The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, the 20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015
May is Stroke Awareness Month
1. TCR EDITORIAL
– BITS AND PIECES 2015:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The
Christian Recorder
The Christian Recorder (TCR) needs to do some “housekeeping” from time to time and we call
these times “Bit and Pieces.” “Bits and Pieces” are reminders and sometime
information.
The 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference will
convene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 6 – 13, 2016. There are a lot of activities leading up to
that event.
Check out the AMEC Website http://www.ame-church.com/ for schedules of anything happening in the AME Church and for the
events that will take place at the General Conference. The AMEC Website is the
“go to” location to keep abreast of what’s happening in the AME Church.
The
Christian Recorder and candidates
The General Conference is where bishops, general officers, and
Judicial Council members are elected and where legislation is passed. The
General Conference is an important venue and since we are celebrating our 200th
Anniversary this General Conference takes on an even greater historical
significance. We have a lot of candidates aspiring for the bishopric, several
general officer positions and persons who are seeking to serve on the Judicial
Council. Legislation and rules need to be implemented and some need updating.
The general Conference will be a busy time and it is not a vacation for
delegates doing the work of the conference.
The Christian Recorder has had to make some
“Rules of Engagement” for political candidates, which I followed when seeking
reelection in 2008 and 2012.
First and foremost, we do not accept advertisements and generally no
photos are posted in TCR Online. The
print edition of The Christian Recorder
is the venue for photos and advertisements.
Candidates’ “Rules of Engagement”
The Christian Recorder Online does not accept advertisements,
not from candidates or any other entities.
The print edition of The
Christian Recorder accepts and welcomes advertisements from candidates and
from other entities. Advertisements are not free, candidates those who want
advertisements in TCR must pay for
advertisements.
The AMEC Sunday
School Union is the entity that takes care of Advertisements. Dr. Johnny
Barbour, Jr. is the President / Publisher of the AMEC Sunday School Union. The
contact information for the AMEC Sunday School Union is (615) 256-5882 / u_Sunday@bellsouth.net. Mr. Andre Wright
is the person who manages advertisements for the AMEC Sunday School Union.
Candidates are
welcomed and encouraged to submit articles to The Christian Recorder Online, but not advertisements. When candidates submit articles to The Christian Recorder, articles cannot
include statement or reference to their candidacy such as, “Dr. X is a
candidate for Bishop” because that sentence would make the article an advertisement.
If there is any semblance of political aspirations included in a candidate’s
submitted article, the sentence is removed.
Rationale: The Christian Recorder print edition,
like other newspapers generate income from advertisements. If candidates subtly or cleverly advertise in
The Christian Recorder Online, they
probably would not advertise in the print edition.
The Christian Recorder Online will make an exception
in the late spring of 2016. One (1) issue of TCR Online will be devoted to candidates’ sharing their positions
in answers to question(s) submitted to all of them. Each of the candidates will
pay an advertisement fee and the article, in addition to being posted on TCR Online Blog will also be made
available in hardcopy print edition and hardcopy at the site of the 2016
General Conference. Additional information is forthcoming.
Internet Security
There have been a rash of problems with internet security and The Christian Recorder has advised time
and again for people to be careful and to use Bcc with multiple email addressed messages. And sadly, sometimes the warnings seem to be
of no avail.
Quickly, let me restate:
- Multiple addressed emails should only be sent Bcc (Blind Copy) so others cannot “mine” nor do bad things with email
addresses.
- If you receive a unsolicited pop-up message, especially if it is
flashing, telling you that your computer is at some kind of risk and has a
virus; even, and especially if it says it is from Microsoft or some other
well-known company, DO NOT OPEN IT AND DO NOT RESPOND TO IT.
- If you get a warning from an antivirus service that you paid for and
installed on your computer like Kaspersky, McAfee or Norton, you probably need
to address the issue. Do not respond to unsolicited notifications
- There are NO “free” antivirus providers! Every computer needs to
have antivirus protection. You pay for antivirus protection!
- Apple products seem to have better antivirus protection in there
products and some people do not purchase antivirus protection if they use Apple
computers.
- Do not respond or open messages allegedly from unsolicited banks,
internet providers, insurance companies, etc., asking for you to reconfirm your
information. The firms you have relationships with already have your information. They do not need you to provide them with
information. I can tell you from
experience, the crooks have gotten smarter and they can send official and
authentic-looking emails. “If it looks suspicious, it is suspicious!”
- “Curiosity killed the cat” – Don’t open emails from people you don’t
know. Do not be curious about enticing-sounding email offers. “If it sounds too good to be true, it is!”
I wish…
I wish every episcopal district, general officer department, AME
academic institutions, local churches and any other AME entities that have a
website would keep them updated. I wish every church had a website and
especially an updated website. .
Here is a little secret
If your church is doing anything in the community, anyone could find
information about your church.
If I Google a church and the only information that comes is www.yellowpages.com, it means your church is
not doing very much. A church that is active has a lot of entries in Google
platform.
Anyone should be able to find any information about any AME church by
putting the name of the church and its location in the search box; nothing else
is needed, just the name of the church and its location.
On a positive note, there are a lot of small AME churches in Alabama
that have a plethora of information on Google. They have several pages of
information and the reason is because they are doing things and having
programs. The size of the church does not make any difference.
Here is another secret, technology reaches deep. Pastors who are doing
the work of ministry that reaches out to the community will also have entries
in Google. Pastors, who are not doing much, won’t have much “out there.”
When I was the Director of the Religious Studies Program at Hampton
University, when an applicants were trying to get a position in the department
presented me with a sterling resume about all of the things they had done, I
simply Googled them. Those activities of
those who had done various things popped up in the Google search and those who
had not done very much came up empty.
Now, employers do informal job applicants’ background checks on social
media, which is why it’s a good idea to have appropriate professionally
sounding email addresses, not something like “sexy-lady@xxx” or
“big-stud@xxx.” Clergy and church folks
should have appropriate email addresses that reflect positively on them and the
church.
Finally
Pastors, I encourage you to Google yourselves to see “what’s out
there” on you and it’s also a good measuring stick to see how you are perceived
in the community and in ministry.
And, one more thing
If you need to find any article that has been published in The Christian Recorder Online or in the
print edition, just Google the subject and The
Christian Recorder, e.g., [When to
Stand, Pray or Sit + The Christian Recorder]. If you know the specific
subject or if you want to narrow the search, you can put quotation marks around
the searched subject.
