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
1. TCR EDITORIAL – THE MOST VIOLATED COMMANDMENT, PART 2:
Part
1 ended with several rhetorical questions. I wondered how many bishops,
presiding elders and pastors took real vacations this past summer.
I
wonder how many of the clergy members spend good quality time with their
families. I wonder how many preachers have hobbies and am curious to know
if they take the time to enjoy their hobbies for a couple of hours each week or
maybe every day.
I also expressed
the opinion that in many churches, the worship service itself becomes work. I
also mentioned the daily schedules of our connectional meetings and our annual
conferences and the “hustle and bustle” of our meetings that gives us little time to breathe.
And the “biggie”
rhetorical question I asked concerned the number of pastors who end up in the
hospital or in poor health because of their violation of the 4th
Commandment. I wonder how many clergy families are negatively impacted or even
destroyed because of the violation of the 4th Commandment.
Our leaders in the
pastoral ministry; bishops, presiding elders and seasoned pastors need to be
leaders and models in the observance of the 4th Commandment’s
Sabbath rest and the operative words are, “models in the observance...”
The leadership of
the AME Church needs to model the rest Commandment because the ministry is a
stressful vocation and some of the statistics concerning the profession of
ministry are troubling.
It is estimated
that 50% of pastors' marriages will end in
divorce. All of us who been in the ministry have seen the clergy marriages
in disarray. Approximately 94% of pastors’ families feel the pressure of the ministry
and some preachers’ children are not actively involved in the life of the
church.
For example from an anecdotal question, how many children,
grandchildren and family members of retired and active bishops, presiding
elders and pastors are active in the AME Church? How many family members of the AME Church
leadership matriculate at one of our AME institutions of higher learning? What percentage of the students at our AME
schools are “sons and daughters of the parsonage.”
Pastors battle depression and the unfortunate aspect is that the AME
Church and some other denominations have little or no mental health treatment strategies. Some parishioners place
their pastor and his or her family on a pedestal and the result is clergy
family isolation that discourages close friendship within the congregation.
Some statistics report up to 78% of pastors say they have no close
friends.
Pastors’ salaries lag behind other professions that require a master’s
degree and it’s no wonder that the pastoral ministry experiences a high
attrition rate. Effective fulltime pastors work long hours and bivocational
pastors work really long hours. Ninety percent of pastors report working 55-75
hours per week.
Continuing education is a necessity in every profession and every
pastor should avail him or herself the opportunity to attend continuing
education programs at accredited institutions, but if a pastor is bivocational,
serving a small congregation or if the
continuing education programs are expensive, continuing education
programs take a “back seat. It’s no wonder that many pastors feel unqualified
or discouraged.
And a sad and startling statistic says 50% of pastors are so
discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other
way of making a living.
Statistics are
discouraging, but there are some things pastors can do
First, a pastor and
his or her family, including school-age children need to sit down and have a heart
to heart discussion about their family system, finances, strategies for
creating “family time activities,"
including vacations, what are expected levels of church participation of the
spouse and children. Those decisions are family decisions that should be
decided upfront. Church members and tradition should not dictate the level of
participation of the pastor’s family.
“In the day,” a
first lady (very few first gentlemen) was expected to be at the church whenever
her husband was there. Times have changed
and first ladies and first gentlemen have lives and careers of their own, and
frankly some first families refuse to be coerced or put in roles they haven’t
chosen. And, that’s the reason for clergy family strategy sessions.
Clergy persons need
to take care of themselves physically and mentally, which includes medical and
dental examinations. In large cities
with medical and dental schools, affordable medical and dental care and exams
are available. The Veterans Affairs hospitals are available to persons who
served in the military. All a veteran
needs is his or her DD Form 214.
The bottomline in
terms of physical and mental care is that healthy caregivers are more effective
caregivers.
I am guilty of everything I have written and am writing
Pastors need
friends and here I am talking about close friends; friends where you can be
yourself and “let your hair down.” It is
okay for clergy and their families to have friends who are not clergy; as a
matter of fact, it’s probably healthy to have friends who are not clergy. We don’t always have to be talking about the
Bible and religious things.
Preachers ought
to exercise and have a regular regimen of exercise at facilities such as the YMCA/YWCA in organized
sessions or do it on your own. If you don’t take care of you, no one else will.
Physical training is a great stress reliever. If anyone needs to relieve
stress, preachers need to do so!
Preachers need a
hobby. Preachers should do some of the things they want to do just because they
want to do it. Several years ago, I decided that I wanted to play the guitar,
and I took lessons to learn how to do so. I have had a ball and today, I can
play any song on the guitar that I want to play. It is so relaxing. We are
never too old to learn something new. I have since learned to play the baritone
ukulele. The point I am trying to make is that preachers need to broaden their
perspectives.
Clergy need to
read books other than the Bible and religious periodicals.
Sometimes
preachers just need to have a “long brisk sit and relax.” Sometimes we need to
put away the smartphones, but having said that, some preachers need to pick up
a smartphone and learn how to use it.
Preachers who are
attached to technology need to take a break and put down the smartphone, turn
off the computer, take your eyes off your watch, turn off the television and
the radio and learn to relax and enjoy silence.
Preachers need
more than church. Preachers ought to take the time to
explore some of the free cultural events.
Every community has cultural events that are free and so often
minorities do not avail themselves of the available opportunities. When
preachers become aware of these opportunities they are then able to pass this
information on to their congregants and encourage them to participate, as well.
Think what a service that would be to the members!
We need to go to
symposiums, lectures, workshops and get on mailing lists of area universities,
hospitals, chambers of commerce, etc.).
Preachers need to
have a date time with his or her spouse and there is nothing wrong with single
clergy going out on dates. The AME Church does not require its clergy to be
celibate, so single clergy can also “explore the field” in hopes of finding a
life-partner, however, single clergy
need to be very careful when they're on the dating scene.
A “biggie” for me
is vacation time – time away from the flock and away from the desk, away from the job, away from the routine day to day
activities. The body and the mind need a rest – A Sabbath rest!
Vacations can be
economical. For instance, Union Theological Seminary in New York City has guest
rooms. I have stayed there and the room was economical. Roman Catholic and other religious facilities
are available – one just has to look for them. Retired military retirees can
reserve rooms on military installations at reasonable rates. As I have said
time and again, “God provides food for the birds, but God does not drop the
food in the nests.”
The bottomline:
Clergy families need to take a couple of vacations every year. If lodging is
not affordable go and visit relatives and close friends. However you do it,
take a vacation!
The list can go on and on, but one more thing
Preachers must
find time for personal prayer and Bible study. Seems strange to have to say it,
but it is not easy. It takes discipline, discipline and more discipline. Take
my word for it, finding time for regularly scheduled personal devotions is
difficult.
Let me end by
saying preachers have got to take the time for prayer, Bible study, personal
reflection, exercise, physical and mental self-care, engaging in things you
want to do and having a hobby, reading, rest and relaxation.
All work, and no
play, makes Jack / Jackie a dull
boy / girl.
