Bishop T. Larry
Kirkland - Chair, Commission on Publications
1. TCR EDITORIAL
– NOT UNSUNG HEROES, BUT SUPERSTARS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of
The Christian Recorder
In
sports, we recognize, commend and talk about the players who make the
first-string. There is a great feeling about being on the first-string.
Athletes who try out for sports’ teams aspire to be on the first string. I have
never met a person who said, “I want to be on the second string.”
On
my high school football team, we had several people who quit the team when they
were not selected to be on the first-string. They aspired to be football stars
and when they discovered that they could not be one of the stars, they
quit.
In
football, the quarterback and running backs seem to get the most recognition
and praise. The linemen and other
players get very little recognition unless they perform miraculous game-saving
plays.
When
I watch professional football, I am often amazed that when a receiver catches a
pass, especially in the end zone; the quarterback receives all kinds of credit,
even though the pass-receiver fought off all kinds of competitors when
completing the catch. Announcers’ praise of quarterbacks apparently have not
been lost upon the players who catch the ball in the end zone because I notice
that they do a lot of celebrating when they catch passes and make significant
plays.
Basketball
players who score a lot of points get a lot of praise and baseball players who
hit lots of home runs receive a lot of praise and recognition from the fans.
Every player is not a
superstar
Sometime
fans tend to forget that there are a lot of unsung heroes who provide the
impetus for a team’s athletic stars to excel; and that’s the reason, I really
appreciate and respect star athletes who commend their teammates and who
realize that they could not accomplish their feats alone.
And,
of course there are those star athletes who seem to think that they
accomplished all of their athletic feats alone.
Takes two to tango
There
are “superheroes” and “unsung heroes” in all aspects of life, on athletic
teams, in the academic community, on the playground, on our jobs, in
professional life, in relationships and even in our homes.
Superheroes
can’t do it alone; they need to the support of the unsung heroes.
It
does take “two to tango” and “a bird can’t fly with one wing!”
And especially
And,
we especially have unsung heroes in the church - in churches of all
denominations!
Let me go off on a tangent
When
I hear preachers and laypersons talk about what’s needed in local churches and
what helps churches to grow, the conversation always seems to gravitate to the
music program. I hear preachers lament about the quality of the music
selections and musicians, the choir, and all things related to the music
program.
Some
clergy members seem to believe if they could get the music program to a certain
standard; their church would grow and strive.
Parishioners
focus on the music program and it seems as if everyone wants to be in the choir.
After the sermon, and sometimes more than the sermon, parishioners comment most
about the choir and the music.
In
many people’s minds, the preacher, the musicians, and choir members are the
superstars!
The unsung heroes
If
I had to categorize the first team, I sincerely believe that the real
“superheroes” of the church are the ushers; and in churches where they have
greeters, the greeters are in the same category as the ushers –
superheroes! In the context of this
editorial I am including greeters with the ushers.
First-line contact
The
ushers are the first-line contact with parishioners and guests who walk through
the doors of the church. Their greeting and personal interaction can make parishioners
and guests feel welcome or “turn them off.”
Ushers have a big
responsibility and have always been important in public worship. Psalm 84:10 is
so apropos when it says, “For a day in your
courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in
the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Ushers are superheroes
Ushers are superheroes
because they have an important responsibility and contribute significantly to
the overall worship experience. They
greet people entering the sanctuary, direct and seat parishioners and guests,
collect offerings, distribute bulletins, and alert pastors when other clergy
attend worship services and they notify the appropriate individuals if problems
arise.
The ushers are the “face” of
the local church because the ushers are the first expressions of the church
that parishioners and guests meet when they attend worship. Ushers are the
first representative of the church to leave a lasting “first impression” on
worshippers.
Outstanding ushers function with precision and precision takes practice.
Ushers should be committed to practice and committed to rehearse and practice
their craft. Ushering is a profession.
Not just anybody
Ushers have an important function in the worship service and it is
important that they are trained to know when to allow parishioners into the
sanctuary and know how to direct parishioners during offerings and Holy
Communion.
