The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr.,
Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor
III, the 20th Editor, The Christian
Recorder
1. TCR EDITORIAL – DOES ANYBODY CARE?:
Dr. Calvin H.
Sydnor III
The 20th
Editor of The Christian Recorder
When I went into
the military, a similarity the military and the AME Church shared was a command
structure, i.e., “chain of command” and the “chain of supervision.” I did not have difficulty transitioning AME
civilian ministry to the military ministry because of that similarity.
I noticed some of
my fellow chaplain classmates, especially those who had no military experience,
had difficulty with the transition. The
chaplains who had difficulty were from independent or Free Church traditions.
They did not understand or feel comfortable with the command structure. They
were more comfortable with independent thinking and individual decisionmaking.
The military is not
an independent or individual-thinking institution; the military is a
teamwork-structured organization.
Teamwork is one of
the first things instilled and taught military training. Among the attributes
for teamwork are obedience, following procedures for mission accomplishments
and insuring that everyone understands and follows the rules. Another
characteristic is accountability – every soldier, from private to general, is
accountable to someone and in every instance someone is in-charge, which
translates to “chain of command.”
Chain of
command is a reality in corporate organizations, governments, academic institutions
and in connectional or hierarchal religious bodies. Chain of command is
important in any hierarchal organization, but the reality is that it is also
important in non-hierarchal organizations.
One of the
first things that one learns upon entering the military is “chain of command.”
Every soldier, sailor, airman, marine or coast guardsman understand the chain
of command and the consequences of disrespecting the chain of command.
Consequences can include, demotion, failure to be promoted, loss of position,
loss of income, reassignment, and in serious infractions, imprisonment.
The rules
of “chain of command” or “chain of supervision” dictate when a superior
commissioned or a non-commissioned officer speak, subordinates pay attention
and are expected to respond appropriately.
Stay
with me, I am going somewhere with all of this
The AME
Church and the military had similar rules and regulations, which made it
comfortable for me to transition from one to the other.
It started
with my relationship in the local church as a licentiate. It was made clear to
me that I was not a “reverend” and I was not to introduce myself as a
“reverend.” I was “Brother Sydnor” or “Calvin.” My place was on the front pew
to learn, observe and to respond when called upon.
I felt
that I was “in a between world” of not being lay parishioner and not being
clergy; at time I wasn’t sure what I was. I also knew; if I wanted to be an AME
minister, I had to follow the rules.
I confess
that it was nice to visit Baptist churches because some of those old Baptist
preachers took the position, when God called you, you were a reverend and
“Reverend Sydnor” certainly did sound good, but I dared not mention that to
Reverend Jesse Owens, my father in the ministry.
I remember
the times when we met with the Board of Examiners; they were serious about our
understanding of the rules of the AME Church. I and the others going through
the ministry process often felt as if we were on a “hot seat.” We studied together for the board during the
year and especially prior to the annual conference.
The
Philadelphia Board of Examiners reiterated that the pastor was in-charge of the
local church and that we were not to interfere with the “politics” of the local
church. We were learners. It was impressed upon us to learn the “AME way” and
when I went in the Army, the phrase I heard over and over was, “This is the way
we do it in the Army” and so I felt right at home.
As a
matter of fact the rules were very similar; in the AME Church, I had a pastor,
presiding elder, and bishop. In the Army, I had a battalion commander, brigade
chaplain, brigade commander and general. I exchanged one chain of command for
the other.
It’s
understandable why someone coming from a denomination without a chain of
command would have a “steep learning curve,” and even a resistance to
supervision.
Bear
with me just a little bit more…
When I
arrive at my first church, my presiding elder gave me “the skinny” on pastoring
and the one thing he made abundantly clear to me was that if I had a problem, I
was to contact him and not contact the bishop. He was emphatic about that. He
went on to say, if the problem was bigger than he and I could solve, “We would
go to the bishop together.” And later,
Bishop Frederick Jordan reinforced what the presiding elder had told me!
When I
went into the Army one of the things that was made abundantly clear, “Problems
were handled at the lowest levels and soldiers do not jump the chain of
command.” Wow! The same thing my
presiding elder and my bishop said when I arrived at my first pastoral
appointment.
In
the day
Ministerial
etiquette and ethics were emphasized ad
infinitum “back in the day!”
By the
time we were ordained, we had been fully immersed and indoctrinated about how
we were to act and about our relationship with parishioners, clergy, superior
and subordinate relationships. We
understood dress and deportment.
In the
Army it was called “military bearing.” In airports and other public venues, you
do not see soldiers slouching and shuffling along; and the Marine Corps,
Airborne and Special Forces units are “hard core” on military bearing.
Some
things change, but some things stay the same
The
military has seen many changes over the past 40 years, but some things have
remained the same, most notably the “chain of command.”
Here’s
where I am going
It seems
that ministerial ethics and etiquette, chain of command / chain of supervision
have deteriorated.
I know
that we live in a more freed-up world and things change, but some things,
especially those that relate to “good order and discipline,” need to remain in
place.
Casual
observation and listening
In some
local churches, the laity does not exhibit respect for pastors, presiding
elders or bishops; and sometimes worse, little or no respect for other
parishioners.
Some
pastors show little or no respect for presiding elders and still others show a
lack of respect for their episcopal leadership. It seems that there is
disrespectfulness up and down the AME “chain of supervision”; and it doesn’t
enhance the body of Christ or the work of the Church.
Integrity
The
quickest way for a military officer or corporate executive to lose his or her
position is for him or her to fail to keep his or her word. Integrity, as it
should be, is a big issue.
In the
military, when a soldier says that he or she is going to do something, he or
she had better do it.
I have
repeatedly heard stories and observed instances of clergy and laity who say
they were going to do something in the local church, in the presiding elder
district or annual conference level, but failed to do what they promised to do.
The issue is integrity.
When a person
gives his or her word in the military, he or she had better follow-through or
face severe consequences. Similar consequences need to be faced by clergy and
laity who violate integrity.
In some of
our churches we have stewards and trustees who have never read The Doctrine
and Discipline of the AMEC and
who fail to perform their duties and fulfill their responsibilities; and they
do without a “blush of shame.” That’s an integrity issue.
No one,
not even the pastor should have to tell a steward or a trustee the importance
of reading and understanding The
Discipline and Doctrine of the AMEC, because all of them are adults. And,
certainly no one should have to tell them the importance of reading the Bible.
Accountability
Everybody
in any business enterprise is accountable to someone. Everybody in the military
is responsible and accountable to someone. In the military, every soldier
receives a job performance evaluation, for officers called an “Efficiency
Report” each year. The annual evaluation determines if the officer or
non-commissioned officer will get promoted; or not get promoted.
I am not
sure if any of out episcopal districts mandates performance reports for its
pastors. Do pastors have office hours, visit the sick and shut-in members, and
involve themselves in the community? Who knows? Who cares?
I wonder
what would happen if presiding elders were required to give each pastor a
written evaluation report each year, which would be forwarded to the presiding
bishop. One thing for sure, a written evaluation by the presiding elder would
enhance pastors’ respect for presiding elders. The position of being a
presiding elder would certainly be enhanced.
And what
would happen if local church officers were required to give input to the
pastoral performance reports. And, what would happen if pastors seriously and
conscientiously sat down with their stewards and trustees and gave them honest
feedback about their performance. We are talking about accountability. And, if
they are not already doing so, would ministry be enhanced if bishops gave
written annual presiding elder evaluations?
Chain
of command / chain of supervision
In the military,
when commanders or their representatives speak, subordinates listen and
respond. And, everything is not written in “black and white,” the culture is
that “rank has it privileges” and when leaders speak it is in the interest of
“good order and discipline.” People listen and respond when leaders speak.
I have noticed that
Boards of Examiners are big with insuring that ordinands dress in suits and
appropriate dress for women. The irony
is that some of the same members of the Board of Examiners don’t follow the
rules of dress on Sunday morning in their own churches; and a lot of other
pastors don’t either.
Uhh,
oh, I am getting there
I have received
numerous inquiries about pastors not wearing robes during Sunday morning
worship services. I have even seen suits in the pulpit on Communion Sunday. I
have noticed a number of pastors who do not wear robes during worship services.
Some / many AME pastors are wearing suits and I have received one example that
the pastor sometimes wears dungarees and an open shirt without a tie. I am talking about appropriate wear of the
robes. I have seen robes unzippered, unbuttoned, not fitting correctly, and
soiled.
When I
channel-surf, I see televangelists wearing suits and some wearing jeans. I am
afraid that some of our AME pastors may be mimicking what they see on
television or mimicking what non-sacramental pastors wear during worship
services in their communities.
