The Right
Reverend 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
November is Diabetes Awareness Month
Thanksgiving – November 28, 2013
Advent begins on Sunday December 1, 2013
World AIDS Day is December 1, 2013
The Christian Recorder and the AMEC Sunday School
Union
Wish All of Our Subscribers,
Readers and all of the Members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
A BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
1. TCR EDITORIAL
– THANKSGIVING IS A BLESSED TIME FOR GIVING THANKS:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of
The Christian Recorder
I have always enjoyed
Thanksgiving from as far back as I can remember. Thanksgiving and Christmas are my most
memorable childhood recollections.
I believe that I enjoyed
Thanksgiving because joy permeated my home and we always had big dinners and
even now I can remember the smells of Thanksgiving. The turkey roasting in the
oven, the greens cooking on the stove. The hot rolls and the sweet potato pies,
cakes, mashed potatoes and rice and the oyster casseroles. I recall the family
and friends who gathered around the circle of prayer, sharing what we were
thankful for.
When I was in high school,
our last game was played on Thanksgiving morning and after turning in our
football gear, all the players were anxious to go home for our Thanksgiving
feasts. My football teammates were Protestants, Roman Catholic and Jews and all
of us celebrated Thanksgiving with exuberance, especially after winning the
Thanksgiving Day football game. We never lost a game during my varsity career.
Another of my early
recollections about Thanksgiving was my young neighborhood friends and I used
to visit from one home to the other, feasting at each others’ homes and by
Thanksgiving evening, we were worn out.
I also learned early-on to
enjoy and feast on Thanksgiving dinner and get out of the house. I didn’t want to be anywhere near the kitchen
and risk having to do, or to help wash the dishes. I learned to “disappear.” I
had the “disappearing act down pat” for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and
Easter dinners; no questions, no frivolous conversation, and words of
appreciation and thanks like “that was an excellent meal, I am full”; and
disappear and let the grown folks talk. No announcement, just ease away from
the dining room table and “disappear!”
I still love Thanksgiving and
the family gathering. I am afraid the “disappearing act” stopped working when I
became an adult with children. Thanksgiving was, and is a lot more work, but it
is “joyful work” and the presence of family and friends makes Thanksgiving
special. Dinners are huge and there is always an abundance of food and
activity.
When our children were
growing up and with our grandchildren, I have noticed that they quickly learned
how to “disappear” after the Thanksgiving dinner. It’s amazing that they didn’t
have to be taught as I wasn’t taught to “disappear” after a large family
dinner. I think it just came naturally.
I remember one Thanksgiving,
my friend, Junior said, “Calvin, I am going back in a get another piece of
sweet potato pie.” I immediately responded, “Man, I wouldn’t go back in there,
you already had two slices of pie, you had better get your bike and come on
with us.” He didn’t listen and I can hear his mother today, when she heard him
moving around in the kitchen, say, “Junior, start cleaning up the kitchen, come
here and get these plates…” We saw
Junior about an hour later.
If any kids are reading this;
on Thursday after Thanksgiving dinner don’t hang around the table, and if the
weather is bad outside, go to another part of the house and be as quiet as you
can; don’t call attention to yourself; and don’t get into confrontation of any
kind with your siblings because that’s the quickest way to be called into the
kitchen to help with the mountainous pile of dishes, pots and pans.
Thanksgiving is beautiful
time and it is also a time to transition our minds to Advent and Christmas
because Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holiday season.
I also have some church
memories such as the Thanksgiving Eve Services. I remember the Thanksgiving Eve
services because sometimes they were with other churches and it was just a good
time.
So, I am thankful for all of childhood
and teenage memories of Thanksgiving and am also thankful for the Thanksgiving
memories I have shared with our children, and now their spouses, our
grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
And, come to think of it, I
am of an age now that I can “disappear” after Thanksgiving dinner. The children
and their spouses are great cooks, can get things done quicker and the adult
“girls and guys” can clean up the kitchen in a flash and the “girls” can make
plans for “Black Friday” shopping and the men can settle down for television
football games.
Still thankful
This year 2013, we all have
so much for which to be thankful. God
has blessed us with so many things and if you are reading this message, you are
alive and that’s something for which to be thankful!
God has blessed us with
families and friends, with shelter of some kind; and with food, be it little or
much; and we give God thanks for all that God has given us.
Each Thanksgiving since I
have been Editor of The Christian
Recorder, I have shared my thanks and I want to continue the tradition of
sharing my thanks!
I am thankful to God and for
Jesus Christ who died for my sins. I am
thankful for my wife of 51 years, the Rev. Dr. Charlotte Blake Sydnor; our
children, their spouses, our grandchildren, family and friends.
I am thankful for our Zion,
which celebrates 197 years of existence as the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. I am thankful for all of the “mothers and fathers” of the AME Church. I
am thankful for the visionary leaders of our Zion.
I make no apology; I love the
AME Church because it has done so much for me personally and has also been a
blessing for my family. I love the history, doctrine, and polity of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. I love The
Discipline (The Doctrine and
Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church- 2012) and structure
of the Church.
I love AME worship – the
liturgy and the spiritual dynamism when pastors and parishioners allow the
presence of the Holy Spirit in worship. I love the creativity allowed in our
worship services. I love the activism and human rights’ stance of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church from our beginning, through the travails of Jim Crow
law, the Civil Rights’ Movement and up to the present time.
We have never been a fearful
church. There were those, 216 years ago, who tried to stifle our African
worship traditions and Richard Allen, Absolom Jones and others walked out of
St. George Methodist Episcopal Church because they were not going to tolerate
second-class treatment.
I love the AME Church because
its ministry has always extended “beyond the sanctuary.”
Wilberforce University opened
its doors for my post-secondary education when my family didn’t have the money
to provide for my college education. Ebenezer AME Church in Rahway, New Jersey
laid the foundation, Bethel AME Church in Ardmore under the pastorate of the
Rev. Theodore S. Clements gave me the entire Sunday morning offering in October
1959 so I was able to attend Wilberforce University in January 1960; and Bethel
AME Church in Bryn Mawr nurtured my ministry and prepared me for the pastorate;
and Shorter Chapel AME Church in Paris, Kentucky and St. James AME Church in
Danville, Kentucky gave me the experience to be a successful pastor and a successful
U.S. Army Chaplain, all of which prepared me to become the Editor of The Christian Recorder. In my pastorates
in Paris and in Danville, I also supplied Wayman Chapel in Georgetown, Kentucky
and St. Andrew AME Church in Lancaster, Kentucky. All of those churches laid
the foundation for my pastoral and professional successes. I am thankful!
I am thankful for all of the
academic institutions, schools, and institutes of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church; and the fine work our academic institutions are doing in
spite of insufficient funding, yet always producing top-flight graduates and
productive citizens.
I was proud then, and I am
proud now
I am thankful glad that I was
elected at the 47th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference and
had the opportunity to participate in the 48th and 49th
Quadrennial Sessions of the General Conference. It was an awesome experience
and it made me proud to be an AME!
I am looking forward, God
Willing, to participating in the 50th Quadrennial Session of the
General Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where my official ministry
began.
I was admitted to the
Philadelphia Annual Conference at Mother Bethel AME Church in 1963, ordained an
Itinerant Deacon (Israel) and Itinerant Elder (St. Matthews) in the
Philadelphia Annual Conference. I am so blessed that my ministry will end where
it started - in the Philadelphia Annual Conference of the First Episcopal
District. My mandatory retirement is 2016.
I am especially thankful the
global African Methodist Episcopal Church and feel honored and blessed with the
opportunity to serve as the 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder. After nine-years, I still feel that I have
the best ministry in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
I am thankful for the many
people who write articles, promise to write articles, and intend to write
articles and for the many people who inquire about writing articles. I am
thankful for the people who share their concerns and love for the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. I am
thankful for our episcopal leadership and for my fellow general officers. I am thankful for the AME Church’s
connectional leadership; for our presiding elders, pastors and laity. I am
thankful for our youth and young adults. We have some brilliant young people
and young adults in the AME Church.
God has been good to the
African Methodist Episcopal Church and its global ministry; and to each of us,
in spite of our perceived shortcomings.
Compared to other
more-endowed denominations, the AME Church does much with its limited funding;
and I am thankful for what the African Methodist Episcopal Church is able to do
in the spirit of our founder, the Right Reverend Richard Allen and the Free
African Society; and that the Church has remained faithful to the preamble of
the Free African Society and remains faithful to the Church’s mission to
“minister to the social, spiritual and physical development of all people.”
I am thankful for the people
who love our Zion. I am especially thankful for the pastors of our mid-size and
smaller churches; they are the “heart-beat” of the ministry of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church. They labor week after week; month after month; and
year after year. I am thankful for them
because of the ministry they are doing in spite of the fact that they are doing
ministry and positively impacting lives without endowments and an abundance of
wealthy members.
The ministry of our smaller
churches is where “the rubber hits the road.”
I suspect that most of our successful pastors were nurtured in smaller
congregations. I was nurtured in smaller and mid-sized churches with dedicated
and spiritually-focused pastors. I am thankful for their spiritual leadership.
I am thankful for the
Church’s support for women in ministry and am hopeful that “more doors will be
open” for them to be routinely assigned to top-tier pulpits.
