THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (02/28/14)

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

Ash Wednesday: March 5, 2014

Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m.: Daylight Saving Time (United States) 2014 begins

Easter: April 20, 2014

1. TCR EDITORIAL – SOME MORE COMMENTS ABOUT ROBES AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS:

Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III

The 20^th Editor of The Christian Recorder

I have heard several comments in response to my editorial on the rationale for the wearing of robes by clergy and one person responded that the crux of the editorial was the comment, “…the robe helps parishioners to focus their attention on the message rather than on the messenger.” 

Another person wrote, “I have seen some robes in pulpits that were just as distracting as the most colorful zoot suit.  And, I had to agree because I have seen some outrageously decorated robes for sale at the Hampton University Ministers Conference. The robes were expensive and some preachers were purchasing them.

A minister asked, “What about the inappropriate wearing of robes.  I have seen pastors wearing robes, even at our annual conference, that were unbuttoned, ill-fitting, and some that looked like they were slept in.”  I had to agree that I have observed the same things, but it’s not confined to the ministry. When I was at Hampton University, there were a few, not many, just a few professors who hadn’t taken care of their academic regalia and one or two who had “out-grown” their robes.

It was interesting to hear and read a few of the various comments. I guess some pastors wear the robe without ties and unbuttoned shirts, and even tee shirts.  My thinking is that a fix for that would be for those pastors to wear albs and in that way it wouldn’t matter what kind of shirt they wore.

The most recurring comments were reserved for choirs with the question, “What about the choir?” 

The choir

The appearance of the choir is a no-brainer for me.

Choir robes enhance the disciplined uniform look for the singers in the worship service. Appropriate nice-fitting robes for choir members is the ideal, but having said that I know that choir robes are expensive and some churches might not be able to afford the expense of purchasing robes.  

And there might be other churches that prefer the more informal look by not wearing robes; but having said that, if robes are not worn, the members of the choir should have some standard of dress that is not a distraction in worship.  Choirs like the clergy, play an important part in worship.  How the choir is dressed, like clergy wearing of robes, should help parishioners to focus their attention on the message of the ministry of music rather than on the messengers.

I saw a choir at one of our connectional meetings and the choir was awesome and all of the members except for one, were dressed uniformly in black and white; white shirts and blouses and black trousers and shirts. The man who did his own thing was dressed in an orange (or some odd color) suit. He was a distraction and brought attention to himself. I heard someone behind me whisper, “I guess brother-man didn’t get the word about what he was supposed to wear.”  I wondered why one of the music directors allowed him to sing. I must confess that he was good lead-singer and had a great voice, but he was a distraction.

Uniform dress for choir members demonstrates discipline and order and enhances the worship atmosphere. Uniform dress for choir members shows obedience and uniformity. Uniform dress for choir members is indicative of good order and discipline and lets parishioners know that the choir members are on duty and are prepared to do God’s work in worship. 

And, while we are talking about good order and discipline, if the choir is not going to process into the choir area, it should have some orderly and decorous procedure for moving to the choir area instead of choir members meandering, shuffling and chatting as they go to the choir area. 

Choir members and clergy are not the only “worship warriors.”

Ushers

The ushers are on-duty when they are serving in the capacity of being ushers.  In every profession or work-related environment, the workers on duty have a dress code.  Doctors, nurses, waitresses, mechanics, barbers, school teachers, store clerks all have rules for dress when they are on duty. 

Ushers, in many ways, set the tone for parishioners’ worship experience and those who serve as ushers should be cognizant of their important roles in worship.

Ushers should dress appropriately and be uniform in their dress, even if it is no more than a uniform color scheme, e.g., purple and gold, crimson and cream, black and gold, pink and green, blue and white, red and white or black and white.

The clergy, choirs, and ushers are the three groups in worship that should be appropriately and uniformly attired. Their participation should help parishioners focus upon God, the Word of God and things spiritual; and the clergy, choir members or ushers should be dressed or attired in ways that do not call attention to them; and they should remember that the focus in worship should be on the message rather than on the messengers who are tasked with delivering or facilitating the delivery of the message. 

Another thing

I am concerned that when we drive by churches, we can identify the ethnic makeup of the congregation by the physical condition of the building and the grounds; and that’s not an AME problem, it is a problem “across the board.”  I am not talking about the size of the building, but the upkeep of the building and the grounds.  A church can be small, but it needs to be clean; trash needs to be picked up, fences mended, trash cans replaced, mailboxes repaired, windows washed, grass mowed, hedges trimmed, buildings painted and other repairs made.  And, even if this is not an AME problem, I am concerned about our churches. I know that “cleanliness is next to Godliness” is not in the Bible, but we probably should act like it is in the Bible and clean up our churches!

Our trustees need to understand the importance of “deferred maintenance” rather than “ignored maintenance.” Too many of our churches function under the notion of “ignored maintenance” lamenting the absence of adequate funding, but if we really believe that “God will make a way out of no way,” then we have to function in a way that God will provide for our needs.  I believe that churches who function under the notion of “ignored maintenance” do so because of laziness and with trustees and parishioners who do not “give a hoot” about the condition of the church because they have gotten used to a church in disrepair and it becomes their “normal.”     

The house of God should represent our best service to God. We should be willing and honored to give only our best to God.  Our worship of God should be in the highest praise of God.

The church building should look like a blessing from God. The building, inside and out, and the sanctuary should always be in a posture of welcoming people to God. People should want to come into the church to reflect upon the goodness of God.

The church building should represent the Presence of God. And, the church facilities should always be in a condition that represents the Presence of God.

Deferred maintenance rather than “ignored maintenance” will keep God’s House in a condition that represents the Presence of God.

2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:

-- To the Editor:

RE: Holy Communion, Worship and the Rationale for the Wearing of Robes by Clergy (Part 2):

I enjoyed your editorial.  Just wonder if the folk who need to read it and "be advised" ever do.  Somewhere along the way, maybe our seminaries might include in the curriculum, "Attire 101," which of course is a course number for a first-year undergraduate course.  Sometimes I wonder if it's our "mixing" with the other culture. 

I agree that we ought to accept members as they are, but do our clergy have to blend in too?  May the toes you stepped on really hurt.

Name Withheld

-- To the Editor:

RE: Stand, sit and kneel in worship

I am pleasantly surprised at all of the writings that connect so well to my ministry in the Episcopal Church.  I am serving in a wonderful parish at a very old church that is over 150 years old. 

I am in the middle of a conversation with some very traditional folks in my congregation who do many things that they know are traditional, but they don't have an understanding of why things are done the way they are done.  One of my strategies is to hold conversations about those traditions which have no theological meat on them.  One of your helpful items in one of your recent editorials involved when to stand, sit, and kneel in worship; that piece was so timely. Thank you.

Name Withheld

3. I ASK:

*Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry

-- I Ask

I have probably addressed this with you before and now that the "I Ask” column is available, I'll try again. 

I'm reviewing the reports for the Quarterly Conference and noticed that changes were made in the salutation.  The first line was changed from Bishop Adam J. Richardson to the Right Rev...........

I can't revise what's done at this point.  When he was my pastor, the question came up in a group setting and his answer to us was; there is no such title in our Church.  It is used by the Roman Catholic Church.  I didn't use quotation marks here because I can't remember all of the conversation verbatim anymore, age thing.  It’s not in our book of Discipline (can't remember what Turner said).

I guess my question to Bishop Guidry would be "why do we use the title Right Reverend when it's not in our system. 

Bishop Guidry’s Response to the Question:

You are right, the title "The Right Reverend" is not in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church- 2012, but neither are the titles: “Reverend, Rev. Dr., Rev. or Mr.” and other titles we use to identify our clergy. It appears that over the history of the Christian Church, titles have been used to identify those who are ordained to preach and/or pastor our congregations.  I could not find any dates when these "traditions" began.

I did find the following information in Wikipedia:"The Right Reverend (abbreviations: The Rt. Revd; The Rt. Rev'd; The Rt. Rev.) is a style applied to certain religious figures. In Methodism, as in the Anglican tradition, the style is also applied to bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church."

By the way, if this is an issue for you personally, I am sure “BISHOP (Name) would be acceptable.

*Retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry is the 122^nd Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

4. A CALL TO ACTION - STAND YOUR GROUND:

*Bishop Reginald T. Jackson

On February 15, a jury in Jacksonville, Florida handed down a verdict in the case brought by the State of Florida against Michael Dunn who was accused in a five count indictment of murder in the first degree, three accounts of attempted second degree murder and one count of shooting at an occupied van. After almost 32 hours of deliberations the jury reached a verdict on four of the five charges, finding Dunn guilty on the three charges of attempted second degree murder and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle. The jury said it could not reach a verdict on the first count, murder in the first degree. Jordon Davis, a seventeen year old black male died as a result of the shots fired by Michael Dunn. Jordon Davis would have turned nineteen on February 16th. Michael Dunn could serve at least sixty years in prison, as a result of his conviction on the four counts, meaning he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

As much as we are pleased that Michael Dunn will spend the rest of his life in prison, the jury’s failure to reach a verdict on the first count, murder in the first degree should cause all of us concern and disappointment. Dunn says he shot Davis because he felt threatened. At a Jacksonville gas station, he asked the young men in the van to turn down their music and Davis threatened him verbally, and then he saw Davis with a gun, causing him to fire at Davis and the other young men in the vehicle. Police at the scene of the shooting found no gun, and Dunn’s girlfriend who was with him but in the store when the incident occurred says her boyfriend never mentioned Davis or any of the other males having a gun. Following the incident Dunn drove back to his hotel, ate pizza, walked his dog and drank rum and coke. He never called 911 to report what happened.

During the trial Dunn used Florida’s “stand your ground law” to justify him killing Davis and shooting at the other young men. What should alarm and disappoint us is that the jury’s failure to convict Dunn of first degree murder says that some of the juror’s felt Dunn was justified in killing Davis, despite the fact that no evidence was entered during the trial to corroborate his testimony. How can you convict him of wrongly shooting at the other three passengers, and find nothing wrong with him killing Jordon Davis? Failing to convict Dunn of killing Davis, says that Davis life didn’t matter and has less value than other lives.  Jordon Davis lived and justice demands that someone has to be accountable for taking his life.

This lack of a verdict also requires that action be taken to change “stand your ground laws.” These laws are causing some people to act irresponsibly and feel they can shoot people without having to show or explain why. It is particularly alarming and cries out for action because of its impact regarding shooting of black males. The shooting of Trayvon Martin’s and Jordon Davis’s are becoming too familiar and these shootings are not coincidental. “Stand your ground laws” require us to do more than be disappointed, angry, grieve and pass resolutions. It requires us to act.

But what can we do. The Social Action Commission recommends the following action:

There are twenty four (24) states that have some kind of “stand your ground law.” The Episcopal Districts or Annual Conferences that have these laws should seek to schedule a meeting with governors and state legislators to discuss changes or repealing these laws. Meetings should be held with lawyers, legislators, law enforcement and others to prepare recommended changes so that when meetings are held we have something substantive to put on the table.

We must be insistent on meeting with the governors and state legislators, they are the decision makers and we are their constituents. It would be wise to expand the group to include other denominations to join us. Additionally, it would be wise to inform the press of our efforts to meet with political leaders

Of the twenty four (24) states with “stand your ground laws”, fourteen (14) have gubernatorial elections this November. We must make the “stand your ground law” an issue in these elections. The candidates will not make it an issue; we must make it an issue. At campaign events we must raise it with the candidates, at debates we must ask reporters and moderators to raise questions about “stand your ground”, in our churches and community meetings we must talk about “stand your ground.” If “stand your ground” is not an issue in these elections, it will b because we didn’t make it an issue.