The duties of ushers do not end with the benediction; their duties end
when everyone has exited the sanctuary. Ushers are responsible for “policing
the sanctuary.” They are responsible
for removing discarded bulletins, trash and other items from the pews because
the sanctuary should always be in readiness for praise and prayer, which means
that the sanctuary should always be clean and in order.
Ushers
should greet people at the door with a welcoming spirit and a warm smile and
should assist parishioners as they depart the sanctuary.
Two experiences
.
When
I was in the Army I had an opportunity to pastor several large congregations.
One was the Main Post Protestant Gospel Service at Fort Richardson, Alaska and
the other was the Main Post General Protestant Service at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina.
In
the Army, Gospel Services were usually predominantly black.
General
Protestant-listed services were usually predominantly white. Both Gospel and
General Protestant-listed services were mixed, but the name-designation gave a
clue about the predominant racial character of the worship service.
Fort Richardson
The
Main Post Protestant Gospel Service at Fort Richardson had the biggest choir on
the relatively small post. I suspected that the background of most of the parishioners
of the Gospel Service were Baptists.
The
worship was spiritually active in the genre of the black worship
experience.
The
music program was superb, but I noticed that the attention and commitment of
the usher board was meticulous. The people who served on the usher board were
serious about their ministry and the usher board had meetings and rehearsals.
The new members of the usher board were provided orientation sessions and
ushers were assigned Sunday duties.
The
ushers had prayer as a group before the worship, and sometimes with the choir.
An
usher escorted everyone to where they wanted to sit; no one walked to the pew
without being escorted by an usher.
When
it was time for the offering, the ushers functioned in unison and there was not
any confusion about their duties because they had attended usher rehearsals.
Fort Bragg
The
Main Post Chapel General Protestant Service at Fort Bragg was the largest
Protestant service on the large installation. I suspected that the background
of most of the parishioners of the Main Post Protestant service were United
Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, other sacramental denominations and Southern
Baptists.
They
had a full-fledged religious program. The choir was awesome and the tenor of
the service reminded me of Ebenezer Rahway and Bethel, Ardmore, but less
emotional.
The
difference between the Gospel Service and the General Protestant Service was
noticeable.
The
one similarity was the attention paid to the ushers and the greeters. The
coordinator for the ushers and greeters at the General Protestant service was
Colonel Jack Cox and I remember his name 36 years later. He took his job
seriously and he was in charge! He maintained the roster for the ushers and the
greeters. They had scheduled rehearsals
and if a person wanted to be an usher or a greeter, he or she had to attend
usher training. And, not everyone who wanted to be an usher was selected.
The
ushering at the Main Post Protestant Service at Fort Bragg, like the Gospel
Service at Fort Richardson, functioned like clockwork! The greeters welcomed the parishioners and
guests outside of the building as they were entering the building. The ushers
greeted and seated the people in the sanctuary.
One
religious program was predominantly black, the other predominantly white, but
both programs understood that ushering was a first-team activity. Ushering was
not a “Hey you” pickup activity. The people who served on the usher board knew
they were on the first-team.
AME Church has first-team
ushers
Many
of our churches treat ushering as a first-team activity, but unfortunately some
churches treat ushering as a second-string function in the church.
I
first came to understand that ushers were superstars at St. James AME Church in
Danville, Kentucky. The usher board was the strongest organization in the
church. I saw how important they were in the life of the church and the
contribution they added to the worship service. It was the first time in my
life that I wished that I had been an usher; but growing up, I wanted to be a
part of the choir. I saw the choir as the first-team and failed to understand
that ushering was also a first-team function in the life of the church.
An
usher is the entry or doorway to worship and he or she sets the tone for
parishioners’ worship experience.
Effective
ushers are superstars, and amazingly, they are not the only unsung superstars.
Another unsung hero
The other unsung hero is not
a person, but a thing. The “church bulletin” is the other superhero and the
other gateway to the religious program.
When
parishioners and guests receive the Sunday bulletin, the bulletin needs to be
impeccable and without errors and misspellings.
Parishioners and guests do not need to spend time critiquing or inwardly
scrutinizing poorly assembled bulletins.
