The Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland -
Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr.,
Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III,
the 20th Editor, The Christian
Recorder
Thought for the Week: “Don’t worry about
failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack
Canfield
1. TCR EDITORIAL – A HISTORY MAKING WEEK:
Dr.
Calvin H. Sydnor III
The
20th Editor of The
Christian Recorder
This
is a short TCR Editorial because I
have spent most of the week driving and since I was driving long distances I
missed at least one event that I wanted to attend.
But
all was not lost because I attended a historic event that has never happened in
the African Methodist Episcopal Church and I hope we, AMEs won’t let that event
slip from our collective memories.
The
event was the promotion ceremony of the Rev. R. Scott Dingle to the rank of
brigadier general. Brigadier General R.
Scott Dingle is the first AME itinerant elder to be promoted to the rank of
brigadier general in the United States Army.
He
has impressive credentials that will be published in the print edition of The Christian Recorder.
Brigadier
General R. Scott Dingle is not a military chaplain and that’s what makes his
promotion unique. He is a Medical
Service Corps Officer. He was
commissioned in 1988 through the ROTC program at Morgan State University and
holds a Master of Science degree in Administration from Central Michigan
University, a Master of Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced
Military Studies and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy
from the National War College.
The
promotion ceremony was held at the Main Memorial Chapel at Fort Myer, Virginia.
The chapel was full and people were standing around the walls of the
sanctuary. Lieutenant General Patricia
D. Horoho, the Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical
Command remarked that the Memorial Chapel probably had never held that many
persons.
The
persons attending the promotion ceremony included numerous generals and high
ranking military officers of color and senior non-commissioned officers and
soldiers of every rank. Senior Bishop
John R. Bryant gave the invocation.
Bishop William and Episcopal Supervisor Pam DeVeaux were also in
attendance. Judicial Council member Glenda Hodges and the Rev. Dr. Charlotte
Sydnor were among those who attended the ceremony. A number of AME preachers and spouses also
attended. Brigadier General Dingle’s
wife, children, father and other family members also were in attendance.
In
addition to the military and clergy persons who attended the ceremony was a
large contingent of the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Brigadier W. Scott Dingle is a member of
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
The
promotion ceremony was absolutely wonderful and got off to a rousing start with
the singing of the National Anthem by Master Sergeant Antonio Giuliano Ogden
the brother of the Rev. Dr. Keith Ogden.
The Master Sergeant has a voice!
A
lot of important people attended the ceremony, which bespoke the love and
respect for the Reverend W. Scott Dingle, the first AME itinerant Elder to be
promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
2. NEWS AROUND THE
AME CHURCH:
--Senior
Episcopal Supervisor, the Reverend Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, Supervisor of
the Fourth Episcopal District - Speaker for the Maryland Black Caucus Prayer
Breakfast
The
Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant email: queenakosua@hotmail.com
3.
ALABAMA GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY TO RECEIVE INAUGURAL
ROSA L. PARKS
PROFILE OF COURAGE AWARD:
Birmingham,
AL - - The 9th Episcopal District of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church will bestow the Inaugural
Rosa L. Parks Profile of Courage Award to The Honorable Robert Bentley,
Governor of Alabama, at the first-ever Unity Day Rally.
Governor Bentley will be honored for his moral courage in taking
a direct, bold step in removing a divisive symbol of
Alabama’s history, the Confederate battle flag. The theme for the
Rally is “One Nation Under God: Lord, Let It Be.” The Rally is scheduled for Noon on Tuesday,
September 15, 2015, at the Daniel Payne Community Plaza, 1500 Daniel Payne
Drive in Birmingham, Alabama.
Dr.
Jack Hawkins, Jr. Chancellor of Troy University will present the award to
Governor Bentley. Mrs. Rosa L. Parks was a heroine and a lifelong member of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Governor Bentley will be joined by ecumenical leaders throughout
the state of Alabama, elected representatives, and university officials who
will offer a series of prayers, including Bishop
John R. Bryant, Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church; Bishop James L. Davis, Presiding
Prelate of the 9th Episcopal District (Alabama) of the AME
Church; Bishop Samuel L. Green,
Sr., Presiding Prelate of the 12th Episcopal District of the
AME Church; Bishop Reginald T. Jackson,
Presiding Prelate of the 20th Episcopal District of the AME Church,
and Ecumenical Officer and Endorsing Agent; Representative John F. Knight, State of Alabama – District 77;
Mayor William A. Bell, Sr., City
of Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. George F.
Flowers, Executive Director of Global Witness and Ministry of the AME
Church; Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr.,
Chancellor of Troy University; Dr.
