The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. TCR EDITORIAL – AN IMPORTANT QUESTION WE RARELY, IF EVER, HEAR:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
There
are many attributes and characteristics of leadership. A few come to mind that
include integrity, character, honesty, commitment, adaptability, courage to
make decisions, creativity, confidence, adaptability, vision, trustfulness,
discernment, initiative, consistent, organizational competence, ability to
inspire and to communicate effectively, ability to plan, train, delegate and
trust; and the ability to encourage and to chastise, if needed; and of course
taking leadership and being a loyal and competent subordinate. A leader needs
to be strong, courageous and not fearful of making tough decisions.
Another
important attribute for an effective leader is the willingness and ability to
identify and train subordinates to do the leader’s job. Leaders should always be working to train themselves “out of a
job.” Training is the key for organizational effectiveness. One of the reasons
for ineffective organizations is a lack of training, which precipitates a lack
of confidence and a lack of commitment to the organization.
The
list for the attributes and characteristics of leadership is exhaustive and in
researching the attributes of leadership, one other attribute was not listed.
The
unlisted attribute left off most lists of the characteristics of leadership is
by far one of the most important elements of effective leadership.
It
is the most ignored attribute of bishops, presiding elders, pastors, and heads
of local church organizations. General Officers ignore it too.
I
suspect many pastoral careers could have been turned around if this attribute
had not been ignored. I suspect some episcopal relationships could have been a
“smoother ride" if this leadership attribute had not been
neglected.
Sometime
this leadership attribute is ignored because of the perceived notion of power
and a leader’s perceived notion of his or her knowledge, training, experience
and the responsibility of their position gives them license to make autonomous
decisions.
There
is one other factor why this leadership component is so widely ignored,
especially in religious organizations.
Constituents
and subordinates, especially in the church, give leaders carte blanche
permission to make decisions and establish protocols for the organization, even
if it goes slightly against the rules of The Doctrine and Discipline.
Who questions pastoral leadership?
Who
questions pastors, presiding elders and bishops? And, therein lies the problem. Very few would
question the pastor, presiding elder or the bishop, at least not openly. When
leaders ignore this leadership attribute, the door is open for conflict and
most often passive-aggressive conflict, which is the most difficult to resolve
because it is masked in clandestine passive behavior.
The most neglected leadership attribute
The
most neglected leadership attribute is the failure of and the courage to get
honest feedback.
Some
feedback generated questions leaders fail to ask, “How am I doing as your
leader (bishop, presiding elder, pastor, local church leader)? What am I
[bishop, presiding elder, pastor, local church leader] doing right? Where do I [bishop, presiding elder, pastor,
local church leader] need to improve?
How is the morale [In the local church, presiding elder district, annual
conference, episcopal district]? What can we do to make [the local church,
presiding elder district, annual conference, episcopal district] better and
more efficient?”
I
found it quite interesting in the military from the time I was working in a
battalion, brigade and as a division, corps and major command chaplain that
commanders at each level were concerned about the morale and how their
leadership was perceived by their subordinates. There was a genuine concern for
feedback and I understood the importance of feedback in my leadership
positions.
Of
course in the military there was almost always a risk of life and death in
decisions and morale and unit cohesiveness were extremely important. Even though commanders / leaders could give
direct and lawful orders, morale and the soldiers’ respect for leadership was
important in maintaining a high performing effective military unit.
The
ministry is also a life and death profession and the local church, presiding
elder district, annual conference, and episcopal district’s morale and
cohesiveness is essential for a strong and healthy religious program. Morale
and discipline are essential to good order and discipline.
Admittedly,
everyone does not know how to give feedback, but pastors, presiding elders, and
bishops should have mechanisms in place to receive honest feedback. I can
recall a 4-star general asking, “Chaplain Sydnor, have I done anything stupid
this week? Have I said anything that I shouldn’t have said? How are we doing?”
Feedback
mechanisms include “trusted” individuals who are not trying to manipulate the
system and will give honest feedback and evaluation forms that people can
submit after significant events. I
honestly believe that bishops would learn a great deal if they provided post
annual conference evaluation forms.
Honest
feedback needs to be received without retaliation. People function healthier
and more honestly in an open non-attributive or non-retaliatory environment.
Pastors
especially would benefit greatly with feedback in the local church. Information
about the morale of the congregation and what’s on their minds would help
pastors to tailor and retool the religious programs to meet the needs of the
congregation and, in some cases might eliminate unnecessary conflict. In a
congregation a feedback mechanism need not be clandestine and the AME Church
already has a mechanism for pastoral feedback. The pastor's steward or steward
pro tem or the trustee pro tem would be excellent feedback mechanism for the
pastor. Of course the steward pro tem and the trustee pro tem would need to be
professional and might need to be trained in how to provide feedback to the
pastor. And, another “of course” is the pastor would need to be man or woman
enough to accept feedback without “killing the messenger.”
Presiding
elders and bishops need to have “trusted individuals” who can provide them with
real-time honest feedback.
Evaluation
forms after meetings and annual conferences could also provide invaluable
feedback. Anonymous evaluation forms could provide ideas for increasing
attendance, increasing income and organizational effectiveness across the
board.
Pastoral
and episcopal leaders might be pleasantly surprised with the feedback they
might receive form both laity and clergy.
For
instance I am scheduled to attend the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference
at Hampton University next week. I have been attending the HU Ministers’ Conference for 20 years. I first
attended the conference in 1978 and then became intimately involved when I was
Director of the Hampton
University Religious Studies Program in 2000.
I didn’t have to pay for my registration because I worked at the University
and I also sat on the committee that planned the day to day functions of the
conference.
When
I first saw the registration fee, I was astounded because it seemed awfully
high; and at least one time the fee increased.
The
HU Ministers’ Conference with the AME Luncheon is one of the yearly events that
always begin on the first Sunday in June and the AME Luncheon is almost always on Wednesday as it is this year.
I
notice the camaraderie and excitement of everyone who attends the conference.
People are attending the various worship services, workshops and seem to spend
a lot of time fellowshipping and shopping. The vendors’ tent bustles with
activities. The AME bishops who attend seem so relaxed.
