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
-- March – Woman’s History
Month
Daylight Saving Time
(United States) begins Sunday, March 8, 2015
-- The Lenten Season
-- Easter Sunday: April 5,
2015
Thought for the Week: “Just because some people are fueled by drama doesn’t mean
you have to attend the performance.
1. TCR EDITORIAL –“RIDING THIS HORSE” A BIT MORE:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The
Christian Recorder
I really feel strongly about the pastoral ministry and the issues
related to the profession of ministry, particularly about the importance of
pastors taking care of themselves. I am also concerned about the part that
parishioners and local church leaders play in the care of their pastors and the
pastors’ families.
There was, and I suspect still is, a quote many have heard, “If
you find a good horse, ride it.” The implication seems to be if you have a good
horse, ride it and don’t take a chance of trading it for another horse because
the newly acquired horse might not be as good as the horse you had.
In the parlance of thoughts and ideas, it might mean that it might
be better to hold on to positive and helpful thoughts and ideas as long as they
are useful before venturing off in “unchartered waters.” In other words, don’t trade off a good horse
for one that might not be as good.
Another way of saying the same thing is in the statement “Hold
your horses.” If someone tells you
to “hold your horses,” you are doing something too fast.
So, I said all of this to say, I am going to “ride this horse” and
“hold on to this horse” as it relates to the issue of “pastoral self-care” and
“taking care of the pastoral family.”
I want to expand on some of the issues of ministry that destroy
members of the clergy, their families and ministries. The reason I am
continuing to “ride the horse” on this subject is because having been in the
ministry for as long as I have since 1959, I know preachers and I am certain
that the lot of preachers, especially the older ones who read last week’s TCR
Editorial entitled “An Important Issue that Destroys Individuals, Families and
Ministry,” hard-headedly blew off the “warnings” as it related to their own
ministries.
Unfortunately and to the detriment of the church, many preachers
have a “messiah complex” or the delusional notion of invincibility.
I have met clergy who shared they were diagnosed with hypertension
or diabetes, but went on to say that they were not accepting the diagnosis and
were going to deal with their medical issues by praying and believing that God
was going to deliver them from the diagnosis.
I know clergy, and you do too, who spend almost 100% of their time
dealing with church related issues, watch only religious programs on
television, listen only to gospel radio stations, do not subscribe to secular
periodicals, don’t have hobbies, don’t go to the movies, don’t have regular
physical or dental exams, don’t have a savings program, don’t have a budget,
and don’t have a physical training program, not even a regular walking regimen.
At one time or another in my ministry, I have experienced all of
the above and my learning was from experience, not from books. But, I must confess that I attended workshops
and conferences in which the issues were discussed and those plus the
experiences helped me to address the issues.
I am
back on “the horse”
I have written and revisited about once a year the things that I
would change in my ministry if I had it to do all over again and I believe it’s
a good exercise for all clergy to do.
Let me
start here by asking a couple of questions
I am directing this question to clergy, but this question is
apropos for both clergy and laity.
What do you do to relax?
What do you do to relieve tension in your life? What activity other than church related
activities do you enjoy and engage in?
Do you have a hobby? How do you
relieve stress? Do you have a strategy
to relieve stress in your life? What
leisure activities do you engage in? Do you have regular periods of quiet time?
Do you have a strategy for, and do you take time, to intentionally learn new
things, e.g., learn to play a musical instrument , learn to speak another
language, or learn a new skill (just in case you lose your day job)?
These are questions you can ask yourself, or, if you care; ask
your pastor, ask your bishop, ask your presiding elder. And, clergy, you can ask the lay leaders in
your congregation.
Getting
back to the clergy
Why is it important for clergy to be well-rounded? It’s important because a well-rounded and
healthy clergy can function more effectively.
It’s important for clergy to maintain good health because healthy
pastors can be more effective.
If I could give every pastor, bishop and presiding elder a
short-take on how I think ministry could be improved, I would tell them to be
more intentional in spending time with their families and to be more patient
with their families. I would encourage pastors and their spouses to be more
patient with their children even when their children become rebellious because
I believe Mother Teresa would have been rebellious if she had heard some of the
things that preachers’ kids see and hear around the church and observe how
their clergy parent is treated. I am sure that by the time a child reaches
puberty he or she has gotten tired of all of the church conversations at the
dinner table, while looking at television, especially televangelists and on
road trips.
I would yell at pastors to take intentional Sabbath-rests every
week. And, bi-vocational pastors, also need to take Sabbath–rests.
I would encourage pastors, without guilt, to take time for themselves.
And, I would tell pastors not to laugh at the jokes about preachers just
working 20 minutes a week. Use those kinds of comments as teaching moments to
lovingly share about the intricacies and responsibilities of ministry.
Pastors should take several days of “retreat,” several times a
year and if a pastor cannot absent him or herself from the church several times
a year, then the pastor needs to reassess his or her ministry.
I would tell pastors that they need to set up a physical training
program and be committed to doing physical exercise at least five times a week,
but no less than three times a week, e.g., jogging, walking, swimming, join the
YMCA or some other athletic facility.
I would explain to pastors the importance of scheduling and being
faithful in getting annual medical physicals and dental care. Every pastor
needs to be intentional in finding a medical doctor, dentist, podiatrist, and
someone in the area of mental health that they can consult about medical and
personal issues. A pastor needs to have a physician that he or she can call and
talk with directly. I would explain that their family members need regular
medical and dental care.
I would explain, especially to young pastors, the importance of
being intentional in reading books and daily newspapers, in addition to reading
the Bible. They should be intentional in reading newspapers, news magazines and
novels beyond the required or usual reading for sermon preparation. I would
explain that in order to preach relevant sermons and to be a relevant pastor,
he or she needs to be well-read and well-rounded. Being well-read and
well-rounded would help pastors as parents to be able to discuss various issues
other than church church-related issues.
Every pastor should have a hobby and devote time to it. Every
pastor should encourage his or her spouse and their children to have hobbies.
Hobbies are great stress-relievers. On a side note, some hobbies can become
streams of income.
I would strongly encourage, and this is important, that pastors
connect with a financial planner and initiate a savings and investment program.
I know how hard it is to go to a financial advisor and have to admit that you
have little or no savings, and you know you have done a poor job in managing
your assets. It is embarrassing and I have been there! A financial planner is a
must to get pastors on “the right track” in preparing their assets, investments
and preparing for many of the financial issues we all face.
Every pastor should have some type of savings program. A “little
can turn into a lot.”
I would encourage pastors to save something from each pay check
and when able to do so, one of the investments should be a home.
I would remind every pastor to remember that education is an
ongoing activity and it is important to take advantage of learning
opportunities, workshops, retreat and conferences. I would remind pastors that
one is never too old to learn and that universities have free or low-cost
life-learning programs. We live in a smarter world today and the flow of
information is mind-boggling.
I would remind pastors that the laity also loves the church. I
would encourage pastor not be so quick to “eliminate,” reject, or shun those
who do not agree with them. My philosophy came to be, “Thank God for the ones
who agree with me because they encourage me and thank God for those who
disagree with me because they are the ones who keep me “sharp” and keep me in
prayer; they sharpen my ministry.”
I am afraid that many pastors miss endearing friendships. I would encourage them to trust more, be more
open, and develop friendships with laypersons. I discovered that it was alright
for laypersons to get to know me as a person and I found out that when they got
to know “me,” their loyalty did not dissolve; as a matter of fact their loyalty
deepened. Familiarity does not always breed contempt.
I would tell pastors that it is important for them to be their
authentic selves instead of trying to be what people expect them to be. I would
tell them to reassure their spouses and children to be who they are and not
worry about trying to live up to the expectations of others.
Pastors need to take care of themselves and their families and
caring local church leaders and parishioners will assume “care of their pastor
and his or her family” as a part of their pastoral ministry
responsibility.
Getting
ready “to get off this horse”
I suspect if you ask pastors to make a list of their love and
focus for ministry in priority order, they would respond, “God, family, church”
or maybe “God, church, family.”
I would bet if you made a study of the behavior of pastors,
“family” does not rise in the top-tier of the list. I suspect, in reality, the behavior of most
pastors would be in this order: “God, congregation, meeting connectional
assessment obligations, relationships with fellow clergy, respect in the
community, growing the church and, if any energy is left, “the family.”