Andrew Hugine, President of Alabama A&M University; Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, Presiding
Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District (Florida & Alabama) of the
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church; Mr.
Ashfaq Taufique, President of the Birmingham Islamic Society; and Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett, Presiding
Prelate of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. Invited
participants include Rabbi Randall J. Konigsburg, Senior Rabbi at
Temple Beth-El in Birmingham; Bishop Robert J. Baker, Presiding Prelate of
the Diocese of Birmingham; Bishop Dennis V. Proctor, Presiding
Prelate of the Alabama-Florida Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church;
Bishop O. L. Meadows, First Jurisdiction of Alabama – Church of God in
Christ. Music will be provided by the Alabama A&M University Choir.
The idea of a Unity
Rally was birthed by two dynamics: (1) the tragic killings of the pastor and
eight members of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Charleston, South Carolina in June 2015, the result of a “hate crime” and
(2) numerous inquiries by members of the faith community who expressed a
desire to stand in solidarity with the AME Church to address and solve the ills
of racism, inequality, and injustice in society. The Unity Day Rally
is the first step for the state of Alabama. It is a rally of unified hope that,
together, people of good will can make a difference in the midst of the harsh
realities that would seek to divide rather than unite. Over 2,000 members of
the AME Church and members of other faith traditions are expected to attend.
The mission of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church is to minister to the spiritual,
intellectual, physical, emotional, and environmental needs of all people by
spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed. At every level of
the Connection and in every local church, the African Methodist Episcopal
Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African
Society, out of which the AME Church evolved: that is to seek out and save the
lost, and serve the needy.
For more
information about the Unity Day Rally, please call (205)
326-4499 or visit www.ninthamec.org.
4. WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY MESSAGE FROM JAMYE COLEMAN WILLIAMS, PH.D:
We
have great news about Wilberforce University! Wilberforce has enrolled 639
students for the Fall Semester, an 81.5% enrollment increase over the fall of
2014. In addition, Wilberforce has been
ranked number 25 in the Best Baccalaureate Colleges Category of the 2015
Washington Monthly College Rankings.
Against
this background the University is preparing for the Inauguration of Dr.
Algeania W. Freeman as the 20th President of Wilberforce on Friday,
September 25.
I
have been asked to contact loyal alumni and request their cooperation by being
a Presidential Patron and contributing $100.
Please respond in the affirmative by sending your name, class year, and
check. If you choose to place an ad for
you and your church—Quarter Page $200, Half Page $300, Full Page $500. Information and checks should be sent to
Office of the President by September 15.
I’ll
be deeply grateful for whatever you are able to do.
5. CME SENIOR BISHOP LAWRENCE REDDICK COMMENTS ON THE BLACK
METHODISTS COALITION IN WASHINGTON, DC:
Last weekend, our [CME] communications
team helped me get to you my request for your prayers during the September 1-2
gathering of the Black Methodists Coalition in Washington, D.C. I’m writing now to say a word to you about
it, and to thank you for praying.
As I write this on September 2, we
intend to go to the National Press Club this morning, and, later in the day,
participate in a White House briefing regarding our concerns. The concerns we are placing before the Press
Club and before the White House regard these subjects:
• Criminal justice reform
• Educational reform
• Economic justice
• Gun safety reform
• Voting rights legislation
The faithfulness of the Christian
Methodist Episcopal Church family was obvious during last night’s service. Your bishops have remarked many times in our
conversations that the CME Church always represents well in our support for
those groups we commit to. Last night
was no exception, both in your resident cities and in Washington, D.C. The CMEs present on last night represented
all of the episcopal districts within the United States, as well as the
Eleventh Episcopal District.
Those who missed last night’s service
might be able to get parts of it today at
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support.
+Lawrence L. Reddick III
Senior Bishop, the Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church
6. CHANGE AGENTS OF
PEACE:
*The
Rev. Moses A. Simms, Jr., D.Min
The
preamble to the Declaration of Independence begins with, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable
rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The
words sound good, but are they a reality for everyone in America? The two most
profitable entities in America are the welfare and the penal systems. The
wealthy make money off those whose everyday existence is living in an
impoverished state of being, a majority of whom work, but still can’t make ends
meet, those we call the working poor. Experts look at the educational
statistics and forecast how many prisons must be built. These experts
understand that when children do not receive a quality education, children will
end up in prison. Interestingly enough, we can find money to do everything
except give American citizens the basic dignity of personhood: a roof over
their head, a good education and health care. What a travesty of justice and
the Church continues to remain silent!