But,
let me get back to the high registration fee. When one thinks about it, it is
high, but not really high when you consider that once you pay the fee there are
no offerings, so when I get to the HU Ministers’ Conference all the money in my
wallet belongs to me and I don’t have to be stressed about how much I have to
give because, “We have run short.”
The
HU Ministers’ Conference gets all of its
money upfront and meets budget
and the persons attending the conference can better budget for their hotel
accommodations, other expenses and shopping.
Hampton found out years ago from evaluation forms that budgeting and
setting a registration fee was more effective than taking offerings and
certainly better than trying to do both: Have a registration and offerings.
I
wonder what kind of feedback our leaders would receive if they asked their
constituents how to best fund our meetings or do we do business as usual
because, “We have always done it that way.”
But,
that’s another editorial…
The point is leaders - need to ask questions and get feedback
because doing so is a leadership attribute.
TCR Editor’s Note:
I will be traveling to the 101st Hampton University Ministers'
Conference and 81st Choir Directors' & Organists' Guild Workshop
June 7 – 12. The AME Luncheon at the Hampton Ministers
Conference will be held on Wednesday June 10, 2015 at Noon at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel, 700 Settlers Landing Road Hampton, VA 23669. The Cost of the
Luncheon is $25.00 and the luncheon is always a great time of fellowship. If
you need further information call Bethel AME Church (757) 723-4065.
The Rev. Dr. Frank
Madison Reid III, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Baltimore is scheduled to be
one of the Preachers at the Hampton Ministers’ Conference. AMEC Senior Bishop
John Bryant is listed as an elder statesman.
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
-- To
the Editor:
Re: Preaching is
not the Primary Function of the Pastoral Ministry
I know I didn't
respond immediately but I must tell you this article was simply a fresh of
breath air for me. It was so nice to see that what I am going through is
nothing new. For the first six months of being a pastor I tried to figure out
how over the previous three years I was able to be a full time seminarian
student in an entirely different state, publish two novels, be somebody's wife,
mother of six children, an associate minister and youth pastor in two separate
churches simultaneously, all while running two businesses, and sitting on six
different boards, and managed to balance them all well. But six months into the
pastorate, after taking leave from the boards, graduating school, resigning
from the ministry positions at the other churches, not accepting any new
business, and delaying my third book, to focus solely on the new church plant,
there didn't seem to be enough time to just "pastor" the flock that
God assigned to me.
I was not happy
with my two day or sometimes night before composed sermons, most of my time was
spent in pastoral care counseling, and visitations. Then there was the
money....or lack there of (smile) for anything that I wanted to do outside of
simply having service.
Now that we're
closing in on the completion of our first year, finally the church leaders
(most of whom previously had never been church leaders) are walking in their
leadership training. And I now am able to delegate (love that word) most of the
non-ministerial duties. I can finally catch my breath. The creativity and out
of the box vision and thinking has come flooding back.
I have to admit
that before I started gaining my footing, I found myself on Saturday nights
wondering why it seemed to be so difficult to manage my time when I had always
successfully been able to juggle so much.
I view the
pastorate not simply a job or even a vocation, but a way of life. It is the
most important and fulfilling position I've ever been in. Reading your article
brought me great comfort and I just wanted you to know that.
The Rev. Lee M.
Sapp
“The Shepherd's
Heart...An out of the box ministry - Break out of the box with us! www.theshepherdsheartrpb.com
Pastor June
Mysteries: Ministry is what she loves; solving murder mysteries is what she
does!
3.
NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
--
The Rev. Clive Pillay shares the latest issue of Mount Olive Piketberg AME
Church Newsletter [Republic of South Africa]
--
Baltimore pastors plan solutions for city violence
The Reverend Jamal
Bryant of the Empowerment Temple AME Church speaks at an interfaith rally on
the War Memorial Plaza Sunday after a week of turmoil following the police
custody death of Freddie Gray...
--
After severe weather damages local church, congregation carries on...
The Rev. William M.
Campbell Jr., pastor of Anderson Chapel A.M.E. Church in Killeen, leads Sunday
worship service in the Fellowship Hall after storms damaged the main sanctuary.
4.
PAYNE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY TO OFFER D.MIN DEGREE:
Payne Theological
Seminary, under the leadership of President Dr. Leah Gaskin Fitchue, has been
approved by the Association of Theological Schools to launch the Doctor of
Ministry (DMin) degree program:
The Doctor of
Ministry is the terminal professional degree in theological and ministerial
education. Payne Theological Seminary’s three-year program is designed for
persons with a minimum of three years’ experience in full-time ministry who
have completed their Master of Divinity degree and wish to further their
education. Persons seeking to enter into a Doctor of Ministry program must have
a clearly definable context of ministry.
“Payne is delighted
to offer the Doctor of Ministry degree program,” said Gaskin Fitchue. “This
program will enhance the practice of Christian ministry for persons who hold
the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree and have engaged in ministerial
leadership.”
The Payne Doctor of
Ministry degree program seeks to deepen the basic knowledge, skill, and
research in ministry so that one can engage in the practice of ministry with
increasing professional, intellectual, and spiritual integrity.
“The Doctor of
Ministry degree at Payne is designed to train leaders for the Church in various
areas of ministry,” said Dr. Michael J. Brown, Payne Theological Seminary’s
Academic Dean. “Students will attend one-week intensives and peer seminars.
Additionally, web support is a part of the program through Blackboard and
webinars, allowing students to remain in their contexts of ministry on a
full-time basis while earning their degrees.”
The Doctor of
Ministry program consists of six consecutive semesters. Each semester begins
with a one-week DMin intensive followed by Peer Focus Group seminar sessions.
Each semester represents one of six phases of the program and culminates with
the completion of a written doctoral-level project that addresses both the
nature and the practice of ministry. The six phases and corresponding semesters
are:
1) Advanced
Preparation for Ministry
2) Problem Analysis
in the Practice of Ministry
3) Foundations for
the Practice of Ministry
4) Research Methods
for Ministry
5) Field Research,
Data Collection/Data Analysis
6) Research Writing
and Final Preparations
Applications are
currently being accepted for the Seminary’s first Doctor of Ministry degree program
cohort: Transformational Church Leadership for a Digital Society, commencing on
August 17, 2015.