The
Sunday church bulletin speaks volumes about how the local church leadership
views ministry. The bulletin also indicates the attention that the pastor and
officers pay to details. Poor bulletins
are an indication of carelessness and inattention to details. A sloppy church
bulletin is an indication of administrative sloppiness and spiritual
laxity.
The
choir, sermon, religious programs facilitate and retain parishioners, but the
ushers and church bulletins are the gateways to evangelism and church
growth.
The ushers are not unsung
heroes, they are superheroes and they are on the first-team of ministry!
The church bulletin is an
advertisement tool and should be prepared with care and diligence.
It does take “two to tango”
and “birds can’t fly with one wing.”
2. TCR OP-ED
- ALL COMPUTERS NEED VIRUS PROTECTION:
Yolanda L. Hinton
Your editorial on technology
and email scams is quite poignant.
I do, however, take issue
with something in it. You said "Unless you have a MAC, you must purchase
virus protection." You seem to
believe that Macintosh computers do not get viruses. This is a fallacy that
should not be propagated.
I encourage TCR subscribers to read "Busting
the Myth: Apple MACs Do Get Viruses!"
Click or type the following address in your browser:
I also recommend The New York Times article
"Widespread Virus Proves Macs Are No Longer Safe from Hackers"
Not even Linux systems are
immune to viruses. The Macintosh and
Linux operating systems are less vulnerable than Windows, but they are still
vulnerable. Mac users may not need to purchase virus protection but they must
be aware that their systems are not immune from attack, and everyone,
regardless of machine or operating system, should use an email program that
scans for viruses.
Additionally, there are some
excellent virus protection systems for Windows that are pre-installed or can be
downloaded at no cost. It is not always necessary to purchase virus protection
for these systems. The software, however, whether free or purchased, does need
to be updated regularly with the latest virus definitions.
I agree that the Bcc field should be used when sending
emails to multiple addresses, and that addressed should be deleted from
messages before forwarding.
It is important, though, that
people understand this will not solve the problem of spam and other unsolicited
emails.
Every time we add ourselves
to mailing lists, sign up for sweepstakes or contests, or fill out a web form,
we risk our email addresses being sold to others, particularly other
advertisers. Some sites, particularly those of retail stores, offer us the
opportunity to opt out of email from their partners, but often we neglect to
check that box. Others don't even offer the option but readily sell our email
addresses, just as solicitors who use postal mail sell their address lists.
Please encourage our members
to be selective about signing up for email newsletters and adding themselves to
other lists.
3. JUDICIAL
COUNCIL ISSUES THE FOLLOWING CHANGES IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF BISHOPS:
In compliance with the
Judicial Council ruling the following changes in the Executive of the Council
of Bishops are in effect:
1) Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath,
Secretary
2) Bishop Julius H.
McAllister, Sr., Assistant Secretary
Special thanks to Bishop E.
Earl McCloud, Jr. for his diligence as Secretary these last three months and
for his timely execution of the responsibilities of his office.
4. AME CHURCH OFFICIALLY SEVERS TIES WITH THE REV.
JOHN J. HUNTER
*Cora Jackson-Fossett
Bishop T. Larry Kirkland,
Sr., accepted the official withdrawal of the Rev. John J. Hunter from the AME
Church late last month and has begun the Legal Separation Process compliant
with AME Church Policy.
The Rev. John Hunter has
requested withdrawal from Ministerial Orders, and submitted his resignation
from the denomination.
“His withdrawal means that he
is no longer authorized to oversee worship services, conduct marriage
ceremonies, baptize congregants, officiate at funerals or act in any official
capacity as a representative of the AME Church,” said Bishop Kirkland.
The Book of Discipline that governs the AME Church mandates that when a
person officially withdraws, he must surrender his credentials and the Bishop
of said District must publically announce his separation.
In accepting and approving
the Rev. Hunter’s letter of withdrawal, Bishop Kirkland vowed promptly to
legally dissolve the relationship according to the steps required by the AME
Church.