Find time for YOU. Your life and ministry depend upon it.
The violation of
the 4th Commandment of rest can be just as destructive as
Commandments 1 -3 and 5-10.
And, one more thing
“Don’t sweat the
small stuff!”
2. TCR OP-ED - LIBERIA EBOLA UPDATE AND
REPORT FROM 14TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING:
Submitted
by the Rev. Alvin Attah & Dr. Katurah York Cooper
Bishop
Clement W. Fugh, Presiding Prelate of the 14th Episcopal District has provided
the report appended below for immediate release to let the Connectional AME
Church to let the members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church know how
the 14th District Office is mobilizing its limited resources to meet the
challenge of Ebola in Liberia.
Information about
how to make contributions is listed at the end of this article.
Introduction:
Bishop
C. Garnett Henning Sr., who served the 14th District during wartime, petitioned
the General Conference to allow for the creation of a Board of Directors who
would oversee the work in the District when American Bishops had limited or no
access to the region. The General
Conference approved. When I returned to
the States from Liberia on August 2, 2014, I left in place in each of the seven
Annual Conferences a properly constituted Board of Directors, complete with a
President, who presides over the Board with my authority. The Notes that follow is a demonstration of
how the system works.
Minutes -
September
16, 2014
The
meeting of the Board of Directors was held as scheduled on Friday, September
12, 2014 at 4 p.m. It was well-attended by a majority of members of the Board
of Directors of both conferences. The meeting was Chaired by the Rev. Dr.
Katurah Cooper and co-chaired by the Rev. Alvin Attah. The Secretaries of both
conferences took the minutes and they will work together to have them compiled.
However, this is just a report of what we discussed:
The Situation
across the Districts:
-- The Timbo
District – Presiding Elder Othaniel Vah
One
member has lost his son as a result of infection with Ebola. Some parts of
Rivercess County are quarantined which has affected some members of the church.
They have access to their farms and as such locally grown food is available for
them, however because markets are shut there is no economic activities are
going on around there.
Church
services are going on regularly but monetary intake is low.
-- The Central
District – Presiding Elder Bryant Kporyor
There
have been no reports of Ebola infection in any of the churches, although
families are being affected one way or the other. Deaths to community members
in the Mt. Barclay area have occurred within the vicinity of the AME Church in
that community. The Pastor is Rev. Paul Geddeh and efforts will be made to
establish contact with him. It is feared that members of the church who live
nearby might be at high risk. Empowerment had two of her members to lose
relatives to Ebola. The Conference Branch YPD has given out some donations in
Central District and plans to reach out to other youths in the Bassa and Timbo
Districts. Empowerment Temple through its NGO (HOPE) has reached 245 families
in Monrovia with Awareness training and Sanitation materials.
-- The Bassa
District – Presiding Elder Kaiuway Moore (represented by Rev. Bindu Taylor)
Sensitization
is relatively low in the District. Denial and inadequate information is posing
a threat to the members. Although there are no reports in any member being
directly hit, it is feared that with low sensitization, the district might be
hit at any time.
-- The Cape Palmas
District – Presiding Elder Samuel A. Toe
(No
one could come from the district due to travel restriction in that part of the
country. However, we will try to connect with them for a telephone meeting).
However, the Ministry of Health has so far reported no deaths from Ebola in
Maryland County.
-- The Gbarnga
District – Presiding Elder Beatrice A. Menlor
The
district is currently within the quarantined area of Nimba County. Locally
grown food is available but no markets are open, hence no commerce. The churches
are open and experiencing huge turnouts but income is low as economic
activities are seriously affected in the area. The cost of the Ebola Bucket
Sanitation Kit is preventing most of the churches from adhering to sanitary
rules. The Presiding Elder has been trained to do community awareness and is
affiliating with a local NGO and doing some sensitization within the area.
Hospitals and medical centers remain closed.
-- The Monrovia
District – The Rev. David A.B. Parker
Presiding
Elder Parker is involved in leadership of his Community Task Force. Some
members of the District have been affected. Sister Juah Clark from Clark
Gbarvea has lost her son to Ebola. Sister Martha Doyen from Eliza Turner AME
Church has died along with her daughter and grand-daughter (all from Ebola).
Other members of her household are being quarantined at home and supported with
food and other necessities by the local Church. Eliza Turner has made donations
to the Ministry of Health and its host community.
The Way Forward
Bishop,
the members of the both boards discussed and agreed on the following:
1)
That all Presiding Elders will instruct all their Pastors to ensure that every
church must have the basic sanitary materials for washing hands before the
first Sunday of October. It costs not more than LD 1,000 and ordinary soap or
ashes could be used with water.
2)
That an AME Church Ebola Response Office be established within a week. We
suggest (if you approve) the use of one of the rooms in the Episcopal Building
for this purpose. We have rooms in the basement.
3)
That Rev. David A.B. Parker be appointed as the Coordinator of the AME Church
Ebola Response Office. He has been trained by Ministry of Health and is an
active member of his Community Ebola Task Force.
4)
That before the end of next week, if the Office is established, we will get an
accreditation from the Ministry of Health and communicate that with all the
County Health Teams. This accreditation will position us to be a credible
partner in the national level work and help us get to some relief/aid/medical
supplies for our congregations across the nation.
5)
That each Presiding Elder will set up a Presiding Elder District Response Team
and begin organizing training workshops in their district. There is a vital
need for community level sensitization and support. To reduce transportation
costs and limit movement, the County Health Teams (in their area) will be
invited by the District Response Team to conduct the Workshop. The District
Response Team should consist of 5 persons (a Pastor, a WMS sister, a youth, one
other lay person, and the Presiding Elder). Of course, other volunteers can
join in. These trainees will then serve as trainers in their locality and
churches. All workshops should be completed by the end of September 2014.
6)
That the AME Church Ebola Response Office will be notified of the dates of each
workshop and we will try to make representation and donations if possible.
7)
From the month of October, the Presiding Elders will report to the AME Church
Ebola Response Office of happenings in their districts twice a month, which
will be forwarded to our Episcopal leaders. Information will be disseminated
across the 6 P.E. Districts so as to share good practices and make suggestions
for improvement.
8)
The $150 = LD 12,750 given to each Presiding Elder will assist them in the
organization of the workshop and provide immediate relief where necessary.
The
body unanimously accepted this plan of action; pending your comments,
adjustments and/or approval.
*Submitted
by the Rev. Alvin Attah & Dr. Katurah York Cooper
***Donations
in support of the 14th Episcopal District's efforts to support for
AME Churches/members dealing with the Ebola outbreak can be sent directly to:
The
14th District Office
512
8th Ave, South
Nashville,
TN, 37203-4181
Make
checks payable to: 14th
Episcopal District AME Church
When
funds are received, Bishop Fugh will wire the funds to his Office in Monrovia.
3. BRIDGE BETWEEN
DIFFERENT WORLDS-LIBERIA AND EBOLA:
*Dr.
