THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (04/10/2015)

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 20^th Editor, The Christian Recorder

Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015

1. TCR EDITORIAL - BLACK LIVES MATTER – WILL THE VIDEO BE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE JUSTICE:

Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III

The 20^th Editor of The Christian Recorder

-- Without the video, it would be a whole different story

This is a bad news and a good news editorial. 

The good news is that most law enforcement officers serve honorably and are superb police officers. 

The bad news is that the miniscule numbers of bad or ineffective officers create a bad image for the good officers.

 

Having set the proposition of the good news and the bad news, I thank God for Feidin Santana, the young man who was standing nearby and who decided to video-record the blatant murder of Walter Scott who had been stopped by a policeman for a burned out taillight.  Thank God for the smartphone! Thank God for the video-recording of the event. Thank God that the Mayor of North Charleston and the Chief of Police have the good sense and courage to deal with the situation.

 

I thank God for the video-recording because if the event had not been video-recorded, the murder of another black man by a police officer would have been dismissed, as I am sure many other murders and maiming by rogue policemen have been dismissed because there was only the testimony of the police officer. 

 

I have to wonder if rogue policemen counsel each other to “kill those who have offended them or those they feel may be able to physically over-power them” because it won’t be a “he or she said,” only the word of the cop; a dead person can’t defend him or herself.  I wonder if there is a spoken or unspoken code of conduct among cops when it comes to dealing with black men.

 

I wish I didn’t have to make the killing of black men by white policemen a racial issue, but it certainly seems to be racially-focused. The number of blacks killed by white policemen is out of proportion to the total number of persons killed by policemen.

 

Madison, Alabama

 

Madison, Alabama is an example of an obviously racially-motivated white police action that left the man partially paralyzed.

 

A grandfather, Sureshbhai Patel from India was visiting his family in Alabama to help care for his grandson, who was experiencing severe health problems.

 

One morning, Granddad Patel from India decided that he wanted to go for a walk and was taking a stroll through the neighborhood. The neighbor had called authorities and told them a black man was walking in the neighborhood who looked “suspicious” The neighbor described Patel as a “skinny black guy” and said that he’d “never seen him before” in the neighborhood. He said Patel was “just wandering around and walking close to the garages.” 

 

Within minutes of the call and after arriving on the scene, the police officer, Eric Parker threw the 57-year-old grandfather face down on the ground with a severe neck injury that left him partially paralyzed.

 

I wonder if the neighbor would have called authorities if a white guy had been walking in the neighborhood. I suspect not! I wonder if the neighbor would have called authorities if he had known the man trolling the neighborhood was from India. I suspect not!  The grandfather from India looked like a black man, so the neighbor called the police and the officer, Eric Parker, dealt with the situation as if Patel was an American black man.

 

Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown and now Walter Scott are the high profile cases that many of us are aware of, but there are many more Trayvon Martins, Eric Garners, Tamir Rices and Michael Browns “out there” and white policemen have rarely gone to prison for killing a black man – remember dead men can’t talk.

 

Eric Garner cried out, “I can’t breathe,” but several policemen did not heed his cry.

 

Walter Scott was stopped by then officer Michael Slager for having a broken taillight. Scott hadn’t robbed a bank or a liquor store, had not beaten up anyone, and as far as we know, had not threatened anyone.

 

He was stopped by Slager, who probably could have been more gainfully employed if he had been seeking to do some “real” police work; instead he stopped a car for having a broken taillight. He could have simply told Scott to repair the taillight, but instead wanted to treat Scott as a criminal. 

 

Surely, there must have been more pressing police work in North Charleston that needed Slager’s attention than stopping a car for a broken taillight. For whatever reason Scott ran away; never pulled a weapon, just ran away.

 

Walter Scott was 50 years old, Michael Slager was 33 year’s old and apparently Slager didn’t try to run after Scoot and overpower him; instead he tried to tase him and when that failed, fired his weapon numerous times and shot Walter Scott, who was running away, in the back.

 

The insidious and frightening outcome, in addition to the killing was, looking at the video; Officer Slager lied about the events of the shooting.  If there had not been a video: Case Closed!  Slager would have been back on the streets continuing to be a menace to the people of the community that he pledged to keep safe.

 

How many rogue cops are “out there?” 

 

It is hard to quantify the numbers of black men killed nationwide because police department data is unreliable and apparently there is no federal requirement to report such data.

 

Even though we don’t have all of the data, we know from news reports and anecdotal observation that the numbers of unarmed black men who are shot and killed by police is alarming and out of proportion.

 

And, added to the numbers of unarmed black men shot and killed by white policemen is the physical abuse of black women by some white policemen. We have seen police dash cameras where white policemen have violently thrown black women to the ground.

 

I am amazed at the high-profile white criminals who commit violent crimes who are taken safely into custody. It happens all across America.

 

Policemen will send negotiating teams to facilities and homes where violent white criminals are holed up and spend hours and sometimes days trying to peaceably resolve the issue. But, at the same time, we read news accounts of policemen violently breaking into black residences to apprehend a black man who nonviolently committed some drug offense. It seems that we have a "wild-west, shoot ‘em up" mentality when it comes to some white policemen dealing with black men. 

 

Since the death of Walter Scott, information has surfaced about Slager’s use of force against an unarmed black man several years ago.

 

Police violence has to stop

 

Police officers are servants of the community and police officers are commissioned to keep communities safe and to maintain law and order.

 

Police officers are expected to professionally treat all citizens equally.

 

If they fail to do so, law and order might be at risk. We do not need to have situations where communities lose faith in law enforcement. Lawlessness is bad for communities and for police departments. We do not need communities and police departments fighting against each other. Police officers need to feel safe doing their jobs and communities need to feel safe about the presence of police officers in their communities.

 

The Military model

 

The issue of police violence against the people they are pledged to protect is not an issue in military communities because military police officers are well trained, carefully vetted, and must be in excellent physical condition.  They are trained in how to respond to violent situations. They are trained to treat people with respect.  The military community knows that military police officers are well-trained. They have a presence and demeanor of being well-trained. They are well-supervised and military police officers are warriors!

 

Military police receive ongoing training that never stops. There are physical standards that must be maintained and they are tested each year. You do not see “fat, out of physical-shape” military police officers.

 

Here is the problem

 

Too many civilian police officers are in poor physical shape and have not been carefully vetted for the job as commissioned officers of the law.  Mandatory physical training stopped when they graduated from the police academy and too many departments lack ongoing training, especially as it relates to interacting with the community and especially minority communities.

Along with monitoring to see if police officers meet physical standards, should be a similar system to determine whether officers are meeting psychological standards of mental fitness. Physical and psychological assessments should be ongoing throughout the law enforcement career.

Fear

Let’s face it, the issue is fear. And the sad part is criminals can smell fear.

Some police officers fear black men who are perceived as being endowed with inordinate physical strength.

 

When some white police officers come face to face with black men, fear sets in and a physical confrontation or interaction is out of the question; the only option of a fearful police officer who lacks physical strength is his or her taser or their revolver and if their weapons were taken away, they would not be able to function effectively and appropriately.

 

I suspect, in more cases than we would like to admit, that police officers are wimps, not “warriors” and it is unfortunate that they do not have the physical capability or prowess to deal with people they want to arrest or even question.

When fear takes precedence in a situation, it does not matter if the perceived offender is innocent or guilty; fear preempts common sense and good order. Fearful officers cannot function effectively because fear precipitates ineffective and inappropriate behavior.

 

Here is what is needed

 

State and local governments need to more carefully vet persons who apply to become law enforcement officers. 

 

Persons going into law enforcement need to be well-trained and they need to be well-trained in how to treat people of all races. Law enforcement officers need to be compassionate and need to understand that law enforcement is not just a job, it’s a profession.  

 

Policemen need ongoing physical training. Physical training should be a requirement for the life of the law enforcement career. A police officer should exude a presence and a demeanor that demands respect. Police officers need to be diplomats, but they also need to be warriors, but “compassionate warriors.” 

 

The revolver should be the weapon of last resort and should never be used when an unarmed suspect is fleeing and not in a position to harm others or the police officer.

 

Walter Scott should be alive!  Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and Michael Brown and a lot of other black men who have been killed by white police officers should still be alive and police departments across the United States would not be cast in the negativity that surrounds them today.

We thank God for the good cops who serve professionally and honorably everyday and who treat everyone equally.   

Addendum: A new video just released confirms that Walter Scott did nothing to warrant being gunned down in cold blood. However, during the course of the conversation between Scott and Slager, it appears as if Scott was driving a Mercedes Benz that was not registered in his name and he had no papers to the car on him; further there was a warrant out for Scott's arrest for failure to pay child support. Note: #1] Slager knew none of that when he stopped Scott for a busted taillight.  #2 even more importantly, none of that warrants a person to be tried, convicted and executed “on the spot.”  No justification whatsoever for shooting Walter Scott.  None of the reasons for stopping him is punishable by death penalty.

