6/03/2016

THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (06/3/1)


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

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

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




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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