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 - MY TRIBUTE TO THE REVEREND DR. JOHNNY
BARBOUR, JR.
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H.
Sydnor III
The 20th Editor
of The Christian Recorder
I
have known the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr. for 50 years! Well, not really, I personally got to meet
and know him 12 years ago when I became the 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder. If I first met him 12 years ago, how can I
say that I have known him for 50 years?
I am glad you asked!
Fifty
years ago I was appointed to my first pastoral charge in the Kentucky Annual
Conference and my best friend was the Reverend Charles Derrick Brice who hailed
from Chicago, by way of Mississippi. Of
course the sixties was “smack-dab” in the Civil Rights struggle and pastors and
laity were in constant discussions about what was going on in the deep south
and about the struggles in the inner cities.
The
Reverend Charles Brice used to always bring up the name of the Reverend Johnny
Barbour, Jr. The Reverend Charles Brice
had the highest respect for Johnny Barbour and what made it so impressive was
the fact that at that time, Charles Brice, Johnny Barbour and I were all in our
twenties.
Young
preachers have admiration for older preachers, so when a young preacher admires
and respects another young preacher, it says something!
I
remembered the name, “Johnny Barbour” down through the years. The Reverend Brice mentioned other preachers,
but one could tell he had the highest respect for Johnny Barbour.
When
I met the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr. in 2004, the first thing I said was, “I know you, but you might not
know me. The Reverend Charles Brice
talked about you ad infinitum.” There was no way in the world I could forget
the name, “Johnny Barbour” because Charles Brice mentioned him so many times.
The
interesting thing is that I came to understand the Reverend Charles Brice’s
admiration of the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour because I quickly came to admire
him.
I
learned so much from my friend, Johnny Barbour, Jr. Whenever I sat in
his office; I learned a lot about the AME Church and much more. He taught me
about many things.
He
taught me how to save money. I wish he
or someone could have gotten to me years earlier, but later is better than
never. He taught me to save left-over change, save one dollar coins and
two-dollar bills. Dr. Barbour said, “You
would be surprised how much money you can save and have available when you need
it.” I discovered that he was absolutely
correct.
Dr.
Barbour taught me about the importance of annual physical exams. He would
announce, “I am going to Jackson for my physical. Have you had your physical?” When I was in
the Army, an annual physical was required, but the five years I had been out of
the Army, I really had not had a physical.
Our
conversation, his question and his encouragement caused me to arrange getting a
medical and dental exam. He had simply concluded that conversation with,
“Calvin, you need to get a physical.” I
went home that day and told my wife, the Reverend Dr. Charlotte Sydnor,
that we were going to schedule our medical and dental exams – and we were going
to stay on top of it. And, we have done
so!
Dr.
Johnny Barbour also taught me about prayer, especially among friends. I have believed in prayer all my life.
Sometimes, we preachers pray for everyone else, but sometimes we fail to pray
for each other. It might be that we, preachers, think clergy can pray
for themselves or we might think to pray for a colleague when it involved
something serious.
Dr.
Johnny Barbour and I would be talking in his office about many things that
involved our families, the AME Church or some medical challenges faced by
someone we knew. And, sometimes, just
when I was getting ready to leave his office, Johnny would say, “Let’s have a
word of prayer.” For me those times we prayed for each other were
powerful! We seemed to know when each
other needed prayer.
He
taught me something about true friendship.
A
connectional meeting was held in St. Louis and Johnny had flown and I had
driven (after 86 parachute jumps, I am still fearful of flying, and moreso as I
have gotten older). The non-stop flight
from Nashville to St. Louis is about an hour or less; driving takes five
hours. As the meeting was ending, Johnny
said, “Calvin, you drove by yourself from Nashville?” I responded, “I did; it
only took about five hours.” Johnny had
a round-trip ticket, but he said, “I will ride back to Nashville with you so
you won’t have to drive by yourself.” I
was so touched by his compassion in not wanting me to drive alone and his
willingness to sacrifice time out of his busy schedule to ride back from St.
Louis to Nashville. I got to know him well on the drive from St. Louis to
Nashville.
Everybody
knows Dr. Barbour loves cars, but he once kept me company on a drive to and
from Nashville to Atlanta in my Mini-Cooper.
Dr.
Barbour is a great counselor. He has a
calming demeanor and a good listening ear, especially when I shared problems
and challenges with him, but I always left his office and his presence with
calmness in my spirit!
Dr.
Johnny Barbour, Jr. is the superb President/Publisher of the AME Sunday School
Union. He was, and still is, a master pastor, outstanding teacher, superb local
and connectional church administrator, par
excellence and a man of God. He is a faithful husband, father, grandfather,
uncle and committed friend.
The
Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr. is intelligent, insightful, spiritual, and
always carries himself in a professional manner. He is always prepared, has
something to say, and when he speaks, bishops, general officers, connectional
officers, presiding elders, pastors and laity listen.
I
feel honored to know the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr. as a pastor,
colleague, mentor, personal confidant and friend.
Once
you meet the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr. you will never forget him!
He
loves his wife, Clara, his two grandchildren, his son, daughter-in-law and all
his relatives and extended family members!
Appended
below are some of his wise thoughts, which I call, “Barbourisms.”
Barbourisms
-- To confirm the Stewards, the people at
the Quarterly Conference have to vote. The presiding elder cannot confirm
the Stewards with some ceremonial words and some kind of blessing. A vote
has to be taken to confirm the Stewards. The members of the church have
to be involved.
-- Just because we have done something in
the AME Church a certain way for many years, doesn’t make it right!
-- Pastors should not say, “My steward
board” or “My church”; it’s “Our steward board” and “Our church.”
-- The Steward Board does not belong to the
pastor.
--
A pastor labors years working to get to the pinnacle of ministry, but it only
takes minutes, seconds or a bad decision to derail ministry.
-- A derailed ministry has a negative
impact upon a preacher’s family and especially, children.
-- Advice to pastors, “Don’t let a dead man
/ woman kill your ministry.”
-- A pastor who is not generous and
gracious in sensitive situations might discover that he or she is “putting a
nail in the coffin” of his or her ministry.
-- A pastor should be gracious in acceding
to the wishes of his or her parishioners when it comes to funerals and
weddings.
-- Don’t kill your ministry by being in
such a rush on Sunday mornings; take the time to greet your parishioners after
the close of worship.
-- A word to young
and old preachers, “Don’t let neglect kill your ministry.”
-- Don’t let your
failure to visit your sick and shut-in members kill your ministry.
-- Advice Dr.