2. TCR OP-ED – LIFE MATTERS:

Bishop Frederick Calhoun James

DEATH SHATTERS

AND

SCATTERS

AND

SMATTERS

AND

BATTERS

AND

TATTERS

HUMAN LIFE MATTERS MUCH

ETERNAL LIFE MATTER MOST

Bishop Frederick Calhoun James

3. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:

-- To the Editor:

RE:  Police cameras and video-recordings

Now, here's something I've been wanting to say, but with all the talk about every policeman having a body camera and every police car having a dash camera, etc. I've been reluctant to mention this. The thing is, in the Staten Island case, we HAVE a video. The man was laid flat on the ground in a choke hold (controversial), and saying repeatedly, "I can't breathe."  But what happened? That video was viewed zillions of times by ordinary citizens and by police and other officials. Somehow, the decision was made that the police involved were guilty of - NOTHING. That man died in an awful scene of abuse, but NO ONE was responsible?  I just wonder what will happen in the future if every kind of camera, photos or videos is available to those in charge. I don't have much to hold on to after the Eric Garner case; still, I hope for all kinds of improvements to come as a result.

Name Withheld

-- To the Editor:

I just finished reading Dr. Fitchue's column on "A National Crisis: Black Men Dying." The article was very factual, provoking, and profound on the systemic racist attitude concerning black lives.

Every person of color should read this and a plan of action made to make this case our litmus test. Since this article was written, a black man was murdered by a cop while he was running away. The white cop feared for his life. Thankfully someone had a camera and the cop has been charged with homicide. But as Dr. Fitchue said, one day there may not be a camera or a credible witness.

We must work together to eradicate all the wrongs committed in America against African Americans.

The Rev. Minnie Autry

-- To the Editor:

South Africa is going through unhealed wound of the past, what we see happening, violence all over confirms that the chapter of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. (TRC) in the country was not closed properly.

Recommendations were not carried forth to be implemented and thus the church must occupy the space in all dimensions in restring human dignity.  Across the waters we have seen that black Man’s life is priceless.

Time is now, to stand up and show the world human life matters in spite of colour and background.

History in meant to sharpening our minds in addressing present challenges and assist navigation to the future free from discrimination and segregation. 

The Rev. L. B. Dlamini

1214

Kanyamazane

4. I ASK:

*Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry

I have a few "titles" that I would like, if possible, to have answered online. I am sure that I am not the only layperson in African Methodism that would like the answer.

Thank you in advance for your time in at least reading my request.

Adrienne June-Buckner

DOLA, Virginia Conference Lay Organization

Second Episcopal District

I Ask #1:

1. It seems that everywhere we go we hear the pastor's spouse referred to as "First Lady" or "Lady D" if her name is Diane. I have not seen any reference to such a title in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2012. Also, many congregations have been told that the female spouse of the pastor is automatically the President of the WMS, which all good missionaries know is not true. It seems that many pastors/spouses use this title as an officer of the church, which entitles them to a special "First Lady Day" on the same scale as pastor's anniversary. I have even heard of pastors that require their congregations to provide stipends for their spouses when they attend conferences and conventions just as they do for delegates.

Bishop Guidry’s Response:

There are many terms and traditions many (most) of our churches have incorporated into our system that is not covered in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2012.

According to Wikipedia: "The designation, ‘First Lady,’ seems to have originated in the United States, where one of the earliest uses was in reference to Martha Washington. It is thought to be a term of endearment for the wife of a leader of an institution, i.e., the church. In recent years, the term has also been used to refer to the wife of the pastor of a church, especially in predominantly black churches."

My opinion: Any congregation who includes the pastor's family in its circle of love and respect is in deed a blessing in the Kingdom!

I Ask #2:

2) Can we get some clarification on the terms "senior pastor" and "associate or assistant pastor." I know that "most" congregations get one pastor with an appointment. If this is the case, where does the senior pastor distinction come from?

Bishop Guidry’s Response:

A congregation with a membership large enough to require the assistance of ministerial staff and has them available is blessed indeed. Generally one person is appointed as pastor (there have been exceptions, not addressed in Book of Discipline.)

In my opinion, if the pastor appoints members of the preaching staff to specific duties, the titles given are for clarification of position; "The Senior Pastor is assigned and "in charge."

I Ask #3:

3. Can we get a good explanation of what the terms "Ex-Officio" and "Pro Tem" mean? I know some pastors think "ex-officio" means that they have the right to come into meetings and take over the chair and conduct the meeting.

Bishop Guidry’s Response:

Ex-Officio: "By virtue of official position" the pastor is chairperson of all auxiliaries: (See page 93, #11 & 13, The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2012. It is not, however, the normal practice of pastors to "take over" auxiliary meetings from elected/appointed officers of said group.

Pro Tempore: "Temporarily; for the time being." While "steward pro-tem" or "chair pro tem" of trustees may serve one year (or more) they can, by definition, be changed at every meeting when the chairperson is absent or desires someone else to take the chair.

My opinion: It is a good thing when the pastor and the people work in harmony "for the good of the Church." Amen!

Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry 122 (Retired)

5. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:

-- Bethel (Tallahassee, FL) AME camp rededicated in name of former pastor

Sean Rossman, Tallahassee Democrat 11:18 p.m. EDT April 5, 2015

Congregants of Bethel AME Church celebrated Jesus' rising from the dead as well as another resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Parishioners used the holy holiday to rename their south Tallahassee campground after their former pastor and now Bishop of the 11th Episcopal District of the AME Church Adam J. Richardson Jr. and his wife Connie Speights Richardson.

Hundreds of church goers took part in a ribbon-cutting dedication at the 10-acre site off Woodville Highway near Campbell Pond. Still in their Sunday best after a morning of church services, congregants mixed, ate, drank and celebrated the site they helped build… 

Read more: http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2015/04/05/bethel-camp-resurrected/25341025/

-- Bethel AME Church of Ardmore's pastor is first woman pastor in 120-year history

The Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness is both breaking new ground and following a strong tradition. She is the first woman pastor in Bethel AME Church's 120-year history. As pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Ardmore, the Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness is both breaking new ground and following a strong tradition...

Read more: http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2015/04/02/main_line_times/news/doc551d631c5a24e999337159.txt

6. NAACP STATEMENT ON THE FATAL SHOOTING OF WALTER SCOTT:

Baltimore, Md. -- A white South Carolina police officer who claimed he killed Walter Scott, a 50-year-old unarmed African American man, in self-defense was charged with murder after a bystander's video recorded him firing eight shots at the man's back as he ran away.

From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO:

"Our prayers go out to the friends and family of Walter Scott. The death of yet another African-American man at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve the community is a grim reminder of the urgent need for criminal justice reform. Scott was a father of four and a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard whose life was senselessly cut short due to a tragic encounter with the police. While we commend the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and other law enforcement personnel who assisted in the swift arrest of Officer Michael T. Slager, we must also applaud the courageous citizen of North Charleston who captured the shooting incident on video then swiftly released it to the public. From Michael Brown and Eric Garner to Tony Robinson and Tamir Rice, the narrative of excessive force and police brutality continues to permeate headlines and command our collective attention. The NAACP South Carolina State Conference will work tirelessly with federal and local authorities as well as North Charleston residents to ensure that a full and thorough investigation takes place and that justice is served. We will also push for a police department that reflects the diversity of the community. African Americans constitute 47 percent of the North Charleston population, yet constitute only 20 percent of the police force.  We must continue to advocate for solutions within our criminal justice system that will keep our communities safe, our children protected and our officers proper trained and engaged.”

7. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONNECTIONAL DAY OF PRAYER - APRIL 13, 2015 (UPDATED):

May the joy of our resurrected Lord and Christ be yours now and always.

The Connectional Prayer Call for the Connectional Day of Prayer is scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2015 at 1:00 PM ET.  As global sons and daughters of Richard and Sarah Allen we look forward to sharing our prayer time globally.

Our U.S. Conference Call number is 518.530.1840 - Meeting ID is 119484468.  This year to make it more convenient and cost effective for persons calling outside of the U.S. we have provided a listing at the end of this communication of Conference Call numbers, which can be used from various locations---THE MEETING ID WILL REMAIN THE SAME.

Bishop McKinley Young

2015 AME PRAYER CONFERENCE CALL

April 13, 2015

INTRODUCTION OF THE PRAYER GATHERING: Bishop McKinley Young

THE CALL TO PRAYER: Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath, President of the Council of Bishops

OPENING PRAYER AND THE PRAYER IN SUPPORT OF BLACK LIVES MATTER: Bishop John R. Bryant, Senior Bishop

A READING: The Rev. Anthony Vinson, Director, Music and Christian Arts Ministry

         

John 20:

Risen Christ, Lord of life, breathe new life into us this day.  Inspire us with confidence, and open our hearts anew, to receive your promise of resurrection.  Speak to us once more, that we might hear your voice and recognize your presence in our midst.  From the darkness of doubt, guide us into the glorious light of faith and love.  In your holy name, we pray.  Amen

A PRAYER OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE AMEC: The Rev. Dr. Jerome V. Harris, Director, Department of Annuity Investment and Insurance

A READING: Ms. Martinique Mix, President, Richard Allen Young Adult Council

         

Lord of life, you know our tears and our sorrows; you know our doubts and our misgivings; you know our sins and our shortcomings.  Heal us and strengthen us.  Forgive us and call to us now, that we may leave the garden of despair with the confidence that you walk with us every step of the way.  Amen

A PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS: Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, First Vice President, The General Board

A READING: Attorney Patricia M. Mayberry, President, The Judicial Council

         

Acts 10, Psalm 118, John 20

Open the gates of your hope and truth, O God.  Open our ears to hear your voice, when you call us by name.  Open our minds to recognize your presence, as you walk beside us.  Live in us, that we may be signs of life and love for a world shrouded in sorrow and fear. 

