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
Thought for the week: "The
choices we make will affect our lives for better or for worse"
1.
TCR EDITORIAL – BISHOPS BEAR SIGNIFICANT BLAME:
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H.
Sydnor III
The 20th Editor
of The Christian Recorder
Let
me start this editorial by restating the title, “Bishops bear much of the
Blame” for some of the failures in local churches. They are the blame because they are the
titular heads of their episcopal districts and collectively, “the head” of the
“connected church.” They are the blame because in every organization the leader
is responsible for the setting up “the team” and providing leadership that
insures success.
And,
“No” bishops cannot do it all and they cannot be everywhere at the same time;
and that’s the reason it is important for them to build a competently solid
team based upon people who possess the highest moral and ethical standards.
Moral, ethical and competency are among the operative characteristics for
building effective teams.
Conversely,
being politically astute and personable are not attributes for building a
competent team; not for bishops and not for pastors.
And
before proceeding further, I know that “sitting on the sidelines” and “Monday
morning quarterbacking” is easier than being in “the game.” In that light, my comments are from the
perspective of the ideal. If we lived in a perfect world, all of my thoughts
and ideas would be wonderful.
I
know life is harder than it looks and I know that being a bishop is hard,
demanding and nearly impossible. But, just because life is hard, doesn’t mean
that we don’t try harder.
Some of my thoughts
concerning the episcopacy
And,
these thoughts are given randomly.
In
a perfect world, the way it should work: Parishioners respect pastors, pastors
respect presiding elders and presiding elders respect bishops and the bishops
respect the laws of the Church and function with “Godly judgment.”
Simply
stated, licentiates and diaconal ministers obey their pastors-in-charge and all
of the clergy will obey their bishops. It’s not a matter of liking or not
liking the person who is the pastor / presiding elder /chief minister (bishop);
the issue is integrity and being faithful to the vows made at the ordination
service; being faithful to our vows is a moral and ethical issue.
And,
let me say here, I hope every bishop has someone to “lean on” and has a
confidant. Leaders need mentors and bishops are no exception; they need mentors
/ counselors; someone to bounce ideas off of, and that person should not be in
the “chain of supervision.” It might be someone in another denomination. And,
their spouses and children need someone to “lean on” too!
The
spouses of clergy members, from the licentiate acknowledging the call to
ministry, pastors, presiding elders and the episcopal leadership, face
challenges.
And
for those aspiring to become AME bishops, getting elected is just the first
step of a difficult journey; it is not as easy as it looks. As an aside, it
seems to me that some of the retired bishops look healthier than they did when
they were active.
And
another thing, persons elected and consecrated to the episcopacy have not and
will not be invested with some magical powers of instant increased knowledge
and wisdom.
A reminder for the
episcopacy
You
have been elected and consecrated for awesome responsibilities. You stand at
the helm of a great institution that needs your 100% attention. You do not have
time for mistakes and missteps because you hold the keys to the lives of so
many individuals and their families. With your signature, without saying
anything or consulting anyone, you can change a person’s Zip Code, promote or
demote an individual and by extension, his or her family; and that’s
power!
If
anyone should depend upon “godly judgment and prayer,” it is the responsibility
placed on those who serve in the episcopacy.
The most important
task
Pastoral
appointments are not the most important episcopal task! In my opinion, the most
important episcopal task and ministry is that of being a “gatekeeper” for the
AME Church. You are the “gatekeeper” for people coming into the ministry
and remaining in the ministry. The decisions you make in admitting persons to
the ministry can impact the church for years.
In
The Order for the Consecration of a
Bishop, you are asked, “Will you be faithful in ordaining or laying hands
upon others?” Every elected and
consecrated bishop answered in the affirmative!
The
care and supervision in ordaining or laying hands on applicants for the
ministry is serious business.
If
you know a candidate is not academically, theologically, psychologically,
mentally or socially qualified for ministry, don’t give “breaks and hope for
the best,” just say, “No.” Bishops need to take greater care in the
oversight of vetting candidates for the ministry in the African Methodist
Episcopal Church.
I
want to “pound the table and say, “Don’t keep ordaining folks if there is not a
ministry for them. We need to tighten the ministerial qualifications to get the
best applicants for ministry who will remain in the active AME ministry over
the long-haul. In most cases pastors don’t need more people sitting in the
pulpit and they don’t need armor bearers.
I
once met a pastor who had 10 members and he was so proud of his armor bearer. I
am glad he couldn’t read my thoughts because I thought, “Man, you ought to be
carrying your own robe and Bible.”
The most critical responsibility
and commitment of the episcopacy is the bishops’ answer and promise in response
to the question, “Will you be faithful in ordaining or laying hands upon
others?”
The local church, the quarterly
conference, district conference, board of examiners, the annual conference all
bear blame for abdicating their responsibilities in allowing persons to be
ordained who should not be in the ministry.
I will say it again, the bishop is
the bottomline and it is the bishop who promised to “be faithful in ordaining
or laying hands upon others.” The bishop
is the “gatekeeper” of the itineracy. The bishop is the “doorkeeper” and the
“doorkeeper” is the person who allows or denies entry. The door to the
itineracy must not be a revolving door, but a door that requires the highest
theological, spiritual, academic, ethical and moral standards.
“No” needs to be heard more often
It’s hard to say “no,” but sometimes
a “No” today is better than the heartache of dealing with extended legal and
negative ecclesiastical issues, which a simple “No” could have prevented.
Not enough “No”
And, I will say it again, it’s hard
to say “No” to a son or a daughter of one of the “old saints” of the Church;
and it’s hard to say “no” to the son, daughter or grandchild of a pastor,
presiding elder or bishop. It’s hard to say “No” to a person who seems excited
about ministry. Yes, it is hard to say “No,” and it takes courage, but bishops
need to just
say, “No” when they know that “No” is the appropriate response.
Things that can help bishops and Boards of examiners say
“No”
The
“mothers and fathers” of the AME Church put in the ordination process for those
seeking to be Itinerant Elders and clearly delineated the distinction for those
wanting to serve in the local ministry and those who wanted to be “traveling
preachers,” but in recent years we have “senior” pastors who mimic the
televangelist and want a lot of preachers to sit in the pulpit and bishops have
allowed persons to be ordained itinerant elders who they know will never serve
in the itinerant ministry. And to allow “insult to injury” those persons
who will never serve as itinerant preachers are allowed to vote for delegates
to attend the General Conference. I am afraid that in the future some of the
non-itinerant elders will vote non-itinerant elders to be delegates to the
General Conference.
