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
The 50th Quadrennial Session of the General
Conference, July 6-13, 2016
May is Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
-- Massacre of Emanuel 9, June 17
1.
TCR EDITORIAL – SOME MORE UNIQUE QUALITIES OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST
EPISCOPAL CHURCH:
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian
Recorder
There is so much to
learn about the Bible and the church and we must never forget that we are in
spiritual warfare.
Pastoring is an
awesome responsibility and it is important for pastors to train parishioners
and especially young people about the sacredness of the things of God.
I
have written on more than one occasion that one of interesting things about
being the Editor of The Christian
Recorder is the opportunity to interact with clergy and laity from across
the AME Church, both here in the U.S. and abroad.
Some
of the comments and queries send me scrambling to the Bible, to The Doctrine and Discipline - AMEC, the AMEC
Hymnal, to reference books, the internet and even to colleagues; and those queries help me to learn and
grow, and to be able to share.
Some
of the parishioners who correspond with me ask questions, others share
anecdotes and others give their opinions. A common thread of all the inquiries
reinforces for me the notion that pastors and religious educators need to do
more teaching.
Spirited
preaching that helps people to feel good and cope with the various challenges
of life is wonderful, but teaching is important, especially in “connected
organizations” and particularly so in a connectional church such as the AME
Church.
We
have some biblical beliefs and doctrines with which people should be familiar.
And, in this sense, “familiarity does not breed contempt,” but enhances love
and appreciation for our Zion. The more we pray and the more we know about
scripture, the greater possibility for a deeper spiritual life. The more we know about doctrine and why we do
certain things in worship the better enhanced is our relationship with each
other and with God.
For
instance I am sure it’s helpful for our parishioners to understand why we pray
in worship before the reading of the scripture. In Methodism we have the prayer
before the scripture because we invoke God’s presence before the reading of the
Word of God.
Another
example, the first hymn should always be a hymn of praise and acknowledgement
of the presence of God, not just any hymn because it’s upbeat or we like the
melody. The sentence of the traditional AME Call to Worship, says, “O Sing unto the Lord a new song, for He has
done marvelous things. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth and
sing praises.” The opening hymn
should be praise to God!
Someone
asked last week if I could address infant baptism. The question was, "Why
do we baptize babies?"
A couple of
observations
There
is nowhere in the Bible and more specifically in the New Testament, a
prohibition against baptizing infants. One could start off with the premise
that the scriptures encourage baptism of children and even infants.
Why
do I start off with that statement? Every AME should be familiar with the
Articles of Religion. Pastors should insure new and old parishioners understand
the Articles of Religion.
In
the Fifth Article of Religion – “Of the
sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation, it states, “The Holy Scriptures containeth all things
necessary to salvation; so that whatever is not read therein, nor may be proved
thereby, is not to be required of any man [woman].” Simply stated, the
Bible contains everything necessary for salvation, the Bible is our rule and
guide for faith and practice.
If
the Bible says it, “Believe it and obey it and where the Bible is silent, the
Pope or any other religious leader or denomination does not have the authority
of making additional requirements about faith and salvation.”
Having
said that, the Bible does not prohibit infant baptism, but rather infers that
infants and children were baptised, e.g., the Philippian Jailer and his whole
household were baptised. The scripture, Acts 16: 25-34 records the Philippian
Jailer asked Paul and Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said,
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will
be saved, you and your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him
and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night
and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.”
Another
example – Jesus never rejected children, blessed them and chastised his
disciples when they tried to keep the children away from him. Jesus was
inclusive and Methodism is inclusive!
And
before proceeding further, the terms “baptism and christening” are synonymous and
the terms literally mean “to make Christians of them.”
One
does not have to be baptized in order to be saved, based on Jesus’ response to
one of the thieves crucified with him, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
We
do not re-baptize in the AME Church. I
am not sure what it is about the concern of people remembering their
baptism. Do Jewish men who were
circumcised on the eighth day remember their circumcision ceremony? Do they
want to remember it? No!
Remembering
our baptism is not important and there is no biblical injunction to do so. Remembering the suffering, death and
Resurrection of Jesus Christ is important because the Bible tells us to do so.
It
is the responsibility of pastors to teach parishioners about baptism. The “quick and dirty” answer is that those
who practice infant baptism believe that baptism has replaced [fulfilled] the
Old Testament circumcision and is the religious ceremony of initiation into the
Christian community. Infant baptism is also referred to as pedobaptism.
Methodists
believe infant baptism has spiritual value for the infant. John Wesley believed
baptism was a means of grace, and water baptism was symbolic. Methodists view
baptism in water as symbolic and believe that water baptism does not regenerate
the baptised or cleanse them from sin. In Methodism, baptism is the doorway to
sanctification and it is the water and the Spirit. We embrace water baptism and
the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Obedient
Christians baptize babies because baptism is a “type” of circumcision. Jewish
baby boys are circumcised on the eighth day; devout Jews do not wait until the
boys come of age to determine for themselves if they want to be Jews
(circumcised). Jewish infants are “made” Jews through circumcision and when
they come of age can decide if they don’t want to be Jews.
We
do not delay baptism; we make our children “Christians from birth.” They can
decide later if they don’t want to be Christians. It doesn’t seem Christian to
wait and let our children decide if they want to be Christians. We baptise
them, make Christians of them and if they want; they can decide “not to be a
Christian.”
When
people were converted in the Apostolic church (throughout the book of Acts and
the epistles), the person and his or her whole household were baptised (Acts 16
and I Corinthians 1:16) as well as "the promise to you and your
children" (Acts 2:39) as including small children and infants.
One
does not have to be baptised to be saved.
In Methodism, one does not have to be baptised to take Communion and
that’s why in Methodism our Communion is called the “Open Table.”
Interestingly,
most Christian faith groups around the world practice pedobaptism, the baptism of children, i.e., Roman Catholics,
Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Eastern Orthodox, and many others.
There
is nothing in the Bible about the necessity for a person to remember his or her
baptism; and nothing in Judaism that emphasized the notion that Jewish boys
needed to remember their circumcision.
And,
a bit more about the various modes of baptism, most denominations around the
world practice sprinkling and affusion (pouring).
The
earliest images in the catacombs show John the Baptist pouring water on the
head of a person, who is standing in ankle-deep water.
And
in the Didache, an early Christian
treatise, dated by most modern scholars to the first century gives a
description of baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
by affusion.
A couple of more
things
Traditionally
pastors serve the elements of communion in a recipient’s right hand and
people who receive the Sacrament cup their right hand over the left hand and in
some instances, the crossed hands form a Cross.
In
biblical times, and even today, in the Middle East, the left hand is considered
unclean; the left hand was supposed to be the hand that one used to clean
oneself after using the toilet. People ate with their right hand; touched
others only with the right hand; never the left hand. The tradition has been
carried over in the church and tradition has been to take Communion with the
right hand. (It’s not a sin to take the sacrament with the left hand, just a
tradition).
Blessings
are also given with the right hand. In some churches a left-handed blessing is
an anathema. The Bible speaks about the right hand of God; never the left
hand of God.
Holy
Communion is a sacred event. The bread
and wine become the "Presence” of the body and Blood of Jesus
Christ. The consecrated bread and wine transcend the ordinary and become
sacred. We call the process “Consubstantiation.”
Roman
Catholics believe the consecrated elements of Communion become the “actual body
and blood” of Jesus Christ and that doctrine is called, “Transubstantiation.”
The
consecrated elements of the Eucharist should be handled with respect, and just
as importantly, should be disposed of with utmost care. The consecrated
elements should not be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet.
The
left-over consecrated elements can be eaten, but with reverence. It is appropriate to put the leftover
wafers/bread and juice/wine on the ground, but not where people can walk on it. Leftovers should be disposed of with respect
and reverence to God.