A PRAYER FOR DRAUGHT STRICKEN CALIFORNIA AND OTHER GLOBAL DRAUGHT STRICKEN AREAS: The Rev. Miriam J. Burnett, Medical Director, Health Commission

A PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION: Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, President, The General Board

A READING: Supervisor Claytie Davis, President, Supervisors’ Council

         

I John 1, John 20

Behold, the resurrection claims us!  We want to see with our eyes and touch with our hands the marks of God’s sacrificial love.  Behold, the Spirit calls to us!  We want to know the peace of those who believe where they have not seen.  The ancestors sing to us: Christ is Risen!  God is light!  Live in this light!  Blessed are those who live the resurrection.  May we join their everlasting song:  Alleluia!  Christ is Risen indeed!  Amen!

A PRAYER FOR WORLD PEACE: Dr. Shirley Cason Reed, President, The Women’s Missionary Society

A READING: The Rev. Earle H. Ifill, President, The Presiding Elders’ Council

         

Acts 4, Psalm 133, I John 1, John 20

Holy Lord, you are Light.  Grant us eyes to see and ears to hear the resurrection joy so many cannot yet believe.  Open our hearts to hear the word you proclaim to us this day.  Open our minds to embrace the life you hold before us.  Show us the way of unity, that we may live generously as people of light.  Reign among us, resurrected one.  Reign in us today.  Amen.

A PRAYER FOR JUSTICE: Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr., 127th Elected Bishop

A READING: Ms. Lula Shaw Cleckley, President, Conn-MSWAWO+PKs

       

Acts 4, John 20

Merciful God, we are humbled by the lives of the early disciples.  We have forgotten how to face the cries of the needy, for there are so many.  We have failed to place our trust in your sovereign love.  We have forsaken your demand for justice, at the expense of those who fight against darkness each and every day.  Forgive us, and all who claim to follow you.  Fill us with your transforming Spirit, and free us with your grace, in the name of the risen one. 

A PRAYER FOR JOBS: Dr. Willie C. Glover, President, The Lay Organization

A READING: Chaplain Mark Cisco, President, The AME Chaplains’ Association

       

John 20

Even though we have not seen the Lord, we can still love him.  Even though we cannot touch his hands, we can still believe.  Gathered here as the body of Christ, and seeing Christ’s love in one another, we can say without doubt:  We have seen the Lord! When we witness the hands that touch us, and behold the eyes that shine with Christ’s love and peace, we can proclaim with faith:  My Lord and my God!  Do not doubt but believe.  

A PRAYER FOR THE WORK OF EVANGELISM: Retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, 122^nd Elected Bishop

A READING: The Rev. Dorisalene Hughes, Coordinator, Connectional Day of Prayer

       

Acts 3, Luke 24

God of renewal, you are the Author of life.  You are the One who came to meet us in flesh and bone and blood.  You are the one who walked among us, proclaiming love, mercy, and repentance. You are the One who died, and rose, and lived again, that we might believe and truly live.  Empower us to be your witnesses to the ends of the earth.  And help us accept your unconditional love, that we might share your love with others.  In your holy name we pray.  Amen. 

A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS: Mr. Jon Ingraham, President, The YPD

A PRAYER FOR CONTEMPORARY MARTYRS: The Reverend Dr. James C. Wade, Director, Department of Evangelism

A PRAYER FOR THE WORK, WITNESS AND MINISTRIES OF DISTRICTS 14 THROUGH 20: Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., President, Global Development Council (GDC)

A READING: Mr. George Brown, President, Sons of Allen

         

Acts 3, Luke 24

God of grace, we have turned away from you in so many ways.  Forgive us, Holy One: when we forget you; when we fail to recognize your works in this world; when we allow doubt to overcome our belief; when we allow fear to replace our trust and faith.  Help us remember that we are yours, your beloved.  As we turn to you, to receive your grace and mercy, bless us once more that we may live lives of faithfulness.  Amen.  

A PRAYER FOR HEALTH AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES: The Rev. Natalie Mitchem, Executive Director, The Health Commission

A READING: The Rev. Kimberly L. Detherage, Esq., President, Women In Ministry

       

John 10, I John 3

God of many pastures, we never tire of hearing the voice of our shepherd calling us to lay our burdens down, and to dwell in your house forever.  Forgive us, loving shepherd, when we try to keep your care for ourselves alone—believing that we have a special place in your love; thinking that others wander alone, without your care and guidance.  Open our eyes to the other sheep in your fold, wherever they might be, and whatever they might look like.   Amen. 

A PRAYER OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE LIFE AND GOSPEL LABORS OF OUR SAINTED FOUNDER AND FIRST BISHOP RICHARD ALLEN: The Rev. Dr. Gregory V. Eason, President, Connectional Council

A PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL AND ECUMENICAL COOPERATION: Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Ecumenical Officer

A STATEMENT OF APPRECIATION: Bishop McKinley Young

THE BENEDICTION: Bishop Young

Call in Numbers:

Americas

• United States (518) 530-1840

• Costa Rica +506 4000 3894

• Mexico +52 (01) 899 274 7720

• Brazil +55 11 2391-1785

• Panama +507 838-7838

• Argentina +54 (0) 11 5235-4345

• Chile +56 (0) 44 890 9208

• Dominican Republic (829) 999-2590

Africa

• Nigeria +234 (0) 1 440 5230

• Kenya +254 (0) 20 5231043

• South Africa +27 (0) 87 825 0170

Europe

• Czech +420 910 902 110

• Netherlands +31 (0) 20 322 3150

• Finland +358 (0) 9 74790030

• Croatia +385 (0) 1 8000 200

• Luxembourg +352 20 30 10 86

• Romania +40 (0) 31 780 7065

• Denmark +45 78 77 36 40

• Germany +49 (0) 69 333990120

• Ukraine +380 (0) 89 323 9963

• Latvia +371 67 881 670

• Slovenia +386 (0) 1 828 03 00

• Estonia +372 614 8070

• Hungary +36 1 999 8525

• Belgium +32 (0) 71 69 31 15

• Italy +39 045 475 0696

• Ireland +353 (0) 90 646 4162

• Switzerland +41 (0) 44 595 90 90

• Austria +43 (0) 1 2650580

• Lithuania +370 (8) 37 248960

•Spain +34 931 98 23 82

• Cyprus +357 77 788857

• Sweden +46 (0) 8 124 105 70

• United Kingdom +44 (0) 330 606 0530

• Portugal +351 21 114 3160

• Norway +47 21 93 06 60

• France +33 (0) 1 80 14 00 08

• Turkey +90 (0) 212 988 1780

• Poland +48 22 116 85 80

• Slovakia +421 2 336 633 02

• Bulgaria +359 (0) 2 437 2632

Middle East

• Georgia +995 (0) 706 777 071

• Pakistan +92 (0) 21 37130646

• Israel +972 (0) 76-599-0090

• *GCC/Arabian Peninsula +973 1656 8370

• Indonesia +62 (0) 21 51388890

• Taiwan +886 (0) 985 646 960

Asia Pacific

• Australia +61 (0) 3 8672 0140

• South Korea +82 (0) 70-7917-6535

• Malaysia +60 (0) 11-1146 0090

• China +86 (0) 510 6801 0130

• Vietnam +84 (0) 4 7108 0092

• Japan +81 (0) 3-5050-5130

8. AME-SADA WORSHIP SUNDAY:

May the joy and fellowship of our resurrected Christ and Savior be fully yours now and always. 

I pray this letter finds you well.  We are sending you this correspondence to request your assistance with the AME-SADA Worship Sunday.  The AME Church Service and Development Agency, Inc. is, as you know, the 501c 3 corporation created by the AME Church 38 years ago, whose mission is “helping people help themselves”.  We provide essential assistance to those in need through health, micro credit, agriculture and education programs as well as emergency humanitarian aid to Africa, the Caribbean and other parts of the world.  AME-SADA has accomplished much in its short history and yet so much more needs to be done.   In order to help strengthen and expand its work and outreach, AME-SADA is requesting from the connectional church, assistance in building a funding base of unrestricted non-government money, so that we can continue to deliver support and clinical services.

We praise God for the excellent report we received in 2014.  $83,637.00 was raised by the Connectional AME Church.  Please assist us again this year by sharing your prayers, influence and encouragement in your place of worship and witness.  A good word from you will have tremendous influence on those who love and respect your wisdom and leadership.  Please say a good word and encourage support for AME-SADA. 

We need your gift of love and support.

All of the funds donated can be done directly through the AME-SADA website (www.ame-sada.org), reported through your Episcopal District office or sent directly to the SADA address, 1134 11th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.  We are encouraging all reports to be in by June 8th so a full report can be shared at the General Board Meeting in New Orleans, LA.  A worship guide developed by the Department of Christian Education for the AME Church will be forwarded under separate cover.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

“Abundant God, you have supplied us with abundance and have asked only that we share with others generously.  Bless what we bring on AME-SADA Sunday.  Inspire us to give not from the edges of our wealth or the unneeded leftovers but from the finest of who we are and what we have been given.  Inspire us to give not only what our sisters and brothers need for subsistence but what is needed for fulfillment, respect, true justice, forgiveness and love.  Amen.”

