in bankruptcy, 37.22 acres, most of which is currently
shuttered;
- Paid the school’s
creditors through structured settlements, on terms already accepted by the
largest creditor, Valstone Partners, which holds nearly half the debt;
- Given the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, which governs the school, $1 million in cash;
- Paid $480,000 in back
pay to professors and staff who haven’t been paid in months;
- Allowed the college to
rent the four buildings it still uses, which occupy about five acres, with an
option to purchase them back after three years;
- Let Invest Atlanta work
with developers to redevelop the remainder of the property in accordance with
the city’s vision.”
Read carefully
Purchase 37.77 acres, pay
AME Church, Inc. $1 million, which leaves the AME Church “in the hole” for $4 million
since the AME Church loaned MBC $5 million.
The back pay for professors and staff will be paid when the “dust
settles” and when MBC is compensated fairly for the property.
Here’s the real deal
If MBC debt and
obligations could be settled fairly for $10 million that would be one thing,
but the reality is that the land upon which MBC is sitting on is worth “way
more” than $10 million.
The AJC
article was accompanied by it’s calculation of a Portrait of the Bankruptcy.
Recall Mayor Kasim Reed and the city of
Atlanta want Morris Brown College, Bishop Preston Williams and the MBC Board of
Trustees to settle for $9.7 million.
The Portrait
of the Bankruptcy shows that MBC owes $34,784 million.
Valstone Partners: $16.7 million
AME
Connectional Church: $5 million
U.S.
Department of Education: $1.153 million
Various
mechanics liens: $600,000
Current
employees:
$480,000
GA
Dept of Revenue: $100,000
Internal
Revenue Service: $51,000
Unsecured Creditors $10 million
It’s a great deal
It is a super great deal for Mayor Kasim
Reed and Invest Atlanta, the city’s
economic development arm. If they had been successful in reaching that deal, it
would have been a cause for celebration; for the city of Atlanta!
It’s not a great deal
It’s not a great deal for Morris Brown
College, Bishop Preston Williams, the MBC Board of Trustees and the AME
Church!
As a matter of fact, it’s a poor deal for
the AME Church and deal, which Morris Brown College, the MBC Board of Trustees
and the AME Church must continue to reject.
Bishop Preston Warren Williams should be
commended for rejecting an obviously bad deal!
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER
ISSUES:
-- To the Editor:
RE: What to expect when I go to church
I just wish our church could get some kind of understanding
about what to expect from one Sunday to the next about, for instance, how the
Altar Call will proceed. Talk about being a Connectional Church and being able
to visit ANY A.M.E. church and know what to expect - - - we can't even get that
feeling about our own little AME church. What's that all about anyhow? Is it an
effort to keep us from getting "bored" with the service? I still say
there are things that belong in the ritual and places where the service can be
"livened up" according to the pastor's personality if he or she wants
to do that, but to keep changing things that should be "in place,"
doesn't help to put forward the AME part of the AME service.
Name Withheld
-- To the Editor:
RE: Clergy Statistics in the June 6, 2013 issue of TCR Online
I really liked TCR posting of the August
1, 2010 article of The New York Times, “Startling Clergy Statistics. I am an entrepreneur and clergy, so I have a
double whammy. It is true about how the pastoral ministry affects families. A
pastor needs to be careful and choose to engage and support his or her family
because at the end of the day, it will be his or her family that will take care
of him/her.
It concerns me that so many people in the church are acting as
if the church is a country club; I hate that.
One of my seminary professors said that clergy are more in
danger of going to hell than others. It
was a shocking statement, but I see his point too. I notice too many clergy that focus more on
the material than the spiritual.
Too many clergy get caught up in the "office" of
clergy and the "perks" it provides to them. The temptation of pastors is to take
"from the sheep" and the temptation of sheep is to "elevate the
pastor as their god"; meanwhile, the pastor's family is neglected.
My children are young and need me. There were too many times when I "kicked
them out" of my study because I was preparing a sermon. I now know that
was wrong. I suspect a lot of PKs have strayed away from the church because they
have been "kicked out of the room" because mommy or daddy was
preparing a sermon.
Name Withheld
-- To the Editor:
TCR Editorial – The Rules of Ethics
and Etiquette should be followed by Clergy and Laity
A great piece on church etiquette!! I have already forwarded
it to our Official Board members. With your permission, we would like to make
that a part of the instruction for all of our new members.
Secondly, I will be sending a memo to all of the members of
our ministerial staff (25 persons), mandating that they subscribe to The Christian Recorder. Thank you for
your recent very insightful, thought-provoking editorial about this.
Jonathan Weaver
3. SEVERAL THINGS YOU
NEED TO KNOW: BEFORE FLYING TO THE GENERAL BOARD MEETING/BISHOPS COUNCIL IN JAMAICA:
- Do not put your passport down…keep it on your person! Keep your passport with you at all times!!
Make sure you bring a black writing pen – ‘cause:
- You will need to fill out your customs and immigration form
prior to arriving in Jamaica (You will receive the form once you board the
airplane for the last leg of your flight into Kingston). Read it all and
complete it so that you are not delayed in customs in Kingston.