Technology is wonderful, especially when it works as we want it to
work and everyone should be using technology. No one is too old!
2. TCR OP-ED
– STATEMENT ON XENOPHOBIA ADOPTED BY THE D.S. MODISAPODI DISTRICT CONFERENCE ON
MAY 3, 2015, IN ALEXANDRA:
The D.S. Modisapodi District Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church gathered on April 30 – May 3, 2015, at Sims
Tabernacle, in Alexandra. A majority of pastors and delegates in the District
Conference directly came from affected areas of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg.
In addition to organisational business, the District Conference
prayerfully reflected on the recent spate of the xenophobic violence meted against
foreign nationals in South Africa. The District Conference took note that on
its very opening day, the lifeless body of Emmanuel Josias Sithole was
repatriated from Johannesburg to Mozambique for burial. Mr. Sithole was
callously killed in Alexandra. His murder was captured by a photo journalist
and widely publicised during the xenophobic violence.
Contritely, we convey our condolences to all families who lost their
beloved kindred due to this senseless hatred and violence. We commend their
souls to the God for a peaceful rest. In the same breath, we pray the recovery
of those who have been physically harmed and displace during the violence. We
plead forgiveness with our African sisters and brothers for what was done in
our name, without our approval.
Unreservedly, we detest the violent treatment foreign nationals in our
country have be subjected to. It is immoral and cannot be justified. It runs
against African values and spirituality. For a country with more about 80%
being Christian, these cruel acts of violence to foreign nationals undermined
the biblical injunction never to mistreat a foreigner (Exodus 23:9, Leviticus
19:33). It is for this reason we make a clarion call for national repentance.
Once, in the past, our human dignity was trampled upon and it was
Africans who hosted us and waged solidarity struggles against that universally
abhorred apartheid system. We should have learned the first time xenophobic
tendencies emerged, in 2008, that they are evil and cannot come from us because
we know how it felt to be a foreign (Ex. 23:9) and a pariah in our own land.
We call upon every constituent member of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church in our country to desist from partaking in any action
whatsoever negating the human dignity of any foreign nationals. Ours is a
denomination, for nearly 200 years of living and proclaiming the Gospel of
Jesus Christ, whose deliberate choice was and is to advance and defend the
dignity of all black people wherever they are in the world. Dehumanising others,
especially Africans, is a betrayal of our denominational founding history and
beliefs.
We commend every leader, across all sectors, for efforts made to stop
the senseless violence. The recent spate of violence must awaken us all to
confront the challenges poverty, inequality and joblessness. We call upon
elimination of corruption in society, which steals resources away from the poor
and marginalised and the book of law be thrown against all persons involved
corrupt activities, regardless of their social, political and economic
standing.
African government and business leaders have a duty also to work
harder at eliminating reasons causing people to leave their countries for a
better life elsewhere, at great risks.
Issued on behalf of the D.S. Modisapodi District by the Rev. Tsele S.
Setai, Presiding Elder
Enquiries be referred to the Rev. Ntiti J. Sefatsa, Secretary of the
D.S. Modisapodi District and pastor of Sims Tabernacle AME Church; Mobile
phone: +27761662928 or rev.njsefatsa@yahoo.com
3. A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE
COUNCIL OF BISHOPS:
There are many
events around the world which are cause for concern among the leaders of our
denomination. Recent statements from
Bishop Reginald Jackson and the Social Action Commission, related to the death
of Freddie Gray along with the resolution from Bishop Paul J. Kawimbe and
Brother Herbert Mngadi on the recent xenophobic violence in South Africa
express the views of the Council of Bishops.
In addition, we are
prayerfully concerned about the devastation in Nepal. We thank God for every life spared, and we
pray for the humanitarian response that will assuage suffering and assist in
rebuilding lives. However, the prayer
list does not end with these recent circumstances.
The young women
abducted in Chibok are not forgotten in our prayers. We mourn for Christians,
around the globe who suffer brutal deaths as modern martyrs confessing Christ
as Lord. The victims of human
trafficking and the stresses of water shortages in many places cannot be
ignored as we approach the throne of grace.
These are only a
few of the vital situations which call for divine intervention as God hears our
cries with compassion. We not only lift
up situations which cause us pain, but we also thank God for the blessings we
enjoy. The Christian Recorder Online and
the Clergy Family Information Center dispatches are filled with news of the
wonderful things God is doing with the people called African Methodists. We cannot fail to give thanks!
From time to time
we make special statements directly, and indirectly, through various
representative entities. Do not mistake
the absence of formal statements for inattention or a lack of concern. We are a part of three significant ecumenical
networks: The World Council of Churches, The National Council of Churches (USA)
and the World Methodist Council. These
partners in ministry often express our common views, and they provide networks
for aid where we often have none.
I hope AMEs around
the world will join with people of faith in the United States on Thursday, 7
May as we observe a National Day of Prayer.
Pray for Bishop and Supervisor Bryant and those who are sharing in the
India Annual Conference.
Do not just pray!
Commit to making a difference by selecting one or more areas of action. Donate
to a relief effort. Support HIV/AIDS
ministry. Donate to AME-SADA as the Church celebrates AME-SADA Sunday on May
17. Lift up health concerns in your congregation. Register voters. Advocate against mass incarceration. Become civically engaged to hinder the repeat
of unjust death by police in “your” municipality. Press for better education and jobs around
the world. Practice loving all people
and be sensitive to the needs of those who are weak and without voice.
Ask God to show you
the issues and the opportunities for your most effective efforts in prayer and
service. As we claim life in this season
of the Resurrection, let us embrace service with the coming observance of
Pentecost!
Faithfully,
+Jeffrey N. Leath
128th
Bishop
4.
ALABAMA A& M UNIVERSITY AWARDS BISHOP JAMES L. DAVIS AWARDED DOCTOR OF
HUMANITIES DEGREE:
Bishop James L.
Davis, our Presiding Prelate, has earned a doctorate degree in the halls of
academia, propelled to that lofty milestone by his academic gifts and his
commitment to excellence. Alabama A&
M University recently awarded Bishop Davis an Honorary Doctor of Humanities
Degree. According to study.com,
"Recipients of honorary doctorate degrees do not earn the degree through
academic achievements, rather with generous and altruistic actions or lifetime
accomplishments that benefit a community, nation or humanity in general....Each
university that confers honorary degrees establishes its own criteria for
acceptance."