Now, I may be wrong
and the preachers who took me through the Board of Examiner might have been
wrong when they were very specific about how AME preachers dressed for worship
and the requirement for the clergy to wear robes.
In every AME Church
I have ever visited, until recently, AME clergy wore robes, even during Sunday
afternoon services and revivals. AME pastors wore robes. Robes were our signature. We even got a lot
of the Baptist preachers and even Pentecostal preachers wearing robes. I can
remember when COGIC elders didn’t wear clergy collars, but check out the COGIC
official website; the photo of the bishops look Methodist bishops.
When I arrived at
my first pastoral appointment, Shorter Chapel AME Church in Paris, Kentucky
with its 85 members, I had a choir robe that someone had given me to wear when
I became an itinerant deacon. I had worn that robe for a couple of years and
after two Sundays at Shorter Chapel, Sister Rice and the officers decided that
I needed a preacher’s robe. They took me to Cokesbury in Cincinnati and bought
me a John Wesley Robe. I was prepared to go cheap because we had a small
church, but the folks said, “Our pastor needs a real robe that will last; let’s
get the best.” And they did get the
best.
My
question
Have we changed the
rules? If so, when? Can local pastors
determine what they will wear during worship services? Can pastors determine
which parts of the worship service they can delete or disregard? Can pastors
change the worship liturgy? Can pastors
disregard the “shall” and “will” words in the liturgy and do what they want in
worship?
Do the Bishops or
the AME Church care how pastors dress during worship? Whether they wear robes
or not wear robes? Do we let pastors
decide how they are to dress during worship?
Do we care if the vestment colors are properly displayed? Are suits permissible for functioning-clergy
on first Sundays? Do clergy robe for
Funerals? Should they wear robes for weddings and baptisms? Does anyone care if
some pastors are dismantling the worship as outlined in The Doctrine and Discipline of the AMEC, the AMEC Hymnal or the AMEC Book
of Worship?
Do we have a
connectional standard? Should we have a connectional standard? Or are we moving
to a Free Church model where every pastor can do as he or she wishes? Does
anybody care?
If we do not have a
standard, the bishops need to let pastors and parishioners know so that there
will be no misunderstanding about the issue of dress standards concerning robes
and vestments.
Some decisions are
made based upon The Doctrine and
Discipline of the AMEC; other decisions might be made based upon precedence
or tradition, or by order of the leader.
Decisions are also based upon “good order and discipline” for the
organization, i.e., a decision to use Robert’s Rules of Order for meeting.
I believe that most
pastors and laity respect the episcopacy. People want direction. Clergy and
laity want to hear from their leaders and I believe if episcopal fathers and
mothers gave a directive for AME clergy to wear robes during worship services,
most preachers would gladly follow it.
Or, if it doesn’t matter, say nothing, but that’s giving direction also.
The issue is; does
the AME Church allow each clergy to decide whether he or she wants to wear a
robe, follow the order of service or do we let pastors and congregations do
what they want to do?
In the
military and in connected organizations, it is the expectation that everyone,
at all levels of the organization, knows the value of working as a team. Anyone
who has played a team sport knows that when the coach goes over strategy and
plays, everybody on the team sees the same chalkboard or screen and every
player sees the assignment of every team member. Connected organizations to
include the military and connectional denominations follow the same
protocol. Every person in the organization is familiar with or knows the
responsibilities of everyone on the team. In other words, everyone knows
their boundaries.
I guess we
need to decide if we are connected or if we are an unconnected
organization. Sometimes it appears that
church members are going in one direction, the pastor in another direction, and
the presiding elder going, in yet, another direction; and the bishop…, which do
not model “functioning as a team.”
I believe that we
are a connected organization and there should be a semblance and model of
connectedness; not a model of disjointedness.
In
corporate America, Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, South America and in
connected organizations everywhere else in the world, when a leader gives an
order; everyone in the chain of command or chain of supervision is expected to
execute; no excuses. Connected organizations cannot be effective and are
not connected if everyone does his or her own thing.
On more
than one occasion a bishop gives an order or directive and the presiding elders
and pastors simply ignore it. Sometimes pastors ignore the directives of their
presiding elders. I have often thought to myself, “It’s a good thing those
clergy who ignore directives from their superiors are not in the military.”
Those pastors would not be attending the Command and General Staff College;
they would be inmates at the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks.
Every pastor of
every AME Church and every clergy member and every AME all over the world
should follow The Discipline and Doctrine
of the AMEC.
A pastor cannot or
should not “do his or her own thing.”
When we are
permitted to “do our own thing” we are moving the organization in the direction
of failure.
Does anybody care?
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
To the Editor:
Please share the “when's, where's, who's as well as 'how's”
of existing programs within the AME Church to train "parishioners and
especially those in leadership positions in the areas of biblical literacy,
spirituality, stewardship, discipleship, leadership, and conflict
resolution."
The Rev. Helen Rogers
3. AME CHURCH
RESTRICTIONS FOR CHAPLAINS REGARDING SAME SEX MARRIAGE PER/AMEC DOCTRINE AND
DISCIPLINE:
All chaplains of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church are advised that as per the Discipline
of the AME Church, “the AME Church strictly prohibits and forbids any AME
Church clergy person, licensed and/or ordained from performing or participating
in or giving any blessing to any ceremony designed to result in any pairing
between persons of the same sex gender, including, but not limited to, marriage
or civil unions. Further, the AME Church strictly prohibits and forbids the use
of any AME Church property for the performance of and/or giving of any blessing
on the same.” (The Doctrine and of the
AMEC 2012, Page 288 B.)
As the Endorsing
Agent for the African Methodist Episcopal Church, I direct all of our chaplains
to follow the law of the Church and not perform, participate or bless and same
sex marriage or civil union. If violated the consequence will be as outlined in
the AMEC Discipline, “any AME Church clergy person licensed and /or ordained
charged with violating this rule shall be referred to the Ministerial
Efficiency Committee. If the charges are sustained, the Bishop shall suspend
the clergy person and shall convene the Trial Committee within 45 days. If the
charges are sustained by the Trial Committee, such person’s ordination shall be
revoked by the Annual Conference and he or she shall be relieved of his or her
orders and or license.”
You may provide a
copy of this memo to any superior officers or other officials to whom you may
report. The law does not require you to follow any policy or directive that
violates the law or doctrine of your denomination.
You may also have
any superior or official contact my office.
Reginald T.
Jackson, Bishop
Office of
Ecumenical and Urban Affairs
African Methodist
Episcopal Church
4.
FOUNDER’S DAY INVITATION:
William Phillips
DeVeaux
Founder’s Day in
the African Methodist Episcopal Church is reminiscent of a reunion. It is a
celebration of the AME Church Family, its origins successes and setbacks for
two hundred and twenty-six (226) years. This family has grown from a few
members who held their first worship service held by Richard Allen, our
Founder, in a blacksmith shop. Today, the AME Church has grown to more than 2
million members in the United States, Caribbean, Africa, India and Europe.
Be assured,
Founder’s Day is not just another meeting. Instead like Joshua explained to the
children of Israel (4:21-24) "When your children shall ask their fathers
in time to come, saying, what mean these stones…Then ye shall let your children
know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. That all the people of
the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might
fear the Lord your God for ever."
For AMEs, Founder’s
Day is akin to the stones extracted from the River Jordan. It reminds us that
only God could have empowered a free black man in 1787 to found a church that
has grown into our current international denomination.
Of course,
Founder’s Day is a time to remember and pay tribute to Richard Allen; but is
also a family reunion and a time to honor the present as well as look ahead to
the future. Pam, the entire DeVeaux Family and I take great pleasure in asking
you and yours to share Founders’ Day with us on February 20-22, 2014 at Reid
Temple AME Church, hosted by the Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington 11400 Glenn Dale
Boulevard, Glenn Dale, and Maryland 20769.
I hope that you are
preparing to make your way to Founder’s Day 2014 beginning with Opening Worship
Service on Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. where we are privileged to have the
Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown, Historiographer/Executive Director, Department of
Research and Scholarship and Editor of The A.M.E. Church Review as our guest
preacher.
Founder’s Day 2014
will also include several such as:
- The Living Legacy
Awards that recognize the exemplary contributions of Second District clergy and
lay.
- Updates on Sexual
Misconduct and Harassment and Affordable Health Care
- The Young
Prophets Speak- Proclaiming God’s Word for a Twenty-First Century Generation on
Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.- Memorial Service for Bishop Sarah Francis Davis,
the third female Consecrated and Elected Bishop of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
And, just like any
other Family Reunion, we must conduct business so the all of our Episcopal
District Components have an opportunity to meet, review progress from last year
and make plans for the future.
And, of course,
politics must be discussed and our Social Action Commission has prepared a
noteworthy forum for these talks.