Johnny Barbour’s father gave to him: My Daddy said, “It takes a long time for a minister who starts at the bottom
pastoring small congregations and moving from church to church and then getting
to the first church on the district – that doesn’t happen overnight; but one
indiscretion, one moral misjudgment and the fall from the top to the bottom can
be instantaneous.”
-- It takes longer to get from the bottom to
the top than it does to get from the top to the bottom.
Truly wise thoughts from a wise man!
To God be the Glory
for causing our paths to meet and for his long and faithful service to God the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and to the African Methodist Episcopal
Church.
2. NEWS AROUND THE AME CHURCH:
--Woodfork Chapel celebrates 152 years
Woodfork Chapel AME Church has been located
on Lipscomb Street since the early 1960s but dates to around the end of the
Civil War...
Read more: http://www.t-g.com/story/2310964.html
3. DONALD TRUMP ATTACKS KAPPA ALPHA PSI FEDERAL COURT JUDGE GONZALO P.
CURIEL ON HIS MEXICAN HERITAGE:
Judge Curiel received his Bachelor of Arts
Degree from Indiana University in 1976 and his Juris Doctor from the Indiana
University School of Law in 1979. He is a Nupe and crossed through the founding
chapter of the fraternity, the Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity,
Inc. in 1974.
This is an excerpt from a post that his
fraternity brother, Michael Gordon wrote about him on Facebook.
“Gonzalo Curiel was one of our students at
Indiana University and a member of Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
which had been founded at Indiana University in 1911. Gonzalo was beginning as
a student at Indiana University Law School at that time. It is a rather long
and complicated story behind this, but the gist of it is that I, a brand new
professor at Indiana University and Gonzalo, he and I only, formed a committee
of two persons, to organize and apply for a Charter, for the first time in its
history; an Alumni Chapter of the fraternity, right there in Bloomington,
Indiana, in order to provide more and direct counseling, advising, and more
accountability for undergraduates at our very first chapter in the nation. That
was in 1977, and I became the very first President of that new chapter,
president in our fraternity, the president is called “Polemarch” and I was
appointed by the Province Polemarch as the Alpha Chapter Faculty Advisor.”
Not only is Judge Curiel a member of Kappa
Alpha Psi, he crossed through the fraternity’s Alpha Chapter in early 1970s and
is a charter member of the Bloomington (IN) Alumni Chapter.
4. PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR THE GENERAL CONFERENCE
Bill No: TBD
Title: Reestablishment of the
First Educational District
Reference: The Doctrine and
Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 1948, Page 280, Item 254
and Page 282, Item 257 #3
Intent: To reestablish the
former First Educational District, comprising the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth
and Thirteenth Districts, with the addition of the Second District. Originally
the First, Fourth, Fifth, and Thirteenth were episcopal districts without an
educational institution. The Second District,
at the time of the establishing of the First Educational District in 1948, had
Kittrell College, which no longer exists.
The First Educational District was to divide its financial support
between Wilberforce University and Payne Seminary.
Rationale: In 1863 when Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation,
Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne purchased from the Methodist Episcopal Church—on
faith for $10,000—Wilberforce University.
This act on behalf of the African Methodist Episcopal Church made
Wilberforce University the oldest private coeducational African American
institution of higher learning and Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne the first
black college president. Long regarded as the “Crown Jewel” of African
Methodism, Wilberforce University counts among its graduates 26 of the 130
elected and consecrated bishops, numerous outstanding ministers and prominent
laypersons. Currently, Wilberforce University, as with so many other private
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), is facing declining
enrollments, deferred maintenance, financial straits.
Insert at the appropriate place in the 2016 Discipline:
The First Educational District, to comprise
the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Thirteenth Episcopal Districts
shall be reestablished and its financial support to higher education shall be
equally divided between Wilberforce University and Payne Theological Seminary.
Submitted by: Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams
5. DR. JAMYE COLEMAN WILLIAMS: A PASSION FOR EDUCATION &
JUSTICE:
Alice Bernstein
Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams, educator,
activist, and leader in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, was the
guest speaker on March 2nd at Harvard University’s Foundation for
Intercultural and Race Relations. At age 97, Dr. Williams is a vibrant,
contemporary woman who has fought for equality in education and civil rights.
The diverse audience of young and old included teenage freshmen, graduates,
faculty, and guests, and the distinguished educator Dr. McDonald Williams (age
98), who is her husband. Hearing her speak, I thought of these words written by
the great American philosopher and poet, Eli Siegel, founder of Aesthetic
Realism:
“[A person] will not be fully human until he
[or she] is interested in justice with great intensity and with the
comprehensiveness which does not wish to miss any of its forms…. Where
something is wrong in the outside world, we should oppose it not only because
it has affected us inconveniently, but because the idea of not opposing
injustice, the sense of personal shame in permitting what is evil anywhere,
makes one not like oneself.”
Dr. Williams’ rich life has been spent
opposing injustice in many important ways. In her talk she discussed her work
1) as an educator for over 48 years in Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs); 2) as a civil rights activist in the 1950s-60s; and, 3)
in the AME Church.
She was introduced by Dr. S. Allen Counter,
one of her earliest students, now a professor of neurobiology at Harvard. He
described how crucial HBCUs were before the civil rights movement--and
beyond--as the only opportunity for higher education accessible to black
students. And, in the rare instances where black men and women were able to
attend white colleges, they were denied jobs as teachers there when they
graduated. Meanwhile, he noted that ironically, this injustice led to the
employment of these highly educated and dedicated black teachers at HBCUs. Dr. Counter expressed his gratitude for
having been a student at an HBCU--Tennessee State A&I (now TSU)--and he was
clearly moved to host his dear professor as guest speaker.
Education & the AME Church—Then and Now
Dr. Williams began her talk by asking young
scholars to commit themselves “to careers in academe, which truly, sure enough
needs you.” While telling further of her
talk, I’ll also add some instances of what she’s said elsewhere, including
conversations we have had because of my work as a journalist and civil rights
historian, work informed by my study of Aesthetic Realism. She makes clear throughout her talk that her
interest in justice isn’t over; and that she continues to ask for more from
herself—and others.
There is a maxim by Eli Siegel which I
believe expresses the large way every person should be seen: “Every person now
alive is a culmination of history.” It
is certainly true about Dr. Williams, whose life has been deeply affected in
particular by events in American history as far back as the 1700s and the brutality
of slavery, as well as events in the 20th and 21st centuries that she witnessed
and participated in. She was born in 1918 in Louisville, Kentucky, and later
earned a B.A. with honors in English from her beloved alma mater Wilberforce
University in Ohio. Later she lived and taught in Tennessee and Georgia.
And because the AME church is one of the big
forces in her life—her father and brother were AME ministers—she told some
history of this church and its unflagging activism for higher education and
economic justice for over 200 years.