Alabama A&M
University leaders observed Bishop Davis' "generous and altruistic actions
or lifetime accomplishments" that have benefitted the church and community
at large. His work, his contributions and
accomplishments in Kingdom Building are on record in Heaven, never showcased by
him.
Congratulations are
in order for our leader who received the Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree
from the prestigious Alabama A&M University on Friday, May 1, 2015. As the University honored our leader, they
have honored the 9th District AME Church Family!
Submitted by Dr.
Monica L. Dillihunt
5. “BROKEN WINDOWS ARE NOT BROKEN SPINES:
*Bishop Lawrence Reddick
-- Listening to and Observing Baltimore
Some of us will not forget the pictures of looting in Baltimore … the
pictures televised and emailed over and over again to the point of being
“unforgettable.”
But here is the tragedy: we may
forget Freddie Gray, arrested for reasons we do not know and dead after riding
in the paddy wagon.
Community leaders in Baltimore and community leaders from other cities
who went to Baltimore for the days following last week’s funeral of Freddie
Gray did the world many services. And I
believe we can learn from them as we note several things they did.
Leaders in Baltimore showed courage.
If you saw a news clip of the Rev. Jamal Bryant walking the street a few
hours after the funeral, when crowds were gathering in the streets and the
looting had begun, you saw a pastor who understood that his place was with the
people he was called to serve. His
actions matched his talk. While “the
ninety-and-nine” were safely in the fold, he went out to the one (and,
statistically, those who looted were less than 1% of those who have been
actively calling for justice for months in many cities, though they were the
ones who got the major press).
The Reverend Jamal Bryant is pastor of Empowerment Temple A.M.E.
Church in Baltimore. He is one of the
persons who met with the AME, AME Zion and CME Senior Bishops when we came
together in response to Ferguson and was with us when we later presented
scholarships at the Normandy High School.
He stood with the people in Ferguson, and we saw him standing in
Ferguson.
Leaders in Baltimore created relationships and collaborated. As Reverend Bryant walked the streets and the
microphones were placed before him, he acknowledged that the men of the Church
had agreed to walk the streets, along with the men of the Nation of Islam. People of two different spectra of faith
(Christians and Muslims) linked together to bring order in their city.
Relationships are not developed in times of crisis alone. In fact, crises point to the relationships
that were already nurtured before crisis began.
Don’t wait for the crisis to build relationships in your church
community.
The Mount Pisgah C.M.E. Church in Baltimore opened its doors, offering
not only snacks and refreshments, but a place that became a place of prayer and
creative arts to engage the children who were out of school. Because of its proximity to the Police
Station, it became a place of prayer for protesters and police alike. (The Reverend Joann Jackson is pastor; she
was appointed pastor after the passing of the Reverend Lynwood H. Leverette a
few months ago. The Reverend Eric
Waddell, Mt. Pisgah’s musician, has also been a part of leadership.)
And there was yet another dynamic to collaboration – rival gangs came
together with each other and, also, gang leaders met with church and politicians
and other community leaders in Baltimore, agreeing on a common good.
Leaders in Baltimore crystallized their message. The church and community leaders in Baltimore
who rose to leadership were courageous, collaborated, and they also crystallized
their message. They met, strategized,
and one could hear, as they were interviewed, that they were “on point” with
their message.
“Broken windows are not broken spines” – while that is the title of
this missive, those are not my words.
They were, in fact, the words of Deray McKesson, the community leader
from Ferguson who was interviewed on CNN by Wolf Blitzer. In that interview, Mr. McKesson was pushed
more than once; it appeared he was being drawn by the interviewer into the
“mis-focus mode” of focusing on the looting.
But Mr. McKesson was clear and clever, moving the message from the
broken panes to the death of Freddie Gray:
“I also know that Freddie Gray will never be back, and those windows
will be.” He added, “You are suggesting
that broken windows are worse than broken spines.”
(If you haven’t seen the short clip of that interview, you can see it
at
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/04/activist-smacks-down-wolf-blitzer-you-are-suggesting-broken-windows-are-worse-than-broken-spines/.)
Leaders in Baltimore challenge us to step up. This is, in particular, a message to our
clergy. The “professionalism” of being
clergy has moved some of us into cloisters when we are needed on street
corners. It is no longer an “either/or”;
it is a “both/and.” We are needed in our
prayer closets and needed on the street corners.
There was a time I thought my task as pastor was to lead the church’s
members into being the greater activists.
However, Baltimore challenged me to think differently because I doubt if
the lay leadership of any congregation would have had the same charismatic
appeal to collaborative action than a courageous pastor who had built
relationships with other Christian pastors, other faith leaders and the city’s
gang leaders. That is not a negative
about lay leadership – that is a shout-out-loud appeal for a renewed kind of
clergy leadership.
I have been reminded by a courageous CME clergy woman: In the present
age, community involvement is not an option; it is a requirement for
leadership.
*Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick III is the Senior Bishop of the Christian
Methodist Episcopal Church
6.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY DIVINITY SCHOOL HONORS AME PASTOR:
The Howard
University School of Divinity Alumni Association recently honored The Rev. Dr.
Harry L. Seawright, senior pastor of Union Bethel AME Church in Brandywine and
Temple Hills, Maryland. He was among three honored alumni at a banquet held
recently in the Blackburn Center on the university’s main campus.
The activist
Maryland minister was saluted for Distinguished Service in Pastoral Ministry.
In presenting the award, the Rev. Robert Childs, President of the alumni
association, declared, “We always knew that Dr. Seawright was a leader, and he
makes us very proud of his services as a servant.” He remarked, “Seawright is
not only a powerful preacher but also a caring pastor who remembers and serves
the sick, connects with the hurt or desperate but also engages in community
outreach services.” The alumni leader further commented, “Dr. Seawright’s
ministry involves works beyond only the word. He is dedicated, hard working and
determined to give to the Lord his very best.” He added, “He has been a
faithful servant in the vineyard, and his works distinguish this humble, but
progressive pastor.”
Dr. Seawright has
served as the pastor of Union Bethel since 1986. A native of Swansea, South
Carolina, he previously served in various appointments since being ordained as
an elder in 1981 in the Washington Conference.