Finally, we close
Founder’s Day as it began…in giving thanks to God at the Closing Worship
Service.
Pam and I look
forward to being in fellowship with you at the 2nd Episcopal District Founders’
Day.
Sincerely -
*William Phillips
DeVeaux is the Presiding Bishop of the 2nd Episcopal District
5. THE 10TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2014 SPRING
CALENDAR:
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate
Mr. Stan McKenzie, Episcopal Supervisor
Founder’s Day
13-15 February 2014
Sheraton Hotel & Arlington Convention Center
1500 Convention Center Drive
Arlington, Texas 76011
Host Church: Baker Chapel AME
Host Pastor: The Rev. Walter R. McDonald
Host Presiding Elder: The Rev. Johnny R. Mitchell
Associate Presiding Elder: The Rev. Marshall S. Hobbs, Sr.
Spring Convocation
15-17 May 2014
Hyatt Regency Hotel
701 E. Campbell Road
Richardson, Texas 75081
Super Summer Convocation
17-19 July 2014
Westin Hotel
Houston, Texas
6. AME
UNIVERSITY: “A MIRACLE IN MONROVIA” ECUMENICAL & COMMUNITY BREAKFAST:
Los Angeles, CA. - An Ecumenical &
Community Breakfast for AME University, located in Monrovia, Liberia, West
Africa was held recently at First AME Church, where Rev. J. Edgar Boyd is the
Senior Minister.
At the invitation of AME University
founder, Bishop C. Garnett Henning, Sr., AME Bishop (112th) Retired-
nearly one-hundred ministers and community leaders from throughout the Los
Angeles-area came out to pray, break bread together, pay tribute to Nelson
Mandela, and to welcome and receive an update from Bishop Clement W. Fugh,
Presiding Prelate for the AME Church’s Fourteenth Episcopal District serving
Liberia, Central Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cote D’ Ivoire and
Togo-Benin, and AME University Board Chairman, and a presentation from Dr.
Joseph, T. Isaac, President of AME University - website: www.ame.edu.lr.
Bishop Henning’s office is located at Ward
AME Church, in Los Angeles, is establishing a foundation in 2014, to provide
ongoing support to AME University in Monrovia, Liberia and other worthy
projects.
Led by Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Fifth District,
AME Church Presiding Prelate, other attendees at the breakfast event included;
the Rev. Norman D. Copeland, Los Angeles District, Southern California
Conference; the Rev. Benjamin Hollins, Presiding Elder, Los Angeles/Pasadena
District Southern California Conference; the Rev. John Cager, President, AME
Alliance Southern California; the Rev. Mark Whitlock, Pastor Christ Our
Redeemer AME Church, Irvine and Director of Corporate Giving for the
Connectional African Methodist Episcopal Church, serves as Chief Executive
Officer of Nehemiah Ministries and is the Director of Community Initiatives at
University of Southern California, Center for Religion and Civic Culture; the
Rev. Tarus Myhand, Pastor, Ward AME Church; the Rev. Michael W. Eagle, Pastor, Grant
AME Church Long Beach and Founder of MWE Ministries; Mr. Fred Stuart, Former
AME District President; Mrs. “Jackie” Dupont-Walker, Consultant/Director, AME
Commission on Social Action; the Rev. James K. McKnight, Pastor, Congregational
Church of Christian Fellowship, UCC; the Rev. Kevin Sauls, Pastor, Holman UMC;
U.S.
Congresswoman Karen Bass; CA State Senator
Roderick Wright, Mr. Percy Pinkney, representing U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein,
Former Councilman Robert Farrell; Mr. Nolan Rollins, President, Los Angeles
Urban League, Mr. Ron Hasson, President Beverly Hills-Hollywood, NAACP, Mr.
Curtis Silver, Executive Director, United Negro College Fund; Mr. Danny
Bakewell, Chairman of The Bakewell Company; and Mr. Samuel Hoffman, President
of the Liberian-American Community
Organization of Southern California.
AME University, the vision and legacy of
Bishop C. Garnett Henning, Sr. was established during his administration as
Presiding Prelate of the 14th Episcopal District of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
AME University was organized during major
civil unrest in Liberia, finally opening its doors in 1995. Located on Camp Johnson Road, in the heart of
Monrovia, Liberia, AMEU has a student population of more than 3,000, the
largest enrollment of all the AME colleges and universities and the second
largest four-year college in Liberia.
Currently AME University has an extensive
waiting list, limited facilities, and a strong demand for more resources. However, the young people of Liberia remain eager
to advance their lives beyond all odds, and to make a positive difference, in
the lives of their families, neighborhoods, villages, country and the continent
of Africa.
Following Dr. Isaac’s presentation of Quick
Facts and Initiatives for AME University, and near the conclusion of the
breakfast, Mrs. Ernestine Henning, wife of Bishop Henning and former AME
Supervisor told of her returning to Liberia in 2010, and “gifting” and drilling
five wells with “Water for Children Africa” - including one at AME University,
thus providing one of life’s essentials, water, for the students, faculty and
staff.
Bishop Henning stated, “AME University is
truly- ‘A Miracle in Monrovia,’ one which we can embrace and support as a
living legacy to Nelson Mandela.”
He listed some support opportunities,
including making contributions for student tuition fees, books, salary for
faculty members, donating iPads, or even serving as a visiting faculty
member.
Several persons made contributions and/or
pledges.
Bishop Henning thanked everyone for their
attendance and said, “It is indeed a blessing to know that the students,
faculty, programs and development of facilities AME U will be able to
count on support from the Los Angeles-area.
For more information about and ways to
support AME University, contact Bishop C. Garnett Henning, Sr. His office is located at Ward AME Church -
1177 West 25th Street - Los Angeles, CA 90007, office phone: (213)
765-7895 / email: lanroc@aol.com.
*Carol Hall
& Associates, Projects Consultant to retired Bishop C. Garnett Henning
7. ADDRESS CHANGE FOR RETIRED BISHOP FREDERICK AND FORMER
SUPERVISOR SYLVIA TALBOT:
Bishop and Dr. Sylvia Talbot have moved to their new residence in St.
Croix, Frederiksted, Virgin Islands. They flew to St. Croix on Tuesday, January
21, 2014.
Please note their new contact information:
Bishop Frederick Hilborn Talbot, M.Div., S.T.M., D.Min, C.C.A
90th Consecrated and Elected Bishop
African Methodist Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 3555
Frederiksted, St. Croix, VI 00841
Cell: 615.429.0081
Sylvia Ross Talbot, M.S., Ed.D.
Former WMS Supervisor, AME Church
P.O. Box 3555
Frederiksted, St. Croix, VI 00841
Cell: 615.734.9345
Submitted by Mrs. Billie D. Irving, Administrative Assistant, Office of
General Secretary
8. ST. MATTHEW AME CHURCH, ORANGE, NEW JERSEY CELEBRATED
ITS 71ST CHURCH ANNIVERSARY AND 1ST PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY:
St. Matthew AME Church known as the “Servant Church of the Oranges,”
celebrated its 71st Church Anniversary in grandiose style, on November 24,
2013. The theme was “Thankful for the Past, Rejoicing in the Present, and
Preparing for the Future.”
The auspicious occasion also marked the 1st year Anniversary celebration of
our pastor, the Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton, who is the 10th pastor in the history
of our Zion; appointed by our very own Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal
District, The Rt. Rev. Gregory G. M. Ingram.
This was an historic occasion that would undoubtedly go down in history as
one of the finest ever. The keynote speaker for the combined service was the
former pastor St. Matthew, and now the 132nd Elected and Consecrated Bishop of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church, The Rt. Rev. Reginald T. Jackson; who
holds both, the office of Ecumenical Affairs, and Presiding Prelate of the 20th
Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Connectional Church.
The celebration was marked with many underlying themes, with this occasion
also being Bishop Jackson’s first return to the St. Matthew pulpit since
leaving to serve the connectional church in the Episcopacy. With the church
sanctuary and balcony filled to capacity, the choir delighted those in
attendance with songs reflecting the theme of the anniversary. The Liturgical
dancers ministered to the delight of the congregation, further ushering in the
spirit of God. The atmosphere was set, and the Holy Spirit took over, as Bishop
Jackson then proceeded to preach a powerful, thought provoking message that
spoke to the members of St. Matthew, and to those visiting from the community.
His text came from 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27, with the sermon titled: “You
are the Body of Christ.” This soul stirring sermon moved the congregation
throughout the message, and as he usually does, Bishop Jackson ended the
sermon, with the vast majority on their feet in praise and adoration for the
word. This was a timely word, and only inspired our pastor-leader and
congregation to work together, no matter our different roles to fulfill God’s
mission.