George F. Flowers
Global
Witness and Ministry is working collaborative with St. Andrews Church and the
community in supplying Water Systems to Liberia, West Africa. Through the
efforts of St. Andrews' Church and congregation 3 water systems will be sent to
Liberia; and through the help and partnership corporate executives and The
Department of Global Witness and Ministry--AME Church we will purchased another
water system through International Water Mission for $7,875.00 along with
supplies and other goods for Liberia. The response of the community has been
tremendous.
The
Association of Black Methodist General Officers (AME-AMEZ and CME) in its
annual meeting in Charlotte, NC contributed a total of $1,000 toward the
support of international water mission system ($500) and ($500) toward for
support of goods.
The
Reverend Anthony Kowbeidu, associate rector of St. Andrew's in Mount Pleasant
and rector of its new church in Goose Creek, hails from Liberia.
*Dr.
George F. Flowers is the Executive Director of Global Witness and Ministry
4. MARVIN LOUIS
BOOKER:
*The
Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler
Four
years ago, the unarmed brother of an AME pastor and son of a retired AME
presiding elder lost his life at the brutal hands of four Denver sheriff's officers.
He was overpowered by them and choked and tazed to death simply for wanting to
retrieve his shoes. After a less than thorough investigation, the Denver
District Attorney ruled that, in his opinion, Marvin Louis Booker caused his
own death.
Since
that time, I have learned that declaring the victim to be responsible for their
own death is how a racist and uncaring culture begins the process of killing
off the spirit of the deceased and, if all goes as planned, to wipe the memory
of their murder from the minds of the community. They want us to believe that
Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Amadou Diallo, Eric Garner, and a whole host of
other African American victims caused their own deaths, and their desire is
that we would respond peacefully. The word "peaceful" is a code word
for "keep silent."
Just
a few days after Marvin Booker's death, I, along with my congregation went down
to the detention center where he was murdered to call for justice on his
behalf. Not a year has passed since his death that we have not called his name.
You see, the African elders taught that, as long as you call a person's name,
their spirit continues to be present. They live on. We are committed to walk
with Marvin Booker's spirit and to comfort his memory until he is vindicated
from the horrible circumstances of his demise.
On
Monday, September 22, 2014, attorneys on behalf of the Mayor and citizens of
Denver will begin the process of putting Marvin Booker on trial for his own
death. His elderly mother, siblings and supporters will be forced to relive the
fateful night when he was tossed into a damp cell, already dead long before
anyone would come back to attempt to revive him. They saw him as a crazy, dead,
homeless man, but, little did they know; he had a name.
I
will be sitting in that courtroom with the family of Marvin Booker. Members of
Shorter Community AME Church will be sitting in the courtroom. The community
will be in that courtroom. Every time they speak negatively about him, we will
call the name of Marvin Booker. When they try to blame him for his own demise,
we will whisper his name. When the jurors file in to do justice, we will call
the name of Marvin Booker. I would dare say Marvin Booker himself will be
sitting in that courtroom.
All
over this country, young and old are asking, "What good does it do to
protest and march?" Well, I'll say it again: This culture of corruption
believes that, if it can blame the victim and shut us up, the victim's spirit
will go away. Protesting and marching allows us to call the names -- in the
street, media and courthouse -- of those who have been victimized. We call
their names in the hope that they will not be forgotten and that their spirits
will live long enough to see justice.
Since
July 9, 2010, we have released balloons, joined the Booker family in shedding
public and private tears, and yelled at the top of our lungs for justice.
Volunteers, too countless to number, have made posters, written emails,
attended rallies and risked losing relationships with friends in high places --
all of this in an effort to keep our promise to get justice for Marvin Booker.
It is our prayer that, when this trial is over, Marvin Booker will be able to
rest knowing that justice has been done. Until then, we will continue to call
his name. Marvin Louis Booker. Marvin Louis Booker. Marvin Louis Booker...
*The
Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler is the pastor of Shorter Community AME Church,
Denver, Colorado
5. ONE HUNDRED AND
FORTY-FIVE YEARS OF PRAISING THE LORD:
BY
Delanda S. Johnson
On
Sunday, September 14, Allen Chapel AME Church in Athens, Texas celebrated its
145th Annual Church Homecoming. The
church under the leadership of the Rev. Geoffrey Whitcomb, senior pastor and
co-pastor, the Rev. Myria Whitcomb and its members made the day one to be
remembered.
The
history of Allen Chapel AME Church began in South Athens in 1896, in the area
known as “South Town.” After a period of
several years, the church moved to a location between the Cotton Belt and T
& NO Railroad tracks, and from thence to its current location at 512 North
Underwood Street.
A
succession of servant-leading men and women have served as the pastors of Allen
Chapel AME Church and numerous godly persons have served as its officers,
teachers, and devoted members. Year after Year Allen Chapel AME Church strived
to be a voice for Christ in the City of Athens, Texas.
Sister
Gina Hunter who served as the worship Leader stated, “It’s been a long hard
journey for this church. To see how our
forefathers struggled to build this church and to keep it going was only by the
grace of God. We are still standing and
I know that if the forefathers of the church were still here, they would be
very proud of this church.”
The
program moved forward with a powerful prayer by Brother Bobbie Dora. Brother
Sylvester Ferguson, the son of former pastor the late Rev. S. V. Ferguson,
delivered a hearty welcome to the congregation.
The
Rev. Leonard Jackson, pastor of Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church and
Eldress Mary Henderson, pastor of the Church of the Living God, both churches
are located in Athens, stirred the congregation with songs of worship unto the
LORD.
The
time had arrived for the message from GOD to be given by guest speaker Rev.
Donald Barrett, pastor of Morning Star Baptist Church in Palestine, Texas. The
Rev. Barrett’s sermon came for John 9:1-11 with his text: “I Am the Light of
the World.” The Rev. Barrett focused on the parable of the how Jesus healed a
blind man from birth. The disciples asked the question, “Who sinned? Was it the
blind man or his parents?” “People of today, when they see something, they want
to know who, what, when, where, and how.
However, we must realize that we are all human and we all have sinned,”
said Rev. Barrett. We must know that God will allow things to happen in our
lives so God can get the glory. God is
not out to hurt us, but God wants us to know who He is.
Sometime
we get in the way of our own miracles. The Rev. Barrett stated, “Sometimes God
does things we don’t even see; you don’t know how GOD has helped us or blocked
trouble from us. Jesus will see a need
and will help when you ask.” “There is one thing from this parable that I have
a question about. When Jesus spit and
made the clay for the blind man eyes and told him to go wash at the pool of
Siloam, how did the man get to the pool to wash his eyes? Some might say it was the washing of the eyes
with the water; answer: No; some might say it may have even been the mud on his
eyes; answer: No; it was JESUS who gave the man his sight,” said the Rev.
Barrett. The Rev. Barrett concluded that you will walk in darkness until Jesus
comes into your life. “We must stand firm for Christ and let everyone know what
He has done for us. Jesus is the 'Light
of the World,' He is the True Vine, so let the light shine in you,” said the
Rev. Barrett.