The Social Action Commission stands ready to assist any Episcopal District or Annual Conference to act on this issue. Again, we have lost another unarmed young black male to “stand your ground” and again the person who shot them has not been found guilty for taking their lives. It is time for us to act!

*Bishop Reginald T. Jackson is the Chair of the AMEC Social Action Commission

5. A SEASON OF RENEWAL FOR WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY:

February 20, 2014 –Wilberforce, Ohio: Wilberforce University is entering a season of renewal, a top Ohio lawmaker told a convocation marking the 158th anniversary of the University’s founding.

Tracy Maxwell Heard (D-Columbus), Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives, called Wilberforce University “a national treasure.” She urged friends of the University to support it now to honor the University’s heritage and “pay it forward” to future generations.

Wilberforce University, the nation’s first institution of higher learning owned and operated by African Americans, was established in 1856. In recent years, she noted, the University has battled rising costs and declining enrollment.

But struggles are nothing new for Wilberforce, Heard told the gathering. Over its long history, the University has always “risen like a phoenix” following each setback, she said. “Sheer force of will” helped the University overcome each time, Heard said, beginning during Wilberforce University’s early years.

Established by the Methodist and African Methodist Episcopal churches, the University served many mixed-race children of slaveholding families after opening its doors in 1856. It faced its first crisis as the Civil War began, when Southern families withdrew students from the University and brought them home. The drop in enrollment forced the University to close its doors in 1862, she said.

But “like a phoenix,” Wilberforce University rose again, Heard told the gathering. Bishop Daniel Payne of the African Methodist Episcopal Church purchased the campus for $10,000 in 1863 and reopened it. The affiliation with the African Methodist Episcopal Church has endured, Heard said, and continues today.

A few years later, the University literally “rose from the ashes” after a fire destroyed the University’s largest building, Heard said. The sprawling wood frame building had been the centerpiece of the Tawawa Springs resort that became the University campus. Wilberforce University rebuilt the lost building in short order, this time with bricks and stone, she said.

Over the decades, Wilberforce University has endured good times and bad to reach many milestones, Heard said, including a work-study program that gives students real-world experience and aerospace research programs that prepare students for a high-tech future career.

A tough economy has taken a toll on enrollment in recent years, Heard said, increasing the importance of scholarship support for students. Heard urged her audience to rally around the University today, honor past investments in the legacy institution and help it build strength for the future. “We should celebrate not just what once was, but what Wilberforce University can be,” Heard said.

Following her address to the gathering, Wilberforce University awarded Heard an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Heard, the first African American woman to hold the office of Ohio House Majority Leader (later becoming Minority Leader when the Ohio House majority changed hands), delivered her remarks to an audience of Wilberforce students, faculty, administrators, board members and friends.

The commemoration held Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the Alumni Multiplex on the Wilberforce University campus, began and ended with cap and gown processions of faculty members and administrators. Attendees learned during the event that the University now has a new interim president. The chair of the Wilberforce University Board of Trustees (Col. William R. Lee, Wilberforce Class of 1954) announced the appointment of Dr. Wilma Mishoe to the interim post. A veteran educator and administrator, Dr. Mishoe was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees prior to her appointment.

Col. Lee said a University search committee continues the national search for the University’s next president, following the retirement of University president Patricia Hardaway in December, 2013.

An upbeat mood prevailed during the two-hour commemoration of Wilberforce University’s long and storied 158 years, which included musical performances by students and faculty from the University’s music program. A guest vocalist from nearby Cedarville University also performed at the event as part of an ongoing musical collaboration between the two institutions.

In the end, attendees at the convocation appeared to share the sentiment expressed in of one of many prayers offered during the program. Reverend Ellis Louden (Wilberforce Class of 1971) thanked the Almighty for Wilberforce University and “for making the impossible possible for this precious gift.”

6. BETHEL AME CHURCH OBSERVES FOUNDER’S DAY 2014:

Written by Theresa W. Bennett Wilkes

Richard Allen the first Consecrated Presiding Prelate of the African Methodist Episcopal Church said, "This land, which we have watered with our tears and our blood, is now our mother country, and we are well satisfied to stay where wisdom abounds and the gospel is free.”

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Greensboro, NC observed the 227th anniversary of the founding of the A.M.E. Church on Sunday,, February 9, 2014 at 10:30 am. Our Scripture, Genesis 28:13, “...And there was the Lord, standing beside him. “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham and Isaac,” he said. “I will give to you and to your descendants this land on which you are lying…” (Good News Translation), was revealed to Richard Allen and remains relevant to the cause of our Zion.

Our theme, “Fulfilling our Mission through Service in the Present Age” was eloquently and powerfully expounded on by our speaker, Dr. Rosalind Fuse-Hall, seventeenth president of Bennett College. She skillfully defined and articulated the historic and continuing relationship between the Black church and our Black colleges and universities while exhorting listeners to be of service in this present age.

Our theme for Founders’ Day 2014 comes from the second verse of the hymn, "A Charge to Keep I have: To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill; O may it all my powers engage to do my Master’s will."  The lyrics were written by Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, founders of the Methodist movement. They speak to the four elements comprising the focus of our observance: self-determination, political activism, educational expectations, and economic empowerment. Bishop Allen wrote, “The only place blacks felt they could maintain an element of self-expression was the church.”

We celebrate Founders’ Day to commemorate the organization and establishment of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. We observe Founders’ Day to rekindle the memory, and reaffirm our connection to the vision of Richard Allen and its meaning for us in this present age. We honor the history, heritage and legacy of the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a reminder of the journey on which our forebears embarked more than two centuries ago in their quest for freedom from enslavement and recognition as heirs to the rights and privileges of citizenship ordained by the principles and policies governing this nation. We proudly proclaim that we are A.M.E. and we thank God for the wisdom, humility, courage, and determination of the founders of this great denomination,

A luncheon in the Ruth Cousin Fellowship Hall, beautifully decorated in Afrocentric themes, and featuring historical trivia on the A.M.E. Church, rounded out the observance. The drama ministry presented a three act play entitled, Mother Bethel, Richard, the Bishop, and Sarah, the Missionary, which was a reenactment of the events leading up to the founding of the church intertwined with a chronological narration.

*Sister Theresa Bennett-Wilkes is a member of Bethel AME Church in Greensboro, North Carolina and is the daughter, sister, niece, and cousin of itinerant elders in the AME Church

7. BETHEL AME CHURCH-BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA CELEBRATES FOUNDER’S DAY:

“A Purpose to Worship-Giving Thanks for the Past, the Present, and the Future” was the theme for the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church-Baton Rouge, Louisiana celebration of the legacy of founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishop Richard Allen. Observed on Sunday, February 16^th, the focus was the AME Church’s emphasis on education.

The guest speaker for the worship service was Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr., superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School District. In his message, Dr. Taylor stated that in spite of the many obstacles we as a people have faced, we continue to move forward. Our children are in a ripe position to become whatever they want to become. We must remain vigilant and watchful about what others (writer’s italics) want for OUR children. When it comes to our children, we cannot rest. We can and must be involved in the “ministry of presence” by volunteering in our schools. “We have a storied past, and a challenging present and future…Stay strong in the Lord…It’s about faith and hard word.”

The Bethel Mass Choir, under the co-direction of Freddie Williams and Larry Smith ministered in song. The congregation was spiritually uplifted by the intergenerational Liturgical Dance Ministry which danced to “Break Every Chain.”

Before announcing the Benediction, the esteemed pastor of Bethel, Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. acknowledged the Founder’s Day chairperson Millie Williams and the committee. She in turn made a presentation to Dr. Taylor on behalf of the Bethel family. Members of the congregation were able to greet Dr. Taylor at the repast that followed the service.

We give God all glory and praise for the founder and founding of our great Zion, the Right Reverend Richard Allen.

Submitted by Dr. Patricia A. Turner-Brown, Associate Minister at Baton Rouge AME Church

8. MONUMENTAL AME CHURCH “AN OASIS OF AFRICAN METHODISM” CELEBRATES 142^ND ANNIVERSARY “LIVING THE LEGACY – FIRST THINGS FIRST”:

Guest Preacher: Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram

Presiding Prelate 1st Episcopal District -African Methodist Episcopal Church

                                                                                                                                         

By: Anita Hanna Matthews, Local Lay President

The Monumental AME Church Family graciously welcomed our Bishop, the Right Reverend Gregory G.M. Ingram, when he arrived at our house of worship on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013 to join us as we celebrated our 142nd Church Anniversary.

Under the creative and energetic leadership of our newly appointed Pastor, the Reverend Troy Lynn Carr, a plethora of enthusiasm and preparation had permeated throughout the hallowed walls of our beloved church for several weeks.

Monumental (constructed by the members in 1871) stands tall at the corner of 2nd and Adams Sts. and has a rich legacy that resonate an essence in our community of Christian service, sacrifice, determination and the pride of our ancestors “upon whose shoulders we stand”;  and in one  of our previous souvenir journals it relives the historical data of Monumental being the first AME Church in Steelton -- serving as a refuge (oases) for flood victims, a soup kitchen, a school room for public education, a religious Christian disciple training ground for ministers and pastors who serve throughout the AME Churches – as well as for our laity who had their first “public speaking and musical talents” initiation on our Sunday School stage as we recited our “Christmas, Easter and Children’s Day recitations and “pieces.”

        

And, yes, my sisters and brothers, our pastor and clergy staff continues to wear and preach in clerical robes; on first Sundays we recite the full Decalogue. We are yet singing in our choir robes the great “hymns” of the church, as well as spirituals, gospels and some contemporary songs and our musician plays the pipe organ as well as the keyboard.

During  our Anniversary Worship Service our  participating guests  included our present Presiding Elder the Rev. Lawrence C. Henryhand (Harrisburg District of the Philadelphia Annual Conference) and our former Presiding Elder the Rev. Robert O. Bailey (retired) who is one of the "sons of Monumental."

From the time the Community Youth Step Team, under the direction of a youth leader Sis. Helen Green, set the tone through the pulsating cadenced drum beats and throughout the service “the spirit was high.”     …and just as we knew he would do, our Bishop, the Right Reverend Gregory G.M. Ingram, delivered a powerful and inspiring Spirit-filled sermon with reverence, ecclesiastical wisdom and style.

Bishop Ingram’s message “Thanking and Praising God” (Text/Psalm 100) encouraged us “to remember to thank God for all our blessings” and “that we’ve come this far by faith and faith will take us the rest of the way – God is still in control.”

Pastor Carr and the members of Monumental take great pride in knowing that we are the “first church” on the Harrisburg District of the Philadelphia Conference to invite our Bishop to preach a worship service on the Harrisburg District -- denoting “First Things First.”

 

Preceding our Church Anniversary Sunday, we had just concluded a super-soul-stirring two-day REVIVAL which helped to renew our minds as it lifted our spirits in preparation for our Anniversary Sunday. 

         

THE REVIVAL” was PREACHED BY A DYNAMIC FATHER AND SON DUO.  On Nov. 21 Revivalist Guest Preacher, the Rev. Dr. Stanley Hearst, pastor of Bethel AMEC, Moorestown, N.J. (former pastor of Monumental) preached a prophetic and encouraging message and stated it was good to be “back in Steelton for a visit.”

On Nov. 22, revivalist, the Rev. Stanley Hearst II, pastor of Jones Tabernacle AMEC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who spent some of his young adult years at Monumental, reminisced about the time he spent in Steelton in preparation of the “highest calling.”  His enlightening and powerful message also satisfied our souls and uplifted our spirits.

The Revivalists’ presence and messages made a great impact to “us Monumentalites” and to the great number of relatives and friends from throughout our Community who attended the Revival.