The day culminated with an unveiling of a portrait that represented St.
Matthew Church, in the past, present and future. There were images of the
historic church, before the first of two expansions; Bishop Jackson, as he led St.
Matthew, while being a difference maker in the community, and state of New
Jersey; and our current pastor Rev. Dr. Guyton, who represents our future.
Following the unveiling, a luncheon was held in honor of our pastor,
marking his first year and recognizing the 75 persons who joined St. Matthew
under his pastorate.
Sister Verna Leath a member for 20 plus years was recognized for her
dedication and service to the church and to the community.
There were many dignitaries present at the service; Mother Christie
Jackson, Supervisor of the 20th Episcopal District; Members of the Jackson
family; Presiding Elder Howard Grant, Newark District, and Mrs. Roberta Grant;
First Lady of St. Matthew Sister Tanzania G. Guyton, R.N.; the Honorable Mayor
of Orange, Dwayne Warren, Esq.; the Honorable Mayor of Irvington Wayne Smith;
and a host of local and state dignitaries.
A special thanks to Sister Debra Thomas, chairperson, and committee; and
the Orange Police department for their involvement.
St. Matthew AME Church known as the “Servant Church of the Oranges,” under
the leadership of Dr. Guyton, continues to be the beacon of hope for the
community. Our church theme was “Walking by Faith: Praying for it, Trusting for
it, and Waiting for it, with Anticipation.” Mark 11:24
9. AN AME CHILD OF GOD AND ‘PK’ HEADS FOR THE SEC: MARVIN ZANDERS – “MZ9” – LEAVES FLORIDA FOR
MISSOURI:
By Angela Surcey-Garner
In November, 2000, the Saint Paul A.M.E. Church Family in Jacksonville, FL
was blessed with the Pastoral appointment of The Reverend Dr. Marvin C.
Zanders, II and his wonderful family, Lady Winifred H. Zanders, Marvin and
Micah. Saint Paul had come to life again with the ‘pitter-patter’ of children’s
feet throughout the church. With the addition of Marvin and Micah Zanders,
Saint Paul would eventually blossom with new youth and a fresh outlook on life.
They were both eager to learn and spent many afternoons in my office
learning how to use the computers. As one of Pastor Zanders’ first Assistants,
Marvin and I often spent evenings together at the church while his Dad held
meetings; Micah was usually with Lady Zanders, who is a wonderful ‘do all
things’ Mom. Often at the church, she would make sure the boys had done their
homework while the family had dinner together before one of Pastor Zanders’
meetings. So I’ve watched them grow from the time they arrived 14 years ago –
they were my little fellas.
As the years passed, they grew older. Each developed a distinct
personality, but both enjoyed a challenge. They served in most of the youth
ministries: Acolytes, YPD, Youth Choirs, DMC, Summer Camp and others, always
active in sports played during Church School Convention recreation and other
opportunities to show their talents. My little fellas had begun to grow into
young men, no longer exclusively mine. Several persons in the church and
community had begun to capture their attention as they were nurtured by
wonderful parents, and persons who would love and support them throughout their
growth.
Each football and basketball season, Marvin and Micah played city-wide
youth sports, coordinated by Coach Calvin Cushion, a Saint Paul Disciple.
Pastor Zanders was also a coach and Lady Zanders was “Coach Mom.” Marvin was
determined to follow in his Dad’s footsteps as a quarterback. He was blessed
with a strong arm and his aim was on point as a pre-teen through high school.
We knew he would take that God-given talent to the next level.
At William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville, Florida, Marvin became
the first string quarterback in his junior year, known as “MZ9.” My little
fella weighs in at 6’3”, 185 pounds. He was chosen as First Coast News’ Athlete
of the Week in October, 2012 among many other accolades as a leader in the
sports arena. Marvin completed 128-of-210 passes for 1,839 yards, 18 touchdowns
and nine interceptions as a junior last Fall, with 416 yards and four
touchdowns on the ground, according to Raines' MaxPreps.com site. For more
information about our all-star athlete, to include his recruiting video by
ESPN, Google his name: Marvin Zanders; there are a plethora of available
articles, stats, photos and video.
Marvin was awarded a full football scholarship to the University of
Missouri in Columbia (UM) – “Mizzou”, who joined the SEC (Football:
Southeastern Conference) in 2012. I was honored to attend Marvin’s ‘Farewell
Celebration’ at Buca Di Beppo Italian Restaurant on the Southside of
Jacksonville, with family members and others who pray for and love him, have
watched him grow and influenced his life. After two delicious salads, chicken
parmesan, pasta with Italian sausage and chocolate cake, the floor was open for
life stories and well-wishers.
Many persons spoke about their connection with Marvin as they continued with
words of encouragement, warnings of what not to do and promises to pray for him
daily; from youth pastors, friends, coaches and family members to Micah and
Lady Zanders. Micah wished his brother well while making us laugh, then became
emotional before completing his speech – Marvin did the crying when they were
small, rarely Micah. It was very touching and there was not a dry eye in the
room. In addition to well wishes and petitions for prayer, Lady Zanders shared
a story with us about Marvin’s birth, which was very special and revealed a
major blessing of life from God.
As Marvin begins to settle into college life and adjust to the cold
weather, please remember to pray for him. Most of us who have attended college,
know how easy it is to lose focus amidst all of the freedom. We pray he will
choose to attend Worship Services each Sunday – there is a St. Paul A.M.E.
Church in Columbia – where he can connect with the A.M.E. Church Family on a
local, more personal level. We pray for much continued success in his studies
as a freshman in college, and that he will adapt to creating good study habits
and make wise decisions; that God will give him good, Christian friends who
will enhance his college life and encourage him on all levels of academics and
sports. We pray that all who read and share this article will also keep Marvin
in your prayers. We congratulate Marvin Frank Curtis Zanders – “MZ9”, as he
embarks upon a new milestone in his life.
10. STATEMENT BY THE REV. DR. DARRYL WILLIAMS, PASTOR OF
ST. MARK AME CHURCH ON THE DEATH OF COREY STINGLEY:
The unfortunate death of 16 year old Corey Stingley’s is another example of
the casual attitude exhibited by some Caucasian’s when a Black teen loses his
life, particularly, at the hands of a white person.
By his parent’s admission, Mr. Stingley was no boy scout; after all, he was
suspected of shoplifting at the time of the incident. Those who responded to
the “scene of the crime” acted as judge, jury and ultimately, executioner in
this case.
We can all agree that the penalty for shoplifting should not be the loss of
one’s life.
It is not unreasonable and, in a just society it is expected, that a
thorough investigation would be conducted in a case of this nature. It is my
opinion that if a thorough, unbiased investigation had been conducted those
responsible for Mr. Stingley’s death would have been found liable.
I join hands with many in this community in calling for a further review of
this case by the district attorney’s office to satisfy the will of a public
that strongly believes that a just finding was not reached in this case.
About St. Mark AME Church:
St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church is the first African
American church built in Wisconsin in 1886.
11. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical Text: I Thessalonians 3:12 (KJV)
“And the Lord make you to increase
and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward
you.”
The greatest quality in the world is love. Without love, we are nothing and
cannot have abundant life. The Apostle Paul was aware of this. His prayer to
God was that the Thessalonian church and its believers might grow more and more
in love. Paul knew that the church that would be a model to others is a church
that has a strong and abiding love. The model church exhibits an intense love
for God and one another.
Paul prays to God our Father, reminding us that the God we serve is not just
“out there” ruling and reigning in some place far removed from us but, is in
fact, right here with us actively participating in our lives just as an earthly
father participates in the lives of his children. In other words God, our
Father, is intimately involved in our lives. We see Paul approach God like a
child approaches their father. A child requests of their father knowing that he
will hear and answer.
Paul prays to our Lord Jesus Christ, who has existed eternally in heaven
but so loved us that He would become our Lord. He would come to earth in the
flesh and dwell among us. The depth of Paul’s prayer reveals to us that both
the Father and the Son have the nature of God.
The Father and the Son have co-existed eternally, and continue to reign
eternally.
Paul prays for what he knows is the only solution to the people’s dilemma.
He prays for their need to love. Why, because love is the necessary foundation
for every church that seeks to flourish in the work of the Lord. If the church
of Jesus Christ is to grow, it must allow the love of God to multiply and
overflow into the world.
God can increase our love and cause our love to overflow toward others. The
overflowing love of God can perfect that which is lacking in our conviction and
can guide and direct all of our efforts. This is our mandate if we are to be
the church in our community that would be a model to others. God’s overflowing love will move us to not
only encourage the unsteady among our congregation, but the unsteady “out
there” in the world as well. We will be
able to not only strengthen the weak within our walls; we will also be
compelled to strengthen the weak without. God’s overflowing love will allow us
not only to inspire the dispirited on our roles, but also the discouraged in
our community. We will be moved not just to feed the hungry in our membership,
but to reach beyond our membership to the hungry who don’t know the Lord.