The
Transformational Church Leadership for a Digital Society Doctor of Ministry
cohort is designed to introduce students to the concept of transformative
learning as a tool for church leadership development. Students will grapple
with such questions as:
- What is the role
of church leadership in fostering transformation as well as conserving
tradition?
- What practical
wisdom, qualities of leadership, skills, and experiences are necessary for the
practice of faithful and effective leadership?
- How do we
effectively educate and mentor clergy and laity for effective church
leadership?
- How do church
leaders help their congregations fulfill their historic mission of effectively
responding to the social crises of their communities?
- How can the
practice of church leadership be transformed so that congregations better
fulfill their mission in oppressed local communities?
Program
participants will be introduced to various aspects of leadership, including
servant leadership, charismatic leadership, visionary leadership, adaptive
leadership, situational leadership, and transformational leadership.
Leadership theories
will be explored to help students arrive at a style that resonates with their
personalities. The role of technology and its impact on decisions will be
explored from a local and global perspective.
For more
information about Payne Theological Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry please
contact Dr. Michael J. Brown at (937) 376-2946, Ext. 211.
5.
GET READY, GET READY, GET READY:
Bishop Julius
Harrison McAllister, Sr., Mother Joan and the Eighth Episcopal District welcome
the Connectional Church to the Crescent City:
.
The Eighth
Episcopal District is excited about the Connectional Church’s coming to New
Orleans, Louisiana for the meetings of the Council of Bishops and the General
Board, June 29 – July 1, 2015. But what brings even more Excitement to
the District is the anticipation of the Investiture of Bishop Julius Harrison
McAllister, Sr., as the President of the Council of Bishops.
Committees have
been formed, meetings are being held, teleconferences are being conducted to
ensure that those visiting the Crescent City will have an engaging and
enjoyable experience while exploring the excellence and excitement of the
Eighth Episcopal District.
If you haven’t made
plans to come, do so. We are expecting you!!!
6.
FOURTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT WMS QUADRENNIAL CONVENTION HOST:
-
Peace and Holy Blessings
Soon, we will
gather in Indianapolis for the 18th WMS Quadrennial Convention. The mandate for
missions in this Millennium is well known to you. In an attempt to address an
area that the Black Churches have not fully engaged; the Fourth District in our
hosting will bring to the forefront the ecological issues concerning WATER on
this planet.
The Fourth District
of the AME Church (Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
Canada and India) is preparing to Host the 40 nations of our Denomination in a
5-Star manner.
Our hospitality has
a message, a mission and a mandate. The message: Water is a sacred gift, a
human right and a life source.
The Mission: To
make potable water accessible to a primary school in Liberia and to support a
potable water project in Haiti through SADA.
The Mandate: To
equip the AME Churches locally and globally to become Intergenerational water
witnesses and water educators for the uplift of humanity and the glory of God.
Our signature event
will be held in the BALLROOM of the Indianapolis JW Marriott Hotel.
Water: A sacred
confluence of the arts, ecology and activism Saturday, July 18, 2015, 7:00 p.m.
A multi media event
featuring THE 48 Member Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra founded by Maestra Jerri
Lynne Johnson, Conductor.
Contributions to
“Water for Life” should be made payable to:
4th District WMS
18th QC, 4448 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60653
The Rev. Dr.
Cecelia Williams Bryant, Senior Episcopal Supervisor
The Rt. Reverend
John R. Bryant, Presiding Prelate & Senior Bishop
4th
Episcopal District
African Methodist
Episcopal Church
Isaiah 41:17-18:
"The poor and needy seek water, and
there is none and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer
them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them I will open rivers on the
bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the
wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."
7.
COMMUNICATORS IN THE AME CHURCH - 34TH BIENNIAL SESSION OF THE LAY
CONVENTION – CANDIDATES’ FORUM
South Carolina has
a rich history and we are reminded that Memorial Day was the brainchild of
persons of African descent who established it as Decoration Day on May 30, 1868
in South Carolina to honor Union soldiers who were removed from a mass grave
and re-buried with dignity and appreciation.
10,000, including 3,000 children, marched, prayed and sang.
We gather again in
South Carolina, still grateful to those who offer themselves for service.
This Candidates'
Forum will provide an opportunity for the delegates, observers, and friends to
hear the episcopal, general officer, connectional officer and Judicial Council
candidates for election and reelection at the 2016 General Conference.
Please join us in
prayer for our upcoming convention and the AME Church's mission and ministry
throughout the world. Be well!
Connectional Lay
Organization:
Dr. Willie C Glover, President
Sister
"Jackie" Dupont-Walker, Chair - AME V-Alert
Bishop William
Phillips DeVeaux, Sr., Lay Commission Chair
Candidates planning
to participate in the Candidates’ Forum of the
Lay Organization - 2015 at the 34th Biennial Session in
Charleston, South Carolina please contact AME V‐Alert by calling (213) 494‐9493 or sending an email
message to jdupontw@aol.com to get additional information about how to participate in the
Candidates’ Forum.
8. A
PASTORAL VISIT WITH THE FIRST FEMALE AME PRESIDING ELDER:
The Rev. Dr.
Timothy E. Tyler, pastor of Shorter Community AME Church in Denver, Colorado
traveled to the 16th Episcopal District and while in Guyana visited
Presiding Elder Dorothy Millicent Stephens Morris.
Presiding Elder
Dorothy Millicent Stephens Morris was the first female appointed as Presiding
Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop F.H. Talbot in 1973.
Dr. Tyler said, "She is nearly 103 years old. When we entered her home in
Georgetown, Guyana she asked us if we wanted to pray. She prayed for us under
the power of the Holy Spirit. Elder Morris represents the Prophesying daughters
spoken of in the book of Acts. She stands in the tradition of preaching AME
Women who were first to be elevated, but rarely celebrated.”