For a long time, ministerial
candidates were not required to submit official transcripts; the bishop and the
Board of Examiners just took the applicant’s word. When an applicant was a
prior military service member, he or she was not required to submit
documentation that they received an “Honorable Discharge.”
Bishops
and boards of examiners should require official transcripts sent directly from
academic institutions directly to the office of the presiding bishop.
Photocopied or scanned documents are not “official” and should not be accepted.
Serious vetting
When
a person acknowledges what he or she thinks is a call to the ministry, intense
vetting needs to be done from “jump street!”
Too
often, we rejoice and accept their word and get the ball moving as quickly as
we can. I suspect there is not enough “eyeball to eyeball” contact, not enough
deep questioning and counseling. I further suspect that even if the pastor or
any of the parishioners thought the person was not acceptable for ministry, no
one would have the courage to raise objections. Across the AME Church, we let
people “slip through” the church conference, quarterly conference, district
conference and the annual conference and many bishops just won’t say, “No”; and
they slip past the bishop, the “gatekeeper.”
The
work of ministry is just as important as the medical, legal and other
professions and we should carefully vet and scrutinize those we approve for
ordination.
A glut
We
have a glut of itinerant elders and in any profession or business, extreme
surpluses are indications of lowered standards or not high-enough standards.
Surpluses are eliminated by more stringent scrutiny and higher standards.
Top-tier schools have rigorous entry standards and that’s how they maintain
their high standards, and their reputations.
For
instance, anyone who says he or she has served in the military should be
required to provide an “official raised copy” of the DD Form 214, which shows a
complete “picture” of a person’s military service and the type of
discharge. Anyone who says they have been in the military cannot say, “I can’t
find my DD Form 214.” Everyone who has served in the military and had an
“Honorable Discharge” knows where their DD Form 214 is located.
Background
checks and credit-checks should be required. A person who enters the ministry
should be able to pass the scrutiny of a background and credit check. Poor credit risks and people who don’t pay
their bills will probably not be exemplary members of the clergy.
It’s
hard to say “No” and I guess it’s hard to “look an applicant in the eyes” and
say, “We need official documents. We
trust, but verify!”
Unfortunately,
bishops and some Boards of Examiners have not vetted thoroughly and have said,
“No” to ministerial applicants of which they should have said, “Yes!” The AME Church has lost some stellar
applicants for ministry! Too much
politics!
Vetting and
scrutiny must be ongoing throughout ministry
The
AME Church should raise the bar of professionalism by rigorous training,
supervision and accountability and dealing forthrightly with pastoral issues
and accusations. There should be mandatory recertification training for all
members of the clergy as in other professions. Standards must be maintained.
And, when standards are not maintained, ministerial credentials need to be recalled.
Notification
of recalled ministerial credentials should be reported in The Christian Recorder. The AME Church should be notified when a
pastor’s credentials have been withdrawn.
Let me say this
again
The
biggest challenge for those being ordained itinerant elder is their response
and intention to the question in The
Ordination of Elders: “Will you
reverently obey your chief ministers to who is committed the charge and
government over you, following with a glad mind and will their godly admonitions,
submitting yourselves to their godly judgments?”
We
have too many preachers who refuse to be obedient to their bishops and we have
too many parishioners who refuse to be obedient to their pastors. And we have
had bishops who have not “guarded the gate to the ministry.”
The challenge for
bishops
I will say it again; if the
itineracy is going to survive, the African Methodist Episcopal Church must have
bishops who will be committed to their promise to “be faithful in ordaining or
laying hands upon others”; that is “guarding the gate” for those wishing to be
ordained itinerant elders. And, when
guarding the gate, bishops will sometime need the courage to say, “No!”
It is easier said
than done
Presiding
bishops should be lending a hand and should be available to provide guidance
and resources. Presiding bishops should be actively involved in the process
when it comes to the connectional budget and insuring that pastors and local
churches have adequate resources, supervision and training, training, and more
training and that pastors have mentoring, mentoring, and more mentoring.
Personal
responsibilities
I
wonder how many bishops, presiding elders and pastors take real vacations. When
I see the preaching schedule of clergy and bishops on FaceBook I wonder how
they have time for their families. Preaching is good and honoraria are good,
but family is more important. After all of the preaching responsibilities and
the all of hoopla of ministry passes, clergy are left with their families. In a sense the writer of Ecclesiastes is
correct, “All is vanity.”
I
wonder how many bishops and pastors have hobbies and take the time to enjoy
their hobbies for a couple of hours each week or maybe every day. The reality for
pastors is worship services are work.
Our
connectional meetings and especially our annual conferences, from start to
finish, model “hustle and bustle.” We
hardly have time to breathe, and guess what? The bishops and the Episcopal
Supervisors hardly have time to breath. The annual conferences take a
health-toll on them too!
Bishops are
responsible for building the team
Bishops
should appoint presiding elders they trust and who they know possess the
highest moral and ethical characteristics and are efficient, competent, and
fair and will function superbly in the job and ministry of being an outstanding
presiding elder. My advice, “Trust the presiding elders you appoint. If you
don’t trust them, don’t select them.”
Train
your presiding elders and do more training with them; stress and demand
professionalism. They should look, act and be treated as middle managers and
given responsibilities to function as legitimate middle managers.
Promotion
of pastors to larger churches and promotion of pastors to the position of
presiding elder should not be entirely based on past performances or upon what
they have done, but on their potential to serve in a higher position. Promotion
should not be a reward for past ministry. Promotions should be based upon potential.
A
person who is a successful pastor of a large congregation and oversees an
enormous budget and an effective religious program might be functioning at his
or her level of competence. They might not be suited to be a presiding elder,
general officer or bishop; or promoted to a larger church.
“The
Peter Principle” is a management theory that explains why some organizations
fail. Organizations, to include the church, fail because persons are promoted
as a reward for his or her past performance to a level of incompetency.
A
person does well in his or her current position and decisionmakers reward him
or her with promotions and eventually the person is promoted to a level beyond
his or her competency.
For
instance, a person might be an outstanding classroom teacher, but might be a
horrible principal. Classroom skills are
different from administrative skills.
The
Peter Principle" got its name from Laurence J. Peter who co-authored a
book in the late sixties: The Peter
Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong with Raymond Hull. The authors
suggested that a person tended to be promoted until he or she reached his or
her "level of incompetence."
For
instance, a person might be an excellent pastor, but might not be an effective
bishop. Pastoral leadership and higher administrative leadership require
different skill-sets.
A couple of other
things
Train,
train, and train – a bishop doesn’t have to do the training personally, and
probably shouldn’t; but training needs to be done! Learning to be a presiding
elder by osmosis is not a good strategy. And that type of learning is not good
for a bishop either. Training is a key!