The
recent tragic and horrific violence upon the “Charleston 9,” the death of young
people of color both male and female by those who have sworn to “protect and
serve” the community and the mass incarceration of people of color reflect that
we do not live in a color blind society. States have increased their budgets by
millions of dollars to build new prisons while cutting the Department of
Education budget, a division that is already under funded. The rich seek to
reduce their tax liability while increasing the tax responsibility of the poor
and middle class. Women are forced to work for less doing the same work as
their male counterparts. Female clergy still face discriminatory practices and
are not given the same respect and opportunities of their male colleagues.
Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere.” The marginalized and the oppressed need those of privilege to
stand with them. Blacks and whites should stand together to speak against
profiling and the unfair treatment of people of color. Male clergy should speak
against the segregation of the pulpit and if our female colleagues are not
given the same rights that we have, we should not act and participate in
activities as if things are okay. We must stand together - black and white,
female and male - for justice for all.
We
are physically living in the 21st century, yet many of us are
mentally living in the 18th century. Many go along to get along, not
wanting to rock the boat. As long as our needs are being provided and as long
as the families are being taken care of, we live our lives without helping
others. The history of the early church reveals that the Church from its
inception has served as a beacon of justice. Bishop Richard Allen stood against
the injustices of his day, which led to the birth of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. We must continue to live out our legacy by being the voice of the
wounded, the oppressed and the marginalized. The church has to be the vehicle
of transforming our communities into the communities of justice and equality.
We must surrender ourselves to the will of God and allow the anointing that God
has on us to be change agents of peace. The church cannot be self-serving; it
must seek to serve the community.
I
live by the motto, “Serving God by Serving Others”, because I believe that in
order to serve God; we must yield ourselves under the will of God and serve the
community. When the community felt that the church was a part of the community
and served the community by being incarnate, there were those in the community
that protected the church and would not allow the church property to be
destroyed or broken into. This was when the church and the police were a part
of the community; however, over time the church and the police have become
detached from the community. The church has to reconnect to the community by
ministering to the needs of the people and by addressing the injustices that
are prevalent in our communities. The church must be ministry-minded. She must
live out the gospel mandate by serving God and serving God’s people, by meeting
their needs and by standing against injustices. The church must seek
opportunities that build communities through economic development and capacity
building to give her parishioners an opportunity to make the preamble to the
Declaration of Independence a reality.
The
only way individual lives and communities can be transformed is when every born
again believer fulfills their call by utilizing their gifts and talents to
empower others to serve God. Laity and clergy must reconnect and work together
to transform our communities into communities that are empowered to change
lives and conditions. We must demonstrate our love for God through our service
to humanity. One cannot love and serve God without loving and serving the least
of these. So let us show how grateful we are to God by serving God’s people and
by standing for justice.
*The
Rev. Moses A. Simms, Jr., D.Min is the pastor of Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church in
Greensburg, Louisiana
7. U.S. CATHOLICS OPEN TO NON-TRADITIONAL FAMILIES:
45% of Americans Are Catholic or Connected to
Catholicism
When Pope Francis arrives in the U.S.
for the World Meeting of Families later this month, he will find a Catholic
public that is remarkably accepting of a variety of non-traditional families,
according to a new Pew Research Center survey that provides an in-depth look at
American Catholics’ views on family life, sexuality and Catholic identity.
Nine-in-ten U.S. Catholics say that a
household headed by a married mother and father is an ideal situation for bringing
up children. But the survey shows that large majorities think that other kinds
of families – those headed by parents who are single, divorced, unmarried or
gay – are OK for raising children, too.
This may be in part because Francis’
American flock is experiencing life in all its modern complexity. According to
the survey, one-in-four Catholics have gone through a divorce. One-in-ten have
divorced and remarried. One-in-ten are living with a romantic partner, sans
wedding, and more than four-in-ten have done so at some point in their lives.
When it comes to matters of sexuality,
there are a number of issues on which Catholics either mostly disagree with the
church (e.g., on the question of whether Catholics should be permitted to use
birth control) or are divided (e.g., on the question of whether the church
should recognize the marriages of gay and lesbian couples).
But there are also numerous ways in
which Catholics express their dedication to the church and its teachings. For
example, seven-in-ten Catholics say they cannot ever imagine leaving the
church. Nearly six-in-ten Catholics say abortion is a sin. And more than half
say devotion to Mary and receiving the sacraments are “essential” to what being
Catholic means to them personally.
The survey also shows that the United
States is a nation of people whose ties to Catholicism run both deep and broad.
Fully 45% of Americans are connected to Catholicism in some way, including
one-fifth who claim the faith as their current religion, one-tenth who were
raised in the faith and have now fallen away, and a similar share who maintain
a cultural connection to Catholicism.