Dr. Tyler went on
to exclaim, “We Celebrate This Living
Legend!"
9.
MIDWEST CONFERENCE LAY ORGANIZATION CONVENTION OPENS WITH POWER:
*The Rev. V. Gordon
Glenn III
The Midwest
Conference Lay Organization’s opening worship service at the Jack Reardon
Convention Center in Kansas City, Kansas opened on June 4, 2015 with the power
of the Holy Ghost. Under the watchful eye of President Melvin L. Jenkins, Esq.,
the laity and clergy were gathered to celebrate this auspicious occasion as
Team Midwest.
This is the 7th
Annual Lay Convention since coming together as the Midwest Conference in 2008.
The churches of the Kansas City, Kan. and Leavenworth, Kan., along with other
area churches came together under the Connectional Lay theme lifted from
Matthew 28:16-20, “Laity Fulfilling the Great Commission” to host the
convention.
Brother Timothy
Goff from Grant Chapel in Kansas City, Kan., served as worship leader.
Following the processional song, “We’ve Got One More Time to Praise the Lord,”
liturgists for the evening were the laity of the Midwest Annual Conference.
Worship through
music was provided by the Kansas City Area Midwest Conference Youth Choir,
under the direction of Rev. Rochelle Settle, and the combined Kansas City, Kan.
Area Choirs, under the direction of Bro. Everett Fletcher. The youth’s a
cappella version of “Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land” took us to the heights of
praise. The Combined Choir took us to the next level with “Every Praise,”
“Jesus is on the Main Line” and a new arrangement of “My Hope is Built.”
Bishop T. Larry
Kirkland, Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District, served as
the preacher of the hour. Bishop Kirkland preached from the provocative
subject, “Tear the Roof Off” from Mark 2:1-12, the healing story of when four
friends lowered another into the room Jesus was preaching after tearing the
roof off the place.
Bishop Kirkland
reminded us that we should be so excited about Christ that we are willing to
tear the roof off to get to Him. He noted that if we’re going to tear the roof
off, we’ve got to do the following: Be Concerned for others and not make
excuses; Be Committed in the work we are doing; and Be Creative enough to
attract people to Christ.
The pastors and
presiding elders of the Midwest Conference were on hand, as well as visiting
clergy from the Missouri Conference, to support the work of the Midwest
Conference Lay Organization. Candidates for Connectional office from as far
away as Los Angeles, Calif. were present to offer support to the laity.
The evening closed
with closing remarks by President Jenkins and the recitation of “The Lay
Benediction.”
*The Rev. V. Gordon
Glenn III is the Public Relations Director for the Midwest Annual Conference of
the Fifth Episcopal District
10. A
MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH FROM THE CITIES OF AMERICA
The Rev. Darryl R.
Williams – St Mark, Milwaukee, WI
I, like most of
you, watched with rapt attention as protesters took to the streets in Baltimore
in response to the tragic death of Freddie Gray. My mind wandered back to
similar protests in Ferguson and New York. What do these incidents have in
common besides uncovering the systematic racism in law enforcement in America
and the grievous end of yet another young African American’s life at their
hands? The answer is that each of the incidents took place in cities where the
living conditions for African Americans are deplorable. "It is within this
context of hopelessness they lead to encounters with law enforcement and I
contained frustrations when these encounters go bad."
In each of these
situations, the African Methodist Episcopal Church not only took the lead in
bringing calm after the incidents, but was in the forefront in providing hope
for the impoverished in their city through the various ministries they offer.
Letting people know there is a “way out” lessens the chances of them reacting
in ways that are indeed understandable, but admittedly less constructive.
St. Mark, where I
pastor, has sponsored mentorship programs, collaborated with Credit Unions to
sponsor savings programs for youth; we have Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and
self-defense programs that promote self-esteem and discipline; we have receive
grants for classes on tobacco prevention and healthy pregnancies; and we have
pushed our elected officials to sponsor legislation for more jobs in our and
other depressed communities and legislation that addresses the disparity in how
drug crimes are prosecuted.
Why? Because
Milwaukee, where an incident similar to those in the above mentioned cities
occurred last spring, the African American unemployment rate is above 50%. Only
3 out of 10 African American families are headed by a husband and wife; the
graduation rate for our youth is about 40% and they are incarcerated at eleven
times greater rate than their white counterparts.
In spite of our
efforts and the efforts of African Methodist’s in Baltimore, St. Louis, New
York and other urban areas in America, our cities are still ripe for
“combustible reactions.” It will take the entire Religious community to heed to
the message that Baltimore and those other cities gave us – “We need your attention!”
I felt indignation
for those who criticized the rioters and looters, without giving equal if not
more criticism to the intolerable conditions that exist in our communities.
They have been ignored by the politicians, and yes, to a lesser extent, the
church. The lesson of Baltimore and these other cities to the church is this:
If we address their issues on the “front end,” then we won’t have to criticize
them on the “back end.” Their criticism is largely a reaction because of their
lack of being proactive.
We can put pressure
on our public officials to pay more attention to our communities, but they are
not the primary dispensers of hope – the church is! The rioting and looting
that takes place after an incident is symbolic of a pot that was already
simmering that has now boiled over. Helping our communities on the “front end”
controls the temperature of the water in the pot! Rioting and looting however
condemnable, is not senseless as some have said in the wake of Baltimore. They
are understandable – “I will get your attention one way or another”.
The church was
intended to be more than a place of singing and praising. In fact the Bible
condemns this kind of celebration when it is divorced from giving hope to the
weak and the voiceless amongst us.
“I
hate and despise your Religious feast; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even
though you bring me burnt offerings I will have no regard for them.
Away
with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But
let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream!” - Amos 5:21-24
11.
WHEN MINISTRY DOESN’T PAY:
*Dr. Richard
Gunderman
In four out of five
churches in the US, membership has plateaued or is declining.
Mindy Mayes is a
29-year-old African-American woman with a second job many might find
undesirable. Some might even call her crazy for sticking with it. She thinks
about it almost constantly, and those thoughts often fill her with heartache.