I am thankful for the pastors
who nurtured me: the Rev. Aldustus Jordan, the Rev. Jesse F. Owens, the Rev. T.
S. Clements, the Rev. B.C. Burton, the Rev. C. E. Blake, the Rev. Theodore
Moore, Chaplain Robert Howerton, Bishop John Bright; and Bishop Frederick D.
Jordan, who gave me my first pastoral appointment; and all of the subsequent
bishops under whom I have served. I thank God for their spouses because they were
so encouraging and such great role-models for my wife, Charlotte. I thank God for all of the clergy and
lay-mentors who nurtured my ministry. I will never forget them.
I am also thankful for the
dedication and commitment of the laity love the AME Church and remain faithful
in good times and bad times.
I made some less than smart
decisions when I was a young pastor and I am thankful that I had Cornelia
Faulkner, Naomi Smith, Alberta Rice, Ralph Smith, Brother and Sister Fomas,
Brother and Sister Chenault and others who had the love and commitment for the
Church that caused them to be patient with me. They taught me the “ins and
outs” of ministry and of pastoring. At
the time, I thought that I was teaching them, but they were teaching me. I am
thankful for those church-workers who were my “teachers” in ministry.
I am thankful for my parents,
grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbors; and all who had a hand in my
spiritual development.
I thank you, the members of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, for this opportunity to express my thanks
because I have so much for which to be thankful, and I am thankful; and, I know
that you are thankful too and we all can affirm,
“Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen!
I wish all of you a Blessed
and Happy Thanksgiving!
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
– To the Editor:
RE: Homegoing Celebration of
the Late Bishop Sarah Frances Taylor Davis
Greetings in the Name of
Jesus, Saviour and Lord.
Just a small note to thank
the Council of Bishops and all concerned for the live-streaming of the
Homegoing Celebration of the Late Bishop Sarah Frances Taylor Davis.
Our Church remains a
connectional church and through the power of the electronic media, we do not
have to miss out on anything, and we are thankful that we can share and
"be present" at events like the Homegoing of Bishop Frances Davis.
Praying God's strength and
wisdom on Senior Bishop John Bryant for imparting such a powerful message and
signing up more soldiers for the Cross
The Rev Clive Pillay
St John AME Kensington
Cape Town, Republic of South
Africa
3. IN REMEMBRANCE OF BISHOP SARAH FRANCES TAYLOR DAVIS
It is with deep personal
sorrow that I extend my sincere sympathy to Supervisor Claytie Davis and his
family in the loss of their loved one.
Moreover, I wish to pay
tribute to a deeply committed Christian soldier who has meant so much to so
many stretched across our global church.
African Methodism is richer
for her life and service in her roles of minister/pastor, prayer warrior, and
the 126th elected and consecrated bishop.
African Methodism is truly
poorer for her transition from among us to that place not made with hands.
African Methodism is richer
because she passed our way and shared her gifts and graces to make us better
travelers on our journey.
But—African Methodism is
still poorer for the praying voice we will hear no more, the ready smile that
brought joy which we will see no more.
But--African Methodism is
comforted by the promise of a “getting up morning” and a reunion of all whom we
have loved and lost.
In love and sympathy,
Jamye Coleman Williams
Jamye Coleman Williams
Retired General Officer
African Methodist Episcopal
Church
November 16, 2013
4. BISHOP SARAH DAVIS TAYLOR DAVIS GIVEN A WARRIOR'S
SEND-OFF:
The Connectional Church from
across the globe, including members of the 16th Episcopal District
came to Texas to say good-bye to Bishop Sarah Frances Taylor Davis during a
spirited worship service that celebrated her memorable life and her Christian
witness as a servant-leader and prayer-warrior.
The Celebration of Life Service
for Bishop Davis, the 126th Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church was held on Saturday, November 16 at The Church Without Walls in Houston,
Texas.
It was a service of
celebration and thanksgiving that brought, not only the AME family together to
remember the “prayer bishop,” but attracted mourners from across Christendom
including the AME Zion (AMEZ), Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME), United
Methodist, Baptist, Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and other churches across
the ecumenical landscape.
The service was attended by
nearly 1,000 including her classmates from Lincoln High School (Port Arthur,
TX) class of 1966. The service was also video-streamed online.
On stage, next to Senior
Bishop John R. Bryant was an empty chair draped with a black satin covering
with a purple vinyl banner bearing the name Bishop Sarah Davis.
Bishop Davis was remembered
by her family, friends and colleagues as a faithful witness in word and in
action.
“The Lord’s name be praised,”
said Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 10th
Episcopal District who officiated the service. “We have come to celebrate a
well-lived life; a life of exceptional gifts and talents. We do not have to
make up anything. Let’s celebrate her. Thank you Lord, thank you Lord, thank
you Lord,” she said.
Prior to the start of the
service mourners lined up for about an hour for a final viewing and to greet
Episcopal Supervisor Claytie Davis and the rest of the Davis family.
A Resolution from President
Barack Obama was read to the congregation. Other resolutions came from the
Council of Episcopal Supervisors, the World Methodist Council, The Church Without Walls, Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority Inc., and Houston Mayor Anise Parker. Congresswoman Sheila
Jackson Lee, D-Houston, attended the service.
In his eulogy, Bishop John R.
Bryant said what made Bishop Davis stand out was that she was “authentically
Christian.” His sermon title was “Praying Through.”
“What was it about Bishop
Sarah? What did she have? What was it about her, he asked? He said, “She had
degrees in mathematics and management. She was on a fast-track in corporate
America and God put up a roadblock and called her from six figures to no
figures. Something about her made her, with the support of her husband, say,
“Yes.”
“What was it about her at
mid-life would go back to school? She was led by the Spirit. What was it about
this Sarah Frances Taylor Davis that would go into Africa see the need and meet
the people at the point of their need,” he asked.
Bishop Bryant preached that
Christianity requires faith. He said the writer in Hebrews 11:11 lifts Sarah up
as a model of faithfulness. He said God called Sarah out of season to carry a
child for nine months and then gave her the strength to deliver.
“God gives the faithful what
they need to accomplish their kingdom assignment… He gave Moses a staff. He
gave David a slingshot. He gave Esther beauty. Joseph dreams. He gave Sarah
Frances Taylor Davis Prayer. She convinced the church that she knew how to get
a prayer through. Sarah Frances Davis was a master at praying through
stuff….Sarah Frances Davis majored in breakthrough prayer. I’m a witness she
could get a prayer through.” “…come on church let’s go higher. Let’s love
better. Let’s pray better. Let’s go forward. Let’s pray through,” he preached.
Bishop Davis, a former native
of Port Arthur was born in 1948. She married Supervisor Claytie Davis Jr. on
June 20, 1970. The couple later joined Wesley A.M.E. Church in Houston under
the pastorate of Dr. E. E. Coates. It was at Wesley that she acknowledged her
“call” into the ministry. After her ordination as an itinerate elder in the
Texas Annual Conference, she was appointed by Bishop Bryant to the Sealy
Circuit in 1992 and then in 1997 she was appointed to Bethel in San Antonio,
making her the first woman in Texas to be appointed to a major charge. She
served there for seven years.
Pastor Sarah Davis then
became Bishop Davis in 2004. Prior to being assigned to the 16th Episcopal District,
she served as the Presiding Prelate of the 18th Episcopal District.
Her twin sister, Dr. Carol T.
Mitchell gave a tribute to Bishop Davis calling her “my bishop,” “my friend”
and “my Sarah.” Dr. Mitchell said that
even while at M.D. Anderson medical facility receiving treatment, Bishop Davis
was still being a witness for the Kingdom of God.
“Sarah was a bishop. She was
the Rt. Reverend but Sarah was a chief servant,” said Dr. Mitchell. “Bishop
witnessed while in the hospital. There were posters on wall with scriptures and
affirmations. We can live out the word.
I plan to pray more; to witness more. She had surrendered herself totally to a
life of God.”
Her granddaughter, Alexandra
Morgan Davis also gave a tribute to Bishop Davis.
“She was a one of a kind
person. She was an amazing grandmother. I love her more than the sun, moon and
stars,” she said.
Additionally, Bishop McKinley
Young said he recalled the Negro spiritual “This Little Light of Mine” when
thinking about Bishop Davis.
“Her light was so bright,” he
said. “Whatever continent that her feet were privileged to touch you could see
her light shining brightly.”
Surrounded by members of the
Episcopal class of 2004, retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler-Guidry, a member of that
class, said that there was never any doubt that Bishop Sarah Frances Taylor
Davis was “sold out” to Christ. Bishop Tyler-Guidry said Davis served God by
“serving the people where she was assigned.”
“Each time she left the
General Conference she always had plans for the work ahead. She wasted no
time,” she said “My classmates and I grieve today for the loss of a good and
faithful friend. But we know that this is no dead end street for Sarah.”
Bishop John Bryant offered an
invitation to accept Christ at the conclusion of the message. Two people came
forward including Bishop Davis’ 10-year-old granddaughter, Alexandra.
5. TENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT RESOLUTION IN HONOR AND
LOVING MEMORY OF BISHOP SARAH FRANCES TAYLOR:
Houston, Texas
Maya Angelou wrote, “A woman
in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense and
arrives at her destination prepared to be herself …and only herself.” Bishop Sarah Frances Taylor Davis met with
presidents and princes, prelates and the Pope, yet she was always herself.