The AME church is the oldest African
American religious denomination in America. It arose from the Free African
Society organized in 1787 by freemen protesting against slavery and racial
segregation in houses of worship. In 1816, the AME was formally organized in
Philadelphia, largely through the work of a former slave who bought his
freedom, Rev. Richard Allen. In 1856,
just before the Civil War, the AME church established its first
college—Wilberforce, in Ohio—and has stood firmly ever since for education as
the key to equal opportunity. Dr. Williams pointed out to her audience that one
of the teachers at Wilberforce was W.E.B. DuBois; the first black awarded a PhD
by Harvard University.
She expressed pride in having taught the
humanities to thousands of students at 5 HBCUs, 4 of which are AME colleges,
and being “part of their educational experience.” Among her many students who
would later become notable in their fields are: opera singer Leontyne Price,
Grammy-winning gospel singer Bobby Jones, Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph;
and, in addition, 8 students of hers became AME bishops, 3 became college
presidents, 2 became seminary presidents, and others went on to careers in
medicine, engineering, government, and law.
She is fervent about the need for HBCUs to
survive, against the odds today, when “soaring budgets and diminishing
resources,” make it hard for black colleges to withstand the “brain drain”
caused by recruitment of promising black students by well-endowed colleges. In
2010 she spoke on the theme, “Education Determines Our Dreams and Destiny,” to
an interdenominational gathering of ministers, educators and leaders, to
celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King and the 28th anniversary of the
national holiday in his name. Calling it
“a sad time,” when poverty, unemployment, and rising college costs, severely
threaten HBCUs, she stressed with great intensity that equality of educational
opportunity is a crucial “avenue for our youth [to] realize their dream and
destiny” when “more of our young men are in prison than in college.“
At Harvard, she urged the students there, so
fortunate in their access to knowledge, to “combat the obstacles to parity in
education for African Americans.” When
Jamye Williams says “Thank God for the black college,” it is a statement that
takes in her whole life, and it is meant!
Civil Rights: The Fight between Contempt and Respect
My work as an historian of civil rights led
to my knowing Dr. Williams and attending her talk. We were introduced by two of our mutual
friends, retired AME Bishop Frederick C. James of South Carolina, and Mrs.
Rosetta Perry, publisher of the Tennessee Tribune. They—and now Dr. Williams--are among the 200
men and women nationwide whom I’ve interviewed for “The Force of Ethics in
Civil Rights” oral history project. The project aims to preserve little known
history of the struggle for justice, and to meet the urgent need in America to
understand the cause and answer to racism, explained by Aesthetic Realism.
The moment-to-moment ethical fight in every
human being, Eli Siegel taught, is between contempt—“the addition to self
through the lessening of something else” and respect—wanting to know and be
fair to the world and people. It is the
desire for contempt that is the cause of racism and every human injustice. In The Right of Aesthetic Realism to Be
Known, Chairman of Education Ellen Reiss wrote:
“[T]he fight, Shall I see the world and
people with contempt or respect? Is the fight within every individual right
now; it is our constant, inward, personal civil war.”
The persons interviewed for “The Force of
Ethics in Civil Rights” are distinguished by the fact that in difficult,
dangerous, and sometimes life-threatening situations, they chose to fight for
justice and made America better, stronger, more ethical. Their lives are
evidence that the desire to know and be fair to others—to be ethical—has power
and makes for the greatest self-respect.
In her talk, Dr. Williams spoke of her civil
rights activism—and gave what she called “dramatic snapshots,” of working for
40 years on the Executive Committee of the NAACP (her husband McDonald was vice
president) and with local youth councils in colleges, fighting injustice that
threatened not only their own but others’ lives. She worked with well-known
leaders, including Martin Luther King, John Lewis, James Lawson, and Thurgood
Marshall—and others hardly known now. Some of them were lawyers representing
victims of racist violence, students arrested at sit-ins to desegregate eating
places, and anyone whose stand against Jim Crow led to attempts to discredit,
bankrupt, destroy their livelihoods, and even end their lives.
One such person was Z. Alexander Looby, the
Nashville Movement’s leading lawyer. She
vividly described “an event that solidified the black community, on April 19,
1960,” when his home was bombed. The blast, felt several miles away, broke 140
windows at nearby Meharry Medical College (HBCU) injuring some students.
(Thankfully, the Looby’s were unharmed, having been warned of the bomb threat.)
A spontaneous protest march began at TSU with several hundred and grew to 3,000
with students in schools and colleges joining along the way, including Jamye
Williams, her husband, and their daughter Donna. The march, conducted in
complete silence, reached the courthouse steps—and was about to change history.
She gave a riveting eyewitness account of
the historic confrontation with Nashville’s Mayor Ben West and one of the
student leaders, Diane Nash. The bombing protest, and so many events in the
years leading up to it, made for an ethical breakthrough. Ms. Nash courageously
asked the Mayor the question straight: “Do you recommend that the lunch
counters be desegregated?” and the Mayor answered clearly, ever so surprisingly
“Yes!” and it led to what Jamye Williams called, “a death knell to the
continued white opposition to the desegregation of public accommodations.” Nashville had led the way to desegregation in
the South. And, in 1995,” Dr. Williams
said, “exactly 35 thirty-five years after Diane Nash posed that crucial
question…on the morality of segregation, another Mayor—Philip Bredesen—on the
same spot in front of the courthouse, in the presence of civil rights
activists, including an older Diane Nash, dedicated a plaque commemorating that
historic day with the words from the Old Testament prophet Joshua: “And the
people shouted with a great shout so that the walls fell down.”
Writing about Jamye Williams’ life and work,
I’ve thought often about this principle, central in Aesthetic Realism, “All
beauty is a making one of opposites, and the making one of opposites is what we
are going after in ourselves.” I respect
the way she is trying to put together the opposites of erudition and passion,
bravery and caution, courage and sympathy. I feel these sentences from Eli
Siegel’s essay, “A Woman Is a Oneness of Aesthetic Opposites," are a
beautiful and true understanding of all women, and can be seen as commenting on
her life. About the opposites, Hard and Soft, he wrote:
"Often a determination comes to women
which can hold its own with that of Napoleon or a boulder in a city park. And
women are also pitying, sympathetic, moved to give up their notions because of
the plight of another."
The AME Church Today
Her talk ended with a discussion of what Dr.
McDonald Williams has proudly described as his wife’s “fierce advocacy for
women in ministry, particularly in the bishopric.” And in what she related next we see the determination
“which can hold its own with that of Napoleon or a boulder in a city park.”