Pastoral, mental, spiritual, psychological care for self would not
even be mentioned in any prioritized list for pastors’ love and focus for
ministry. As a matter of fact, I have never heard a preacher mention
“self-care” in his or her list of priorities for the functions of
ministry.
Healthy ministry requires healthy clergy. The health of clergy
members is reinforced by supportive family, healthy relationships, excellent
health care and active participation in mental and physical activities, which
precipitates physical, psychological, emotional and mental health.
Healthy pastors involve themselves in interests outside of the
ministry and church, which helps them to be well-rounded in balancing the
spiritual, religious and secular realities of life and living.
2. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
-- AME Itinerant
Elder nominated to be Brigadier General
The
Rev. Scott Dingle a colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps has been nominated
by congress for promotion to Brigadier General. His nomination is going thru
confirmation process.
He
will most likely be reassigned to the office of the Surgeon General.
-- Pastor who
invited Dr. King was there and Rep. Terri Sewell, a daughter of Selma, rues her
city’s lost promise
-- The Rev. Dr.
Frank M. Reid III, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Baltimore will be one of the
Main Stage Presenters at the 2015 Hampton University Ministers Conference
The
101st HU Ministers’ Conference / 81st Choir Directors’
& Organist’ Guild Workshop will meet June 7-12, 2015 at Hampton University.
See
more about the conference: http://minconf.hamptonu.edu/
3. AME PROMOTED TO
AIR FORCE MAJOR GENERAL:
Major
Mark Brown has been promoted to the rank of Major General in the United States
Air Force. He was born in Chicago,
Illinois. He shared, "I spent his early childhood between Chicago and
Georgia. His grandmother, Essie Mae Brown, and my mother Mary Ethel Brown
raised me. My grandfather died when I was born but, I was often told stories
about his pastoring of the 6th Episcopal District in Georgia. He married my
Grandmother when pastoring at Union AME Church in Bluffton Georgia. My Grandmother was a Sunday School teacher at
the time and would later on serve as a Missionary and Evangelist. My Mother is still active with the Missionaries
at St James AME in Chicago and serves on the Steward Board."
Major
General Brown graduated from Randolph Clay High School in Georgia in 1982 and
attended Tuskegee University. He
graduated in 1986, the same year he received his commission in the Air Force as
a Second Lieutenant. While in college, he served as the President of Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity and was active in the Marching Band, and the Student
Government Association.
Major
General Brown has been on active duty for 28 years and has been an active in
the AME Church and attended Air Force Chapels during his assignment in the Air
Force. He was married in an AF Chapel and both of my boys have been baptized in
the Air Force Chapel. Major General Brown said, "I've been married for 24
years to Gwendolyn Jackson Brown. My
oldest son is a 21 year old senior at Mississippi State University (Mark II)
and my youngest son is a 19 year old sophomore at Missouri State University
(Michael)."
Maj.
Gen. Mark Brown is the Commander, Second Air Force, Keesler Air Force Base,
Mississippi. He is responsible for the
development, oversight, and direction of all operational aspects of basic
military training, initial skills training, and advanced technical training for
the U.S. Air Force enlisted force and support officers. Second Air Force provides training in more
than 390 Air Force specialties through 1,900 courses graduating 150,000 Airmen,
Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and international students annually in diverse
areas including aircraft maintenance, civil engineering, medical, cyber,
avionics, security forces, space and missile operations/maintenance, and
multiple intelligence disciplines. The command includes training wings at
Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.; Sheppard and Goodfellow Air Force Bases, Texas;
Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas; a training group at Vandenberg Air
Force Base, Calif.; and 103 field training units around the world. Second Air Force also oversees all U.S. Air
Force Airmen throughout the Joint Expeditionary Tasking/Individual Augmentee
training pipeline at several Army training sites across the country.
General
Brown was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Ala., and entered active duty in 1986. He has served in comptroller, command, and
staff positions at all levels of the Department of Defense, including extensive
experience with the legislative branch of government. His global experience includes serving in the
Philippines, Spain, England, Turkey, and Iraq.
He has commanded three times consisting of two squadrons and a mission
support group, deployed in support of Operation PROVIDE COMFORT, served as the
Assistant Executive Officer for the 17th Air Force Chief of Staff,
and was the Financial Management and Comptroller Director for Air Mobility
Command. Prior to his current
assignment, he was the Comptroller for Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command
with responsibility for 38% of the AF budget totaling approximately $60B.
Major
General Brown is a life-long AME from a strong AME family and we are proud of
the influence that the AME church has had on his life and we are proud of his
accomplishments.
He
was promoted to Brigadier General on September 30, 2011 and to Major General on
December 19, 2014
4. RETIRED BISHOP
FREDERICK H. TALBOT'S NEW HYMN – “PRAISE
TO OUR GOD FROM AGE TO AGE”:
Praise to Our God from
Age to Age
Praise
to our God from age to age,
For
gracious mercies found;
Praise
God for our rich heritage,
Where
faith, hope, love abound.
We
praise God for our founder bold,
For
Allen’s vision born,
Who
walked for justice to behold
That
cold November morn.
Each
day he served with confidence,
With
firm, unwavering steps,
Relying
on God’s providence
God’s
noble, just pre-cepts.
Today
we sing with gratitude,
Of
Allen’s servant-hood,
Today
we blend in joyful mode
For
Allen’s life of good.
In
common-meter “verse” we sing,
To
Jesus praise we give;
Who
saved us from the scourge to wing
With
joy in Christ to live
Words: Frederick Hilborn Talbot – 1927
Tune: William Croft, 1678-1727
St.
Anne
C.M.
86.86.
AMEH
#61
TCR Editor’s Note: Any C.M. 86.86
tune would work? St. Anne is beautiful,
but Amazing Grace (Early American Melody) and, Azmon works beautifully too,
especially as an opening hymn.
5. THE 13TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT MIDYEAR CONFERENCE MEETING
CANCELED FOR THURSDAY BECAUSE OF WEATHER:
The 2015 Midyear Conference will not be meeting
today due to the winter storm. The meeting will be held tomorrow, Friday
March 6, 2015 beginning at 10 a.m. (CT) at the Hotel Preston, 733 Briley
Parkway Nashville 37217; telephone: (866) 986-8089.
A revised agenda will be posted to the website
on Thursday afternoon.
If you are not going to use your hotel room
tonight at the Hotel Preston, please contact the hotel as soon as possible in
order to cancel your room. The hotel is having requests for rooms from
individuals stranded in the storm. The Preston Hotel's phone number is
866-986-8089.
Please travel safe as you come to the meeting
on Friday!
Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath, Presiding Prelate, 13th
Episcopal District
6. FAMILY LIFE
MINISTRY AME CHURCH MEN’S RETREAT:
*The
Rev Dr. J. C. Chandler, Jr.
I
Corinthians 3:11-13: "For no one can
lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if
anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
straw — each one's work will become manifest, for the day will disclose it,
because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work
each one has done."
-- Fortified by the
FLAME
On
28 February 2015, Family Life Ministry AME (F.L.A.M.E.) Church, pastored by the
Rev Dr. Joseph C. Chandler, Jr. and assistant pastor, the Rev Dr., Sakima
Romero-Chandler, located in Hagerstown, Maryland launched the inaugural 2015
Men’s and Young Men’s Retreat. This year’s theme was “Empowering Boys Today
into Powerful Men of Tomorrow.”
The
objective of the retreat was an intensive focused and sustained approach to
empowering adult and young men with the knowledge, skills and abilities to
become and remain successful in our society and it also equipped individuals
with the tools necessary to effect positive change in their lives and
communities.
The
program taught teamwork, leadership values, responsibilities, practical life
skills, empowerment not fear. In addition, the retreat addressed the areas
growth in Social, Moral (Christian), Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, Cognitive,
and Academic.
The
Core Principles of the retreat was built on "Know God, Know yourself, Know
your purpose, Know your gifts and talents, Know how literacy improves you, Know
what you want to do in life, Know your community and how to serve it with pride
and dignity."