Our prayer, as we aspire to be a church in our community that stands boldly
as a model to others, is to God our Father and to our Lord Jesus Christ, asking
that we are strengthened and encouraged to carry their overflowing love into all the world. The
model church loves God with the entirety of heart, mind and soul and just as
importantly extends that same love to our neighbor. We know by faith that there is no
relationship that God’s love cannot strengthen. We are encouraged that there is
no fellowship that His love cannot enhance, no heart that His love cannot
soften, nor is there any pain that His love cannot relieve.
Lord we seek to be to be a church in our community that stands as a model
to others and our prayer is that You make us blameless, pure, holy, and our
pathway sure.
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME
Church in Charleston, S.C.)
12. ITINERANT ELDER ON THE STAFF AT EBENEZER AME, FORT
WASHINGTON, MARYLAND SELECTED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY:
Alabama State University’s (ASU) Board of Trustees Dec. 20 selected Dr.
Gwendolyn Boyd, ASU alum and a former Delta Sigma Theta national president to
be the next ASU president.
The board vote to offer the position to Dr. Boyd was unanimous, according
to school officials. She will be the first woman to hold the position in the
school’s 146-year history.
Alabama-born, she earned her bachelor’s degree from ASU in 1977 in
mathematics. She received a fellowship to attend Yale University's School of
Engineering in New Haven, Connecticut, becoming the school's first African
American woman to receive an M.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1979.
The board voted Dec. 20 after interviewing three finalists. The other
finalists were retired Brigadier Gen. Samuel Nichols and Democratic state
Senator Quinton Ross.
The Rev. Dr. Boyd will be preaching at Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal
Church; 7707 Allentown Road; Fort Washington, Maryland on Sunday, 26 January
2014 at both the 7:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. worship services.
Yolanda Hinton
13. NEW YEAR'S LESSONS FROM THE MARINE CORPS MARATHON:
Maurice A. Buford, Ph.D., D.Min
CDR, USN, CHC
For many people in 2013 the sentiments of "A Tale of Two Cities"
held true, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”
I am confident that many of you would join me by saying that "through
it all" – God brought us, built us, and blessed us!
So as we lean forward in a brand new year, I would like to impart into your
spirit three lessons from the Marine Corps Marathon to help you to fulfill that
divine assignment upon your life.
I’ve always wanted to participate in the people’s marathon but I would
allow myself to get distracted by excuses. For example, I would reason within
myself that I didn’t have the time to train, I am not a long distance runner,
and my best excuse revolved around the fact that the very first marathon runner
died at the end!
But one day while I was meditating, I read a passage in Isaiah 50:7 that
says, “…Therefore, I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I will not
be ashamed.”
This prophetic portrayal of Jesus Christ highlights a principle that is an
essential ingredient to success. Namely, a leader must be full of focus or have
a face like flint. Please understand that flint in biblical days was used for
drilling, chiseling, and cutting away things because of its strength.
My friend, as we move boldly toward our destiny in 2014, allow me to
challenge you to drill down to God’s promises and hold on. Chisel away those
negative people and environments that remind us of the worst of times and cut
away that destructive self-talk that constantly undermines our potential. For
in so doing, you will find the strength to train and to begin to run your race
with focus! Before we go any further, I must tell you that as you run toward
your purpose in this year, it’s a very high probability that you will “hit the
wall.”
"Hitting the wall" is a term that marathon runners use to
describe the pain that typically arises around the 19th or 21st mile.
For me, "Hitting the wall" came at about mile 20 when I had only
6.2 more miles to go. Everything in me wanted to quit until a saw a wounded
veteran with no legs in a wheelchair participating in the Marathon.
What impressed me the most was that if anybody had the right to quit at
this point, it would have been him but he pressed and kept the faith!
You remember, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen." When we "walk by faith and not by
sight" – mountains move; giants get slain, and God will give us renewed
strength!
So if, and when you hit your wall in this year, take a lesson from King
David and by faith encourage yourself in the Lord!
Indeed, this encouragement sustained
me until I was about 100 yards from the finish line at the Marine Corps War
Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
Those familiar with this site understand that it is literally an uphill
run! Everything would have been for naught if I couldn’t take the hill. My last
push, however, to complete what I started came from the encouragement of the
thousands of spectators that were there to cheer on the 30,000 runners to
victory. They shouted words like “dig deep, you got this, and finish strong!”
I couldn’t help but think about the fact that the race is really “not given
to the swift or to the strong but to the ones that endures to the end.”
I declare in this year that your dreams will come to pass and your hopes
will not be shattered so dig deep: “you got this and finish strong!”
For the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:37 that, “…we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us.”
So hold on to your focus, your faith, and finish strong. Who knows, you
just might turn the world upside down as you run toward your destiny!
May God’s favor rest upon you in this New Year and remember to stay humble
and hungry for things of the Lord!
14. THE AME CHURCH MUSIC AND CHRISTIAN ARTS MINISTRY
PRODUCES CD/DVD:
This past summer the Music and Christian Arts Ministry AME Church recorded
the first Connectional AME Church Mass Choir CD and DVD at their Biennial Music
and Arts Conference.
The live recording was held at St. John AMEC in Aurora, Illinois on July
12, 2013 and featured many well-known gospel artists.
Today the video “Nobody Like Our God"
featuring Motown Gospel recording artist Myron Butler has been released on YouTube.
Please watch share this video and be blessed! Click here or copy the web address in your
browser:
We are very excited and we are looking forward to the full CD/DVD release
in Mid March of this year!
Submitted by the Rev. Anthony B. Vinson, Sr., Director Music and Christian
Arts Ministry, AMEC
15. REQUEST FOR PARTICIPATION FILLING OUT SURVEY CONCERNING
“THE ROLE OF COUNSELING” IN MINISTRY:
The Rev. Dr. Miriam J. Burnett is supervising the Rev. Tynisha Drennon, a
Doctor of Ministry student at New York Theological Seminary, who is exploring
the role of counseling for Pastors and is requesting assistance through the
participation of pastors in a confidential survey. The survey will be open for two (2)
weeks. The Rev. Tynisha Drennon and the
Rev. Dr. Miriam J. Burnett would appreciate the participation of as many
pastors who would be willing to take a few minutes to complete the survey.
Please complete the survey as soon as possible.
The survey will help evaluate if pastors who regularly administer emotional
and psychological self-care have healthier lives and ministries overall. The
survey includes ten questions which should take less than five minutes to
complete. Your assistance is much appreciated."
To participate, please follow this link:
Dr. Burnett has worked with the training of clergy on early warning signs
for depression and PTSD, as well as, emotional recovery and support and there
continues to be a need to address this spectrum of mental health concerns for
clergy and our laity.
Submitted by the Rev. Miriam J. Burnett, MD, MDiv, MPH, Medical Director,
AMEC Connectional Health Commission and President, Resource And Promotion of
Health Alliance, Inc.
16. OBAMA NOMINATES ANOTHER AFRICAN AMERICAN FEDERAL
JUDGE:
The President continues to diversify the federal bench. In his latest round
of nominations he’s included Staci Yandle for the southern district of
Illinois. If confirmed, she would be the first African American to sit on that
court. Yandle is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and has run her
own law office in O’Fallon, Illinois for many years
17. NEW COLLEGE ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS:
President Obama and First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama announced a new
initiative to ensure that more low-income students have the opportunity, as
they did, to graduate high school and earn a college degree. At a White House
ceremony that included representatives of Howard University, Morehouse College,
Spelman, Morgan State, and many other colleges and universities, they outlined
a raft of commitments and action steps to make the dream of higher education a
reality.
Highlights include:
* Colleges will work to connect low-income students to the campus that
maximizes their chance for success
* Increasing opportunities for mentorship, summer enrichment programs, and
work-study to college partnerships, etc.
* Focused assistance to help students often at a disadvantage when taking
standardized tests
* Remedial education to prepare for college entrance exams
You can read a helpful summary of key provisions here and review the entire
report by clicking this link.
What You Can Do: If you’re working with young people from low-income
backgrounds aspiring for a college education reach out to David Johns (david.johns@ed.gov), director of the
White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
18. NAACP STATEMENT ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COMMISSION
REPORT:
(Baltimore)—Today, the Presidential Commission on Election Administration
released a report on the American voting experience and offered recommendations
and election best practices for state level election reform moving forward.
