The Right Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie - Chair, Commission on
Publications
The Reverend Roderick D. Berlin, Publisher
Mr. John Thomas III, the 21st Editor, The Christian Recorder
The 50th Quadrennial Session of the General
Conference has been adjourned
MY
JOURNEY AS 20TH EDITOR OF THE
CHRISTIAN RECORDER HAS COME TO AN END:
Dr.
Calvin H. Sydnor III, Retired
The
20th Editor of The
Christian Recorder
The
journey comes to an end! I am so blessed
to have served as the 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder, the official newspaper of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church since 2004. The Christian Recorder is the oldest existing black periodical in America, and
the only one in the United States whose existence dates before the Civil War. It has been a
privilege and an honor to be a part of this ministry and to be a servant of
Jesus Christ and the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
I
am grateful to both clergy and laity, who gave untiring support to the ministry
of The Christian Recorder. Members
from across our Zion, Episcopal Districts 1 – 20 have been generous in sharing
news about the ministry in their local churches, presiding elder districts,
annual conferences, episcopal districts, as well as sharing Connectional news
articles.
A
special thanks to AMEC Clergy Family Information Center (Mrs. Ora Easley) for
sharing timely Clergy Family Bereavement Notices and Clergy Family Congratulatory
Announcements. A special thank you to
all of the weekly columnists for TCR
Online: Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby, the Rev.
A. Oveta Fuller, Ph.D; Dr. William “Bill” Dickens, the Rev. Dr. Charles R.
Watkins, Jr. and Mr. John Thomas III for his initiative in setting up the
Foreign Language program for TCR
Online and for his assistance in increasing the online subscriber base. A
special thanks for the first TCR weekly
columnists, the late Rev. N. T. Pitts and the late Bishop Richard Allen
Chappelle. Special thanks to the Rev.
Alton Paris, TCR Technical Advisor
and special thanks to the faithful editorial reviewers, Mrs. Jeanette T. Johns
and Attorney Loretta Moore. All of them
went above and beyond the “call of duty” in helping the editor to publish The Christian Recorder each week for the
last 12 years. Their faithfulness was herculean!
The
news articles and news releases from Episcopal Districts from across the United
States and from Episcopal Districts 14 – 20 have been invaluable in keeping the
members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church informed about what was
happening around the AME Church and around the world.
I
am grateful for our Chairpersons for the last twelve years: Bishop Richard
Franklin Norris, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram and Bishop T. Larry Kirkland for
their support and encouragement. I am thankful for the support of the members
of the Commission on Publications.
I
am also appreciative of the support of the President/Publisher of the AMEC
Sunday School Union, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr. and his competent and
efficient staff. The AMEC Sunday School
staff is the “backbone” of The Christian
Recorder and the other AME periodicals and they are the unsung heroes at
the AMEC Publishing House. Special thanks and appreciation to Messrs. Micheal
Russell, Andrew Stanfield, Orlando Dotson, and Ms. Sheila Collier, Ms. Mary
Dunn and Administrative Assistant, Mr. Andre Wright and all of the folks who
work downstairs in the printing areas.
I
am so grateful and indebted to the African Methodist Episcopal Church for the
opportunity and the honor given me to serve as the 20th Editor of
the oldest African-American periodical in America. It has been a great honor
because The Christian Recorder has
been in existence since 1852. In
addition to the print edition, The
Christian Recorder has a well-read online edition and a multi-lingual
Internet presence. The Christian Recorder
Online began in 2004.
I
am most appreciative of my wife, the Rev. Dr. Charlotte Ann Blake Sydnor, my
partner in ministry and marriage for 54 years! She was no campaign manager when
I started out on this journey and served as the Assistant Editor. She has been
an exemplary wife, mother, comforter, mentor and my best friend.
My
wife, Charlotte, joins me in thanking the members of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church for the opportunity to serve. The AME Church has been a
blessing to us and our family.
When
I gave my quadrennial report, I was in pain and perhaps that was what caused me
to fail to say thank you to my bishop, the Right Reverend Jeffery N. Leath,
Supervisor Leath and the 13th Episcopal District. Bishop Leath and
the 13th Episcopal District and all of the presiding prelates - former,
retired, deceased bishops of the district have been wonderful mentors and
supporters. Thank you all! Thanks to
Shorter Chapel AME Church in Paris, Kentucky and to St. James AME Church in
Danville, Kentucky. A vigorous thanks to the clergy and laity of the 13th
Episcopal District; our partners in ministry since 1966. A special thanks to
the Kentucky Annual Conference!
And
a special thank you to St. Paul AME Church in Newport News, Virginia for their
caring and spiritual oversight. Thanks to the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Aretha Cross
and the officers and members of St. Paul AME Church! St. Paul is a wonderful
church!
The
AME Church is indeed, “The church of my choice!”
Postscript:
Congratulations
to Mr. John Thomas III, the 21st Editor of The Christian Recorder! He will do a wonderful job and will carry The Christian Recorder to new heights. I
believe the African Methodist Episcopal Church is moving in the right
direction. Congratulations to the newly-elected General Officers, Judicial Council
members and Bishops.
Some
of you might know that I had a medical issue in Philadelphia, which required
surgery on Monday 11th at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
What a wonderful hospital with caring doctors and staff! They were thorough and
what I thought was routine turned out to be serious! Our son, Dr. Calvin H.
Sydnor IV, his wife Joanna and my wife, the Rev. Dr. Charlotte Sydnor
understood the gravity of my situation; and the rest is history!
Thank
you to the Rev. Dr. Miriam Burdette for coordinating the General Conference /
St. Joseph Hospital relationship.
Thank
you to Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram and Episcopal Supervisor, the Rev. Dr.
Jessica Ingram and the First Episcopal District for throwing “on a superb
party,” sorry I had to miss it. If you decide to “throw another party,” I will
plan to attend! Thank you for all the gifts and the superb hospitality!
I
am back home in Hampton, Virginia recuperating and am almost back to
normal. Mr. John Thomas III and I have
agreed to a pass the “torch date” of responsibilities of August 1st.
Please
bear with me as I take a day or two more to recuperate.
TCR columnists are
invited submit their weekly columns. If
I receive articles will forward those to the new editor and I will also provide
updated email address information.
The
Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The
20th Editor, The Christian Recorder
"The
Official Newspaper of the A.M.E. Church"
This
is a very modified version of The
Christian Recorder Online!
Your
prayers and thoughts are appreciated. I am recovering nicely.
Postscript 2 – I have over 1200
emails in my Inbox, so please bear with me.
CHS
III
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