The
distinguished presenters included Chief Mark Holtzman and Captain Paul Kifer
(Hagerstown Police Department); Mr. Lavar Youmans (Inter-Agency Coordinator,
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development -Washington
DC; Mr. Samuel Key (President of the Hagerstown's Chapter of the NAACP); and
Mr. Burrell Jamison, (Stewart Pro-Tem) of Family Life Ministry AME Church.
Each
member departed noticeably different than they entered. Both Chief Holtzman and Captain Kifer stated,
“We came in with a script of what we were going to say, but we immediately
threw it out after seeing and feeling the spirit of each man at this event.”
One
of the many blessings F.L.A.M.E. received after the retreat was a request from
the Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Fraternity Inc. (Frederick, MD, Chapter) and Mr.
Bill Gaertner, Director of Gatekeepers of Hagerstown to sponsor another men’s
retreat as soon as May of this year (2015).
*The
Rev Dr. J. C. Chandler, Jr. is the pastor of Family Life Ministry AME
(F.L.A.M.E.) Church in Hagerstown, Maryland
7. THE ASSOCIATION
FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY HONORS REV. DR. JONATHAN L.
WEAVER:
*Ms
Lynette Lewis
One
hundred years ago, Carter G. Woodson established the Association for the Study of African American Life and History
(ASALH). He did so to transform how people of African descent in America saw
themselves and how other Americans perceived them. To this end, what began as
Negro History Week and became Black History Month, marks Carter’s most lasting
impact on American society and culture.
The
Association for the Study of African American Life and History honored the Rev.
Dr. Jonathan L. Weaver on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at its centennial awards
luncheon, and bestowed their Living Legacy Award upon him for his outstanding
community service. The Rev. Weaver has served as pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo
African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bowie, Maryland for twenty-seven years
and under his leadership, the church has grown substantially.
His
servant-leadership in the community has long been known to many and the Mt.
Nebo AME Church family is happy to see him receive the nationwide recognition
he has earned by his years of diligent work here and abroad. He has preached,
lectured, and led mission trips to over twenty countries in Africa and the
Caribbean.
Weaver
is the Founding President of The Collective Empowerment Group (CEG) and currently
serves as its National President. The CEG, formerly known as The Collective
Banking Group, is an ecumenical association composed of nearly five hundred
churches in several cities across America fostering economic empowerment within
the black community. He is also the Founder and President of The Pan African
Collective, Inc., a national faith-based organization promoting human
empowerment within the African Diaspora.
The
Rev. Dr. Jonathan L. Weaver has made many contributions to the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area and the world with his long hours of dedicated service-a
beautiful example of his unselfish love for people.
Among
the other honorees at the luncheon was another member of the AME family, the
Honorable James Clyburn (D-South Carolina), the third highest ranking member of
The U.S. House of Representatives.
*Ms
Lynette Lewis is the Chair of the Public Relations Ministry at Greater Mt. Nebo
AME Church in Bowie, Maryland
8. SHILOH AME
CHURCH SONS OF ALLEN MEN’S MINISTRY:
-- The 4th
Annual Richard Allen Youth Achievers Society (RAYAS) Induction Ceremony
The
Richard Allen Youth Achievers Society Program is designed to 1) commemorate the life and work of
Richard Allen, founder and first ordained Bishop of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, 2) publicly recognize youth in grades 1 – 12 for their
academic excellence, outstanding attendance, and/or good conduct and 3)
encourage inductees to participate in community service projects with an
emphasis on Christian and family values.
Thirty-seven
youth were inducted into the RAYAS in 2014. They each wore a medallion and
received a certificate. Fourteen of these youth were recognized and honored for
their exemplary achievement in academics, attendance and conduct. They also
were given a monetary scholarship.
The
church was filled to capacity. The program featured the Buffalo Soldiers of
Brevard County and Michael A. Cadore, Sr. as guest speaker. Mr. Cadore is
Public Safety Coordinator at Eastern Florida State College and continues to
serve as Reserve Police Officer for the Rockledge Police Department. He also
mentors, provides inspirational speeches, life skills and business workshops.
He’s a former NFL wide receiver and kick-returner for the New Orleans Saints
and was second in the league in Montreal, Canada for kick returns. He has
received numerous recognition awards for his work in the community, most
recently the HUMANITARIAN AWARD for Central Brevard County. The father of
three, he was also recognized as one of Brevard County’s top Dad’s.
Since
its inception in 2011, RAYAS has inducted over 150 youth into the society. What
was heartwarming during this year’s induction ceremony was a personal card
written by Rayah Kassis, an eighth-grader at Our Savior Catholic School in
Cocoa Beach, Florida. On the card, she thanked Pastor Harvey and Mr. & Mrs.
Jenkins, Chairman and Coordinator, for considering her as an inductee for the
RAYAS for 2014. She stated that ‘the ribbon and certificate are placed with my
special keepsakes. I’m looking forward to spending the cash, even though my mom
says I should put it in the bank. It is an honor I will always treasure. Love, Rayah Kassis”
Future
events for the Richard Allen Youth Achievers include visiting the elderly who
are confined to nursing homes, taking a field trip to the Harry T. and
Harriette V. Cultural Center and Museum and identifying community service
projects to improve the quality of life for community residents.
9. MESSAGE FROM THE
AMEC SOCIAL ACTION COMMISSION:
We
have been anxious for justice to be served while awaiting the outcome of the
investigation by the US Dept of Justice.
The leaked information about the fate of the Ferguson police officer is
no longer speculation, but clearly documented in the Dept. of Justice Report of
Shooting of Michael Brown.
Even
more importantly is the Dept. of Justice Report on the Ferguson Police
Dept. It gives an accounting of the
history of police encounters and practices.
It gives insight into the culture of Ferguson and indicators for future
action.
We
have been anxious for justice to be served while awaiting the outcome of the
investigation by the US Dept of Justice.
The leaked information about the fate of the Ferguson police officer is
no longer speculation, but clearly documented in the Dept. of Justice Report of
Shooting of Michael Brown.
Even
more importantly, is the Dept of Justice Report on the Ferguson Police
Dept. It gives an accounting of the
history of police encounters and practices.
It gives insight into the culture of Ferguson and indicators for future
action.
You may access the
reports from the following links:
The
Social Action Commission urges you to receive and read this valuable
information. Share this information with
others in your churches, schools, community meetings, barber shops, beauty
salons, wherever you stand inline and talk about what's good for all of
us. Engage with the local police about
best practices and partnership opportunities - many of whom are our members and
can help us forge those productive partnerships.
Keep
the 5th Episcopal District in prayer as the local AME Churches in the St. Louis
area "stand on the wall" and seek solutions. Stay tuned for proposed followup. If you have ideas and/or wish to share
actions that you are taking, please send them to jdupontw@aol.com.
The
AMEC Social Action Commission
Bishop
Reginald T. Jackson, Chair
Sistah
Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Director
10. GRACE COMES
WITH RESPONSIBILITY:
*The
Rev. James A. Keeton, Jr., M. Div.
A
few months ago the need arose for my oldest son, Tyson, to have a cell phone.
He is getting older and when the weather permits he walks home from school with
his friends. Therefore, if he needs Leslie or me for any reason, he needs to be
able to contact us. Even though it took me a moment to come around on agreeing
to get him a phone, I eventually gave in. The question then became what kind of
phone would Tyson receive? Tyson, of course, had his own ideas about the kind
of phone he wanted. However before getting him a new phone, I remember the
lessons of my father when he insisted that I had to be able to take care of
something small before he would invest his money into something more expensive.
As
a result, I initially gave Tyson one of my old cell phones. Among other
requirements, I told him that he had to make sure he took his phone to school
everyday so that he could have it when he walked home. He had to make sure that
he kept the phone charged. He had to make sure that he was calling the
appropriate people. He had to make sure that he kept up with the phone and did
not lose it. He had to continue to maintain good grades and keep up with his
household chores. It was only after these conditions had been fulfilled that I
would entertain getting him the cell phone that he wanted. I realized that this
was a lot of expectations to require of an eleven year old, but then I
remembered another lesson from my father: it took a little more to be raised in
a Keeton home. I am happy to report that Tyson exceeded all expectations and he
received his new iPhone.