After
the awesome message given by the Rev. Barrett, a special presentation was
conducted by Brother Joe Elam. This
presentation was in dedication of former members who were both active at Allen
Chapel AME Church until their deaths. The honorees were Brother Abram Lewis and
Sister Birda Lewis.
“Brother
Lewis was the person you could set your watch by, because he always rang the
church bell letting everyone know it was time for Sunday School. He was also the Superintendent of the Sunday
School and a member of the Trustee Board.
Sister
Birda Lewis was active on the Stewardess Board, Missionary Society, and was a
Class Leader. Both were people who
trusted in God’s Word, they were faithful, they let their light shine, prayed
and witness for the LORD; to lead others CHRIST,” said Brother Elam.
6. RELIGIOUS
ACCEPTANCE OF HOMOSEXUALS ON THE RISE:
The
latest National Congregations Study finds a growing acceptance of gays and
lesbians in most American congregations
September
10, 2014
The
willingness of religious congregations to welcome homosexuals as members -- and
place them in leadership positions -- is on the rise, according to a new Duke
University study.
Data
from the newest wave of the National Congregations Study show that from 2006 to
2012, the number of congregations accepting gay and lesbian members increased
from 37.4 percent to 48 percent.
In
that same six-year time-frame, the numbers of congregations open to gays and
lesbians in volunteer leadership roles rose from about 18 percent to 26.4
percent.
These
and other study findings on racial diversity, informality in worship,
congregation membership and related issues mirror ongoing shifts in the broader
American culture, said Mark Chaves, a Duke professor of sociology, religious
studies, and divinity. Chaves directs the study; these 2012 results are from
its third wave of data, following surveys in 1998 and 2006.
“The
increasing acceptance of gays and lesbians is a well-known trend in America,”
Chaves said. “Churches are no exception.”
The
article containing these latest findings is available online now and will be
published in the December 2014 issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of
Religion. Chaves’ findings derive from interviews with representatives of 1,331
American churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and other houses of worship.
While
the acceptance of homosexuals is gaining ground in American congregations, that
increase doesn’t hold true across the board. There was less acceptance of
homosexuals among Catholic churches in 2012 than six years earlier; perhaps due
to fallout from the child sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, which
some associate with homosexuality, according to Chaves.
And
while more white, conservative Protestant churches were accepting of gay and
lesbian members in 2012 -- up to 23.5 percent from about 16 percent six years
prior -- there was no increase in the acceptance of gays in church leadership
positions. Only 4 percent of white, conservative Protestant churches said in
2012 that gays and lesbians could hold volunteer leadership positions.
“Congregations
reflect general cultural trends, but they also reflect divisions on this
issue,” Chaves noted.
Findings
in other areas include:
Racial
diversity: The number of all-white congregations has declined. In 1998, 20
percent of churchgoers were members of all-white congregations; in the most
recent survey, that number dropped to 11 percent.
“That’s
driven by important social changes like upward mobility among blacks and
increasing racial intermarriage,” Chaves said. “And, of course, immigration.”
Informal
worship: More people are participating in worship services that feature
drumming, jumping, shouting or dancing, raising hands in praise, or the use of
visual projection equipment, according to the study. The percentage of people
attending services with drums, for example, rose from 25 percent in 1998 to 36
percent in 2006 and to 45 percent in the most recent survey. The percentage attending
services using visual projection equipment rose from 15 percent in 1998 to 32
percent in 2006 to 45 percent in 2012.
This trend toward more informal worship may reflect a larger cultural
shift toward informality in life; the rise of mega-churches, which tend to be
less personal but heavy on entertainment, may be a factor as well, Chaves said.
“There’s
also a shifting emphasis in American religion toward generating an emotional
experience, rather than focusing on doctrine or knowledge,” he said.
Congregation
size: The study also found a slow decline in congregation size. The average
congregation now has 70 regular participants, down from 80 in 1998, the study
found.
Beyond
the results reported in the forthcoming JSSR article, tables with additional
results are available here, and people can dig more deeply into the data using
an online data analysis tool here.
The
survey was funded by a major grant from the Lilly Endowment and additional
support from the Pew Research Center’s Religion and Public Life Project,
Louisville Institute, Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture at
Indiana University-Purdue Indianapolis, RAND Corp., and Church Music Institute.
*Used
with Permission the United Methodist News Service
7. ST. JAMES AME
CHURCH HOSTS THE BUILDING POWERFUL AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS: HIV/AIDS AND
TESTING:
Get
Informed, Get Tested, and Get Treated!
DENTON,
TX (September 15, 2014) - The St. James AM Church in partnership with the
Denton County Health Department and Zeta Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma (UNT)
kicks off its Building Powerful and Healthy Relationships: HIV/AIDS and Testing
workshop on Saturday, September 20, 2014, from 12-3 p.m., at 1107 E. Oak, in
Denton, TX. The workshop theme is Get Informed, Get Tested, and Get Treated. It
is designed to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS in the community and
coincides with two annual observances, National HIV/AIDS and Aging on September
18 and National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS on September 27.
This
local effort collaborates with Marie Brown, Denton County Health Department;
Erika Washington and Debbie DeLeon, Health Services of North Texas; Lesa
Sweeney and Markelse Jordan, AIDS Arms; Ed Jones, AIDS Healthcare
Foundation-Dallas, and Kelly Richter, Gilead Sciences, Inc. to raise awareness and
equip our community with the knowledge and tools to help fight the HIV/AIDS
epidemic. The workshop will feature presentations on HIV 101 basics; offer HIV
testing; disseminate prevention and treatment information; and provide health
care and support resources. The presenters will make up the expert panel and
answer questions in the workshop. Zeta Beta Chapter men plan to perform a skit
to highlight the impact of HIV and AIDS on young people.
Judith
Dillard, New Bethel Complete In Christ
Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, will make a special presentation focusing on the
challenges facing people living with HIV/AIDS. She is the Community Outreach
and Health Educator under the direction of Pastor Michael Moore. Special
invited guests include speakers from Learning Institute of Family Education
(LIFE), Mark McCray of 97.9 FM - The Beat and 94.5 k-Soul, and JT of 100.3 Jack
FM radio stations.
Over
a million people eligible for the new health care marketplaces are uninsured in
Texas. According to the Centers for Disease Control, historically, people
living with HIV and AIDS have had a difficult time obtaining private health
insurance. As a result, many infected HIV persons may not have health care and
know their status. AIDS Arms –Dallas, the largest nonprofit HIV/AIDS service
organization in North Texas, will conduct free HIV testing, which renders
results within minutes. An Affordable Care Act navigator will be on hand to
enroll eligible persons who need health care due to life-changing events and
provide information about the November 15th, 2014 enrollment. Jefferson Dental
Clinics, committed to serving Texas families, will distribute free dental kits
and preventative care materials.
Free
gift bags will be given to the first 50 people. Lunch will be served to participants
following the workshop.