The Union Bethel
AME Church congregation began a vigorous $1.6 million construction campaign to
build a new sanctuary five years after his appointment to the church in
Brandywine. The membership now is nearly 2000 and a second Union Bethel worship
site is located in Temple Hills. Dr.
Seawright is a graduate of Benedict College and earned a Master of Divinity and
a Doctor of Ministry from the Howard University School of Divinity. Beyond
building a new church and growing the congregation and expanding services to
the community, he is also the author two books that further equip ministers and
church leaders to growing spiritually, with financial stability and extend its
ministry beyond its membership into the wider community.
In accepting the
award, Dr. Seawright commented, “I’ve been on a long journey of walking with
God not as a stranger, but as a friend. Your recognition of my works in the
vineyard enables me strive to lift high the cross and proclaim the word in the
name of Jesus.” He added, “I stand before you standing on the promises of God
with a friend called Jesus who walks with me, talks with me and tells me
constantly that I am his own.” He
concluded by saying that his ministry over several decades was devoted “to
enable, empower and energize the faithful to be witnesses in the world and
workers in the vineyard for God and Son.”
He went on to say that his ministry only proves “that I can do all
things through Christ who strengths me.”
Beaming in the
audience was his wife and the assistant pastor of Union Bethel, the Rev.
Sherita Moon Seawright, their adult children and grandson.
Raymond S. Blanks
7.
NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
--
Grant Chapel AME Church burns mortgage note
--
Faith voices call for calm, unity and justice in Baltimore. Jamal H. Bryant,
pastor of…
--
The Rev. Dr. Vernon Ross Jr., pastor of Bethel AME Church for 14 years,
resigned his post Sunday to found a new church that will...
8.
UMC BISHOPS URGED TO SPEAK OUT AS GROUP ON RACISM:
--
Bishop Warner Brown Jr., president of the Council of Bishops, calls on bishops
to address racism and strengthen ecumenical relationships in his presidential
address.
United Methodist
bishops must speak out against racism and address the anger that has sparked
riots in Baltimore and other U.S. cities, the Council of Bishops president said
in an emotional address.
“It is not enough
for us to remain silent. We’re dealing with principalities and powers, I
believe,” Bishop Warner Brown Jr. told bishops on May 1. The bishops are
meeting this week in Germany’s capital.
Brown, who also
leads the denomination’s San Francisco area, spoke to a group that included 65
active and 26 retired bishops from around the globe. Brown also released a
letter to all United Methodists asking them to join the council “in prayer,
reflection and action toward overcoming the issues that sometimes divide our
societies.”
“Together we can
find ways, appropriate to our social context, for healing the brokenness
between us,” Brown wrote.
After Brown’s
address, Ohio West Area Bishop Gregory V. Palmer called for bishops to develop
a pastoral letter on racism and asked Brown to appoint a task force to complete
this before the bishops adjourn May 7.
His motion received
booming, unanimous assent.
Palmer, who is
himself a former Council of Bishops president, noted that many individual
bishops have released statements addressing racism and unrest following the
deaths of unarmed African-American men.
“God knows we are
called to brighten the corners where we are,” Palmer said. “The ‘but’ I would
offer is that we have yet to clear our throats and raise our collective voice
with a statement calling on The United Methodist Church to become an
anti-racist institution.”
He quoted a famous
spiritual, urging his colleagues, “Sinner, please don’t let this harvest pass.”
This
is personal
Brown, a Baltimore
native and former police chaplain in Oakland, California, said he grieves when
he sees what is happening in his hometown. Parts of the city, including Brown’s
childhood neighborhood, have erupted in looting and violence after the unarmed
Freddie Gray died from injuries sustained in police custody.
The six Baltimore
police officers involved in Gray’s arrest now face criminal charges and Gray’s
death has been ruled a homicide.
“I grieve when I
look at what happened in Baltimore. Misguided anger has shifted the focus from
justice,” Brown said. “People with nothing to lose have looted and damaged
businesses that were key to that community.”
Churches in the
Baltimore-Washington Conference and the United Methodist Committee on Relief
are responding with kits for health and hygiene needs following the destruction
of a pharmacy and the temporary closing of drugstores and groceries. UMCOR is
also providing a grant to help churches be a resource for dialogue, peace, and
healing.
As a pastor and police
chaplain, Brown said he has known many law enforcement officers of integrity
whose work “is so vital to human society.” But he also urged his fellow bishops
to recognize the anger so many feel after the deaths of multiple unarmed
African-Americans and other young men of color at the hands of police and
others.
“Video
documentation has raised expectations in people that claims of wrongdoing will
be seriously considered,” he said. “So distrust grows because very few police
officers have been held accountable.”
Fifty years ago, he
pointed out, it was common for the killer to be set free when a black man or
woman was murdered. “There is a lot of pain, and the history of that causes a
lot of pain to be pent up,” he explained.
Racism
in the church
The church itself
is not untouched by racism, Brown said.
In 1968 — a year
that saw riots in many U.S. cities following the assassination of the Rev.
Martin Luther King Jr. — a newly desegregated and newly merged United Methodist
Church promised to build “a new kind of church” where all people would be
welcomed. But that promise remains unfulfilled, he said.
“Today there are
still churches that don’t want a pastor appointed because of his or her race,”
he said. “There are still churches that aren’t open to being a fully inclusive
community. There are some churches that still might send a visitor to that
(African Methodist Episcopal) church down the road.”
To go forward, the
bishop suggested that part of the work “is to find a way we can live into the
social holiness that must go hand-in-hand with the spiritual holiness — a life
lived as a disciple of Jesus.”
He said that United
Methodists need “conversation partners,” especially sister denominations in the
Pan-Methodist movement including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the
African Methodist Episcopal Zion and Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. All
three of those historically African-American denominations formed in response
to racial prejudice and disrespect found in earlier strains of U.S. Methodism.
He noted United
Methodists rely on ecumenical partnerships in responding to natural disasters
like the devastating earthquake in Nepal, as well as addressing the terrorism
of Boko Haram and ISIS. Ecumenical partnerships can help address the ravages of
racism as well.
“We need to
overcome our fearfulness of being viewed harshly,” he said, “and has genuine
conversations that can let us break through, that we can be a part of the movement
of hope, healing and justice in our land.”
Bishops
respond
Missouri Area
Bishop Robert Schnase and Florida Area Bishop Ken Carter are among the bishops
who have issued pastoral letters in the wake of deaths of unarmed black teens
in their areas.