When
reflecting on this series of events, I realize that the gift of this new phone
for Tyson did not come without responsibility. It was only after he could be
responsible over the small things that he received what he asked for. The same
thing happens in our relationship with God because so many times we ask God for
the big things when we are not taking care of the things with which God has
already blessed us. This is a profound lesson for Christian believers because
good stewardship does not only apply to the “big" blessing; we have to be
good stewards over everything. Too many times, however, we want God’s grace
without personal responsibility. The scripture is explicit that we must be
responsible because when everything is said and done “…All of us must appear
before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for
what has been done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
*The
Rev. James A. Keeton, Jr. is the Senior Pastor of Parkside United Methodist
Church in Camden, New Jersey
11. DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE'S FERGUSON REPORT: ACLU OF MISSOURI STATEMENT ON WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR:
The
United States Department of Justice will confirm tomorrow what residents in the
St. Louis metro area have long known: If you’re black in Ferguson, you have a
greater chance of being stopped, searched, arrested, cited, and abused by
police.
The
department found that “Ferguson Police disproportionately stopped
African-Americans for no reasonable suspicion, made arrests with no probable
cause and used force disproportionately against blacks.” Of the 14 incidents
where a police dog bit a person and there was racial information, 100 percent
of the bitten were black. The Justice Department also reportedly uncovered
evidence of racist emails within the police department.
These
findings are intolerable. And they are not unique to Ferguson. In cities and
towns across the United States, communities of color are under siege by their
own police departments, as documented by ACLU affiliates in Connecticut,
Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and
elsewhere.
We
must find a way forward. Here in the St. Louis area, all of us as a community
must first look back at the shooting of Michael Brown and the protests that
followed. Darren Wilson, a white police officer who stated Mr. Brown looked
like a “demon,” shot the unarmed teenager down in the street. And that officer
was employed by a department that treated blacks unfairly and circulated racist
“jokes.”
Only
by looking back honestly at where we’ve been can we find our way towards fair
policing.
Many
individuals, organizations, elected officials, community leaders, and
commissions are working to find solutions, both here in St. Louis and
nationally. On Monday, the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing
issued an ambitious set of recommendations. A common theme in both local and
federal reform efforts is policing that returns to a model of “protect and
serve.” Service encompasses the idea that those being served must be included
in creating a solution based on mutual trust and respect.
The
ACLU of Ohio worked in Cincinnati with the African-American community, police
leaders, elected officials, civil rights and police misconduct lawyers, and
police unions to collaboratively negotiate a model of community policing that
respected community and individual rights while also giving police the tools to
keep those communities safe.
We
can do the same here in St. Louis and cities and towns across America.
If
we fail to do so, our past of racial segregation and discrimination will
continue to haunt us. The only difference now is that the “Whites Only” signs
have been replaced by a “new Jim Crow” that demeans African-Americans through
arrests, fines, and imprisonment.
12. NAACP STATEMENT
ON DOJ REPORT FINDINGS AND DARREN WILSON DECISION:
March
5, 2015
(Baltimore,
MD) – Yesterday, the United States Department of Justice announced it will not
file civil rights charges against Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown.
This announcement came on the heels of the United States Department of Justice
releasing a report concluding that the Ferguson Police Department has been
engaged in a pattern and practice of discriminatory enforcement during traffic
stops and arrests involving African Americans. In light of these announcements,
the NAACP released the following statement:
From Cornell
William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO:
We
are deeply disappointed that the Department of Justice decided not to file
charges against Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown. The Department of Justice’s findings
confirms what we have been seeing in Ferguson and across the country for
decades: an overaggressive policing culture that is far too commonplace in
communities of color. But these findings will only lead to significant change
in the criminal justice system if we hold law enforcement accountable for their
actions. Now the NAACP and the entire world
looks to the Ferguson Police Department to see what measures it will undertake
to eliminate racial profiling and ensure a fairer criminal justice system that
protects all its residents. The NAACP will continue to double down for justice,
advocating for federal legislation and other systemic reforms to fix our
country’s broken, ineffective and unjust system of policing until racial
profiling is eliminated once and for all.”
13. END OF THE LINE
FOR SOJOURNER-DOUGLASS COLLEGE:
Sojourner-Douglass
College in Baltimore received notice that it will lose its accreditation as of
June 30. The college was notified by the Middle States Commission on Higher
Education that its appeal to retain its accreditation was denied. The
commission said that inadequate financial resources were the primary reason
that the college’s accreditation was revoked.
Sojourner-Douglass
College was founded in 1972. While it was founded too late to be designated a
historically Black college or university, Sojourner-Douglass College had a
student body that was almost all Black and almost all women. The average age of
a student at the college is 38.
The
loss of accreditation will mean that students at Sojourner-Douglass College
will no longer be eligible for federal financial aid. And almost all students
at the college receive federal financial assistance.
14. PANEL REVISITS
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER’S ECUMENICAL LEGACY:
05
March 2015
The
life and works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer were revisited by three historians in a
panel held by the World Council of Churches (WCC).
Exploring
Bonhoeffer’s own ecumenical journey and the ecumenical landscape at the time,
the panelists made it clear how the ecumenical legacy of Bonhoeffer – a German
theologian, dissident against Nazism and a founding member of the Confessing
Church, remains relevant seventy years after his execution in 1945.
The
panel was held on 4 March at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland,
moderated by Theodore Gill, senior editor of WCC Publications.
Keith
Clements, whose book Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Ecumenical Quest (WCC Publications)
was launched at the event, noted that the message of Bonhoeffer for the church
was to become part of the world, embracing its struggles and perplexities – and
not just that it was “called to be a church.”
Speaking
about Bonhoeffer’s prison poem Who Am I? Clements said that “Bonhoeffer does
not seem to be praying for his fellow prisoners, most of whom were soldiers,
deserters from the army, criminals – but praying with them, offering what could
be their prayer… ‘We are the guilty, we are the sinners, and sinned against, we
saw the lie raise its head and did not honour the truth.’”
“It
is evident from his poem how we need to build more into our ecumenical
spirituality – identifying ourselves with the world we live in,” Clements said.
Clements
is a British historian and theologian, whose international service includes
eight years as general secretary of the Conference of European Churches. Among
his several works on Bonhoeffer is volume 13 of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works,
London: 1933-1935, and his most recent work is Ecumenical Dynamic: On Living in
More than One Place at Once (WCC Publications).
Reflecting
on Bonhoeffer’s “commitment and active involvement in the ecumenical movement,”
Clements said the challenge “Bonhoeffer laid down to that movement in his time
remains a legacy which still has to be fully claimed by the ecumenical world
today.”
Clements
expressed his hopes that his book may stimulate further discussion about
Bonhoeffer and the nature of the ecumenical movement and its relevance in today’s
world.
Clements
said that Bonhoeffer’s 1935 essay that focuses on the “command and promise of
God” is something that the ecumenical movement must hold on to while
reaffirming its commitments.
Relevance of
Bonhoeffer’s words today
Speaking
about the wider ecumenical and interfaith picture during the period, Victoria
J. Barnett, director for Programmes on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust, U.
S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, said that such an in-depth study, such as
Clements’s, of Bonhoeffer’s role in the ecumenical movement was long overdue.
“Keith’s
book gives us a vivid portrait not just of Bonhoeffer, but of the remarkable
ecumenical leaders of that era and the larger issues that were at stake,” she
said.
Barnett
remembered Bonhoeffer as a young German in the 1920s who “flirted briefly with
nationalism.” Bonhoeffer scholars tend to brush all this aside, she said, but
if taken at its face value it helps explains that “Bonhoeffer understood and
perhaps to some extent even felt the appeal of nationalism – and yet for
several reasons he was capable of critiquing it and drawing very different
conclusions.” One of those reasons was his engagement with the ecumenical
movement, she said.
Barnett
went on to say that ecumenism’s appeal for Bonhoeffer pre-dates the Nazi era,
but the fault lines between the ecumenical movement and National Socialism were
clear to him from the beginning, because the ideals of ecumenism and Nazism
were so fundamentally incompatible.
Bonhoeffer’s
ongoing relevance was addressed by panelist Stephen Brown, who serves as
programme executive of the Geneva based network Globethics.net and is author of
Von der Unzufriedenheit zum Widerspruch – a book on the role that the
ecumenical Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation process played in the
peaceful revolution in East Germany.