Of
the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year, more than 50 percent occur
among African Americans. AIDS is the number one cause of death among Black
adults, ages 25 to 44, before heart disease, cancer and homicide
(BalminGilead.org, 2014). In Denton County, the 2011 Texas Health and Human
Services HIV Surveillance reports HIV infection rate was largest among age
group 20-24 (41.8%); followed by ages 25-29 (35.2%); and 30-34 (28.5%); and 35
years and older were 26.1%. African Americans had the highest rate of infection
at 48.8%, Hispanics 14.3%, and Whites, 9%. Among all groups, African American
women had the highest rate of HIV/AIDS diagnoses at a rate 58.8%; followed by
Hispanic men (36.1%); African American men (35.1%); and White men (25.1%).
“HIV/AIDS
is at epidemic levels nationally and locally, and we must make people aware,”
said Pastor Mason Rice.” He explained, “This is a public health issue, and the
faith community can work with others to ensure that those we serve have access
to screenings, learn ways to prevent the transmission of the disease, and
advocate for better care and treatment.” He added, “Our basic goal is a
community without AIDS.”
St.
James AME Church is in its 140th year of providing service and
leadership to the community. In 1985, it was designated as an historical
landmark, and has played an integral part in the religious tradition of Denton.
Get Informed, Get
Tested, and Get Treated
If
you're between the ages of 25 and 44, you're more likely to die from AIDS than
from any other disease. St. James AM Church teams up with Denton County Health
Department and Zeta Beta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma (UNT) to present the Building
Powerful and Healthy Relationships: HIV/AIDS Workshop and HIV Testing workshop
on September 20, 2014, from 12-3 p.m., at 1107 E. Oak in Denton. The workshop
theme, Get Informed, Get Tested, and Get Treated, is designed to raise
awareness to help fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The guest speaker, Judith
Dillard, New Bethel CIC Church of Ft. Worth, will discuss issues facing people
living with AIDS.
Invited
guests include: Health Services of North Texas, AIDS Arms - Dallas, and Gilead
Sciences Pharmaceuticals, AIDS Healthcare Foundation-Dallas, Jefferson Dental
Clinics, Learning Institute of Family Education (LIFE), 97.9 FM The Beat and
100.3 Jack FM radio. FREE HIV testing, speakers, an expert panel, marketplace
health care enrollment and dental kits will be available.
Do
you know your status? Over one million people in the United States have HIV,
but almost one in five doesn't know it. Early diagnosis and treatment saves
lives. Get tested in the Building Powerful and Healthy Relationships: HIV/AIDS
and HIV testing workshop on September 20, 2014, from 12-3 p.m., at St. James
AME Church, 1107 E. Oak in Denton. FREE HIV testing, an expert panel, health
care and dental information provided.
Did
you know that more than 50% of the HIV infections are among African American
women? Help raise awareness and fight this epidemic in the Building Powerful
and Healthy Relationships: HIV/AIDS and HIV testing workshop on September 20,
2014, from 12-3 p.m., at St. James AM Church, 1107 E. Oak in Denton. FREE HIV
testing, speakers, an expert panel, and health care and dental information
provided.
Building
Powerful and Healthy Relationships: HIV/AIDS and HIV Testing workshop will be
held September 20, 2014, from 12-3 p.m., located at St. James AM Church, 1107
E. Oak in Denton. Get free HIV testing. Ask questions to the expert panel.
Enroll in health care. Pick up free gift bags, health literature and care
materials.
Building
Powerful and Healthy Relationships: HIV/AIDS Workshop and free HIV testing will
be held September 20, 2014, from 12-3 p.m., at St. James AM Church, located at
1107 E. Oak in Denton.
For
more information, call Mary C. Taylor at 940-220-9054 or 940-387-1223.
8. NAACP STATEMENT
ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT:
WASHINGTON,
D.C. -- On September 13, 1994, the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA) was signed into law, forging a national commitment
to keep every American safe. At a time when many considered domestic abuse to
be a private family matter and victims were left to suffer in silence, this law
enshrined a simple promise: every American should be able to pursue a measure
of happiness free from the fear of harm.
From Cornell
William Brooks, President and CEO:
“Since
it was first enacted in 1994 with strong NAACP support, the Violence Against
Women Act has helped thousands of survivors of domestic violence and sexual
assault across our country, and has been instrumental in reducing annual rates
of domestic violence. Twenty years after the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, we have come
a long way, but there is still much work to do. The NAACP will continue working
with the Obama Administration to enforce these continued protections,
especially for women of color, who experience the highest reported rates of
domestic violence and sexual assault in the country. We commend Vice President
Joe Biden for his tireless leadership on this issue.”
From Hilary O.
Shelton, Sr. Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, Washington Bureau
Director:
“Twenty
years ago, the NAACP worked very closely with then Senate Judiciary Committee
Chairman Joe Biden to address the scourge of violence against women in the
United States. Because of our work with now Vice President Biden, we have
reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act three times to help ensure that
women of all races and ethnicities throughout the country receive the equal
protection our Constitution guarantees. Because of this historic piece of
legislation, we now have a permanent office in the Department of Justice that
helps not only implement the crucial provisions of the law, but also oversees
programs specifically created to help end an epidemic of violence that has in
all too many cases resulted in death. The NAACP looks forward to its continued
partnership with Vice President Biden and the Department of Justice to help
achieve the Violence Against Women Act’s full implementation
9. THE TRUTH IS THE
LIGHT
*The
Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based
on Biblical Text James 1:2-3: "My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall
into various trials; Knowing that the testing of your faith produces
patience." (NKJV)
James,
the self-proclaimed humble servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, was a man
of few words. James wrote five short powerful chapters reminding his readers
that having all the correct beliefs about God would not be enough. James, a
simple, down-to-earth preacher who seemed to be agitated with folk who refused
to live right, expounded on the subject of faith and applying faith in trials,
times of trouble and persecution. James highlights how it is necessary that we
act in accordance with our faith. This, of course, begs the question, just how
well does how we act in times of distress mirror the faith we proclaim to have?
Faith endures in the midst of trials and impacts every area of our lives. James
reminds us that we will experience both trials and temptations, and this should
produce a response of pure joy when life gets tough.
When
we find ourselves in between the proverbial "rock and a hard place,"
James is not advocating that we find joy in our trials, but that we find joy in
the results of our trials. In other words even negative circumstances can
produce positive qualities such as endurance.
Faith calls on God for wisdom. We are encouraged to ask for wisdom to
face our trials. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives
generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” We are
admonished that when we ask we must believe and not doubt, “because the one who
doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person
should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.”
A
wave being blown about by the wind has little or no control over its direction.
That certainly is no way for a professed Christian to live! We who profess to
be Christian should be careful not to doubt during trying times, least we
appear double minded. That is no doubt easier said than done. As a matter of
fact, truthfully speaking our initial response to a test or trial is not joy.
If we are honest we would admit that many times when we ask for help from God,
we keep our guard up and we are mired in doubt. James gets our attention
reminding us that we should not expect anything from God if we can’t boldly and
wholeheartedly ask and believe.