See more at:
*Extracted from article
written by Cora Jackson-Fossett, the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper Religion
Editor
5. I ASK:
Retired Bishop Carolyn Tyler
Guidry
I Ask:
All three synoptic gospels
record John the Baptist's prophecy that Jesus would "baptise in the Holy
Spirit [and fire]". However, Bible-believing Christians hold differing
views regarding what it means to be baptised in the Holy Spirit [and fire].
Bill Grover lists six widely-held views regarding the meaning of baptism in the
Holy Spirit, which we can reduce to three major categories:
1) The baptism in the Spirit
was a first-century experience by which believers were empowered; it has ceased
and is no longer given to Christians.
2) The baptism in the Spirit
is the experience of all Christians at the moment of conversion, by which the Holy
Spirit regenerates them and adds them to the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
3) The baptism in the Spirit
is the experience of some Christians after their conversion. It is viewed as a
"second blessing" (separate from and subsequent to salvation). The purpose
of the baptism is generally viewed as providing power for either (a) service
[e.g. Pentecostals] or (b) sanctification [e.g. Methodists / Nazarenes].
Now I am meant to meet with a
leader of my church, such as an elder, and discuss what my church believes
about the baptism in the Holy Spirit and why we hold that view.
The Rev. Teboho G. Klaas,
Pastor
Allen Temple A.M.E. Church
188 Ingedezi Street, Zone 7
1852 Meadowlands (Soweto)
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry’s response:
Within the Wesleyan tradition,
baptism with the Holy Spirit has often been linked to a sanctified life. The
Methodist Church has a sacramental view of baptism, believing that it is by
both water and Spirit and "involves dying to sin, newness of life, and
union with Christ, receiving the Holy Spirit, and incorporation into Christ's
church." We also believe that baptism is the "doorway to the
sanctified life" defined as "a gift of the gracious presence of the
Holy Spirit, a yielding to the Spirit's power, a deepening of our love for God
and neighbor." It is wrought by the baptism with or in-filling of the Holy
Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin
and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the
believer for life and service (From Wikipedia). Reverend Klass, your item #2
simplifies the above article:
The baptism in the Spirit is
the experience of all Christians at the moment of conversion, by which the Holy
Spirit regenerates them and adds them to the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13).
As Methodists, we believe
that the whole of I Corinthians 12 explains the working of the Holy Spirit in a
believer’s life.
6. MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE WESLEYAN/METHODIST FAMILY OF
FAITH:
In August 2011, I had the
privilege of being elected to a five-year term as the Youth and Young Adult
Coordinator of the World Methodist Council.
I am responsible for establishing relationships with the Youth and Young
Adult groups of the 77 member churches that compose the Council. Even though my position is part-time, I
frequently travel and am in constant communication with members of the
Wesleyan/Methodist family from around the globe (indeed I’m on my way to London
now for our 2013 Council Meeting).
Working with the World
Methodist Council has given me a not only a deeper and richer understanding of
Methodism but also a new perspective and appreciation of the AME Church.
This summer was an especially
rich learning experience because from June to September I attended the
following meetings: The Church of the Nazarene General Assembly, The
Quadrennial Assembly of the Connectional Lay Council of the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church, and the Executive Committee meeting of the Council of
Latin American and Caribbean Evangelical Methodist Churches (CIEMAL). Additionally, I met with the Bishop of the
Methodist Church of Peru while I was working on my dissertation proposal in
Lima.
In each of the places I
visited, I was humbled to be accepted not only as a Christian but also a member
of the Wesleyan/Methodist family of faith.
The sons and daughters of John Wesley share many things such as a love
for hymns, a dedication to education, and a passion for advancing issues of
social justice.
I also learned that while the AME Church has been
active in the modern ecumenical movement since its inception, there are still
swaths of the globe have not heard the story of Richard Allen or the
contributions of African Methodism.
One of my proudest moments
was sharing the documentary “Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom” with the Board
of CIEMAL as we applied to open relations with them through our work in the
Caribbean and South America.
I also came away with some
interesting observations. For example:
--The central focus for the
vendor area at the Church of the Nazarene General Assembly was the church
affiliated schools. Also, no candidates
for General Superintendent (equivalent of Bishop) had booths.