Passport Information
Needed:
- On the form you will need your passport information: Number,
expiration and/or issue date,
-Your airline and flight number (the one from Miami to Kingston)
and port of departure, i.e., AA 1234, TRANSLATED, AMERICAN AIRLINES, FLIGHT
1234
-Where you will be staying in Jamaica: The Pegasus Hotel, 81 Knutsford
Blvd., Kingston 5, or the Courtleigh Hotel, 85 Knutsford Blvd., Kingston 5, or
wherever you are staying.
- Purpose of your visit: Check “Convention or Conference, AME
Church Convention”
Everything else you should know such as your address, how long
you will be staying.
Everyone must fill out the front of the form. Only the head of
household has to fill out the back side of the form, pretty straight forward.
At your first stop, the immigration officer will ask you the
purpose of your visit (AME Church Conference.); how long you will be staying
(you already put this on the front side of the form, go figure). The head of
household and dependents can all approach together with passports out.
Luggage – Customs – Almost There!
After you get your luggage, the Customs officers will ask you
the same thing. They will also ask if you have anything to declare any gifts or
items to sell. No meats, plants etc. You should be able to say no, just personal
items. NO!!!
If you use one of the free luggage carts available in the
luggage customs area, you cannot take them outside. There will be red shirts
available just outside the customs hall to carry them out if you cannot handle
your luggage yourself without the cart.
Mandatory tip of $1.00 (USD) per bag they handle. If you can
roll your own bags to the buses, you need to unload the cart and the red shirts
will return them and there is no fee.
16th Episcopal District greeters will meet and
welcome you and provide transportation. They are there to assist you!
Speaking of money, $1.00 USD equals approximately 100.00
Jamaican dollars. U. S. dollars are accepted in most places. However, the
conversion rate varies greatly. The Cambios (money changers) offer the best
rate, after fees.
If you have a Bank of America debit card you can withdraw Local
or US dollars at Scotia Bank ATM’s without bank fees from either bank.
One more thing, do not use your cellphone inside immigration or
customs or you will be “harassed and embarrassed” royally!
A couple of other things that might be helpful.
- Be patient, dress for the weather (It will be
hot), don’t be critical/don’t compare the U.S.A. to Jamaica, be courteous,
understand that "soon come" might not necessarily mean “right away.”
Have a good flight “Mon!”
4. FROM THE PEW OF ST.
ANDREW AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN LITTLE ROCK:
Mr. Charles Stewart
As we come to the end of the academic calendar for most schools,
St. Andrew AME Church is celebrating the accomplishments of many of our members
who have completed study in high school and are on their way to college. Additionally we have members who are
completing college and or graduate degrees.
We are blessed to have two outstanding young leaders who have
distinguishing themselves in so many aspects of life. Dr. Elvin Price, who is a professor of
Pharmacy at the University of Arkansas Medical School, graduated from Florida A
& M University where he received his Pharm. D. in 2004. He then earned a PhD from The University of
Florida, College of Pharmacy in 2009.
This academic year, Dr. Price was selected from among the distinguished
faculty at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to receive
the Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award in the College of
Pharmacy. The recipient of this award is
selected and voted on by the students at UAMS.
The award was presented during the May 2013 graduation ceremony. The
University has assembled one of the most outstanding faculties from all over
the world in the many fields of science and medicine. It is a singular honor for Dr. Price to have
been selected for this award.
Dr. Price is married to Andrea Price, who is a 2013 graduate of
the Clinton School of Public Service, a graduate school of the University of
Arkansas. Andrea was the recipient of
two honors during their May graduation ceremonies. She was selected by the students to give the
class speech during graduation reception held at the school. Andrea was also chosen by the faculty of the
Clinton School of Public Service to receive the Shannon Butler Bridge Builder
Award for the student who represents excellence in service and
scholarship. This marks the first time
in the history of Clinton School that one student was chosen by their peers and
chosen by the faculty for these two honors. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was the
graduation speaker.
Andrea received her Masters of Public Service Degree during this
May 2013 ceremony. She also holds a Masters
of Sports Science Degree from the United States Sports Academy and a BA from
Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.
Andrea is Executive Director of The Giving Net and host of a radio show
dedicated to sharing stories of social change and public service.
The Prices are active members of St. Andrew AME Church since
2009. Andrea served on the Steward Board and Elvin as a member of the Trustee
Board. They have been active in
strategic planning for our church and are members of the St. Andrew AME Church
School. The Prices are the proud parents
of two wonderful children, Henry and Heidi.
The Prices have been blessed by God Almighty and they are
working hard to contribute to the betterment of the church, the community and
humankind. They are examples of young
Christians working to be the change they want to see in the world.
“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder…” (Mark
10: vs. 9). As Pastor of St. Andrew African Methodist Episcopal Church, I have
been blessed to meet, shepherd and interact with the Price Family. Truly, it is a joy to witness thru a Family –
God’s Well-Spring of His Glory. I offer
them encouraging words of – “Each Round with God – Goes Higher and Higher!”