               

The visitation of the Rev. Dr. Stanley Hearst, Sr. who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Sharon Hearst (a native “Steeltonian and Monumentalite”) along with the Rev. Stanley Hearst, II was similar to a “Steelton Homecoming.” 

               

Needless to say, we were truly blessed as the Holy Spirit directed these two anointed preachers to preach powerful and fitting messages as we “geared up” to celebrate Monumental’s 142^nd Church Anniversary – ”Living The Legacy – First Things First.”

9. MURDOCK - THE CHAPEL AT PIKE ROAD DEDICATES NEW EDIFICE:

By E. Ann Clemons, Alabama River Region Conference Reporter

It was another brilliant, bright, beautiful day that the Lord made!  It was a perfect setting for the dedication service of the brand new Murdock Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc. The parking lot was maximally full.  Cars were parked all along the road that led to the celebration of the long awaited new Murdock Chapel.

Bishop James Levert Davis, Presiding Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District led the long procession of clergy and local dignitaries. Among the participants were Presiding Elder Albert H. Hyche, Montgomery-Selma District, Presiding Elder Jacqueline Denson, Camden District, Reverend James Arnell, Pastor, St. John-Montgomery, Reverend Farrell Duncombe, Pastor, St. Paul-Montgomery, Reverend Dr. Patricia Outlaw, Pastor of Bethel-Homewood and Reverend Isaiah Perry, Pastor of The Chapel at Coy, AL, into the sweet, wood sap fragrant sanctuary. The sermon preached by Bishop Davis, “Tell Your Story,” is one that will be long remembered in times to come.

When you entered the pristine, immaculate sanctuary you felt the majestic presence of the Lord.  The church was filled to capacity.  The overflow crowd had to be escorted to the new adjoining dining and reception area, equipped with flat-screen monitors for viewing the service. The facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art kitchen to accommodate hundreds of guests and visitors.

Pastor Watford said, “The feeling that came with seeing this effort to completion is almost indescribable.  I am so humbled by the process from start to finish. And, I am so grateful to God. God made it so clear that without God we can do nothing!  Incredible obstacles were in our way, but through congregational prayer and fasting, we were enabled to say, “Mountain move out of our way.”  God moved those mountains, and the rest is history!  Still, we are only at the beginning of the next phase of our life as Murdock! The Chapel at Pike Road.  We believe the best is yet to come.”

If you have never traveled down this obscure path, off a service road that runs parallel to Interstate 85 in Pike Road, Alabama, it is unlikely you would know about this quiet and quaint community.  Ensconced within the folds of magnificent forestry and neighboring Georgia Washington Junior High, Antioch Baptist Church and Grace Episcopal Church, you will now discover a “brand new” African Methodist Episcopal edifice.

Murdock Chapel has been located in this now, thriving community of Pike Road for more than 100 years.  The physical church survived a tornado back in 1937, but God spared the modest structure with only minimal damage to one side of the church.  During the early years Murdock Chapel was a circuit church, but became a station church in 1995 under the leadership of the late Reverend Lamar Holloway and the blessing of the late Bishop C.E. Thomas.

Fast forward to the “Y2K” era – in 2001, Reverend Tony Scott was appointed to Murdock Chapel.  He brought with him a vision – the building of a new edifice and the purchase of the surrounding land.  Reverend Scott taught the congregation the power of prayer and to embrace the mindset of prayer and supplication. It was under Reverend Scott’s ministry that the people were instilled with a mind to work.

The Reverend Carla Stallworth followed the tenure of Reverend Scott and continued to lead the congregation with the vision of rebuilding the church.  Land was cleared in anticipation of building a new edifice.

Under the new leadership and ministry of the Reverend Dr. Letitia Watford, the vision was put into a working plan.  Reverend Watford is quick to give credit to the people of Murdock Chapel who caught the vision and worked cooperatively and financially to ensure the building of a new church would be completed.  Richard Bowden, Steward, Pro-tem and the Connectional Lay Organization’s Financial Secretary, said, “We had some difficult days, but through persevering faith, we overcame many obstacles including some naysayers in the congregation.  But, once they came to realize how the new edifice would honor both God and the ancestors of the church, they too, joined in and supported the project wholeheartedly.  Bowden said, “With each new obstacle, God would send a relay runner with a baton.”  One significant relay runner was a neighboring church, Grace Episcopal Church, which gave Murdock Chapel, carte blanche, the use of their church to hold services, meetings and other events, while our church was being built.  Reverend David Peeples, Pastor of Grace Episcopal said, “We only did what God would have for us to do.”  Donofro & Associates designed the church. The builders for the project were K & J Construction Company.

1 Chronicles 18 17: 24-27 so let It be established, that your name may be magnified forever saying, “The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel’s God; and let the house of yours servant David be established before you.  For You, O my God, have told your servant that you will build him a house.  Therefore your servant has found it in his heart to pray before you.  And now, Lord, You are God, and have promised this goodness to your servant.  “Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue before your forever, for you have blessed it, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever.”

10. AME SELECTED FOR INDUCTION INTO THE USAF A PREPARATORY SCHOOL HALL OF FAME:

The Commander of the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colonel Kabrena Rodda announced that Retired Lt Col Mark "Chappie" Smith, USAF has been selected for induction into the USAF Preparatory School Hall of Fame.

The United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School Hall of Fame is made up of past "Preppies" who are exemplary models of character, knowledge and motivation, and who have positively impacted the future of our nation. Colonel Rodda said, "Your sustained level of excellence throughout your service in the United States Air Force personifies the Air Force Core Values of "Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do" that we work to instill in our Prep School Cadet Candidates on a daily basis. Your life experiences will serve as an inspiration to future generations of Cadet Candidates, Cadets, and Air Force officers. Other inductees include Col Carolyn Benyshek and Maj Gen Richard "Beef" Haddad.

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony ill be held at the Arnold Hall Ballroom at the USAF Academy on Monday, 19 May 2014.

Retired Lt Col Mark "Chappie" Smith is presently a pilot for Southwest Airlines.

11. TWO AFRICAN METHODISTS AMONG FACULTY AWARDS RECIPIENTS:

The Rev. Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson and the Dr. Vera Stevens Chatman will receive Minority Faculty Awards at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

12. THE REVEREND ANDREW ROLLINS, PRESENTER AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES:

The Reverend Andrew Rollins, pastor of St. James AME Church in San Jose, California, was a presenter on February 12-13, 2014 in a colloquium sponsored by Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.  

The invitational colloquium entitled, "Astro-Blackness: Remaking and (Re) Mixing Black Identity, Before, Now and Beyond", was given in recognition of Black History Month. Coordinators of the event were Dr. Adilifu Nama at Loyola Marymount University and Dr. John Jennings from the University of Buffalo SUNY. 

Astro-Blackness is an Afro-futuristic concept in which a person's black state of consciousness, released from the confining and crippling slave mentality, becomes aware of the multitude and varied possibilities and probabilities within the universe.  Afrofuturism is a system of metaphysics, aesthetics and social thought used to analyze and interpret art, literature, music, society, science and technology from a positive black perspective which informs and inspires African Americans on their continued journey. The colloquium served as a space for intellectual, creative, literary and visual expression of the black experience as examined through the prism of Afrofuturism. 

The Rev. Andrew Rollins presented on the topic “The Articulation of Racial Ethics and Afrofuturism." To those who would raise the question, "What does a Black Preacher have to say on the subject of Racial Ethics and Afrofuturism?"   Rev. Rollins explained: I am a Black preacher steeped in Black Liberation Theology borne out of the tradition spawned by the Black Warrior Priest Denmark Vesey and the Pan African Spiritual Prophet Bishop Henry McNeal Turner. Every Sunday morning, I deliver a message which challenges people to make ethical decisions.  When I speak of ethics, I am referring to a set of values which determine what is good and what is evil, what is right to do and what is wrong to do. Hosea 4:6 states, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." 

The mission of the Afrofuturism Movement is not just theoretical but also practical. It is to provide Black People with the knowledge needed to survive and transition in the postmodern era. Afrofuturism gives me the tools to carry out an objective of the AME Church which is to inform and educate our people and to develop strategies for social development to be applied to daily living.

                       

In addition to the Rev. Rollins, the presenters included: Dr. Reynaldo Anderson of Harris Stowe University, and Editor of the forthcoming anthology Afrofuturism 2.0: The Birth of Astro-Blackness; Dr. Nnedi Okorafor of Chicago State University and author of several best-selling novels; Dr. Sherryl Vint of the University of California, Riverside, currently conducting research on Promissory Imagination: Speculative Futures and Biopolitics; Nola Opkinson, writer and teacher at University of California Riverside; Tony Puryear film/script writer, author of film script movie, Eraser; Steven Barnes Author/Film writer, StarGate-1; and Tananarive Due, the Cosby Chair for the Humanities at Spellman and winner of the American Book Award.

Scholars, writers, activists, and artists from all over the country who are blazing a trail in the world of Astro-Blackness were also in attendance.

The Rev. Rollins stated that in this Post Modern Era we are facing assaults by novel and formidable contrivances in Transhumanism, Big Data and Time-Space Compression. As generations of people move forward into the future, they must deal with developments previous generations never had to encounter in struggling for survival as a people. Although some very evil things are being perpetuated against us as a people we have to be careful that in our resistance to these evils, we do not become evil ourselves. We must fight for our survival but be careful to maintain our humanity in the struggle. There are places our minds should not go if we want to remain human. We imperil our existence by adopting an attitude of “anything is right as long as it works."  Proverbs 14:12 states, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death."  

The Rev. Rollins will have a chapter in a soon to be published Anthology on Astro-blackness and Afrofuturism.  The title of his article in the anthology is "Afrofuturism and Religion: The Black Church in Postmodernity."

13. NEW CHURCH DEDICATION:

By Audrey F. Nock

As voices lifted in melodious tone, heads held high, smiling faces and spirits in unison, the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, members and visitors sang as the dedication program participants, led by Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, processed into the newly purchased property on November 26, 2011.  The resounding echoes of “We’ve Come this Far by Faith” could be heard throughout the community. The hymn selected by Ms. E. Catherine Shepard established without a doubt how the membership achieved the day’s victory; we know that we have come this far by God’s grace and faith. Yes, words captured the moment as only a hymn sung at the most appropriate time often does: “We’ve come this far by faith…Leaning on the Lord, Trusting in His Holy Word, He never failed me yet. Oh, can’t turn around. We've come this far by faith." Truly, it was a hymn appropriate for the day, and fittingly thematic in its symbolism of the victory, as a congregation dedicated its new edifice.

It was a momentous day, and the aforementioned captured moment was proceeded by the Metropolitan AME Church Board of Trustees opening the church doors and presenting to Bishop Richard F. Norris the keys to the church. The presentation of the church keys was followed by the reading of specified passages as per the AME Church Discipline: "We receive the bishop, elders, and ministers and welcome them in God’s name. We present to the bishop the keys of the church…” Bishop Norris, elders, and ministers then read the 84th Psalm.

All ceremonial protocols were moving. As the officers stood inside the church entrance and presented the keys, to look upon the bishop and presiding elders in their regal colored robes was truly a powerful moment. It was a victorious scene; as to the left, one could see the old church cornerstone clearly placed. It was a moment one often remembers for a lifetime, and during its image the mind races back to why and how this hour came to take place.

Metropolitan AME Church began to struggle many years ago as a result of gentrification. The thought of leaving the community we had served for so many years was unimaginable; especially, when one reflects upon the beautiful former church property, and how our church founders labored to maintain and beautify it to the glory of God.  The powerful worship services, dedicated former pastors, weddings, funerals, luncheons, banquets, concerts, political meetings, community forums, outreach projects, etc. were all a part of the of faithful believers’ service to the community. But most important the lives saved and brought to Christ, and the souls redeemed.  Even so, the church had to move to a new location. 