--Clergy and lay youth
workers as well as youth and young adult delegates actively participated in all
aspects of the Nazarene Youth International meeting (including the
elections).
--The AME Zion Church held
all major connectional meetings this year in Montgomery, Alabama and many of
the Bishops were in the city for two weeks.
--The AME Zion Connectional
Lay Council has a tradition of marching before their meeting begins in order to
highlight specific issues and gain media attention.
--The Methodist Church of
Peru adopted a focus on Discipleship and held an intensive training session for
all pastors in Lima this summer.
--The Methodist Church of
Bolivia elected (and reelected) a lay person as Presiding Bishop when no member
of the clergy could receive a majority of support from the assembly delegates.
My journey through our family
of faith continues to teach me that the unique witness of the
Wesleyan/Methodist tradition remains alive and vibrant. Yet, the AME voice in the family could be
stronger. We have a wonderful legacy and
continue to do good works that are worth sharing. I wonder, though, if what we transmit to the
public is truly what is important to us.
Only we can tell our story the way we wish it to be told.
John Thomas III is a Ph.D.
student at the University of Chicago. He
serves as an at-large member of the General Board and is the Coordinator of
Youth and Young Adults for the World Methodist Council.
7. THE AGE OF CONTEXT: THE IMMINENT STORM:
*Dr. Gregory Kimble, LPC-S
The recent release of the
book, The Age of Context by Robert
Scoble & Shel Israel can serve as an excellent well-spring of
thought-provoking considerations.
In the book introduction, the
authors share the beginning of the movie, Batman
Begins, with Batman coming to Police Commissioner Gordon in the midnight
hour to say a storm is coming. Batman suddenly
disappears into the night with the next two hours of the movie being chaotic
before peace reoccurs.
The book, “The Age of Context” reminds the reader
about the real event known as the “Perfect Storm,” although the movie by
Sebastian Coe shows it dramatically as an unfolding story. The “Perfect Storm”
is caused by three separate meteorological events which converge into one super
storm. The super storm known as a
“perfect storm” occurs in nature about every one hundred years.
In this thoughtful
consideration based on this article entitled, “The Imminent Storm” should
produce a cognitive as well as emotive response from readers.
The new “imminent storm” in
the African Methodist Episcopal Church goes beyond three natural events being
realized now: 1) the graying of the pulpit and pew without significant new
congregational growth, 2) continuance of current practices (e.g. the seven
dying words of a church: “We have never
done it this way”; and 3) economic uncertainty.
The graying of the pulpit to
the pew should become an alarming fact that the adult children of the pulpit
and pew may not be members of AMEC congregations. This should cause us to
consider each time when a member dies and his or her name is placed on the
deceased roll, a vacancy is created that is often not replaced with the
accession of new members.
The concept of not being
comfortable with new practices sets up a dynamic of doing the same thing but
expecting a better result. The lack of accepting new ideas is most often met
with resistance and well- coordinated methods to insure a new idea becomes a
bad idea, even if the idea comes from the pastor.
The seven dying words of a
congregation, “We have never done it this way!” becomes the standard modus operandi.
The real event of economic
uncertainty must be clearly understood by all church leaders, as well as
members.
The last several years with
high unemployment, especially in the African American community, becomes
extended to the church community of faith.
Given that the graying of the church has also meant that many members
find themselves doing the unthinkable of dipping into their retirement nest to
help fund their adult children who need financial assistance.
A congregant may need to work
longer to help defray additional financial burden to help family. This economic uncertainty has unfortunately
led persons over 62 that may have a home paid for to, unfortunately, resort to
getting a reverse mortgage to get money, not fully understanding that a reverse
mortgage is a real-estate “pay-day” loan.
One gets to stay in his or her house, but the money borrowed will have
to be paid back whether by the owner or his or her estate.
It is a reality that a
55-year-old man may find that his job no longer needs his skills. The long-time employee could be replaced with
a younger person that may work for $16.00 an hour rather than $36.00 an hour.
Loss of job economic crisis
causes grief process in congregations. Parishioners may express moods of
depression or anger.