She sometimes feels that she is putting far more into it than she could ever
get back. Her commute requires her to drive more than two hours, and in a
typical month, she gets paid less than US$200. Some months, she does not get
paid at all.
Why would anyone
cling to such a second job? The answer is that Mayes, whose primary job is in
public health, is also a pastor. During the week, she works full-time as a
public health educator, providing health promotion services to the people of
Grant County, Indiana. This job puts food on the table and keeps gas in her
tank. Then each Sunday, she drives 100 miles each way to and from her church in
Montgomery County, Indiana, where she serves as part-time pastor.
Mayes is ordained
in one of America’s historically black denominations, the African Methodist
Episcopal (AME) church. Her congregation, Bethel AME, was founded in the 1850s
and once served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Years ago a thriving
congregation, more recently it has fallen on hard times. The building has
suffered from lack of upkeep, and weekly worship attendance has dropped to
around 20 or so.
Mayes' path to this
role is a complicated one. She holds a master’s degree in public health. She
always knew she wanted to make a big impact in a community, and she worked for
a time in southern Indiana, helping flood victims move back into their homes.
Just as funding for her position came to an end, she learned that she had been
admitted to Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis on a full
scholarship. “I sensed a call,” she says, “so I enrolled in the masters of
divinity program.”
When she graduated
from seminary, she imagined that she would become the youth minister of a
church. But when AME officials contacted her about the Bethel church, she
decided to accept the role of senior minister. Working two jobs is taxing, but
she finds energy and inspiration in the members’ strong commitment to keeping
their church going. “I come alive through this work,” she says. “They really
need someone to love and care for them, and it is a privilege for me to do it.”
It hasn’t always
been easy. During Mayes’ third month with the church, in the dead of winter,
the pipes froze and then burst, causing the basement to flood. This in turn
caused the furnace to go out, leaving the building with no heat. Yet the
church’s members, wearing hats and gloves, still came to worship on Sunday. To
Mayes, this speaks volumes. “Even though they knew the church was colder than a
refrigerator, they were still there. They refuse to let their church and its
rich history die.”
Economic realities
are making bi-vocational ministries such as Mayes’ more common.
It is estimated
that membership for more than four in five of the churches in the US has
plateaued or declined, and about 4,000 churches close their doors every year.
By the year 2020, only 15% of Americans are expected to attend weekly worship
services. As church membership declines, so does financial support, making it
increasingly difficult for many congregations to employ a full-time pastor.
The life of even
full-time ministers can be fraught with difficulties. This is reflected in a
study showing that about 85% of seminary graduates leave the field within five
years, and only about one in 10 new ministers will actually stay in the clergy
until retirement. Part of the explanation lies in the fact that full-time
ministers are poorly paid, with an average salary of around $36,000, meaning
that many ministers’ families require two incomes to make ends meet.
Such challenges are
amplified for the bi-vocational minister. Balancing two different jobs, many
feel guilty that they cannot be available to their congregation at all times.
Mayes, for example, is unable to provide Bible study classes during the week or
attend youth academic and athletic events.
Another challenge
is an unspoken but widespread assumption that bi-vocational pastors are neither
as committed nor as effective as their full-time counterparts. If they truly
cared enough about their congregation, some suppose, they would find a way to
work full-time–– a perspective that flies in the face of hard realities. In
answer to this charge, Mayes smiles as she points out that “The greatest
Christian evangelist who ever lived, the apostle Paul, earned his living as a
tent-maker.”
In contrast to such
challenges, Mayes sees upsides in being bi-vocational. One is the fact that
ministers like her need not contend with the high congregational expectations
placed upon full-time pastors. People understand that bi-vocational ministers
have other responsibilities that they must attend to if they are to continue to
serve their church communities. “The challenge,” Mayes says, “is to avoid
burnout by ensuring that people do not end up working two full-time jobs.”
Another advantage
is the fact that Mayes spends many hours every week serving people who are not
church members. In doing so, she strives to be a good example of Christian
service to the community. “In some cases,” she says, “colleagues and clients
who otherwise would never encounter a pastor have posed questions about my
faith, requested that I pray for them, and asked me to preside at their wedding
or funeral.”
In this respect,
the nonclerical careers of bi-vocational ministers give them a chance to speak
not only through sermons but also with their lives, reaching out to many people
not affiliated with a church. Says Mayes, “Having a job outside of church keeps
me well-grounded in the real world inhabited by people in the community. I see
it as an opportunity to stay more relevant and responsive to the lives people
actually lead.”
Mayes and other
bi-vocational pastors understand from personal experience what it is like to
work long hours at multiple jobs, to struggle with anxiety over job security,
and to have difficulty securing such necessities as health insurance and child
care. Mayes points out that Jesus devoted much of his life to the downtrodden
and dispossessed, and “I like to think that treading a dual path keeps me close
to the people Jesus would serve today.”
Used with
permission of the author
*Dr. Richard
Gunderman is Chancellor's Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy
at Indiana University-Purdue University
12.
NCAA COMES DOWN HARD ON HBCU ATHLETIC PROGRAMS:
The National
Collegiate Athletic Association recently announced penalties for colleges and
universities that did not reach mandated thresholds on its Academic Progress
Rate (APR). Athletic teams that do not achieve a sufficient APR rate — roughly
equivalent to a 50 percent graduation rate — can face a reduction in practice
times, athletic scholarships, and bans from postseason play.
The NCAA announced
that 21 teams will be ineligible for the postseason play during the 2015-16
academic year due to their low APR. Of the 21 teams subjected to postseason
bans, 15 are from historically Black colleges and universities. Five teams at
Florida A&M University face postseason bans.
Here are the HBCUs
and their teams that have received postseason bans:
Alabama State
University: football
Alcorn State
University: men’s basketball
Florida A&M
University: football, men’s basketball, men’s indoor track, men’s outdoor
track, men’s cross country
Howard University:
men’s soccer
Mississippi Valley
State University: baseball
Prairie View
A&M University: men’s golf, men’s indoor track, men’s outdoor track
Savannah State
University: football, women’s basketball
13. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
*The Rev. Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical
Text: Psalm 37:25: “I have been
young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread.”