When
a person is elevated to the episcopacy, they should immediately seek some type
of executive leadership training.
When
bishops appoint presiding elders and other episcopal leaders, trust them, and
if you don’t trust them, replace them. The episcopal district leadership team
is yours to build. If you have a poorly functioning team, it’s your fault!
And
please before talking to pastors who call you to complain about something, ask
them if they have spoken to their presiding elder. Don’t let pastors or church
members “skip the chain of supervision.” Problems should be handled at the
lowest level. Trust your presiding elders to handle conflict at their level of
supervision. If they cannot do that, they should be replaced.
Promote
men and women who have the potential to be outstanding pastors, regardless of
gender.
It
might be that you and / or the presiding elder need to visit churches and
explain the “facts of life” of women in ministry. The day should be far past
when churches have the nerve and the audacity to say they don’t want a woman
pastor. Treat women with respect and equal consideration in terms of pastoral
appointments. Women can pastor large churches and women can function superbly
as presiding elders. Don’t promote less than competent men over more
competently qualified women. That has happened too much in our Zion!
Be
concerned about the totality of persons you elevate to the presiding eldership.
Ask potential presiding elders about their hobbies. Are they well-rounded? What books have they read? Have they taken
the time and opportunity to broaden their lives? Have they taken any courses? What do they do for relaxation? Where did
they go on their last vacation?
And,
while you are asking potential presiding elders all of those questions, you
should ask yourself the same questions to insure yourself that you are
well-rounded and that your life is being broadened with activities other than
the church.
And,
one more thing, you have a management function too. You have the responsibility
to provide resources, especially for your presiding elders and sometimes for
pastors and local churches.
Where
do the resources come from? You, the bishop, need to find the answer because
that’s why you were elected and to the episcopacy and why the AME Church pays
your salary. You need to be innovative and creative!
Bishops
are the “gate-keepers” for those coming in the ministry and the “gate-keeper
for those serving in the ministry.
Parishioners
may not be wrong when they complain to the bishop and presiding elder that a
pastor is neglecting his or her duties, misappropriating funds, behaving
sexually improperly, or otherwise violating his or her duties and
responsibilities to detriment of their church.
Act
promptly and swiftly upon receipt of properly drafted and signed complaints, to
refer the pastor to the proper ministerial efficiency or judicial committee and
get those wrongdoers out of the church.
Make certain that you appoint members to those ministerial efficiency or
judicial committees who are properly oriented and trained to conduct fair and
impartial proceedings. Do not let misbehaving pastors remain in a church for 4
to 8 years, until they have chased away most of the membership to the Baptist
or COGIC or nondenominational church “down the street.”
The
ministry of a bishop’s job is hard because you can never please everybody. Almost every decision you make will please a
few and anger the rest.
If
the AME Church is going to correct the itinerancy, there has to be a systemic
change from top to bottom; from Episcopal Districts 1 – 20; and every bishop
has to be on the same “sheet of music.” The decision to “attack issues” has to
be uniform across the church.
The
bishops are mostly responsible because the “the buck stops with the bishop!”
Post Script
If
I could add a P.S. to this editorial, it would be that the AME Church needs to
implement a better system for persons “running” [campaigning] to become bishop.
The current process is 4 years. For example, a person aspiring for the
bishopric in 2020 will start the process on July 14, 2016. Four years is too
long a period for a person to campaign to become a bishop. It’s not fair for the person, not fair for
their family members and not fair to the church they serve as pastor. It’s
costly and the high cost of campaigning probably eliminates other qualified
candidates. At the end of the process when a person has “run” four years, spent
thousands and thousands of dollars and received failed promises of support and
fails to get elected, of course he or she will be disappointed and even angry.
The failed candidacy will also anger spouses, family members and supporters. In
the “old days” I heard that some of the candidates mortgaged their homes in
order to have the funds necessary to campaign for bishop and we hope that is
not the case today. Just imagine the psyche of family members of a failed
candidacy – the thought is sad. And those who win are worn out and I suspect
need to recoup some of their financial losses. The process is too long! I
wonder what would happen if the AME Church limited the campaign period for
aspirants to become a bishop or general officer to 12 months prior to the
General Conference.
Think about it, a
person who aspires and runs to be president of the United States doesn’t
campaign for four years!
2. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
-- Allen University to Honor Victims of Emanuel AME Church Shooting
Dr. Clementa C. Pinckney, the church's
pastor was a 1995 Allen graduate, Tywanza Sanders, a 2014 Allen graduate and
Rev. Daniel Simmons, Sr. is...
-- Wilmington church to honor victims of gun violence, observe 1-year
anniversary of Charleston...
Members of the AME Church Community in
Wilmington will hold a moment of silence for those gunned down tragically June
15, 2015 at Mother...
Emanuel AME brings community together with
prayer service, discusses collaboration with city - Charleston Post Courier
-- 10 students receive college scholarships in honor of fallen Emanuel
AME pastor
Following the mass killing of nine black
worshippers at Emanuel AME Church last June, a group of anonymous, out-of-state
donors raised more than...
--Clementa Pinckney's legacy: How to be both pastor and public servant
Clementa Pinckney at Emanuel AME Church in
Charleston, S.C. Pinckney ... died Wednesday, June 17, 2015, in the mass
shooting at the church.
3. NEW DOCTOR OF
MINISTRY TRACKS IN 2017; THE REV. DR. CLEMENTA PINCKNEY IS INSPIRATION BEHIND
D. MIN. IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT:
To
be responsive in a prophetic way to identified pastoral and ministerial needs,
Wesley’s Doctor of Ministry program will offer three carefully focused tracks
in 2017. One of the tracks will be in Public Engagement, inspired by the work
of the late Rev. Dr. Clementa Pinckney, who received his D.Min posthumously at
Wesley’s 2016 Commencement ceremonies May 9. Also on the list of new offerings
are tracks in Life Together: Spirituality for Transforming Community, and in
Church Leadership Excellence.
“The
Public Engagement program actually begins in Charleston, South Carolina, in
January,” Director of Admissions Chip Aldridge said, referencing the city where
Pinckney was martyred in July 2015 along with eight other members of the Mother
Emanuel AME congregation. “It’s where Clementa Pinckney lived, and it’s where
he was studying for his own D.Min,” Aldridge said.
Public
Engagement courses reflect the kind of ministry embodied by Pinckney, a pastor
who also served as a member of the South Carolina Senate and House of
Representatives. “It’s for pastors who see themselves as a spokesperson for
faith in the public square,” Aldridge said. “They might see themselves becoming
an elected official, or they might be someone committed to shaping the public
discourse as a significant part of their ministry.”