Whereas, at her Grandmother
Sarah Taylor’s side, Bishop Sarah learned to center her life in prayer. She led
scores of others through Prayers for the Journey and Prayer Support ministries
into the promised victories of those righteous women and men who pray with
fervor.
Whereas, pastor/teacher, Dr.
Sarah rightly divided the Word of Truth, teaching principles of faith with
unwavering confidence in the Word of God.
She directed the path of students from Sunday Schools to the Texas State
Board of Examiners to the summer science and math institute program in Lesotho
to English classes for Portuguese-speaking lay and clergy in Mozambique to the
Board of Trustees for the Houston Graduate School of Theology.
Whereas, an exhorter, Bishop Sarah
could always be heard with an encouraging word.
Her personal investment into the lives of others was evident in the
passion with which she served as a midwife for ministers and ministry.
Whereas, Sarah Frances Davis,
elected and consecrated the 126th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, turned her story into history.
As presiding prelate, first in the 18th District, then in the 16th,
Bishop Davis, president of the Bishop’s Council, Vice President of the World
Methodist Council, exhibited leadership laced in love, vision propelled through
vicissitudes, and inspiration merged with integrity and insight.
Whereas, her infectious smile
and ready laughter were the hallmarks of her persona. Bishop Sarah elevated the spirits of all she
encountered. Her energetic enthusiasm
and positive proclamation wove a tapestry of compassion and commitment that
spoke to her urgency for souls – for doing the work. She faithfully partnered
with her family, Supervisor Claytie, Corey, Dr. Claytie, Yolanda and Alexandra,
to live as an example for others to follow.
Therefore, the communities of
Christ throughout the world join together this day, from Port Arthur to Port au
Prince, from Sealy Circuit to St. Michaels, from Houston to Holland, from San
Antonio to Swaziland to give honor to whom honor is due. We lift our voices as
one to give thanks to Almighty God for the blessed privilege of calling Sarah
Frances Davis – sister…colleague…mentor…pastor…Bishop…friend.
Therefore, knowing that we do
not grieve as those who have no hope – we mourn Bishop Sarah’s death, yet we
celebrate her life. “Consider that the sufferings of this present time are not
worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for
the revealing of the children of God.”
“For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things
to come, nor powers, nor height, not depth, nor anything else in all creation
will be able to separate us from God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
On behalf of Supervisor Stan
McKenzie, Presiding Elders, Pastors, Preachers and Laity of the 10th
Episcopal District of the AME Church we believe that “this is the Word of God –
a Word you can trust.”
Humbly Submitted,
The Rt. Rev. Vashti Murphy
McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the Tenth Episcopal District of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church
6. BISHOP VASHTI MURPHY MCKENZIE WARNS EVERYONE TO
WATCH OUT FOR FACEBOOK SCAM:
“I want to warn our people
about a scan currently running on FaceBook.
There is a fake FB page with
my name and likeness on it. When you click on the page to "like" it,
you will be sent a request for money. Sometimes they use an orphanage in Kenya or
something else in the request for money. I have posted on my FB page that this
is a scam and do not respond. If people are requested by this fake page asking
to be a friend, asking to pray for them, or asking for money; report it
immediately to FaceBook and demand that the page be taken down. Also, if anyone
sent money, report it to FB immediately, as well as the police. This is the
third-time in the last month that a fake page has appeared.
Please be aware during this
holiday season that there will be many scams. I have not, nor do I ever request
money through social network for anything or any cause. Please check with the
10th Episcopal District Office if you receive such a request via
social media or email about the validity of such a request!”
The Rt. Rev. Vashti Murphy
McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the Tenth Episcopal District of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church
7. WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY REVEALS TWO-FOLD
LEADERSHIP STRATEGY - TRANSITION TEAM JOINS EXECUTIVE SEARCH COMMITTEE:
WILBERFORCE, Ohio, Nov. 21,
2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilberforce University today revealed its two-fold
leadership strategy following President Patricia Hardaway's retirement at the
end of the year. A four-person transition team—comprised of members of the school's
Board of Trustees—will handle the operations of the president's position. Team
member Dr. Wilma Mishoe will serve as the day-to-day, onsite representative.
Mishoe is formerly the Dean of the Office of Instruction at Delaware Technical
Community College.
"Dr. Mishoe's experience
as a higher education administrator has prepared her perfectly for this
role," says Col. William Lee, Wilberforce University alumnus and Chairman
of its Board of Trustees. "Her father was the president of what is now
Delaware State University, and she intrinsically understands the needs and
values of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)."
In addition to the transition
team, an executive search committee, made up of members from the Board of
Trustees, faculty, student body and alumni, continues the process of evaluating
potential candidates for the position of president.
This leadership strategy was
initiated when Hardaway announced her retirement in July. The university's
Board of Trustees immediately appointed the team to support the president and
create a seamless transition of all administrative duties. The board formed the
diverse executive search committee soon thereafter.
"The two teams are
leading the effort to hire a new university president who can shepherd in a
fresh vision for the next generation of students, ideas and growth at
Wilberforce," Lee continues. "Our school produces innovators and
entrepreneurs, and we've set a high bar to ensure that mission continues."
A Continued Focus on Innovation
This transitional time at
Wilberforce comes when many HBCUs across the country not only struggle to
compete in recruiting battles for top-tier students but also face daunting
financial hardships.
To counter this trend,
Wilberforce continues to invest its educational resources in cultivating the
next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. That mission has been realized
and further endorsed in its trustee board selection process, adding new members
that bring a wide range of professional experience and talent.
"Now more than ever, we
value the work at Wilberforce as relevant and vital to the culture and
communities in our country," says Bishop McKinley Young, presiding bishop
of the Third Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME)
Church. Wilberforce University is affiliated with the church. "With this
strategy, the university takes seriously its mission to drive diversified
education, business, entrepreneurship and innovation across the nation. I
eagerly anticipate Wilberforce's next steps and am confident that it will
thrive."
About Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University was
founded in 1856 on a relatively radical principle for mid-19th Century America:
to provide African-Americans, many who were fleeing slavery, with a quality,
advanced education. It was a progressive concept that has evolved to inspire
its current students to become innovators and entrepreneurs. Known today as the
first predominantly African-American private university in the nation, it
welcomes students of all faiths, races, colors, and national and ethnic
origins. Noted programs include its study abroad curriculum in Israel, the
Caribbean and Africa, as well as the mandatory cooperative education
internships completed by each graduating student. The school is regionally
accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is
affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church as well as many
collegiate organizations and associations, including the United Negro College
Fund. For more information, visit www.wilberforce.edu.
8. THE SEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT’S PIEDMONT ANNUAL
CONFERENCE HAS DYNAMIC SPIRITUAL GATHERING:
The Rev. George H. Oliver
The Seventh Episcopal
District’s Piedmont Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
convened October 5th through October 12th at Mt. Carmel AME
Church in Gray Court, South Carolina.
Overseeing the official
opening of the 2013 Piedmont Annual Conference was the Right Reverend Richard
Franklin Norris, Presiding Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District and Mother
Mary Ann Norris, Episcopal Supervisor.
Additional hosts included the Reverend Judy M. Richardson, Presiding
Elder; the Reverend Samuel L. McPherson, Co-host Presiding Elder; and the
Reverend Roland E. Sigman, Host Pastor.
The Piedmont Annual
Conference is comprised of churches in Greenville, and Abbeville-Greenwood
Districts. AME churches in Anderson,
Laurens, Clinton, Spartanburg and McCormick Counties are also included in the
Piedmont Conference.
Thousands of AME leadership,
clergy and laity throughout the state attended the conference which consisted
of a variety of committees that addressed important issues such as The State of
the Church and Country, Family Life, Christian Education, Temperance,
Evangelism, Women's and Youth Ministries, Social Action, and Prison and
Hospital Ministries.
Bishop Richard Franklin
Norris was elected Bishop in the year of 2000. He has served for the past eight
years in the First Episcopal District which includes Eastern Pennsylvania, and
the states of New Jersey, Delaware, New York, the New England States, and
Bermuda. During this past year’s 2012 General Conference, Bishop Richard
Franklin Norris, Sr. and Mother Mary Ann Norris were assigned to serve South
Carolina for a four-year term. Bishop Norris said that he is thankful to
God to serve "the great state of South Carolina."
The 103rd session of the
Piedmont Annual Conference kicked off on Saturday, October 5th with a powerful
program by the Young People's Division. Youth from various churches in
the Piedmont Conference participated in songs, a religious skit called 'The
Creation' that highlighted the old church and the new church, and praise
dancing activities. The youth were provided an opportunity to worship and
praise God in a manner where they could have fun.
On Sunday, October 6th the Debutants
and Masters' Commission took place. High school seniors were Debutants
and Masters in the dedication ceremony, middle school students were Sub
Debutants and Masters, and elementary school students were Allen Stars and
Allen Nights in the program. The Sub
Debutants, Allen Stars, and Allen Nights saluted the Class of 2013 Debutants
and Masters with recitations and songs. This program highlighted the gems of
the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The program represented the talent and poise of the generation of young
women and men who are the hope and future of our race. Debutants and
Masters Participants were awarded book scholarships to assist with college.