Moving to a new site is not an easy task. It takes a strong, focus-minded pastor and dedicated officers to lead a congregation during this type of transition. And here we stood, as the bishop, elders, and program participants processed down the church center isle.  At the appointed time, everyone stood to the side and our bishop was the first to enter the pulpit. The worship service began in a timely and well-organized manner. Worship service participants included Reverend James E. F. Lawrence; Presiding Elder of the Healthy, Spirited South District,  served as the Worship Leader; Reverend Clarence A. Martin, Sr., host and pastor of Metropolitan AMEC,  presented the Call to Worship; Reverend Glenn Shepherd, pastor of Campbell AMEC, Frankford,  lined the Opening Hymn; Reverend Jocelyn K. Hart, Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia District  led the Prayer; Reverend Simon P. Bouie, pastor of Zion AMEC,  read the Old Testament; Reverend Lawrence Henryhand, Presiding Elder of the Harrisburg District  read the Epistle; Reverend Alberta Jones, pastor of Mt. Zion AMEC Darby,  read the New Testament; Reverend Larry Thompson, pastor of Greater Mt. Olive AMEC  led the Decalogue; Ms. E. Catherine Shepard,  Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees,  established the Protocol and presented the Welcome; Reverend Dr. Earl R. Jefferson, Executive Director of the First Episcopal District, Department of Christian Education led the Litany; and Reverend Dr. Charles H. Lett Sr., (Philadelphia Annual Conference Senior Presiding Elder) and Presiding Elder of the West District, introduced the bishop.

Everyone waited in anticipation as Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, prepared to preach the dedication sermon. Led by the Holy Spirit, he rendered a spirited sermon; beyond question, magnificent in articulation, and well themed for the occasion. The sermon was presented as, “The Sparrow has Found a Place for His Nest."  His scripture reference was taken from the 84^th Psalm. Moved by the rhythmic words and Christian passages, teaching points, and concentrated presentation, the congregation often stood to acknowledge the message.

Former pastor, Rev. Dr. William Smith Jr., Presiding Elder of the Marion District, Northeast South Carolina Conference was present, delivered the entrance prayer, and brought remarks.  During his remarks he stated, “I wanted to be here to have my name recorded as one who was present during this historic moment.” 

Mother Mary Ann Norris was present and greeted everyone with a beautiful smile and words of encouragement.

Following the dedication worship service, Pastor Clarence A. Martin Sr., beamed in delight as visitors admired the historic property and adjacent land.  The day’s progression of activities articulated the spirit of Bishop Richard Allen: “We may be forced to move, yet still we stand”; the pride and spirit of the African Methodist denomination: “We are a proud and noble people”; the support  and leadership of Bishop Norris:“ I will stand with you as the congregation moves forward and rebuilds”; the organizational skills of Presiding Elder James Lawrence: “I will assist you and help during this difficult time”; the strength of our pastor, Reverend Clarence A. Martin Sr.; “We will move, maintain the congregation, bring in new members, and ensure the church moves forward”; and the conviction and belief of the church officers and members: “It will be done!” Thus, the First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia Annual Conference, Healthy Spirited South District, has now recorded the historic property and land located at 39 West Stratford Avenue, in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, as the new site of Metropolitan AME Church! It is important to note that the community is an up and moving area, and the property holds the potential for expansion as needed. Foremost, the new church location and its size are just right for the congregation’s needs.

It was with a sense of fulfillment and pride that Mrs. Deborah Stancil, Vice Chair of the Board of Stewards, and Ms. E. Catherine Shephard, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees; who led the Church Anniversary Executive Committee, along with the pastor, clergy, staff, and all church officers, organized a beautiful dedication service and luncheon. Church officers wore gold plated badges, and female members wore gold corsages during the service. The ministerial staff, Reverend Florence L. Kelly, Reverend Teressa Fuller, Reverend Sylvia L. Williams, and Reverend E. Joyce Martin worked to support the pastor and members effectively and spiritually on various committees. All of the church members had a role or responsibility during the planning and actual church dedication. The Youth Church and YPD’ers served as ushers and distributed memorabilia and gifts to all visitors. The Dedication Choir, led by church musician, Mr. Leonard McCants, rendered beautiful selections—some specifically arranged by the church musician. Highlighted soloists included Mrs. Louise Taylor and Mr. James Morris. Additionally, to mark the dedication, a professionally printed keepsake souvenir booklet was available.  As the photographer organized and prepared for the photo opportunities, Bishop Norris requested that all children present be included in many of the photographs with him. The photos will become a part of the church archives; in time, they will serve as a remembrance of the day and the legacy it holds.

Following the worship service, visitors were invited to the lower auditorium. The lower church area was elegantly decorated in gold, and a luncheon was prepared by Laura Heard Catering, Inc.

Everyone enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres, selected food, and beverage items, which were in excellent taste and appropriate for the occasion.

Metropolitan AME Church has already established itself as a force within the new community. Pastor Clarence A. Martin Sr., has met with the township mayor and elected officials, and attended several township/community events. The church has hosted several "meet and greet" programs and invited the community into the church to share information about our faith and church resources. Several community members have joined the church family, and we are inspired and most joyful that God has blessed the congregation. We continue the work of missions and outreach. God’s will be done, and to “God Be the Glory” as Metropolitan AME Church moves forward in its new location. Yes, we will continue to work toward kingdom building in our new edifice:  “We’ve come this far by faith…Leaning on the Lord, Trusting in His Holy Word, He never failed me yet. Oh! Can't turn around: We've come this far by faith.”

14. SECOND QUARTERLY CONFERENCE AT "THE CHAPEL":

*Mrs. Michelle Chenault

On Sunday, February 16, 2014, Shorter Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, located in Paris, Kentucky, held its second Quarterly Conference.

Prior to the Quarterly Conference, the Holy Spirit “showed up and showed out” at "The Chapel." The angelic voice of Sister Shelby Strode and the church choir, The Sounds of Joy, glorified and magnified the Lord in song and praise.

Then, the Holy Spirit used the Presiding Elder of the Lexington District, the Rev. Dr. Robert A. Strode, to preach the sermon, "We Will Serve God," taken from Daniel 3:18.

And that is what the Rev. Stephanie Gudger and the Shorter Chapel congregation will continue to do; to God Be the Glory!

Mrs. Michelle Chenault is a Steward and Reporter for Shorter Chapel AME Church in Paris, Kentucky

15. 2014 ALLEGHENY SCRANTON DISTRICT CONFERENCE:

Submitted by: Miss Shelly Brown – Allegheny Scranton District Administrative Assistant

The 147^th Session Allegheny Scranton District Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church convened at Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on February 7, 2014. The Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore was the host pastor.

The pastors, missionary presidents, lay presidents, Stewards, laity, and youth representatives gathered at Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, PA on Friday, February 7, 2014 for the 147^th Session Allegheny Scranton District Conference!

The Presiding Elder, the Rev. Dr. Eric L. Brown and Lady Margo Allen Brown, District Coordinator, greeted everyone assembled. Dr. Brown recognized the presence of the Rev. Samson M. Cooper, Presiding Elder Emeritus during the Conference!

After the organization of this District Conference, Bible Study was led by the Rev. Kary Williams, Jr., pastor St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Erie, Pennsylvania. He expounded on Mark 4:34-38.

The first Workshop was presented by the Presiding Elder Rev. Dr. Eric L. Brown.  Dr. Brown highlighted the Quadrennial Themes for 2013-2015.  He further talked about the admission policy for the Itinerant Ministry and reviewed the 2012-2016 Connectional Budget so the people will know where the money is going.

The Worship Leader for the Opening Worship Celebration was the Rev. Mark Alexander, pastor Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania.  The Spoken Word was given by the newly appointed pastor of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Milton, Pennsylvania and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the Rev. C. Bill Mangrum. Scripture was Matthew 11:28-30. The theme was, “Just Breath.” When we are heavy laden all we have to do is take it to Jesus, leave it there, exhale and Just Breath!

The second workshop was presented by the Rev. Rodrecus Johnson, Jr., pastor St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on “Strengthening the local church through a Class Leaders’ Ministry”. 

The Business Session followed with reports given by the various components:  Board of Examiners, Memoirs, 2014, Church School Convention, 2014 Kennywood Day, 2014 Outreach Project, Resolutions, and the Finance Committee.

The Seven Point Plan for Growth that presenters shared with everyone via email. Each report presented practical ministries and methodologies that congregation can engage to equip the saints for service.

Evangelism, the Rev. Tiffany Holden, pastor Bethel A.M.E. Church, Meadville, Pennsylvania; Education, the Rev. Jeannette Hubbard, pastor New Ebenezer AME Church, Aliquippa, Pennsylvania; Evaluation, the Rev. Melva Hartzog, pastor Bethel AME Church in Tarentum, Pennsylvania; Expansion, the Rev. Kary Williams, Jr., pastor St. James AME Church, Erie, Pennsylvania; Emphasis on Youth, the Rev. Linda Moore, pastor St. John AME Church, St. John, Bridgewater, Pennsylvania; Empowerment, the Rev. Dr. Helen M. Burton, pastor Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church, Duquesne, Pennsylvania; and Economic Development, the Rev. Rodrecus Johnson, Jr., pastor St. James A.M.E. Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Presiding Elder presented the newly elected president of the Pittsburgh Conference Women’s Missionary Society, Mrs. Marsha Washington and Mr. Vernon Kelly, president Pittsburgh Conference Lay Organization who greeted the conference and provided upcoming events for each.

Dr. Eric L. Brown had a book signing for his first published book, “A Dictionary of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Volume 1.”  The book is intended to facilitate communication among members and curiosity seekers of The African Methodist Episcopal Church.  It is intended to improve our shared understanding of the vocabulary of our denomination by providing a succinct definition of the vocabulary that we use together.  Most of the organizational and worship terms we use have meanings and nuances. Some of our members have forgotten or were never informed about the manner in which we talk about the customs and practices of the church.  This book will help each reader develop a deeper understanding of the language of the church.

The Closing Communion Worship and Celebration of Presiding Elder Eric L. Brown and Lady Margo Allen Brown’s Decade of Leadership was under the direction of worship leader Rev. Rodrecus Johnson, Jr., the pastor St. James A.M.E. Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Presiding Elder Brown has dedicated his life to the ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Lady Margo Allen Brown has served our District with class and dignity. It was an honor to salute a man and woman of distinction and dedication!  

Words of expression were given on behalf of the following:  Pittsburgh Annual Conference, the Rev. Samson Cooper; Pittsburgh District Presiding Elder, the Rev. Dr. James H. McLemore; Pittsburgh Conference W.M.S., Mrs. Marsha Washington; Pittsburgh Lay Organization, Mr. Vernon Kelly; Allegheny Scranton District Church School Superintendent, Mrs. Cheryl Keys; and the Third Episcopal District Presiding Elder’s Spouses Council, Mrs. Geraldine Tate.

Presentation was given to Lady Margo Allen Brown by the Rev. Ayonna Johnson, First Lady of St. James AME Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Presentation to Presiding Elder Brown was done by the Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore, pastor Greater Allen AME Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on behalf of the Allegheny Scranton District.

The Spoken Word was given by Presiding Elder Percy R. Tate, the Youngstown District, North Ohio Annual Conference AMEC and President, Third Episcopal District Presiding Elder’s Council. Presiding Elder Tate preached a powerful and provocative Word from the Lord that left the people on their feet!

Dr. and Mrs. Brown expressed words of appreciation that made all of this possible.  He also recognized the presence of the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Steven A. Jackson, pastor and first lady of Bethel AME Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Dr. Samuel A. Ware, pastor St. Paul AME Church, Washington, Pennsylvania.

The sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated. The Chief Celebrant was Presiding Elder Percy R. Tate and assisted by Presiding Elder Dr. James H. McLemore.

The “Awesome” Allegheny Scranton District will continue “Exalting Christ to Impact the World: As Servants Called to Make a Difference” John 12:32 and I Peter 4:11-12!

16. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:

*The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.

Based on Biblical Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

My mind goes back to my home church, Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church in Hagerstown Maryland.  The old saints constantly reminded us that this life we are now living was a “dress rehearsal,” a mere preliminary to the coming of that great day of the Lord, when He shall come riding on the clouds to claim His own. We are here, they told us, but this place is not our home. We are just pilgrims passing through, and there will be no rest for us until we rest in the Lord. As we matured we would come to understand that this is in fact the truth of the gospel message.

The warning the saints had for us stemmed from what Paul cautioned the church at Thessalonica as they had begun to swell with an intense, although harmful expectancy of the approach of God’s judgment day. Paul knew then and the old saints at Ebenezer had come to know that nothing would hinder the spread of the gospel more than the premature expectation of Christ’s return. The warning Paul had to the church then, to Ebenezer and to us now is that, “We know not the day or the hour when He shall appear.”

 In our text we find that Paul has uttered a prayer that is an expression of the love for the saints of God. Here, in this brief prayer, we are brought face to face with God’s future judgment of all people. The widely held theme undergirding Christian faith today centers on the truth that “he who trusts in Jesus Christ will not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life.”   However, the Apostle Paul challenges us to understand that it is equally true that “judgment will begin at the house of God” and “The Lord will judge His people.” 

We, who have embraced Christianity, and are nearest to God, can be sure that God will search us thoroughly as we stand in the revealing light of His holy presence. Nothing will escape God. We must realize that every flaw, every corrupt speck and every sin, will be brought into astonishing prominence. Not one of us who has entered into the covenant promise will escape the righteous judgment of God. God will judge us.

However, it will not be our duty to the community nor will it be our church attendance record. Certainly it will not be our diligence to serve in one auxiliary or another that will be the subject of God’s intense scrutiny. God will judge our calling! God will judge the intrinsic worth of our mission by the basis of our motivation. God will judge the authenticity of our being summoned by Him to be His!

It is God Himself who calls. He calls us by the Gospel, by Jesus Christ. It is the tender, heart melting, filled with love voice of Jesus that summons us.  Jesus summons us to holiness or as Paul says “from the beginning chose (us) you for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the Truth.” Jesus calls us to a life of self-crucifixion challenging us to bring our flesh into subjection to the Will of God. Jesus summons us to seek after God by living a holy life according to Christ’s example. We are challenged to follow the example Christ has set for us and strive to live a life of purity, sacrifice, and righteousness.

Christ has made the way plain for us. He reminds us, “I die that you may live.” His command to us is, “Live because I live, and come to live where I live.”  He wants us to know that the same invitation that calls us to a life of righteousness will also call us to the throne room of God on judgment day.

We must carefully consider who it is that summons us, by what He summons, and to what He summons us and ask ourselves whether or not this mission merits our best response. God calls us to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called!”

We find all around us the most flagrant examples of professing Christians, whose lives are in conflict with the loftiness of the Word and the powerful motives of the summons they profess to obey. This, of course, begs that the question; what sort of life will be counted worthy of His call? 

As we enter this season of Lent self-examination is in order. We are challenged to know if our life corresponds to God’s divine purpose in calling us to Him. Can we say, “Lord, Thou art mine, and I am thine and my life is a living witness of our marriage?”  Is it the truth when we claim, “Lord, I have banished self; I am full of God, and the life which I live in the flesh I live not to myself, but to Him that died for me?”

Thanks be to God, one of the greatest characteristics and blessings of His call is that we are not only summoned to holiness and to heaven, but God reaches out a helping hand to get us there! God will fulfill every desire that longs for goodness. If we desire goodness, God will make us good. God will fit us to be worthy of our calling. He will, for the believing heart, answer our desires, give energy to our faith and complete His work in us.

We hold Christ’s reputation in our hands. People will judge Him by us. When we prove worthy of our calling, people will be drawn to Christ by the faithfulness of our discipleship. We are challenged to meditate on our calling considering the method, the power and the obligation. And though we are tainted and undeserving sinners, God shall proclaim about us, “They have not defiled their garments, therefore they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy!”

Believe it or not, we are the best evidence of the power of the Gospel. Certainly if it can change us, it can change anyone.

*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr. is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, S.C.

17. NAACP FILES COMMENTS IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED IRS REGULATIONS RESTRICTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:

(Washington, DC) Today, the NAACP filed comments in opposition to proposed IRS regulations that would redefine political activity for 501(c) (4) organizations.

“In a rush to combat legitimate abuses of 501(c) (4) status, the IRS has proposed overbroad regulations that throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water,” stated NAACP Interim President and CEO Lorraine C. Miller.  “For more than a century, the NAACP has fought tirelessly to protect the rights of everyday Americans to participate in the political process – a process based on one man, one vote.  The proposed regulations undermine that effort and the efforts of other organizations to secure unfettered access to the ballot box.  For the NAACP, it is not about political campaigns nor a political candidate, it is about the American right to vote.”

As drafted, the proposed regulations would cause the “primary” activity—by any measure—of these NAACP units to be counted as “candidate-related political activity,” with the result that most branches and conferences would lose their tax-exempt status.  The proposed regulations would also impede the NAACP’s state and regional conferences’ ability to support their branches.  Specifically, the proposed rules would take the drastic approach of treating a grant from one section 501(c) (4) organization to another as “candidate-related political activity” unless the recipient branch agreed not to engage in any such activity.

“We are requesting that the Proposed Regulations be withdrawn because they would have a chilling effect on nonpartisan voter engagement,” stated NAACP General Counsel Kim M. Keenan.  “For over 105, NAACP members of branches around the nation have overcome threats, intimidation, and actual violence to register and encourage citizens to vote. Treasury regulations should not be used to suppress nonpartisan civic engagement in America."

18. FACT SHEET: OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL:

February 27, 2014

President Obama Launches My Brother’s Keeper Initiative to Build Ladders of Opportunity for Boys and Young Men of Color

“I’m reaching out to some of America’s leading foundations and corporations on a new initiative to help more young men of color facing especially tough odds to stay on track and reach their full potential.” – President Barack Obama, January 28, 2014

“There are a lot of kids out there who need help, who are getting a lot of negative reinforcement.  And is there more that we can do to give them the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them?” – President Barack Obama, July 19, 2013

President Obama is taking action to launch My Brother’s Keeper – a new initiative to help every boy and young man of color who is willing to do the hard work to get ahead. For decades, opportunity has lagged behind for boys and young men of color.  But across the country, communities are adopting approaches to help put these boys and young men on the path to success. The President wants to build on that work. We can learn from communities that are partnering with local businesses and foundations to connect these boys and young men to mentoring, support networks, and skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way up into the middle class. And the Administration will do its part by helping to identify and promote programs that work.

That starts by using proven tools that expand opportunity at key moments in the lives of these young people.  The President believes this includes ensuring access to basic health, nutrition, and to high-quality early education to get these kids reading and ready for school at the youngest age.  But that’s not enough.  We need to partner with communities and police to reduce violence and make our classrooms and streets safer.  And we need to help these young men stay in school and find a good job– so they have the opportunity to reach their full potential, contribute to their communities and build decent lives for themselves and their families.

New Presidential Task Force to Expand Opportunity. President Obama will sign a Presidential Memorandum establishing the My Brother’s Keeper Task Force, an interagency effort, chaired by Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson, that will help us determine what public and private efforts are working and how to expand upon them, how the Federal Government’s own policies and programs can better support these efforts, and how to better involve State and local officials, the private sector, and the philanthropic community in these efforts.

The Task Force will work across executive departments and agencies to:

Assess the impact of Federal policies, regulations, and programs of general applicability on boys and young men of color, so as to develop proposals that will enhance positive outcomes and eliminate or reduce negative ones.

Recommend, where appropriate, incentives for the broad adoption by national, State, and local public and private decision makers of effective and innovative strategies and practices for providing opportunities to and improving outcomes for boys and young men of color.

Create an Administration-wide “What Works” online portal to disseminate successful programs and practices that improve outcomes for boys and young men of color.

Develop a comprehensive public website, to be maintained by the Department of Education that will assess, on an ongoing basis, critical indicators of life outcomes for boys and young men of color in absolute and relative terms.

Work with external stakeholders to highlight the opportunities, challenges, and efforts affecting boys and young men of color.

Recommend to the President means of ensuring sustained efforts within the Federal Government and continued partnership with the private sector and philanthropic community as set forth in the Presidential Memorandum.

Investments from Leading Foundations and Businesses to Advance the Achievement of Boys and Young Men of Color.  Leading foundations and businesses have long worked with others in philanthropy to create opportunities for young men and boys of color and today are committing significant resources to research critical intervention points in the lives of boys and young men of color; change the often-damaging narrative about them; and catalyze coordinated investments to seed, replicate, and scale up effective community solutions.

The foundations supporting today’s call to action have already made extensive investments, including $150 million in current spending that they have already approved or awarded. Building on that, today these foundations are announcing that over the next five years they seek to invest at least $200 million, alongside additional investments from their peers in philanthropy and the business community, to find and rapidly spread solutions that have the highest potential for impact in key areas, including: early child development and school readiness, parenting and parent engagement, 3rd grade literacy, educational opportunity and school discipline reform, interactions with the criminal justice system ladders to jobs and economic opportunity and healthy families and communities.

The foundations will work over the next 90 days to design a strategy and infrastructure for coordination of these investments, which can be aligned with additional commitments from a diverse array of actors from other sectors.

These foundations, who are joining President Obama at today’s announcement, include The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The California Endowment, The Ford Foundation, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, The Open Society Foundations, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and The Kapor Center for Social Impact. Many of the foundations are members of the Executives’ Alliance to Expand Opportunities for Boys and Men of Color – a coalition of philanthropic institutions committed to leveraging philanthropy’s role in improving life outcomes for boys and men of color.

In addition to the leadership from the philanthropic community, the My Brother’s Keeper initiative will leverage participation from the business community and elected officials to support this cross-sector effort.  As part of today’s announcement, President Obama will meet with a number of business leaders – including Joe Echevarria of Deloitte, Magic Johnson of Magic Johnson Enterprises, Glenn Hutchins of Silver Lake Partners, Adam Silver of the National Basketball Association and Thomas Tull of Legendary Entertainment – to discuss ways in which they and their companies can work with the Initiative to improve the life outcomes of boys and young men of color.

The President will also be joined today by public sector leaders including General Colin Powell, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Honorable Michael Bloomberg.  Additionally, several other prominent members of the business community—including Rosalind Brewer of Sam’s Club, Ken Chenault of American Express, and Don Thompson of McDonald’s—have already expressed their support for this effort, and the White House expects additional commitments in the coming days and months.    

*  *  *

Data shows that boys and young men of color, regardless of socio-economic background, are disproportionately at risk throughout the journey from their youngest years to college and career.  For instance, large disparities remain in reading proficiency, with 86 percent of black boys and 82 percent of Hispanic boys reading below proficiency levels by the fourth grade – compared to 58 percent of white boys reading below proficiency levels.  Additionally, the disproportionate number of black and Hispanic young men who are unemployed or involved in the criminal justice system alone is a perilous drag on state budgets, and undermines family and community stability.  These young men are more than six times as likely to be victims of murder than their white peers and account for almost half of the country’s murder victims each year. 