“This report is a call to action for election administration reform,”
stated Lorraine C. Miller, NAACP Interim President and CEO. “The commission’s
recommendations should serve as a foundation for states to move forward with
key modernization efforts, including early voting and secure online voter
registration. This report also illustrates the need for Congress to fully
operationalize the Election Assistance Commission. These reforms are essential for our nation to
truly have free and fair elections.”
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
was a bipartisan, independent group created by the Help America Vote Act
of 2002 (HAVA) and charged with developing guidance to meet HAVA requirements,
adopting voluntary voting system guidelines, and serving as a national
clearinghouse of information on election administration.
“The report provides a roadmap for opening up the voting experience for all
Americans,” stated Jotaka Eaddy, Sr. Director for the NAACP Voting Rights
Initiative. “For far too long,
antiquated voting machines, long lines, and insufficient numbers of voting
machines in communities of colors have served as a barrier to the ballot box.
These recommendations move us closer to the inclusive democracy we
deserve. The NAACP and our 1200 units
across the nation are committed to ensuring that these reforms aimed at
expanding access to our democracy are implemented.”
Key recommendations in the report call for:
• Modernization of the registration process through continued expansion of
online voter registration and expanded state collaboration in improving the
accuracy of voter lists;
• Measures to improve access to the polls through expansion of the period
for voting before the traditional Election Day, and through the selection of
suitable, well-equipped polling place facilities, such as schools;
• State-of-the-art techniques to assure efficient management of polling
places, including tools the Commission is publicizing and recommending for the
efficient allocation of polling place resources; and,
• Reforms of the standard-setting and certification process for new voting
technology to address soon-to-be antiquated voting machines and to encourage
innovation and the adoption of widely available off-the-shelf technologies.
Shortly after the State of the Union address in 2013, President Barack Obama
issued an Executive Order establishing the Commission on Election
Administration. According to the commission, this report is the result of
several months of field hearings, consultation with state and local election
officials, academic experts, and organizations and associations involved in the
election process.
Read the full report here: https://www.supportthevoter.gov/files/2014/01/Amer-Voting-Exper-final-draft-01-09-14-508.pdf
###
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest nonpartisan
civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the
world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and
our five “Game Changer” issue areas http://www.naacp.org/pages/game-changers
19.
CHURCH SHOULDN’T BE THIS HARD:
By Tom Ehrich
After 36 years of
serving churches as a pastor and consultant, I came to a startling conclusion
the other day.
Not startling to
you, perhaps. I might be the last person to get the memo. But the conclusion
drew me up short.
My conclusion:
Religion shouldn’t be this hard.
An assembly that
exists to help people shouldn’t be so willing to hurt people — by declaring
them worthless, unacceptable, and undesirable or strangers at the gate.
An assembly that
should relax into the serenity of God’s unconditional love shouldn’t be so
filled with hatred and fear.
An assembly that
should do what Jesus did shouldn’t be so inwardly focused, so determined to be
right, so eager for comfort, so fearful of failing.
An assembly that
follows an itinerant rabbi shouldn’t be chasing permanence, stability and
property.
An assembly whose
call is to oneness and to serving the least shouldn’t be perpetuating
hierarchies of power and systems of preference.
Faith should be
difficult, yes, because it inevitably entails self-sacrifice and renewal. Life,
too, is difficult. Dealing with Mammon is difficult. Speaking truth to power is
difficult. Confronting our own weakness and capacity for sin is difficult.
But the institution
whose sole justifiable purpose is to help us deal with those difficulties
shouldn’t be making matters worse.
When we bring our
burdens to church, we shouldn’t find ourselves feeling intimidated by the in
crowds, caught up in conflicts about who is running things, budget anxieties,
jousting over opinion or doctrine, or relentless demonizing of whoever is
trying to lead.
Yes, I understand
that church is a human institution and therefore it will participate in
humanity’s brokenness. But church should be seeking to redeem that humanity, to
heal that brokenness, to show better ways to live. Instead, we celebrate our
own cruelty and bigotry. We fight against the very transformation that God
seeks.
Maybe I’m the last
one to see this dilemma. The millions who are fleeing institutional
Christianity in America aren’t escaping bad doctrine, shoddy performance values
or inconvenient calls to mission. They are escaping the institution itself.
It doesn’t have to
be this way. God certainly doesn’t want it this way.
I think, for example,
of the performance anxiety that infects most churches. We needn’t worry so much
about pleasing constituents on Sunday. Worship isn’t a Broadway show; it’s a
glimpse of God, not a celebration of style, excellence and self.
I think of our
leadership conflicts. Pastors aren’t CEOs hired to maximize shareholder
returns. They aren’t impresarios rewarded for putting on great shows. Pastors
are flawed creatures called to help other flawed creatures bring their
neediness to God.
Church should be a
safe place — safe to be oneself, safe to make one’s confession, safe to love
whoever one feels called to love, safe to imagine more, safe to fail. Instead,
church often is a dangerous place, where people feel guarded, self-protective,
hemmed in by tradition and expectation, required to obey rules.
Church should be
different from society. Instead, it plays by the same rules: get mine, be
first, be right, punish the weak, and exclude the different, reward the
wealthy.
Our society needs
healthy faith communities. But neither society nor God has much need for
religious institutions grounded in right-opinion, self-serving and systemic
danger.
(Tom Ehrich is a
writer, church consultant and Episcopal priest based in New York. He is the
author of “Just Wondering, Jesus” and founder of the Church Wellness Project.
His website is www.morningwalkmedia.com.
20. UNITED, WE CAN END POVERTY; DIVIDED, WE CONTINUE TO
SUFFER:
Bishop Don DiXon Williams
Fifty years have passed since President Lyndon Johnson began the War on
Poverty, spawning many well-known social programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Head
Start, and Pell Grants, as well as modern food stamps and WIC nutrition
programs. Poverty and hunger where on their way to becoming a distant memory
until the mid-70s hit.
Our country cut the poverty rate in half during the 1960s and early 70s.
This was partly because the economy was strong and unemployment low, but partly
also because of the War on Poverty and bipartisan concern about poverty. By the
mid-70s, poverty was no longer a political priority. No U.S. president since
Johnson has made it one of his top five priorities. We came to tolerate higher
unemployment, and the average wage of unskilled workers is now a third lower
than it was in 1970.
Today, an economy in recession, brinksmanship over the budget, and a focus
on reducing government spending have all contributed to the increase in poverty,
which in 2008 was higher than it had been in 1973. But a key factor that has
led to the weakening of the social safety net is the lack of poverty on an
administration’s agenda.
No one, president or political party, has talked seriously about ending
poverty in the last half century since something as strong as a war was
declared on it. Even the word itself has been left in the shadows and ignored.
It is easy to gain tunnel vision and view only the negative fallout that
came after the Johnson/Nixon era in regard to poverty. Poverty surged after the
financial crisis of 2008, but anti-poverty programs have done much to moderate
the hardship.
Due to the anniversary of the War on Poverty last week, both parties
started talking about poverty again. The fight against poverty has started to
gain momentum again. Both sides of the aisle acknowledge the problem and have
started to propose solutions.
Brothers and sisters, we must pray that this conversation continues. Pray
that President Obama’s upcoming State of the Union address will be filled with
this current anti-poverty fervor. We pray for both parties to put aside the
brinksmanship that has plagued this Congress and embrace the spirit of helping
their fellow human beings. We must urge our politicians to do the right thing
and make the eradication of hunger and poverty a top priority. We must remember
that Jesus tells us, “Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these,
you did not do for me.”
21. GETTING TO ZERO: MOVE TO EFFECTIVE ACTION:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
The annual
celebration of the birth of Christ and the start of another year provide a time
to assess and reflect. A recent TCR editorial did just that. Rather than write
a letter to the editor, this column is a call to action that could visibly and
effectively lower the impact of HIV/AIDS.
By now it should be
clear that stopping the impacts of HIV/AIDS is possible by putting into action
what we already know, what already has been “discovered”. By now it is clear
that routine testing for infection with HIV is the first required step to
control. By now it is clear that people of color all over the world are
brutally affected by HIV/AIDS. Here is my take on where we are and what needs
to happen in getting to zero and an end to HIV/AIDS.
Efforts now occur
in the AMEC connection and through other organizations/agencies to address
HIV/AIDS. Lots of money is spent by governments, private foundations and others
to address HIV/AIDS. There is progress. We see a decline in mother to child
virus transfer. We even see a decline in the overall rate of infections. The
peak in new infections (not the absolute number) occurred in 2005. This is
good, but not good enough.
If efforts to
combat HIV/AIDS are occurring, why is progress in controlling HIV/AIDS so slow?
Typically, efforts
are not publicized widely (or effectively). Perhaps this is because we still do
not think or talk much about HIV/AIDS; it has not become a household word.