The two sat beside
each other during Brown’s presidential address, and both supported the idea of
bishops speaking out on racism as a collective body. But they added that such
statements should go hand-in-hand with local church action.
Schnase pointed to
Wellspring United Methodist Church in Ferguson, Missouri, a three-year-old
predominantly African-American congregation that has become a resource for the
entire community since the death of Michael Brown.
“Sometimes we set up a false dichotomy between
focus on new congregations and social justice issues,” Schnase said. “If we had
not identified Ferguson as an underserved area and started a church there three
years ago, we would have been outsiders looking in, even in Missouri.”
Washington Area
Bishop Marcus Matthews, who leads United Methodists in Baltimore, has spoken
out about the current crisis in Baltimore and said a letter from the full
council “is long overdue.”
“What I hear from
United Methodist clergy and laity is: ‘What do you as bishops collectively
think of this issue?’” Matthews said. “The AME has spoken out on this issue of
racism as a group. Other groups have too, but we have not as United
Methodists.”
Erin Hawkins, the
top executive of the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race, said she
hoped the bishops’ statement would challenge other leadership in the church
including General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking body.
After bishops
agreed to work on a joint letter, Brown offered some parting words.
“A just society cannot
be built on violence,” he said. “Anger and distrust will not lead us to a
beloved community. Reconciliation can occur, however, when we tell the truth
and we take responsibility for our actions.”
He then quoted the
Rev. F. Willis Johnson, pastor of Wellspring Church in Ferguson: “Who is going
to become a model for dealing with reconciling and truth? That is the role of
the church.”
Hahn is a
multimedia news reporter for United Methodist News Service. Contact her at
(615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
*Used with
permission of the United Methodist News Service
9.
STROKE RISK FACTORS:
-
What risk factors for stroke can't be changed?
Age — The chance of
having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55.
While stroke is common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also have
strokes.
Heredity (family
history) — Your stroke risk may be greater if a parent, grandparent, sister or
brother has had a stroke. Some strokes may be symptoms of genetic disorders
like CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Sub-cortical
Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy), which is caused by a gene mutation that
leads to damage of blood vessel walls in the brain, blocking blood flow. Most
individuals with CADASIL have a family history of the disorder — each child of
a CADASIL parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease. Visit the NINDS
website (opens in new window) or read the AHA/ASA scientific statement (opens
in new window) on this topic for more details about CADASIL.
Race —
African-Americans (opens in new window) have a much higher risk of death from a
stroke than Caucasians do. This is partly because blacks have higher risks of
high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Sex (gender) — Each
year, women have more strokes than men, and stroke kills more women than men.
Use of birth control pills, pregnancy, history of preeclampsia/eclampsia or
gestational diabetes, oral contraceptive use, and smoking, and post-menopausal
hormone therapy may pose special stroke risks for women. Be sure to discuss
your specific risks with your doctor.
Prior stroke, TIA
or heart attack — The risk of stroke for someone who has already had one is
many times that of a person who has not. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are
"warning strokes" that produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting
damage. TIAs are strong predictors of stroke. A person who's had one or more
TIAs is almost 10 times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same
age and sex who hasn't. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a
major stroke. TIA should be considered a medical emergency and followed up
immediately with a healthcare professional. If you've had a heart attack,
you're at higher risk of having a stroke, too.
Read
more:
10. THE
THIRD EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2015 SCHEDULE OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
Bishop McKinley
Young, Presiding Prelate
Dr. Dorothy Young,
Episcopal Supervisor
The
Tawawa CED Congress
JULY
6-9, 2015
Denison University
Granville, OH
The
107th Session of the
West
Virginia Annual Conference
SEPTEMBER
2-5, 2015
WMS
Annual Meeting
September
1, 2015
Young Chapel AMEC
836 18th
Street
Huntington, WV 25703
Telephone: (304)
522-9035
The Reverend Kary
Williams, Host Pastor
The Reverend Alton
Dillard, Host Presiding Elder
The
148th Session of the
Pittsburgh
Annual Conference
September
15-19, 2015
WMS
Annual Meeting
SEPTEMBER
14, 2015
St. James AMEC
444 Lincoln Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: (412)
441-9706
The Reverend
Rodrecus Johnson, Jr., Host Pastor
The Reverend Dr.
Eric L. Brown, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr.
James H. McLemore, Assoc. Presiding Elder
The
64th Session of the
South
Ohio Annual Conference
September
29-October 3, 2015
WMS
Annual Meeting
September
28, 2015
Allen Temple AMEC
7080 Reading Road
Cincinnati, OH 45237
Telephone: (513)
531-7539
The Reverend Dr.
Alphonse Allen, Host Pastor
The Reverend Dr.
Wilton E. Blake, I, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr.
Melonie A. Valentine, Assoc. Presiding Elder
185th
Session of the
Ohio
Annual Conference
October
13-17, 2015
WMS
Annual Meeting
October
12, 2015
St. Paul AMEC
639 E. Long Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614)
228-4113
The Reverend Dr.
Taylor T. Thompson, Host Pastor
The Reverend Dr.
Betty W. Holley, Host Presiding Elder
134th
Session of the
North
Ohio Annual Conference
October
27-31, 2015
WMS
Annual Meeting
October
26, 2015
St. James AMEC
8401 Cedar Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44103
Telephone: (216)
231-3562
The Reverend Dr.
Charles P. Lucas, Jr., Host Pastor
The Reverend P.
Robert Tate, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr.
Earl G. Harris, Assoc. Presiding Elder
Third
Episcopal District Planning Convocation
November
5-7, 2015
Renaissance
Columbus Hotel
50 North 3rd Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614) 228-5050
11.
THE SEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2015 SCHEDULE OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
The Rt. Reverend
Richard Franklin Norris, Presiding Prelate
Mother Mary Ann
Norris, Episcopal Supervisor
The
Palmetto Conference
105th
Session
August 11-15, 2015
Morris Brown
African Methodist Episcopal Church
13 Morris Street
Charleston, South
Carolina 29403
Telephone: (843)
723-1961
The Reverend Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Host Pastor
The Reverend Dr.
Juenarrl Keith, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr.
Allen W. Parrott, Associate Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr.