*Mr. Charles Stewart is a member of St. Andrew African Methodist
Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
5. THE PASTOR NEEDS A
TECH, PART II - THE CHURCH OFFICE:
*The Rev. Calvin J. Bush
The Church Office is the central hub of any church. The use of “church office” will mean the
pastor’s study and the Secretary's Office.
The secretary's office is emphasized for this article.
The establishment of a network between the pastor’s office and
that of the secretary is a significant aspect in the exchange of information
needed by both. When I speak of
“network”– the connecting of two of more computers in order to exchange
information, I am speaking of a simple network.
If both offices have internet accessibility, the use of a Wi-Fi modem
hub provided by the ISP (Internet Service Provider, like Comcast, Verizon or
other that is in the area), a simple network can be easily established. The connection to the hub can be hard “wired”
– that is a cable connection via a cat 5/6 cable or wireless (“Wi-Fi”). [The wireless connection requires Wi-Fi
capability by one or both computers connecting to the hub.] The Wi-Fi capability can be established by:
1) Already a feature on the computer(s)
2) Installation of a Wi-Fi PCI (Peripheral Component
Interconnect) card on to the mother board.
3) A wireless USB Flash drive.
A “shared” folder is to be created on both computers, with
necessary security precautions, for the exchange of essential files between the
pastor and the secretary. Emailing files
back and forward or re-typing of hard or written copies will be
eliminated. Both the secretary and
pastor could save to and retrieve from this folder for the sharing of the files
that need to be worked on and/or reviewed for approval.
But let’s back-up and discuss equipment and software applications.
Equipment
The secretary’s office should have a good office
copier/printer. I say “good” due to the
high volume of printing that is usually done in a church office – bulletins,
letters, reports etc. Depending on the
budget of a church, a large scale multi-function copier/printer can be a good
investment. Usually, the multi’s have
the following features: scan, copy,
print, and fax. However, these machines,
usually leased, have a high cost due to the amount of printing – although a
maintenance agreement cuts down (“somewhat”) on the total cost of
ownership. This piece of equipment can
be connected to the network so that both offices will be able to access and use
all its features.
The church that has individuals with skills in desktop
publishing will not need to out-source a majority of projects for reproduction
– like program ad booklets, tickets, invitations, newsletters, etc. Why use Kinko’s or Staples or any printing
company, when you have the equipment and personnel for such? However, if the large scale multi-function is
a costly budgetary item, I would suggest a high yield laser printer (in lieu of
an inkjet printer) and a scanner. If the
computer has a built-in modem for telephone connection, most computers come
ready with fax capability. If not, the
installation of a modem card can be added to the motherboard and such cards
come with faxing software. The scanner
usually comes with a “limited” OCR (Optical Character Recognition) program with
the scanning software. [I find OCR
software significant when documents need to be changed that are not available
as a file.] If the desktop printer is
not an “all-in-one”, but just a printer and you have a scanner, the scanner can
be used to fax, copy, and OCR hard copies as well as scan.
Let’s move on to software.
Software
Most documents or email attachments downloaded are in PDF
(Portal Document Format). In order to
read files with this formatting, a PDF reader is needed. The most common is the Adobe Acrobat Reader –
this is a free download from Adobe.com.
The “reader” is only provides “viewing” of the file and no “editing”
capability. If one wants to make changes
to a PDF, a PDF writer or a PDF converter (from pdf to Word) will be
needed. Goggling or Bing “free” PDF
writer, PDF editor or PDF converter will give results from where such can be
downloaded and then installed. The new
office applications allow any file to be saved to the PDF format.
If one does not have the newer office applications, “pdf
creator” (which can be downloaded from www.sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator,
www.pdfforge.org, or www.primopdf.com to mention a few) is a good program to make ANYTHING into a PDF. If it can be printed, it can be a PDF. PDF creator serves as a “printer” to make the
pdf.
The Church secretary, as well as the pastor, needs a good office
productivity software suite (such as Microsoft Office or Corel Office
Suite). Office suites include: Word
Processing, Spreadsheet, Database, Presentation, Personal Information Manager,
and Photo Manipulation applications.
[Since the church is a 501c3 organization, the use of TechSoup
(ww.techsoup.org) is a great source to secure discounted software.] There are open-source productivity suites
available online for free (such as OpenOffice and LibreOffice. Also, GIMP [GNU Image Manipulation Program]
is an available alternative to PhotoShop).
The secretary should be trained or knowledgeable of the features
offered by the productivity software in order to use “full advantage” of the
features to “work smart and not hard”. A
feature such as “mail-merge” is essential for letters for “that individual”
taste. When used with a database (like
Access, Approach, 123 or a membership management software), it is great feature
when it comes to sending out membership letters pertaining to their giving to
use for tax deduction for IRS by March and other mass produced documents.
The database application of a productivity office suite, more so
then the spreadsheet application, can be used beyond accounting for membership
financial contributions if a church management program has not been
purchased. There are some reasonable
priced membership management programs available. Its categorical name, “membership
management”, indicates not just for financial accounting. It can be an effective membership
recordkeeping system: membership roll
(status, joined, separated, baptism, marriages, siblings, children,
organizational membership, special events/days contributions, attendance,
appointed or elected offices, death, etc.), conference levels (Local Church, PE
District, Conference, District and Connectional) fiscal breakdowns,
geographical accounting of membership, etc.