The
sacredness of the Cross
In worship, during prayer and singing the
doxologies, it is traditional for clergy, parishioners to face in the direction
of the Cross. In many churches, the church architecture lends itself to
everyone facing the Cross; and clergy and parishioners naturally face the
Cross.
There is so much to learn about the Bible
and the church and we must never forget that we are in spiritual warfare.
Pastoring is an awesome responsibility and it is important for pastors
to train parishioners and especially young people about the sacredness of the
things of God.
2. TCR OP-ED - THE CHURCH
AND THE TRANSGENDER DEBATE:
I write this missive and refutation today
from a dual perspective both as a Pastor and Professor in the church I love, the African Methodist
Episcopal Church then as a Professor of Religious Studies in both of these duties I am responsible for
depositing knowledge into the hearts of my congregation and students, knowledge
that can either be perilous, or laudatory, based on its presentation, my heart is anxious and heavy as we are weeks
away from the 50th Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church one of the oldest African American denominations in
Christendom we come together every four years for the purpose of implementing
laws, and legislation that will navigate the future of the church, elect
Bishops, General Officers, and Judicial council members that will
implement the decisions voted upon by
the delegates of the General Conference.
However; this year as a church we have an
opportunity to use our ecclesiastical platform to sound the clarion and
prophetic call on prevalent and prominent issues of social justice and moral
relativism, more specifically the issue of same sex marriage and the
transgender bathroom debate. I raise
this concern due to the fact that just recently the Obama Administration
declared an outrageous directive that every public school district in the
country to allow transgender students to use bathrooms that match their gender
identity, the New York Times calls this decree a sweeping directive in the May
12, 2016 article and according to that same article "it contains an
implicit threat: Schools that do not abide by the Obama's administration
interpretation of the law could face lawsuits or a loss of federal aid."
It is unfathomable that we are debating an
issue that according to a 2011 article published by the Williams institute only
0.3 of the population identify as transgender which raises the question who's
protecting the vast percentage of persons who are not represented in this
number? What about other concerns where there have been documented instances
where sexual predators have portrayed themselves as a certain gender to gain
access into restrooms.
I pray that as a church body that we can
discuss and debate the issues aforementioned and leave the General Conference
with a documented prospectus to these issues a prospectus that will articulate clearly that as a
Christian denomination we will uphold the tenets of the Bible that declare that
marriage is between a man and a woman, and that God created male and female, to
digress from these two ideologies is an attempt to recreate creation which in
my opinion is a prodigious mistake to our faith and existence.
*The Rev. Dr. C. Dennis Williams is the
Senior Pastor of Smith Chapel A.M.E. Church in Dallas, Texas and serves as an
Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Paul Quinn College
3. TCR OP-ED - WATCH YOUR
LANGUAGE:
*The Rev. Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M.
-- Editor’s Note:
This TCR Op-Ed appeared in last weeks issue of TCR Online and the name of the
writer was inadvertently left off; re-publishing the op-ed today with the name
of the writer, the Rev. Velma E. Grant.
The world is our stage or the world is now
the platform for the African Methodist Episcopal Church since that fateful
night in June 2015 (the massacre at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church). Moreover,
because the world is our stage we should be aware and mindful of not only our
actions but our language as well, since both can bring positive or negative
light to our Zion. During the afternoon session of the General Conference Commission
gathering in early April, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie issued a reminder to
those who gathered for the General Board and the General Conference Commission
meeting.
The reminder was for individuals to be
cognizant of their discussions, jokes and other conversations during the
meeting. Bishop McKenzie said, “I would hope that we are careful about the
language that we use to each other. We have young leaders in the room. Be
careful how we speak to each other, we cannot expect the world to respect us if
we cannot respect each other.”
I have had several weeks to ponder on the
importance of the cautionary warning issued by our pioneer female bishop on
that April afternoon, and I realize that the warning was not only applicable to
that afternoon, but it should be a continuous reminder moving forward. The
warning should also remind us that our language and actions not only affect our
young leaders but also affects others who are not members of our Zion.
For instance, I wonder about the thoughts of
the audio-visual technicians/engineers who were not employees of the AME
Church, but employees of the Philadelphia Convention Center. What were they
thinking as the Church presented, discussed, queried, shared information that
was relevant not only to the upcoming General Conference but to the overall
business of the Church? Did those individuals leave our meeting with a positive
or negative understanding of the AME Church, whom did they share this
information with, or what did they share about what they learned about our Zion
in those few days?
Bishop McKenzie was correct when she
reminded those gathered – and perhaps those viewing via livestream – that if we
as members of this great body do not respect each other in our language and
actions then we could not or should not be dismayed when the world does not
respect us in any capacity. I am almost
certain that our General Conference will be observed by many worldwide, and
therefore “business as usual” should not be the norm.
I have overheard several individuals at
different times; offer what they deem to be sage advice to some other
individuals who are contemplating making their first General Conference
appearance. The advice is usually cautioning those first timers not to be
disappointed in the actions and language displayed by “church people” during
the normal course of General Conference sessions. In other words, first timers
should not be disappointed or dismayed when Jesus is left outside the door
during business sessions or when Jesus is not visible during the course of the
business session deliberations.
As we move towards the 50th session of the
A.M.E Church’s General Conference, let us strive to heed the words of Bishop
Vashti Murphy McKenzie and exercise caution in our language and in our actions.
Let us exercise caution so that we can be positive role models not only for our
young leaders but also for others who are watching us on this worldwide stage.
Let us invite Jesus to enter and stay in the room as laws, regulations, and
polity are discussed, as new leaders are elected (not selected) to enhance our
Zion as well as the kingdom of God. Please, watch your language and your
actions so that others can see God working within us as members of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, the Church of Jesus Christ, Richard Allen, Sarah
Allen, and Jarena Lee.
*The Rev. Velma E. Grant, M.Div., Th.M. is
an Associate Pastor First Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, Lithonia, Georgia
4. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER
ISSUES:
-- To the Editor:
RE: Response to comments by retired
Presiding Elder, the Rev. Sidney Williams
This past Sunday at my church, St. Paul
AME-Newport News, a retired Presiding Elder spoke about the occasion of the
church receiving a new pastor. He spoke
about the itineracy and how we depend on the Godly judgments of the presiding
elders and bishops to lead them to assign pastors to each church in the
conference. He continued to say when we
embrace God and his direction for us, then we will embrace the new pastor.
He finished by saying St. Paul’s greatest
days are ahead of it.
As I listened to his message I thought about
how his message applied to the AME church overall. When Absalom Jones and Richard Allen
established the Free African Society over 200 years ago, they established the
society around the mission of seeking out and saving the lost, and serving the
needy. Since its establishment,
generations of African-Americans have carried out the society’s mission through
the AME Church. Now as we stand on the
cusp of our 200th anniversary as an independent church denomination, some of us
are thinking that our church overall is dwindling and dying. Many of our churches are facing hard times
financially. Some of our churches are
being foreclosed or pushed out by neighborhood redevelopment. Attendance at some of the churches on most
Sundays is barely one hundred. And the
consistent attendees to our many conferences are the more seasoned saints of
our church. Because of this, I can see
why someone would think our church is dwindling and dying.
But I find it hard to accept the thought
that the AME Church is dwindling and dying when I think about the young adults
in the church. The young adults in our
church have continued to carry out the mission of the Free African Society
through the AME church as attorneys, government officials, business owners, and
teachers that all care deeply about the community in which they and their local
church are located. Not only do they
care about the community around them but they also care about the church. They demonstrate their care by serving the
church as class leaders, organizational officers, trustees, stewards, and as
clergy. When I hear people say the AME
church is dwindling and dying, I think of the young adults and I think about
the end of the Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses”: "Tho’ much is taken,
much abides; and tho’ we are not now the strength which in old days moved
heaven and earth; that which we are, we are; One equal temper of heroic hearts,
made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and
not to yield."