In the Old Testament, a
prophet was known for being “a seer.”
The seer would share with God’s people about what will come in their
future.
My 20-years as an Army
officer allowed me to work as an operations officer, and at all levels of field
or general grade authority assistant operations, there are officers who deal
with future operations. Their work has
the responsibility to focus on future operations and missions. Futuristic thinking and planning are common
practices in the private and public sector.
There becomes a need for
understanding the “Age of context.” We
must clearly understand the nature of the “imminent storm.”
Just as Christians must
believe in the “imminent return” of Christ without knowing when, we in the AME
Church may not know when, but should prepare “for the when.”
There is a need for
forward-thinkers throughout the system of how church life must continue to
exist. It becomes unfortunate that when
persons think “outside the box” the person may become criticized rather than
understood. “Outside of the box” thinking may serve as a prophetic explanation
that God may desire a different course of action.
It is common for most people
to react to an event rather than become proactive in reasonably predicting
common natural events.
There are “common events” as
well as “uncommon events.” Simply put,
there are events and things within one’s control and events and things beyond
one’s control. Although both common and uncommon events can be planned for
through common understanding, there is a need for putting every day occurrences
into a context. Therefore, context
becomes a powerful way to approach common events as well as uncommon events.
The “imminent storm” becomes
an actual future event, whether one prepares for it or fails to prepare for
it. The fact is that the storm is a
natural event just as Jesus disciples experienced the storm on the sea. Jesus
was aware that there was a storm but his disciples woke up in the midst of the
storm and became afraid. Jesus slept
peaceful because he had control of the storm and knew about the storm even
before they got on the boat. Jesus could
even walk on water through a storm but human beings most often become fearful
of the “storms of life.” People become
fearful because they are not prepared for sudden unexpected and chaotic
situations in life. As an acronym “Fear” is, “False Evidence Appearing Real.”
We must be willing to
consider not only the “perfect storm,” but the fact that the “imminent storm”
will occur at some point in time.
One should not limit the
perfect storm of having only three factors. Three factors are already mentioned
in this essay, but the other two involve: 4) a lack of forward thinking (e.g.
proactive approach to prepare for future possible occurrences); and 5) an actionable
plan for strategic growth where growth in congregation is occurring. The
“imminent storm” has five-factors, not three.
Without approaching a future
plan for dealing with the five-factors mentioned in this essay, there will be
an “imminent storm” at some point and time in the future.
The thing to remember about a
storm is that a storm has the power to destroy what is old and allows for an
opportunity to rebuild.
Jesus described the “Age of
Context” when he made the statement about “putting new wine into old wine
skins.” New wine should be put into new
wineskins.
The Law of “Unintended
Consequences” proposed by Robert K. Merton is often not well-understood.
Simply put, the Law of
“Unintended Consequences” presupposes that every human action or inaction will
have at least one unintended consequence.
The unintended consequence will cause an unforeseen event; and will most
likely have unforeseen effects.
Unforeseen event have
side-effects. The side-effects occur
because of three primary reasons: 1) there are positive effects; 2) there are
negative effects; and 3) there are perverse effects, i.e., when an intended
solution makes a problem worse.
The unforeseen future event
such as an “imminent storm” could have one of the side-effects mentioned above.
Although human-beings often don’t consider the fact that one has just gone
through a storm, about to enter a storm, or is in the midst of the storm. There
is peace being at the center of a natural storm.
This calls for humans to understand
that “context” becomes a friend, not a foe. Complacency is a Christian’s worst
enemy.
At the beginning of the
article an illustration is given about Batman in the middle of the night with a
prophetic insight that a storm is coming.
The Old Testament prophets
stated this long before Batman told Commissioner Gordon that events are about
to happen that will be chaotic.
The principle of chaos theory
allows one to see value in an opportunity to rebuild after a chaotic event such
as a tornado or supper storm like a hurricane. It is essential to consider what
is ahead and have a future contingency for an “imminent storm.”