Referencing
Pinckney’s example, Aldrich added, “It’s for the working pastor who recognizes
that their call is to become a voice for the powerless in the halls of power.”
Track
courses for Life Together – Spirituality for Transforming Community, are
focused less on the public voice and more of strengthening the foundations of
an established church or organization. “What sets this program apart,” Aldridge
said, “is that it revolves around the community’s self-understanding as an
agent for ministry.”
Classes
are designed to support those seeking to better meet the needs of new members
in a community, or to help long term members come to a new understanding of
their spiritual strengths. “The deepening of the spiritual life of a community
helps that community understand its own strengths,” Aldridge said. “And that
allows them to step forward into new ministries and missions.”
People
working in collegiate ministries will find the Life Together D. Min. track
especially helpful. “The process of creating a community of students, faculty,
and staff who are always in transition has its particular challenges,” Aldridge
noted. “You’re creating a worshipping body where a portion is always arriving
and a portion is always leaving. This track will look at how to shape that
community for discipleship, and for activity.”
Offered
annually for more than a decade, the Church Leadership Excellence D. Min. track
welcomes a new cohort in May 2017, providing them with the opportunity to
revitalize church communities through a unique pairing of secular practice and
theological exploration. “This program gives us the opportunity to serve those
who know themselves thoroughly as people called to leadership,” Aldridge said.
Presented
in conjunction with the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, this track is
especially suited to its home in the nation’s capital. “We give our students
the opportunity to experience the best of what we’ve learned from the secular
leadership world, and to adapt that for our faith communities,” Aldridge said.
“The research and skills offered through the Center have transformed the work
of a wide range of lay and clergy leaders.”
This
hybrid online/on-site D.Min program serves the needs of active clergy working
in the field for at least three years after receiving their M.Div by
compressing on-campus time.
“It’s
a natural next step,” Aldridge said. “It’s very practical, and it benefits both
them and their ministry setting.”
In
addition to gaining new knowledge and skills directed at their own work,
graduates become catalysts for much broader community growth. “They become a
sort of regional expert or consultant,” Aldridge said. “They impact churches
and ministries far beyond their own.”
That
web of influence is critical to the continuing strength of the D.Min program
itself, as graduates identify potential leaders – and potential students – in
their communities. “It’s so important that our graduates encourage their
colleagues, the people they think will benefit most from these programs,”
Aldridge said.
Aldridge
encourages alumni to contact him with names of potential candidates and
thoughts about the program’s value and potential. “Just give me a call,” he
said. “Talk to me about how we can get the word out.”
*This
article was extracted from the June 2016 Wesley Theological Seminary eCalling
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5. AME-INDIA ANNUAL
REPORT 2016
The
Rev. Sarah Peddiny and the Rev. Abraham Peddiny
We
give respect to Senior Bishop John R. Bryant, Senior Supervisor, the Rev.
Cecelia Williams Bryant; Respected Presiding Elders, Ambassador Robin Tyson,
the Honored Delegates from USA, my fellow-workers, their families, church
members, friends and well-wishers.
It
is indeed a joy to be here in this august gathering of the Seventh AME-India
Annual Conference. I give all glory to God for God’s goodness, His mercy and
His faithfulness in sustaining, protecting us and guiding us to move forward in
the building of His Kingdom.
I
feel humbled to stand before you to read this report describing the goodness of
God in the ministry of AME-India in the past year. We praise God for the
awesome leaders Bishop John and the Rev. “Cee,” with whom God has blessed us.
We, as a church, are indebted to their leadership and their bold initiatives.
If it were not for them, AME-India would not have existed. It was indeed a bold
step; taken by them to bring the distinguished global African Methodist
Episcopal Church to this part of the world.
We
still remember the week when a delegation of four members Bishop John, the Rev.
“Cee,” the Rev. Brenda Hayes and the Rev. Karla Cooper, led by the Holy Spirit
came to India. The only people the distinguished delegates knew were the “Rev.
Sarah” and “the Rev. Abraham” Peddiny.
But that was then; this is now, just look at the crowd in this hall.
This is just a fraction of the people representing AME-India.
According
to the reports of the pastors last year we were a church with a membership of
11,321. We began with just twenty churches back in 2007 and the Lord has made
it grow to 122 churches last year and God willing we will be 160-plus strong
this year, with a membership of 15,210.
We
are spread across seven states and one Union Territory in India. By the grace
of God we have ten new churches from Nepal, the neighboring Himalayan country,
joining us this year. The AME Church is a dynamic force, because God is her
author and finisher.
I
want to take this opportunity to congratulate Bishop John and the Rev. “Cee”
for their superb, marvelous, brilliant, exceptionally splendid, outstanding and
impressive leadership, which has brought us thus far.
We
had a total of 8 pastors’ meetings this year. The regular meetings have boosted
the morale of the pastors, who otherwise face many difficult challenges in
course of their ministry, especially the opposition from the right-wing groups
which has significantly increased since the Modi’s government has been in
power.
We
also had the privilege of holding a pastors meeting up north in the state of
Bihar and one in Nepal. One of our pastors, Pastor Sumat Behunia had to undergo
a lot of loss as the local right-wing government demolished his church and
school, as a result of which he had to relocate to a new place and start his
ministry all over again. In the same manner, Pastor Krishna Kumar Binzlekar was
also threatened by the Hindu fanatics in the garb of government agents.
According
to one research, there has been 20% increase in attack on Christians in 2015 in
India and it is the worst, since independence.
According
to the report of Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), at least seven pastors
were killed and 8,000 Christians (including 6,000 women and children) targeted
in 2015. Madhya Pradesh is the worst state for Christians and we have 6
pastors serving the Lord in the same state.
During
the Christmas season, we were able to share some fabrics as gifts to our
pastors, which was quite an encouragement to them. We also shared the gifts
brought by teams from Canada and Boston, Massachusetts with the pastors.
In
the month of June 2015 we had a team visiting us from The Hope Center, Canada
under the leadership of Pastor Brian and his wife Karen Warren. This team has
been quite instrumental in starting and running of the 25 Educational Centers
that we have, where free education is provided to poor and underprivileged
children in the rural areas. We are grateful to The Hope Center, Canada, Dr.
Reginald Blount and the Arnett Chapel, and the Christina R. Gray WMS of Bethel
Church in Boston for their continuous support and prayers to sustain the
Education Centers.
The
beauty of the Education Centers run by the churches is the breaking of caste
and religious barriers, not only that the gospel is carried through these
children into their homes and eventually their parents are drawn to the
Lordship of Jesus. The Lord is doing marvelous things through these education
centers.