My AME church brothers and sister, the AME
Church’s greatest days are ahead of it.
W. Germain Favor
Young adult member, St. Paul AME Church
Newport News, Virginia
5. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
-- From homeless to college through the gridiron...
Young People's Department of the Pilgrim
African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was pushed to volunteer, and once he
started, he never stopped.
-- Heartache permeates commencement services for Clementa Pinckney
Pinckney not only had been pastor of the
historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., six
years, but also had served in...
-- One of the largest gatherings of African Americans in the nation
will be taking place in Cincinnati.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church will
host its…
Read more: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/05/15/one-of-nation-s-largest-african-american.html
-- Pastor with Son Battling Cancer Faces Eviction: My Fear Is Being
Homeless with a Kid with No Immune System
6. AME CHURCH BICENTENNIAL GALA BANQUET
AME
Church Bicentennial Gala Banquet Video Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=487yrdv89a0&feature=youtu.be
Tuesday July 5, 2016
The First District will host a delightful
evening of exceptional music, liturgical dance, and innovative cuisine as they
kick off the 2016 General Conference of the AME Church.
Journey along the extraordinary timeline as
the denomination celebrates its rich legacy, and the evolutionary promise of an
incredible future. The Masters and Mistresses of the Ceremony are the
Co-Pastors of Greater Allen Cathedral AME Church, Rev. Dr's. Floyd & Elaine
Flake, 1st District YPD President, Lamone Gibson & Philadelphia Conf. YPD
President, Iyanna Mapp. The Keynote speakers are Dr. Charles J. Ogletree, Jr.,
activist, Harvard law professor, and director of the Charles Hamilton Houston
Institute for Race & Justice and Ms. Britni Peters, YPD-AME Church. Musical
performances by gospel recording artists
Kathy Taylor, Jonathan Nelson, the Rev.
Eyesha K. Marable, Liturgical Dane Ministry and the First District Bicentennial
Choir.
Tickets are $150 and can be purchased
through the First District Office: First District Plaza, 3801 Market Street
Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Attention Marian Spivey. (Make checks
payable to the First Episcopal District, Memo: Gala). For more information, call (215) 662-0506.
7. THE AME LUNCHEON AT
THE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE:
The
AME luncheon at the 102nd
Hampton University Ministers' Conference / 82nd Choir Directors'
& Organists' Guild Workshop will be held on Wednesday June 08, 2016 at 12
Noon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 700 Settlers Landing Road Hampton, VA 23669.
The Cost of the Luncheon is $25.00 and it is always a great time of
fellowship. If you need further
information call Bethel AME Church, (757) 723-4065.
The
AMEs are presenting at the HU Ministers’ Conference: Bishop Vashti Murphy
McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, AMEC;
the Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, the pastor and founder of The Empowerment Temple in
Baltimore, Maryland; and the Reverend Sheleta Fomby, the Director of Church
Life at the Reid Temple AME Church, Glenn Dale, Maryland and also serves as the
Minister to Women.
*Received
from the Rev. Andre Jefferson, pastor of Bethel AME Church in Hampton, Virginia
8. BISHOP ADAM J.
RICHARDSON JR., PREACHES POWERFUL SERMON ON PENTECOST SUNDAY:
The
Right Rev. Adam Jefferson Richardson Jr., Presiding Prelate of the Electrifying, Eleventh Episcopal District
(Florida and the Bahama Islands), preached a fervent, Spirit - filled, thought
provoking sermon on Pentecost Sunday. His sermon will be long remembered by all
who had the golden opportunity to witness this soul stirring message.
The
Rev. Dr. Marvin C. Zanders ll, the Shepherd of St. Paul AME Church,
Jacksonville, Florida introduced Bishop Richardson as an anointed Gospel
Preacher, mentor and unparalleled leadership. Supervisor, Connie Speights
Richardson was applauded for the ministry she provides and is honored for all
of her accomplishments.
The
text selected was Acts to 2:1-4: And When the day of Pentecost had fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound
from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they
were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and
it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Bishop
Richardson's dynamic message was titled, "Symbols and Substance of
Pentecost." His salient points were: Jesus was the reason and focus of the
Assembly, on the Day of Pentecost and Pentecost was fifty days after the
Resurrection. On this day we celebrate
"the Birth of the Church." Bishop continued by stating that numbers
in the Bible are symbolic. He chose the number twelve as an example. Jacob had
twelve sons which represented the Twelve Tribes of Israel. When the Israelites
crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, the priest picked up twelve stones from
the riverbed as a testimony That God had brought them over safely a river into
the Promised Land. Solomon appointed twelve officers over Israel. The
breastplate of the high priest had twelve stones embedded in it. Each stone in
the breastplate represented The Twelve Tribes of Israel. They knew that twelve
had symbolic meaning because they had saw Jesus choose twelve disciples. The
twelve became known as apostles.
The
designated symbols were Wind, Flame and Tongue. Bishop Richardson stated that
moving air can be as gentle as a breeze. It can also be fierce and violent. It
can be frightening and awesome. "Wind can be an act of God, for Example,
God blew breath of life into Adam. God also breathed to divide The Red Sea,
which caused the Israelites to escape on dry ground from the Snares of Pharaoh and
the Egyptian armies. Bishop exclaimed boldly, "Hallelujah, Breathe on us
Breath of GOD!" One morning in Jerusalem, through an act of God, the wind
blew. God breathed. The Church inhaled Holy air. Perhaps it was the sound of a
mighty Rushing wind! The Church began to cry. One of the words that came out
from the beginning was “Hallelujah.” It is the language of the church. So we
have come again today, asking God to breathe on our worship, make it Vital,
thoughtful and joyful. Fill us with life anew so that we may love what God
loves.
Flame
was the second symbol. It is analogous to fire, heat and light. Bishop stated
that God is a Consuming Fire. One of the earliest symbols of the church was
fire. People had learned to control fire: Cook with it; to provide heat and
light; to protect themselves from marauding animals with fire. It had been
associated with God's presence. Moses encountered the presence of the Lord at
Mt. Horeb. In Exodus 3: 2-3, the Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame
of fire in the midst of a bush. The bush was burning with fire, but it was not
consumed. The writer says in Hebrews 12:19, "For our God is a consuming
fire.” We all react when touched by fire.
The
third symbol Bishop Richardson addressed was the Tongue. Its purpose was to
communicate the Gospel, so that those who heard would be saved. God shed His
blood by submitting to a cruel death on a cross between two thieves. He has now
been given a name that is above all names, and in that name, we are invited to
come out of our sins and out of our separation and received into the presence
of God in a language, in a tongue we can all understand. The question is,
"Will you receive it? Will you be saved? Will you be filled?" If you
believe you are saved, baptized and filled, He then invites us into ministry to
go tell somebody else. The Book says, "And the Lord added to the Church
daily, not just on Sunday, but daily. Those who were being saved thanked God
daily for the gift of a tongue!
At
the end of Bishop's powerful and anointed proclamation of God's Word, all
worshippers were on their feet to attest to the awesomeness of the powerful
message they heard on Pentecost Sunday 2016.
Some
of the recognized visitors that shared in this worship experience were
supervisor Connie Speights Richardson, Presiding Elder and Mrs. Tony D.
Hansberry; presiding Elders Retired, Frederick Richardson, Jr. and Dr. James M.
Proctor; Mrs. Mavis Bush, Office Administrator of the Eleventh Episcopal
District; Mrs. Winifred Zanders, the Rev. Dr. Robert L. Mitchell and Mrs.
Deloris Mitchell.
Retired
Presiding Elder, Dr. Robert L. Mitchell served as President of Edward Waters
College, in Jacksonville, Florida from 1990-1995.