Robert Nicolas, Executive Director

Bishop McKinley Young, Chair, Board of Directors

9. THE REV. ANN LIGHTNER FULLER DELIVERED THE 2015 WHITE HOUSE PRAYER BREAKFAST MESSAGE:

Senior Bishop John Richard Bryant reported that the AME Church was well-represented at the White House Easter Prayer Breakfast held yesterday (4/7/15). The Reverend Dr. Ann Lightner-Fuller pastor of Mount Calvary AME Church in Towson, Maryland delivered a dynamic Word. Bishop Bryant went on to say, “I was so proud to be an AME and it was heartwarming to see so many AMEs in attendance.”  Bishop Bryant said among the AMEs he saw were Bishop McKinley Young, Presiding Prelate of the 3^rd Episcopal District; Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 10^th Episcopal District and she had also formerly delivered Prayer Breakfast message at the White House; the Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby, Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual Conference; and the Rev. Dr. Julius Harrison McAllister, Jr., pastor of Bethel AME Church in Tallahassee, Florida. 

10. URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FROM PRESIDING ELDER MOSES O. ACHOLA OF THE EAST AFRICA ANNUAL CONFERENCE:

The AME Church on the continent of Africa is being faced with grave challenges that do call for very urgent and heart-felt prayer.

Kenya, in the East Africa Annual Conference in the 17^th Episcopal District has just come out of a heinous terrorist attack on a university campus where 147 students lost their lives at the hands of gunmen. In the attack, Christians and all who could not recite the Qur-anic verses were shot in cold-blood. This precedes an earlier attack on a bus whereas the passengers were dragged out at gunpoint and Christians were shot, 38 people lost their lives. A week later, there was another attack at a quarry site and again in the same style of execution, 16 people lost their lives.

Three times, this same evil has been meted out on believers at three churches that were in worship services and pastors and congregants fell in a hail of bullets.

In Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there still are disturbances with a rebel movement, which is affecting our churches in the Great Lakes Annual Conference of the 17^th Episcopal District.

Bishop Wilfred Jacobus Messiah is the Presiding Prelate of the 17^th Episcopal District.

We solicit for your prayer for Divine intervention.

Thank you,

The Reverend Moses O. Achola,

Presiding Elder

East Africa Annual Conference

11. WHAT JESUS DID: CELEBRATING THE PASSOVER SEDER:

*Ms. Kandace Taylor, St. Stephen AME Church, Jacksonville, Florida

How often can you say that you’ve done something that Jesus did?  Well this past Holy Week I was able to say just that.  A couple of years ago my dad, retired Navy chaplain the Rev. Atticus Taylor, started doing demonstrations of the traditional Seder meal at our church, St. Stephen A.M.E. Church in Jacksonville.  This was the first year I was able to actually attend one and I have to say I am thankful for the support our pastor the Rev. Dr. Michael L. Mitchell and our Christian Education Director Mrs. Kimberly Brooks-Hall for their support and recognition of the value of these kinds of Christian Education events.

For those who aren’t familiar with Jewish tradition (as I wasn’t); the Seder (pronounced SAY-der) is a ritual feast that marks the beginning of Passover.  Passover is a Jewish tradition Christians don’t formally celebrate, but there are many things Christians can learn about their own traditions by learning about the Seder. Most notably the connection we can make is between the Seder meal and Holy Communion. 

When we say that Jesus “took the bread” and “took the cup” and gave it to his disciples we are actually referring to ritual acts that take place during the Seder.  This is one of the points my dad brings forth during his demonstration. The cup Jesus gave his disciples was one of the four ceremonial wine glasses or “cups” featured during the Seder.  The bread was a broken piece of unleavened bread (matzo) that is supposed to be hidden and then recovered at different points during the meal.  Everything Jesus did was a part of the Seder tradition and then some.  As he often did Jesus fulfilled a Jewish tradition but gave it a twist, an indication of the changes that were to come.

Since my father is literally a college professor who does Seder demonstrations multiple times during the Easter season (including one during chapel at Edward Waters College, one of our A.M.E. schools), he would be able to summarize all of the historical significance behind the various parts of the Seder better than I would here. However, I will share a few of the themes one should take away from the Seder. 

       

First, the Seder is first and foremost a commemoration and celebration of the Israelites’ liberation from Egypt.  Every element of the Seder from the prayers to the ceremonial readings, to the food that is eaten (and not eaten) points to the Jews’ suffering in Egypt, their flight from bondage, and ultimately their freedom from it. 

       

Secondly, witnessing and participating in the Seder allows us Christians a peek into a tradition that Jesus and his disciples practiced.  We are able to see how we are ritualistically connected to our Savior through the sacrament of communion.  We are reminded these rituals we observe are essentially celebrations of thanksgiving, a formal way to thank God for how he has delivered us from our bondage.  

*Ms. Kandace Taylor, St. Stephen AME Church, Jacksonville, Florida is also a columnist for The Christian Recorder’s College Corner

12. A TANGIBLE TRIBUTE TO MOTHER BEVERLY THOMAS:

The 4^th Episcopal District is working diligently to host the 18^th WMS Quadrennial Convention of the AME Church. Bishop John R. Bryant and Episcopal Supervisor, the Rev. Dr. Cecilia Bryant decided that the Episcopal District Journal will be a tribute to Mother Beverly Thomas – “The Artist, The Educator, and The Missionary.” 

The 4^th Episcopal District hopes to increase Connectional awareness of the Fine and Performing Arts Institute housed at Camp Baber and also to solicit contributions for her ongoing life's Mission.

Mother Beverly Thomas has established the institute on the beautiful grounds of this AME-owned camp for our youth to fill the gap left by diminishing arts programs in public schools.

We invite persons from across our Zion to express your tribute, both verbally and financially as a small way to say "Thank You" to Mother Beverly Thomas.

 Send tributes to:

4^th Episcopal District Headquarters

4448 S. Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60653

For more information contact Violet Johnson (847) 682-1418

Thank you for supporting this most worthy cause.

 

Violet Johnson

281 S. Warrington Rd

Des Plaines, IL 60016

13. THE MISEDUCATION OF THE MINISTER: HOW EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY HAS CRIPPLED THE PROPHETIC WITNESS OF THE BLACK CHURCH:

The Rev. Michael Joseph Brown, Ph.D., Payne Theological Seminary

“The church should be extra cautious about franchised formulas, since churches that are committed to bringing about change are shaped by the context in which they were birthed.”

I advance this argument more as an observation than an indictment. Further, it is not my intention to argue statistics or their validity. Those deserve another time and place in which to be aired. What disturbs me, however, is the pervasiveness of a form of theology—“God-talk”—that owes it allegiance to a social context that promotes practices of (self-absorbed) individualism, hierarchy, paternalism, and intolerance or exclusion. In short, it is a message of “me” and “my,” highlighted most clearly in the statement, “I accept Jesus as my personal lord and savior.”

I am not arguing the validity of this widespread way of theological reasoning. (To be honest, it is not a form of theology that I practice because I find it individualistic rather than communitarian, constraining rather than liberatory, and intolerant rather than gracious.) What scares me is that we as a people have embraced this theology to the detriment of our community and its possibility for transformative change. I fear we have shackled ourselves to another, more virulent, form of enslavement: ideological subjugation.

Although we came out of physical slavery without a formal systematic theology, we had deep theological convictions that made the difference between survival and annihilation over our four hundred years of Western bondage. These convictions have not been lost, as much as obscured, in the post-Jim Crow era.

In our clergy’s attempt to become more educated, we have at times “cut corners” and accepted assistance from purveyors of a form of theological thinking that offers us more harm than good when taken to its logical conclusion. I will not recite a litany of misguided theologies and their peddlers. I will, however, advance the often forgotten fact that prior to the twentieth century African American Christians held some different, and even contradictory, theological convictions when compared to their counterparts of European descent. Outside of the advent of fundamentalism, an unfortunate number of African Americans have come to accept the tenets of the “Word of Faith” movement without serious questions. For example, it is not a tenet of African Methodism to advocate the inerrancy of the Bible. Article Five of the Articles of Religion says, “The Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation; so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it should be believed as an article of faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation.” To say that the Bible contains “all things necessary to salvation” is not the same as saying everything in the Bible is objectively true. The Bible is not history, nor is it a science textbook. The norm (or rule) of faith is more complicated than that. In fact, it is as complicated as we are. In our attempts to simplify it we undermine with simplicity the rich and textured relationship we, as a people, have developed with God.

James Cone is the father of Black theology, but the progenitors of that theology go back to the origins of African Methodism. Human freedom has always been at the top of the African Methodist theological agenda. “The Church of God was the only place where the leading [individuals] of the race could find a field sufficiently large and free to demonstrate their executive ability and to qualify themselves to do the work of a freeman,” says the history of the origin of Payne Theological Seminary. Before our Christian counterparts ever accepted the tenets of liberation and human self-actualization, our leaders recognized—however imperfectly—the importance of the African Methodist movement to the quest for human salvation understood, in part, as the actualization of our full humanity in this world. In short, we have always been a people concerned with the complexities of liberation and reconciliation.