In a discussion after her talk, two women
students, Cary Williams and Doni Lehman, asked about challenges Dr. Williams
faced particularly as a woman, and her experience with the challenges of other
women.
Replying, she reflected on her efforts which
led to the election in 2000 of the first female bishop of the AME Church after
187 years:
''In our church, the majority of members and
the majority of seminary enrollees are women. So it is not fair to deny them
full inclusion. It's sort of like the civil rights battle…. People just don't
want to relinquish power without a fight.
“We decided it was time to have a female
bishop. It was not easy and it was not pretty.… I had taught 8 of the bishops,
and I would go to each one and say, ‘It’s time for us to elect a woman to the
bishopry and I need your help.’ They would tell me, ‘I’ll pray over it.’ So I
wrote a resolution … to include a woman to be elected. As you can imagine,
there was pandemonium.…. But this propelled the organization to finally elect a
woman bishop, Vashti Murphy McKenzie. (Note: Two other women were elected in
following years.)”
And she continued with undiminished
determination about her future work:
“In 2016 [the church] will be 200 years old
as a formal organization. We’re going to Philadelphia in July. …Right now the
AME church has one woman bishop—one of the women died and the other is retired.
So if we don’t elect someone in 2016, when 2020 comes and Bishop McKenzie
retires, we will have a bench of male bishops. Now that is unacceptable in
2016."
The evening concluded with a surprise as Dr.
Counter presented an award of appreciation to Jamye Coleman Williams for her
innumerable contributions to education, social involvement of the AME Church,
and intercultural relations.
It was moving to see students rising to
surround her and to express their
appreciation—many eager to have pictures taken with her.
Dr. Williams once told me she had taught the
poetry of Eli Siegel in classes on contemporary American poets, and mentioned
having recently bought his second volume of poetry, Hail, American Development.
I told her of a poem in it about Martin Luther King, which I love and have
written about, and asked if she’d like me to recite it. She eagerly said yes:
Something Else Should Die:
A Poem with Rhymes by Eli Siegel
In
April 1865
Abraham
Lincoln died.
In
April 1968
Martin
Luther King died.
Their
purpose was to have us say,
Some
day:
Injustice
died.
“Beautiful—how beautiful, and moving,” she
said. I agree. And I know the study of Aesthetic Realism will bring us closer
to that day described in the final lines of this poem.
Alice Bernstein is a journalist, Aesthetic
Realism Associate, and historian for “The Force of Ethics in Civil Rights,” the
oral history project of the not-for-profit Alliance of Ethics and Art.
6. MOTHER CHURCH OF GEORGIA GETS NEW PASTOR:
On April 1, 2016, at the 151st
Session of the Old Georgia Annual Conference, held at the St. James AME Church
in Savannah, Georgia, Bishop Preston Warren Williams II, the 119th elected and
Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, appointed
Reverend Dr. Bernard Clarke the 42nd pastor of the Mother Church of
African Methodism in the State of Georgia, St. Philip Monumental AME Church.
Dr. Clarke made history as well, becoming
the first Savannah born minister to be appointed to a full pastorate at
Monumental. (The late Rev. Peola W. Scott, also a Savannahian and only female
pastor in the church’s history, served an interim appointment of 6-8 months in
1988.)
The congregation is elated to have Dr.
Clarke as our new pastor; and his wife, Antoinette, two daughters, LaToya and
Amber and son, Jordan as our first family.
Members of the congregation rejoiced in the
Lord, and said, “To God be the Glory! Great things He has done!”
Submitted by Johnnie M. Perkins, Sr.
7. REQUEST “YES” VOTE ON “THE BISHOP SARAH FRANCES DAVIS COVENANT
KEEPERS AND INTERCESSORS” LEGISLATION:
To: The Bishops, Delegates, Alternate
Delegates, Laity and all members of the 50th Quadrennial of The African
Methodist Episcopal Church
From: Exhorter Danita
W. Mosley 2nd Episcopal District Prayer Life Ministry & Jubilee Prayer Team
2016
Date: June 3, 2016
For the past 4 years, the Jubilee Prayer
Team has been praying and interceding for unity, supernatural breakthroughs for
Districts 1-20 of the African Methodist Episcopal District.
We, the members of the Jubilee Prayer Team,
believe God for minds, hearts, and doors to be opened as we journey to
Philadelphia.
We are standing on Numbers 14:28 “Say unto them, as truly as I live, saith the
Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you.” We have been praying for souls to be saved,
restored, delivered, revived and raised up to continue the work of God’s
Disciples.
We the members of the Jubilee Prayer Team
are asking the Bishops, delegates, and alternate delegates to please give “The
Bishop Sarah Frances Davis Covenant Keepers and Intercessors” legislation a
“Yes” vote to pass in recognition of the late Bishop Sarah Frances Davis’
unwavering life and ministry as “The Praying Bishop!”
It is our prayer that the Blood of Jesus
cover you with wisdom, peace, unity and love.
God’s Humble Servant,
Exhorter Danita W. Mosley
8. NEW SENTENCING
REFORM MEASURE RELEASED - ACT NOW:
Recently
senators from both sides of the aisle stood together as they announced new
enhancements to the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act. The changes are
designed to broaden even further the bi-partisan support this measure has
enjoyed since its initial introduction last fall.
SRCA
furthers justice by:
• Reducing mandatory
minimums for non-violent drug offenses
• Severely restricts use
of solitary confinement on juveniles
• Improve recidivism
reduction programs like job training, education, drug rehab, and faith based
programming
• Improving accuracy of
FBI background files used by employers during screening
These
measures are important first steps on the road to reforming a justice system
that relies too much on warehousing people, targets communities of color
unfairly, and focuses on punishment rather than restoration.
Contact
your Senator now to tell them to support SRCA as a first step towards justice.
9. JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL TO RECOGNIZE THE PITTSBURGH'S HISTORIC AFRICAN
AMERICAN ICONIC LEADERS:
Pittsburgh, PA (BlackNews.com) – All are
invited to attend the Pittsburgh's Bicentennial Celebration and Juneteenth
Festival on June 17-19.
The City of Pittsburgh is celebrating it's
200 year of incorporation and will highlight this years celebration with a
recognition of African American freedom and liberty throughout the United
States (Juneteenth is the official holiday in the African Americans community
celebrating the end of Slavery, generally held on June 19th each year).
The local organization, Stop the
Violence-Pittsburgh, has organized the Juneteenth Event from June 17th
- 19th. Pittsburgh's
Juneteenth Festival is named in honor of one of the City's foremost and
prominent African American political leader, Martin R. Delany (1812-1885). Mr.
Delany was an Abolitionist, Doctor, first Black admitted to Harvard Med School,
Editor, Inventor and the first line Major of the U.S. Army, appointed by
President Abraham Lincoln, who advocated African American nationalism and
self-reliance.