9. LADY GAIL G. BOOKER
REIGNS AS CONNECTIONAL FIRST LADY QUEEN 2015-16:
It
was a bright hot summer day in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hundreds of members of the Connectional
Ministers’ Spouses, Widows and Widowers Organization Plus P.K.’s of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church gathered for their Annual Clergy Family Awards
Breakfast during the General Board Meeting June 30, 2015. All in attendance
were dressed in red eager to see who would be the 2015-16 Connectional First
Lady Queen.
Then
it was final, Lady Gail Glover Booker, First Lady of St. Paul AME Church in St.
Louis, Missouri, Fifth Episcopal
District, was announced and crowned by Sister Lula Shaw Cleckley, President of
Conn-M-SWAWO Plus PK’s., to reign as Connectional First Lady Queen 2015-16.
Lady
Gail G. Booker was selected to be the First Lady Contestant by Bishop T. Larry
Kirkland, Supervisor Mary L. Kirkland, President Kinette Cager, Retired
Supervisor Vivienne Anderson and the Fifth Episcopal District members of the
Clergy Family Organization. More than
three hundred contributors and supporters of the Fifth District propelled her
to victory through donations. Additionally, her immediate family, being third
generation AME’s contributed to this victory in memory of one of the Founding
Members, the Late Presiding Elder Benjamin Roosevelt (Nell) Booker, Sr., who
transitioned from labor to reward on February 28, 2013. Lady Gail was supported
by her husband, the Rev. Spencer Lamar Booker, Mother Roxey Booker-Walton,
Daeryl, Nicholas and other Booker family members who gave tangible support by
donating $10,000.00 to the causes of this awesome organization that shares so
much with Clergy Families since its conception under the founder, Dr. Dorothy
Owens, and her husband Dr. John, Q. Owens, Social Action Director retired.
Lady
Gail G. Booker was groomed for this honor early in life. She was nurtured in
the AME Churches in Macon, Georgia. She maintained her AME loyalty by joining
Allen Chapel, Macon where she served on the Steward Board and was a member of
the Lay Organization. She served as Women’s Missionary Society Area Chair of
the South Atlanta District of the Sixth Episcopal District, and President of
the Midwest Conference of Conn-M-SWAWO Plus PK’S. Lady Gail is a retiree of
BellSouth Telecommunications as Business Specialist. She has multiple skills as
a certified Dale Carnegie Public Speaker and Human Relations, an Associate
Degree Recipient in Secretarial Computer Science, Certified ABC of Effective
Child Care Leadership from Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, an
accomplished musician, a devoted wife, and a great mother.
At
the 50th Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, PA, our Connectional First Lady Gail will
usher in this awesome title as we celebrate our 200th year of Christian
Freedom. We the members of the 5th Episcopal District, the Booker Family, and
many well-wishers congratulate Lady Gail for her reign as the Queen with
dignity, honor, and Christian pride as she passes on the torch to the next
Connectional First Lady Queen of the CONN-M-SWAWO Plus PK’s.
10. STATE OF THE
COUNTRY REPORT - THE VIRGINIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
*Read
by the Rev. Dr. Edward Scott
The
life of the arts, far from being an interruption, a distraction, in the life of
a nation, is very close to the center of a nation’s purpose—and is a test of
the quality of a nation’s civilization. John F. Kennedy, December 19, 1962
To
Bishop William P. DeVeaux, the presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal
District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, to Dr. Pam DeVeaux, our
beloved Episcopal Supervisor, Co-Host Presiding Elders Chester Morris and
Quentin White, to all the clergy and laypersons assembled, your Committee on
the State of the Country presents the following report:
Nature, scope and task
The
task of presenting a brief but full report on the State of the Country requires
a judicious review of the prevailing conditions under which States unfold their
destinies, their honest and laudable ambitions, indeed, the values embedded in
and flowering from their practices.
First,
national purpose is uneasy to determine where there is an absence of myth, a
national narrative concerning our whither and our whence, our ultimate comings
and our goings. What experience of nature gave us our sense of boundlessness
over a whole continent with its surging rivers and foaming lakes, it's the
Shenandoah and the Rockies; it's mesas, plains and glades too? Where did we
first hear the soundless flight of barn owls and the darkened evening lullabies
of whippoorwills? Who first noticed the forests in primeval splendor and the
rushing falls at Niagara, or plumbed the caverns’ depths at Ruby Falls and
Carlsbad? Our natural wonders inspire imagination and provide the geography for
spirit as well as soil.
Second,
the mythic power of the country is, in turn, confirmation of the swell of our
inclination toward the sacred. Religion is not dead in America, however
diminished traditional denominational religious expression has become. The
nation is, by all accounts, intoxicated in its appetite for the numinous, the
sublime and the holy. We might expect this to be more the case in a time of
drought in long standing religious institutions because human beings are by
nature and in their natures called by the sacred most particularly when those
institutions become hidebound and static.
Third,
the reinvigoration of national life, especially after periods of moribund
depression and decadent indulgence, occurs in concert with a rich and deepened
awareness of our individual and collective will as it takes shape in the
plastic, dramatic and musical arts. The nation’s voice is shaped and sounded
with powerful witness on stage, in cinema, clubs and concert halls. Its
brilliant variety, its riot of diversity is disclosed in its visual arts, its
paintings, the embodiment of ideas in wood, in bronze and stone and even in the
architecture we have invented for our dwelling, work and play.
Finally,
the aforementioned is urgently significant in fashioning our political reality
to meet our most pressing needs as a people, a people made up of peoples from
all points upon the globe. What politics suits best the bewildering
proliferation of languages spoken, the yearning of Greek, Jew and Gentile, of
Arab, Indian and Asian not to speak of African? Our report sees the clue to a
possible answer in the lay of the land, the tales we spin, the gods we serve,
the arts we create and the songs we sing.
Findings
I.
To speak of a national mythic consciousness may sound trite at first hearing
but we have in mind the anxiety we often feel in the wake of nature’s
manifestation of power for flood, quake and eruption. When lightning bolts and
scars the purple skies and rock slides and rumbles from its perch to sack the
roads we grasp and gasp that elemental forces bind us. Our genius for shaping
the earth gives way before the power of the earth to shape us instead. We have
not mastered water, wind or sky and the bowels of the earth collapse around us
when all we know is the fungible value of coal and oil. Without the myths of
the earth as holy precincts we despoil the earth. The winds carry the
pestilence of our naked mercantile aspirations for cheap energy. Our waters run
with brain damaging irons that pollute our Flints to the West, but in the
North, East and the South as well.
II.
Jews, Christians and Muslims and more besides sought safe spaces in which to
honor the God they serve and reverence. Each in turn discovered how fragile
synagogues, churches and mosques could be. All African Methodism felt the shock
of this truth most acutely when a lone gunman assaulted Mother Emanuel in South
Carolina. Dylan Roof snuffed away nine lives of the faithful while they were
engaged in the study of God’s holy Word.
And so it was that terrorism in places of worship snapped us from
complacency to alert attention that we needed to be well armed in the word of
God to stand fearless before such mindless threats and to loudly proclaim in
solidarity with our children that, “black lives matter.”
III.
President Obama requested an early viewing of “Game of Thrones.” The stage
musical “Hamilton” won an unprecedented number of awards for its hip hop
musical treatment of the founding father most identified with a strong central
bank and pop artist Prince succumbed to unknown causes after a career that
reconfigured popular music composition and performance. Whitney Houston had
shown in years past how the power of song could make a dead national anthem
spring to life but Prince cast a spell of song to make us all delight in purple
rain.
Toni
Morrison continued to exorcise the national demons of race in a fiction as
brutally honest as it was heartbreakingly beautiful and the nation said goodbye
to a poet, Maya Angelou, the original “phenomenal woman” who taught us to say,
“Still I rise.”