People who work with HIV/AIDS prevention, education and care typically are not
the ones who also spend time or have the expertise to well publicize what is
happening. People take action to make a difference in immediate needs, not to
get noticed for taking action.
. Current efforts
may have some impact, but most are not highly effective for the money and
energy invested. For some HIV/AIDS events, the number of participants is low or
people are not mobilized thereafter to consistently use effective ABCD
preventions. When an effort does work well, evaluation should help to understand
why and how to make it work well again. Low impact may be because events are
isolated (once every year at a given location). Rather than in a coordinated
effort, events are limited to one church or agency in a geographical area (a
certain city, region or state). Low impact may occur because someone thinks a
“one size fits all” approach will work. It won’t. Assessing what works and why
is not done much except perhaps as required by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC). [Did you know there is a CDC website that lists proven
successful and recommended prevention and education programs or initiatives
that can be adapted? Yet, these are used mostly by health departments.]
Where does a
well-meaning, take-action pastor and congregation go to know what works? The
Balm in Gilead (www.balmingilead.org) is a longstanding engaged entity for
programming, training and resources on HIV/AIDS prevention. Perhaps the
Quarterly Conference and Annual Conference reports should ask, “Is your church
registered with The Balm in Gilead? How in this quarter did you take advantage
of their offerings?”
Clearly, some good
things are happening in some places. Can we be more effective and efficient?
Absolutely yes!
Change happens
slowly. In the meantime lives, giftedness and people are loss.
. Faster change
requires concerted coordinated efforts by religious leaders in a subject area
that can be murky (HIV/AIDS and human sexuality). To avoid paralysis,
confusion, burn-out and disappointment, one must purposefully remember that
“HIV is a relatively fragile virus whose spread takes advantage of human
sexuality. HIV infection can lead to a deadly disease. Yet, these can be
stopped.” Perceived or real moral, economic and social-behavioral aspects of a
sexually transmitted disease can be paralyzing. Aspects of HIV/AIDS especially
can be challenging for a leader who wants to make a difference and wants also
to move up or to keep a decent approval level in their current position. Other
issues in the congregation and community may seem to be less filled with
booby-traps than tackling HIV/AIDS. Coordinated continuous effort by
well-prepared leaders is required to move forward faster.
Effective
coordinated efforts are needed? What are some specifics? Glad you asked.
. Our bishops could require that Annual
Conferences host a mandatory biology-based training on HIV and how it leads to
AIDS. This would be an assignment to Presiding Elders. As I am aware of such
has been initiated within at least two Episcopal Districts. In the Quarterly
Conference report, Presiding Elders could inquire about what is done
effectively in a congregation to address HIV/AIDS. The action can be open to
whatever that pastor, congregation and its leadership believe will effectively
address the most pressing issues with HIV/AIDS in their community context. To
comply, something must be done each quarter to promote effective understanding
about HIV, how it can lead to AIDS and how to stop virus spread and death from
disease.
The Connectional
Church, coordinated by one or more responsible committed service entities, can
sponsor a connection wide “Get to the Test”. Such an initiative would foster
friendly competition of Episcopal Districts to get the most people tested in a
given time. This would support the priority goal that each person will know
their HIV status. An AMEC network-wide effort would remove stigma and reframe
HIV while promoting the key concept of HIV testing as part of regular routine
health care. HIV testing makes good sense! HIV testing should be routine, like
getting a mammogram (I hate it, but I get it); or like getting a prostate exam
(I expect males have similar sentiments about this). HIV testing should become
common place like blood pressure checks at each healthcare visit, like getting
the annual flu shot, like a periodic colonoscopy if you are over 50.
What would be the
goal(s) of our Zion, our Episcopal District, our Annual Conference, our local
district, our church, individuals? What are the specific resources and dates?
Some timely target
goals and specific all Connection-wide initiatives could be established.
Leaders or designated persons would do what works for their District, church,
community. Resources and most effective
strategies could be shared. Action on many fronts by most in the large global
AMEC network would bring about real and visible change.
To stop HIV/AIDS
will take time. Most critically, it will take coordinated, multi-faceted,
sustained and effective action by leaders at all levels. Failure in doing this
gives the virus power to continue to spread and affect lives. Why would we want
to give HIV any power to continue?
The recent TCR editorial urged Supervisor
Dr. M. Joan Cousin to come out of retirement and engage. Dr. Cousin may want to
be in retirement and deserves to be in retirement if she wants. (She and others
continue to work still from such an official state.) She has already primed the
pump so that many others can do what is needed to take the sustained effective
actions (or learn what they are) to move forward. Why are folks always looking
for a savior? Rather, let each person
commit to be the blessing we want to see in whatever way an individual thinks
that they can make a difference. Let’s use the resources that are within our
own Zion or those that are within our reach. Let’s carry forward a spirit of
“must do” because doing is a God-given responsibility.
It has been
suggested, “Why should one focus so on HIV/AIDS? There are many things that
need our attention and there are limited time and resources.” I’m glad for the
question because there is an answer.
Yes, there are many
health, economic and equity issues that require attention and resources.
HIV/AIDS is one that we can do something about now! We can get beyond it, put
it under our feet. With current understanding and technologies, an end to HIV
infection, and thus to AIDS, is envisioned. In contrast, conquering of some
issues is more difficult, maybe not possible. Perhaps Jesus said it best “The
poor will be with you always.” We can provide a meal to alleviate today’s
hunger. We can teach people to fish so they can deal with tomorrow’s hunger.
However, solving the issue of poverty forever is unlikely. In contrast, by
working together effectively, HIV/AIDS can be controlled and eventually
eliminated.
Summary: This fight to conquer/control/eliminate
HIV/AIDS is not a one person or one entity short-term effort. It will take
purposeful sustained effort to stop the brutal impacts that are especially high
for people of color around the globe. Putting HIV/AIDS under our feet will
require coordinated, continuous, multiple approaches over time. Everyone can do
something. Each person is responsible to learn and then take the action needed
to do whatever they can. Some can teach. Some can preach. Some can care for
others. Some can work with children. Some can administer. Some can write about
the events. Some can counsel. Some can organize. Some can donate funds or
resources. Some can use their influence to open minds and motivate. Everyone
can do something. Each person must do what they can do. Stopping HIV/AIDS is
not a one person or one commission undertaking. As a connectional church, the
AMEC is ideally suited to lead in a successful long-term effort. What holds us
back?
Imagine the impact
if the Council of Bishops would agree that each Episcopal leader will carry out
a long-term initiative for their District so that each Annual Conference takes
coordinated action against HIV/AIDS. What if across all twenty Districts this is
a priority similar to the training that occurs about sexual harassment?
Mandatory training of clergy and leaders to understand HIV/AIDS would become
the norm. Leaders would be more confident to talk about and better equipped to
take effective action to address HIV/AIDS.
“If we keep doing
the same old things, the same old way, we will get the same old results."
With coordinated
effective AMEC action, Dr. Sydnor and others will not have to keep wondering,
writing or talking about what is not happening with HIV/AIDS in our churches.
Action and progress will be evident. It would be pure joy to try to keep up
with reporting the effective actions happening to stop HIV/AIDS that has an
unnecessarily high impact on our communities.
*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.”
22. MEDITATION BASED ON PSALM 46:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
September 2014 will mark twenty-five
years since Hurricane Hugo wreaked havoc on South Carolina. The storm’s extensive damage included
thousands of trees blown down in the Francis Marion National Forest north of
Charleston - enough trees to build 660,000 homes. That damage was still visible when I moved to
Charleston in 1998, when only a few tall trees were visible on the drive from
Charleston to Georgetown.
I thought of that reminder of Hurricane Hugo when I made that same drive a
few weeks ago. What was once a thin
forest of small trees - interspersed with the occasional tall tree that
survived the storm and stood as evidence of what used to be - has again grown
into a thick, healthy forest that doesn’t look like it was ever touched by a
hurricane. The damage was severe and the
recovery was lengthy, but God restored the forest to its former beauty.
God can do the same thing with our lives that God did with that ravaged
forest. All of us run into inevitable
and unexpected storms that wreak havoc in our lives sooner or later - storms of
sickness and sorrow, storms of stress and frustration, storms of disappointment
and discouragement, storms of weakness and weariness.
Life’s stormy times can leave us feeling bruised, beaten down and all but
blown away, with little hope of recovery or normalcy in immediate sight. Stormy times will come and go, but the God
who created us and saved us through the Grace of His Son can still speak peace
to us, sustain us in the midst of life’s storms and bring us healing, wholeness
and recovery in God’s time.
Lean on the Lord in your stormy times.