One key event of the Juneteenth Festival
will be a re-enactment of the 1870 Jubilee of Freemen Parade. The original
Jubilee Parade was based on the ratification of the 15th Amendment
granting African American males the Right to Vote. This original Parade was a
national event organized by Leaders of Bethel AME Church
The re-enactment Parade will start on June
18th, 9 a.m. with a memorial service at St. Benedict the Moor
Church.
For more details about the event visit: www.PittsburghBlackLegacy.com
10. EMANUEL AME CHURCH CHARLESTON DECLARES VICTORY IN THE VALLEY:
Emanuel AMEC Charleston schedule of programs
& events for 1-year anniversary of tragedy
June 17, 2015 is etched in our memories as
the day that 9 Christian martyrs were senselessly murdered exercising their
faith in prayer. Now known as the
Emanuel 9, we are reminded that we must be vigilant to end gun violence that
snuffs out lives daily across this country.
One year later, Charleston braces to
remember and recommit. Let us pray for
and act with the Seventh Episcopal District.
Do what you can, where you are because
senseless gun violence is at your back and front doors. Help make it go away - We can do this!
Our part includes voting in the upcoming
series of elections - It matters who make laws!!
The Agenda for the 9 Days of remembering is
below.
-- “Victory in the Valley” Calendar will commemorate
the Mother Emanuel Nine and Honor the Families, Survivors & Church Members:
Cities all over the world are planning
commemorative programs and events for the first-year anniversary of the June
17, 2015 tragedy at Emanuel AME Church (EAMEC), 110 Calhoun Street, Charleston,
SC, 29401.
Several organizations (churches, the public
library, houses of worship and others) have partnered with the AME Churches of
South Carolina, Mother Emanuel, the city of Charleston and others to provide
opportunities for youth and people of all ages to engage in meaningful dialogue
about unity among all races.
The when, what and where for June 15-26 are
listed in date order to assist those planning to participate from near and
far.
The why: “Victory in the Valley” programming
is designed to remember the lives of the victims while honoring their families,
the survivors and members of Mother Emanuel. Ticketed events are noted with
double asterisks (**).
Wednesday, June 15th at 6:00 p.m.
Ecumenical Bible Study (Part I) led by the
Rev. Dr. Betty Deas Clark and the Rev. Anthony Thompson. EAMEC, 110 Calhoun St.
in Charleston, SC, Call (843)722-2561 for more information.
Thursday, June 16th at 1:00 p.m.
Senior Citizens Luncheon sponsored by South
Carolina Representative Jenny Horne, EAMEC / Fellowship (**)
Friday, June 17th at 10:00 a.m.
An Ecumenical Service Remembering the Mother
Emanuel Nine and Honoring the Survivors & Members of Mother Emanuel AME
Church sponsored by the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris, Presiding
Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District and the College of Charleston, T. D.
Arena, 301 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC. RSVP by June 9, 2016 at (803)
935-0500. Ticket holders only
Friday, June 17th from 4-5:30 p.m.
After Charleston: Commemoration, Healing and
Hope
This is a culminating service for members of
the church, leaders in Charleston, and city leaders from across the
country. EAMEC - Public Event
Friday, June 17th at 6:00 p.m.
Charleston Community Supper sponsored by
Second Presbyterian Church of Charleston at 342 Meeting Street / Charleston, SC
29403 / Public Event
Friday, June 17th at 7:00 p.m.
After Charleston: The Sacred Space
This is an event designed for individuals to
experience the sacred space of Mother Emanuel for a time of worship, prayer and
reflection. Worship Leaders: Will Reagan of United Pursuit, Freddy Washington
of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Worship Leaders of Charleston Sponsored by
Mother Emanuel; After Charleston, Civilitas Group, 1Charleston, the Cathedral
Church of St. Luke and St. Paul and New Metropolitan. EAMEC / Public Event
For real-time event details: Twitter: @aftercharleston; Facebook:
Facebook.com/AfterCharleston
Friday, June 17th at 9:30 p.m.
After Charleston: The Activation. This is an
event designed for individuals to participate in a summit and mixer designed to
equip them to become active in the pursuit of unifying the city of Charleston.
The event will include music infused with the insight of some notable national
figures. Locations: TBD
Sponsored by Mother Emanuel, After
Charleston, Civilitas Group, 1Charleston, the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and
St. Paul.
Saturday, June 18th at 7:30 a.m.
Prayer Breakfast hosted by South Carolina
State Senators Margie Bright Matthews and Marlon Kimpson. Francis Marion Hotel
/ 387 King Street / Charleston, SC 29403 / Public Event. Reservations are
requested due to limited seating. Please RSVP to vtresvant@gmail.com
Saturday, June 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Samaritan’s Feet sponsored by EAMEC & Coca-Cola
Bottling Company Consolidated / Buist Academy, 103 Calhoun St. / Charleston, SC
29401 / Registration is required for school-aged children to receive free socks
and tennis shoes at http://wach.com/news/local/events-will-mark-anniversary-of-charleston-church-shooting-06-06-2016
.
Saturday, June 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A Walk of Unity and Thanksgiving sponsored
by EAMEC and the Hate Won’t Win Movement / Begin walk at Marion Square at 11:00
a.m. (overflow at Wragg Square); End walk at Gaillard Center Lawn (95 Calhoun
St.). To register for the walk visit www.hatewontwinmovement.com.
Release of doves: unity & healing ceremony at 11:30 a.m.
Mother Emanuel Tree Dedication Ceremony at
12:30 p.m. with keynote speaker the Rev. Dr. Bernice King and the Rev. Shirley
Caesar performing
Saturday, June 18th from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Mother Emanuel Quilt Exhibition at 85
Calhoun St. / Charleston, (The Arch Building)
Sunday, June 19th at 8:00 a.m.
Service of the Bells led by St. Michael’s
Episcopal Church
Sunday, June 19th at 9:30 a.m.
Worship Service with the Rev. Dr. Betty Deas
Clark at EAMEC / 110 Calhoun St. / Charleston, SC 29401
June 20th - 25th
Love Week is all about compassion,
selflessness and service.
Monday, June 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Borough House Tour at 35 Calhoun St. /
Charleston, SC 29401
Tuesday, June 21st from 10 a.m.
to 2:00 p.m.
Putting People to Work Career Fair sponsored
by EAMEC with Spherion Staffing Services & Representative Wendell Gaillard
at EAMEC / 110 Calhoun St. / Charleston, SC 29401
Tuesday, June 21st
International Day of Kindness / for everyone
– everywhere / information will be posted online at www.emanuel@emanuelamechurch.org.