We
must be careful how we act during trials! God wants us to ask for help during
our test! We might not hear God's answer audibly, we might not see the results
of God's help immediately, but faith reminds us that God will respond. We must
never doubt this to be the truth as we are encouraged that we live by faith,
not by sight. Through our naked eyes we may only see our wretchedness,
helplessness and our hopelessness, but through the eyes of faith we are able to
see God’s wonderful working and the better things which God has prepared for
us.
Being
caught up in a powerful wave being blown and tossed by the wind is a dangerous
place to be, much like being blown about in the midst of a trial and temptation
can be a source of trouble for any Christian. Caught in the powerful wave being
dragged away from the beach one can drown as they fight the current, death
resulting from exhaustion.
Many
have felt hopeless in the midst of a strong trial and found themselves fighting
until separation from God occurs leaving them broken and dying away as
exhaustion creeps in their lives; that is not the purpose of trials. We should
ask God for help and muster up joy, knowing that our faith will help us endure. Faith calls on God for wisdom. Call out to
God, and if we don’t hear anything right away, keep calling, but take action.
The action we take should be in the form of devotion, worship, fellowship with
other believers and constant prayer. We must start addressing the hardship and trial
immediately.
We
must be aware that the enemy will waste no time twisting our thoughts into
doubt, so we must be sharper and quicker to respond with truth. Next, we must
check our resources. We must not attempt to go it alone. We need others to encourage
and help us, reminding us to keep our heart pure and remain joyful in all
things. We must not try to fight the current. In other words we must avoid
"doing it our way." We must surrender to God. We should never allow
our circumstances to determine our willingness to be obedient. We must continue
to tread water. We cannot be complacent. We must not "roll over and give
up." We must keep fighting the good fight and when exhaustion kicks in,
allow God to carry us.
Faith
reminds us that God is strength in our weakness. The current that is our trial
might take us deeper, but we will not be dragged under.
Faith
encourages us that God's power is sufficient. Just when we think we can’t take
anymore, God "shows up and shows out."
Therefore
beloved, hang on help is on the way. Jesus promised never to leave us nor
forsake us. We know by faith that Jesus will always be there. In the midst of
our trials faith reminds us that whatever we are going through today or later
down the road, consider it pure joy when trials come knowing that Jesus is
right beside us. He will not allow the waves of turmoil or despair to drag us
under. If we call on God in faith without doubting, God will always show up!
*The
Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church
in Charleston, South Carolina
10.
THE CDC LAUNCHES HIV TREATMENT WORKS, A NEW NATIONAL COMMUNICATION
CAMPAIGN:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
today launched HIV treatment works, a new national communication
campaign to increase the proportion of Americans
living with HIV who stay in care and on treatment.
HIV
Treatment Works
includes online, print, TV, and outdoor ads; social media outreach; and a dedicated
website with information and resources for people living with HIV. It is CDC’s
first communication campaign focused exclusively on encouraging treatment and
care for people living with HIV. The campaign reflects the diversity of people
living with HIV and shows how treatment and care empowers people to lead full
and healthier lives.
People
with HIV who start and continue treatment live longer and healthier lives and
are also 96 percent less likely to transmit HIV to others. Yet only one in four
of the 1.1 million Americans living with HIV have an undetectable viral load,
meaning that the virus is at a level that provides maximum health benefits and
reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to others. Treatment for health and
prevention is a key element in CDC’s HIV prevention toolkit.
Primary
Material
Related
Materials
Fact Sheet: Act
Against AIDS
Fact Sheet: HIV
in the United States: The Stages of Care
Fact Sheet: HIV
in the United States
For additional information, call CDC’s NCHHSTP News
Media line at (404) 639-8895, email NCHHSTPMediaTeam@cdc.gov or visit the NCHHSTP newsroom.
11. NATIONAL COD
CONFERENCE CULMINATES AT GREATER BETHEL AME CHURCH-NASHVILLE:
*Phyllis
Qualls-Brooks, Ed.D.
The
Consortium of Doctors, Ltd., a national organization comprised of African-American
women, who have achieved the doctoral degree in their fields of study, held its
national conference in Nashville, TN in July 2014. Leadership in the organization includes Atty.
Carolyn Thomas, Director, a member of historic Quinn Chapel AME in Chicago, IL
and Dr. Phyllis Qualls-Brooks, Conference Logistics Chair/Secretary and a
member of Greater Bethel AME in Nashville, TN.
Atty. Battle is Pro Tem of the Steward Board at Quinn Chapel and Dr.
Qualls-Brooks is a member of the Steward Board at Greater Bethel.
This
year's theme was Improving Health and Wellness in African American
Families. The weekend conference was
full of activities involving Fisk University, Meharry Medical College and other
areas throughout Nashville. The
conference ended on Sunday morning with worship at Greater Bethel AME
Church-Nashville, which also included a Sunday School Lesson by Sis. Novella
Page and brunch prepared by Chef Darlette Barnett and the McCline-Akins Class
and other members of Greater Bethel.
*Phyllis
Qualls-Brooks, Ed.D is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Economic Council
on Women
12. THE THIRD
ANNUAL CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SUMMIT:
The
Third Annual CME Unity Summit will be held Tuesday, September 23, 2014 through
Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Sheraton Memphis Downtown located at 250
North Main Street in Memphis, Tennessee.
Bishop
Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Dr. Doris Y. Williamson and the members of the First
Episcopal District will host the CME Unity Summit.
CMEtv
will broadcast live the services at http://cmetvnetwork.com/.
For
up-to-date information about the Unity Summit:
You
will be able to view live the services via the app and the CME group Facebook
page!
Conference
Hotels:
Sheraton
Memphis Downtown
250
North Main Street
Memphis,
TN 38103
Telephone:
(901) 527-7300
Crowne
Plaza
300
Second Street
Memphis,
TN 38105
Telephone: (901) 525-1800
The
CME Unity Summit Executive Committee:
Bishop
Thomas L. Brown, Sr., Chair
Retired
Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, Sr., Program Chair
Bishop
Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Finance Chair
Bishop
Kenneth W. Carter, Sponsorship Chair
Senior
Bishop Lawrence Reddick
Dr.
Tyrone T. Davis, Executive Director
Dr.
Jeanette L. Bouknight, Executive Secretary
Ms.
Theresa Duhart, Registrar
13. MANY CHURCH
CHOIRS ARE DYING. HERE’S WHY:
(RNS)
James Merritt spent years as senior pastor of an Atlanta-area megachurch that
featured a mighty choir.
Then
he changed his tune.
At
50, he left First Baptist Church Snellville to plant a new church — 200 people
in a rented space at a high school 12 miles away — focused on reaching a young
generation.
There
was and is no choir. And that puts Merritt’s current congregation, Cross Pointe
Church, right on trend.
The
newly released National Congregations Study finds church choirs are on the downbeat
in white Protestant churches across the theological spectrum.
Choirs
stand strong in black Protestant congregations, where 90 percent of regular
attendees say there’s a choir at the main service. The same is true for three
in four (76 percent) Catholic worshippers.