The
Presiding Elders Sarah and Abraham visited Boston on the invitation of Sister
Carole Copeland Thomas to give the Keynote Address at the 5th
Multi-Cultural Conference organized by Sister Carole. Emirates sponsored the
two way travel for the Presiding Elders. We praise the Lord for it.
It
was wonderful opportunity to visit twenty-one different places, covering three
states, in just two weeks. It was amazing. They also had the privilege to
preach at Bethel AME, a big thanks again to the Rev Dr. Ray and the Rev Dr.
Gloria Hammond for their reception and care, which made us feel at home. I
personally thank and praise God for enabling me to get a 10 year multiple entry
visa to the USA during this trip. A big thanks to Sister Carole for this
opportunity.
In
November 2015, we had the worst rains that the state has ever seen in the last
hundred years, resulting in a deluge that killed 500 people, displaced 3
million people and left behind a loss of 15 billion dollars.
Many
of our churches were badly affected and were submerged in water for weeks
together. A big thanks to Bishop John for the development and emergency relief
fund which was very handy to help pastors who were severely affected by the
floods. On top of that “Bishop we thank you for the funds you had raised for
the relief and we also thank Pastor Ray and Gloria Hammond from the Bethel
Church, Boston, Massachusetts for their initiative in raising funds for the
relief.” More details about these funds will be presented to you in the Finance
Report.
In
the month of February 2016, we had an Inter-Denominational team of 22, under
the leadership of Sister Carole Copeland Thomas, from Boston visiting India.
They visited the churches, the Education Centers, interacted with the pastors,
women, children, widows and the differently-abled people affected and healed
from Leprosy. They brought plenty of Mission supplies for the women and
children.
The
august audience, please be informed that AME-India is just one registered body
registered as a Religious Trust with the Government of India. Therefore there
is no AME Chennai, or AME Puttur or AME Hyderabad etc. Any attempt to divide
this body is strongly discouraged.
The
Ministers of AME-India have also raised a grave concern, based on their
experience from the past. Without any offence to anyone of the distinguished
guests, they request the delegates from abroad, with all due respect, not to
show any preferential option to one or two pastors against the others, by
sharing money or gifts in kind.
This
has caused a lot of misunderstanding and dissensions within the body of God.
Everybody is in need and they are all genuinely serving the Lord in difficult
situations. Some are active on the social media, while others are not, because
they live in such atmosphere where they cannot access the social media. Those that
are not active in the social media are still very active in the Kingdom work.
They do not want to impress people with attractive banners, but they silently
go about doing their work entrusted to them by their Master. They too deserve
to be recognized.
The
Hope Center from Canada and the Boston Team leave behind plenty of mission
items, we as Presiding Elders make sure every Pastor gets an equal share of it.
If there is a shortage, we purchase it locally and compensate the need. No one
goes empty handed. These are the values with which we live and operate.
Therefore it is a humble request to kindly help us follow our values and
protocol and enable us to be united together for Kingdom’s sake.
Finally,
we thank every one of you for your valuable prayers. When the pastors share
their reports we will learn for ourselves the power of our prayers.
It
is because of the enormous amount of prayers, and the grace of God, many
pastors have either been able to purchase land for their churches, while others
have been able to construct their own churches on their own land.
Therefore,
we request you for your continuous prayers, prayers, prayers and more prayers;
this has been the backbone of this church and by grace of God will continue to
be.
Finally
we want to say a big thank you to Bishop John and the Rev. “Cee” for their
leadership and initiatives. We will ever remain indebted to you for what you
have done for us. This church, this generation and the succeeding generations
will remain grateful to you for your immense contribution.
This
being the last Annual Conference, for us to have you with us, while you are
serving in office and retire later this year; we will miss you both, but you
will remain in our prayers.
We
request your guidance and support even as you rest from active service in the
church. We promise you that we will not disappoint you, but rather strive to
carry on the legacy you are leaving behind for us and for our succeeding
generations.
We
pray and believe that the Lord has a plan for this church and God will not rest
until God has fulfilled it, for the glory of His name. It is also our pleading
to our honored guests, to continuously keep us in your valuable prayers and
help us in the Kingdom work for the glory of God.
Prepared
and Presented by the Rev. Sarah & the Rev. Abraham Peddiny
Presiding
Elders, AME-India
6. LOS ANGELES
JUDGE AWARDS PROPERTIES BACK TO FIRST AME CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES:
Los
Angeles, California, Officials of the 18,000 -member, First AME Church of Los
Angeles, have scheduled a 10:00 AM press conference to announce that a Los
Angeles Judge has awarded the Properties back to FAME CHURCH. In 2012, a
Lawsuit entitled, FAME Church et al, V. Hunter, et al, Los Angeles Superior
Court Case No. BC496747 was filed.
In
August of 2012, the previous administrative leadership of First AME Church of
Los Angeles, inappropriately sought to separate and remove the public benefits
assets valued at tens of million dollars, from the control of
FAME
Church without the general congregation’s knowledge.
Under
the current leadership of Pastor J. Edgar Boyd, FAME Church filed a court law
suit against the leadership of the corporations in December of 2012, seeking to
have the programs, and assets returned to the control of First AME Church.
Following almost three and one half years of court battles, the Superior Court
of the State of California, at Los Angeles, on May 25, 2016, declared that the
assets and public benefit programs be returned to the control and management of
First AME Church of Los Angeles
Who: Pastor J. Edgar
Boyd, and Church Officials
Where: First AME Church
of Los Angeles, 2270 South Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90018
When: 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, June 2, 2016
FAME
is the oldest church founded by African Americans in the city of Los Angeles.
In 1872, Mrs. Biddy Mason, a former slave, received the vision from God to
establish a church that would minister to the mind, body and soul of all who
would join that small band of believers. Nearly 144 years later, the
congregation now includes several dozen ministries that bless and reach
thousands of seekers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
For
further information, visit: www.famechurch.org
News Release
Contact:
Michael Ellison-Lewis
7. THE TRUTH IS THE
LIGHT
*The
Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins
Biblical
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new.
There
comes a time when we should long for the opportunity to fix what we believe has
gone wrong in our lives. We wish for the opportunity to start over seeking the
reassurance that no matter how much we may have messed things up, from now on
might be different. Given another opportunity somehow this time we’re going to
get it right.
One
thing for sure, we all need correction. The truth be told, some of us need more
correction than others, for we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of
God.
A
fresh start is a good idea for all of us. We could all use a time of
reflection, when we can take a good look at ourselves in the mirror and ask the
Lord to fix our flaws.