Simply as a database system, the church office can pull any type of
statistical information pertaining to its membership for any time period or by
use of any “filter” criteria (such as last name, specific contributory amount
for a particular period, age grouping, etc.).
Some management programs, I should point out, are not “flexible”
or “modifiable” for use for the liking of most AME Churches. However, a tech or a member who has a
background in database management can apply SQL [structured query language]
scripts to modify or supplement the management program OR simply develop one
specifically fitting for that church.
The Church Office, as indicated, is the Central Hub of the local
church. The pastor who has the joy and
convenience of a secretary having available physical office space should take
advantage of such technological conveniences.
As for those who DO NOT have such secretarial nor spatial privileges,
the use of technology is even more of a necessity. (Maybe an article for the
‘single church office’ would be in order!)
As always, there is still much we can share together when it
comes to the Church and Technology. Look
forward to our next encounter because,
The Pastor Needs A Tech!
*The Rev. Calvin J. Bush is an Associate Minister, Technology
& Education at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
6. THE WRENS-VIDALIA
DISTRICT WELCOMES NEW PRESIDING ELDER, THE REVEREND BERTRAM C. SMITH:
On May 17, 2013, during the Post Conference of the Sixth
Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of
presiding Bishop Preston Warren Williams III, the Rev. Bertram C. Smith was
appointed pastor of the Lofton Circuit in the Augusta Conference; which
includes the following churches: Lofton AME, Stone Springfield AME and Sand
Valley AME. Pastor Bertram C. Smith was also elevated to serve as Presiding
Elder of the Wrens -Vidalia District of the Augusta Conference.
The Rev. Bertram C. Smith was born November 10, 1955 to the
proud parents, the Rev. Peter H. Smith and Mrs. Louise K. Smith in Macon,
Georgia. He was educated in the Bibb
County public schools and graduated from Central High in Macon, Ga. in the
class of 1973.
In the fall of 1973 he entered Savannah State College and
received a four year military scholarship as a Navy Midshipman. During the winter of his freshman year he met
and dated his wife Wendolyn Mitchell and they were married on September 14,
1974 prior to entering their second year of college. They have now been married 38 years.
In 1977, the Rev. Smith graduated from Savannah Sate with a BS
in Industrial Education and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the
United States Marine Corps. Captain
Smith traveled and lived across the country and abroad. He served as a
logistical officer as a Marine Integrated Maintenance Management Officer until his
separation from the Marine Corps after his unit was nearly destroyed in Beirut,
Lebanon.
He has worked for several large companies and retired from Brown
and Williamson Tobacco Company in the spring of 2006 as a Supply Manager. He has graduated from some of the top
Leadership Institutes in the nation to include the Dale Carnegie Institute, and
the Disney Institute of Leadership where he graduated with top honors. He is a
1993 graduate of Leadership Macon and a 1995 graduate of Leadership Georgia. He
is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
The Rev. and Mrs. Smith have three daughters: Nicole Smith,
Wendolyn Monique Smith, and Bertrice Danielle Smith; and one son, Rory
Calhoun. They have three grandchildren;
Tresor, Jase and Taylor.
The Rev. Smith was called to the ministry in the fall of 1985
and was admitted into the Macon Conference in 1986. He was ordained a Deacon and graduated from
The Turner Theological Center in 1988 and was ordained an Elder in 1990. He became the founding pastor of Adams-Smith
Tabernacle AME in Warner Robins of the same year and was blessed to bring in
nearly 300 members over a period of nine years as senior pastor. Pastor Smith was sent to Duresville AME in
Macon in 1999 and served there for seven years.
In 2005 Pastor Smith was sent to Saint Peter AME in Fort Valley where he
served 8 years. Over the past 5 years, Pastor Smith has been selected as one of
the top twenty preachers in the Macon Community. On May 8, 2010, Rev. Smith graduated from The
Interdenominational Theological Center - Turner Seminary in Atlanta, GA with a
Master of Divinity Degree.
While in the Macon Georgia Annual Conference, Pastor Smith
served in many capacities on the conference level. He served as the Chairman of the Ministerial
Efficiency Committee, Chairman of the Trustee Committee, and Chairman of the
Memorial Committee, served on the Finance Committee and as an instructor on the
Board of Examiners. He was appointed the
Dean of the Board of Examiners at the 2013 Annual Conference.
His favorite scripture is II Corinthians 5:7, “We walk by faith,
not by sight.”
The Rev. Smith has a reputation of restoration for God’s people
and believes that Joy and Peace are the foundation of goals of his ministry. His
goal is to define and initiate ministries, develop and implement strategies,
and to promote the 21st century church by means of praising the Lord and
winning souls for Christ.
Submitted by Jerlyn D. Smith-Hudson, Wrens Chapel African
Methodist Episcopal Church
7. BRANDYWINE PASTOR
LEADS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT ENTREPRENEUR WORKSHOP
The Rev. Kim
Hutchinson
The Rev. Dr. Harry L. Seawright, joined by his son, Mr.