But
if hip hop and pop music have ancestry they need look no farther than jazz, the
very life’s blood of the national soul. Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz
Orchestra along with a 70 voices gospel choir recorded an epic jazz worship
service entitled Abyssinian Mass. The Rev. Calvin O. Butts, III, the pastor of
the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York, commissioned the Mass to
commemorate the church’s bicentennial. The performance of the Mass is a
revelation of the transformative lift of spirit in man, woman, child and
country. We are jazz children and our God is both protean and Promethean,
singing the world into birth and rebirth by his own divine lyric.
IV.
Political speech has surrendered prose and poetry to inarticulate insult and
physical threats of violence. Republican oratory is sniveling and bankrupt but
Democratic debate, only slightly loftier, trades on fiery charges and counter
charges of disqualification for the Presidency. Still this final year of
Obama’s leadership provides ample opportunity for us to boast of his
accomplishments: the 5% rate of unemployment, increased access of vast numbers
of the nation’s people to health care, the declining rate of crime in the most
crime besotted cities in our nation, the increased attention now given to the
need for massive reforms in our criminal justice system, and sharp reduction in
threats of terrorism from abroad all speak to a robust and wise stewarding of
political power for the sake of the common good. Our politics are never good
but always on the way to the good because democracy, while messy, is the
world’s best promise for the “beloved community.” Our politics are never
beautiful but always inspired by the beautiful in the sweeping majesty of song,
the virile strength of our arts and the penetrating insight of our stories.
Goals and objectives
Our
committee would propose the following goals for our nation’s people of faith.
To
renew our sense of the holiness of the earth and its fragility in sheltering
us. We cannot continue to despoil its resources as though its coal and oil were
simple substances we use without a harsh recompense in the change of climate
that makes our air un-breathable and our water undrinkable.
To
speak to national purpose in terms that recaptures our mythic consciousness of
an exalted destiny. We need to reawaken our sense of intimacy with the soil
from which we were formed and to which we shall all return. In this way we
resituate our fidelity to our nation in the broader context of our fidelity to
the earth and all her peoples.
The
example of Mother Emanuel’s people in the wake of so devastating a tragedy as
we all witnessed this past year should convince us of the power of faith to
heal, to bind up the nation’s wounds and to reconcile. We pray for her spirit
to be alive in us for forgiveness, love and redemption even as we reach beyond
the boundary separating Christian from Jew and Muslim to proclaim a common
father in Abraham.
John
Kennedy was right when he declared that a nation’s soul is expressed in her
arts and that a worthy home for their flourishing is essential for national
health and esteem. We look to stage and screen for the super-abounding surplus
of meaning of our national character. We listen to catch the simulation of
angel song in our greatest singers and musicians. If “the good” is to be found
in any American we may find it in her impulse to love the world through the
arts.
We
suspect that our talk of myth may appear strange in this report but we advocate
that notion of myth, which becomes our cultural project. “[W]ithout myth every
culture loses the healthy natural power of its creativity: only a horizon
defined by myths completes and unifies a whole cultural movement. . . . Even
the state knows no more powerful unwritten laws than the mythical foundation
that guarantees its connection with religion and its growth from mythical
notions.”
To
provide a just regard for engaged citizenship through the electoral process. We
are admonished that too few of our people ever even bother to vote. The hazards
we invite are monumental if we disavow through indolence or inertia the right
to vote. President Obama just last week cautioned the graduating class at
Howard University that only two in every five of our people voted in the mid
terms. He observed that it was painfully ironic that following the election of
a Republican congress people remarked that he had been unable to accomplish
more.
Recommendation
Our
committee recommends that we take advantage of the high visibility that came to
the AME Church when Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney and his members lost their lives
to gun violence and racial hatred to advocate for gun legislation. We should
join with like-minded and like suffering parents of murdered children in Sandy
Hook, black mothers of black sons who were felled by police misconduct and
those who lost loved ones in malls and theatres to pressure legislators to heed
our just petition. We urge our churches to fire the imagination of their
congregations with the poetry of the prophets and the sermons in deed and prose
of the first apostles. Having heard the prayers we pray and the hymns we sing
surely the earth will shake just as it did in the days of Paul and Silas and
our chains of fear and lassitude we may at long last loose (Acts 16:25-26).
Let
the church renew its covenant to embolden righteous citizens to serve the God
of Glory so that justice will be secured. Let her ignite a spark of imagination
in her children so that they will know that they are the children of that God
who formed the concealed and revealed places above and below the earth. Let us
teach them that he formed their inmost parts as well as those features we see
face to face. The play of our children will reawaken the springs of national
growth, first because in church we taught them to sing; in church we first
taught them to dance; in church we first taught them to speak in prayer and
preaching. Then it may be fitly spoken of us that we are a nation of painters
and preachers, of mythmakers and mystics, of singers and statesmen too. After
all, President Obama’s eulogy for Rev. Pinckney demonstrated, with grace on
grace, that a statesman may even lead us in worship and in priestly fashion
lift a closing song that bids us seek God’s own “Amazing Grace.”
Respectfully
submitted by the members of the Committee on the State of the Country to the
One Hundred Fiftieth Session of the Virginia Annual Conference in the year of
our Lord, 2016.
The
Rev. Dr. Edward A. Scott
The
Rev. Willie Boothe
The
Rev. David Brown
The
Rev. Ruby Brown-White
The
Rev. Deborah Bryant
The
Rev. Billy Hunter
The
Rev. Percy McIntire
The
Rev. John Swann
The
Rev. Willie L. White
Delegates
Brother
Earnest Harvey
Sister
Ida Henry
Sister
Tracee McMillian
Sister
Miranda Roundtree
Brother
James Sample
Sister
Matilda Watson
Sister
Stephanie Winlock
*The
Rev. Dr. Edward A. Scott is the pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church and an
Associate Professor of Philosophy at Mary Baldwin College, both in Staunton,
Virginia.
11. BIRTH OF THE
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH CELEBRATED AT [UMC] GENERAL CONFERENCE 2016:
The
Rev. Alfred T. Day III, general secretary for the General Commission on
Archives and History (GCAH), and Bishop Gregory Palmer, Bishop of West Ohio
conference, delivered an address to the plenary on Tuesday morning to recognize
the 200th anniversary of the birth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
(AMEC). “It was a special privilege to share the platform with Bishop Palmer.
Both of us were born and reared in Philadelphia, PA where the AME was born out
of hurtful and hostile relationships within the church we still regret,” said
Day.
Dennis
C. Dickerson, retired general director of the AMEC, wrote, “The AMEC grew out
of the Free African Society (FAS) which Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, and
others established in Philadelphia in 1787. When officials at St. George’s MEC
pulled blacks off their knees while praying, FAS members discovered just how
far American Methodists would go to enforce racial discrimination against
African Americans. Hence, these members of St. George’s made plans to transform
their mutual aid society into an African congregation. Although most wanted to
affiliate with the Protestant Episcopal Church, Allen led a small group who
resolved to remain Methodists.”
Under
the leadership of Allen, the first AME bishop, this autonomous Church emerged
from the same Wesleyan theology, spirit and practical divinity as the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Francis Asbury. Day stated: “What striking timing for this
presentation! General Conference coming to worship this morning, with rumors of
schism rampant all over the hall, remembering a painful 200 year-old breech
among Methodists—a breech that was only brought back to full communion in
2012.”
During
the service, leaders celebrated the strength, perseverance, and resilience of
the AME. “To this great Methodist church, conceived in racial injustice and
born out of an unquenchable thirst for freedom; to brothers and sisters of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church says: YOU are
the Lord’s doing and YOU are marvelous in our eyes,” said Day.
“The
racial tensions and discrimination that caused black and white Methodists to
split into separate denominations as well as segregate into separate
congregations within the Methodist Episcopal Church are not only worthy of
remembrance and reflection,” said Day. “They are the subject and substance of
renewed confession and action that will end all racial injustice and work for
full and equal participation the varied hues and constituencies of the United
Methodist Church, even the whole world. I pray God used our words to suggest
that history doesn't have to repeat the broken and painful consequences of division.”