The latter group – “cultural Catholics”
– does not identify Catholicism as their religion; most are Protestants or say
they have no religion. But they do identify as Catholic or partially Catholic
in another way. This attachment to Catholicism shows up in their lives in
various ways: For example, one-third says they attend Mass at least occasionally.
And among cultural Catholics who were raised in the church, roughly four-in-ten
say they could imagine returning to the faith someday.
The new survey also suggests that Pope
Francis may have a difficult time persuading Catholics in the U.S. to adopt his
philosophy about excess and his focus on the environment. Though six-in-ten
Catholics say working to help the poor and needy is essential to their Catholic
identity, only about half as many say the same about working to address climate
change. Catholics are divided on the question of whether it is sinful to spend
money on luxuries without also giving to the poor, but large majorities say it
is not a sin to live in a house larger than needed or to use energy without
concern for the impact on the environment. The survey finds that Hispanic
Catholics are much more inclined than non-Hispanic whites to express concerns
about the morality of excessive consumption.
These are among the key findings of the
Pew Research Center’s 2015 Survey of U.S. Catholics and Family Life, conducted
May 5-June 7, 2015, on landlines and cellphones among a national probability
sample of 5,122 adults, including 1,016 self-identified Catholics, with a
margin of sampling error of +/- 3.5 percentage points for Catholics and +/- 1.6
percentage points for the full sample.
The findings are for immediate release
and are available at http://www.pewforum.org/2015/09/02/u-s-catholics-open-to-non-traditional-families/.
For more information or to arrange an
interview with Greg Smith or Jessica Hamar Martinez, please contact Stefan
Cornibert at 202.419.4372 or scornibert@pewresearch.org.
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan
“fact tank” that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends
shaping America and the world. It does not take policy positions. The center is
a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.
8. AME AMONG SMU HOMECOMING CELEBRATION TO SPOTLIGHT
DISTINGUISHED ALUMS, EMERGING LEADERS:
Patron of the arts, finance educator,
business doyen and religious leader to be celebrated during University’s
birthday week
DALLAS (SMU) — Cultural, business, and
education leaders will receive the highest honor the University bestows upon
its graduates – the Distinguished Alumni Award – during a campus ceremony
coinciding with SMU’s Homecoming and Centennial Celebration in September. The
ceremony will conclude with a special illuminating moment in tribute to the
featured alumni as well as the University’s dynamic first century.
The 2015 Distinguished
Alumni are patron of the arts Bess Enloe ’60, finance educator Don Jackson ’63
and business leader Billie Ida Williamson ’74.
The Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters ’02, ’06, ’12 will receive the
University’s Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes the outstanding
achievements of an alumnus or alumna who has graduated in the past 15 years.
The
Distinguished Alumni Award presentation and dinner will be at 7 p.m. Thursday,
Sept. 24, on the SMU Main Quad. To purchase tickets, visit:
http://www.smu.edu/Alumni/Homecoming/Events/DAA or call 214-768-4575.
Bess Enloe
Bess
Enloe has provided visionary leadership to the arts in Dallas. After graduating from SMU in 1960 with a B.A.
in history, she taught high school in the Dallas Independent School District
and later co-owned an interior design firm before devoting herself to volunteer
efforts supporting the arts. Enloe chaired the Meadows School of the Arts
Executive Board from 2010-14 and was the honoree of the 2014 Meadows at the
Meyerson concert.
Enloe
is a life trustee of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, where she has served
as vice chair of the Board from 2011-2015 and previously as a member of the
Capital Campaign Committee. At the Dallas Theater Center, she is a life
trustee, co-founder of the Benefactors program and past chair of the Board of
Trustees.
A
lifetime of dedication to the arts has earned Enloe numerous honors, including
the TACA Silver Cup in 1993, the TITAS Award for Excellence in Arts Leadership
in 2007 and the 2009 Excellence in Community Service – Arts Leadership Award of
the Dallas Historical Society.
Don Jackson
Don
Jackson has led distinguished careers in both higher education and business.
After earning his B.B.A. in finance at SMU in 1963, he received an M.B.A. from
Indiana University and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas.
Jackson
returned to his roots immediately after earning his Ph.D., teaching finance at
the Cox School of Business from 1967-78. A dedicated teacher, he was twice
named a Rotunda Outstanding Professor of SMU and twice received the Salgo
Distinguished Teacher Award from the Cox School.
While
on campus, Jackson co-founded the Women’s Financial Series and established one
of the earliest real-money investment practicums for SMU finance students.
Today’s B.B.A. and M.B.A. students use Jackson’s investment practicum to manage
over $9 million in assets.