David says, “I have
been young, and now am old.” He reminds
us that experience is the best teacher. David has a wealth of experience to
endorse him as a qualified teacher. The entire Psalm 37 is packed with the
wisdom of a seasoned man. Life’s changes have not soured him for he has learned
to see God in it all.
It is possible to
have peace in the time of storm. However, the question is when the storm is
raging, how do we handle our discontent? How do we hold our peace when we are
under attack? How do we control our anger when the frustrations and
disappointments of life are beating us with unrelenting regularity? The great
news is David provides an answer for those who desire to grasp permanent hold
of this elusive peace.
He says we must
first delight in the Lord. Life is troubled not so much from without as from
within. As he has gotten older, David has come to know that it is not our
changing circumstances that rob us of peace, rather it our unregulated
desires.
The truth of the
matter is that the very emotion of desire disturbs us. We find that we wish we
had what someone else has; wish we could be what someone else has become and
wish we could do what someone else does. Wishes disturb our peace!
The truth is that
the key to peace is the focus of our desire. In other words, what is it that delights
us? We must understand that whatever is necessary for our contentment, it is
that thing that we have made lord of our life. Lamentably, when we desire the
earthly and the external, we give these perishable things supreme power over
us, and allow them to become intertwined with our spirit.
David says those
who “delight in the Lord” first, shall be blessed. Those who reach for the
purest and highest form of religious emotion and cry, “Whom have I on earth
beside Thee?” instantly find the cure for all intense unrest from unfulfilled
desires. The Lord’s peace fills us when we delight in Him, and the hunger is
blessed with instant satisfaction.
We are taught that
the key to contentment is rest, referring of course to the kind of rest that
keeps us free from the anxiety of an unknown future. Actually, we know so little of our future and
what we do know is in many instances so sad. Not knowing what may be, and the
certainty of what must be, disturb us the same way. But David encourages that those who ‘belong
to the Lord’, are sure that He is in our future! He is with us all the time in every agonizing
advent, through every challenging confrontation, amid every horrible happening.
If we are sure that God is with us, then we can afford to say, “Let it be as He
wills and it will be well!”
The peace of God is
such calm! We are so blessed to be able to leave all of our disquieting
tomorrows in God’s hands, because we know that we are one with Him. Our
thoughts run parallel to Him. Our paths lead to Him and we rest in Him!
We are cradled in
the firmness of the Lord’s caring arms and aided by the guarantee of His
abiding love! The Bible reminds us that we should “Delight thyself also in the
Lord, Commit thy way unto the Lord. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for
Him.”
*The Rev. Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in
Charleston, S.C.
14. GETTING TO ZERO: A CLOSER WALK:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
*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.
15. iCHURCH
SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 7, 2015 - GOD'S JUDGMENT - AMOS 2:4-16:
*Brother Bill
Dickens
Introduction
Life experiences
come with specific package deals. We enjoy the bounty of life but eventually
plan for death. We experience the “thrill of victory” but soon learn about the
“agony of defeat.” We see our share of sunshine and accumulating snowfalls.
Finally, we long for justice but brace ourselves for judgment. Justice and
judgment represent a package deal. Most of us would consider this package deal
very uncomfortable. Justice involves the practice of doing what is right.
Judgment refers to the enforcement of justice.
The Adult AME
Lesson for June 7, 2015 looks at how judgment is defined in relation to Judah’s
kinsmen and neighboring enemies. The theme of the book of Amos is injustice
will not be condoned under any circumstances. Perpetrators and apologists of
injustice will face swift and harsh punishment.
Bible Story
Chapter 2 of Amos
offers a framework for why injustice will not go unnoticed and without
punishment. Moab, an enemy of Judah, will be punished for his act of promoting
civil unrest thru execution of an Edomite king. This is a form of external
judgment. Amos 2:4-16 offers a form of internal judgment. Punishment will be
directed at Judah and Judah’s neighbor, Israel. Amos is unrelenting in
pronouncing the judgment. Throughout the chapter the prophet uses metaphorical
language, “for three sins and for four” as a prelude to the judgment.
Judah’s punishment
is due to her reckless disregard of Divine law and serial idol worship
(apostasy) in their daily activities. Apostasy and rejection of the law implied
rejection of Jehovah and this warranted judgment in the form of fire on the
city of Jerusalem. Israel will not escape punishment either. The prophet
presents a case against Israel filled with prima facie evidence of injustice,
e.g., engaging in human trafficking, ignoring the needs of the poor, condoning
sexual illicit relations and debauchery and idolatry. Such actions can’t be
tolerated. Yahweh has zero tolerance for such behavior. With no evidence of
reform the only alternative is judgment.
Life Application
The Holy Writ is
filled with examples of Divine judgment, e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Egypt and
Jerusalem. Judgment can be looked at as a final wake-up call. The pain and
agony inflicted on residents is difficult for many to reconcile with the image
of a caring, merciful deity.
The issue of mercy
however should not be muddled with judgment.
Choices carry consequences. When
people choose to commit transgressions against God and their fellow neighbor
they will be held accountable for their actions.
Too often, in the
name of "social justice," contemporary American society attempts to
sweep accountability under the rug.
Unscrupulous and sinful behavior “gets a pass” by our leaders thru
accommodating language that excuses
anti-social behavior and re-directs "blame" to
"society."
When laws are
broken, the criminal justice system comprised of law enforcement, the courts
and prisons will enact "judgment."
This form of judgment can be severe and harsh.
Amos spoke with
conviction in articulating God's judgment against injustice. Appeasement carries an unintended consequence
by not allowing people to see their behavior as inappropriate and as a result
the behavior goes unchecked. This helps
neither the individual nor society at large.
*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
16. MEDITATION BASED ON MATTHEW 6:25-33:
*The Rev. Dr.
Joseph A. Darby
I’m writing this
week’s Meditation just before tackling an infrequent but necessary chore -
cleaning up my home office. I do a
pretty good job of keeping things on my desk in order and of scanning and
saving things that I want to keep onto my computer, but I still have to sort
through things and put them in order from time to time.