Matthew Seawright, and local business owners, Mr. Bernie Brooks, Ms. Cheryl
Jones, and Mr. Ron Young, hosted a series of workshops for young people
interested in starting businesses.
As a pastor, author of two books (More Than Bricks and Mortar: Building a Church without Losing Your Mind
and Don’t Faint: Help for Hurting Pastors
and Their Families), and businessman who started businesses and assisted
others in starting their own businesses, the Rev. Dr. Seawright led the team,
teaching others the ‘how to’s” of doing the same. His business leadership is
well-established as he founded HLS Consulting, Inc., WE KLEEN, Inc. and
Prestigious Property Management, LLC. At Union Bethel, he led the congregation
in developing FOCUS before and after care and early learning center and Bethel
House, Inc. social services agency. The April issue of Ebony magazine recently
highlighted Unity Economic Development Corporation, a Union Bethel non-profit
that helped more than 600 clients with economic strategies, including, saving
for and buying their first house or preventing foreclosure.
With the responsibility of approximately 100 employees
weekly, the Rev. Dr. Seawright strongly believes everyone has the gift of a
seed (idea) that is planted inside of them and waiting to develop. The
workshops stressed the importance of owners being totally committed to their
business as well as the power of networking. The entrepreneurs offered
much-need information and emphasized the following points to remember.
- Always pray about your business.
- Legally register your business.
-
Maintain your integrity.
-
Always speak about your business with confidence and authority.
-
Know your market and your product.
- Provide written rules and regulations.
- Maintain excellent administration.
- Create a website.
- Be strong enough to hire the right people and let the
wrong people go.
- Show
employees and customers how much you appreciate them.
- Remember to say "please" and "thank
you".
-
Do your best.
The
Rev. Dr. Seawright strongly believes in encouraging, enabling and empowering
people to be producers, not just consumers. With newly-formed networks and
business ideas, workshop attendees already are seeing results of their
initiative.
The
Reverend Kim Hutchinson is on the ministerial staff of Union Bethel AME Church
in Brandywine & Temple Hills, Maryland
8. THE AMEC SOCIAL ACTION COMMISSION SHARES ENROLL
AMERICA EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
The Social Action Commission is continuing its efforts to insure that
the AME Church exposes its membership and the communities where we minister to
the best information that can add to the quality of their lives. Insuring
that accurate and timely information is received about Obamacare (The
Affordable Care Act) is a part of that goal. In order to do the work, an
organization known as Enroll America has been formed.
As you are probably already aware,
Enroll America is kicking
off its community education in cities across the USA where there are high
percentages of eligible persons who are deemed hard to reach. The Social
Action Commission wants to insure that we can be "Centers of Truth"
about the benefits and the potential penalties for those who are eligible but
do not enroll in the 6 month period from Oct 1, 2013 to March 1, 2014.
AME Churches will be a part of the information distribution. You or
someone you know could be a part of educating the residents of your community.
Yes, there are job opportunities. Please see below for more
details.
Jobs: Here are all of the jobs we have opened in different states. Full
job descriptions are available at http://www.enrollamerica.org/jobs
9. PAUL QUINN COLLEGE
PRESIDENT HARES HIGHLIGHTS / THANKS FOR THE QUINNITE NATION’S HOSTING OF THE
DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA:
On behalf of the Paul Quinn College and the Quinnite Nation, I
would like to thank you for making last night was a special evening. More than 1,000 people made time in their
busy schedules to attend the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert
performance at Paul Quinn College. This
number represents a 300% increase over last years attendance and proves that
the Paul Quinn College/Highland Hills community does support, and appreciate,
an opportunity to participate in the arts community.
While there were many aspects of the evening which were
extraordinary, a few in particular stood out:
1) The sight of Paul Quinn College Board Chair Bishop Vashti
McKenzie and her husband Supervisor Stan McKenzie sitting in lawn chairs and
wearing cowboy hats while enjoying the music;
2) The large number of school and college age attendees;
3) The demographic composition of the audience;
4) The popularity of the food trucks;
5) The looks on the faces of the incredible Paul Quinn College
staff and students as they witnessed the fruit of their labor;
6) All of the members of AME churches throughout the city;
7) The great job National Alumni Association President Pat
Johnson did in generating strong alumni participation;
8) The presence of PQC's first-ever alumni member of the Texas
Legislature, State Rep. Toni Rose;
9) The attendance of DSO CEO Jonathan Martin; and
10) Last, but certainly not least, watching Deputy Mayor Pro Tem
Tennell Atkins, looking resplendent in his conductor's jacket, leading the DSO
in a number.
Thank you for making last night an evening for the ages by once
again proving that Dallas supports both the DSO and the Quinnite Nation.
Take care,
President Sorrell
P.S. - As we approach the end of our fiscal year (June 30th),
now is the perfect time to make an investment in Paul Quinn College via our
Annual Fund and support our continued efforts to "leave places better than
we found them." It is easy to do.