Since leaving
SMU, Jackson has led a second successful career as a financial counselor
serving a limited number of multi-generational families. In 2010, SMU alumnus
and trustee David Miller honored his former professor by providing the lead
gift to establish the Don Jackson Center for Financial Studies in the Cox
School of Business.
Billie Ida Williamson
Billie
Ida Williamson has shown exemplary leadership in her profession and has
inspired countless women in business. As a student at SMU, Williamson served as
the University’s student body treasurer and Homecoming queen before earning a
B.B.A. in accounting, with highest honors, in 1974.
Williamson
had an almost immediate impact on the advancement of women and minorities in
the public accounting profession when she became one of the first women
partners in Ernst & Young LLP. Since retiring as a Senior Client Serving
Partner in 2011, she serves on the boards of Pentair plc, Energy Future
Holdings and Janus Capital Group. Her honors include Ernst & Young’s Rosemarie
Meschi Award for Advancement of Women and the Dallas Business Journal 2014
Outstanding Director Award.
Also a
philanthropist, Williamson serves on the boards of the Dallas Symphony
Foundation and Dallas Holocaust Museum and is a member of the Committee of 200,
which fosters women’s leadership in business, and the International Women’s
Forum. She is a Leadership Fellow of the National Association of Corporate
Directors.
Michael W. Waters
In a
very short time, the Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters has emerged as a prominent
leader in Dallas’ religious community. Waters earned a B.A. in political
science and religious studies from SMU in 2002, followed by two degrees from
the Perkins School of Theology: the Master of Divinity cum laude and Doctor of
Ministry with honors. Among numerous campus honors, Waters received SMU’s
prestigious “M” Award. He also helped found SMU’s annual Civil Rights
Pilgrimage for students to visit historic sites of the movement.
Drawing
on the skills he learned as an SMU student body vice president and Perkins
student body president, in 2008 Waters founded and became senior pastor of Joy
Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas, one of the
fastest-growing A.M.E. churches in Texas.
Waters
is also the award-winning author of Freestyle: Reflections on Faith, Family,
Justice, and Pop Culture and chair of Dallas’ Martin Luther King Jr. Community
Center. He was named by Ebony magazine among “30 Under 30” leaders and by
Dallas Business Journal among “40 Under 40” business and community leaders.
###
Southern
Methodist University is a nationally ranked private university in Dallas
founded 100 years ago. Today SMU enrolls nearly 11,000 students who benefit
from the academic opportunities and international reach of seven
degree-granting schools.
9. THE
TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:8:
Let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and
love; and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
Certainly anyone who has ever gone on a job
interview knows full well how important appearance is. The truth of the matter
is the way one dresses, sits, speaks, and generally carries themselves can make
or break their chances of being hired.
I would like to point out that Christians
have a job to do, and if we intend to be effective witnesses for Christ, we
need to dress for success also. We need to be aware that there are some things
we should wear that would enhance our chances for success.
One essential as it relates to the Christian
dress requirement, as our text reminds us, is that we ought to be of the day.
We ought to be deliberate. That means that we should refrain from hiding out
unscrupulously utilizing devious and underhanded schemes to fulfill our duty.
We should not clothe ourselves in darkness. When we are dressed in the light we
have a certain identifiable exterior that says we are confident in our message
and we are brave. We are not afraid of stepping into the forefront. We are
courageously part of God’s joyous realm of knowledge, purity and righteousness.
We are transparent as we have nothing to hide. We are not moved to do anything
dishonest. Unlike children of the night we are not prone to wantonness and
laziness. We light up the world walking through darkness while bearing our
light with us. We march onward deliberate in our approach, intentional in our
benevolence, and premeditated in our outreach.
We understand by faith that an improperly
dressed soldier is ineffective in their witnessing. We are fully aware that we
cannot draw others to Christ if we ourselves refuse to follow Christ. We cannot
expect to be effective if we teeter in a double life as children of the day and
of the night!
We must be deliberate and we must be sober,
determined and single-minded. When it comes to serving God we are expected to
have tunnel vision. We are cautioned to beware of anything that would detract
us from our preordained purpose. I would point out that Paul’s reference to the
word sober is not only to our physical non indulging temperance, but also
admonishes us to abstain from other sins as well. In other words, Christians
need to be busy about our Father’s business. We need to be resolute and
unwavering.
Finally we have to put on “the breastplate of
faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation”. Clearly in his outline version of the
Christian dress code Paul lists only defensive armor, and the short list of
familiar Christian graces, faith, hope, and love. Faith, hope and love form the
defensive armor that guards the soul. It is these three that make discipline
possible. No matter what the world throws at us with faith, hope and love, we
are able to walk on free and unencumbered. This is how we become disciplined Christians.