The effort launched today is focused on unlocking the full potential of boys and young men of color – something that will not only benefit them, but all Americans.  The Task Force and new private sector partnership will take a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to building ladders of opportunity.  Both the Task Force and the partnership will take action immediately while planning for long-term success.

19. NAACP APPLAUDS PRESIDENT OBAMA’S “MY BROTHER’S KEEPER” INITIATIVE:

(Washington, DC) The NAACP issued the following statements in response to President Obama’s new “My Brother’s Keeper” Initiative, a program to build ladders of opportunity for boys and young men of color.

From Lorraine C. Miller, NAACP Interim President and CEO:

“The positive force of this groundbreaking initiative will help counter the negatives influences these young men experience daily and will place them on a path to success,” stated NAACP Interim President and CEO Lorraine C. Miller.

From Sammie Dow, NAACP Youth and College Director:

“President Obama’s announcement represents a significant milestone for young people of color throughout this country,” stated Sammie Dow, NAACP Youth and College Director.  The “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative shows what can be done when we're all willing to work together for the causes of justice and equality.  As we quickly move towards the 50th anniversary commemoration of freedom summer, we do so with a renewed sense of urgency, zeal and pride.”

20. KAPOR CENTER FOR SOCIAL IMPACT JOINS NINE LEADING FOUNDATIONS, WHITE HOUSE, TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG MEN OF COLOR:

Washington, D.C.--The Kapor Center for Social Impact and nine other leading foundations announced a joint effort with the White House today to help America's young men of color reach their full potential in school, work and life.

Since 2008, the Kapor Center, through its innovative College Bound Brotherhood program, has helped hundreds of young men in the Bay Area successfully attend and graduate from college, unleashing their potential. In this unique public-private initiative The Kapor Center will use this and other successful programs it supports to help shape national programs that focus on the highest level of success and empowerment.   

"Ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to succeed is what we at The Kapor Center for Social Impact tackle every day and we’re grateful that the White House is recognizing the significant role we are playing in expanding opportunity for young men of color," said Mitchell Kapor, co-founder and co-chair of the Center.  

"We are proud to be represented by  Managing Partner Cedric Brown at this historic announcement today, joining thousands of partners, including foundations, teachers, police chiefs, state and local legislators, and community based organizations across the country that are committed to investing in young people’s success," said Freada Kapor Klein,  co-founder co-chair of the Center.  

In addition to the $150 million in ongoing projects and the $200 million in new investments in programs that help young men of color succeed, the ten participating foundations are each committing $750,000 to build the infrastructure necessary to make this initiative a success. This initial funding will help find and rapidly spread solutions in areas such as early child development and school readiness, parenting and parent engagement, third grade literacy, educational opportunity and school discipline reform, interactions with the criminal justice system, ladders to jobs and economic opportunity, and healthy families and communities. The initiative will also endeavor to change the often-damaging narrative about boys and young men of color, and to promote effective public policy solutions.  

In addition to the Kapor Center, the nine other foundations participating in this effort are the Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Bloomberg Philanthropies, The California Endowment, Ford Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.  

Over the next 90 days, the foundations will assess which approaches have the highest potential to help the greatest number of young men. Those insights will be used to develop a blueprint for action that can leverage existing and new contributions from philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, faith-based institutions, the business community and ordinary citizens.

Faith Leaders Renew Resolve to Be Their Brother’s Keeper; Expand Opportunity by Reducing Violence and Ending Mass Incarceration

WASHINGTON – Pastor Michael McBride, director of the PICO National Network’s Lifelines to Healing Campaign – a nationwide faith-based effort to reduce gun violence and end mass incarceration – celebrated President Obama’s announcement of the “My Brother’s Keeper” Task Force, and renewed their resolve to amplify a shared narrative that changes the perceptions of boys and men of color, to promote policies that end the school-to-prison pipeline and mixed family status deportations and to support programs that reduce violence without increasing incarceration:

“Widening the national circle of concern to tackle the particularly unique challenges of boys and men of color in America through My Brother’s Keeper is a long awaited and powerful next step toward living up to the promise of America – that all are created equal and all deserve to live free.

As Americans, and people of faith, our values teach us that we have a shared responsibility to each other. And we, as a nation, must match the president’s resolve to expand opportunity so that all of God’s children have access to the opportunity to live free from violence and incarceration, whether they're black, brown or white; rich or poor; from rural areas or urban neighborhoods.

We commit ourselves to support the My Brothers Keeper initiative, and to continue our work in cities and neighborhoods that ensure when a young man wakes up to go to school, he can learn and be successful; and when he returns home at night, he feels safe and free from violence and trauma. When he calls on us, we will answer, because we love and care for his wellbeing.

We affirm President Obama’s emphasis on the importance of the presence of fathers, and continue to call for administrative relief for the unique challenges that impact father and sons of color.  It is a moral contradiction that we as a nation expect the active presence of our sons and fathers, and at the same time deport fathers of citizen children, and incarcerate boys and men of color for nonviolent drug offenses. We can increase the presence of fathers by working to reform the criminal justice system and end the deportations that remove them from families across the country. And we can fully resource and implement proven programs, like Ceasefire, that reduce violence without increasing the prison population.

These are steps that can be immediate and accelerate communities so that all can live free and be safe. And we stand together with the President and all the partners to carry out this most sacred call.”

PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 60 local and state federations. PICO and its federations are non-partisan and do not endorse or support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith to consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific policies and legislation. Learn more at www.piconetwork.org.    

21. THE COMEBACK CHURCH - HERBERT MEMORIAL UMC BACK IN THE GAME AFTER $250K THEFT:

                         

By Jessica Connor

TUESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2014

GEORGETOWN—A little more than two years ago, Herbert Memorial United Methodist Church was hit with one of the worst things they could imagine. They were missing money—nearly a quarter-million dollars simply gone.

Standing accused was their beloved administrative assistant, who had grown up near the church and attended preschool there. It was the kind of devastation some churches never overcome.

Fast forward to today—fueled by faith, forgiveness and a renewed commitment to their relationship as a church family—and Herbert Memorial is in a whole new state of grace. They have not only fully recovered financially from the theft but have embraced a fresh mindset. Once mission-oriented, now they have a mission budget to back their zeal. Once scraping by financially, now they have adopted a can-do attitude grounded in belief.

“It is a testament to the power of our God,” said David Essex, Staff Parish Relations Committee chair.

And now they hope others will be encouraged by their story.

Hard news

It all started in November 2011, when Raymond Pearigen, then-chair of the church Finance Committee, discovered a discrepancy in the amount they reported paying to the S.C. Conference of the UMC in apportionments and the amount the conference reported. He took it to pastor the Rev. Marie Nuckles, who called the conference treasurer’s office.

To their shock, they discovered not only were their apportionment payments off, but they were $36,000 behind on their direct billing insurance payments, as well.

It got worse.

Pearigen went to the church the next day and started combing through financial records. He discovered they were $4,000 overdrawn on their bank account, and the church checkbooks were missing. While the deposits seemed just fine, Pearigen said, “Checks written to our administrative assistant totaled almost $54,000 for 2010.”

They secured the church, changed the locks and called in the sheriff’s office. After full investigation by police and a forensic certified public accountant, the grand total missing from the church: $242,000.

“Over about a six-year period she took the equivalent of our one-year budget,” Essex said. It was a lot of money for the 260-member church, which has an average weekly attendance of about 120.

“It hurt,” Pearigen said.

Immediately supportive

Nuckles called a church-wide meeting, personally inviting every church member, to announce the news. From the start, they decided to be completely up-front about everything—no sugarcoating. Marion District Superintendent Dickie Knight was in attendance, as was the Rev. Ken Phelps, who also had experienced a similar crisis.

The church was incredibly supportive both of its leaders and of the accused, Nuckles said.

 “We handed out two cards: one for questions and one for prayer requests,” Nuckles said. “I’d say probably 80 percent of the cards we received were asking for prayer for (the administrative assistant) and her family. Her name stayed on our prayer list a year and a half after that.”

Pearigen said the church showed itself to be a true family.

“The biggest thing was what they didn’t say. They didn’t blame anybody,” Pearigen said. “The next Sunday in our regular church service we got an offering of $11,000; for our church to do $4,000 is pretty good!”

After a negotiated plea, the assistant pleaded no contest and got probation and partial restitution. At her sentencing, Nuckles said the church was a significant witness, stating they did not request any sort of punitive sentence.

“The judge was kind of amazed; he’d been on the bench many, many years and said it was rare to hear that,” Nuckles said. “It was a witness to how things should be.”

Ultimately, Herbert Memorial received $100,000 in restitution, $100,000 from insurance, $10,000 from an employee malfeasance policy and a $10,000 gift from the Marion District, plus its members made many stretch-gift contributions.

They bounced back and made a full financial recovery in about a year’s time, paying back all their past direct billing, achieving 100 percent in apportionments and paying back everything they owed except to the district, which insisted the money they donated was a gift.

A new mindset

The experience changed Herbert Memorial in so many ways, from financially to a newfound faith in their abilities as a church.

“I remember Pastor Phelps came up and said, ‘You’re going to look back and realize all the good that has come of this,” Essex said, noting Phelps was right. “It’s pulled us together and reaffirmed we were doing what we were supposed to be doing; it was a reaffirmation of faith.”

Thanks to a financial crisis, the church ironically is now doing more with God’s money than it ever imagined.

“Before, we always seemed to have just enough to get by. But from that day, we’ve had more money than ever before,” Pearigen said. “It was a mindset change. Before it was, ‘Oh, we can’t do it,’ end of conversation. Now it’s, ‘We can do it.’”

Pearigen said the church had been wanting to replace its pews and add a sound system, but they never thought they could afford to do something like that. But a year after the theft, they decided they wanted to go for it. When they received the $100,000 from insurance, the church paid off their mortgage, reimbursed the conference, paid off the debt on the pews and sound system and still had $10,000 left—a huge witness to their trust in God.

The church has also made a lot of changes in procedure, making sure lay members are in multiple roles, with many checks and balances.

But for Nuckles, the greatest thing to come from the experience was the way it personally transformed the members, both as a church family and in teaching valuable lessons about forgiveness and faith.

“God continues to bless the congregation. There’s no finger-pointing, no one going around angry,” Nuckles said. “Personally, it affirmed for me what the church is—the body of Christ coming together. We held one another up.”

Essex said he had been tremendously hurt by the financial crisis. He’d spent many years lamenting why the church wasn’t doing better financially, when all that time it had been doing well. He had many negative feelings to discard.

“I did my Walk to Emmaus, and I went in wanting to pinch her head, and I came out understanding I needed to forgive,” Essex said. “I laid that at the cross. I can’t describe how it felt to lay down that burden.”

Now, the church has a new understanding of the connectionalism that is The United Methodist Church. It was the district that gave them the initial gift of $10,000. It was the conference that had the insurance.

“It was because of all that we were able to continue,” Nuckles said.

Looking forward

With the financial crisis behind them, Herbert Memorial is entering a bold new phase: a huge heart for missions.

Before, while they cared about helping their community and sent youth to Salkehatchie Summer Service and other efforts, the church didn’t have a budget for missions. Now they do.

Last year, they sent 28 church members on a mission trip to Costa Rica, and the church provided a lot of financial support for the trip. They are also making a conscious effort to find missions that involve all ages, such as their work with Helping Hands, a local food organization. Recently, they did a food drive plus donated funds, and the church children and youth got $400 to personally buy groceries and deliver them to the organization. They also spent time stocking shelves.

Essex is seeking some stay-at-home mission opportunities with overseas implications, such as supporting a nearby church, Union UMC, which is constructing water wells in Africa.

Nuckles said the church is also involving itself in more hands-on mission in the local community. Currently, they are exploring the conference emphasis on helping children in poverty.