Sandy W. Drayton, Associate Presiding Elder
The
Northeast Conference
124th
Session
August 25-29, 2015
Mt. Pisgah African
Methodist Episcopal Church, Host Church
217 W. Bartlette
Street
Sumter, South
Carolina 29150
Telephone: (803)
775-3844
Opening
and Closing Worship Services
Lakewood High
School
350 Old Manning
Road
Sumter, South
Carolina 29153
The Reverend Dr.
Betty D. Clark, Host Pastor
The Reverend Robert
L. McCants, Sr., Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Robert
B. Cooper, Sr., Associate Presiding Elder
The Reverend
William Smith, Jr., Associate Presiding Elder
The
Columbia Conference
138th
Session
September 8-12,
2015
Bethel African
Methodist Episcopal Church
819 Woodrow Street
Columbia, South
Carolina 29205
Telephone: (803)
779-0138
The Reverend Dr.
Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr., Host Pastor
The Reverend
Rosalyn G. Coleman, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Joseph
Postell, Associate Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr. M.
Charmaine Ragin, Associate Presiding Elder
The
South Carolina Conference
152nd
Session
September 22–26,
2014
Mother Emanuel
African Methodist Episcopal Church
110 Calhoun Street
Charleston, South
Carolina 29403
Telephone: (843) 722-2561
The Reverend
Clementa D. Pinckney, Host Pastor
The Reverend Dr.
Norvel Goff, Sr., Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend
Malachi L. Duncan, Associate Presiding Elder
The Reverend Joseph
A. Darby, Associate Presiding Elder
The
Piedmont Conference
105th
Session
October 6-10, 2015
Allen Temple
African Methodist Episcopal Church
109 Green Avenue
Greenville, South
Carolina 29601
Telephone: (864)
233-7394
The Reverend James
E. Speed, Sr., Host Pastor
The Reverend Judy
M. Richardson, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Samuel
L. McPherson, Associate Presiding Elder
The
Central Conference
92nd
Session
October 20-24, 2015
Williams Chapel
African Methodist Episcopal Church
1198 Glover Street
Orangeburg, South
Carolina 29115
Telephone: (803)
536-0600
The Reverend Dr.
Caesar R. Richburg, Host Pastor
The Reverend James
R. Glover, Host Presiding Elder
The Reverend Eddie
Gaston, Jr., Associate Presiding Elder
The Reverend Dr.
James S. Cooper, Associate Presiding Elder
Post-Conference
Planning Meeting
November
11-13, 2015
Florence Civic
Center
Florence, SC
The Rev. Robert B.
Cooper, Host Presiding Elder
The Rev. Robert L.
McCants, Host Presiding Elder
The Rev. William
Smith, Jr., Host Presiding Elder
12. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
The Rev. Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr.
Based on Biblical
Text: 2 Timothy 4:18: "And the Lord
shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly
kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
There are two words
in the English language that, when put together, form a partnership against
which there is no defeat. Those two words Beloved are help and hope. These two
simple words form a partnership that implies a shared burden.
It is clear that the
Apostle Paul understood the partnership between help and hope. Let me explain.
It seems that here, in his final message to a young preacher by the name of
Timothy, Paul’s words are a cry of confidence in that partnership.
Certainly there was
enough going on in his present circumstances to bring about the very opposite
outlook. His heart was heavy as his friends had deserted him. And now Paul was
midway through a trial that was certain to end in death at the hands of Nero.
Clearly we can feel that Paul expects his demise as he writes, “I have finished
my course; I have kept the faith”.
However, in spite of all he was going through, Paul displays this
determined courage and holds on to help and hope as his last will and
testament. The fact of the matter is Paul is so sure of his help and hope that
he offers his thanks in advance, saying, “To [God] be glory forever and ever.
Amen.”
Paul assures us
that the Lord will deliver us from every evil work. I submit that is help!
Jesus taught us to pray for that help every day, saying, “lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil”. Help is something we can all use in
times of trouble. But as the adage warns good help is hard to find. What we
need is qualified and quantified help.
God is that help as
He delivers the Christian from evil. Sometimes our spiritual vision is not as
keen as it should be. Through God there is an ever-present indwelling of His
Holy Spirit that warns us of impending danger if we will only pay attention to
the alarm.
There was only one
unsinkable ship ever built. It was an ancient ship made of gopher wood, 450
feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It stood three stories high and was
sealed with pitch. There are three arks mentioned in scripture. That first one
was Noah's ark. The second mentioned was the "Ark of Moses," in which
the baby Moses was delivered from judgment. The third ark was the "Ark of
the Covenant," with its blood-sprinkled mercy seat. All three of these
“arks” speak of God's provision for deliverance from death and judgment. Our
mercy seat is now Jesus. He is our new covenant help who delivers us from evil.
Paul reminds
Timothy and us that help is always on the way. God is on the job, 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, providing the help we need. Even when others do not
help us, God will always be with us. There is no greater declaration that Paul
could make than to say, “The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work.” Our
friends and family may not stand with us, but the Lord will. He will never
forsake us no matter how critical and menacing the situation may be. He will
stand right by our side if we are faithful.
Paul declared
salvation through Jesus Christ and he was not ashamed of Christ. Paul continued
to preach Christ and rest in Christ. So Paul with confidence even in the face
of great danger was able to stand fast on the foundation of Christ. Help is on
the way!
Help alone cannot
carry us through our trials, or else we would experience hollow victory after
hollow victory never knowing if the next trial will be the one that finally
does us in. In other words help and hope work together. If help is our
fortification, hope then is our motivation. Hope is the promise that the world
cannot destroy our lives, that “when this earthly house of our tabernacle shall
be dissolved, we have another building a house not made by hand, but eternal
into heaven.”
This kind of hope
is not a shallow hope. God’s hope is sure. That is the hope that Paul is
passing on to Timothy and to us! It is the assurance that when help is done,
hope takes over. As long as help and hope work together, there are no gaps in
our faith walk with God.
Before Jesus was
born in Bethlehem hope had become a fantasy. Jesus came breaking through the
ages and entered our world to offer a sure hope an eternal hope that will not
fade away. Christ is the only hope for this sin cursed world. That is why Paul,
closed his letter to the church at Rome with, “Now the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the
power of the Holy Ghost!”
Help and hope are
two timeless promises from God. God helps, and we have hope!