Brown
noted that Bonhoeffer envisioned a church “not dominating but helping and
serving” in which its word “gains weight and power not through concepts but by
example.”
He
shared how Bonhoeffer’s words resonate with the call for a “pilgrimage of
justice and peace” issued by the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan. “A pilgrimage is
not about uttering the authoritative word that the world cannot ignore. Instead
it is a path, walking with others, listening for the Word of God,” Brown said.
“Dietrich
Bonhoeffer’s authoritative witness stems not only from his words, but from the
authentic witness of how he lived his life, and his death – his death that we
are commemorating today – as a political conspirator, far from the official
institutions of the church,” Brown concluded.
Listen to the presentation from Keith
Clements
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Ecumenical Quest
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Ecumenical Quest
Listen to the presentation from Victoria J.
Barnett
The Ecumenical and Interfaith Landscape in Bonhoeffer's Time
The Ecumenical and Interfaith Landscape in Bonhoeffer's Time
Listen to the presentation from Stephen Brown
Bonhoeffer's Continuing Challenge to the Ecumenical Movement
Bonhoeffer's Continuing Challenge to the Ecumenical Movement
High resolution photos may be requested
via photos.oikoumene.org
15. FBI EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
The
FBI will accept applications for Special Agent candidates from March 2 to 16.
All interested candidates must apply via www.FBIJobs.gov on a home or UNet
computer by 11:59 p.m., March 16, according to the time zone of the applicant’s
local Field Office. Specific skills and backgrounds being sought include:
•
Cyber Security
•
Intelligence
•
Computer Engineering
•
Computer Science
•
Computer Forensics
•
Network Administration
•
Information Technology
•
Laboratory Sciences
•
Electrical Engineering
•
Mechanical Engineering
•
Certified Public Accountants
•
Bar Certified Attorneys
•
Police/Detectives
•
Military
•
Pilots
Speakers
of foreign languages are also highly sought, with a priority for Arabic, Farsi,
Pashto, Maghreb (Moroccan/Algerian), Yemeni, Afghani, Pakistani, Somali,
Uighur, Chinese (all dialects), and Uzbek.
To
qualify, each Special Agent applicant must:
•
Be a U.S. citizen
•
Be at least 23 years of age, but younger than 37 at the time of hiring;
exceptions are given for:
•
Federal Law Enforcement Officers (1811s)
•
Veterans eligible for Veterans Preference
•
Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
•
Have lived in the U.S. for three out of the last five years unless directly
deployed overseas by the U.S. government or military (this includes military
spouses)
•
Have a valid driver’s license and at least six months of driving experience
Applicants
must also have three years of full-time (at least 36 hours per week)
professional work experience. Exceptions to this requirement include:
•
Applicants with eligible computer science or IT backgrounds
•
Preferred foreign language speakers who score 3 or higher on an FBI language
test
•
Former FBI Honors Interns with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible for Phase I
testing and then must complete three years of work experience before advancing
to Phase II
•
Applicants with a Juris Doctor degree
•
Applicants with master’s and/or doctoral degrees can qualify with only two
years of full-time professional work experience
For
more information about the Special Agent application process, visit www.fbijobs.gov.
16. AIN'T NO NEED
TO WORRY:
They
will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it
will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they
will get well.
Mark
16:18
The
book of Mark is one of the most fascinating books of the bible. It is the oldest of the four recorded
gospels, yet it appears second in order to the book of Matthew. In this book we see Jesus takes on the
characteristic as the suffering servant.
Unlike the 3 other gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John, Mark gives no
genealogy to Jesus. There is no birth
narrative. There is no manger scene or
even wise men bringing gifts. Much of
what we gather is Jesus heals and suffers.
This is important to our theology of the text because it teaches
suffering has no particular address or location, that each of us no matter
where we are in life has the ability to suffer.
So
in this 41st book of the Bible in the 16th chapter and the 18th
Verse the reader sees Jesus is giving the Great Commission that we must
"go out into all the world and preach the good news..." But what I like about the Mark reading of the
text is Jesus also says that through it all you shall 'make it' no matter the
circumstance! In this understanding of
the text, the reader gravitates towards the understanding that there is a
symbolic value to "making it" in this life. We are not to read into the text the literal
meaning that I will pick up snakes with my hands or that I will drink a deadly
poison (however, all things are possible to them that believe), but we are to
read that no matter the circumstances that come into our lives that if we are
doing what God has prepared for us then there "ain't" no need to
really worry.
Today,
I want you to understand the seriousness of this commission is not only will
you survive, but in your survival you will touch and heal others lives. You need to believe you are commissioned from
the Lord thy God to stand firm that your healing is not just for you, but your
healing is to serve as a testimony to others that if I can make it, you can
too. I want you to know I decided a long
time ago that I was going to make it.
Furthermore, I believe with you that you are going to make it. If I were you, I would make up in my mind
that I am not going to worry about what others may say or do to me. Even when it looks like God is not going to
do it in my life; I am going to hang in there because I realize it has already
been worked out.
The
Rev. Jarrett B. Washington
17.
THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical Text: Matthew 6:16-18:
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for
they disfigure their faces, that they appear unto men to fast. Verily I say
unto you, they have their reward
Lent is about meaningful sacrifices not
senseless ones. Lent is not a season set aside for offering endless prayers;
rather it is a time for offering honest prayers. We are awakened to a season of
retrospection inviting us to come back to the Lord who calls us to return to
him. We are challenged to avail ourselves of that great bounty which God has
spread before us. We are called to approach the Lord through fasting, prayer or
self-denial but challenged to see the Lord in whatever sacrifice we make. In
other words the journey from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday is an individual
one. However we must make it a time we learn to recognize Jesus Christ and the
thanksgiving that we owe Him for everything that we tend to think of as our
own.
Most of us have experienced the season of
Lent when we just go through the motions. We find ourselves either hoping
something happens, or at least that Lent would end soon. It can be no surprise
in this instance that our journey bears so little fruit in our lives,
particularly in light of the fact it has such weak roots.
I submit that there is a much greater
mystery to the season of Lent if we would only acknowledge its power and take
it seriously. Of course then we would notice that it would demand quite a bit
of our attention. Many churches recognize the season with celebrations and
structured events, however Lent is designed for one purpose alone: to lead us
to recognize the presence of God in that which is right before our eyes.
Everything that we do during Lent is to make us aware of the Lord, and less
focused on ourselves. In its perfection, Lent is a season for reflection upon
and delight in the goodness of our God.
We will draw nearer to Christ during this
season as we remember and for some even imitate the forty days of fasting and
prayer that Jesus experienced in the desert before he began his public
ministry. Forty days of temptations and self-denial reveal to us Jesus’ resolve
and conviction as we are lead through the desert of our own adversity. We will
come to understand that even though tempted to betray his mission and his
heavenly Father’s plan by succumbing to the devil’s requests, Jesus was always
aware of his Father’s sustaining presence. Hallelujah, it was precisely this
awareness that consoled and strengthened Jesus throughout his trials.
It is during this season of Lent that we
are challenged to bear incredible burdens and temptations in our lives, yet
often without any real awareness of the presence of God. What we attempt to
sacrifice will cause us to change our behavior and our vision, so that we can
recognize the presence of the Lord. If we have entered into the season
thoughtfully and prayerfully we will recognize that what we have started will
not be by any means easy to accomplish. For many of us it will be difficult
enough to accomplish the promises we make without attaching this spiritual
dimension to their completion. However, it is in understanding and giving
meaning to our sacrifices that they become for us a source of strength and an
exercise of devotion.
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is
the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, S.C.
18.
EBOLA CHANGES COTE D’IVOIRE WITHOUT CROSSING BORDER:
By Kathy Gilbert
March 2, 2015
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire (UMNS)
Ebola has not crossed the border into Côte
d’Ivoire, but the deadly virus has changed the country forever.
Inside United Methodist churches in Côte
d’Ivoire and the communities where they thrive, handshakes and hugs have been
replaced by polite bows, hands crossed over hearts, hearty bonjours and big
smiles.
Church visitors are still greeted with
exuberance and joy. There are still brass bands, hallelujah choirs and
passionate preaching. But those joyful notes are tinged with a new ritual of
hand-washing, a constant reminder of the seriousness and sadness of Ebola.