The
truth of matter is that what one person thinks is a flaw, another person flaunts.
That could be because we are not very good at judging ourselves. We tend to see
ourselves through rose-colored glasses.
I’m
wondering if there are some among us who are not afraid to stand before God and
let Him do the judging. Do we desire to let the Lord purge our soul of all that
is displeasing and unrighteous?
I
wonder if anyone of us has given any thought at all to our traits and habits.
For
example, what if God made a list of the character traits and habits He desired
to correct in us? What would God want to remove from us?
The
truth is that deep inside of all of us are the suppressed sins of a Christian
trying hard to get it right every day. That might be a surprise to some people,
however, just because we are all avid church goers and committee members does
not mean that we are perfect or without sin.
We
probably would not want to share our “things to be changed” list with everyone.
However, we are all sinners saved by grace. We are all striving to press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. However, although
we are saved by grace, there are times when we find ourselves frustrated and
angry. We get impatient, intolerant, selfish and a bit self-seeking. We are
pretty much human like everyone else!
Thank
God there is something we can do about all that, that’s right: we can work to
keep ourselves pure and undefiled. The truth is we can stay connected to our
Savior. We can keep checking our mirror’s reflection to make sure that we are
looking more like Him than ourselves.
Our
text warns that we must “be in Christ.” We must understand that to be “in
Christ” is to be completely enveloped and surrounded by the glory and power of
Christ. When we are “in Christ” we are new creatures, which mean the “old self”
of ours no longer has power. That old attitude, old way of thinking and old way
of dealing with our concerns won’t have a chance to drag us down. Please know
that Satan may try! But, Christ has promised that “no weapon formed against us
shall prosper,” because we are new creatures in Christ. The preacher in me
can’t help but say, “Hallelujah!”
Maybe
an agricultural reference would be helpful.
Imagine with me that our lives are like a strawberry field. Our intent
is to produce huge, sweet strawberries, but for some reason all we seem to be
able to do is keep the weeds cut low. Fruit doesn’t appear all that often, and
when it does, it’s not very good. The reason is that strawberries need good
soil. The only way to produce good strawberries is to plow up the whole field
and start over with perfect soil and new plants.
That
is how it is with us and sin. The truth of the matter is - we have so much
difficulty living right, because there is bad soil of temptation all around us.
Try
as we might, we seem only able to keep our sins hidden from sight. The problem
is living like that will never bear fruit.
We
must let Christ “plow our field” and let Him replace it with good soil. Christ
in us, (our soil) and He can make all things new. We will be absolutely amazed
at the fruit we will bear.
*The
Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church
in Charleston, South Carolina
8. GETTING TO ZERO:
FROM THE REAL AFRICA:
*The
Rev. Dr. Oveta Fuller
Greetings
from beautiful, vibrant Lusaka in Zambia that is known for welcoming visitors
to "the real Africa." By this it is meant "welcome, feel free in
a place that is authentically and proudly African." This peaceful country
does not compromise on or apologize for its longstanding traditions,
ceremonies, diverse ethnicities or ways of doing things.
I
am delighted to be in Zambia for the 10th year since the initial invitation
extended by the AMEC Bishop Paul Kawimbe. The first trip was made in February
2006 with Mr. Robert Nicolas of the AMEC-Service and Development Agency
(AME-SADA). This was in response to Bishop Kawimbe's request for assistance in
helping clergy learn about HIV/AIDS so that they might be better equipped to
address the widespread and profound effects of HIV/AIDS on people and
communities of this, his beloved home country.
Zambia
is a land-locked sub-Saharan country located three countries north of South
Africa. Its outline on maps appears as a butterfly-shaped country.
Geographically, it is about the size of the state of Texas-- home to about 14
million people. The constitution declares that it is officially a
"Christian" nation.
I
am here for five weeks with a University of Michigan (U-M) team of students
(three undergraduates and two graduates) and one other professor. This is the
fifth research team that has been immersed in Zambia to continue what has
become the Trusted Messenger Intervention (TMI) launched in 2006. The team
members come to this developing country to better understand the context and
impacts of HIV infection and AIDS as part of Microbiology 450, an engaged
learning course entitled, "Global Impact of Microbes: Fieldwork."
Students
live in home stays with Zambian families selected by the in-country hosting
partner. They become the son or daughter of a Zambian family.
In
2016, we are hosted by the Council of Churches of Zambia (CCZ) with AMEC
itinerant elder Rev. Suzanne Matale as its General Secretary. We continue
collaborations with the 17th Episcopal District of the AMEC with Bishop Wilfred
Messiah as the presiding prelate. We are grateful for the engagement of both of
these well-established networks who provide access to clergy, religious leaders
and Zambians in urban and rural communities. In four weeks we will facilitate
TMI biomedical science-based two-day workshops, follow-ups and site visits
hosted by members of ecumenical ministerial alliances from denominations that
are part of CCZ or leaders in districts of the AMEC.
One
of the three workshops occurred on last Friday. It was hosted by the Ndola Christian
Ministers' Alliance in Copperbelt Province.
Besides
the new science-based understanding participants gained of HIV and AIDS as a
preventable infectious disease, thirteen persons completed voluntary HIV
testing and counseling (VCT or HTC). HTC on-site was provided by the community
entities of Ministry of Health of Zambia. Two other TMI workshops are scheduled
during this 2016 immersion.
The
team will engage with HIV positive members of several support groups and visit
a hospice managed by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo, a home
(orphanage) for vulnerable children and several private or church-run schools
for both fee-paying and vulnerable children. Visits with the CDC-Zambia, the
University Teaching Hospital, the Tropical Disease Research Center (TDRC) of
the World Health Organization (WHO), the Embassy of the USA and local community
clinics help team members to understand the context and healthcare
infrastructure in Zambia. They begin to appreciate benefits and challenges of
how people access the health system to handle HIV/AIDS and other infectious,
acute or chronic diseases. Some of the most prevalent are malaria,
tuberculosis, measles and human papilloma virus.
In
Zambia it is estimated that 1 of every 8 persons are HIV positive. In the
Copperbelt region and some other urban areas the HIV infection prevalence is
estimated by statistics from the Ministry of Health at 18%.
There
is no doubt that religious leaders in communities of Zambia can bring about
change.
When
functioning well through their established networks like the CCZ, such leaders
are placed in influential positions of responsibility to help meet the holistic
needs of people of this amazingly beautiful and resource rich country. In my
experience, the people are by far its greatest resource.
We
indeed are pleased to again spend precious days in "the real Africa"
with an opportunity to contribute to stopping HIV/AIDS and getting to zero new
infections or AIDS related deaths.