Over the course of two hundred years we have beat the drum for an effective and liberatory ministry. Evangelicalism, as it is commonly understood in the United States, has muffled and transmuted this “steady beat” into one that has further oppressed our community, as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ. I know this will be unacceptable, even offensive, to some influencers of opinion in our Zion. Certainty is a demanding deity to whom nothing less than unquestioned sacrifice can be offered. Certainty, unfortunately, is not and has never been the common goal of our collective experience with God. “Going clear,” as the Scientologists might say, has never been the purpose of our theological enterprise. Good doctrine is always anchored to experience and practice. It does not exist as an entity outside of the complicated and messy experiences that comprise our day-to-day walks of faith. It is not innocuous. It is not merely assent to a logical and theoretically-consistent theological statement. In fact, theoretical doctrinal consistency may be the hobgoblin of meaningful religious experience. In short, baptism as a doctrine is irrelevant and empty without the experiences of those whose lives have been changed and renewed. As Princeton scientist, Paul Steinhart, writes, “While elegance and simplicity are often useful criteria for judging theories, they can sometimes mislead us into thinking we are right when we are actually infinitely wrong.” There should be no altar upon which we involuntarily dismiss our most intimate existential questioning and experiential inconsistency.

The historian of religion Mircea Eliade once wrote a seminal work entitled, The Myth of the Eternal Return. It is seminal because Eliade deftly uncovered that much of our religious impulse calls us back to the origins of our experience. Put another way, we desire to return to that “ol’ landmark.” This is an entirely understandable and valid yardstick by which to determine the reliability of our collective journey thus far. By whatever measure you judge our current relevancy to the worship of God in this age, let it not be inorganic, outside of our history of experiences. Embrace who we are. Embrace how far we’ve come. The power of what brought us into being will continue to fuel us on our journey. Do not replace this organic development with “franchised formulas” that obscure what lives and breathes in our bones.

14. THE CHURCH AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE PROVIDER:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby

       

While the church can be broadly seen as a “service business,” it differs in large measure from its public and private sector counterparts. 

In the public sector, governmental entities and nonprofit organizations interact with the public to provide assistance and direction in keeping with their prescribed roles.  In the private sector, goods and services are offered and provided in a way that brings profit to a business and builds a customer base.

“Business,” in a secular sense, is driven by market economics and the need for financial profit to be successful.  The church does not fit into that morally neutral model.  The business – or rather the mission - of the church is what Jesus describes in Christian Scripture as His “Father’s business.”  The business of the church is to make disciples and meet community needs.  The motive is not profit driven, as funds raised by the church are dedicated to the ongoing work of the church. 

Successful performance of the church’s divinely prescribed mission means providing meaningful opportunities for worship, education and growth for those in and beyond the church; and doing so in ways that serve the community in general and make the church a welcoming community.  To that extent, the church can be considered a “service provider.”

In the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the provision of service includes prescribed roles for clergy and laity at every level of Denominational organization.  At the connectional (world-wide) level, a framework for church operation is set forth in a document of positive law called the “Book of Discipline.”  The connectional church also includes General Offices that provide direction for specific areas, including Christian Education and Lay, Missionary and Youth activities.  Those General Offices find expression as Connectional organizations at every level of the church.

At the Episcopal District level, the Presiding Bishop could be considered to be the chief manager of service.  The Bishop is the chief interpreter and implementer of the positive law and gives direction through the Council of Presiding Elders and the Connectional Organizations of the District as to ways and means of providing effective service in keeping with the mission of the church.

At the Presiding Elder District level, the Presiding Elder sets forth ways and means that the clergy and laity of individual churches and the Connectional Organizations can provide effective service in keeping with the mission of the church. 

Those ways and means are - of necessity - broadly set forth at the Episcopal District and Presiding Elder District levels because each church is unique in size, composition, location, cultural context and human and financial resources.

The pastor of each local church could be considered to be the local chief manager of service.  Pastors are to prayerfully evaluate the resources of each church in terms of size, composition, location, cultural context and human and financial resources and, working with the church officers and Connectional Organization representatives at the local church level, devise a plan to see that the church “makes disciples” and meets community needs.

As the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District, my role in the provision of services is to perform my duties as indicated above.  I provide a general framework for the pastors of the District to implement as they see fit for their individual pastoral charges, work with the Connectional Organization leadership at the Presiding Elder District level to assure that their work complements the work of the church, offer administrative oversight to monitor the growth and administrative well-being of each church, make suggestions as to how growth and administrative well-being can be enhanced and make Pastoral personnel recommendations to the Presiding Bishop, who is responsible for the appointment of pastors.

15. # RHODES MUST FALL; RICHARD ALLEN MUST RISE:

Mr. Mxolisi Henry Vilakazi

The reconciliation project in South Africa is crumbling and showing how superficially it was done. It proves that the truth and reconciliation programme has not yielded the intended outcome, but output.

This has sparingly being raised from time to time. In the most recent past, Afrikaner Festival, the Innibos in the city of Mbombela, in Nelspruit had the previous National Anthem being sung; in some areas of South Africa we had people choosing to use the previous national flag as an embraced flag of the Nation. All these, pointed to one direction, Rhodes must fall, and Richard Allen must rise!

The students at the University of Cape Town, in South Africa have launched a campaign that Rhodes must fall. Embedded in this campaign is the call for transformation and inclusiveness of Africans and Blacks in particular in the running, management, and teaching content of the University. This campaign led to other universities calling for all apartheid South Africa symbols being removed from public places and public institutions. Political parties have wedged a piece in the debates. Ultimately, the Council of the University of Cape Town took at decision that Rhodes must fall on Thursday, 09 April 2015 at 17:00. However, the students and the entire community have not indicated who must rise. I then propose that Richard Allen must rise.

The argument of the students and the broader society, indicates that Rhodes must fall because he remind South Africa of her painful and heinous past of colonialism of a special type, Apartheid. The placards in the marches were dominated by destroy the White supremacy and White privilege.  However, the intent in this piece is not to argue the merits and the demerits of the campaign but to propose that Richard Allen must Rise!

This happened just two months since we celebrated Founders’ Day in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), a mere 14 days since we commemorated the 184th anniversary since the death of the Freedom Prophet, the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen. This marches happens a mere three days before we celebrate the official 199th years of the establishment of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816. We note that the AME Church was founded in 1787 but recognise that its founding conference took place on the 09-11 April 1816, where the AME Church was formally established as a separate yet independent religious movement, led by Richard Allen who must Rise!

I do suggest a plethora of reasons as to why the fall of Rhodes must results in the Rise of Richard Allen. It will be sensible to argue that Richard Allen is an embodiment of black pride! This is affirmed by John Langston who in 1876 argued that Richard Allen was man most fitting figure with which to begin publicly memorizing black history” he continues to argue that “Allen was the consummate race man whose rise from slavery to freedom contained the ultimate expression of American genius.” This is the man I argue must Rise!

The man or shall I call him the Freedom Prophet, I call to Rise was in 1894 described by Douglas Fredericks as nothing less than “the author of the Declaration of independence and racial equality. This is the man that a year earlier in 1893, Douglas said in description of Richard Allen, is “among the remarkable men whose names have found deserved place in American Annals, there is not one who will be longer remembered or whose memory will be more sacredly cherished by coming generations of colored Americas than will the name and character of Richard Allen”.

The Freedom Prophet, I argue must rise, is the man WEB Du Bois celebrated his liberationist Christian ethics as a model for rising black reformers” whereas Turpin NH simple argues that Allen was truly a Moses” In addition, in 1865 Bishop AW Wyman told a crowd on the birthday celebration of Allen that “Rome had her Caesar, German her illustrious Martin Luther, America has her Washington, Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln, African American could profoundly offer their illustrious hero, Richard Allen.”

This Freedom Prophet is celebrated by David Leering who asserts that “Allen was a man who fought slavery before Lincoln was born, tireless abolitionists, community activists, a minister and a black founder” he further argues that “ Allen’s seven decades on American soil illuminates, among other key issues, race relations in the late 18 and 19 centuries, the advent of the black church and black abolitionists, the rise of black leadership tradition and print culture, the variety of black nationalism and political discourse espoused by African American reformers through time and the ever expanding debates over black identity in the Atlantic world”.

Newman (2008) records that “ American blacks and white must offer thanks and praise to the sainted Richard Allen for his noble soul and spirit for laying so firm a foundation of liberty for his sons to build upon” This is the Freedom Prophet I make a proposition, must Rise as Rhodes falls!

The Freedom’s Prophet, Bishop Richard Allen who I argue that at the fall of Rhodes must Rise, had his preaching theology revolved around two key believes: (i) Christian morality, (ii) and liberation theology. Those who listened to his preaching emphasised that Allen preferred preaching sermons from Exodus “God destroyed kings and princesses for their oppression of slaves” others who witnessed his sermons confirm that he also like sermons on:

- Psalm 68 “Princess shall come out of Egypt…Ethiopia shall stretch forth its hand to God”

- Psalm 37:11 “The meek shall inherit the earth”  

- Psalm 37:37 “Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace”

- Psalm 37:7 “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him”

- 1 Peter 2:9-10 “9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

- Isaiah 62:1 “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch”

- Daniel 5:7 “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting."

In his religious circles, it is argued that “Allen was a man for whom propriety & dignity remained key parts of his identity” (Newman, 2008). Newman, (2008) continued that Allen had a super-serious personality and everyone new from one look at him, was literate, moral and upright and was in control of how people saw him. He was known as a religious man, minister of the Gospel, and eventually the nation’s first black bishop”

Allen, it is argued also believed in his theology that free blacks needed religious guidance to navigate through the rough water of freedom in the late 18 centuries, he ( Allen) also believed that religion provided moral discipline necessary to survive white prejudice and that Christianity taught piety and compassion, industrialness and perseverance                            ( www.wikipedia.org).