They are in a good place, and members are optimistic about the future and the good they can do for the Lord.

“A whole lot came from this,” Pearigen said. “At the end of the day it makes you glad to be a Methodist.”

*Used with permission of the United Methodist news Service

22. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES JOINS THE PUSH TO END SOLITARY CONFINEMENT IN PRISONS:

Washington, February 24, 2014 – The National Council of Churches is joining with other member groups of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) to push for an end to solitary confinement in prisons.

Jim Winkler, General Secretary and President of the NCC, led the opening prayer today at a gathering of religious leaders, human rights advocates, and persons who have been subjected to solitary confinement.

Today’s gathering, organized by NRCAT and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was held in the Simpson Memorial Chapel of the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave. NE. 

“The gathering focused on calling on the federal government to honor its commitments to Constitutional and international standards of human rights by confronting the use of solitary confinement in federal facilities,” said Laura Markle Downton, Director of U.S. Prisons Policy and Program for NRCAT.

The gathering was timed to precede today’s Congressional hearing on solitary confinement, “Reassessing Solitary Confinement II: The Human Rights, Fiscal and Public Safety Consequences.”

The aim of the gathering was to “highlight developments in states including New York and California that illustrate national recognition that the abusive use of solitary confinement is immoral, antithetical to rehabilitation, fiscally wasteful, endangers institutional and community safety, and must be brought to an end,” according to Markle Downton.

During the pre-hearing gathering, attendees sampled “the loaf,” a tasteless, non-nutritious, visually unappealing substance served to incarcerated individuals in solitary confinement for additional punishment.

In addition to Winkler and Markle Downton, other participants included: Juan Mendez, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture; Dolores Canales, co-founder of California Families Against Solitary Confinement, whose son is among those enduring solitary confinement in the Security Housing Unit at Pelican Bay Prison in California; and Five Mualimm-ak, of the New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement, who spent five years in solitary confinement in a New York state prison.

Also, the Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO, Hip Hop Caucus;  Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations, National Association of Evangelicals; Amy Fettig, Senior Staff Counsel, ACLU’s National Prison Project; and Rabbi Rachel Gartner of T’ruah: A Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, who will deliver a closing prayer.

In his opening prayer, Winkler asked God’s presence with persons incarcerated in solitary confinement.

“We beseech Thee to be with them during their sleeping and during their waking that they may know Thy peace and comfort, that they may somehow find Thy holiness in the hell-holes called solitary confinement,” said Winkler in prepared remarks.

The full text of Winkler’s opening prayer follows:

“Ruler of the night, Guarantor of the Day, we gather before Thee to witness on behalf of sisters and brothers living tortured lives of solitary confinement, mostly without human contact. We beseech Thee to be with them during their sleeping and during their waking that they may know Thy peace and comfort that they may somehow find Thy holiness in the hell-holes called solitary confinement.

“We have been commanded by Thee to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and visit the prisoners. Require us not to take these responsibilities lightly. We seek thy strength as we struggle to free the oppressed.

“Give us new visions of people freed from silence and solitariness; give us strength and courage beyond committees, hearings and memos, beyond calls and appointments, beyond frazzled expectations. Turn us toward the light as we pray for those who live in the darkness of despair.

“Today we submit our ways to Thee, the One who promises the way and the truth and the life. Grant us courage and strength as we fight for justice.

“We pray in the name of all that is holy. Amen.”

23. iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2014 - AN ETERNAL KINGDOM - II SAMUEL 7:1-17:

*Bill Dickens, Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington

People who have made extraordinary accomplishments in life seldom want to rest on their laurels. 

Bill Gates has devoted his post-Microsoft life to solving many of humanity’s debilitating problems thru his philanthropic activities.  Michael Jordan and Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s retirement from the National Basketball Association was quickly followed by both becoming owners of professional sports teams.  The next chapter in Oprah Winfrey‘s life after vacating her title as the ‘Queen of Talk TV’ was the creation of her OWN TV network.

In our lesson today King David desired to do something “big” after he had concluded a successful military campaign which brought peace ad prosperity to Israel.  David was troubled about a glaring inequity.  He resided in a mansion of splendor and grandeur yet the Ark of the Covenant had a meager tent as its domicile.  As a military leader David was accustomed to identifying problems and designing corrective strategies.  The “housing inequity” was no different.  With the consent of his trusted spiritual advisor, Prophet Nathan, David embarked on this divine home improvement for God.  However, there was one matter that neither David nor Nathan considered.  While David’s intentions were noble, as a strategist he failed to examine the idea in its totality.  God had not been consulted about the ambitious building program!  Yahweh reminded both men that He had never had a “house” before and was not convinced or persuaded He needed a building for His presence. 

Nathan and David forgot that Yahweh was omnipresent, so a house or building was woefully inadequate and inconsistent with this fundamental theological attribute. 

God had promised David that He would be His protector.  Building a house wasn’t going to change or alter that promise.  God had promised David that his descendants would be a blessed people thru the covenantal relationship with Abraham.  Again, a house would not make a difference.  Nonetheless, God affirms that when a house is built for God, it would not be by David but thru David’s son, Solomon. 

The dialogue between Yahweh and David is instructive because it informs us that prior to embarking on a great work for God; proper protocol warrants we must get God’s input and approval.  God’s promises are secure regarding an eternal Kingdom initiated by David but fulfilled in Jesus.   David reacted on zeal to build a house for God and in the process put the “cart before the horse.” 

Let’s make sure we keep our priorities in order by seeking God’s Will first before tackling the next great project in our lives. (See Matthew 6:33)

*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.

24. GETTING TO ZERO: A LOOK AT WHAT WE EAT:

*Dr. Oveta Fuller

Some recent news items

The Lenten Season in 2014 begins soon. Some of us will ponder or pray about what to “give up for Lent”.

This week marks the 4th anniversary of the start of First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign against childhood obesity and her “Let’s Move” initiative.

A recent announcement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has good and not so good news about obesity in the USA. The Washington Post says about the CDC report, “Researchers found that just over 8 percent of children 2 to 5 were obese in 2011-2012, down from nearly 14 percent in 2003-2004. Federal health officials noted however, that obesity rates for the broader population remain unchanged, and for women older than 60, obesity rates rose about 21 percent during that period.”

Also in the news is a proposed change in food labels to better focus on calories and realistic serving sizes.

Connections and timeliness

How are these connected? They are all relevant to what we eat. They are about what and how much food we consume and its impact on health, health care and overall well-being.

Hopefully, these are the last days of an unusually cold snowy winter in many places in the USA.  Winter calls for consuming comfort foods and warm satisfying concoctions that minister to the body and soul. Ironically, each year just as winter comes to an end, the Lenten Season begins with a focus on a fast of some sort.

This article begins a series that will focus on nutrition and developing better habits for wellness through the choices of food and beverages that we consume. It is a big topic.

What we eat affects many aspects of health. These range from blood pressure level, to glucose levels, to immune response to fighting invading microbial pathogens, to cavities, cancer and bone and brain function, to energy to complete daily life activities or excess energy that the body stores in its limited number of fat cells. A popular commercial once stated, “You are what you eat.” Do we “become what we eat?”

Remembering…

One of the most positive attributes of the nine months spent in Zambia in 2013 is the availability of wonderfully fresh and wholesome foods. In this developing country, although restaurants (sit-down and fast food, but few drive-through) are prevalent, the predominant food consumption is at meals of home cooked items. Meal preparation gets lots of attention. Eating is unrushed and a celebration of being alive.

A meal typically includes one or more fresh vegetables that were removed from the source only hours before, or at maximum a few days before they were purchased to bring home. The vegetables and fruit were ripened on the vine or tree, then harvested and moved quickly to the place of exchange. This differs from a large amount of what we consume in the USA that is harvested before the peak of ripeness and shipped long distances to the site of purchase.

In Zambia, I enjoyed the availability of fresh, flavorful and relatively affordable vegetables and fruit. I enjoyed the simple pleasure of selecting, preparing and consuming fresh produce. For example, tomatoes are a delectable daily staple. Perfectly formed and flavorful, they were abundant in every market where they are displayed as row upon row of colorful neat stacks of firm rounded tomatoes. You could buy them juicy and ripened to red. Or if preferred, they come as slightly green and less juicy that is thought by some to be more befitting for sandwiches.

I was spoiled by the availability of fresh delicious tomatoes in Zambia. 

Like the general population, I consumed lots of tomatoes (cooked with vegetables or uncooked slices at any meal or snack). I consumed them along with a variety of fresh, green, leafy vegetables (kale, cabbage, spinach, a collard like vegetable called ‘rape’) and with string beans, fresh corn, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, squash, okra and beans. Any of these can be an accompanying ‘relish’ for nshima as the Zambian staple food. Nshima is made from corn pounded into corn meal, that is mixed with water and cooked to a firm consistently that allows it to be rolled in the hand and used as a type of spoon or fork-like edible utensil for eating other foods. The most common meat added (if meat is added) is chicken or fish. Chicken is cooked in a variety of ways, all amazingly good. Fish is most likely the wonderful, bony but especially tasty brim that is pulled from Zambian rivers and lakes. Uhmmm…

The daily diet in Zambia of those who have reasonable access to food is better than the daily diet of many in the USA. It is less filled with empty calories, fats, sugars and additives that have no nutritional value. In the first months back in the USA, I was shocked by the television and billboard advertisements for food in the USA. Was this what we are consuming on a regular basis? Was this what people are encouraged to eat? Is this what capitalism and a free enterprise system bring in nutrition and good sense?

Why it matters

Look at the impact. Just look around at our bodies. Most of us are far from the applauded by some model-like thinness we see in commercials and for people in television programs and movies. The land of plenty has not been so kind when it comes to eating to live, rather than living to eat. More weight, especially the levels that are common among many African Americans, puts additional stresses on major body organs- bones, muscles, heart and the brain.

I believe that Mrs. Obama saw some of the need for change when, as the highly visible First Lady of the USA, she looked for a meaningful initiative for the country. I believe she understood the battle of nutrition, exercise and wellness for her family that included young daughters she and their father hope to raise to be healthy, productive, capable and happy adults. I believe she saw a major need and decided to try to make a difference.

Helping to change food consumption in America is the goal of the recently proposed change in food labels. This is true also for efforts in the last 15 years of health professionals to move to practice and make more prominent the recommended nutrition guidelines and documentation of changes in weight and height of infants and children in the USA.

What are we consuming in the land of plenty? 

What we eat is influenced by economics and geographical location. It also is influenced by what we understand is good for us and how we control what is good to us.

Over the next weeks, we will explore making good nutrition and health choices about food intake. We will take a closer look at what we eat, why and how it affects overall well-being. After all, the one physical body that we are given to care for is the temple of God.

---

“Reach for Wellness-Month 2”: For the next 4 weeks or throughout the Lenten Season, encourage good habits and reduce unhealthy habits by consistently work on any one of the following. Promote the choice to others so people in AMEC congregations together can move towards wellness.

Intently notice what and when you eat or drink. Enjoy, savor the taste and feel of what you consume. No more mindless chomping down in front of the television or in the car after leaving the drive-in window of a fast-food place.

Look at how many days and intentionally increase the times you sit down at a table with family (or alone) with a balanced meal to enjoy the moment and fellowship with others in consuming food. It is a great time to count our blessings.

As possible, plan ahead what you will eat. A simple useful guide is that at least ½ or more of the food on your plate or in a meal is a vegetable or fruit, rather than carbohydrates or fat. This perhaps means less meat and bread (unless you are highly active in work, sports or working out) and more vegetables and protein. For example, if pizza is the chosen meal, instead of all meat (sausage, pepperoni, ham, beef and double cheese), choose something with one or no meat and several vegetables like (ham, onion, green pepper, olives or spinach and a normal or low level of cheese. Maybe try this on a thin crispy crust.) Be intentional and plan ahead so hunger pains do not bring havoc to the best intentions.