*The
Rev. Dr. Oveta Fuller is currently on Sabbatical leave from the University of
Michigan and is currently in Africa and will submit her column as her schedule
permits. She is the incoming Director,
African Studies Center Associate Professor Dept Microbiology and Immunology
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan
9. iCHURCH
SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 - THE DAY OF THE LORD - ZEPHANIAH 1: 4-6, 14-16:
*Brother
Bill Dickens
--- Greetings
from Brussels.
The 2016 Spring Quarter Church School
lessons focused on the redemptive value of faith and grace.
The Summer Adult Church School lessons,
beginning on June 5, 2016, focus on the flip side of providential personality –
judgment. It is common teaching at both the lay and sophisticated seminary
homilies in presenting God as a caring, compassionate Deity.
In short, God is love. While this truth
is undeniable it is at the same time incomplete. God is love, but to be theologically correct, God is
just.
Justice implies that actions taken are
correct and right in order to avoid the possibility of doing something wrong.
Pursuing justice does not mean that punishment is circumvented.
The latter point is the timeless
message by the prophet Zephaniah in Chapter 1.
The “Day of the Lord” represents a
specific time when justice is dispensed. This form of justice does not allow
the guilty to be the benefactors of mercy. For too long and too often the
nations of Israel and Judah have been derelict in not keeping God’s law.
Correct theological teachings have been made a mockery due to arrogance, pride
and selfishness. The high standards of morality for priest and parishioner are
rejected. Following God is no longer a priority. Such choices come with
consequences. The prophet articulates that the consequences will be seen in the
form of justice (read judgment) where physical punishment will be enacted
against the perpetrators. There will be no acquittals for those guilty of
violating holy law. The price of non-compliance will be severe.
There is always a price for
disobedience. When children don’t “follow the house rules” set by parents,
disciplinary actions will be taken. A speeding motorist will face the
probability of paying a fine, and if a repeat offender likely
will have his / her Driver’s license suspended.
Dylan Roof, the trigger-man for the
horrific shootings of nine innocent AME members at Mother Emanuel last year
will probably be punished by the death penalty for his criminal acts.
Perpetrators cannot postpone or delay
their day of reckoning. The best way to be protected from the judgment and
wrath of God is to be compliant with His word and will. The persistent of sin
will never lead to a happy ending. The prophets were not concerned with opinion
polls or political correctness. Choices have consequences. QED
Brother
Bill Dickens is traveling internationally and will be unable to submit his
column. Brother Bill Dickens says, “I'll be back to normal next week.”
*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
10. MEDITATION
BASED ON PSALM 23:
*The
Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I’m
writing this Meditation in the week after Memorial Day, which marks the
beginning of America’s summer vacation season.
That season is already in full swing in Charleston, South Carolina - one
of the world’s premiere tourist destinations.
Many Charleston residents avoid going downtown - or “on the peninsula”
as we say hereabouts - unless it’s absolutely necessary.
The
tourists who fuel a large part of Charleston’s economy often treat the city
like a “theme park” - driving very slowly to see the historic sights and wandering
on foot through intersections and across streets in the shopping districts with
little regard for oncoming traffic.
That
often causes monumental and frustrating traffic jams, but as a Charleston
resident of eighteen years duration, that traffic poses no problem for me. I’ve been navigating Charleston’s streets
long enough to learn which streets to use to avoid tourist traffic and reach my
destinations right on time - my life experience as a “Charlestonian” has taught
me that.
What
applies to “Charlestionians” also applies in a broader sense to children of God
when it comes to navigating the pathways of life. Life in this world can be congested with
challenges, obstructed by confusion and blocked by burdens - things that stand
in our way and leave us feeling stressed, frustrated, spiritually paralyzed and
wondering where to go and which way to turn.
When
we take the time, however, to trust in the God who led one Psalm writer to say
that God will lead, guide, bless and protect us - even in “the valley of the
shadow of death” - we can learn by experience to trust in, walk with and follow
the God who will lead us to new blessings, new strength, new peace of mind and
new power - the God who will never lead us wrong.
Trust
in the Lord to lead you as you navigate life’s treacherous and trying
roads. When you do, you’ll learn from
experience that God will lead us to new victory and find the spiritual strength
to say, as a familiar hymn says, “Where He leads me, I will follow; I’ll go
with Him all the way.”
*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
11. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
The
Fourth Episcopal District regrets to inform you that Mrs. Geneva Coleman made
her transition on Thursday, May 26 in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Coleman is the wife of the Rev. David C.
Coleman, retired presiding elder of the South District, Chicago Conference. Mrs. Coleman was a very devoted long-time
member of the Women's Missionary Society and was a fervent supporter of youth,
having served as the Fourth District YPD Director.
The
Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Coleman is as follows:
Friday,
June 3, 2016
Visitation
- 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Leaks
and Sons Funeral Home
7838 S.
Cottage Grove
Chicago,
IL 60619
Telephone:
(773) 846-6567
Saturday,
June 4, 2016
Wake -
10:00 a.m.
Celebration
of Life - 11:00 a.m.
St.
James African Methodist Episcopal Church
9256 S.
Lafayette Avenue
Chicago,
IL 60620
Telephone:
(773) 785-9733
Fax:
(773) 785.0089
The
Rev. J. Leon Thorn, pastor and officiant
Messages
of Condolence may be sent to The Rev. David Coleman in care of Leak and Sons
Funeral Home or St. James AME Church.
12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT
NOTICE:
The
Third Episcopal District regretfully announces the passing of Mrs. Odessa
Brown, past president of the South Ohio Conference WMS, past president of the
Third Episcopal District WMS and the wife of the late Reverend Dr. H. Mason
Brown who pastored in the Ohio and South Ohio Conference.
Memorial
Service arrangements are as follows:
Thursday,
June 2, 2016:
Quinn
Chapel AME Church
10998
Southland Road
Cincinnati,
Ohio 45240
Telephone:
(513) 825-4900
Email: quinnamecfp@fuse.net
The
Reverend Dr. Frederick A. Wright, pastor & eulogist
Visitation/Calling
hour: 5:00 p.m.
Memorial
Service: 6:00 p.m.
Final
arrangements entrusted to:
Newcomer
Funeral Home
Northwest
Chapel
7830
Hamilton Avenue
Cincinnati,
OH 45231
Telephone:
(513) 522-6100
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT
NOTICE:
We
regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Bettie Hicks, the wife of the
Reverend Dr. George Hicks, pastor of Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal
Church, Wateree District, Central Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal
District of the AME Church. Mrs. Hicks passed away on Monday, May 30, 2016 at
the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg, SC.