The freedom Prophet I argue to “Rise as Rhodes falls” wa exemplified on the 29th of July 1794 with the opening of the Bethel Church. The capacity of the church was that it could accommodate the gathered congregation. Allen continued to preach the liberating Gospel maintaining Methodism as a doctrine. To Allen the church was also a response to white racism. Methodist favoured emancipation but failed to treat blacks as equals to whites. So Richard Allen wanted blacks to control their religious life and power to call exhorters.

Richard Allen in 1795, engineered Bethel AME Church to grow its membership to 121, but the membership continued to grow until it was 1 272 in 1813. In the same year, in 1795, Richard Allen opened a school for 60 children.  It is also recorded that “many joined Bethel Church attracted by its strict systems of discipline, communal sanction against drinking, gambling, and infidelity which help them bring order to their lives. The church continued to grow.” (www.earlyamerica.com)

As early as 1795, Allen helped 30 recently freed Jamaican slaves who had newly arrived in Philadelphia. It fell upon Allen to take care of them by finding housing and providing food for them.

As some point, the church's basement was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad (a network of houses creating a link from the south to Canada, where escaped slaves would be allowed to remain free). Aided in great part by his wife Sarah, Allen would hide, feed and clothe escaping slaves. Large sums of money were collected in order to facilitate a slave's flight to freedom. Some current members of the Mother Bethel church are descendants of those who were escaped slaves assisted by Mother Bethel.

On 09 April 1816, Richard Allen presided over a meeting of black Methodist churches; Allen narrates it “in April 1816 we called a general meeting, by way of Conference. Delegates from Baltimore and other places which met those of Philadelphia, and taking into consideration their grievances, and in order to secure the privileges, promote union and harmony among themselves, it was resolved, "That the people of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and others should become one body, under the name of the African Methodist Episcopal Church." We deemed it expedient to have a form of discipline, whereby we may guide our people in the fear of God, in the unity of the Spirit, and in the bonds of peace, and preserve us from that spiritual despotism which we have so recently experienced--remembering that we are not to lord it over God's heritage, as greedy dogs that can never have enough. But with long suffering, and bowels of compassion to bear each other's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ, praying that our mutual striving together for the promulgation of the Gospel may be crowned with abundant success.”

This is the Man that Must Rise as Rhodes falls. Allen must rise because he remains the incubator of black pride, religious freedom and man’s righteousness. Allen must rise to raise his voice by his stature to condemn the reckless killings of people in Kenya, the brutality of the white police offers in the US, particular at Ferguson. Allen must rise to condemn the killing of free worshiping Christ followers killed by other religious thugs! Allen must rise, to condemn unhidden yet unabated levels of corruptions that deny our people freedom from slavery and economic freedoms in their lifetimes. Allen must Rise to promote peace and stability in the world, inspire us to have the desire to do good to one another! Indeed, Allen must rise to condemn the adaption of school girls by Boko Haram and the snail pace in which the international community is responding to the challenges paused by Boko Haram. Indeed as Rhodes falls, Richard Allen must Rise to join and strengthen the American Black voice that shouts “Black life has equal worth”.

Lastly, Allen must rise to awaken the giant movement, the African Methodist Episcopal Church to occupy her space in the dialogues, debates, social discourses and liberation movement of the black race! Allen must rise to feed the AME Church with the necessary wisdom to respond to societal problems and challenges as he has done during his mobile life!

I therefore conclude: #Rhodes must fall, Allen Must Rise! Happy 199^th Birthday to the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

*Mr Mxolisi Henry Vilakazi is the BoCE Director at Masibambisane AME Church is in Nelspruit in South Africa; the 19th Episcopal District, in the East Conference of the Witbank District. He is also a Research, Policy and Knowledge Management, Parliamentary Operations, Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature

16. CHURCHES ISSUE COMMON STATEMENT URGING NORMALIZATION OF CUBA-USA RELATIONS:

Leaders and representatives from the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC), the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI), the National Council of Churches USA (NCCUSA) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) have spoken out together on the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States of America.

Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, WCC’s representative to the United Nations in New York, United States, represented the WCC in a meeting in Havana, Cuba on 9 April, where participants of the meeting issued a joint statement expressing gratitude, appreciation and encouragement for the ongoing negotiations between the governments of Cuba and the United States to normalize relations.

As President Raúl Castro and President Barack Obama will meet this week at the Summit of the Americas in Panama, “we urge them to break bread together and to have conversations in a spirit of mutual respect and equality that will accelerate the process of normalization,” the church leaders and representatives said in their statement issued at the end of their meeting.

The signatories of the statement were Rev. Joel Ortega Dopico, the CIC president, Rev. Jim Winkler, the general secretary of the NCCUSA, Rev. Felipe Adolf, president of the CLAI and Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, WCC’s representative to the UN.

“We recognize there are details that must be addressed, but we emphasize it is of the highest importance that progress continue and that the presidents remain in communication and personally involved in the discussions,” reads the statement.

The statement was released ahead of the upcoming 7th Summit of the Americas that will take place in Panama, from 10 to 11 April. The Summits of the Americas are institutionalized gatherings of the heads of State and government of the Western Hemisphere.

This will be the first Summit of the Americas with the official participation of Cuba and the first major regional meeting of heads of State after the developments in relations between Cuba and the United States announced by both governments in December 2014.

At the time of that announcement, the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit commented that the new Cuba-US rapprochement was “a sign on our pilgrimage of justice and peace: a sign that despite long and bitter divisions, peace and reconciliation is always possible. It shows us that the way to just peace is the path on which people find each other as fellow pilgrims, at peace with one another.”

The latest statement issued by the ecumenical leaders and representatives in Havana declares the commitment of the churches to continue encouraging dialogue and advocacy.

“We commit ourselves to continuing to bring together members of our churches and councils and citizens of our nations to promote reconciliation after the many years of estrangement,” the church leaders said.

“We further commit to continuing our advocacy to encourage the United States of America to remove Cuba from the list of nations sponsoring terrorism, and to terminate the embargo that has created so much suffering in Cuba,” they added.

Read full text of churches’ statement on US-Cuba relations:

http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/public-witness/statement-from-wcc-ccc-clai-on-us-cuba-relations/

17. BREAD JOINS WORLD BANK, OTHER FAITH GROUPS IN CALL TO END HUNGER, POVERTY BY 2030:

Washington, D.C., April 9, 2015 –Bread for the World, the World Bank, and leaders of 30 faith groups and organizations issued today a call to end hunger and extreme poverty by 2030. 

"Now that it has become clear that it is feasible to end extreme poverty, faith communities are committing ourselves to ramp up our advocacy. We are building a movement that will translate this possibility into political commitment,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World.

Since 1990, the number of people living in extreme poverty or on $1.25 a day has been halved to less than one billion. “This unprecedented progress in ending hunger and extreme poverty is an example of our loving God moving through time, transforming our world,” Beckmann said. 

Research conducted by Bread for the World and the World Bank shows that ending hunger and extreme poverty is no longer a dream, but a possibility in 15 years.

“Poverty's imprisonment of more than a billion men, women, and children must end. Now is the time to boldly act to free the next generation from extreme poverty’s grip,” the #faith2endpoverty partners said in a document, “Ending Extreme Poverty: A Moral and Spiritual Imperative.”

Many countries, like Bangladesh, Brazil, and the United Kingdom have made huge strides in cutting hunger and poverty. However, hunger and poverty has increased in the United States. Today, 49 million Americans, including 15 million children, regularly go to bed hungry. 

Still, powerful forces in the U.S. Congress have been pushing for deep cuts in anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs. The cuts to these programs have so far been minimal thanks in part to a coalition of faith groups working to ending hunger.

“Now is the time for the United States to step up to the plate and make ending hunger and poverty a priority,” Beckmann said. “As Christians, we believe the moral measure of a country is based on how the most poor and vulnerable people fare.”

The #faith2endpoverty partnership is a result of the first high-level meeting between faith leaders and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. “Ending Extreme Poverty: A Moral and Spiritual Imperative” was released as part of the organization’s spring meeting.

###

Bread for the World (www.bread.org) is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

18. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:

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

Based on Biblical Text: 1 Cor. 15:20-22: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

I have spoken with several people who have endured the intense scrutiny that comes as part of the process to adopt. Everyone I have spoken with says that beyond a shadow of a doubt the sweetest words of the whole experience are, “The adoption is final”.  The consensus seems to be that from the first meeting with the folks in authority, throughout the inspection process and the filling out of mounds of paperwork all hopeful parents long to hear is that the process is successfully finished and the adoption is final.

On Easter morning, we are part of the spiritual adoption instituted by God and finalized by our Resurrected Savior. Yes it is true that those of us who have confessed Christ as our personal Savior have already experienced our final adoption into the family of God. However, I am compelled to ask if we ever really take the time to remember the complexity of the adoption process. Do we really consider the awesome sacrifice of God’s own flesh made so that we might become the “sons of God.”

We celebrate that Christ has risen from the dead and has thus become the “first fruits of them that slept.” Interestingly, the Jewish farmer for centuries has pledged his first fruits as an offering to God in appreciation for a bountiful harvest. The offering of the first fruit to God assured God’s blessing upon the rest of the harvest. The offering represents the people’s faith in God and the path of obedience established by God to justify His chosen people. As God’s chosen, the Jews were justified by their demonstration of faith in God. Therefore they remained a part of the adoption process for centuries.