But
among white conservative evangelicals, only 40 percent of worshippers say they
hear a choir at services, down from 63 percent 14 years ago.
For
those who attend liberal or moderate Protestant congregations, there’s a
similar slide to 50 percent in 2012, down from 78 percent in 1998.
Sales
for the music for choral anthems, slipped so deeply four years ago that the
United Methodist Church’s publishing arm, Abingdon Press, stopped buying new
anthem music, said Mary Catherine Dean, associate publisher.
A
singer with Cross Pointe Worship Team rocks out during a performance. Photo
courtesy of Cross Pointe Church
This image is available for Web and print
publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.
Merritt,
a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, is quick to say, “I’m
not knocking choirs.”
A
lot of thought went into eliminating the choir at Cross Pointe.
“Practically,
if a choir is going to be top shelf, people have to come at least one night a
week and rehearse at least two hours. Then, a top-shelf choir is going to want
to sing every service and do Christmas cantatas and special events,” said
Merritt.
“That
takes staff, an orchestra, a big enough stage. That costs money. When we were
starting up in 2003, we decided we would be better stewards not to invest in
that.”
Philosophically,
said Merritt, “We saw where the culture was headed. The younger generation
doesn’t gravitate toward choirs.”
Today,
Cross Pointe, with nearly 2,800 people in weekend worship, is “a very
contemporary, very band-driven church,” serving a multiethnic,
multigenerational congregation at two campuses.
Merritt’s
reasoning mirrors that of experts who see choirs shrinking, if not falling
silent.
People
are reluctant to perform.
Mary
Preus, choir director at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, blames
“our culture of performance and expertise. We don’t sing anywhere else in our
lives the way we once did. I grew up singing in home, in school and church
every week. Now, people think they are not good enough to sing,” she said.
People
move.
Alan
Purdum, minister of music for Howland Community Church near Youngstown, Ohio,
said, “Our choir survives because some of my friends and my wife are in it.” On
Sunday mornings, eight to 12 people and a hired soprano sing for about 80
people at services where, 40 years ago, a choir of 30 voices sang to hundreds
in the pews.
The
recession was a blow.
“Music
is an area that can be cut when dollars are scarce in the (offering) plate,”
painful as that may be, said Terre Johnson, national chairman for music in
worship for the American Choral Directors Association.
Thirteen
years ago, when Joey Lott became been director of worship arts for Maples
Memorial United Methodist Church in Olive Branch, Miss., there were 55 voices
in the choir. “In 2008 when the recession hit, I lost 15 members of my choir in
six months. They had to move elsewhere for work. That started the descent. From
there, I am now down to about 25 people,” Lott said.
Yet
choir leaders adapt and sing.
Preus
has spent decades working to “revive the joy of singing” at Our Saviour’s. She
does it with creative choices for music and staging. Choir members don’t sit or
stand in a special spot. They don’t wear special clothes or robes, said Preus.
“They just stand up wherever they are in the pews and sing.”
And
because traditional choral music can be challenging for even the most talented
of singers, she takes time to hunt down more accessible music, often drawing on
music from Africa and Latin America.
Don’t
count choirs out, said Eileen Guenther, professor of church music at Wesley
Theological Seminary in Washington and former president of the American Guild
of Organists.
“Churches
are struggling to find the style that is most engaging. But there’s a reason
choral music is called ‘traditional.’ It’s been around a while. Contemporary
music may not have as much staying power,” Guenther said.
It
may be that what is fading away is the “performance choir,” replaced by choirs
that lead the whole congregation in song, said Charles Billingsley, worship
pastor for Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., and artist in
residence at Liberty University.
“We
are in the age of church planting, and a lot of these startups are small. But I
see even some of these churches will throw up some risers and have 20, 30, 40
people sing,” he said.
Thomas
Road, founded by the late Jerry Falwell, has “a loft full of singers, 300
people in the choir. But their main function,” he said is to “be an army of
worship voices leading the people of God into the presence of God.”
*Used
with permission of the United Methodist News Service
14. GETTING TO
ZERO: KEEP INFORMED:
*The
Rev. Dr. A. Oveta Fuller
The
word today is a reminder: HIV/AIDS has not gone away. It will not disappear. Prayer changes things, but payer alone will
not eradicate HIV/AIDS. Ignoring
HIV/AIDS will not eradicate it. HIV/AIDS
is not magic and no one can pull it out of a hat like it’s a rabbit. HIV/AIDS
is not funny and will not be a Saturday
Night Live skit.
HIV/AIDS
is real and it is something that we will need to continue address and hopefully
one day we will Get to Zero!
*The
Rev. Dr. A. Oveta Fuller is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and
Immunology and Faculty of the African Studies Center at the University of
Michigan and Adjunct Faculty at Payne Theological Seminary. An Itinerant Elder
in the 4th Episcopal District, she conducts HIV/AIDS prevention
research in Zambia and the USA. She lived in Zambia for most of 2013 as a J.
William Fulbright Scholar.
15. iCHURCH SCHOOL
LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, PROPERTY FOR SALE - JEREMIAH 32:2-9, 14-15:
Bill
Dickens, Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington
The
US Great Recession of 2008-2009 was characterized primarily by a collapse in
the financial market which led to spillover effects in two key markets: labor
market and the housing market. The
financial meltdown was precipitated by overly aggressive money lenders
attempting to reap huge economic rewards in the unregulated subprime mortgage
market. The housing bubble burst due to
the over-leveraged lenders unable to back subprime loans when such loans were
due to be paid.
This
so-called liquidity crisis saw many financial institutions closing (their
assets were largely illiquid) and a drying up of money due to an erosion in
confidence about the banking system. A
weakened financial sector created a domino effect as the housing market
collapsed thus causing unemployment to rise. Homes that once sold for $500,000
were now selling for 50% of that value resulting in many homeowners being
“under water.”
The
author of Ecclesiastes stated that there is “no new thing under the sun” (Eccl.
1:9). One might think that the financial
meltdown of 2008 and the housing market collapse were unprecedented in the
annals of human history. Such a
conclusion would be a mistake.
Today’s
lesson describes an important teaching moment in economic history with the help
of divine providence. What differentiates our Church Lesson with the recent
financial meltdown is the role God Himself will play as the chief catalyst for
economic recovery. Economists (like
your author) and non-economists will be spiritually fed and intellectually
enriched with Jeremiah’s model of economic recovery for Israel. How does the prophet do this? Glad you asked; let’s begin with the Bible
Story!
Jeremiah 32:2-9: A
Prisoner a Politician and a Plan
Chapter
32 begins with a historical prologue (verses 1-5), situating this prophetic
action in "the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the
eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar" (verse 1), or in 588 BC. The historical
context of this passage corresponds to the second siege of Jerusalem just
before the eventual fall of the city in 587 BC.
Jeremiah
is being held captive in the "court of the guard" (verse 2) because
of his negative oracles, which predicted the fall of the city and the capture
of the king by the Babylonians. A thin-skinned King of Judah (Zedekiah)
imprisoned Jeremiah because of the prophet’s unequivocal message about the
pending Babylonian victory and capture of the Jerusalem. Like most politicians lacking in vision,
Zedekiah takes out his frustration on the messenger by ignoring the message,
(verses 4-5).