*Dr. Gregory Kimble serves as
pastor of Greater Harvest AMEC in Dallas, Texas. He has a private practice as a
mental health clinician and does contract work as a consultant for the
Department of Defense.
8. HOW TO RID YOUR CHURCH OF YOUNG PEOPLE:
By Ben Boruff Posted on
February 27th, 2012
Young people are, by and
large, missing from the church. This realization came one day when I opened my
eyes and saw pews full of heads that were, with few exceptions, bald, gray, or
slightly wrinkled. You may suggest, of course, that a percentage of those bald,
wrinkled heads belonged to newborns, but you’d be mistaken. Very few babies attended
church that day, and the yells and cries of those that did suggested that they
were as surprised by the lack of young people as I was.
As a Christian young person
myself, this revelation baffled me, and I felt it was my duty to communicate
this oversight to the rest of my denomination. After several sincere attempts,
I was told that churches were already aware of the declining population of
churchgoing young people. Church leaders had also observed the gray heads and
had produced reports that detailed the phenomenon’s evolution. Many expressed
desires that young people attend church, and some even suggested that action
should be taken. Thinking that perhaps these congregations simply did not know
how to seek out and engage young people, I suggested that they do research and
discover effective ways to fellowship with youth and young adults.
I was, once again, surprised
by the Christians’ competency. These churchgoers already knew how to engage
young people. They had written articles and preached sermons about effective
practices, and they had created high-profile positions for specific youth:
pedestals on which they placed hand-picked, well-groomed youngsters who offered
advice on things that related directly (and only) to young people. Contrary to
my initial thoughts, these Christians had been living the situation for the
past few decades.
The lack of action amongst
these congregations, however, continued to confuse me. They comprehended the
situation, and they understood how to fix the problem. It was as though their
good ideas were overshadowed by some unspoken rule. It took quite some time for
my naïve mind to find the only logical conclusion: These churchgoers did not
want young people in their churches.
I realized that perhaps these
Christians were quietly trying to rid themselves of young people and simply did
not know how to finish the job. Young people are, after all, opinionated and
hormonal, and they tend to use copious amounts of technology. It is
understandable why any person with an interest in routine and purity would want
to exclude this obnoxious demographic. So, in a spirit of Christian solidarity,
I decided to help these churches expel young people once and for all.
The following strategies
should, if executed properly, help to permanently distance any young people
from your church.
1) Bore young people with
vague affection. Talk often about loving young people, but never let that love
result in anything tangible. Occasionally, you may be tempted to verbally scorn
young people and drive them from your halls with acolyte sticks and hymnals.
Resist. Young people are resilient and stubborn, and antagonizing them may give
them reason to advocate for change. Instead, pretend you love young people, and
talk often about the excitement you feel when you see them on Sunday. But when
they express needs or have ideas, ignore them.
2) Do not, under any
circumstance, ask young people what they want. When asked what they want, young
people often answer honestly. They don’t have the decency to hide desires
behind fake smiles. If you ask what they want, they will expect you to give it
to them. If young people are offered the worship and fellowship environments
they want, they may flock to church. Better to restrict idea-giving to seniors.
3) Refit traditional services
with guitars and muffins, but change nothing else. “Contemporary” services can
be created as halfhearted gestures to young people. Offering sugary food and
upbeat music without asking young people what types of food and music they
prefer is like giving a friend a ride without asking where he wants to go.
4) Fill the church with
references to past generations. Old paintings. Cross stitch samplers. Dated
jokes. Allusions to cancelled television programs. Sermon illustrations that
involve outdated technology. A barrage of generation-specific references will
drive away even the most devout young person.
5) Refuse to acknowledge
today’s pop culture. Follow this rule: If you can’t say something bad, don’t
say anything at all. Ignore Iron Man. Shun Sufjan Stevens. Avoid Apatow. Nix
Nicki Minaj. Overlook online games. Forget Family Guy.
6) Use the phrase “does not
condone” as much as possible. These words are nails on a chalkboard to most
young people. If you must choose between “We advocate for” and “We do not
condone,” pick the latter every time. Condemnation is the church’s youth
repellent.