When you do, you’ll find strength, peace of mind and spiritual comfort
and shelter in the midst of life’s storms, and when God gets ready, God will
restore and renew your life so that those around you will never know the storms
you’ve endured.
When you look to the Lord in the midst of your storms, you’ll know why a
hymn writer named C. A. Tindley said, “We are often tossed and driven on the
restless sea of time, somber skies and howling tempest oft succeed a bright
sunshine, but in that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away, we
will understand it better by and by.”
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
23. AME EPISCOPAL FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE - MRS. DORIS
AGATHA CHOLMONDELEY WEBSTER:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Doris Agatha Cholmondeley
Webster, mother of Mrs. Vivienne Cholmondeley Anderson, retired Episcopal
Supervisor and mother-in-law of retired Bishop Vinton Randolph Anderson, 92nd
Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Doris Agatha Cholmondeley Webster, a native of Bermuda was born on
January 1, 1909 and celebrated her 105th birthday on January 1, 2014; passed
into eternal life at approximately 5:15 p.m. (PT) 1/19/14 in St. Louis,
Missouri.
Service Arrangements:
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Viewing: 10:00 a.m.
Homegoing Service: 11:00 a.m.
Saint Paul AME Church
1260 Hamilton Avenue
St Louis, MO 63112
Telephone: (314) 385-8900
The Reverend Spencer Lamar Booker, Pastor; the Reverend Brenda J. Hayes,
Presiding Elder, St. Louis Cape Girardeau District, Eulogist; the Right
Reverend Theodore Larry Kirkland, Presiding Prelate, 5th Episcopal
District
Services are entrusted to:
Austin A. Layne Mortuary, Inc.
7733 Natural Bridge Road
Normandy, MO 63121
Phone: 314-382-1214
Hotel Accommodations:
St. Louis Airport Marriott
10700 Pear Tree Lane
St Louis, MO, 63134
314-423-9700
Ask for Bishop Anderson's Room Block - Rate: $69.00.
Expressions of sympathy may be mailed to:
Bishop and Mrs. Vinton Randolph Anderson
22 West Sherwood Drive
St. Louis, MO 63114
Anderson home telephone: 314-427-2711
Mrs. Anderson's cell: 314-374-7734
24. FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR RETIRED CME BISHOP DOTCY I.
ISOM, JR.:
The Homegoing
Celebration for Retired Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr., the Forty-Third Bishop of
the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will be held on Saturday, January 25,
2014, 10:00 a.m. at Greenwood C.M.E. Church, 3311 Kimball Avenue, Memphis,
Tennessee. He was beloved in a very special way across
the Church for his humor, generous spirit, gregarious wit, and practical
wisdom. He will be dearly missed, but he leaves a legacy of indefatigable
love for God and God’s people that will live on in us.
The wake will be held on Friday, January 24, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00
p.m. at Zion CME Church, 4183 Hickory Hill Road, Memphis Tennessee
38115-0135.
Transportation will be provided for attendees to and from all Homegoing
venues.
The Homegoing Celebration for retired Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr. will be
live-streamed.
CMEtv will broadcast the Homegoing Celebration for Retired Bishop Dotcy I. Isom,
Jr. on Saturday, January 25, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (CT). You may view the live stream at: http://campus.316networks.com/cmetv-live
The Homegoing Celebration will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2014, 10:00
a.m. at Greenwood C.M.E. Church, 3311 Kimball Avenue in Memphis.
Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Esther L. Isom and Family, 4326 Richwood
Place, Memphis, TN 38125, or e-mailed to
estherladonisom@gmail.com.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to:
M. J. Edwards Funeral Home Whitehaven Chapel
5494 Elvis Presley Boulevard
Memphis, TN 38116
Telephone: 901-332-3164
Hotel Arrangements
Persons needing rooms should contact the Memphis Marriott East, located at
5795 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee.
Telephone: 800.228-9290 or 901.682-0080. Ask for the CME Church Room
Block. The rate is $89.
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Esther L. Isom and Family
4326 Richwood Place
Memphis, TN 38125
Please keep Mrs. Esther Isom, their children, Dotcy Isom III, the Rev. Jon
M. Isom, the Rev. David C. Isom and their spouses; and the members of the Isom
family in prayer.
Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, Sr., Senior Bishop and CEO
Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, Chair
Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick III, Secretary
Dr. Jeanette L. Bouknight
Executive Secretary
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
"An Essential Church: Poised for 21st Century
Ministry"
25. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Mrs. Mozell Elliott, widow of retired Presiding Elder Marcus H. Elliott,
went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 19, 2014. Mrs. Elliott is the mother of the Reverend
Bill A. (Sandra) Bowers, pastor of Lee Chapel AME Church in North Little Rock,
Arkansas. She was a retired pre-school
educator.
A Celebration of her life will be held on Friday, January 24, 2014, 11:00
a.m. at Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church, 421 West 22nd Street, North Little Rock,
AR 72114.
Service has been entrusted to Premier Funeral Home, 1518 South Battery
Street, Little Rock, AR 72202;
telephone: 501.376.4800.
Condolences may be sent to the family:
The Reverend and Mrs. Bill A. Bowers
18907 Lochridge Drive
Little Rock, AR 72210
Telephone: 501.413.8601
26. CLERGY FAMILY/FORMER CONNECTIONAL OFFICER FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened to announce the passing of former Connectional Recording
Secretary (1972-1980) of the Women Missionary Society, Mrs. Mary Harris Austin
(Jackson), 97-years-old on Thursday, January 17, 2014. She was a lifelong
member of AME Church and the widow of the Rev. Cornelius N. Austin, Sr. who she
served with in the 8th and 5th Episcopal District.
Mrs. Austin is the Mother of the Rev. Noella Austin Buchanan, pastor of
Allen Chapel AMEC in Riverside, California where Mrs. Austin’s father also
served in the 1930s; son, the Rev. C. N. Austin, Jr. retired; mother-in-law of
retired Presiding Elder, the Rev. C. Jessel Strong; and former Connectional
Prayer Team Coordinator, Mrs. Arvella Austin Strong.
A Life Member of the WMS for 46
years she also served as Conference Branch President of the Puget Sound
(Pacific Northwest) and the California Conferences.
Funeral Arrangements are listed below.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Viewing: 9:00 -10:00 a.m.
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m.
Allen Chapel AME Church
4009 Locust Street
Riverside, CA 92501
Office Telephone: (951) 686-9406
Fax: (951) 686-1380
Pastor: The Rev. Noella Austin Buchanan
Officiating: Presiding Elder Norman D. Copeland
Eulogist: The Rt. Rev. Theodore Larry Kirkland
Arrangement handled by Tillman Riverside Mortuary, Inc.
2874 Tenth Street - Riverside, CA 92507
Office (951) 682-6433 Fax (951)
682- 7863
Interment:
Inglewood Park Cemetery
720 East Florence Ave.
Inglewood 90301
Telephone: (310) 412-6500
Condolences and expressions can be sent to the postal address or email
address listed below.
The Austin Family
C/O The Rev. Noella Austin Buchanan
7051 Rockspring Lane
Highland, CA 92346-5453
Cell: 314-707-8754
Or to:
Presiding Elder (Ret) and Mrs. C. Jessel (Arvella) Strong
3875 Nara Drive
Florissant, MO 63033
Telephone: (314) 440-8236
Fifth Episcopal District AMEC
Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland, Presiding Prelate
4519 Admiralty Way, Suite 205
Marina Del Ray, CA 90292
Telephone: (310) 577-8530
Fax: (310) 577-8540
27. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of Mr. David A. Brown,
the brother of Sister Irma Chambers, and the brother in law of the Rev. Samuel
Chambers who are currently serving as the pastor and first lady of the Wayman
Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Brighton, Pennsylvania.
The Celebration of Life Events for Mr. David A. Brown are as follows:
Viewing:
Friday, January 24, 2014
9:30 a.m. - 10:55 a.m.
Greater Mt. Nebo African Methodist Episcopal Church
1001 Old Mitchellville Road
Mitchellville, MD 20716
Celebration of Life:
Friday, January 24, 2014
11:00 a.m.
Greater Mt. Nebo African Methodist Episcopal Church
1001 Old Mitchellville Road
Mitchellville, MD 20716
Telephone: (301) 249-7545
The Reverend Dr. Jonathan Weaver, Officiating and Eulogist
Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to:
The Rev. & Mrs. Samuel W. Chambers
1120 Sixth Street
New Brighton, PA 15066
Telephone: (724) 846-4099
Arrangements are entrusted to:
The Steward Funeral Home
4001 Benning Road, NE
Washington, DC 20019
(202) 399-3600
28 CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT
NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley,
Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family
Information Center
Phone: (615) 837-9736
(H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936
(O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
29. 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