God wants all of us to be dressed for success
as Christians. He is looking for saints who are deliberate, determined, and
disciplined. It is a stringent dress code, but it is one that will not fail us.
*The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is
the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina
10. GETTING TO ZERO: DEFEATING DIABETES - TAKE II:
*The Rev. Oveta Fuller. Ph.D
Today’s article is based upon an email
received in response to the diabetes Type 2 article last week from Mrs. Eria
Warren.
"Thank you for the article on
diabetes. Since I have been around diabetes most of my life, I have two
things to share that have impacted my life regarding this fatal disease:
1) I had two siblings to die at a young age before African-Americans were
able to receive care- preventive care: 2) I live with it everyday.
But rather than diabetes type 2 as you discuss, I have type 1 diabetes. The bottom line is
this. For those who know that either type is present or dominate in their
family history, it is absolutely necessary to become more personally conscious
of taking care of themselves in a preventive way. Thanks for sharing such
helpful information on type 2 diabetes."
Eria J. Warren
Director of Christian Education
Brown Chapel AMEC
Ypsilanti, Michigan
---
Columnist's Note:
Do you know the answers to the questions
below? They will be addressed in the next "Getting to Zero" posting.
- How does type 1 diabetes differ from type 2
in symptoms and impact?
- How are they similar?
- How many people are dealing with each type
in the USA? Globally?
- When was diabetes first discovered or
understood as a chronic metabolic disease?
- How have the use of insulin and other
preventions affected Type 1 diabetes?
- What can be done in preventive care to
stop onset or to manage either type of diabetes?
-
How would I know if diabetes (type 1 or type 2) is something I should be aware
of and get screened for?
*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.
11. iCHURCH SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER, 6, 2015 - BE BOLD - ACTS 4:23-31:
*Brother Bill Dickens
Key Verse: When they had prayed, the place in which they
were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31.
Introduction
Sunday, September 6, 2015 is the fifteenth Sunday after
Pentecost. The quality of life is
defined in part by the choices we make. Choosing among alternative uses
is further complicated when we lack all of the information necessary to make an
informed choice or decision. For many, lack of information is used as a
reason for not pursuing certain actions. The easy way out is to go with the
status quo since we have some degree of familiarity with what we know (and
accept to be true). Stepping outside our comfort zone involves
risk. Risk signals cost. Cost influences choice. If we remain
ensconced in our comfort zone we forfeit any opportunities which can make our
lives better.
Today’s lesson examines why it is important to challenge the
status quo and break free from our comfort environment. This requires us
to be intrepid not fearful. Being intrepid is more than just doing
something different. Being bold for the early Christians meant having a
sense of purpose for being different because it promotes a better option.
How can we be fortified with the spirit of boldness? The early leaders in
Acts offer us information, insight and inspiration. “Lights, camera,
action”!!!
Bible Lesson
Miracle
In Chapter Three of Acts Peter and John decide to attend a worship
service in the temple. They were greeted
by a man suffering from a crippling bodily ailment who sought alms or financial
offerings from worship attendees. Peter
and John acknowledged that though they did not have “silver and gold” they did
possess the one thing the beggar needed to overcome his physical ailment. The apostles declared with boldness in the
name of Jesus rise up from your station and walk. The young man adhered to the request and
instantly he was healed from his physical infirmity. This miracle sent shock waves throughout the
community resulting in many converting to followers of Jesus based solely on
this miracle.
Message
All however were not enthusiastically praising God for the
miracle. Our lesson today begins in
Chapter 4 with some of the skeptics led by the Sanhedrin and the temple guard
issuing a subpoena and requiring Peter and John to answer questions about their
“work”. Peter, filled with the Holy
Spirit (v. 8) gladly responds to the charges against him and his
colleague. Peter indicates that he has
not committed any crime other than helping a crippled man walk. Surely this act of kindness is not an
impeachable offense. Peter further
argues that the source of the healing was found in the resurrected Christ who
ironically the Sanhedrin had sentenced to death.
Messiah
The Sanhedrin Council members are astonished at the theological
sophistication of the apostles considering they were uneducated and common men
(v. 13). Peter and John pose a
theological paradox for the Council. The apostle’s emphasis on Jesus’
Resurrection puts them at odds with the Sadducees who didn’t believe in the
resurrection but aligned with the Pharisees who did believe in the
resurrection. Secondly, many people
became converted to Christianity as a result of the apostle’s doctrine. The people saw the apostles as honorable
God-fearing men not the trouble-makers as proclaimed by the Sanhedrin thus
making it hard to determine how the apostles should be punished. The Council decide to issue a warning and
advise Peter and John to not speak in the name of Jesus publicly again. The apostles reject this “punishment” and continue
to speak with boldness about the Risen Christ (vs. 29 & 31).