Simply go to our website: http://www.pqc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=240 and follow the prompts. Thank you in advance for your faith.
Michael J. Sorrell, Esq.
President
Shared by Episcopal Supervisor Stan McKenzie
10. THIRD STREET BETHEL
AME CHURCH CONTINUES TO FEED 25 YEARS LATER:
One key to the success of any ministry is its longevity. The
Third Street Bethel AME Church Richmond, Virginia's Feeding Ministry has been
providing hot meals for the homeless for almost 25 years and the unselfish
women and a few good men show no signs of slowing down.
The ministry started in the spring of 1989 under the
leadership of Shirley Cason Reed, then President [1986-1996] of the Delia C.
Jackson Women’s Missionary Society and wife of the Reverend Rodger Hall Reed who
was the pastor of Third Street Bethel AME Church. Mrs. Reed currently serves as
Connectional President of the Women’s Missionary Society.
The purpose of this ministry was to provide a hot meal for
those less fortunate at least one day per week, but within a years' time,
Bethel was invited to join a ministry of four Churches in downtown Richmond,
Virginia called the Downtown Cooperative Ministry (DCM). Bethel, being the only
black congregation involved in the DCM was afforded a greater opportunity to reach
a greater number of people in need. Each
church was assigned a weekday [Wednesday] to offer hot meals, provide clothes,
and counseling. From 1989 to 1996 the Bethel Feeding Ministry averaged 250
meals per week.
In 1996 Sister Alma Taylor became coordinator of the Bethel
Feeding Ministry. Sister Taylor brought her own style of leadership to the
ministry, but the same love and quality. Under the new leadership the Feeding
Ministry birthed other ministries which includes the Bethel Boutique Clothes Closet
and the "Dress for Success" program catering to men and women who,
for one reason or another, are returning to the workforce; however the main
focus still remains, hot meals for all who are less fortunate in the downtown
community.
Other members that have contributed to the longevity of this
ministry are, Sisters Daisy Davis, Thelma McLendon, Flossie Blair, Rita
Williams, Mildred Graham, Pricilla Smith, Lillian Galloway, Roberta Johnson,
Mary Taylor and Hilda W. Gray; and Brothers Lorenza Coley, Leon Smith, Robert
Sattlefield and John R. Hall III. Our prayer is that God will grant the Third
Street Bethel Feeding Ministry another 25 yrs. of service.
Respectfully Submitted,
John R. Hall III
11. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
WE DIE?
*Mel Lawrenz
This is a question we’d rather not ask, but is so central to
our experience and our destiny that we can’t help but ask it. No one should be
surprised that most people have at least some fear about death, because we
naturally fear the unknown. It is a door that we look at our whole lives, yet
is closed to us our whole lives, until in that one final instant when we cross
the threshold. In Psalm 23, the most-often read portion of the Bible at
funerals, David wrote, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will not be afraid.” Why? Because God is the Shepherd who cares. As David
wrote, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy
will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.”
I visited Shirley in the hospice where she spent her final
days. She was, toward the end, just lingering. She had barely enough strength
to raise her head. She forced words up and out of her throat, but they were
brilliant, words that I’ve heard from many other people approaching the
threshold: I’m ready; I’m at peace; I know this is okay. It was very much as if
Shirley was standing in one place with a shadow gradually coming over her, but
she herself did not become darkness because her faith-connection with God would
not allow it. That is the key, passing through the valley, and even under the
shadow, but knowing that God is right there—even having a stronger sense of him
than when we are strong and virile.
What actually does happen when we die? The apostle Paul wrote
of this in 2 Corinthians 5, when he was expecting that the persecuting
authorities could kill him any day. Paul, skilled in the trade of tentmaking,
compares our fragile, temporary bodies to tents. The tent will collapse some
day, but the life goes on until it is joined to a resurrection body, a
“heavenly dwelling,” a home in heaven:
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken
down-when we die and leave these bodies-we will have a home in heaven, an
eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary
in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly
bodies like new clothing. For we will not be spirits without bodies, but we
will put on new heavenly bodies. Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but
it’s not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into
our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting
life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his
Holy Spirit. So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we
live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. That is why we live by
believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather
be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So our
aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this
body. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive
whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies (2 Cor.
5:1-10; New Living Translation).
There are several important points here:
1) Our present life is lived in a physical body, which is a
creation of God, but just a dwelling place, a tent.
2) Life after death includes some kind of resurrection body,
which implies ongoing personal conscious existence. As our earthly bodies are
appropriate for life on earth, our heavenly bodies are suited for heaven.
3) To leave the bodies we have now makes it possible to be
at home with the Lord (remember Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross: “Today
you will be with me in paradise”).
4) Going through death is not a bad thing because it means
coming into the wonderful presence of God, a state beyond imagining.
5) It appears as though there is a kind of “intermediate
state” between life in this body and in the resurrection body, but it includes
the conscious knowledge of being in the presence and realm of God. So even
after death, after the body begins to fall apart in decay, God continues his
ongoing constructive work, putting the pieces together.