For
more information on the AMEC, please visit their website: http://ame-church.com
The
full transcript from the service is here:
African
Methodist Episcopal Church 200th Anniversary Tribute
Written
for the United Methodist General Conference
Portland,
Oregon - May 2016
Awestruck
at God’s time and again making a way out of no way, astonished at hope
raised-up when disappointment and despair have a stranglehold, astounded at the
remembrance of transformations come through impossible struggles, the Psalmist
exclaims:
THIS
is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes (118:23).
“The
people called Methodist” from many and diverse communions, claiming the
Wesleyan way of faith, gathered in
Portland at the United Methodist General Conference in the 250th year since the
formation of the first Methodist societies in America, stand at the edge of the
200th anniversary of the birth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. To
this great Methodist church, conceived in racial injustice and born out of an
unquenchable thirst for freedom; to brothers and sisters of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church says:
YOU
are the Lord’s doing and YOU are marvelous in our eyes.
When
the then Methodist Church said “NO” to your ancestors, you kept faith with
God’s overpowering “YES” to all humanity. The Holy Spirit stirs in the telling
of your story:
YOU
have moved from second class, deferential treatment to the dignity of world
class leadership in academic, educational, political, economic, religious,
artistic and activist fields of endeavor
YOU
have moved from enforced racial discrimination and refusing victimization, YOU
have created opportunities for individual and community self-determination
YOU
have moved from the balcony and the blacksmith shop to the chancel of worldwide
Christian leadership, modeling Wesleyan practical divinity
YOU
have survived hostility and aggravated interference and grown more relentless
in the divine quest for justice and equality for ALL God’s people
YOU
have moved from unwanted outcast to found and sustain a vital expression of
Christianity challenging the Church beyond the limitations of euro-centrism
YOU
are the spirit and substance behind the families of Charleston South Carolina's
"Emmanuel Nine," meeting bigotry, hatred and horrible death, fired
from the gun of a white supremacist, with divine mercy and forgiveness
YOU
have given us Richard Allen, “Freedom’s Prophet,” founding father of the
American nation and a global church. YOUR churches and Sunday schools have
given us Jarena Lee, Reverdy Ransom, Rosa Parks, A. Phillip Randolph, Henry O.
Tanner, James Cone, Jacqueline Grant, Vernon Jordan, Ramsey Lewis, Kathleen
Battle, Judith Jamison and d’brickashaw Ferguson.
Through
the Holy Spirit’s movement among you, YOU have moved The United Methodist
Church and people of God everywhere. African Methodist Episcopal Church is our
full communion partner.
YOU
are the Lord’s doing and YOU are marvelous in our eyes.
The
theme of your 2016 Bicentennial General Conference is “An Extraordinary
History, An Incredible Future.” Those words echo your life through the ages and
continue to and through all that lies ahead.
YOU
are 3 million strong in more than 7,000 congregations, in 20 episcopal areas,
nearly 40 countries, spanning 5 continents.
The
spiritual sons and daughters of John and Charles Wesley, “The people called
Methodist” are blessed because of who you are and what, by God’s grace, you are
becoming.
We
rejoice to be in the Methodist family of Christ with you.
Alfred
T. Day, III, April 29, 2016 / May 17, 2017
12. NAACP FILES
LAWSUIT OVER FLINT WATER CRISIS:
State
officials, companies named in class action civil suit
BALTIMORE
— Attorneys with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
have filed a federal class action lawsuit on behalf of people and businesses
affected by the failure to provide safe drinking water to the city of Flint,
Michigan.
The
civil suit filed in U.S. District Court alleges that the state of Michigan,
many city and state officials and two engineering firms hired to evaluate water
quality in Flint failed to detect problems and properly treat water that caused
extensive lead contamination in the city while Flint was under supervision of
state-appointed emergency managers.
The
plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit include Flint residents and members of
the local branch of the NAACP, whose national attorneys are working with the
firms of Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll of Washington, D.C. and the
Houston-based firm of Susman Godfrey.
The
complaint seeks property damages, pain and suffering damages, emotional
distress damages, medical monitoring, and other injunctive relief for affected
city residents and businesses to be determined by the court.
“The
people of Flint have been harmed through the failure of state officials to
provide professional and accountable basic services mandated by federal law and
expected by any person living in a major city,” said Cornell William Brooks,
the national president and CEO of the NAACP. “Our organization stands with the
citizens of Flint to demand a clear timeline, deadline and price tag for fixing
this crisis as well as effective remedies for the harms that have already
occurred and complete compensation for each and every victim of this
unimaginable tragedy.”
Governor
Rick Snyder is named as an individual defendant in the suit, along with six
former high-ranking officials with the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality, and three men who were emergency managers during the prolonged
exposure period. Two engineering firms hired to analyze water in the city,
Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam Inc. and Veolia North America, also failed to
satisfy their professional duties and affirmatively worsened the extent of the
lead exposure, according to the complaint.
The
103-page complaint alleges that the officials and companies supervising the
water system failed to properly treat the water supply for salt and other
chemicals, which caused lead to leech from corroded pipes into the drinking
water for years. Officials repeatedly denied and dismissed reports of poor
water quality and pipe corrosion before acknowledging widespread failures to
act.
The
NAACP’s Flint Branch and Michigan State Conference have diligently worked over
the last two years to inform the public about the poisoned water and its
potential effects on city children and residents, and called for federal and
state action to provide relief.
The
NAACP and attorneys in the case are planning to host Town Hall meetings with
the residents of Flint in the near future to discuss further action.
13. RACE, HUNGER,
AND POVERTY FOCUS OF GLOBAL CHURCH VISIT TO U.S.:
The
Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith
More
than a dozen representatives of the World Council of Churches (WCC) took a
“pilgrimage of justice and peace” in April on a visit to four U.S. cities that
have recently confronted racial injustice. As a part of WCC’s Racial Justice
Accompaniment Visits, the team came to listen to and support community members
in these cities in order to understand their experiences with racial
discrimination, oppression, and violence.
The
core question of the visit was how the WCC as a global fellowship of churches
can work in partnership with U.S. churches in achieving racial justice.
The
WCC is the world’s largest ecumenical body and is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
It brings together 345 churches, denominations, and church fellowships from
more than 110 countries, representing 500 million Christians. The group seeks
visible Christian unity, promotes common witness, engages in Christian service,
and seeks justice and peace.
I
and other Bread for the World staff were able to address the WCC delegation at
the beginning of their trip in Washington, D.C. I told them, “You will be going
to some of the most volatile communities in the world. People feel burned up.
Really try to understand their hearts. Work to understand their experience.”
The
delegation proceeded on the official visits in Charleston, S.C.; Saint Louis
and Ferguson, Mo.; and Chicago. These are cities where hunger, poverty, and
race intersect. The states where these cities are located have some of the
highest rates of hunger and poverty among African-American children, ranging
from 41.7 percent to 44.8 percent.
The
delegation saw where these places have been traumatized by conflicts with
police, mass incarceration, lack of immigration reform policies, and other
transient issues.
“We
have been following developments in this nation. The WCC recognizes the many
positive actions of churches here, but they do not seem to be enough. Church
life must provide the means of grace to strengthen us for action,” said Dr.
Agnes Abuom, moderator of WCC’s Central Committee and leader of the delegation.
Although
the visit was a continuation of the WCC’s long history of racial justice work
and its commitment to overcome racism, the visit identified new forms of racism
that have emerged.
The
visit challenged churches both inside and outside the U.S. to listen carefully,
to understand the experience of people caught up in racial confrontation, and
to address racism in their own structures and life. Bread for the World and the
WCC play very important advocacy roles in these contexts.
Bread
will partner with WCC in an event next month – the Pan-African Women of Faith
consultation. It will take place June 9 to 11 at Howard University in
Washington, D.C., which is the third sponsor of the event. It will bring
together scores of women leaders from both Africa and the U.S. for
conversations about advocacy and ending hunger. Find more information about
this event at www.bread.org/panafrican.