That happens
because on my very busy days, I toss received mail into my mail tray to be read
later, put paperwork that isn’t pressing in my “to do” tray to be handled later
and postpone responding to e-mail that doesn’t demand immediate attention until
I get the time to address it.
I always know,
however, when it’s time to put my office in order - all it takes is a need for
me to find and immediately handle something, only to realize that it’s buried
somewhere on my desk or in my e-mail Inbox, and that I haven’t the foggiest
idea of where it is or where to immediately find it!
Remember my office
“clean up clue” that also applies to our daily living. In spite of our best efforts to keep our
lives in order, all of us are born procrastinators. All of us sometimes disregard or delay
demands, deadlines, challenges and - at times - people that require our
attention until we have the time, energy and resources to respond. It’s easy for the best of us to do so, get
lost in our priorities and end up overwhelmed, overburdened, stressed and
uncertain about what to do or how to do.
When we take the
time, however, to let the God who created us, order our lives, we’ll find new
direction, new inspiration and new confidence.
When we stop trying to handle the things that accumulate in our lives on
our own and let God step in and put our lives in order, God will fix us, guide
us, and never lead us wrong.
Take the time each
day - in the midst of life’s numerous demands - to pause and pray as our Savior
taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” You’ll see new hope,
find new peace of mind, and discover new significance in the words of the
Gospel song that says, “Lord, let me walk each day with Thee; lead me, O Lord,
lead me.”
This Meditation is
also available as a Blog on the Beaufort District’s Website: www.beaufortdistrict.org
Get Ready for
Sunday, and have a great day in your house of worship!
*The Rev. Dr.
Joseph A. Darby is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South
Carolina Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church
17. EPISCOPAL, GENERAL OFFICER AND CLERGY FAMILY
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- The Rev. Constance (Connie) Belin Wicker received
the Doctor of Ministry Degree
Congratulations to
the Reverend Constance (Connie) Belin Wicker, associate minister of Antioch AME
Church - Stone Mountain, Georgia, wife of the Reverend Stafford Wicker, pastor
of Antioch AME Church, and the niece of Bishop Henry Allen Belin, Jr (retired).
The Reverend Connie
Belin Wicker received the Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological
Seminary, Dayton, Ohio.
-- The Rev. Dr. Eraina M Ross-Aseme received the Master
of Divinity Degree
The Rev. Dr. Eraina
M Ross-Aseme received the Master of Divinity Degree from Payne Theological
Seminary on May 22, 2015. Dr. Aseme’ Senior Thesis was entitled “An Effective Class Leader System in the
African Methodist Episcopal Church: A Ten-Step Approach.” She served on the Payne Theological Seminary
Student Government Association Board 2014-2015 as a Student At Large Member.
This is Dr. Aseme's
second Master's of Divinity Degree. Dr. Aseme has been an Itinerant Elder of
the African Methodist Episcopal Church since 1996. She is currently serving her
8th church as senior pastor of Gregg Tabernacle African Methodist
Episcopal of Kansas City, Missouri.
Congratulatory
messages can be sent to:
The Rev. Dr. Eraina
M Ross-Aseme
Class 2015
Payne Theological
Seminary - Wilberforce, Ohio
Telephone:
816-398-1067
-- The Reverend Benessa (Kaye) Perkins Sweat received
the Master of Divinity Degree
Congratulations to
the Reverend Benessa (Kaye) Perkins Sweat, a member of the 2015 graduating
class of Payne Theological Seminary - Wilberforce, OH, for receiving the Master
of Divinity Degree. The Rev. Sweat is
the pastor of McGavock Chapel AME Church in Charlotte, Tennessee.
The Reverend
Benessa (Kaye) Perkins Sweat is the granddaughter of the late Rev. G.C.
Jenkins, daughter of the late Rev. George Perkins and Mrs. Ruby Perkins.
-- The Reverend Donald Williams received the Master of
Divinity Degree
The Reverend Donald
Williams, pastor of St. John AME Church, Springfield, Tennessee graduated from
Andersonville Theological Seminary on Friday, May 22, 2015, 2 p.m. at the
Municipal Auditorium, Albany, Georgia with honors and a 4.0 GPA - "Summa Cum Laude" receiving the
Master of Divinity Degree in Pastoral Leadership.
Congratulatory
messages can be emailed to:
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform
you of the passing of Ms. Hannah Williams, who served as the Mother figure in
the life of the Rev. James (Debra) E. Speed, Sr., pastor of Allen Temple
African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greenville, South Carolina and a
matriarch to many. Ms. Williams entered
into eternal rest on Friday, May 29, 2015.
Celebration of Life
for Ms. Williams:
Thursday, June 4,
2015
1:00 p.m.
Allen Temple AME
Church
109 Green Avenue
Greenville, SC
29601
Services Entrusted
to:
Watkins, Garrett
& Woods Mortuary, Inc.
1011 Augusta Street
Greenville, SC
29609
Telephone: (864)
242-1144
Fax: (864) 232-4636
Condolences may be
sent to:
The Reverend and
Mrs. James E. Speed, Sr. & Family
111 Golden Grove
Circle
Piedmont, SC 29673
The family will be
receiving family and friends at the residence of Ms. Zwayla Speed (daughter of
the Rev. and Mrs. Speed)
31 Campbell Farms
Drive
Piedmont, SC 29673
In lieu of flowers,
please make donations to the Allen Temple Renovation Fund.
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with deep
sadness that we announce that the Homegoing Celebration services for Mother
Theautry Hicks, beloved mother of the Rev. Dr. Tyrone Hicks and beloved
Mother-in- Law of The Rev. Dr. Phyllis Hicks, were held on Thursday, May 28,
2015 at 11:00 a.m. at Murph Emmanuel AME Church, 4151 Don Julio Blvd in North
Highlands, California. The Rev. Freda
Cash is the pastor of Murph Emmanuel AME Church.
In the spirit of
Love and Support, & Solidarity, let us continue lift the entire Hicks
Family up in prayer in their hour of sorrow.
20. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Fourth
Episcopal District regrets to inform you of the passing of the Rev. Dr. Joseph
M. James, Jr., retired. The Rev. Dr.
James was the founding pastor of Mayo African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Matteson, Illinois and had a distinguished career as an outstanding educator
and principal. The Rev. James was the
husband of Dr. Ruth E. James, the immediate past president of the 4th Episcopal
District Women's Missionary Society.
The Homegoing
Services will take place at:
Mayo African
Methodist Episcopal Church
20839 Homeland Rd.
Matteson, IL 60443
708/503-1400
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Pre-Past and
Visitation - 5:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
Celebration of Life
Service - 7:00 p.m.
Interment:
Friday, June 5, 2015 - 1:00 p.m.
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
20953 W. Hoff Rd.
Elmwood, Illinois 60621
Telephone: (815)
423-9958
Condolences may be sent to:
Dr. Ruth E. James
21316 Megan Court
Matteson, IL
60443
In Lieu of flowers,
the family is requesting that donations be sent to:
The Rev. Dr. Joseph
M. James, Jr. Scholarship Fund
Mayo African
Methodist Episcopal Church
20839 Homeland Rd.
P. O. Box 245,
Matteson, IL. 60443
Arrangements are
being handled by T. M. Hughes Mortuary
Telephone: (877)
848-4437)
21. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Second
Episcopal District is saddened to announce the passing of Brother Oliver W.
Sparrow, the brother of the late Rev. David J. Sparrow who was an AME pastor
and the uncle of both the Rev. Clifton E. Sparrow, Sr., pastor of Mt. Pleasant
AME Church in Owings Mill, Maryland and the Rev. Dr. Cassandra A. Sparrow,
pastor of St. Matthew AME Church, Weldon, North Carolina.
Arrangements for
Brother Oliver W. Sparrow:
Thursday, June 4,
2015:
Viewing/Reflections:
9:00 AM - 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing
Celebration: 11:00 a.m.
Location:
Newman Memorial
United Methodist Church
257 Macon Street
Brooklyn, NY 11216
Telephone: (718)
622-7955
Host Pastor: The
Rev. Cedric Johnson
Eulogist: The Rev.
Clifton E. Sparrow, Sr.
Condolences may be
sent to the Sparrow family at:
Church Fax: (718)
638-3243.
The Rev. Dr.
Cassandra A. Sparrow:
Mobile Telephone:
(410) 258-5443
22. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to
announce the passing of Mr. William J. Batson, the husband of the Rev. Idola
Williams Batson. The Rev. Batson is the pastor at Mt. Calvary AME Church in
Seaford, Delaware (Delaware Conference, Dover District). Brother Batson was a
member of the First Episcopal District M-SWAWO and served as our Connectional
representative in the “First Lady/First Gentleman Contest.”
The following
information has been provided regarding the funeral services arrangements.
Friday, June 5,
2015
Viewing – 3:00 p.m.
– 5:00 p.m.
Bennie Smith
Funeral Home
437 North Front
Street
Seaford, DE 19973
Join the family for
a Continental Breakfast one hour prior to the service.
Saturday, June 6,
2015
Homegoing
Celebration – 11:00 a.m.
Mt. Calvary AME
Church
25206 School Road
Seaford, DE 19973
Telephone: (302)
629-6880
Eulogist: The Rev.
Winton M. Hill III, Presiding Elder of the Dover District
Officiating: The
Rev. Richard H. Worthy, Presiding Elder of the Wilmington District
Interment will
follow at Milford Community Cemetery
Route 113
Milford, Delaware
Expressions of
sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. Idola W.
Batson
P. O. Box 744
Seaford, DE 19973
23. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third Episcopal
District regretfully announces the passing of the Reverend Marvin Phillip
Morris, retired Itinerant Elder of the Pittsburgh Annual Conference on Tuesday,
May 26, 2015. Following Reverend Morris’
retirement he returned to his home church, Spelman Chapel AME Church in Kent,
Ohio.
Funeral Arrangements
are as follows:
Calling Hours:
Friday, June 5,
2015 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sommerville Funeral
Services
1695 Diagonal Road
Akron, OH 44320
Telephone:
(330)836-2725
Fax: (330)
836-5302
Funeral Service:
Saturday, June 6,
2015
Calling Hours:
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
Funeral Service:
12:00 Noon
Spelman Chapel AME
Church
910 Walnut Street
Kent, OH 44240
Telephone: (330)
673-9194
The Rev. Dr. L.
Anthony Gatewood, pastor; the Rev. Dr. Eric L. Brown, Presiding Elder, The
Allegheny/Scranton District (Eulogist); the Rev. P. Robert Tate, Presiding
Elder, The Youngstown District (Officiating)
Condolences may be
sent to:
Spelman Chapel AME
Church
910 Walnut
Kent, OH 44240
Telephone: (330)
673-9194
24. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third Episcopal
District regretfully announces the passing of Mrs. Judy Ann Dews, on Tuesday,
June 2, 2015. Mrs. Dews is the mother of
the Rev. Gayle R. Simmons and the mother-in-law of the Rev. Michael L. Simmons,
associates ministers at Quinn Chapel AME Church in Forest Park, Ohio where the
Rev. Dr. Frederick A. Wright Sr. is the pastor. Mrs. Dews was a member of Bethel AME Church
in Lebanon, Ohio where the Rev. Dr. Karen Schaffer is the pastor.
Services will be
held Monday, June 8, 2015
Viewing 10:00 a.m.
– 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing
Celebration 11:00 a.m.
Oswald-Hoskins
Funeral Home
329 East Mulberry
Street
Lebanon, Ohio 45306
Telephone: (513)
932-7070
The Rev. Dr. Karen
Schaffer, Officiating
The Rev. Gayle R.
Simmons, Eulogist
Interment will
follow at Lebanon Cemetery
Expressions of
sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend Gayle
R. Simmons
4223 Old Osprey Circle
Miamisburg, Ohio
45342
25. BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Telephone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
26.
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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