A Prayer: Lord,
please help me not to fear that valley that I know I will have to approach, as
does everyone else. Help me to know that the knowledge of your presence can
grow stronger with each step we take toward you. Help me to trust you and to be
able to say with confidence, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all
the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm
23:6).
*Mel Lawrenz is the former senior pastor and current
Minister-at-Large of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin and leads The Brook Network: http://www.thebrooknetwork.org/
12. EIGHTH EPISCOPAL
DISTRICT 2013 SCHEDULE OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
The Right Reverend Julius Harrison McAllister, Sr.,
Presiding Prelate
Mother Joan Marla McAllister, Episcopal Supervisor
South Mississippi
Annual Conference
September 11-15, 2013
Host Church: Saint
Paul AME Church, Madison, MS
Host Pastor: The
Reverend Nettie Ranel
Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend William N. Love
Co-Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend Jacob W. Hilton
Co-Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend Joseph Young
Co-Host Presiding Elder: The Reverend Sylvester Marshall
North Mississippi
Annual Conference
September 18-22, 2013
Host Church: Greater
Powell Chapel AME Church, Grenada, MS
Host Pastor: The
Reverend Moses Simms
Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend William Hardiman, Jr.
Co-Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend John L. Moore, Jr.
Co-Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend Archie Smith
Central North
Louisiana Annual Conference
October 9-13, 2013
Host Church: Mary
Springhill AME Church, Shreveport, LA
Host Pastor: The
Reverend Demetrese Phillips
Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend Michele Goodloe
Co-Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend Lloyd Washington
Louisiana Annual
Conference
October 16-20, 2013
Host Church: Turner
Chapel AME Church, Greensburg, LA
Host Pastor: The
Reverend Carolyn Habersham
Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend Otis Lewis
Co-Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend George W. Tyler
Co-Host Presiding Elder:
The Reverend David J. Campbell, Jr.
Post Conference
Planning Meeting
November 13-16, 2013
13. GETTING TO ZERO:
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
June is HIV Testing Month. June 27 is the National Day of
HIV Testing in the USA. We also are quickly approaching the one year
anniversary of initial appearance of the Getting to Zero (G20) column as a TCR
weekly feature. It has been a blessing to write these while considering
perceived needs in the AMEC global communities. One wonders about the impact on
readers and members of the AME Church who receive the official newspaper.
This week TCR
readers can engage in a self-test as one way to determine some of what you know
about HIV/AIDS from a science perspective. Take a moment and complete the
following quiz questions. For informed effective clergy, a score of 80% correct
or above is recommended.
Have fun. Share the quiz and discuss questions or quiz
results with others in your family, church and workplace. Answers are located
at the end of this week’s TCR issue. Go for it! Enjoy! Letters to the editor
are welcomed for feedback.
(Indicate the ONE correct answer. Write numbers 1-10 and
write the letter of the correct answer for each question.)
-- TCR-G20 HIV/AIDS Quiz - June 2013
1) HIV can be transmitted by?
A. Saliva in kissing
B. Touching a person
with AIDS
C. Sexual intercourse
D. Inhaling respiratory drops
E. Multiple mosquito
or tick bites
2) How can you tell if someone has HIV/AIDS?
A. You cannot
tell
B. They look tired
and ill
C. They carry an infectious disease ID card
D. They are thin and have no appetite
E. They have dry
rough skin
3) It is estimated that at the end of 2010 about how many
people worldwide were known to have been infected with HIV since it was
discovered?
A. 1 million
B. 15 million
C. 33 million
D. 60 million
E. 90 million
4) Living with HIV can include?
A. Taking several
different anti-retroviral medicines
B. Avoiding
infectious agents
C. Medical care
D. Healthy diets
E. All of these
5) Which is true about testing for infection by HIV?
A. It is painful
B. It is
expensive
C. It is a blood or
saliva test to detect antibody to HIV
D. It should occur
only if you think you may have AIDS
6) Presence of sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes
simplex, syphilis, and human papilloma virus (HPV).
A. can make HIV
infection more likely to occur in a person
B. is unrelated to
HIV and AIDS
C. have been
eliminated by vaccines and antibiotics
D. each of the above
is true
E. not one of the
above is true
7) The key cells in the human body that are infected and
destroyed by HIV are:
A. Red blood cells
B. T-lymphocytes
C. Nerve cells
D. Epidermal
cells
8) Infection with HIV that can eventually lead to AIDS is:
A. is mostly
preventable
B. can be avoided by
using the ABCs of infection prevention
C. is spreading
rapidly in the African American community
D. can occur with no
initial symptoms
E. each statement is
true
9) The structure of HIV is relatively fragile because it
has?
A. RNA genetic
material
B. a fatty lipid outer membrane
C. protein in its capsid
D. none of the above is TRUE
10) An effective step towards reducing infection and
eliminating HIV/AIDS is
A. providing community leaders with an understanding of how
HIV is transmitted
B. using a combination of appropriate HIV/AIDS preventions
C. practicing the ABC’s at all times by individuals
D. making counseling and testing for HIV a routine part of
health care
E. each of the above is TRUE
Key for HIV Quiz: Correct answers are indicated in reverse
order of questions. E, B, E, B, B, C, E, D, A, C
*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 4th Episcopal District while continuing HIV/AIDS research
in parts of Zambia and the USA.