On Monday, October 7th, the
Women's Missionary Society Annual Business Meeting was held. Annual
highlights and accomplishments of the various commissions within the missionary
society were presented. Some of the highlights included distribution of
articles to Cross Roads Pregnancy Center, Dollars of Love, and participation in
World Aid's Day, Relay for Life, Operation Magi, and Meals on Wheels, Souper
Bowl of Caring, and Christmas Angel programs. Throughout the year,
various commissions brought attention and awareness to breast cancer, domestic
violence, heart awareness, dental health, and March of Dimes. After the
business session, an awards luncheon was held where two new torch lighters were
recognized, Sister Emma Goodwin and Sister Mary E. Aiken.
On Tuesday, October 8th,
the Opening Worship Convocation took place. A very spiritually rewarding
praise and worship service was presented by Reverend James E. Speed, Sr. of
Allen Temple AME Church in Greenville, SC. Holy Communion was presented
to the congregation after the sermon. Next on program was the annual
business session, followed by dinner and fellowship. The evening program
was focused on The Sons of Allen Men's Night worship service.
Other highlights of the
Piedmont Annual Conference for the week included a business and hour of power
session, 'Young Preacher's Night', the Lay Organization, and an ordination
service. The closing session consisted
of the Church School hour, worship and appointment of pastors’ ceremony.
*The Rev. George H. Oliver is
the Conference Reporter for the Seventh Episcopal District Piedmont Annual;
Conference
9. RETIRED ARMY CHAPLAIN APPOINTED PRESIDING ELDER:
Chaplain (Colonel-Retired)
James Cooper has been appointed the Presiding Elder of the Wateree District in
the Central Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District at the Post Conference
in Florence, South Carolina on Friday, November 15, 2013. Bishop Richard
Franklin Norris is the Presiding Prelate of the Seventh Episcopal District.
10. MIDTERM TRIBUTE AND THANKSGIVING TO BISHOP DAVID
RWHYNICA DANIELS JR.:
*The Rev. Willem Simon Hanse
I have met Bishop David R
Daniels Jr for the first time in 1998 during the AME Africa Summits under
leadership of late Bishop Harold Ben Senatle. Pastor Daniels then - he just
looked and sounded plain rough to me (thanks be to God for grace). Indeed our
souls clicked as both of us were active AME African activists: very outspoken
about much overdue changes from within the AME Church. Fast forward and he was
elected and consecrated 124th Bishop of the AME Church in 2004, and assigned to
the bleeding 15th District in 2012 at a General Conference I had opted to
boycott.
Bishop David Rwhynica Daniels
Jr is an Episcopal Prelate of a different kind – he is simply unpredictable
because he is possessed by the Holy Spirit. The traditional AME’s still don’t
know how to handle this vision-runner and go-getter prelate. He simply doesn’t
wait for things to fall in place but in the words of Bishop John Hurst Adams
understands that “leadership sets and enacts the moral climate in which the institution
must function.” To put it differently, he has captured the essence of
“institutions rise and fall with leadership.” Bishop Daniels simply doesn’t
leave matters to happen by chance, but understands the relationship between
influence and power, of grace, mercy and favour, and the quintessential
triangle of love, purpose and belonging.
We are midterm through the
2012-2016 quadrennial, awaiting host of bishops and other esteemed visitors to
Cape Town for the 15th District Education Congress and Episcopal Planning
Meeting. The mother-of-all-meetings, to be held from 18-21 December 2013, will
see the 3rd Dedication of the again remodeled Episcopal Office and a new
Episcopal Residence in Constantia (I believe Bishop McKinley young must be
smiling). These visitors return to Cape Town at a time people are ‘turning
swords into ploughshares’ hard at work believing that “our future is better
than our past.” This new ethos is based on Bishop Daniels’ theme of “Brighter
Future” based on Jeremiah 29:11. And his vision is crystal clear when people
flock to Cape Town next month proclaiming “feel the evangelism, see the
education and live economic empowerment.”
In Bishop David Rwhynica
Daniels Jr, the Triune God Himself has endowed the 15th District
with a leader who doesn’t want to hurt anyone, from the pew to the pulpit. His
bold spirituality blended in his unique humour has diluted a lot of tension and
sources of agitation, and he keeps his fingers on the pulse of every annual
conference in the 15th District as if these are mere classes in a local church.
This way, annual conferences far-away from Cape Town have felt included in
decision-making and appreciated delegation of authority through consultations.
Bishop David Rwhynica Daniels
JR is a typical strong African family man, and publicly demonstrates the love,
care and respect husbands ought to have for their wives, and fathers ought to
have for their children. And this is reciprocated by Supervisor Irene Moifoi
Daniels (a strong leader in her own right) and their daughters. This beautiful
relationship is best manifested in the fact that this bishop does not embarrass
any one, young and old, male and female, pastor or lay, or whosoever: respect
for fellow human beings is a cornerstone of how he relates with people.
Well done Bishop David
Rwhynica Daniels JR for your exemplary Christian life with precepts and
examples! May God grant you all required gifts and skills to hold us together
as one people, one church, and one family! A hearty welcome to our esteemed guests,
friends and family, and may the uniting spirit of our Connection be our flag
for the remainder of the quadrennial.
Mooifontein, 19 November 2013
Republic of Namibia
15th Episcopal District
*The Rev. Willem Simon Hanse
is the Presiding Elder of Lȕderitz
District and pastor of St. Mark AME
Church in Gibeon
11. MEMBERS OF THE AME CHURCH PARTICIPATE IN WCC;
BISHOP JOHN WHITE ELECTED TO WCC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
*Mr. John Thomas III
From October 30 to November
8, over 8000 persons gathered to celebrate the 10th Assembly of the World
Council of Churches in Busan, Korea.
Formed in 1948, the World Council of Churches (WCC) is the world’s
largest ecumenical body and represents over 500 million Christians in 350 denominations
across various Christian communions including Anglicans, Baptists,
Independents, Methodists, Reformed, Orthodox, Pentecostals and several other
traditions. The Assembly is convened
every seven to ten years with the last Assembly taking place in Porto Alegre,
Brazil in 2006. The General Secretary
(chief executive) of the WCC is the Rev. Dr. Olav Tveit of the Church of
Norway. The WCC Assembly moderator is Dr
Agnes Abuom of the Anglican Church of Kenya.
With the theme “God of life,
lead us to justice and peace”, the 8000 delegates, observers and participants
engaged in ten days of prayer, dialogue and reflection. Additionally, the assembly delegates
revisited WCC policy, crafted statements and positions, and elected members to
the Central Committee—the body which governs the WCC in the interim of its
assembly. A typical day began with
Morning Prayer, followed by bible study and then a plenary session around a
specific them (e.g. Justice, Peace and Unity).
After lunch, business sessions were conducted. On several days there were “ecumenical
conversations”—structured small group discussions oriented around one of
twenty-one (21) themes ranging from “marginalized persons” to “sexuality” to
“evangelism”. Days would close with an
evening prayer service drawn from one of the various Christian communions.
Historically, the African
Methodist Episcopal Church has strongly participated in the World Council of
Churches. In 1991 at the 7th
Assembly in Canberra, Bishop Vinton R. Anderson was elected to serve as one of
the eight Presidents of the WCC Assembly.
The Rev. Garland F. Pierce is the Chief of Staff to the WCC General
Secretary. The official AME delegation included: Bishop Reginald T. Jackson
(delegation leader), Bishop John F. White, Rev. Dr. Jennifer Leath and YPD
President Mr. Jon A. Ingraham. Several
AMEs also represented other organizations: Mr. John Thomas III (World Methodist
Council), the Rev. Maria Kapere (Council of Churches of Namibia), and the Rev.
Suzanne Matale (Council of Churches in Zambia).
A number of AME divinity students participated in the Global Ecumenical
Theological Institute. Ms. Da Rosa
Bigford (16th Episcopal District) served as an Assembly Steward.
AMEs not only attended the
Assembly, had several visible and key roles.
Bishop Jackson led one of the English language daily Bible Study
groups. Mr. Jon Ingraham served with
distinction on the Policy Committee.
Rev. Dr. Leath served as the Moderator of the Joint WCC-Pentecostal
dialogue and preached for one of the evening daily services—the only Methodist
to do so. Bishop John F. White was
elected to serve on the Central Committee and additionally will sit on that
body’s Executive Committee. Reflecting
on the Assembly, delegation leader Bishop Jackson commented: “The meeting of
the World Council of Churches was a well-organized and productive meeting,
which addressed many of the issues which impact our world. In the name of
Christ the WCC addressed and took I believe the correct and appropriate
positions on these issues. I applaud the
WCC. Additionally I am proud, and all of us should be proud of the leadership
demonstrated by the AME Church delegation.
I thank all for a job well done.”
To view a copy of the Rev.
Dr. Jennifer Leath’s sermon, please click here: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/assembly/2013-busan/sermons-and-homilies/6-november-2013-evening-prayer.
The position statements of
the WCC 10th Assembly are available here: http://wcc2013.info/en/resources/documents.
*Mr. John Thomas III (13th
District) is Coordinator of Youth and Young Adults for the World Methodist
Council and serves as an at-large member of the AME Church General Board.