The Jews followed the path of obedience bringing the first fruits of their labors and their sacrificial lambs to God’s altar during each festival celebration. The first fruits were holy to the Lord. The first fruits represented the Jews adherence to the original contract drafted by God, in His pre-ordained adoption process. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

The truth of the matter is the lamb and the first of the harvest were only symbolic of what God really wanted. What God really wanted was the spiritual first fruits of every soul. As the Jews initial bundle of the crop was the first of their harvest, so the spiritual life, and all the graces which adorn that life, are the first fruits of the Spirit of God in our souls. The Lord speaks in the future tense, then will I hear, then will I forgive, then will I heal. We are admonished that the process of adoption would not be complete until provision would be made for every repentant heart.

What is the provision of God? The provision is the sacrifice of His only Begotten Son on the Cross of Calvary, as the first fruit for all mankind. We must understand that the first fruit requirement of God’s contract with His people has not changed. However, the symbolic representation has changed. Jesus Christ has become the first fruit of our harvest, the first resurrection of a Man who would never die again. Hallelujah, eternal life is a benefit of our adoption. We celebrate on Easter morning that Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that we, too, shall be raised from the dead. Romans 8:11 reminds us, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you”.

Jesus has counteracted what Adam did. Jesus has reversed the sin and death of Adam. As Adam is the pivotal point of the human race, bringing death to all mankind, so Jesus is the pivotal point of the human race, causing life to spring out of death. While the sin of Adam brought death into the world, Jesus Christ brought the resurrection of life to the world. The sin nature we inherited from our earthly parents has been replaced by a new nature, an incorruptible nature for in Jesus we are all made alive!

We shout because the Lord has given us the victory over sin and death. We rejoice that God has finalized the adoption of our souls. We are warned however it is not every soul. It is only those who are in Christ, only those who have accepted Christ as their Redeemer, and entrusted their lives to a Risen Savior who are adopted into the Body of Christ. Those who are “in Christ shall be made alive” and “The adoption is final!” 

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

19.  GETTING TO ZERO: HOLIDAYS:

*Dr. Oveta Fuller

I enjoyed a wonderful weekend in the beautiful early spring time of Piedmont North Carolina as a culmination of Holy Week. I relished the warm sunshine of North Carolina for a few days.  Along with family, worship and holiday celebration come great food- delicious southern African-American food.

Among offerings over the several days were fried fish and hush puppies, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, fried chicken, Carolina cole-slaw, peach cobbler, pound cake with strawberries and ice tea. The choices also included green beans, sliced tomatoes, okra, steamed broccoli, fresh pineapple, sautéed spinach and other items. These often are not included when one thinks of great meals at celebratory family or church gatherings. These foods also are delicious, just not thought of as part of traditional holiday meals.

Back to daily life in Michigan, I am aware that the body needs special attention to recover from the onslaught of sugar, salt and oil from foods consumed during the holiday weekend. This awareness brings thoughts of how frequently African-Americans, especially, are affected by diabetes, associated kidney disease and high blood pressure that can lead to hypertension, strokes and heart disease. All are influenced by inherited genes, but also by what we eat- specifically the levels of sugar, salts and fats consumed over time.

The saying “we are what we eat” applies

In the foods we love, as traditionally prepared or so we think, there can be lots of sugar, fat and salt. These are some of the worse culprits for affecting physiology and reducing efficient body functioning especially with more sedentary lives. Today most people do less physical work. The human body was made to consume vegetables, fruits and grains. We evolved to learn to hunt and cook meat. We are socialized to season foods with salt and sugar (and other spices and herbs) for better taste.

I am learning that often the natural taste of foods is most savory (and healthy) without the added sugar, salt, oil, hot sauce or dressing. I am learning that one can cook delicious greens without adding calories, salt and additives from traditional meat seasoning. I am learning that slices of fresh tomato or of a crisp green or red pepper are so good. I am learning that sweet iced tea can be a delicious thirst quencher without adding as much sugar as typically used.

Even peach cobbler is delicious with some sugar and spices, but with less added sugar than many recipes suggest.

I have not found a substitute for the butter, eggs and sugar that make a perfectly moist pound cake. (If you have a great recipe, please share it).

What is the point?

We are what we eat. We can enjoy the traditional foods of our heritage while also taking care to balance the fried chicken (consumed ever so often) with plenty of fresh vegetables and uncooked whole food items. We can eat almost anything as part of a meal, just not all of the things at any one time that we may think we want.

I heard a bit of wisdom from someone who, along with their spouse, went through a successful life-style change over several years for weight loss, better health and enhanced mobility. They put it like this, “I have learned that I can eat anything I want, just not all that I want of anything that I want at any time that I want it.”

To reduce chances of developing diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, strokes, arthritis and yes, even some types of cancers, or to better manage these chronic conditions, most people can be more aware and intentional about what we consume. Purposefully eat in moderation. During wonderful events like Resurrection Sunday family meals, choose carefully so to enjoy the fried chicken and peach cobbler. However, for food intake at a meal, during a day or over a weekend, purposefully include plenty of fresh veggies, whole grains and water intake to balance the chicken and cobbler.

Seek to prepare a plate that is one half to three fourths vegetables and whole grains and one fourth meat or starches. Serve sliced raw vegetables as appetizers or side dishes. Bake or pan-sear some items instead of deep frying to prepare foods that will help to maintain nutritional balance. Eat a healthy snack to curb the appetite before a traditional meal to help prevent ravaging hunger. You know that kind of hunger where “the eyes can be bigger than the stomach.” Plan a walk or a lively physical activity into family gatherings to help balance food intake with energy output even during holidays.

For holiday dinners and wonderful gatherings with family and friends, who wants to be plagued or burdened down by nutrition restrictions and worries?

Do enjoy these special moments. In doing so, one can still remember to eat to live. Eat to live and to enjoy the presence of family and friends for many ordinary days and special holidays.

Simple guidelines that matter

**Below are some helpful simple tips to control amount and types of food consumed. These are simple win-win steps that provide better nutrition and enjoying the taste of foods in eating to live.

- Enjoy your food, but eat less.

- Stop eating before you “feel full”.

- Avoid oversized portions or extra helpings.

- Do not snack or eat in front of the television or while working.

- Make meals a special event with others or alone.

- Take the time to notice the colors and smells and to enjoy each taste.

- Season food if needed with herbs or spices and use no or less salt.

- Taste first before adding any additional salt or sugar to items.

- Make over half your plate fruits and vegetables.

- If an option, choose one starch or meat rather than several of these at a meal.

- Always eat something for breakfast to jump start your metabolism.

- Switch to fat-free or low-fat milk.

- Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen foods- choose the foods with lower numbers.

- Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

- Drink lots of water to flush out waste and hydrate your body tissues.

**List adapted from www.eatright.org/NNM/

*The Rev. Oveta Fuller Caldwell, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan (U-M) Medical School, Associate Director of the U-M African Studies Center and an AMEC itinerant elder and former pastor. She lived in Zambia for most of 2013 to study HIV/AIDS prevention among networks of religious leaders.

20.  iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2015 - ALL WE NEED IS LOVE - I JOHN 3: 11-24:

Bill Dickens. Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington

Introduction

The Church School Lesson for April 12, 2015 looks at the revolutionary topic of love.  Love is a term mentioned by nearly everyone but understood by few.  The writer of I John helps decipher the true meaning of love.  The author does so by articulating the examples, evidence and eternity of love in Chapter 3.

Life Application

The terrorist organization ISIS represents a challenge to the Christian concept of love.  Recent cases where captured Americans have been beheaded have created a sickening display of gruesome hate.  The bereaved families of the killed journalists are understandably not in a position to talk about loving ISIS.  The Bible states there is a time and place for everything.  There is a time to laugh and a time to mourn.  The sight of a public beheading supports a time to mourn.  The difficult question we face is what do we do after the mourning ends?  Do we take retributive actions?  Do we keep hate towards the enemy indefinitely?  Christianity doesn’t equate love of neighbor with condoning or approving of antisocial behavior. 

African Americans would be hard-pressed to love individuals who have intentionally raped, murdered or plundered their communities (Tulsa, OK race riot of 1915, rise of the Ku Klux Klan, George Zimmerman, Darren Wilson, etc.).  When President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation that was a decision not based on love for enslaved Africans but a risky political decision aimed at ending the Civil War.  To reiterate it wasn’t the love of humanity for why the bill was signed but the love of political self-interest.

Summary

All we need is love is more than just a Beatle’s song.  This is a statement that affirms the centrality of Christ’s teachings.  In a rather obnoxious and arrogant manner John Lennon declared in 1968 that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Jesus’ ministry began and ended showing the power of love.  The writer of I John chapter 3 took great literary efforts for readers to see that love is more than just a word.  Love is action.  Love is caring.  Love is submissive.  Love is doing for others and not expecting a reciprocal response later.  Love is eternal and it is the key for a stable, permanent relationship with our Creator and Savior.

*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 LUKE 10:38-42:

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby

I’m writing this Meditation after returning from a moving and meaningful 2015 White House Easter Prayer Breakfast.  The music was provided by recording artist Amy Grant and the Howard University Gospel Choir, President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden articulately spoke of their faith, of the meaning of the event and of the blessing of the Resurrection, and The Reverend Dr. Ann Lightner-Fuller from Mount Calvary AME Church in Towson, Maryland delivered a meaningful and moving Resurrection message.