Be prayerful and mindful about what to do (give up, change or add) in commemoration of Lenten Season 2014 as we seek to come closer in the relationship with God. 

*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 4^th Episcopal District, she served as pastor of Bethel AME Church in Adrian, Michigan 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.”

25. MEDITATION BASED ON II CORINTHIANS 5:11-21:

I booted up my old, trusty desktop computer a few weeks ago and got an ominous warning message that a file in my “dynamic link library” was corrupted.  I don’t know much about that “library,” but I do know that my previous computer displayed that same message a few start-ups before displaying a blue screen and “giving up the ghost!”  I took the hint this time around and replaced my old desktop with a new laptop - complete with Windows 8, a “touch screen,” more memory and all of the most up to date features. 

I’m enjoying my new laptop, but I didn’t throw my old desktop computer away.  It still displays the warning message on start-up and sometimes does interesting things when I open some programs, but it still runs.  It’s still connected to my wireless router, which enables me to take my laptop on the road and not have everyone else in the house lose wireless connectivity, it can still run simple programs and enable me to get online, and it’s now a new and very convenient way for me to view streaming video while I work.  It doesn’t do all the things that that it used to do, but I’ll hang on to it because it now serves new purposes and has a new life. 

God does the same thing with us that I’ve done with my old desktop computer.  All of us run into things in life that slow us down, corrupt our spirits, and leave us feeling incapacitated and less than useful.  Time, circumstance and our own mistakes and missteps leave all of us feeling used up and obsolete sooner or later, but God never casts us out or withdraws God’s love and blessings from us.

God sent His Son into this world to save us from our sins, to cure our corruption and to give us new purpose, new direction and new life.  When we look to Jesus, let God’s Holy Spirit have his way and focus not on life’s problems but on life’s possibilities, we’ll no longer feel corrupted and useless.  We can walk life’s journey with new energy and new focus, knowing that even when we face setbacks, we have a Savior who can “re-purpose” us and use us in ways we never imagined.

We can then find new hope, feel new strength, experience new joy and peace of mind and know why those who felt useless and corrupted by slavery’s chains could still trust in the Lord and say in song, “I looked at my hands and my hands looked new, I looked at my feet and they did too!”

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

26. EPISCOPAL FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to inform you of the passing of Lee Cummings, nephew of Bishop Frank Curtis Cummings (retired).  Lee R. Cummings passed Tuesday, February 18, 2014.

The Celebration of Life Service for Lee Cummings was held on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at Oak Grove AME Church in Detroit, Michigan. The Rev. Dr. Robert Brumfield, Pastor

Service Details - Condolences:

http://jameshcolefh.frontrunnerpro.com/book-of-memories/1809075/Cummings-Lee/service-details.php

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:

Bishop and Mrs. Frank C. Cummings & Family

4118 Paran Pines Drive

Atlanta, GA 30327

Telephone: (404) 266-3540

Email: frankcummings@bellsouth.net 

27. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We solicit the prayers of our Connectional Church as we announce the transition of the Rev. Dr. James H Walker.

The Reverend Walker was born September 10, 1940, the third of four children to the late Lester and Willie Ann Walker in Tanner, Alabama. He served pastorates in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and in both Columbia, Tennessee for nine years at St Paul AME Church and since October of 2013 in Clarksville, Tennessee at St Peter AME Church.

He was honored as the Outstanding Pastor of the Year Award (2007- 2008) by the Tennessee Conference Lay Organization.

He worked with the Connectional Finance Department over the last three quadrennials with his wife, Sister Faye Walker, Secretary of AMEC, Inc.

Pastor Walker had an immense love for God, family, and people. He trusted God and lived everyday "walking by faith and not by sight."

He is survived by his devoted wife, Faye Evelyn Walker; children, Sharon (Kent) Murrell, Shelley (Julian) Steele, and James H. Walker, Jr of Cincinnati, Ohio, Karl (LaShondia) Chambers of Columbia, Tennessee and Angela (Robert) Lawrence of Franklin, Tennessee; and many other family and friends.

Public viewing for the Rev. Walker will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2014 from 12 - 5 p.m.:

The Lewis & Wright Funeral Directors

2500 Clarksville Pike

Nashville

And on Friday, February 28, 2014 from 10 -11 a.m.:

Greater Bethel AME Church

1300 South Street

Nashville, Tennessee

The Funeral will follow the viewing. Presiding Elder W Antoni Sinkfield will be the liturgist and Bishop Jeffrey Leath will be the eulogist.

The interment will be at the Middle Tennessee Veterans' Cemetery.

Send all condolences to fewalker40@gmail.com

Services entrusted to:

Lewis & Wright Funeral Directors

2500 Clarksville Pike

Nashville, TN 37208

Telephone: (615)255-2371

Fax: (615)255-4926

28. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Elizabeth Ann Fortune Gamble. The Rev. Fortune Gamble was the daughter of the late Presiding Elder Charles Fortune of the Phoenix-Albuquerque District, Desert Mountain Conference. She was a member of the ministerial staff of Prince Chapel AME Church in Tucson, Arizona, and was a member of the Desert Mountain Conference Women In Ministry.

Funeral Services:

Saturday, March 8, 2014

10:00 AM

Prince Chapel AME Church

602 S. Stone Avenue

Tucson, Arizona 85701

Telephone: 520-624-2871

The Reverend Robert L. Ned, Pastor, Officiant

Condolences may be sent to the family of the Reverend Elizabeth Ann Fortune Gamble in care of Prince Chapel AME Church, 602 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 8570.

29. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We are saddened to share the following: Naima Amanda Scott Brunson, age 37, of Garner, NC, the daughter of Ms. Maxine Trent of Johnstown, Pennsylvania and the Rev. Dr. Edward A. Scott, Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in Staunton, Virginia and the Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott, pastor of Christ our Redeemer AME Church in Staunton departed this life on Wednesday, February 26, 2014.

Along with her parents, she is survived by her husband, Arnold D. Brunson of the home; children: Victoria E. Brunson and Marquis M. Brunson of Garner and Maurice T. Brunson of Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and a host of other relatives and friends, including siblings, grandparents and in-laws.

Funeral, 1 PM, Monday, March 3, 2014:

St. John AME Church

3001 Tryon Road

Raleigh, NC

Visitation, 12:30 – 1 p.m.

Monday, March 3, 2014, prior to the service.

Pastor / Officiant: The Rev. Allen E. Warren,

Eulogist - The Rev. Amy C. Zieglar, pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church in Roanoke, Virginia,

Condolences may be sent to:

Mr. Arnold D. Brunson

922-A5 Bryan Place Garner, NC 27529

931-980-7686

The Rev. Dr. Edward A. Scott, Allen Chapel AME Church

936 Sudbury Street

Staunton, VA 24401

Telephone: 540-280-8705

The Rev. Andrea Cornett-Scott, Christ our Redeemer AME Church

208 N. Central Avenue

Staunton, VA 24401

Telephone: 540-849-9163

Steven L. Lyons Funeral Home

The Rev. Steven L. Lyons, Funeral Director

1515 New Bern Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27610

Telephone: (919) 831-2596

Fax: (919) 831-2598

sllyonsfuneralhome@gmail.com

www.stevenlyonsfuneralhome.com 

30. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We are saddened to the announce the death of  Carolyn Jane Hart of Indianapolis, Indiana, the sister of the Rev. Wanda Ryan pastor of Davis Chapel A.M.E. Somerset, Kentucky who transitioned from this life on Friday, February 21, 2014.

Visitation:

Thursday, February 27, 2014, 3:00 p.m.

Campbell-Dewitt Funeral Home

491 West Main St.

Lebanon, KY 40033

Telephone: (270) 692-2197

Fax: (270) 692-3099

Funeral Services:

Friday, February 28, at 11:00 a.m. at the Campbell-Dewitt Funeral Home

Condolences will be received by the family, via email, or telephone to:

The Rev. Wanda Ryan

854 Ivy Ave.

Frankfort, KY 40601

Telephone: 502-545-1577

Email: wandaryan@live.com

 

Services entrusted to:

Campbell-DeWitt Funeral Home

491 West Main St.

Lebanon, KY 40033

Telephone: (270) 692-2197

Fax: (270) 692-3099

31. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

Deacon Alonzo Tolefree, of Detroit, Michigan, the oldest brother of the Rev. Truman (the Reverend Bettie) Tolefree passed away Thursday, February 20. 2014.

Gatherings to celebrate a life well lived include:

Family Hour - March 1, 2014 at 10 a.m. followed by The Celebration of Life at 11 a.m.

Burnette Missionary Baptist Church

16801 School Craft

Detroit, MI. 48227

Pastor - Rev. Nathaniel Caldwell

Eulogist - Rev. Truman Tolefree

Arrangements have been entrusted to:

Caver Memorial Funeral Home

19301 Van Dyke

Detroit, MI. 48234

Telephone: (313) 892-8300

Fax: (313) 893-5313

Condolences may be sent to:

Lisa Mitchell (Daughter) & Alonzo Tolefree, Jr. (Son)

3239 Montgomery St.

Detroit, MI 48206

The Rev. Truman & the Bettie Tolefree (brother)

2924 Shadow Creek Drive

Little Rock, AR. 72212

Telephone: (501) 353-2913

32. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

Mrs. Vititia E. Greggs, a Life Member in the Women's Missionary Society passed on Friday, February 14, 2014. Mrs. Greggs was not only a life member, but she faithfully served the African Methodist Episcopal Church in general and the Women's Missionary Society in many capacities.

During the tenures of Presidents Wilhelmina Lawrence, Delores Kennedy Williams and Dorothy Adams Peck, Mrs. Greggs served as the Office Manager for the Connectional Women's Missionary Society.

The Celebration of Life service was held on February 22 at St. John AME Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Resolutions may be sent to the Mortuary:

Fax: (501)371.0113

Condolences may be sent to either of her nieces -

Marsha Byrd

3530 W. 27th

Los Angeles, CA 90018

Or

Muriel Thomas

18 Chateaus Lane

Little Rock, AR 72210

And to:

Mr. Horatius Williams, brother of Vititia E. Greggs

523 Pollack St.

North Little Rock, AR 72117

33. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Rachel Scott, the retired and former pastor of Wesley AME Church in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. The Rev. Scott was the sister of retired pastor, the Rev. David Randolph and the aunt to the Rev. Dawn S. Christopher, pastor of Byrd's AME Church in Clayton, Delaware.

The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.

Viewing and Funeral were held on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at Ward AME Church, 728 N. 43^rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The pastor of Ward is the Rev. Terrence C. Hensford.  The eulogist was the Rev. Dawn S. Christopher, pastor of Byrd's AMEC, Clayton, DE

Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:

Mrs. Deborah Gaskins

1904B Garrett Road

Lansdowne, PA 19050

34. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

A memorial service for Mrs. Juanita Baker will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2014, at Bethel AME Church-Robbins, Illinois. Mrs. Baker, who died in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last week, was the mother of First Lady Judith Andrews and mother-in-law of Pastor Robert Andrews.

The Homegoing Services were held on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Bethel AME Church in Robbins, Illinois.

Messages of condolence may be sent to:

Mrs. Judith Andrews

9541 South Hoyne Avenue

Chicago, IL 60643

35. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:

Ora L. Easley, Administrator

AMEC Clergy Family Information Center

Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net  

Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/  

Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)

Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)

Cell: (615) 403-7751

Blog: http://ameccfic.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220  

36.  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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