Please
note the following:
Celebration
of Life Services
1:00
p.m., Saturday, June 4, 2016
Felderville
A.M.E. Church
1081
Woolbright Rd.
Elloree,
SC 29047
Telephone:
(803) 897-2183
Funeral
Director
Glover’s
Funeral Home
2562
Charleston Hwy.
Orangeburg,
SC 29115
Telephone:
(803) 536-3200
Condolences
may be sent to
The
Rev. Dr. George Hicks
1119
Senate St.
Orangeburg,
SC 29115
Home
Telephone: (803) 534-5202
14. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
regret to inform you of the passing of Ms. Jean Audrey Canty Cobbs, the sister
of Barbara A. Canty Parrott and the sister-in-law of the Reverend Dr. Allen W.
Parrott, Presiding Elder of the Kingstree District, Palmetto Annual Conference
of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church. Ms. Cobbs passed away on
Monday, May 30, 2016.
Sister
Barbara A. Parrott is the Area Consultant of the Kingstree District and a
former Episcopal District PME Director.
Please
note the following:
Celebration
of Life Services
11:00
a.m., Saturday, June 4, 2016
St.
Peter’s A.M.E. Church
4650
Sanders Avenue
North
Charleston, SC 29405
Telephone:
(843) 744-0698
The
Reverend Dr. Robert Kennedy, pastor
Funeral
Services Entrusted to:
Hilton’s
Mortuary
1852
E Montague Ave.
North
Charleston, SC 29405
Telephone:
(843) 619-7130
Fax:
(843) 554-2119
Condolences
may be sent to
Sister
Barbara Canty Parrott
603
Lambert Dr.
Ladson,
SC 29456
Email:
baancapa@aol.com
15. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Regretfully,
we share with you the passing of our father, the Reverend James H. Johnson,
retired pastor of the Virginia Conference.
He was a member of the Campbell’s Chapel AME Church where the Reverend
L. R. Daughtry serves as pastor. The Rev. Johnson made his transition on
Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at the age of 92.
Visitation
and Wake Service for Rev. Johnson is as follows:
Friday,
June 3, 2016 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Shivers
Funeral Chapel
12749
Courthouse Hwy
Smithfield,
VA 23430
Telephone: (757) 357-9500
The
Homegoing Celebration of Life Service for the Rev. Johnson is as follows:
Saturday,
June 4, 2016 at 10 a.m.
Campbell's
Chapel – Carrollton
The
Reverend Linwood R. Daughtry, Pastor
20279
Brewer's Neck
Carrollton,
VA 23314
Telephone:
(757) 238-2246
Presiding
Elder C. W. Morris, a close friend, will serve as the Eulogist.
Messages
of Condolence may be sent to his 4 children:
Mrs.
Arlevia Johnson DeVan,
Reginald,
Christopher, and Quentin Johnson
21015
Brewer’s Neck Boulevard
Carrollton,
VA 23314
Telephone:
757-630-7193
Telephone:
757-748-7064
Telephone:
757-238-9953
16. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
regret to inform you of the following: Sister. Ollye Martyn Kinchion Wright,
wife for nearly sixty years of the Rev. Eugene W. Wright, Sr., transitioned to
be with the Lord on Saturday, May 28, 2016 following a prolonged illness.
Sister Wright is the mother of the Rev. Charles T. Wright (Peggy), pastor of
Holy Trinity AME Church in Las Vegas, So. California Conference of the 5th
Episcopal District; the Rev. Marian Wright Young, assistant pastor, Ward AME
Church in Los Angeles; the Rev. Joan Y. Wright Richardson (Roger), Executive
Pastor, Life Community AME Church in Indianapolis, Indiana Conference - 4th
Episcopal District; Sister Avis J. Wright, Exhorter, formerly of the 4th
Episcopal District; Brother Eugene Wright, Jr,, Los Angeles; and Brother Thomas
K. Wright, Midwest City, Oklahoma; cousin of superannuated Presiding Elder, the
Rev. Elmer Wright of the 10th Episcopal District, and aunt to the Rev. Michael
G. Ephraim, Sr. (Rosetta), pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Macon, GA; and
Brother Vincent P. Thompson, lay preacher, Greater St. John AME Church, Biloxi,
Mississippi.
Sister
Wright, a life-long member of the AME Church, was active in the 10th Episcopal
District YPD, serving at the local, annual conference and district levels until
her family re-located to Southern California in 1953. Sister Wright continued
her service in the AME Church, and marrying Eugene Wright, Sr in 1956. When the
Rev. Wright, Sr. embarked upon a pastoral journey over a span of 30 years of
service to 14 charges across the 5th Episcopal District, Sister Wright toiled
faithfully by his side, and working in the Women's Missionary Society at the
local, annual conference and episcopal district levels, as well as in the
Clergy Families organization. A passionate vocalist and accomplished organist,
Sister Wright gave of those gifts to the music ministries of the local churches,
the annual conference and district levels of both the 10th & 5th Episcopal
Districts.
In
addition to her husband, children, cousin and nephews listed, Sister Wright
leaves to mourn her passing, her only sister, Sister Alverta Russell of Long
Beach, CA, 8 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, 3 sisters-in- love, an aunt,
and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Please
note the following:
Celebration
of the Life of Sister Ollye Martyn Wright:
Saturday,
June 11, 2016
Public
Viewing: 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Service
of Celebration: 11 a.m.
Ward
African Methodist Episcopal Church
1177
West 25th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007
(Please
have any wreaths, flowers, cards, etc. sent to address listed above)
The
Rev. John Edward Cager, III - officiant, senior pastor of Ward AME Church in
Los Angeles
The
Rev. Darryl Eugene Walker - eulogist, senior pastor of New Philadelphia AME
Church in Long Beach, California
Funeral
Services Entrusted to:
Ted's
Mortuary Services
2559
West Blvd.
Los
Angeles, CA 90016
Telephone:
(323) 737-8337
Fax:
(323) 737-8340
Reception
Repast: Immediately following Celebration of Life Service: 1 p.m.
– 3 p.m.
Ward
African Methodist Episcopal Church - Margaret Murray Fellowship Hall
Condolences
may be sent to:
The
Rev. Charles T. Wright: pastorcwright@aol.com
The
Rev. Marian Wright Young: revmidwy@yahoo.com
The
Rev. Joan Wright Richardson: revjustjoanrich@gmail.com
The
Rev. Michael Ephraim, Sr.: mgephraim@aol.com
Brother
Vincent Thompson: vpt8159@gmail.com
17. 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
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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