12. HIGHLIGHTS OF 10th ASSEMBLY OF WORLD COUNCIL OF
CHURCHES HELD IN BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA, 30th OCTOBER to 8th NOVEMBER 2013:
The journey of a thousand
miles began with a simple prayer; “God of life, lead us to justice and peace.”
Bags packed and tickets in hand, I set off for this once in a lifetime journey
across the continents of the world to the Asian nation of South Korea which
hosted the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, still unclear of
what awaited me. Yet, cushioned by the prayers of so many members of the church
and comforted by the unending support of my dearly departed Bishop, Sarah
Frances Davis, together with the blessings of my Supervisor, Claytie Davis Jr.,
the task at hand suddenly didn’t seem all that daunting. Through it all, my prayer was that I remain
open and receptive to all that awaited me. That being said however, I never
expected the outpouring of love and fellowship that awaited me in the Dynamic
City of Busan.
Busan is home to a warm and
hospitable people, who without reservation, welcomed all who visited their
shores with open arms, hailing “Eoseo Oshibshio” meaning “you are most
welcomed”. The array of lights that illuminate the night sky of this bustling
city of 3.6 million people, and located on the tip of the Korean peninsula, is
consonant with the fire that burns for God in the hearts of dedicated
worshipers. On a Sunday morning, it is quite normal to see thousands of Christians
heading to their places of worship, paying homage to their Creator, for the
many blessings that they are afforded. Many years of subjugation, political
unrest and other hardships have inculcated in the Korean people a spirit of
activism and a willingness to publicly display their religious convictions.
Drafted as a steward for the
Assembly, I was blessed with the opportunity to gather for prayer each day with
my fellow stewards. Bible study and ecumenical-centered discussions aimed at
generating practical solutions to the issues of the day, together with a focus
on the youth in church, played a key role in each day’s proceedings. Prayer,
filling the room with a multitude of voices in discrete native tongues, formed
what can only be described as the Upper Room experience.
The week preceding the
Assembly was spent together in preparation for the jamming that awaited us in
accommodating the 8000 strong, 345 member churches, one which assisted us in
growing and connecting, not only as Christians from around the globe, but as
brothers and sisters, leaning and depending on one another for strength and
support through our ecumenical journey. We shared our stories of pain and
persecution with the church, we laughed, cried, prayed and roamed the streets
of Busan together. The space for sharing our personal stories, dreams and
aspirations, were never confined within the sacred walls of Bexco, but spilled
over and across incomprehensible menus in cozy Korean restaurants, as the bonds
that were begun in Busan became more indelibly etched in our memories but more
so in our hearts.
With the 10th
Assembly of the World Council of Churches in full-swing, thousands of
participants and observers from all walks of life, varying backgrounds and
levels within the churches, congregated at Bexco each day with the hope of
filtering and sharing their issues with each other.
During the breaks, bishops,
elders, deaconesses, ministers, lay members and youths alike gathered at Madang
to share in the search for justice and to be witnesses of each other’s rich
ecumenical diversity. Whether over a cup of coffee and sweet red bean paste
bun, or simply visiting the many booths that provided a space for meditation,
reflection and gaining of knowledge, we were family.
The early morning theme
plenary sessions, where delegates of the WCC Assembly considered direction for
the many discussions that would follow; proved to be incisive. Speakers called
for the concretizing of thoughts and ideas and the transformation of these into
social action, causing all of us to live out the theme, “God of life, lead us
to justice and peace” in its truest meaning. However, what seemed somewhat
perplexing was the breadth of the WCC as the world’s vehicle for global change.
Before entering this landscape, my knowledge of this diverse ecumenical
movement was quite meagre. However, upon further interrogation, I realized that
despite the numerous denominations partaking under one roof, additions to this
vast and global initiative have trickled, with only three new additions within
the last seven years.
A mass gathering of Christian
protesters opposing the WCC 10th Assembly gave a clear indication that all are
not aboard the mission and vision of this grand organization. This proved
somewhat incongruous as Christians protesting against other Christians’
religious convictions was something that seemed odd. Never before have I
witnessed such a spectacle. Coloured by a difficult political past, the notion
of complete unification of the body of Christ, with a mantra advocating justice
and peace by the WCC, was met with round-the-clock protests.
As the start of the Assembly
approached, protesters grew from a motley crew bellowing “Accept Jesus and only
Jesus,” to thousands shouting biblical slogans and calling for repentance while
distributing “No WCC” pamphlets.
Every once in a while, one
could be sure to run into a lone protester chastising us with “No WCC...Go back
to your country,” while others encouraged us to “Repent and turn to Jesus.”
But our faith overcame the
hostility. Faced with confrontation, verbal lashings and hand gestures, every
opposing advance was thwarted in the knowledge and consolation that we have in
Jesus who withstood being persecuted much more than we ever could imagine.
Other high points of the trip that I consider worthy
of mention:
As a steward, I was fortunate
to work with the office of the General Secretariat under the astute of our very
own the Rev Garland Pierce, charged with the responsibility of attending to the
specially invited guests to the Assembly.
Consequently, I was
privileged to serve the Archbishop of Canterbury who visited the Assembly, and
who called the churches to action by encouraging them to love their
persecutors. He also advocated that heads of churches seek to engender change
by engaging in interfaith dialogue.
My meeting with charismatic
revolutionary leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee was an
unforgettable experience. She is
responsible for ending Liberia's Civil War while being a strong advocate for
the rights and inclusiveness of all women. She called her people to push past
the binary constructions of gender and sexuality, which have allowed men to
keep women subdued and shared her stories of her vision for peace as she explained
her strategy of leading women in a sex strike until peace is restored and
justice reclaimed.
Amidst the political lobbying
and paper shuffling for WCC business, the youths petitioned the powers of the
Assembly, through prayer, to listen to us, to accept our requests and to act on
our concerns.
I am asking, “When you pray,
please remember our Christian family in the Middle East who face daily
persecution for their faith. Pray for our brothers and sisters of the Pacific
Islands who are in danger of losing their homes because we failed to be
guardians of our God-given environment. Pray for the widespread unemployment
that plagues the African regions and by extension the world. Let us pray for
the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea and the disarmament of
nuclear weapons. Let us ask Almighty God to free the Caribbean and Latin
American regions from gun violence, human trafficking and crippling poverty.
Let us remember the European community during their time of financial crisis
and double-digit unemployment.”
Finally, let us pray for the
youth of North America who store up treasures on earth as a measure of success
rather than seeking the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness.
I wish to register my thanks
for the opportunity to have represented the 16th District and the
African Methodist Episcopal Church with distinction. As an extension to the
theme of the Assembly, I urge all of us to stand in solidarity, to live out the
call to display justice and to live peaceably with love for Jesus, honouring
our fellow man, regardless of their station in life.
*Ms. Da Rosa Bigford is a
graduate of the University of the West Indies St Augustine, Trinidad. She
majored in Communication Studies with a minor - Gender Studies (Honours) and
earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies. She is a Youth Worker and is a member of the
Windward Island Conference of the 16th District, resides in
Trinidad, and is a member of the Amos AME Church in Barataria, Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago. She is the
president of the YPD department at Amos AME Church and passionate about mission
work at home and abroad.
13. SISTER “JACKIE” DUPONT WALKER’S PRAYER:
“We have invested time,
talent, and energy into being proclaimers about the Affordable Care Act. Now, there appear to be some bumps in the
road, but as overcomers, we press on knowing whose battle it is.
“God can do anything, you know – far more than you could ever imagine or
guess or request in your wildest dreams!
He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, God’s
Spirit deeply and gently within us.”
Ephesians 3:21 (The Message Bible)
Dear Father in Heaven; today
we thank you for all our brothers and sisters who have gathered here
today. We thank you for the spirit of
activism that led many who have been called to rest from their labors, and
leave us to stay on the wall for justice and freedom. Each one of us has a special mission that you
have given only to us, and we want to be faithful to that calling. Realizing that YOU know the desires of our
hearts before we utter a word, we are humbled and just say “thank you” for one
more chance.
Please forgive us for
sometimes looking at those who seem not to care about others or themselves and getting
frustrated by the way they are. Some are angry and act ugly all the time and we
get disgusted. Others have no desire to do what is right. Some are lazy. Some
are hurting and holding on to bitterness. Still others seem to be grateful for
everything and get on with their lives.
We don't always understand why they are that way, but you told us to
love our brother and sister, so we will do just that.
Then I, in my frustration,
become angry and grumble that so many have died and sacrificed for the benefits
and opportunities that we all seemingly mindlessly take for granted. Forgive me
for my ungodly attitudes and complaining. I am sorry. We are sorry!
Help us to see the potential
in others and to pray for them more and criticize them less. We pray that
through my prayers to you, our Christian testimony, through the witness of
President Barack Obama, and through our lives, our young people and those
returning to us from incarceration would come to know you or come back to YOU,
and lay their issues on the altar. I pray that we all will lift our burdens to
you and drop them at your feet; so that you can take them away and guide us in
the way you would have us to live – walking together.
We are blessed with the
Affordable Care Act – one chance for us to have healthy bodies and peace of
mind. Let us be patient with this new blessing.
Let us work to make it better.
Let us encourage the doubtful and educate the naysayers and bring hope
to the discouraged. For the invincible
youthful we ask for a moment of reflection and direction to do the right thing
– invest in themselves and help the greater good.