Bible Application
Every day we have decisions to make — what to wear, what to eat,
how to spend our time. Some decisions are no-brainers. You make your choice,
and even if it’s not the best decision, the potential consequences are rarely
worth breaking a sweat. Then there are the BIG decisions. Should I move? Which
job offer will be best? Am I in the right relationship?
On September 7, 2015, across the United States of America, celebrations
will be conducted to show respect for the decisive decisions made by members of
the labor movement. Labor Day provides
an opportunity to see how bold men and women stood firm in agitating for their
rightful share of the American economic pie.
To risk job loss, lower pay and other forms of retaliatory actions by
employers required exceptional boldness on the part of workers. It doesn’t benefit anyone to be indecisive
since delay and procrastination can add to costs and discomfort. Peter
was bold because he understood the true meaning about the term. Bold is
an acronym in the Book of Acts: Believers Overcoming Laziness and Doubt.
Applying this acronym will enable us to rise above mediocrity and fulfill
our call to be intrepid followers of Christ.
QED
*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
12. MEDITATION BASED ON
MATTHEW 7:15-23:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I’m writing this meditation in the week after a Saturday “We Stand
with God” rally drew at least ten thousand attendees to the South Carolina
State Capitol grounds in Columbia. News
reports of the rally showed a massive assemblage of fervent people praying,
singing and listening to fiery speeches from preachers and politicians about
family values, God and country.
The crowd was impressive, but the “optics” was interesting. There was minimal racial diversity in the
crowd, all of the politicians who spoke were members of the same political
party, and the fervent crowd at times looked and sounded more like an agitated
mob.
The crowd was impressive, but the rhetoric was also
interesting. There was ample focus on
“sins of the flesh” and criticism of American government, but very little about
“sins of the spirit.” Nothing whatsoever
was said about the love, justice, caring and compassion for “the least of
these” that formed the core of the earthly ministry of Jesus.
The “We Stand with God” rally drew an impressive crowd, but that
crowd articulated a “Christian” agenda that was really more of a political
agenda and gave the impression that God only favored their chosen political
party. Those present draped partisan
politics in religion.
Don’t make the same mistake
made by those at that rally, who claimed to “Stand with God” but only stood
with their political party. It’s easy
and tempting for the best of us to use God to justify what we do - right or
wrong - instead of letting God use us for God’s glory and to do God’s will, but
God knows our hearts, minds and intentions.
Let the Christ who saved us
from our sins guide and direct your life.
When you do, you’ll use your time, talent and treasure to improve the
lives of others and lead them closer to Christ, you’ll change this world and
those in it for the better, you’ll find new meaning in life, and in a world of
temporary changes, you’ll be assured that, as the Biblical writer to the
Hebrews said, “Jesus Christ is the same - yesterday, today and forever.”
Stand with God - not just in words, but also in deeds - and pay
close attention to those who arrogantly claim to “Stand with God” but actually
take dubious and self-serving stands, for the song of my ancestors in the faith
who had to deal with “Godly” slave owners is right: “Everybody talkin’ ‘bout
heaven ain’t goin’ there!”
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
13. CME GENERAL OFFICER
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened to inform you of the passing of Lurlie Crutchfield,
the sister of Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, General Secretary of the Department
of Christian Education.
The arrangements for Ms. Crutchfield are as follows:
Family Hour:
Friday, September 4, 2015, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Rawls Funeral Home-Paris
790 Highway 69
North Paris TN 38242
Telephone: (731) 642-1515
Funeral Services:
Saturday, September 5, 2015, 11:00 a.m.
Barrs Chapel Church
5560 Briarpatch Lake Road
Paris, TN 38242
Cards and condolences may be sent to Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield,
1119 Linksview Lane West, Cordova, TN
38018.
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Mother Regina Coerecius (nee Joubert) of the 15th Episcopal District, the mother of
the Rev. Edwin Coericius of the Cape Annual Conference. Born on 29 March 1932,
she was laid to rest on Saturday 29 August 2015.
Her Home-going celebration was held at Ebenezer Chapel Retreat, with viewing at 9 a.m. and home-going celebration commencing at 10 a.m.
May God continue to strengthen the family during this their time of trial and challenge.