The first case in West Africa was in March
2014. As of Feb. 27, 9660 deaths have been reported and nearly 24,000 cases
have been reported in six countries: Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria,
the U.S. and Mali.
“God has protected us,” says Dr. Simplice
Dagnan, director of National Institute of Public Hygiene and a United
Methodist. “We have tested 100 people for Ebola and the total is still zero.”
Hard
lessons
During a recent Sunday worship at Temple
Bethel, the Rev. Marcel Sachou, director of evangelism and church growth of the
Côte d’Ivoire United Methodist Conference, put his hands together and
demonstrated the proper way to wash hands.
Before the sermon, he warned against eating
bush meat, urged members to learn the signs of Ebola, seek medical attention
for symptoms and not touch the bodies of those who have died from the deadly
virus.
Graphic Ebola posters are everywhere.
Bottles of hand sanitizers show up in the most remote locations. It seems
everyone knows what Ebola is, how it is spread, when to seek medical attention
and how to handle burials of those who die from the disease.
That doesn’t mean the lessons have come
easily or without continuing sacrifice.
Washing hands is a luxury many can’t afford
when they have walked miles to get clean water for their homes. Fines and jail
sentences for eating bush meat are harsh restrictions for hungry families who
have nothing to eat except the wild game that has been part of their diets for
generations.
On the mountainous border between Liberia,
Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, residents of Sipilou have had a front-row seat to the
devastation and chaos created by Ebola.
A guard dressed in combat fatigues wades
into the overgrown weeds, dusts off a faded road sign and hangs it back on a
metal pole. The small, rusty sign is the English equivalent of “Welcome to
Guinea.”
The guard straddles an invisible barrier
between life and death, freedom and enforced quarantine. It is his task to keep
Ebola out of the country at least through this one porous border about 10
kilometers (six miles) from Guinea and 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Liberia.
Until the first case of Ebola was reported,
thousands of people freely crossed the little wooden bridge over the shallow
stream that acts as a dividing line.
“Now the border is closed, we are not
shaking hands, people’s movement has stopped,” said Florentin Assamoi, the
Sipilou prefect (government official.)
Sipilou’s market is suffering without trade
with Sierra Leone and Guinea, Assamoi said. He also said work at a nearby nickel
mine has been suspended because of the outbreak.
Centre de Santé Urbain hospital in Sipilou
has set up white UNICEF tents as isolation units for anyone suspected of having
Ebola. A shiny, white ambulance sits ready to respond to any emergencies on the
prefect’s compound.
“People are sensitized and we have to be
vigilant until there is a vaccine (to prevent Ebola.)” Asamoi said with a shrug
and a smile.
It seems a miracle that the disease has not
made the short jump across the “frontier” of Côte d’Ivoire.
Seriously
afraid
“We were seriously afraid when the first
cases were reported but things are better because it seems the world, the
United States, is aware of what is happening here, so we don’t feel alone,”
said Joelin Gba Nica, a nurse at Centre de Santé Urbain. “We are also relieved
that the numbers of cases are going down. We are prepared with protective
equipment and we feel ready—as ready as anyone can be.”
Rufine Yéi Sess Bottis and her children,
members of a United Methodist church in Abidjan, live in a small house in
Spiliou. She is a midwife and her husband works in Guinea making posters for
the city. Most of his work these days is making Ebola posters, she said. The family
has been apart since the border closed in late August 2014.
“It is difficult, I pray every day that he
won’t get the disease,” she said. “In the beginning people did not believe
Ebola really existed. People are aware now,” she said.
As a midwife, she also takes extra
precautions when helping women deliver their babies.
“I hope it will be over soon, we can’t
greet people as we used to, we can’t eat bush meat which is one of our basic
foods and the only meat source we have,” she said.
No
shore untouched
Under a shady pavilion of palm fronds, with
the sound of waves crashing as background noise, Monogaga village leaders met
with members of The United Methodist Church from the U.S. and Côte d’Ivoire to
talk about the role of communication in controlling Ebola.
Andre Djeli Djirika, chief of Monogaga,
welcomed visitors and offered fresh coconuts split open by a man with a
machete.
Fear of Ebola has reached even this idyllic
coastal setting in the San Pedro Missionary District of The United Methodist
Church.
“Someone came and talked to us about Ebola,
told us not to eat bush meat, but that is the only meat we have. Now we eat
fish only,” Djirika said.
“We were told we could be fined and put in
prison for five years if caught eating bush meat,” he added.
A small clinic in the village built by the
government has closed. Djirika is hoping the Côte d’Ivoire United Methodist
conference can help it reopen.
Medical help is 30 kilometers (18 miles)
away and transportation becomes even more difficult in the rainy season, he
said.
Staying informed, ready
Victor D. Gnangbi is the secretary general
in the Prefecture of Man, the governing body for the border towns in the Tonkpi
region. He has been a United Methodist lay preacher since 1986.
“We have been frightened by the sickness of
Ebola,” he said. Ebola patients in Guinea are being cared for at camps only 10
kilometers from Man.
“I have sent many teams warning people to
avoid people from Guinea and people are following instructions. That is the
reason we don’t have any cases.”
A committee of prefectural, health,
military and NGOs (non-governmental organizations), was established in March to
raise awareness about the virus and to assess the epidemiological situation.
The group meets every Monday. Gnangbi heads the committee.
An isolation camp established in Man is
ready to receive any potential Ebola patients. The elaborate and complex camp
includes several tents and all the precautions mandated by the World Health
Organization.
Dr. Simplice Adouko, coordinator of the
camp, said he and his crew of 10 doctors do weekly drills which include
changing into and out of protective gear and spraying the area to keep it free
from contamination.
“We don’t want to lose the techniques, so
we practice,” he said.
He has been watching the health
professionals in his neighboring countries and knows they are the ones at most
risk.
“I am very proud of those people doing what
they were trained to do. They are living up to their Hippocratic Oath,” he
said. “I watched a documentary on a Guinea doctor who later died, I am learning
from the experiences of others,” he said.
Gnangbi said he was grateful to have
members of The United Methodist Church seeking information on how to help in
the crisis. He said some people may not believe what science is saying but they
believe in God. It is encouraging when the people of God come to share the news
about Ebola and how to fight it, he said.
“When your house is burning and someone
comes to help you, we just say thank you.”
Gilbert is a multimedia news reporter for
United Methodist News Service. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.
**Used with permission of the United
Methodist News Service
19. GETTING TO ZERO AND HALF THE SKY (PART 1):
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
On Sunday, March 8 International Women’s
Day is celebrated all around the world.
The 2015 theme is “Make It Happen”.
On Sunday, clergypersons and pastors throughout the connectional have
the attention of congregants. It is an ideal time to use some portion of that
opportunity to uplift the multitude of contributions and equity needs of women
and girls who hold up at least half the sky.
This content of this Getting to Zero column
has thoughts written while living in Lusaka in March 2013 updated for March
2015.
A
View of Women from Lusaka in March 2013
I marvel at the many women and girls
encountered daily, and the vast range of their lives. I only see a small
glimpse of what occurs here for these sisters who are half of the population of
Zambia.
In Zambia as in many places, women
cultivate and bring to market offerings of fresh vegetables, beautiful vine
ripened red tomatoes displayed in symmetrical stacks, fresh-cut okra, cassava
roots, bundles of pumpkin leaves and other leafy greens, potatoes and onions
piled neatly or clustered in drawstring net bags, and brown eggs by the dozens.
In this season, there are rows of large ripe mangos and lush dark green
avocados. All the produce is found at roadside stands around Lusaka and
throughout most of the country. A member of my host family has commented, “In
Zambia there is so much food, no one should be hungry.”
Women in bright colored chitanges (an ankle
length wrapped cotton skirt) sell bags of charcoal. This partly burned wood can
be found in bundles of all sizes at locations along the roadsides. The men-
brothers, fathers, husbands, uncles, sons, work in the forests to cut down
certain type of trees and prepare the partially burned wood in the century old
traditional manner. The wood is piled into huge mounds that are covered with
sod with a small opening left for air flow. This process allows the wood to
burn slowly. The coals that result are used throughout Zambia for cooking on
iron grills or portable stoves. Every Zambian woman possesses at least one or
more of these portable wood stoves that they skillfully use to prepare a meal
in almost any location.