14. THE TRUTH IS THE
LIGHT:
*The Reverend
Dr. Charles R. Watkins
Based on
Biblical Text: Exodus 24:12: And the LORD
said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give
thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that
thou mayest teach them.
I think we have
reached a point where our spiritual vision has gotten lazy. What I mean is I
think we have a problem understanding the things of God because we don’t take
the time to distance ourselves from our troubles and get alone with God. We
need to put some distance between our troubles and take the time to be one on
one with God. The truth is that we tend to confine the truth of our own finite
understanding and in doing so we limit the Divine to what we know.
The question
for us is, when was the last time we stretched the limits of our understanding
of God? The truth of the matter is many of us are muddling our way along this
Christian walk, hoping to make it on what we learned of God when we were at our
mother’s knee or in Sunday School. If we
were asked to recite a scripture verse from memory, a lot of us would quickly
respond with, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me.” Some of us
would still use that old familiar “Jesus wept.”
Unless we have
the Spirit of God in us, we have no might within and no means without to battle
our storms. We will be like an unfinished building with no roof on it. We can
attempt to live in it, but storms will keep raining on us. In order to put a
roof on our faith, we have to get alone with God.
It is a fact
that nothing can come out of us that has not been deposited in us. In other
words, it is a requirement that we receive before we can give. We must be
equipped for our task. We are on a journey and what we do to equip ourselves
for our journey will largely determine our success or failure. Before God sends
us out to do the work He has purposed for us, He first wants to equip us. The
equipping process must include time alone with God. If we would be all the Lord
would have us to be, we must first be willing to develop a probing, venturesome
theology that solicits God’s wisdom above all else.
If we are to be
all the Lord would have us to be, we must get alone with Him. We must develop
an open line of communication with Jesus that will, in time, reveal His purpose
for our life, and give us new direction. We must refrain from putting a time
limit on God and just get alone with Him and learn of Him.
We cannot fight
the good fight unless we get to know the Battleaxe. We will have a problem
telling the story until we have spent time with the Author and Finisher of our
faith. We will be unable to face our storms without our ship’s Captain. There
is no way to expect light in the midst of our darkness, unless we spend time
with the Bright and Morning Star.
*The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown
AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina
15. GETTING TO ZERO:
*The
Rev. Dr. Fuller is currently on Sabbatical leave from the University of
Michigan and will submit her column as her schedule permits.
16. iCHURCH
SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 - CHILDLIKE
FAITH – DR. LUKE 18: 15-17 & MARK 10:16:
*Brother
Bill Dickens
Introduction
Social
scientists often link societal habits, norms or behavior relative to a specific
time period. The veteran journalist Tom
Brokaw described children born of the "Greatest Generation" since
they had to fight the Great Depression and the great World War II.
We
are either "Children of the Depression, "Baby Boomers,"
"Hip-Hop Kids" or "Millennials."
Each
of the categories conveys something specific about the person born in that
particular dispensation. The common
denominator for all is the miracle of birth was established to allow a specific
identity. The decision to populate
society is perhaps the most important of all social decisions. Population trends impact national security,
economic growth and development, education, health and scientific
activity. The decision to have a baby
encompasses both costs and benefits.
Economists
estimate the USA pre-natal, post-natal and life cycle years prior to adulthood
are roughly $250,000 - $400,000 for "bringing a child into the
world."
It
is no mystery, given these cost estimates that population growth rates have
declined significantly in the USA since 1970.
While no one disputes the cost for "child production,"
children also provide benefits to our society.
There
are the benefits of joy and companionship associated with children. Children can also provide economic security
for parents when parents transition into their twilight years. The decision to have children is extremely
important. Once a child is born, the
parent is not provided an "operating manual" for effective
results. In the absence of such a manual
we have to depend on God just like the child depends on the parent.
The
Adult AME Church School lesson for May 22, 2016 displays the sincere feeling
Jesus projected to children. Many church
goers like to say they are a "Child of God."
Let's
see if this church cliché matches up to the Biblical text.
Biblical Lesson -
Barriers, Babies and Blessings
The
Bible affirms the importance of children.
A command is given in Genesis to be fruitful and repopulate the earth
(Genesis 1:28). Moses is adopted into an
Egyptian home as an infant (Exodus 2:5).
A thin-skinned Herod, upon hearing about the birth of the Messiah,
issues a decree that all young male children under age two be put to death
(Matthew 2:16).
Our
Bible story in Dr. Luke provides a continuation of the message about humility. Last Sunday we saw the concept of humility
embedded in the least expected person - publican (tax-collector).
Our
lesson today shows the disciples acting in an over-protective manner. Some mothers desire to have their young
children blessed by Jesus. The
disciples, functioning as the "first-line of defense," reject such
requests and insist the mothers and their children keep a respectable distance
from Jesus. Was this evidence that the
disciples were "anti-children"?
A
better interpretation of their behavior may be the disciples wanting to give
Jesus a chance to have some quiet time given the demands placed on Him to heal
and deliver. The disciples were acting
much like today's Secret Service. The
job of the Secret Service is to protect the President and his family at all
times even if this means maintaining a proper perimeter that limits access and
creates a barrier to access.
Jesus
vetoed the disciples’ behavior of creating barriers. He insists that the children have full and
complete access to Him. In fact, Jesus
uses this situation as a teaching moment.
He communicates to the audience that unless we have a revolution in
thinking and behave like a child, we will forfeit any opportunity of eternal
life. Children are ideal examples of
heavenly citizens because of their humility, innocence and complete dependence
on their parents.
In
order to live with God we too must become humble and recognize that God is our
source of living. Jesus receives the children and provides His blessings on
every baby.
Bible Application
Parents
capture the joy of children in different ways.
First, there is the baby shower.
Family and friends arrange for a special day to let the mother and
father know that they too are excited about the future addition to the
family. After the child is born the
parents become expert photographers.
Hundreds of pictures of the baby will be taken. A baby will grow to
become a toddler and teen and look to the future; parents look at the early
years and reminisce about the past.
Church christening events - infant baptisms and many, many birthday
parties will follow.
A
popular song in the 80s stated, "I believe that children are our future,
teach them well and let them lead the way."
A
threat to the fulfillment of this song is the sinister behavior of child
abduction and child abuse. Equally
demoralizing is the practice of abortion.
This
writer views abortion as a form of infanticide.
While it is true that Roe v Wade grants women the "right to
choose" and attacks on Planned Parenthood Clinics are egregious and
unwarranted, children should nonetheless be protected. Parents and adults have a fiduciary duty to
raise children in a caring, loving environment in order for society to
experience a form of godly and rational evolution. It is difficult to carry out this fiduciary
responsibility if we don't have children.
Children are more than a burden.
They are a blessing to all of us.
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
17. MEDITATION BASED ON ROMANS
12:1, 2:
*The
Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I’m writing this meditation after spending a couple of days in meetings
in my hometown - Columbia, South Carolina. Whenever I’m in Columbia and
have “downtime,” I’m fond of driving through familiar communities to see what’s
changed and what remains the same.
My drive through one of those communities earlier today took me past a
new Day Care Center that my Columbia friends say has an excellent track record
of preparing children of modest means for Kindergarten and for achievement in
their elementary, middle and high school years.
I found that to be encouraging and uplifting, but it also made me smile
with a bit of irony, because I remember the business that occupied the Day Care
Center’s building during my high school years. That now bright and cheery
building dedicated to shaping young minds once housed one of Columbia’s
pre-imminent black night clubs - a club that didn’t check IDs for age and that
was a serious “party site” - those of us who patronized the place during our
high school days never told our parents we’d been there!
The transformation of what used to be a night club into a successful
Day Care Center reminded me of what happens when we put our lives in Jesus’
hands. All of us are flawed human beings, incapable of finding redemption
on our own because we all do our share of right and our share of wrong.