Messages of sympathy may be forwarded via - cjvpza@yahoo.co.uk
Her Home-going celebration was held at Ebenezer Chapel Retreat, with viewing at 9 a.m. and home-going celebration commencing at 10 a.m.
May God continue to strengthen the family during this their time of trial and challenge.
Messages of sympathy may be forwarded via - cjvpza@yahoo.co.uk
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT
NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Robert N. “Bob”
Mitchem, Jr., the brother of the Reverend Karen Y. Carter, pastor of Shekinah
Glory AME Church, Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Robert N. Mitchem, Jr., 71, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away on
August 30, 2015.
Service Arrangements for Robert N. “Bob” Mitchem, Jr.:
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Funeral service following at 1:00 p.m.
Newcomer Funeral Home
Southwest Chapel
10304 Dixie Hwy
Louisville, KY 40272
Telephone: (502) 935-0056
Private burial will occur in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery
–Central, Louisville, KY.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend Karen Y. Carter and Family
813 W. Florence Avenue
Louisville, KY 40215
Or to:
Shekinah Glory AME Church
The Reverend Karen Carter, Pastor
1524 Prentice
Louisville, KY 40210
To leave a special message for the
family, please visit:
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of
the Rev. Clifford Hill, a retired pastor from the New England Conference
(Boston-Hartford District).
The following information has been
provided regarding the funeral service arrangements.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Life of Celebration Service
Viewing: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Service: 10:00 a.m.
Bethel AME Church
19 Academy Street
Norwalk, CT 06850
Telephone: (203) 866-1042
Fax: (203) 838-3347
Email: bamenwkct@yahoo.com
The Rev. Richard W. Clarke, Pastor
and Officiating
The Rev. Herbert L. Eddy, Eulogist and Presiding
Elder of the New England Conference
Expressions of sympathy may be sent
to:
Mrs. Ketleen Hill
C/o Bethel AME Church
19 Academy Street
Norwalk, CT 06850
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The Third District Office sadly
announces the passing of Julia L. Mitchell, mother of the Reverend Janet E.
Windham. The Reverend Windham serves on
the ministerial staff at the Mt. Vernon Avenue AME Church in Columbus, Ohio
where the pastor is the Reverend William S. Wheatley and the Presiding Elder is
the Reverend Dr. Betty W. Holley.
Arrangements for Sister Mitchell are
as follows:
Viewing: Friday. September 4, 2015
at 6:00 p.m.
Homegoing Service: Friday, September
4, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Mt. Vernon Avenue AME Church
1127 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Columbus, OH 43203
Telephone: (614) 253-4323
Fax:
(614) 253-3039
Eulogist: The Reverend Dr. William
S. Wheatley
Expressions of sympathy may be sent
to:
The Reverend Janet E. Windham
5701 Sunbury Road
Columbus, OH 43230
Telephone: (614) 475-7330
Email: windyj@live.com
Funeral Services entrusted to:
C.D. White Funeral Home
1217 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Columbus, OH 43203
Telephone: (258) 2550
18. CONNECTIONAL LAY ORGANIZATION BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
-- 1st Episcopal District:
We regret to inform you of the
passing of Mrs. Alva Marie Lightbourne, the mother of Brother Anthoni
Lightbourne, President of the Bermuda Conference Lay Organization.
Funeral Service will take place on Wednesday September
2, 2015 at St. James Church, Sandys Bermuda at 2:00 p.m. Relatives and friends
may pay their last respects at the Church Wednesday from 1:00 p.m.
Condolences by e-mail may be sent to wanthoni@live.com
-- 12th
Episcopal District:
We regret to inform you of the
passing of Mr. Ben O. Hall, Jr., past 12th Episcopal District Lay
& past 12th District Coordinator for the Sons Of Allen.
Funeral Services will be Saturday,
September 5, 2015 -
11:00 a.m. at First AME Church, 3309
N. Kelley Avenue – Oklahoma City, OK 73111.
You may send condolences to:
Mrs. Toye Lee Hall
2816 N. E. Success
Oklahoma City, OK 73111
19. 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
20. 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.
Did someone you know pass this copy of The Christian
Recorder to you? Get your own copy HERE: http://www.the-christian-recorder.org/
Click
Here: Guidelines for Submitting Articles to TCR
*You
have received this message because you are subscribed to
The
Christian Recorder Online
Forward
to Friend
Copyright
© 2014 The Christian Recorder, All rights reserved.
You
are receiving this email because you are a current subscriber to The Christian Recorder
Our
mailing address is:
The
Christian Recorder
500
Eighth Avenue, South
Nashville,
TN 37203-7508
Add us
to your address book
Unsubscribe
from this list Subscribe / Update subscription preferences