When God helps, the
hope of life everlasting springs eternal and the hope of a sure foundation is
resurrected in Christ. When God helps, the grave becomes a mere doorway to
eternity and Christ’s resurrection is the confirmation of our help and our
hope. Help is on the way! Thank God! To Whom be glory forever and ever!
*The Rev. Dr.
Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in
Charleston, S.C.
13. GETTING TO ZERO: NEW FRONTIERS FOR EFFECTS OF EBOLA
VIRUS:
*Dr. Oveta Fuller
The Ebola virus
epidemic of 2014 centered in three West African countries is slowly grinding to
a halt. As one of its many outcomes, for
the first time community members, scientists and global health leaders are
recognizing what is designated as “post-Ebola syndrome.”
The numbers decline
From the highest
levels of over 400 new cases in one country per week, new cases have dropped to
none in Liberia since the last known death from Ebola infection was recorded
there on March 27. In a few remaining
pockets of infection 25 new cases were reported in Sierra Leone and 11 in
Guinea in the last week in April. An
official end to the 2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak would mean that the
principle of getting to zero infections become reality. No reported new cases
of Ebola virus infection for 42 days is required to be certain that the virus
is not in a population.
Contact tracing,
self-reporting or health facilities must have detected no new cases in this
time frame to declare an affected country as “Ebola free.”
Before occurrence
of the 2014 epidemic, there were about 2,300 total known human Ebola infections
since the virus was discovered in 1976. Some 60% of the persons infected died
in their isolated villages in central Africa countries. Thus the number of
survivors who could experience or report on “post-Ebola” impacts was limited.
The World Health
Organization (WHO) states that 26,277 confirmed, probable or suspected cases of
Ebola virus disease (EVD) and 10,884 Ebola deaths have occurred in West Africa.
For the first time many aspects, including post-Ebola effects, can be observed for
some of the over 16,000 survivors of EVD.
Symptoms that appear after Ebola disease
It appears that
many EVD survivors experience unusual symptoms after their recovery from acute
Ebola infection. Some symptoms are
progressively cloudy or blurred vision, complete blindness, loss of hearing,
increased joint pain and extreme fatigue. Such post Ebola effects have not been
systematic followed before. However, these symptoms are compatible with
suggested impacts of cytokines as substances naturally released by the immune
system when it is fighting a microbial infection.
Cells activated
under certain conditions release proteins called cytokines. During Ebola
infection and appearance of EVD, the level of virus (virus loads) can be
extremely high in multiple tissues and organs. As a characteristic response to
Ebola virus replication the turbo charged immune system produces high levels of
cytokines. Cytokines vary in functions to stimulate or to down regulate aspects
of the host immune defenses.
For instance, cytokines
can impact inflammation by directing the release of antibodies and other
cellular factors to affect fluid build-up and movement of protein factors from
circulating blood plasma into tissue. While some of this is useful,
over-stimulation can be detrimental. Cytokine release can bring about arthritis
or chronic joint pain that often is associated with, triggered by or
accompanies a systemic or local area infection. Over years, cytokine release
can cause chronic changes in tissues and organs.
An as example,
people with influenza often experience an acute effect of cytokine release.
While influenza virus replication is limited to the respiratory tract, body
aches typically occur in distant muscles. This influenza symptom results from
responses to released and circulating cytokines in tissues that are far away
from the lungs. Such a response and its effects are often referred to as a
“cytokine storm.” Muscle and nerve cells at distant sites respond to the flood
of cytokines released into the blood stream from attack of the immune system on
virus replication in infected cells of the respiratory track.
Although they have
not been documented previously, post Ebola symptoms are not surprising given
the high levels and broad tissue range of replicating Ebola virus during acute
infection.
Lessons to learn from 2014
The new WHO
director for Africa, Matshidiso Moed, in a recent interview explained the
importance of documenting post-Ebola symptoms. This includes not only
documenting their occurrence, but determining if impacts experienced are
affected by the type and timing of health care provided for a person treated
for EVD. The impact of health care, other survivor demographics and symptoms
experienced during Ebola infection are areas that WHO wants to explore.
Many lessons are
provided by this largest Ebola virus epidemic ever.
Lessons learned
include the critical importance of effective community engagement in
controlling an Ebola epidemic. The presence of Ebola virus must be recognized
early. There must be efficient access to medical care to provide infected
persons with supportive treatment to reduce fatalities and transmission.
Although Ebola virus infection is not a common occurrence, vaccine trials and
development of effective treatments must be priorities for future preparedness
in light of the lethal potential of Ebola virus when it is not controlled.
At least two
unexpected outcomes result from the West African 2014 epidemic. The number of
survivors (over 16,000) allows documentation, for the first time, of appearance
and types of post Ebola symptoms. Further, availability of a large group of
survivors is showing that when a person survives active EVD, they can spread
Ebola infection by sexual transmission of virus that can remain in semen for months
after recover.
When Ebola virus is
eventually eliminated from the affected West African countries and the 2014
outbreak officially declared as ended, the extensive effects on people,
communities and economies of nations will remain. These require attention in
united efforts from community, health care providers, policy makers and
political leaders. Lessons learned must be taken into consideration at both the
local sites and globally.
We will see more
Ebola virus epidemics. Hopefully, each of these outbreaks will be recognized
quickly and proven methods for control will be put in place more effectively
than for the 2014 epidemic.
Future outbreaks
are highly likely. Several features contribute to a high probability of more
Ebola virus outbreaks. First, Ebola virus replicates rapidly to high levels so
virus can easily spread. Second, storage of the virus for years in bats
provides a secluded, but also mobile natural reservoir. Lastly, the virus can
infect small mammals and humans once outside of its natural reservoir. Astute observation, carefully designed
studies and thorough analyses of existing data from 2014 are needed to be well
prepared to limit impacts of the next Ebola virus outbreak.
Meanwhile, much
remains to adequately meet the continuing needs of people in communities of
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone who have experienced the worse of the 2014
epidemic.
The most recent WHO
report can be accessed at:
*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.
14. iCHURCH
SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015 - UNITY IN DIVERSITY - I
CORINTHIANS 12:1-11:
*Brother Bill
Dickens
Introduction
E pluribus Unum is a Latin expression for "Out of many, one"
(alternatively translated as "One out of many" or "One from
many"). It is a phrase on the Seal
of the United States, along with Annuit
cœptis (Latin for "He/she/it approves (has approved) of the
undertakings") and Novus ordo
seclorum (Latin for "New Order of the Ages") and adopted by an
Act of Congress in 1782 Never codified by law, E Pluribus Unum was considered a de facto motto of the United States until 1956 when the United
States Congress passed an act (H. J. Resolution 396), adopting "In God We Trust" as the official
motto.