Wednesday, June 22nd from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Project Cool Breeze Distribution sponsored
by EAMEC and Representative Wendell Gaillard at
Wednesday, June 22nd at 6:00 p.m.
Ecumenical Bible Study (Part II) led by the
Rev. Dr. Betty Deas Clark and the Rev. Anthony Thompson at EAMEC
Thursday, June 23rd from 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon
Habitat for Humanity sponsored by EAMEC and
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at the Pope Francis House
Thursday, June 23rd from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Calling All Colors sponsored by EAMEC / for
12-14 year old children / a celebration of multiculturalism at EAMEC
Friday, June 24th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Voices from the Valley, Racial Justice Panel
at EAMEC
Saturday, June 25th from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Youth Basketball Tournament for 8-15 year
old children co-sponsored by EAMEC and the city of Charleston’s Recreation
Department, Arthur Christopher Community Center, 265 Fishburne St., Charleston
Saturday, June 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Adopt-a-Neighborhood / sponsored by EAMEC
and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church / Location: TBD
Saturday, June 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
“Morning Grace: Coming Home to Mother” –
Grand Finale / Gospel Concert featuring
jazz and gospel vocalist Ann Caldwell as Mistress of Ceremonies, the
Lowcountry Voices and other guest artists at EAMEC
Saturday, June 25th from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Candlelight Vigil at EAMEC and Service of
the Bells led by St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
Sunday, June 26th
Mayor John Tecklenburg, Mayor of the city of
Charleston (Charleston, SC) has proclaimed this day as Mother Emanuel and
Survivors Day in the city of Charleston.
To find a listing of other programs and
events sponsored by other entities, visit the city of Charleston’s Office of
Cultural Affairs’ website at www.charlestonarts.org/about-cultural-affairs-charleston.
Attendees should bring as few personal items
as possible as you will go through airport-like security. Cameras and purses
are permitted. No large bags, sharp objects, umbrellas, liquids or signs will
be allowed at the events.
AME Social Action Commission
Bishop Reginald T Jackson, Chair
Mrs. Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Director
11. THE NORTH DISTRICT:
The Macon North District is part of the
Sixth Episcopal District under the leadership of Bishop Preston and Dr. Wilma
Delores Webb Williams. We held our
annual district conference on November 5-6, 2015.
This year’s theme was, “Leadership
Matters: Laying the Foundation for
Successful Church Growth.” The
Conference was held at the Williams Chapel AME Church, Forsyth, Georgia and
hosted by Pastor, the Rev. Selena Clark.
The District Conference was opened by our
Worship Leader, the Rev. Esther K. Powers, who serves as the Christian
Education Director of the Macon Georgia Conference and the pastor of Mathlama
AME Church in Morrow, Georgia.
November is the month where many in our
country celebrate the lives and sacrifices of our Veterans. We were honored to have Veterans and
“Soldiers in the Army of the Lord” through our district conference worship
services.
Thursday night, Army Veteran and the
District Presiding Elder Benjamin Ridley opened the service. From the pulpit where he pastored over 36
years ago, Elder Ridley delivered another amazing and timely message from Luke
23:39-43 - "God Can Save Anyone, Anytime and Anywhere."
He followed up on his lesson Friday morning
using the other accounts from Matthew, Mark and Luke. During Friday’s Hour of Power, the Rev. Dr.
John Foster shared with us “How to Reach the Masses” from Luke 15:31-32. To further lessons on our conference theme,
we had dynamic presentations from gifted speakers.
We wrapped things up with a fantastic dinner
set up to honor the veterans on our district.
The YPDers of Williams Chapel AME Church served during the dinner. Ninety veterans were given special
recognition with Certificates of Appreciation.
The worship leader was the Rev. Ezekiel
Powers, a veteran from Mathalama AME Church.
The speaker on Friday evening was retired
Army veteran, the Rev. Dr. Johnny L. Cook of Greater Allen Chapel AME Church in
Macon, Georgia. He spoke from the text,
Luke 2:4-7; sermon topic, “No Room for Love.”
Overall, the District Conference was an
experience with teaching and preaching.
We are grateful to God for our Presiding Elder Benjamin and Sister
Dorothy Ellis Ridley, Area Consultant, as our leadership team for the Macon
North District.
12. THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT:
*The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins
Based on Biblical Text: Romans 4:20: He
staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith,
giving glory to God
Sometimes we need to ask the question, “How
well do we take care of our faith?” Think about it, we take care of our hair,
our nails, and our pets. We are meticulous about our cars, electronic toys, and
our golf clubs. But really, how well do any of us take care of our faith?
If faith is the “substance of things hoped
for, and the evidence of things not seen,” it makes sense that we would care
for the substance and the evidence that will carry us toward the things we hope
for. The New English Version translates, “Faith is being sure of what we hope
for and certain of what we do not see.” The truth of the matter is that kind of
faith does not just happen, it has to be nurtured.
The fact is that faith is nothing more than
belief in a promise. Folk in biblical times were certain of that promise. They
were confident that God would do exactly what He promised. That is the essence
of faith.
The concept of Christianity is really quite
simple. The concept of Christianity is faith. We faithfully believe there is
God who sits high and looks low. We live by faith in His promise to be our
provider, our sustainer, our healer, our direction and our light in
darkness. When we are faithful, we live
as if God will keep His promise. When we apply our faith, we conduct our lives
as if God is who God says God is, and God will do what God says God will do!
Living by faith is taking God at God’s Word. The question for us is, “How firm
is our faith?”
The Bible is filled with promises for
believers. So then, living by faith requires that we become familiar with those
promises. It would be encouraging and even nourishing to our faith if we would
take time to review God’s promises. We could begin by taking time to scan the
list of promises from forgiveness, to protection, to our relationship with God,
and the promise of Eternal Life. Reviewing God’s promises can help bolster our
faith.
Consider this; the circumstances surrounding
us right now have nothing to do with whether or not God loves us. The extent to
which God loves us was settled over 2,000 years ago with the sacrifice of God’s
Son on the cross of Calvary.
The truth is we have to learn to take care
of our faith. Why, because if we want blessings from God, nothing can fetch
them down but faith. Our prayer will not be answered unless it is the earnest
prayer of a man or woman who believes. Faith is the invisible wire that links
earth and heaven. If that wire is not connected how can we receive the promises
of God?
“How firm is our faith?” Firm faith is
believing God when it looks bleak and even when we are in trouble. Firm faith
trusts God when we are surrounded by the enemy. The truth is, firm faith
believes and trusts God even when all the conditions around us say that we
should be frightened, or scared, or disappointed.