When we realize that, however, and turn to the Savior who gave His life
for the price of our sins and who sent God’s Holy Spirit to transform and
redeem all who believe, we can walk, as the Holy Communion ritual of my faith
tradition says, “in newness of life. When we have the faith to let Christ
transform our lives, we can find new direction, new strength, new hope and new
joy that enables us to be more than we could be on our own and to share the
Good News with all of those who come our way.
Take the time to let the Lord Jesus Christ change you into someone
better - in spite of your old life and old baggage. You’ll walk in
newness of life, find new perspective on life and understand why those who
embraced Christ in spite of the burdensome chains of slavery to sing, “I feel
better, so much better since I laid my burdens down.”
*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
18. GENERAL
OFFICER'S STAFF PRAYER REQUEST:
Please
be in prayer for Mrs. Karen Bluing-Osborne, Executive Assistant to Dr. Richard
Allen Lewis, Chief Financial Officer/CFO of the AME Church (Nashville,
Tennessee Office). Mrs. Osborne
sustained extensive injuries from an accidental fall. She has been released from the hospital and
is recuperating at home.
Get
well-wishes and messages of cheer can be emailed to: kbluingosb@aol.com
19. EPISCOPAL
FAMILY PRAYER REQUEST:
Prayer
is requested for Vinton Randolph Anderson, Jr. (Randy) who is ill. Brother
“Randy” is the son of the late Bishop Vinton Randolph Anderson and former
Episcopal Supervisor Vivienne Anderson.
The
Anderson family can be contacted at their home address:
22
West Sherwood Drive
St.
Louis, MO 63114
Telephone:
(314) 427-2711
20. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- Robin D.
Cleckley received a PHD from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The
Commencement ceremony was held on March 12, 2016. Robin is the daughter of retired pastor,
Reverend Robert L. Cleckley of the Columbia Conference, Seventh Episcopal
District, and Mrs. Lula Shaw Cleckley, President of the Connectional Ministers’
Spouses, Widows and Widowers Organization, Plus PK’s.
Dr.
Cleckley is a member of Reid Chapel AME Church in Columbia, SC, where the
Reverend Carey A. Grady serves as the pastor and Bishop Richard Franklin Norris
is the Presiding Prelate. Currently, Dr.
Cleckley is an Early Childhood educator where she continues to educate and
develop young minds.
Congratulatory
expressions can be emailed to:
-- The Reverend
Phil Jeriod Flowers will receive the Doctor of Ministry Degree from United
Theological Seminary Dayton Ohio
The
commencement ceremonies will be held at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church,
Friday May 20, 2016 at the hour of 1:30 p.m. The Reverend Flowers received his
Bachelor of Science Degree from Voorhees College, Denmark, South Carolina and
Master of Divinity Degree from Erskine Theological Seminary Due West, South
Carolina. He is the pastor of Mount Zion AME Church (North Santee) Georgetown,
South Carolina; Seventh Episcopal District and brother of Dr. George F.
Flowers, General Officer.
Congratulations
may be sent to:
Dr.
Phil J. Flowers
P.O.
Box 7453
Columbia,
SC 29202-7453
Email:
revphilflowers@yahoo.com
-- The Reverend
Janet Lee Seay received the Master of Arts Degree in Christian Ministry
Leadership, Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN.
The
Reverend Seay is a Local Elder serving at Greater Taylor Chapel A.M.E. Church
in Franklin, Kentucky
Congratulatory
Communications can be sent to:
Greater
Taylor Chapel AME Church
Attn:
Reverend Janet Lee Seay
604
Jefferson Street
Franklin,
KY 42134
-- Ms. Tiffany
Marie Kelly is graduating from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida
Tiffany
Marie Kelly is graduating from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, FL with a
Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management on Friday, May 13, 2016
at 10:00 a.m. Tiffany will be honored at the Commencement Exercises to receive
the James Farquhar Award. This award is given to one graduating student on
behalf of one of the founding members of the University, the late James
Farquhar. The student is measured and chosen on the accolades of scholarship,
leadership, and service excellence. Tiffany will be the first Huizenga College
of Business and Entrepreneurship student to win in 20+ years. In her
undergraduate career, Tiffany has completed four (4) internships with LSU
Athletics Department, Miami Heat Basketball Operations, 24-Hour Fitness Rock
City Hoops Basketball League, and Fast Twitch Under Armour Training Facility.
Tiffany has also completed two (2) research projects – “The NBA Draft:
Opportunity costs of early entry” and “The ‘Triangle’ Formula: The role and
play option analysis of the triplepost offense.” Both research projects were
awarded at the 2014 and 2016 Undergraduate Student Research Symposium for
Honorable Mention in the Poster Presentations Section and First Place in the
Paper and Oral Presentations Section.
As
far as future plans, Tiffany hopes to enter either an NFL or NBA team front
office analytics department where she will utilize statistical modeling
techniques and technologies in support of operations for player evaluation,
player performance, and coaching. She is currently in the final round of
interviews for the Miami Dolphins, Accenture Strategy Consulting, and the
Harvard Sports Analytics Program. Tiffany graduates as the founder of the first
sport student organization, as a Dean’s List Scholar for 7 semesters, and with
a 3.68 cumulative GPA receiving over 6 scholarships to fund her studies.
Tiffany
Marie Kelly is the daughter of the Rev. Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. and Mrs. Linda
Marie Kelly, pastor and First Lady of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
in Baton Rouge, LA.
Congratulatory
messages can be emailed to:
Dr.
and Mrs. Herman Kelly: spidermh7@yahoo.com
Ms.
Tiffany Marie Kelly: tk384@nova.edu
-- Sister Traci
Maxine Thomas, received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from
Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY, graduating Summa Cum Laude
She
has been accepted with a full Scholarship for the Masters in Communication
Degree at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
The
proud parents are the Rev. Troy I. Thomas and the Rev. Dr. Maxine Thomas,
pastor and associate minister of Quinn Chapel AME Church in Louisville,
Kentucky.
Congratulatory
messages can be emailed to:
The
Rev. Troy I. Thomas: ThomasRevTroy@aol.com
The
Rev. Dr. Maxine Thomas: Exhalemlt@aol.com
-- Morgan C. Sumner
graduated from Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Architecture BSD at
Arizona State University
Morgan
C. Sumner, the granddaughter of Presiding Elder Samuel L. Sumner, South
District, Indiana Conference, Fourth Episcopal District, and daughter of the
Rev. Samuel K. Sumner (Dr. Carol) graduated from Herberger Institute for Design
and the Arts, Architecture BSD, Arizona State University on May 9, 2016. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority, Inc., President, Iota Kappa Chapter.
Congratulatory
messages can be emailed to: slsumner@sbcglobal.net
21. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
With
heartfelt sympathy we regretfully announce the passing of Ms. Toby E.
Buchannon, sister of Mrs. Dorothy M. White and sister-in-law of the Reverend
Archie L. White, pastor of Faith Chapel AME Church in Fostoria, Ohio.
Services
will be held Saturday, May 21, 2016
Viewing
and Family Hour: 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing
Celebration: 11:00 a.m.
Mt.
Zion Baptist Church
614
West River Road N
Elyria,
Ohio 44035
Telephone:
(440) 323-3075
The
Reverend Marcettes L. Cunningham, pastor
Arrangements
are entrusted to:
Carter
Funeral Home
127
W. Bridge Street
Elyria,
OH 44035
Telephone: (440) 322-7788
Email:
carterfuneralhome@yahoo.com
Expressions
of condolence may be sent to:
Mrs.
Dorothy M. White
P.O.
Box 347
Fostoria,
OH 44830
Telephone: (419) 722-9486
22. BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED
BY:
Ora L. Easley,
Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family
Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Telephone: (615)
837-9736 (H)
Telephone: (615)
833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
23.
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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