We have a yearning to reach
our young folk in our communities, and especially those who have come back home
to us from the prisons, jails, and detention centers. Help us open our arms and our minds to them,
to hear their cries for help and love.
Motivate us to spread good news and truth, even when it seems no one
wants to hear and are living by the old adage, “my mind’s made up…don’t confuse
me with facts”.
Please remove “fear” or
“fretting” from our presence because fear and faith cannot inhabit the same
space. And if, for a moment, we falter,
please pick us up when we stumble. We pray for the empowerment for all those
who feel left out and locked out. We
pray for blessings for those ALL who are called to serve others as elected
officials and that their desire to continue to serve will be theirs to carry
forward. We claim that victory! Bless all of us, as we serve you. Thank you
for your mercies. And from this place we go forth with unwavering determination
to make a difference wherever we go. In
the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
14. MIDWEST OMAHA DISTRICT HOSTS INAUGURAL PLANNING
MEETING:
On Saturday, November 9,
2013, the newly formed Midwest Omaha District of the Midwest Annual Conference,
met at Allen Chapel AME Church in Omaha, Nebraska, for the first time to plan
out their work for the 2013-2014 Conference year under the watchful eye of
newly assigned Presiding Elder Benjamin R. Finnell, who also serves as the
pastor of Allen Chapel.
Presiding Elder Finnell, who
was made a presiding elder by Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Presiding Prelate of
the Fifth Episcopal District, at the close of the Sixth Session of the Midwest
Annual Conference in Kansas City, Kansas on Sunday, September 15, 2013,
convened the day with a meeting with the pastors of the Midwest Omaha District:
the Rev. Clifton N. St. James (St. John- Omaha), the Rev. Victoria Parker
(Bethel – Omaha), the Rev. Jacqueline Ford (Gregg Memorial – Omaha), and the
Rev. Karla Cooper (Quinn Chapel – Lincoln).
Following the meeting with
pastors, Elder Finnell then met with the District Stewards from each church to
disseminate information pertinent to the churches. During the meetings, Elder
Finnell went over the Midwest Omaha District Planning Guide which included the
financial obligations of the churches as well as the District and Conference
Calendars.
At 10 a.m. a general session
was convened with representatives from the various ministry components of the
Midwest Omaha District. Planning reports were heard from the Midwest Conference
Women’s Missionary Society, the Women in Ministry, the Clergy Spouse’s
organization, the Board of Examiners and the Lay Organization.
Pastor St. James presided over
the worship service that followed the business session. The Rev. Donna F.
Roberson, Presiding Elder of the Midwest North District, which formerly
included the churches in Nebraska, was the preacher of the hour. She preached
from the subject “God Block It.” Music ministry was provided by the Omaha
District Mass Choir under the direction of Sister Youlanda Clay, Minister of
Music at Allen Chapel – Omaha, and assisted by Brother Terry Patterson.
The day concluded with a
fellowship luncheon. According to Elder Finnell, the participants left this
inaugural planning session “ready to work, filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Out of district guests from
Kansas City, Mo. included the Rev. Robert Shaw, newly appointed pastor of
Bethel AME Church in Kansas City, Missouri and the Rev. Keith Cordier, pastor
of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Rev. V. Gordon Glenn III,
Director of Public Relations for the Midwest Annual Conference
15. IRS WARNS CONSUMERS OF POSSIBLE SCAMS RELATING TO RELIEF
OF TYPHOON VICTIMS:
WASHINGTON ― The Internal
Revenue Service today issued a consumer alert about possible scams taking place
in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. On Nov. 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan – known as
Yolanda in the Philippines – made landfall in the central Philippines, bringing
strong winds and heavy rains that have resulted in flooding, landslides, and
widespread damage.
Following major disasters, it
is common for scam artists to impersonate charities to get money or private
information from well-intentioned taxpayers. Such fraudulent schemes may
involve contact by telephone, social media, and email or in-person
solicitations.
The IRS cautions people
wishing to make disaster-related charitable donations to avoid scam artists by
following these tips:
• To help disaster victims,
donate to recognized charities.
• Be wary of charities with
names that are similar to familiar or nationally known organizations. Some
phony charities use names or websites that sound or look like those of
respected, legitimate organizations. The IRS website at IRS.gov has a search
feature, Exempt Organizations Select Check, through which people may find
legitimate, qualified charities; donations to these charities may be
tax-deductible. Legitimate charities may also be found on the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) website at fema.gov.
• Don’t give out personal
financial information — such as Social Security numbers or credit card and bank
account numbers and passwords — to anyone who solicits a contribution from you.
Scam artists may use this information to steal your identity and money.
• Don’t give or send cash.
For security and tax record purposes, contribute by check or credit card or
another way that provides documentation of the gift.
• If you plan to make a
contribution for which you would like to claim a deduction, see IRS Publication
526, Charitable Contributions, to read about the kinds of organizations that
can receive deductible contributions.
Bogus websites may solicit
funds for disaster victims. Such fraudulent sites frequently mimic the sites
of, or use names similar to, legitimate charities, or claim to be affiliated
with legitimate charities in order to persuade members of the public to send
money or provide personal financial information that can be used to steal
identities or financial resources.
Additionally, scammers often send e-mail that steers the recipient to
bogus websites that appear to be affiliated with legitimate charitable causes.
Taxpayers suspecting
disaster-related frauds should visit IRS.gov and search for the keywords
“Report Phishing.” More information about tax scams and schemes may be found at
IRS.gov using the keywords “scams and schemes.”
16. NEW SURVEY EXAMINES PUBLIC’S VIEWS ON END-OF-LIFE
MEDICAL TREATMENTS:
Washington, D.C. Nov. 21,
2013 — At a time of national debate over health care costs and insurance, a new
Pew Research Center survey on end-of-life decisions finds most Americans say
there are some circumstances in which doctors and nurses should allow a patient
to die. At the same time, however, a growing minority says that medical
professionals should do everything possible to save a patient’s life in all
circumstances.
When asked about end-of-life
decisions for other people, two-thirds of Americans (66%) say there are at
least some situations in which a patient should be allowed to die, while nearly
a third (31%) say that medical professionals always should do everything
possible to save a patient’s life. Over the last quarter-century, the balance
of opinion has moved modestly away from the majority position on this issue.
While still a minority, the share of the public that says doctors and nurses
should do everything possible to save a patient’s life has gone up 9 percentage
points since 2005 and 16 points since 1990.
When thinking about a more
personal situation, many Americans express preferences for end-of-life medical
treatment that vary depending on the exact circumstances they might face. The new
survey finds that a majority of adults say there are at least some situations
in which they, personally, would want to halt medical treatment and be allowed
to die. For example, 57% say they would tell their doctors to stop treatment if
they had a disease with no hope of improvement and were suffering a great deal
of pain. And about half (52%) say they would ask their doctors to stop
treatment if they had an incurable disease and were totally dependent on
someone else for their care. But about a third of adults (35%) say they would
tell their doctors to do everything possible to keep them alive – even in dire
circumstances, such as having a disease with no hope of improvement and
experiencing a great deal of pain. In 1990, by comparison, 28% expressed this
view. This modest uptick stems largely from an increase in the share of the
public that expresses an opinion on these questions; the share saying they
would stop their treatments so they could die has remained about the same over
the past 23 years.
These are some of the key
findings from the Pew Research Center telephone survey, which was conducted on
landlines and cellphones from March 21 to April 8, 2013, among a nationally
representative sample of 1,994 adults. The margin of error for the survey is plus
or minus 2.9 percentage points. This is the second of two survey reports on
bioethics questions at the intersection of religion and public life, and
follows Pew Research’s August report on radical life extension.
Other key findings include:
• A growing share of
Americans believe individuals have a moral right to end their own lives. About
six-in-ten adults (62%) say that a person suffering a great deal of pain with
no hope of improvement has a moral right to commit suicide, up from 55% in
1990. A 56% majority also says this about those who have an incurable disease,
up from 49% in 1990. While far fewer (38%) believe there is a moral right to
suicide when someone is “ready to die because living has become a burden,” the
share saying this is up 11 percentage points, from 27% in 1990. About a third
of adults (32%) say a person has a moral right to suicide when he or she “is an
extremely heavy burden on his or her family,” roughly the same share as in 1990
(29%).
• Americans remain closely
divided on the issue of physician-assisted suicide: 47% approve and 49%
disapprove of laws that would allow a physician to prescribe lethal doses of
drugs that a terminally ill patient could use to commit suicide. Attitudes on
physician-assisted suicide were roughly the same in 2005 (when 46% approved and
45% disapproved).
• Personal preferences about
end-of-life treatment are strongly related to religious affiliation as well as
race and ethnicity. For example, most white mainline Protestants (72%), white
Catholics (65%) and white evangelical Protestants (62%) say they would stop
their medical treatment if they had an incurable disease and were suffering a
great deal of pain. By contrast, 61% of black Protestants and 57% of Hispanic
Catholics say they would tell their doctors to do everything possible to save
their lives in the same circumstances. On balance, blacks and Hispanics are
less likely than whites to say they would halt medical treatment if faced with
these kinds of situations.