We can keep our faith firm by feeding it a
daily diet of healthy scripture. We can keep our faith firmed up by remaining
faithful to the worship experience and applying our bible knowledge to our
daily living. This is the way we feed our faith! “How firm is our faith?
*The Reverend Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.,
is the pastor of Morris Brown AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina
13. GETTING TO ZERO: FROM THE REAL AFRICA:
*The Rev. Dr. Oveta Fuller
*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
14. iCHURCH
SCHOOL LESSON BRIEF FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2016 - LISTEN
UP! - ZEPHANIAH 3:6-8:
*Brother
Bill Dickens
Key
Verse: (God) said, "If only you would fear me, if only you would
take my instructions to heart.' Then their houses would not have been torn
down. I have chastened them, but they were eager to corrupt everything they
were doing." Zephaniah 3:7
Introduction
When
I was growing up one of my favorite sit-coms was Gomer Pyle. The comedy depicted the travails of a
bumbling, naïve new Marine recruit adjusting to his new life under the strict
commands by an unrelenting drill sergeant.
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a 246-square-mile (640 km2) United States military training facility in
Jacksonville, NC. The base's 14 miles (23 km) of beaches make it a major area
for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports
(Wilmington and Morehead City allows for fast deployments.
In
American culture Camp Lejeune is where young men and women get their initial
experience knowing how to become a marine.
The initiation begins with the close contact between the sergeant and
the new recruit (like Gomer Pyle). The
sergeant articulates a set of instructions that the new recruit is expected to
follow, without exceptions. The sergeant
makes a series of demands with high expectations. The new recruits can only say: Yes Drill Sergeant!!! If they listen carefully they understand
their specific duties and responsibilities and began to make progress in
becoming one of the few and the proud, a Marine.
The
Adult AME Church School lesson for June 12, 2016 focuses on the importance of
believers cultivating sharp listening skills.
The nation of Judah showed selective hearing in their relationship with
God. Zephaniah explained the causes and
consequences of selective hearing. Let's
see below.
Bible Lesson
Zephaniah
continues the message about God's wrath towards the inhabitants of Judah. Last Sunday we examined "The Day of the
Lord" when the judgment will culminate in destruction. This Sunday we look at the specific reasoning
for the dispensation of judgment. In
verse 6 the prophet reaffirms that God will depopulate the nation and leave the
city's infrastructure in shambles. Why?
The leaders and the residents choose not to hear the evil they have committed
over and over. In verse 7 God is depicted as a Deity who is willing to give his
people the "benefit of doubt."
God expresses the view that the lawbreakers in Judah will fear Him and
accept instruction in correction for their sinful habits. God keeps open the possibility that his
chosen people will be rational and do the right thing in following Him. However, the last sentence in verse 7 dispels
any sense of "rational religion" for Judah. They merely resort to their favored position
of disobedience. Given Judah's
inflexible mindset, God informs the prophet in verse 8 that He will now take
action and provide punishment befitting of a serial lawbreaker. Destruction and judgment are the only
appropriate actions towards Judah.
Bible Application
Why
are we hard of hearing? Parents instruct
their teenage children to exercise caution and care once they receive their
driver's license. Many kids still engage
in reckless fast driving and consuming alcohol and drugs under the wheel.
June
is a popular month for it represents many young boys and girls attending prom
activities. Again, the instructions from
the parents are to have fun but do not engage in activities that may result in
violent behavior.
Despite
this advice, many kids do the exact opposite and have fun that too often
results in shootings or fights in the dreaded "after prom"
events. Like God in the book of
Zephaniah parents want the best for their kids.
However, too often we tend to think they are not listening to the sage
advice being provided.
If
we would listen to wise counsel we could avoid bad outcomes. The Biblical story of Solomon's son Jeroboam
is a reminder about what happens when we listen to the wrong advice. Jeroboam chose to ignore the sound advice of
his elder counselors and embrace the immature advice of his cohorts which led
to the fall of Israel.
We
need to listen to the right counsel and reject the false counsel. We need to listen more and talk less. The popular saying is true: God gave us two
ears and one mouth because He wanted us to listen twice as much as we
talk. 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
15. MEDITATION BASED ON JOHN
9:1-9:
*The
Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I was blessed this week
to eulogize a great lady - Mrs. Fannie Phelps Adams. Mrs. Adams was a
career educator who spent thirty years shaping young minds and lives at Booker
T. Washington High School in Columbia, South Carolina. She was also a
ninety-eight year resident of Columbia’s Wheeler Hill Community, where I spent
the first twelve years of my life and was a loyal and active member of Saint
James AME Church who helped to shape my spiritual foundation.
Much could be said - and was said - about her at her homegoing service,
but a story from my high school years epitomizes her spirit. I grew up in
the days when corporal punishment in schools was still permissible and was
doled out at Booker T. by a man named Ralph Stevenson. When one of my
exuberant classmates went too far in the wrong direction in Algebra Class, our
teacher said, “That’s it - I’m sending you to Mrs. Adams.” My classmate
said, “Can’t you just send me to Mr. Stevenson? A couple of lashes from
his belt will hurt less than the lecture I’ll get from Mrs. Adams!”
Mrs. Adams was soft-spoken and never sought the spotlight, but her
words and her spirit spoke to her determination to improve the lives of
others. She was respected not only at Booker T., but also in the larger
community and in the corridors of community influence. She spoke softly,
but she made a difference by living her religion and modeling good religion in
a way that impacted others.
I offer her example to you in a world where many seek power, popularity
and fame by any means necessary. It’s easy for the best of us to seek
personal affirmation by pushing life’s doors open in ways that draw attention
to us and lead us to get our way, but our doing so can often leave us
disappointed, wounded, let down and insulted when those around us don’t follow
us or sing our praises.
We’d do well to remember that the Christ who died so that we might
live, never sought to draw attention to himself and never said, “I am the
Christ.” Jesus simply did His work, and His work changed lives and
changed our world. When we humbly walk in His footsteps, we can do what
Fannie Phelps Adams did and find acclaim not by having our way, but in doing
God’s will.
Step away from life’s
quest for popularity and power and find your personal affirmation in simply
doing God’s will. When you do, you’ll make a difference and change things
for the better, saying with Mrs. Adams and with the words of a timeless hymn,
“Be not dismayed when people don’t believe you; He’ll understand and say, “well
done.’” Rest well, Mrs. Adams. Your work speaks for you.
*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
16. CLERGY FAMILY
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- Impending
Nuptials of the Reverend Dr. Timothy E. Tyler and Dr. Nita Mosby Henry
We
are happy to announce the impending nuptials of the Reverend Dr. Timothy E.