The White House Easter Prayer Breakfast was an inspirational event - and the food wasn’t bad either!  I mention the food last, because there were no steaming trays piled high with bacon, sausage, grits, hash browns, pancakes or eggs.  The Breakfast bill of fare was a tasty and well-presented variety of “breakfast hors d’oeuvres” and fruit instead of a traditional, full course breakfast.  Even the President kindly acknowledged that and then asked with a grin, “Does anyone want seconds?”

The breakfast wasn’t overwhelmingly filling, but there were no complaints from those in attendance because the ambience of being in the historic White House East Room - where State Dinners are held - the presence of America’s political and religious leadership at the Breakfast and the spirit of the occasion made the morning meaningful - the food was incidental to the essential and powerful meaning of the occasion.

Remember the spirit of that Prayer Breakfast in a world where we sometimes try to stuff ourselves silly - not just at breakfast or dinner tables, but at the table of life as well.  We all want the best that life has to offer - and as much of it as we can physically or spiritually take in.  We all sometimes try to fill up beyond the point of satisfaction on life’s most tempting and tantalizing things, only to find out that the more we have, the more we want and the more spiritually hurt, hungry and unfulfilled we feel.

We’d do well to look beyond filling our lives with our “wants” and focus instead on the God who is able to supply all that we need.  When we do so, we’ll find new satisfaction, new meaning in life and new strength to appreciate life’s truly meaningful experiences as we face each day.

Enjoy what you find on this world’s “tables,” but take the time to come to the Lord’s table.  You’ll feast on new blessings, feast on real joy, and understand why the Psalmist said, “Oh, Taste and see that the Lord is Good.”

This Meditation is also available as a Blog on the Beaufort District’s Website: www.beaufortdistrict.org

and on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/BeaufortDistrictAMEC

Get Ready for Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship!

*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

22. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

Services for the Reverend Dr. A. E. Josias, Cape Conference, 15^th Episcopal District -

The Rev Dr. A. E. Josias, superannuated minister served a number of churches in the Cape Conference, served many bishops as administrative assistant and also as a presiding elder until his retirement.

We pray that God will comfort and strengthen his family.

Memorial Service:

Wednesday, 8 April 2015 at 7:30 p.m. at Bethel Memorial Hazendal

Homegoing Celebration: Sunday, 12 April at 10 a.m. also at Bethel Memorial Hazendal

23. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

It is with much sadness that the passing on of superannuated elder, Dr. Andrew E. Josias, emeritus presiding elder, Cape Conference, 15th Episcopal District is shared.

A giant walked amongst us who in his latter years bravely faced the health challenges in His path. We salute his dedication and commitment to God and His church and pray that God strengthens his wife Mother Shirley Josias and the rest of the family. “Even though I walk through the valley...”

Family email: Dr. Genine Josias: ajosias@mweb.co.za

24. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

The Thirteenth Episcopal District is sadly announces the passing of Mr. Charles W. Bryant, the father of the Rev. Sidney F. Bryant, pastor of Payne Chapel AME Church, Nashville, Tennessee; and father-in-law of Mrs. Andriette C. Bryant, Connectional WMS Disaster Relief Commissioner; and daughters Dianne Yvette and Cheryl Teresa Bryant.

Mr. Bryant, a longtime member of St. John AME Church, Nashville, transitioned on March 31, 2015.

The arrangements are as follows:

Family visitation with Funeral was held at:

Payne Chapel AME Church

212 Neill Avenue

Nashville, Tennessee 37206

Services Entrusted to:

Lewis and Wright Funeral Home

2500 Clarksville Pike

Nashville, Tennessee 37208

Telephone: 615-255-2371

Condolences may be sent to the Rev. Sidney F. Bryant and family at:

The Rev. Sidney F. Bryant

601 Sunnyslope Court

Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072

Home telephone: (615) 859-1010

Cell: (615) 400-8810

Email: Bryant37072@comcast.net

25. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to announce that Mrs. Mavis L. (Lester) Anderson, 90, of Susquehanna Township passed away Monday, March 23, 2015. She was the wife of the deceased pastor; the Rev. John W. Anderson, Sr. Mrs. Anderson was a former PCB/WMS Chairperson of the Harrisburg and Lancaster Area. In 1980 she served as alternate delegate to the WMS Quadrennial in New Orleans, Louisiana and introduced a format of Quarterly Conference Reporting that is still in use.

The following information has been provided regarding the funeral arrangements.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Viewing: 11 a.m. – 12 Noon

Homegoing Service:  12 Noon

Bethel AME Church

1721 N. 5th Street

Harrisburg, PA 17102

Telephone: 717-234-6505

Fax: (717) 234-5235

Professional care entrusted to:

Zimmerman-Auer Funeral Home, Inc.

4100 Jonestown Road

Harrisburg, PA 17109

Telephone: (717) 545-4001

Interment:

William Howard Day Cemetery

Condolences may be sent to:

The Rev. John W. Anderson, Jr.

c/o Bethel AME Church

1721 N. 5th Street

Harrisburg, PA 17102

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Zimmerman-Auer Funeral Home, Inc. to help with the funeral expenses.

26. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

The North Orlando District and the Orlando District of the Central Annual Conference of the 11th Episcopal District are saddened to announce the passing of Mrs. Roxie P. Connelly, the beloved wife of Mr. Lewis Connelly and mother of Patrick (Marie) Connelly. Mrs. Connelly made her transition on Sunday, March 29, 2015, while visiting her family in Central Florida. Mrs. Connelly was a retired educator in the Worcester County School System in Salisbury, Maryland. She is the sister-in-law of the Rev. David L. (Dorothy) Connelly, pastor of St. Stephen AMEC, Leesburg; the Rev. Thomas Connelly, Jr., pastor of St. James AMEC, Inverness; Louise (the late Presiding Elder John Connelly) Sanford, FL and aunt to the Rev. Rhonda C. McIntyre, pastor of New Bethel AMEC, Geneva, Florida.

The arrangements for the celebration of her life are as follows: 

The Family will receive friends and loved ones for the Viewing on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at St. Stephen AME Church, (The Rev. David L.  Connelly, Pastor), 302 Church Street, Leesburg, Florida from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Family will greet friends and loved ones for the Viewing on Friday, April 10, 2015 at St. Paul AME Zion Church (The Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Tucker, Jr., Pastor), 410 Delaware Avenue, Salisbury Maryland.

The Celebration of Life Service for Sister Connelly will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at New Dimensions Ministries, 1907 Jersey Road, Salisbury, Maryland.

The Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Postell’s Mortuary (Orlando, Florida) and Jolley’s Memorial Chapel (Salisbury, Maryland).  Interment will be Monday, April 13, 2015 at Springhill Memorial Gardens.

27. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

In sorrow we announce the Homegoing celebration of life for Sister Mabelene Lee Phillips, of Orlando, Florida who went Home to be with the Lord on March 26, 2015 with her family by her side. Mrs. Phillips is the grandmother of Brother Jamarien P. Moore, the 11th Episcopal District YPD President.

The arrangements for the celebration of her life are as follows: 

Visitation and Wake services will take place on Friday, April 3, 2015 from 5-8 p.m. at Jeslamb AME Church, 185 NE Almond Avenue, Madison, Florida.

A service of Celebration will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 1:00 P.M. at Jeslamb AME Church, 185 NE Almond Ave, Madison, FL 32340 with Pastor Deborah Warner officiating, and the Rev. Dr. Mark E. Crutcher will be the eulogist.

Interment: Jeslamb Church Cemetery, Madison, Florida.

The Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Postell’s Mortuary, 811 North Powers Drive, Orlando, FL 32818; telephone: (407) 295-3857

28. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Milton A. Raven, Sr., a member of St. Mark AME Church in Plains, Georgia who died on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.  Mr. Raven is the father of the Rev. Arthur L. Raven, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Anderson, South Carolina of the Greenville District, Piedmont Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church.

Funeral Services for Mr. Raven

Monday, April 6, 2015

11:00 a.m.

Friendship Baptist Church

411 Cotton Avenue

Americus, GA 31709

Services Entrusted to:

The Barnum Funeral Home

217 Ashley Street

Americus, GA 31709

Telephone: (229) 924-2958

Fax: (229) 924-2957

Email: www.barnumfuneralhome.com

Condolences may be sent:

The Rev. Arthur L. Raven

200 Stone River Way

Taylor, SC 29687

Home telephone: (864) 609-5651

Mobile: (864) 313-4052

29. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the Rev. Gregory S. Thomas, Pastor of Quinn Chapel AMEC, Cleveland, Ohio on the loss of his Uncle, Mr. Leamuel Austin.

Homegoing service was held:

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 10 a.m.

St. Paul AME Church

4118 Brookside Blvd.

Cleveland, OH  44135

Telephone:  216-941-6767

The Rev. Dr. Shane Floyd, Pastor

The Rev. Gregory S. Thomas, Eulogist

 

Services Entrusted to:

LUCAS MEMORIAL CHAPEL

9010 Garfield Blvd.

Garfield Heights, OH  44125

Telephone: 440-735-3030

Online Guest Book: http://www.lucasfuneralhome.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1555159

 

Condolences can be sent to:

The Rev. Gregory S. Thomas

24370 Glenbrook Blvd.

Euclid, OH  44117

Telephone:  216-486-8113

Fax:  216-696-6930

OR

Mrs. Mae Frances Thomas (Sister of Mr. Leamuel Austin)

12409 Hirst Avenue

Cleveland, OH  44135

30. 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/   

Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)

Telephone: (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

31. 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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