• Despite the graying of
America, a sizable minority of the populace has not thought about the kinds of
medical decisions that people increasingly face as they age. Nearly four-in-ten
U.S. adults (37%) say they have given a great deal of thought to their wishes
for medical treatment at the end of their lives, and an additional 35% have
given some thought to these issues. But fully a quarter of adults (27%) say
they have not given very much thought or have given no thought at all to how
they would like doctors and other medical professionals to handle their medical
treatment at the end of their lives.
• Even among Americans ages
75 and older, one-in-four say they have not given very much or any thought to
their end-of-life wishes. Further, one-in-five Americans ages 75 and older
(22%) say they have neither written down nor talked with someone about their
wishes for medical treatment at the end of their lives. And three-in-ten of
those who describe their health as fair or poor have neither written down nor
talked about their wishes with anyone.
• There has been only modest
change over time in the level of public attention to, and preparation for,
end-of-life medical decisions. The share of Americans who report having given a
great deal of thought to their own wishes for end-of-life medical treatment
(37%) is roughly the same as it was in a 2005 Pew Research survey and up
modestly from 23 years ago, when 28% said they had given a great deal of
thought to their wishes. About a third of all adults (35%) say they have put
their wishes for end-of-life decisions into writing, whether in an informal
document (such as a letter to a relative) or a formal, legal one (such as a
living will or health care directive). That share is about the same as in 2005
(34%) and up from about one-in-six (16%) in 1990.
• Many Americans have faced
end-of-life medical issues through experiences with friends or relatives. About
half of adults (47%) say they have a friend or relative who has had a terminal
illness or who has been in a coma within the last five years. This experience
cuts across most social and demographic groups, including age, gender,
education and religious affiliation.
Together with the survey
results, Pew Research is releasing two accompanying reports. “To End Our Days:
The Social, Legal and Political Dimensions of the End-of-Life Debate” presents
an overview of the debate on end-of-life issues in the United States.
“Religious Groups’ Views on End-of-Life Issues” summarizes the teachings of 16
major American religious groups on physician-assisted suicide, euthanasia and
other end-of-life questions. Additionally, an interactive web timeline
highlights U.S. court rulings, referendums and other notable events related to
end-of-life issues from the last half-century.
The full survey report and
accompanying materials are available on Pew Research’s website: religion@pewresearch.org
Pew Research Center is a
nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends
shaping America and the world. It does not take policy positions. Its Religion
& Public Life Project seeks to promote a deeper understanding of issues at
the intersection of religion and public affairs.
17. THE 14TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2014 ANNUAL
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
Bishop Clement W. Fugh,
Presiding Prelate
Mrs. Alexia B. Fugh,
Episcopal Supervisor
Sierra Leone Annual
Conference
March 6-9, 2014
Richard Allen AME Church
Freetown, Sierra Leone
Nigeria Annual Conference
March 13-16, 2014
Christ’s Love AME Church
Ile Ife, Nigeria
Cote D’Ivoire Annual
Conference
March 21-23, 2014
Bryant AME Church
Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire
Central Liberia Annual
Conference
April 10-13, 2014
Empowerment Temple AME Church
Monrovia, Liberia
Holy Week Activities
Maundy Thursday Communion
Service
(Place to be announced)
Seven Last Words
Monrovia, Liberia
(Place to be announced)
Liberia Annual Conference
April 23-27, 2014
Gbanga District
(Place to be announced)
Ghana and Togo/Benin Annual
Conferences
April 30 – May 4, 2014
Bethel AME Church
Accra, Ghana
Excursion to Togo/Benin
May 5-6, 2014
18. GETTING TO ZERO: WORLD AIDS DAY 2013:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
“We are the world
We are the
children
We are the ones
who make a brighter day
So let's start
giving
There's a
choice we're making
We're saving
our own lives
It's true we
make a better day
Just you and me” - Lyrics
by Michael Jackson “We are the World”
December 1, 2013 is the
annual observance of World AIDS Day. At this writing, it is about a week away.
“Getting to Zero” is the World AIDS Day theme for 2011-2015. “HIV and
adolescents” is the specific focus for the 25th Commemoration in
2013.
World AIDS Day began in 1988,
seven years after AIDS as a disease was recognized. It is organized by The
United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). UNAIDS is a World Health
Organization entity to bring awareness to the impact of HIV/AIDS and monitor
progress on addressing the pandemic. Such awareness can happen 365 days of the
year.
The UNAIDS 2015 statement
“Getting to Zero” is the United Nations strategic plan to move towards
eliminating infection and impacts of HIV/AIDS. The three goals are to
eventually get to: zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS related deaths and zero
discrimination against persons living with HIV/AIDS.
From the 2013 Global UNAIDS Report* for the World
Health Organization, here are recent updates on the impact of HIV/AIDS:
- 35.3 million people are living
with HIV in 2012
- 2.1 million of these living
with HIV are adolescents
- An estimated 2.3 million
people were newly infected with HIV in 2012 (down from 3.4 million estimated
new infections in 2001)
- An estimated 75 million
people have been infected with HIV since its discovery (up from about 65
million as of 2010)
- An estimated 36 million
people have died of HIV/AIDS since its discovery
1.6 million people died of
HIV/AIDS in 2012 (down by 30% since peak deaths of 2.3 million in 2005)
- As of 2011, an estimated
3.34 million children live with HIV
900 children become newly
infected with HIV each day. (Lower than previously in part due to pre-natal
anti-viral therapies to prevent mother to child transmission at birth or by
breastfeeding.)
- Close to 10 million people
in low and middle income countries are receiving life-saving anti-retroviral
therapy (ART).
- Over 16 million others are
eligible for anti-retroviral drugs and need access to affordable ART.
- An estimated 56% of
pregnant women who live with HIV are receiving the anti-viral therapy that can
reduce infection of their child.
- Without antiviral therapy,
HIV infection leads to AIDS and an array of over 20 opportunistic infections
and various cancers. HIV/AIDS remains one of the world’s most significant
health and economic challenges.
Here are some of the ten specific goals in the UNAIDS
“Getting to Zero” strategic plan to attain by 2015:
- Reduce sexual transmission
of HIV infection by 50%
- Reduce by ½ the transmission
of HIV among people who inject drugs
- Eliminate HIV infection
among children and reduce maternal deaths
- Eliminate HIV-related
stigma, discrimination, punitive laws and practices
- Strengthen HIV integration
(it is just another human disease for which diagnosis and treatment should be
integrated with other medical care)
These are specific items that
our Zion is uniquely situated to address effectively. This is especially
expected of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a globally connected church
founded by people of African descent as a social justice protest for freedom in
worship.
What to do: Get informed on
biomedical advances to be confident in what you know. Talk with family,
friends, and co-workers and in congregations about HIV/AIDS so to stop myths
and misconceptions and provide truth.
Promote A, B, C, Ds** for
prevention of HIV transmission. Make HIV testing and counseling (HTC) a routine
part of health care as an action each leader and member can do.
HIV/AIDS is our disease to
conquer- in our communities and in the world, one person at a time.
*Resources for this article
and helpful resources to use to be informed and act in addressing HIV/AIDS:
http://aidsvu.org/about-aidsvu/overview/
(find the HIV/AIDS prevalence in your area of the USA)
**A, B, C, Ds = Use one of
the following at all times to prevent exposure to HIV. (Abstinence from sexual
intercourse, IV drug-use, avoid contact with blood; be faithful to one sexual
partner whose status is known who also is faithful to you, consistently and
correctly use latex condoms at each sexual encounter; Delay start of sexual
activity)
*The Rev. Dr. A. Oveta Fuller
is a tenured professor in Microbiology and Immunology and faculty in the
African Studies Center at the University of Michigan. An Itinerant Elder in the
4th Episcopal District, she served as pastor of Bethel AME Church in Adrian, MI
for seven years before focusing fully on global health research in Zambia and
the USA for HIV/AIDS elimination. At Payne Theological Seminary she teaches a
required course, “What Effective Clergy Should Know about HIV/AIDS.”
19. ICHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER
24, 2013 - TRAVELING LIGHT - EXODUS 40:16-30, 34, 38:
Bill Dickens Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington
Church School Lesson Brief
Like many busy professionals,
I do a lot of business travel. I am a
frequent flyer member for both Delta and United Airlines. As I write this column from seat 28A Delta
flying to Salt Lake City, Utah, I can’t help but notice how many air travelers
attempt to travel light to circumvent baggage claim or avoid paying the stiff
fine for oversized luggage.
The Adult AME Church School
lesson for November 24, 2013 offers historical insight about the need to travel
light. In our lesson text we find Moses
implementing a mobile and portable worship platform for the Israelites as they
journey across the Sinai Desert to Canaan.
As leader, Moses assumes the duties of master contractor to build the
Tabernacle and equip it with the priceless items as instructed by Yahweh. Just like Noah followed every detailed
instruction in building the Ark in Genesis Chapter 9, we see Moses following
instructions with the same degree of attentive detail. The Tabernacle is designed according to exact
detail for the exterior and interior structure.
Internally we see the Tabernacle comprising the Ark of the Covenant, an
altar for sacrificial offerings and a special room reserved for the priests
called the Holy of Holies. With a long
journey to Canaan the design of the Tabernacle is sufficiently portable to
accommodate corporate worship and light enough to aid speedy travel.