The traditionally
understood meaning of the phrase was that out of many states (or colonies)
emerges a single nation. However, in recent years its meaning has come to
suggest that out of many peoples, races, religions, languages, and ancestries
has emerged a single people and nation—illustrating the concept of the melting
pot.
The Church School
Lesson for May 10, 2015 looks at the complimentary relationship between unity
and diversity. The body of Christ is
comprised of different people with differing talents/gifts. When we coordinate those gifts for purpose of
Kingdom building we will reap the benefits of discipleship growth and in the
process receive Divine favor from God.
Bible Story
The Meaning of Spiritual Gifts (I Corinthians 12: 1—3)
In Christianity,
spiritual gifts (or charismata) are
endowments given by the Holy Spirit. These are the supernatural graces which
individual Christians need to fulfill the mission of the church. They are
described in the New Testament, primarily in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and
Ephesians 4.
The Types of Spiritual Gifts (I Corinthians 12: 4-10)
In a study of
spiritual gifts, it is helpful to recognize three types, or categories, of
spiritual gifts that are described in Scripture:
Motivational Gifts:
“…Diversities of gifts…” (I Corinthians 12:4).
How God works in a
believer to shape his perspective on life and motivate his words and actions.
(See Romans 12:3–8.)
Ministry Gifts:
“…Differences of administrations…” (I Corinthians 12:5).
How God works with
what a believer does to serve and meet the needs of others. (See Ephesians
4:11–13 and I Corinthians 12:27–31.)
Manifestation
Gifts: “…Diversities of operations…” (I Corinthians 12:6).
How God works
through a believer in a given situation to demonstrate God’s supernatural
power. (See I Corinthians 12:7–11.)
God uses all of the
gifts in each of these three categories to minister to His Church and to
accomplish God’s work in the world.
Life Application
Workforce diversity
is belatedly recognized by corporate America as an invaluable asset for the growth
of a company. Market realities inform
companies that their customer base is comprised of consumers from different
nationalities, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds.
In order to
maintain market share companies now recognize that it is prudent for their
workforce to reflect the same degree of diversity like their customer
base. Affirmative action is more than
just a token form of racial inclusion but a prudent corporate strategy aimed at
maximizing market opportunities.
In his book, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, C. Peter
Wagner makes the point that once you become a follower of Christ you receive
gifts from the Holy Spirit. His book
offers a creative method to identify the gift that God has equipped you with
for His glory.
The goal of spiritual
gifts is to edify unity in the body of Christ thru diversity in gifts. Unity is the goal.
The first principle
of Kwanzaa is Umoja or unity. We can achieve unity without everybody acting
alike or looking the same.
Even the concept of
a Connectional Church having a cookie-cutter model is a misnomer. The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church
is comprised of churches with diversity in liturgy, singing and preaching. While the overall structure of African
Methodism and the teachings of John Wesley remain intact, our Zion encourages
and supports alternative mission statements so long as it doesn’t conflict with
the overall mission of the AME Church.
*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
15. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- Mrs. Starr L. Battle will be conferred the Juris
Doctor degree
Mrs. Starr L.
Battle will be conferred the Juris Doctor degree with concentrations in Family
and Veterans' Law by The North Carolina Central University School of Law on May
8, 2014. During her matriculation at the
NCCU Law School, she served in various capacities including President of the
Black Law Students Association and Marshal of Phi Alpha Delta Legal
Fraternity. Starr currently serves as
the Third Vice President of the Connectional Lay Organization of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Starr is the oldest
daughter of the Rev. Milton O. Battle, pastor of St. Stephens AME Church in
Liberty, North Carolina and Mrs. Doris Taylor Battle.
-- 30th Wedding Anniversary
The Rev. Dr. Moses
A. Simms, Jr. and the Rev. Karen D. Simms will celebrate their 30th Year
Wedding Anniversary on May 18, 2015. Both are Itinerant Elders in the 8th
Episcopal District.
The Rev. Dr. Moses
A. Simms, Jr. is the pastor of Greater Turner Chapel AME Church in Greensburg,
Louisiana
Congratulatory
Expressions can be sent to:
16. MEDITATION BASED ON MATTHEW 6:25-33:
*The Rev. Dr.
Joseph A. Darby
I’m old enough to
remember when prescription medications weren’t advertised on television. We
simply trusted in the doctor’ prescribing wisdom. Prescription drug commercials are common and
plentiful today - presumably in the hope that those who see them will ask their
doctors to prescribe the advertised drugs - and make a few bucks for their
manufacturers by doing so.
Those commercials
are impressively well staged, with upbeat themes and smiling, healthy people
doing fun things - people whose lives have been presumably been made better by
taking the advertised drugs.
What amuses me,
however, is that after the cheerful announcers in those commercials recount all
of the wonderful things that their drugs can do, they then cheerfully make note
of a long and scary list of possible side effects. The eventual message that I get from those
commercials is, “Our medicine is great stuff that will make you feel better
than ever - if it doesn’t make you extremely sick or disabled, or possibly kill
you!”
Those prescription
drug commercials are amusing, but they also offer a meaningful life
lesson. All of us naturally and
understandably want the best things in life and the best that life can offer,
and we sometimes go after what sounds and looks good and seems to offer an easy
pathway to success, prosperity and peace of mind.
We sometimes,
however, find out after pursuing life’s easy and inviting options that the
advice of our ancestors is true - “everything that looks good to you isn’t good
for you.” It’s easy to go after what
looks, sounds and feels good, only to find out that things aren’t always what
they seem to be and to eventually end up disappointed, dejected, let down and
more troubled than before.
That’s why it’s
good to trust in the Lord to lead and guide us.
When we look beyond the empty and illusory promises of this world and
those in it and trust in the God who knows what we really need before we ask
for it, God will lead us to new hope, lead us to authentic joy, lead us to true
well-being and never lead us in the wrong direction.
Trust in the Lord,
even in a world of empty promises and shattered dreams. You’ll find strength for today, hope for
tomorrow and encouraging affirmation in the words of the hymn 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
and on Facebook at:
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. 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
18.
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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