The
passage has a basic structure, beginning with the word of the LORD coming to
Jeremiah in verses 6-7. The LORD tells Jeremiah that Hanamel, his uncle
Shallum's son, would come to the prophet saying, "Buy my field that is at
Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours." (Verse 7).
This word is confirmed in verse 8 when Hanamel comes and makes the request. In
the remaining verses of today's reading, Jeremiah recounts in detail how he
fulfilled the LORD's command to purchase the field (verses 9--15), which
includes an interpretation of this prophetic action in verse 15.
In
the prophetic literature, symbolic action was a common way of conveying the
"word" of the LORD. These embodied performances, which were common in
the ancient Near East, usually contained three basic elements: 1) the deity's
instruction to the prophet; 2) a report that describes the fulfillment of the
prophetic action; and 3) an interpretation of the act. Just like the prophetic
word, these actions were not merely the prophet's best-guess at upcoming
events. These acts initiated the future in the present. They proclaimed in
embodied form the "here not yet" of the LORD's acts in history.
Jeremiah 32: 14-15:
Redemption and Economic Recovery
The
Lord instructs Jeremiah to purchase the field, because the prophet has the
right to redeem it. This well-known practice in ancient Israel involved the
purchase of land by the next of kin, usually when a relative had died, in order
to keep property within the clan (Ruth 4). The significance of this action is
profound given the historical context of the second Babylonian siege of
Jerusalem.
The
judgment of the LORD was certain. The fate of the people was sealed. In fact,
it was being fulfilled even as Jeremiah was signing the deed of purchase.
However, in the middle of this catastrophic set of events, God initiates a word
of hope through the prophet's actions. Jeremiah, quite literally, puts his
money where his mouth is. These actions put in motion a reality that is nearly
impossible to envision given the current state of events.
Just
like many critics jeer and reject the work of respected scientists today,
Jeremiah’s critics did the same. If we
are to fully reap the bountiful blessings God has preserved for us on Earth we
must not quickly discount ideas as heresy simply because we don’t understand
the nature of the work. Such
anti-intellectual thoughts and commentaries were in wide circulation in
Jeremiah’s lifetime. Jeremiah’s message
was a message of discomfort but as verse 15 demonstrates God can and will
restore peace, order and prosperity.
*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
16. MEDITATION
BASED ON PSALM 27:
*The
Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I’m
writing this meditation on the week after Apple unveiled the iPhone 6 - the
company’s new and improved smartphone. I
followed the details of the unveiling, was impressed with the new phone’s
features, and look forward to purchasing one - a few months from now.
I
won’t be in the long lines of people camped out at Apple stores to get the
phone on its first day of sale, and I haven’t “pre-ordered” one either for
three simple reasons - waiting a few months gives time for any hardware “bugs”
to be fixed, my iPhone 5 still works just fine, and in a few days, Apple will
offer iPhone 5 owners a free download of the new phone’s operating system that
will enable my present phone to do many of the things that the new phone can
do. I’m a fan of new technology, but
I’ve learned that a little patience sometimes pays off.
A
little patience is a good thing, not only when it comes to technology, but also
when it comes to life. We live in a
world that demands instant results, rewards and gratification; a world of
drive-through restaurants, instant messaging and next day delivery of things
that we buy so that we don’t have to wait for them to arrive.
We’re
conditioned to expect instant results, but life’s unexpected occurrences can
easily crush our expectations. Sickness,
grief, sorrow and disappointment can get in the way of our having what we want
when we want it and can easily leave us feeling frustrated, aggravated and
discouraged.
When
we take the time, however, to let God set the pace for our lives; we can find
new balance in a world of instant expectations.
We’ll be assured that the God who created and redeemed us will always be
there for us, and that even if God doesn’t immediately give us all that we
want, God will never fail to give us just what we need.
Take
the time each day to slow down, count your blessings and let God set the pace
for your life. You’ll find new
assurance, new direction, new confidence and new appreciation for the words of
the Psalmist who said, “Wait on the Lord and be of good courage, and God will
strengthen your heart.”
This
Meditation is also available as a Blog on the Beaufort District’s Website: www.beaufortdistrict.org
On
Facebook at: www.facebook.com/BeaufortDistrictAMEC
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
17. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
are saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Paul Leon Sparrow, brother of the
Rev. Clifton E. Sparrow, Sr. pastor of Mt. Pleasant AMEC Church in Owings Mill,
Maryland.
The
following are the viewing/ homegoing service arrangements for Mr. Paul Leon
Sparrow:
Monday,
September 22, 2014
Viewing
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday,
September 23, 2014
Family
Hour (Viewing) 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing
Service 11:00 a.m.
Both
the viewings and homegoing service will be held at:
Columbia
Community Church
8516
Thomas Williams Way
Columbia,
MD 21045
The
church is located off of Rt. 108, just east of Howard High School (Jonestown).
There
will be a repast at the church immediately following the service. The burial will be at a later date at the
Arlington National Cemetery.
Condolences/expressions
should be sent to:
The
Rev. Clifton E. Sparrow, Sr.
3
Mainview Court
Randallstown,
MD 21133
Email:
revsparrow@comcast.net
18. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
regret to announce the passing of Dorrisa Lightsey, the sister of the Rev.
Clarence A. Martin, Sr., pastor of Metropolitan AME Church in Lansdowne,
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia Conference, South District). The following
information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Saturday,
September 20, 2014:
Viewing
- 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Funeral
- 11:00 a.m.
Jehovah
Jireh Baptist Church
4807
Haverford Ave.
Philadelphia,
PA 19131
Telephone:
215-473-0895
The
Rev. Deon Murphy, Pastor
Expressions
of Sympathy can be sent to:
The
Rev. Clarence A. Martin & Family
7
King Court
Boothwyn,
PA 19061
19. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
are saddened to announce the passing of Mr. Wallace Johnson, Jr., the brother
of the Rev. George Cockrell, pastor of Moore's Swamp AME Church in Ivanhoe,
North Carolina. Please keep the Rev.
Cockrell and the Johnson family in your prayers.
Services
for Mr. Wallace Johnson, Jr. are as follows:
Saturday,
September 20, 2014
Visitation:
1:00 PM
Funeral: 2:00 PM
Bethel
Pine Baptist Church
796
Sumter 22
Coatopa,
AL 35470
The
funeral home address:
McInnis
Mortuary
110
Marshall Street
Livingston,
AL 35470
Telephone:
(205) 652-9138 or (205) 372-9994
Please
send words of comfort to the family:
The
Rev. George Cockrell
1116
Bowling Green Drive
Fayetteville,
NC 28304
Cell:
(910) 751 -8000
Email:
supplication@hushmail.com
20. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
21. CONDOLENCES TO THE
BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend
T. Larry Kirkland; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the
Editor of The Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer
our condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray that the
peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement.
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