14. MEDITATION BASED
ON PSALM 119:97-105:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
Settling into a new home - as our family has done over the last
couple of months - often means buying new furniture. Our most recent furniture purchase was a “pub
height” dining table and chairs. They
were delivered unassembled, but my younger son and I put them together with no
problem whatsoever.
That surprised my wife, who gets uneasy whenever I pull out
my tool box and who has vivid memories of my many less than successful
“assembly projects.” She looked at the
assorted furniture pieces, bolts, washers, nuts and wood screws that covered
the kitchen floor and strongly urged that we call someone with a “clue” to put
the table and chairs together.
My son and I kindly ignored her advice, and less than two
hours later, we were done. I’m proud to
say that, unlike some of my other “projects,” this one came out fine. The table and chairs are level, stable and
sturdy, there were no leftover pieces, and the end result is both attractive
and useful. I’d like to say that our
success resulted from my skill and craftsmanship, but we really succeeded
because the assorted pieces of the table and chairs came with good, clear
directions that even I could follow without fouling up.
The success we enjoyed because of our furniture assembly
directions can also be found in our daily lives when we follow God’s directions
in what Christians call “The Bible.”
It’s easy for us to neglect ancient writings that can sometimes be hard
to read or comprehend, and to simply carry or display our Bibles as a sign of
our faith. When we take the time,
however, to read and prayerfully study God’s Word, we’ll discover action
stories, adventure stories, love stories and the testimony of frail people who
reflected on the blessings that come our way when we embrace God’s will and
God’s way and follow God’s directions.
Take the time each day to read, digest and reflect on God’s
Word and God’s directions for living.
You’ll find hope in your most stressful times, clarity in your most
confused times, assurance in your most uncertain times, and affinity with the
modern hymn writer who said, “Order my steps in your Word, dear Lord, lead me,
guide me every day, send your anointing, Father, I pray, order my steps in your
Word.”
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 of the Seventh
Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
15. EPISCOPAL FAMILY CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENT:
-- Cara Leigh Davis,
granddaughter of retired Bishop and Mrs. Z.L. Grady selected for prestigious
summer internship
Cara Leigh Davis has been selected for a summer internship
as an EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)
undergraduate researcher at Claflin University. She is working with Research
Mentor Dr. Jianguo Chen, researching, and conducting experiments on
Fluorescence and the Taq Man Probe, using methods such as Single Nucleotide
Polymorphism (SNP), Short Tandem Repeat (STR), Real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain
Reaction) all forms of Genotyping. She
and her fellow lab intern will create a Taqman Probe from an assigned sequence
of DNA. Cara will also teach high school students laboratory basics and assist
them in experiments. Cara's research
grant is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Cara is a junior biology major at Claflin University, where
she is a Chapel Assistant and a member of the Concert Choir, an Orientation
Leader and Peer Mentor. Cara is the granddaughter of retired Bishop and Mrs.
Z.L. Grady; the daughter of Felita Grady Davis and the late Melvin Davis; the
niece of the Rev. Carey A Grady, (India); and Mrs. Constance Grady -Woodberry
(Kenneth).
Congratulatory messages can be emailed to:
Cara Leigh Davis: cadavis@claflin.edu
16. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. W. Frank
Brown, Jr., on June 4, 2013. He was the beloved brother of Mrs. Prudence Hope
Wade, and brother-in-law of the Rev. Dr. Robert C. Wade, Presiding Elder and
Consultant of the Camden/Trenton District of the New Jersey Annual Conference.
The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Viewing: Friday, June 14, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. until the
time of the service.
Funeral Service: Friday, June 14, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
Shiloh Baptist Church
340 Reverend S. Howard Woodson, Jr.
Trenton, NJ 08618
Telephone: 609-695-2448
Fax: 609-695-7756
The Reverend Darrell L. Armstrong, Pastor
Entombment:
Greenwood Cemetery Mausoleum
1800 Hamilton Avenue
Hamilton, New Jersey 08619
Cards, expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Presiding Elder & Mrs. Robert C. Wade & the Brown
Family
3 Boyd Court
Florence, New Jersey 08518
Telephone:
609-499-0473
Fax: 609-499-0573
17. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Herman C.
Williams. He is the father of the Rev. Edward Hunt, pastor of Green Bay AMEC in
Palestine, Texas and Brisby AMEC in Jacksonville, Texas.
Mr. Herman C. Williams, 81 of Palestine, will be eulogized
at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 15, 2013.
Funeral Service:
Providence Baptist Church
FM 321
Montalba, Texas
Telephone: 903-549-2984
Burial: Providence Cemetery, Montalba, Texas
Services are handled by:
Emanuel Funeral Home
1721 West Oak
Palestine, Texas 75801
903-729-3188
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Emanuel Funeral Home
1721 West Oak
Palestine, Texas 75801
Telephone: 903-729-3188
18. CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
19. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend
T. Larry Kirkland; 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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