As my plane approaches Salt
Lake City, this lesson affords me an opportunity to think about my traveling
requirements. I desire the airplane to
be designed with aerodynamic engineering standards for optimal speed. I look for options that can accommodate
portable luggage and my set of electronic devices. Finally, and most importantly, I seek safety
in my travels. God’s presence as a
pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night provided safety, protection
and direction for Moses and his followers.
We can rejoice that the same
protection and direction extended to Moses is also available to all of us
today. Unlike the airlines, God doesn’t
provide a surcharge or additional fee for His perks!
*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.
20. MEDITATION BASED ON 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11-21:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I mixed business with
pleasure on a trip today to my hometown of Columbia, SC. I met my younger son, Jeremy, who’s a senior
at the University of South Carolina, to drop off his mail and take a look at a
graphic design and illustration gallery show where some of his award winning
work is on display. My older son, Jason,
who’s Director of Marketing and Communication for the University of South
Carolina’s Palmetto Online College, walked over from his office so that the
three of us could hang out together before I went to the meeting that brought
me to Columbia.
To say that I’m a proud dad
would be an understatement. I was there
when both of my sons came into this world, I was there when they went through
all of the joys and challenges of growing up, and I marvel at the solid and
successful young men that they’ve become.
I enjoy their company and count both of them among my best friends.
I also marvel at the fact
that even though they’re now on their own and making their own ways in life -
except for when they need to “hit dad up” for help in case of emergency - they
still choose to worship regularly and to stay involved in church. The lessons of faith that their mom and I
passed on to them have persevered in their spirits from boyhood to manhood, and
they both live their faith - not in a pious or “preachy” way, but in a genuine
way that still shapes and governs their lives.
I lift up the example of my
sons as a source of encouragement for those going through life’s continual
“growing pains.” Coming of age in this
world is a lifelong process that brings all of us our share of joys and sorrows
and our share of victories and challenges, but when we live our faith and trust
in the Lord, life’s journey becomes easier.
Life’s rough times won’t just disappear, but we can be assured that as we
live and grow, the God who created us will never fail to bless us, sustain us
and enable us to reach for the stars with our feet firmly planted on a
foundation of faith.
Let your foundation of faith
sustain and support you as you go through life.
Your days may not be trouble free, but you can face each day knowing
that you don’t have to settle for just “getting by.” You can reach for the stars, you can achieve,
you can walk in newness of life and you can live out the words of the Apostle
Paul, who told the Christians in the City of Corinth, “If anyone is in Christ,
that person is a new creation.”
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
21. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- The Birth of Lucinda Patti Sanderson
Congratulations to the
Reverend Lula Martin Sanderson and Mr. Jamal L. Sanderson on the birth of a
baby girl, weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces and 20 inches in length; Lucinda Patti
Sanderson was born on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, 9:41 a.m. at the Methodist
Hospital-Germantown, Memphis, Tennessee.
The Reverend Lula Martin
Sanderson is the pastor of Wilson Chapel AME Church, 80 E. Shelby Drive,
Memphis, Tennessee. She is the daughter of the Reverend Linda Thomas-Martin,
Presiding Elder, South Memphis District-West Tennessee Conference of the 13th
Episcopal District and the daughter of the Reverend Elmer Shedd Martin, pastor
of Brown Chapel AME Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The proud parents and
grandparents are praising God for this bundle of joy's arrival.
Congratulatory and Good
Wishes can be sent to the email addresses below:
The Reverend Lula Martin
Sanderson: Misslulamarie@aol.com
Jamal L. Sanderson: Jlsande3@gmail.com
Or
Mr. Jamal L. and the Rev.
Lula Martin Sanderson
1877 Winship Drive
Cordova, Tennessee, 38016
-- The Birth of Little Miss Lynnley Diann Johnson
Little Miss Lynnley Diann
Johnson was born November 1, 2013 at 12:14 a.m. in Nashville, Tennessee. She weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and was 18 inches
long. The parents, Lawrence and LeTishia
Johnson and the grandparents Presiding Elder Ralph and Sister Pat Johnson feel
blessed and grateful to God for this new arrival.
Congratulatory responses can
be emailed to proud grandparents, Presiding Elder and Mrs. Ralph E. Johnson:
-- Mrs. Florence Neethling of the 15th Episcopal
District Celebrated her 60th Birthday
It is with Jesus' joy that we
extend birthday salutations to Mrs. Florence Neethling, who celebrated her 60th
birthday on 21 November. She is the first lady at Ebenezer AME Church, the wife
of the Rev. Abraham Neethling and the daughter of the late Presiding Elder
Arthur and Mrs. Sarah Gordon. In spite
of challenges faced, we thank God for the resolute faith of this woman of
strength and continued hope in the Lord displayed. May she continue to enjoy
the daily blessings of the Lord showered on her as she moves from 60 years to
the glorious years ahead as promised by God.
Congratulatory responses can
be emailed to:
Mrs. Florence Neethling: abrahamp@telkomsa.net
Cell: 082 351 3649
22. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of
the passing of Mrs. Doshia Thompson, of Pahokee, Florida. Mrs. Thompson was the
mother of Presiding Elder Jimmy Thompson (Bessie), Presiding Elder of the
Tremendous Tampa District. Mrs. Thompson was a member of St. James AME Church,
Pahokee, Florida where the Rev. Seena Washington is the Pastor.
Funeral Services are as
Follows:
Funeral Services-Saturday,
November 23, 2013
12:00 Noon
Pahokee Middle Senior High
School
900 Larrimore Road
Pahokee, FL 33476
Services Entrusted to:
Taylor Smith Funeral Home
900 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Belle, Glade, FL 33430
Telephone: (561) 996-3048
Condolences may be sent to:
To the Family of Mrs. Doshia
Thompson
C/o Rev. Jimmy Thompson
3319 Barley Lane
Lakeland, FL 33803
23. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of
the passing of Mrs. Lueleatha Loxie Conyers, of Summerton, South Carolina on
Thursday, November 14, 2013. Mrs.
Conyers was the mother of the Rev. Harold Conyers, Pastor of Heyward AME
Church, Gaston, South Carolina. Mrs. Conyers was a member of Spring Hill AME
Church, Summerton, South Carolina.
Funeral & Wake Services
for Mrs. Conyers:
Viewing - Thursday, November
21, 2013
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Samuels Funeral Home
114 North Church Street
Manning, SC 29102
Funeral - Friday, November
22, 2013
1:00 p.m.
Spring Hill AME Church
4309 Bill Davis Rd.
Summerton, SC 29148
Telephone: (803) 495-3999
The Rev. Emma Mellerson,
Pastor
The Rev. Eddie Gaston, Jr.,
Presiding Elder
Manning District
The Rev. Harold E. Conyers,
Eulogist
The Rev. Dr. James S. Cooper,
Presiding Elder
Wateree District
Services Entrusted to:
Samuels Funeral Home
114 North Church Street
Manning, SC 29102
803) 435-2297
Condolences may be sent to:
To the Family of Mrs.
Lueleatha Conyers
C/o Mr. James Conyers
2863 Rogers Rd.
Summerton, SC 29148
Mobile: (803) 316-4176
Or
The Rev. Harold E. Conyers,
Pastor
Mobile: (803) 727-8603
24. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of
the passing of Mrs. Lee Anna Cunningham, mother of the Rev. Beverly Cofield,
Music Director for the Third Episcopal District.
The services were held
yesterday, November 16, 2013 at:
Faith Temple COGIC
12517 Soika Ave.
Cleveland, Ohio 44120
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Beverly Cofield
1654 E. 77th
Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44103
25. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of
the passing of Mrs. Alfreda E. Croft, the Sister of Mrs. Geraldine Tate and
Sister-in-Law of Presiding Elder P. Robert Tate of the Youngstown District of
the Third Episcopal District.
Service for Mrs. Alfreda E.
Croft:
Monday, November 18, 2013
Friends may call one hour
prior to Service, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00
a.m.
Service: 11:00 a.m.:
L. E. Black Phillips and
Holden Funeral Home, Inc.
1951 McGuffey Road
Youngstown, OH 44505
Telephone: 330-744-7770
Fax: 330-747-3976
Email:
leblackphillips@hotmail.com
Condolences may be sent to:
Presiding Elder and Mrs. P.
Robert Tate
4593 Michigan Blvd
Youngstown, OH 44505-1226
Email: prtate@sbcglobal.net
26. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of
the passing of Mrs. Catherine Riley, the mother of Mrs. Cassandra R. Points,
mother-in-law of the Rev. Bruce D. Points, Sr.
The following information has
been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
The funeral was held on
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the Gates of Heaven Pentecostal Church, 1755 N.
57th Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bishop Loraine Thomas-Ware, the
pastor was the eulogist.
Messages of Condolence may be
emailed:
Expressions of Sympathy may
be sent to:
The Rev. Bruce & Mrs.
Cassandra Points
1228 Calumet Avenue
Niagara Falls, NY 14305
27. 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
28. 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.
*You
have received this message because you are subscribed to The Christian Recorder Online
Forward
to Friend
Copyright
© 2012 The Christian Recorder, All rights reserved.
You are
receiving this email because you are a current subscriber to The Christian Recorder.
Our
mailing address is:
The
Christian Recorder
500
Eighth Avenue, South
Nashville,
TN 37203-7508
Add us
to your address book