Education
for All
In 2013 in the Fulbright scholar time for
conducting a study with clergy and spouses in the Copperbelt province, I visited
two community schools in Lusaka. One is an African Methodist Episcopal Church
(AMEC) run school for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The other is a
private Christian school started by a businesswoman who is married to an AMEC
pastor. The pastor went through the 2006-07 science-based Trusted Messenger
Intervention (TMI) HIV/AIDS workshops in Lusaka.
Both schools are staffed mostly with
females who teach and care for the children. Both schools take children from
pre-school through 4th grade (church owned school) or 7th grade (private
school). One requires a parent or guardian to pay the school fee for
attendance. The other relies on church
member support. Both schools have children who sing, laugh, play, run, think
and count on their fingers to solve a math problem.
I am struck by how similar children are
wherever I have been. The scenes of children at-play, remind me of earlier
years of playtime for my now young adult offspring and their young friends.
Both schools in Lusaka have classrooms made
of painted cement block commonly used in Zambia for buildings. The church owned school was initially housed
inside the church building. It is the
realized vision of a former pastor, to build a community school on the church
property. In our visit to Zambia in 2007, building of the classroom walls had
just started. In 2010 a few of the
classrooms were open while the building process continued. In 2012, we found a
completed painted building with the required toilet facilities nearby. Now in
2013, this school run by the local AME Church enrolls 85 young children and
counting.
Who
are these Children?
The children enrolled are orphan or
vulnerable children (OVR) whose parent(s) or guardian has been affected by
HIV/AIDS. The enrolled children are from
the densely populated neighborhood that surrounds the church. I wanted to know
how the children are chosen. In November each year, the Church School Coordinator
(also the Church Secretary) and some teachers visit homes in the surrounding
compounds to “see where the students come from.” With help of church members,
“the really vulnerable children” are identified for possible attendance at the
church-run school. Their families or care providers are interviewed. Families
of children selected are notified in December for enrollment in January.
The church provides school uniforms, a
hefty mid-morning snack, books and supplies (paper, pencils), the classrooms
and teachers. In 2013, there were five teachers for the 85 students. Parents or
guardians are asked to provide lunch, and for the very young, also transport to
and from school. The older children walk by twos or in groups to school from
wherever they live in nearby neighborhoods.
Let’s
Go to School
The church school is open from 7:30 a.m. to
1530hrs (3:30 p.m.) for the children who can bring their lunch. The school day
ends earlier at 1300hrs (1:00 p.m.) for those who cannot bring lunch. According
to the headperson, which children this applies to “depends on the day. It
varies for each child in a given week.”
Although the morning snack is really a meal
(porridge and maybe a vegetable), one teacher explained “it is hard for a child
to learn with no food in their stomach. Through 1530hrs (3:30 p.m.) is a long
day. So, we allow those without lunch to go home at 1300hrs (1:00 p.m.) with
the hope that maybe they will get a meal before bedtime and their return to
school the next day.”
In 2013, the cement block church school has
six units (5 classrooms and a storeroom for books, supplies, etc). It is
painted in soft yellow and earth tone colors. Each classroom has a blackboard,
a teacher’s desk and connected student desks and benches each occupied by three
children. Charts of multiplication tables and a map showing the now ten
provinces of Zambia line the walls. Run by the second largest AMEC congregation
in Lusaka, this is one of the better equipped church or community run schools
that we have seen. There are others where there is only a building and a make
shift chalk board. In some schools, children sit on mats on the cement or dirt
floor of the church building to learn their lessons.
At government schools in Zambia in 2013,
primary school level teachers are paid about K1,700/month (~$340). Secondary
level teachers (grades 8-12) might reach K2,000/month ($500). At the church run
school, the salary for teachers is about K600/month ($120-150). To qualify,
teachers must complete high school and attain either a college teaching
certificate (~1.6 yrs classwork) or a diploma (~3.0 years of further
study).
The children in the 4th grade class warmly
welcome me. They stand tall and straight and speak with one voice in English
with perfect diction, “Good morning, madam. How are you today?” I respond.
“Good morning to you. I am well. How are you?” There are about an equal number
of girls and boys in the 4th grade classroom.
In Zambia, there is no fee for attendance
at government schools for grades 1-7. The costs are for uniforms, supplies and
lunch ($300/annually). At the government
school for children in grades 8-12, a school fee, in addition to uniforms,
supplies and lunch, must be provided.
(To
be continued next week)
*Dr. Oveta Fuller is an Associate Professor
of Microbiology and Immunology and Faculty of the African Studies Center at the
University of Michigan and Adjunct Faculty at Payne Theological Seminary. An
Itinerant Elder in the 4th Episcopal District, she conducts HIV/AIDS
prevention research in Zambia and the USA. She lived in Zambia for most of 2013
as a J. William Fulbright Scholar.
20. ICHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, MARCH
8, 2015 - A COMFORTER AND MUCH MORE - ST. JOHN 14:15-26:
Bill Dickens. Allen AME Church, Tacoma, WA
Introduction
For most residents of the United States
March 8, 2015 marks the start of daylight savings time. Daylight savings time (DST) is a way of
making better use of the natural daylight by setting your clock forward one
hour during the summer months, and back again in the fall. Many countries use DST
to make better use of the natural daylight in the evenings, and many don't. The
difference in light is most noticeable in the areas close to the Poles, e.g.
furthest away from the Earth's equator.
DST is commonly used in this country because of the perceived comfort
people derive from extended sunlight.
This comfort can foster economic and social benefits. Today’s Church School lesson explores how we
can find comfort and much more in our submission to the Holy Spirit. The mere thought of being in proximity with
the Holy Spirit is a comforting thought indeed!
Comforter
as Helper
The disciples love Jesus. Therefore, they
must do what he asks them to do. He will ask the Father to send them another
helper. He will send them the Holy Spirit. He (the Holy Spirit) is ‘another
helper’. He is ‘another Christ’. He will help them and always be with them. He
is the Spirit of truth. He will be like Jesus who is the truth. He will show
them what is true. The disciples know him.
They know him because he lives with them and will be in them (v. 15-17). In the Greek language, the word for ‘Holy
Spirit’ means someone who comes by your side to help you. He is one who
comforts you. The Spirit is similar to the duties of a ‘lawyer’. A lawyer is
one whom you pay to help you in a court of law. The Holy Spirit is ‘another
helper’ or Advocate. He will be a helper like Jesus. He will help the disciples
to remember Jesus’ words.
Comforter
as Caregiver
Jesus tells the disciples that he will not
leave them as orphans. He will not leave them without someone to care for them.
He will come back to them. Before long, the people of the world will not see
him anymore. But the disciples will see him. Because he lives, they also will
live. Then they will know that he is one with the Father. They will know too
that they are one with him. They love him. Therefore, they will do what he
tells them to do. Then his Father will love them. Through seeing Jesus, they
will know what the Father is like (v. 18-21).
Comforter
as Teacher
Jesus tells his disciples these things
while he is still with them. But he will not always be with them. After he has
gone away, the Father will send the Holy Spirit. He (the Holy Spirit) will take
his place. The Holy Spirit will come to help them. The Holy Spirit will teach
them everything. Jesus spoke many words while he was with them (v. 25-26). The
Holy Spirit will help the disciples to remember these words. Writers later
remembered the words of Jesus. They wrote them in the books of the New
Testament. The Holy Spirit helped them to remember Jesus’ teaching. It is
important for us to know this when we read the Bible. It helps us to understand
this truth
Life
Application
The alcoholic binge can destroy marriages,
wreck family relations with children and induce health problems for the
excessive drinker. The message of the
Gospel is to seek the right Comforter.
The Holy Spirit is a Comforter who brings a unique knowledge of Jesus to
meet our spiritual needs. In addition,
the Comforter’s role extends to that as a helper, caregiver and teacher. Let’s look to the Comforter for true
comfort. Looking for comfort in
distilled spirits, like Southern Comfort, will only result in a superficial
feeling of comfort and a corresponding emptiness.
*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 African Methodist Episcopal Church
21.