Tyler and Dr. Nita Mosby Henry at Shorter Community AME Church in Denver,
Colorado on June 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.
Dr.
Timothy Tyler is the pastor of Shorter Community AME Church. Dr. Nita Mosby
Henry, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, is the Senior Vice President of Human
Resources and Chief Inclusion Officer for Children's Hospital of Denver.
We
pray God's blessing on their marriage and ministry
Congratulatory
expressions can be emailed to:
Dr.
Timothy Tyler: drtyler1911@aol.com
Dr.
Nita Mosby Henry: Nita.MosbyHenry@childrenscolorado.org
--
Dr. Darryl Jacob Narcisse earned a
Medical Degree from San Juan Baustista School of Medicine
Dr.
Darryl Jacob Narcisse earned a Medical Degree on the Twenty-Seventh of May,
Two-Thousand and Sixteen, from San Juan Baustista School of Medicine at the
Thirty-Seventh Commencement Ceremony in Santruce, Puerto Rico. Dr. Narcisse had to become fluent in Spanish
to complete his degree in Escuelade de Medicina.
Darryl
Jacob is the son of the Rev. Margaretta Smith Narcisse, MDiv, an Itinerate
Elder in the Fifth Episcopal District and Associate Dean of Students at St Paul
School of Theology Leawood, Kansas, and the Rev. Darryl Joseph A. Narcisse an
Itinerate Deacon in the AME Church and a Guidance Counselor for Midwest Psychological
Services Kansas City, Missouri.
Darryl
Jacob is a past Conference Branch YPD President of the former Northwest
Missouri Annual Conference and a past Fifth Episcopal District YPD First Vice
President. He is the grandson of CAPT. Morris Jacob Smith, Ret. and Sister
Freddye Mae Smith, past Conference Branch WMS President of the former Northwest
Missouri Annual Conference, and a Connectional WMS Life Member.
Congratulations
may be sent to:
Dr.
Darryl Jacob Narcisse, MD at
dnarcisse86@gmail.com
Or
email to: freddyems@yahoo.com
-- Twin brothers
Tony DeMarco Hansberry II and Tyler Sloan Hansberry recently earned their
Bachelor’s degrees from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University,
Tallahassee, Florida
Twin
brothers Tony DeMarco Hansberry II and Tyler Sloan Hansberry recently earned
their Bachelor’s degrees from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University,
Tallahassee, Florida. Tony graduated cum
laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry on December 11, 2015. Tyler graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of
Science in Environmental Science on April 30, 2016. Both will attend graduate school at FAMU in
fall 2016. Tony will pursue a Master’s
in Chemistry and eventually plans to enroll in medical school with the goal of
becoming a trauma surgeon. Tyler will
pursue a Master’s in Environmental Science and eventually plans to pursue joint
JD/PhD degrees with the goal of becoming an environmental lawyer.
The
Reverend Tony D. Hansberry and Mrs. Kathi S. Hansberry, Presiding Elder and
Consultant of the Suwannee-North “Jacksonville” District of the 11th Episcopal
District, are grateful to God and consider themselves blessed to be the parents
of these young men.
Congratulatory
acknowledgements may be sent to:
Tony
Demarco Hansberry II: tonyhansberry@yahoo.com
Tyler
Sloan Hansberry: tylerhansberry@yahoo.com
Consultant
Kathi Sloan Hansberry: kshans2@aol.com
Presiding
Elder Tony DeMarco Hansberry: elderhansberry@aol.com
17. EPISCOPAL
FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We
sadly announce the passing of Ms. Deborah Ellen Stokes, the daughter of the
late Bishop Rembert Edwards Stokes and Dr. Laura Nancy Phillips Stokes.
The
Third Episcopal District is saddened to announce the passing of Ms. Deborah
Ellen Stokes the daughter of the late Bishop Rembert Edward Stokes, 98th Elected
and Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and former
President of Wilberforce University. Ms.
Deborah Stokes passed from labor to reward on Tuesday June 1, 2016.
The
Celebration of Life Services is as follows:
Viewing:
Thursday, June 9, 2016; 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Homegoing
Services: 11:00 a.m.
Holy
Trinity AME Church
1230
Wilberforce Clifton Road
Wilberforce,
OH 45385
Telephone:
(818) 470-9717
Email: htamecwilberforce@gmail.com
Interment:
Massies
Creek Cemetery
Cedarville
Greene
County, Ohio
Condolences
may be sent to:
Funeral
Arrangements Entrusted to:
House
of Wheat Funeral Home
2107
N. Gettysburg Avenue
Dayton,
OH 45406
Telephone:
(937) 274-1693
Dr.
Nancy P. Stokes
7847
Lois Circle
Apt.
205
Centerville,
OH 45459
Telephone:
(937) 436-7347
Daughter's
email: celestemcdermott@hotmail.com
18. CLERGY FAMILY
BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
This
comes to inform you that the Reverend Michael Stewart, former pastor of St.
Luke AME Church in Hensley, Arkansas who died on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. The Reverend Stewart is the son of the late
Presiding Elder Frank Stewart and Mrs. Ola Stewart. His local membership was at
St. Andrew AME Church, Little Rock where the Reverend Joyce Campbell serves as
pastor.
He
is survived by his spouse, Mrs. Princess Stewart, 4 children, his mother and
siblings.
Arrangements
have been entrusted to:
Premier
Funeral Home
1518
S Battery St,
Little
Rock, AR 72202
Telephone:
(501) 376-4800
A
celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, 12:00 Noon at
Bethel AME Church, 815 West 16th Street with Bishop Samuel L. Green,
Sr. as the eulogist. Interment will be
at the Sand Hill Cemetery in Little Rock.
Condolences
may be shared with the family:
Mrs.
Princess Stewart
8219
Alvin Lane
Little
Rock, AR 72227
Telephone:
(501) 313-8307
19. 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
20.
CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN
RECORDER:
The Chair of the
Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend T. Larry Kirkland; the
Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the Editor of The
Christian Recorder, the Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our
condolences and prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We pray that the
peace of Christ will be with you during this time of your bereavement.
Did someone you know pass
this copy of The Christian Recorder to you? Get your own copy
HERE: http://www.the-christian-recorder.org/
Click Here: Guidelines for
Submitting Articles to TCR
*You have received this
message because you are subscribed to
The Christian Recorder
Online
Forward to Friend
Copyright © 2014 The Christian Recorder, All rights
reserved.
You are receiving this email
because you are a current subscriber to The
Christian Recorder
Our mailing address is:
The Christian Recorder
500 Eighth Avenue, South
Nashville, TN 37203-7508
Add us to your address book
Unsubscribe from this list
Subscribe / Update subscription preferences