MEDITATION BASED ON MATTHEW 6:25-34:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I’m writing this meditation while attending
a Seventh Episcopal District AME Church meeting in Florence, SC - about 125
miles north-northwest of my home in Charleston, SC. I left Charleston on a morning that hinted at
“spring time to come” - with thin clouds and temperatures in the upper
sixties. It was such a pleasant morning
that I almost forgot to take an overcoat with me, until I remembered that it’s
still winter time. I was glad I did,
when I arrived in Florence to a light drizzle and temperatures in the forties!
The two cities aren’t that far apart, but
their very different weather today served as a reminder that we have to be
prepared for whatever we encounter on life’s roads.
That’s fairly easy when it comes to things
like taking a warm coat along, but it’s harder to plan for some things that we
encounter on life’s roads. No matter how
carefully we plan for variables and try to take possible events and outcomes
into account, we still run into things like sickness, grief, disappointment and
anxiety sooner or later.
We can’t prepare for life’s unexpected
challenges and reversals with this world’s resources. We have to look beyond this world and trust
in the God who sent Jesus into this world so that we could have a Savior, a friend
and a guide.
When we trust and believe in the Jesus who
can see “down the road” of life and who knows what we need before we even have
a clue, we can face life with faith and assurance that regardless of what comes
our way, God will prepare and equip us to handle it.
Do your best to prepare for life’s
predictable needs, but when it comes to the unpredictable, step back, say a
prayer and press on with the advice of a beloved hymn of the church, “Take the
Name of Jesus with you, child of sorrow and of woe; it will joy and comfort
give you, take it then where’re you go.”
This Meditation is also available as a Blog
on the Beaufort District’s Website:
Facebook at: www.facebook.com/BeaufortDistrictAMEC
Get Ready for Sunday, and have a great day
in your house of worship!
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the
Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual
Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church
22.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of
Mrs. Jesse Scruggs, the widow of the Reverend William F. Scruggs, Presiding
Emeritus, South District-Tennessee Annual Conference, Thirteenth Episcopal
District. Mrs. Scruggs was a long time
member of Shorter Chapel AME Church, 255 Natchez Street in Franklin, Tennessee.
Services for Mrs. Jesse Scruggs:
Friday, March 6, 2015
Visitation: 4:00 PM–6:00 PM
Limestone Baptist Church
1613 West Main Street
Franklin, TN 37064
Phone: 615-794-3037
Email: info@limestonechurch.org
Funeral:
Saturday, March 7, 2015
12 Noon
Greater Bethel AME Church
1300 South Street
Nashville, TN 37064
The Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield, Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Hill, retired General
Officer & pastor of Shorter Chapel AMEC Franklin, Presiding and the Rev.
Reginald Brock, Pastor, St. Matthew AME Church - Nashville, Eulogist
Services are entrusted to:
Lewis & Wright Funeral Directors
2500 Clarksville Hwy.
Nashville, TN 37208-1060
Telephone: 615.255.2371
Fax: 615.255.4926
Expressions of Sympathy may be sent to:
Mrs. Wilma Scruggs Drake (her daughter, in
care of the home of Mrs. Scruggs)
118 Rucker Avenue
Franklin, TN 37064
Telephone: (615) 794-1125
23.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with deep regret and heavy hearts
that we inform you of the passing of Charles "Chas" Maceo Holsey, III
of Chattanooga, Tennessee; the first of the three children of the Rev. Dr.
Charles Maceo Holsey, Jr., pastor of Campbell Chapel AME Church, Pulaski,
Tennessee, East Tennessee Conference & Dr. Tanja Anderson Holsey.
He was preceded in death by his maternal
grandmother just 15 months ago. Much prayer is requested for the Holsey family.
The celebration of life for Charles
"Chas" Maceo Holsey III:
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Family Visitation: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Christ United Methodist Church
8645 E. Brainerd Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Telephone: (423) 892-8442
Condolences may be sent to:
Drs. Charles & Tanja Holsey
1908 Stoney Creek Drive
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Telephone: (423) 255-0036
Email: chashol@aol.com
24.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of
Brother Samuel R. Patterson, the brother of retired Presiding Elder Joseph D.
Patterson. The following information has been provided regarding the funeral
arrangements.
Friday, March 13, 2015
Viewing: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing Service: 11:00 a.m.
Mt. Pisgah AME Church
428 N. 41st Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Telephone: (215) 386-6181
Fax: (215) 386-3341
Email: info@mtpisgahamec.org
The Rev. Jay B. Broadnax, Pastor and
Eulogist
Professional care entrusted to:
Wood Funeral Home
5537 Girard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19151
Telephone: (215) 878-5416
Condolences may be sent to:
Mrs. Barbara Patterson
578 S. 4th Street
Colwyn, PA 19023
Or
The Rev. Joseph D. Patterson
6123 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
25.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of
Lillian Voralyn Sampson Brewster, 75 years old, of Los Angeles, California on
Thursday, February 24, 2015. Sister Brewster was a faithful member of Brookins
Community AME Church where she served as a choir member, Trustee, member of the
Finance Committee, and personal secretary to the then Rev. T. Larry Kirkland.
She also used her background in law enforcement to assist Brookins Community
AME Church in legal matters. In addition, Sister Brewster also served
efficiently as personal secretary to Bishop T. Larry Kirkland until her death.
Funeral Services:
Thursday, March 5, 2015
12:00 p.m.
Inglewood Park Cemetery
720 E Florence Ave
Inglewood, CA 90302
Telephone: (310) 412-6500
Messages of Condolence:
Fifth Episcopal District
Bishop Theodore Larry Kirkland, Presiding
Prelate
4519 Admiralty Way, Suite 205
Marina Del Ray, CA 90292
Telephone: (310) 577-8530
Fax: (310) 577-8540
Email: www.amec5th.net
26.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of
Brother James Edward Temoney, 74 years old, of Sumter, SC on Thursday, February
26, 2015. Brother Temoney was the
brother of Rev. Abraham Temoney, Pastor of James Chapel AME, Lugoff, SC, Rev.
Archie Temoney, Pastor of New Zion AME Church, Sumter, SC and Rev. Herbert L.
Temoney, Pastor of St. Luke AME Church, Charleston, SC. Brother Temoney was a member of Beulah AME
Church, Sumter, SC.
Funeral Services for Brother Temoney
Thursday, March 5, 2015
2:00 p.m.
Beulah AME Church
3175 Florence Hwy.
Sumter, SC 29153
Telephone: (803) 495-3999
The Rev. Dwayne Bruce, Eulogist
The Rev. Robert L. McCants, Presiding Elder
Sumter District
Services Entrusted to:
Williams Funeral Homes, Inc.
821 North Main Street
Sumter, SC 29151
Telephone: (803) 773-6422
Condolences may be sent to:
The Family of Brother James Edward Temoney
C/o Reverend Abraham Temoney
32 East Red Bay Road
Sumter, SC 29150
27.
FAMILY MEMBER OF THE AME CHURCH FINANCE DEPARTMENT:
We are saddened to announce the passing of
Annie Northcutt, mother-in-law of Karen Bluning Osborne, Executive Assistance
to Dr. Richard A. Lewis (Nashville, TN Office), Chief Financial Officer AME
Church. Mrs. Northcutt passed last
evening, Sunday, February 22, 2015.
Pending Service arrangements will be
forthcoming.
Dr. Richard Allen Lewis
Treasurer/CFO AME Finance Department
512 8th Ave South
Nashville, TN 37203
Telephone: (615) 259-3771
Fax: (615) 259-3776
28.
CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened by the passing of Colonel
John Richard Jefferies, the brother of Mrs. Helen Williams and the
brother-in-law of Presiding Elder Emeritus, the Rev. Dr. Sidney W. Williams,
Jr., of the Virginia Annual Conference.
Funeral Service:
Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 12:00 noon
Copping Chapel African Methodist Episcopal
Church
3201 North Capital Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46208
You may send letters of condolences to:
Mrs. Helen Williams
317 Woodbrook Run
Newport News, Virginia 23606.
Telephone number: 757-930-1102
Email: longcreek2@aol.com
29. BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora
L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC
Clergy Family Information Center
Telephone:
(615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone:
(615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell:
(615) 403-7751
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
30. 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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