7) Whenever possible, remind
young people that they are, indeed, young people. Sometimes youth must be
reminded that they are not high on the Christian hierarchy. Mention how happy
you are that someone of “their age” wants to be involved. Like dulling a work
of art with camera flashes, overemphasizing a young person’s age can ruin her or
his spark.
8) Be unapologetically
nostalgic. Talk often about when things were better, the days when the birds
sang and politicians had class. As we know, the circumstances in which young
people are immersed offer nothing good. Speak nostalgically often enough, and
young people will see the church for what it rightfully is—a time capsule.
These guidelines will help
any church rid itself of young people. Feel free to share them with mission
teams, book clubs, and church choirs. But please move quickly. If I’m going to
leave the church someday, I’d rather leave now and give myself time to find a
more welcoming community.
*Ben Boruff, a senior at
Indiana University, is a member of the United Methodist Church’s Connectional
Table and served on the Call to Action Steering Committee. This article first
appeared in the United Methodist Reporter.
Topics Church decline Church
growth Hospitality Humor Young adult
9. UNION BETHEL AME CHURCH BEGINS MENTORING
PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN:
September 4, 2013 (Brandywine,
MD) – While many churches went to the streets to protest the not-guilty verdict
in the George Zimmerman case, Union Bethel AME Church started a mentoring
program. The all-male mentoring team adopted ten students at Gwynn Park Middle
School, in Brandywine, Maryland. Most of these young men were in danger of
having to repeat their most recent grade, lived in single-parent households and
dealt with behavior issues. All the mentors are members from Union Bethel AME
Church where Rev. Dr. Harry L. Seawright is the pastor. Pastor Seawright, who
is very passionate about this program states, “Now is the time for us to bring
positive Christian role models in the lives of these young men”.
In response to the murder of
Trayvon Martin, the mentors held a workshop and activity designed to show the
young men how to dress. They talked about wearing hoodies and low-rider pants
and dressing in a presentable and respectable fashion. Bro. Rodney Taylor,
Union Bethel's Minister to Men and the coordinator of the mentoring program,
stated, "It was surprising to see how many young men did not know how to
tie a necktie. But with many mothers raising sons in the absence of fathers,
this [program] is a teachable moment for the young men to learn life lessons,
skills for studying, [dealing with] racism and violence, college preparation
and, of course, the goodness of God."
For the students who were on
the verge of failing, after just a few months of mentoring, most of the young
men were promoted, and they show daily improvement in class and at home. To
assure a positive impact on the lives of these young men, the mentors’ goals
include one-on-one tutoring, field trips, rites of passage, developing positive
relationships and a partnership with the parents and school staff. Although these
male role models are extremely excited about the first group's success, they
all remain committed to the task. They also believe that it takes a village to
raise a child. They will continue to guide the students from boyhood to
manhood.
Union Bethel AME Church is
located at 6810 Floral Park Road, Brandywine, MD 20613. For additional
information, please call 301-372-6036.
Submitted by Pamela
King-Williams, Union Bethel AME Church - Public Relations Ministry
10. VERNON JORDAN TO SPEAK AT METROPOLITAN AME CHURCH
ON SEPTEMBER 22:
WASHINGTON; Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., noted author, lawyer,
investment banker and former civil rights leader, will be the featured speaker at the Men’s Day
Celebration at Metropolitan AME Church on Sunday, September 22. The congregation and community will convene
in a single worship service at 10 a.m.
The special service, using
the theme, “Mighty Men of Metropolitan:
On the Solid Rock, Standing and Serving for 175 Years,” is part of Metropolitan’s
year-long celebration of its 175-year history. Metropolitan, known as “the
National Cathedral of African Methodism,” will also feature all men of the
church, young and old; the Men’s Choir; presentation of the Legacy Award, and a
full-course repast with musical entertainment. The Rev. Ronald E. Braxton,
senior pastor, invites the entire community to attend this signal event.
Jordan is a Senior Managing
Director of Lazard Frères & Co. and Senior Counsel of the law firm of Akin
Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
Earlier in his career, Jordan held positions that included: President and CEO of the National Urban
League, Inc.; Executive Director of the United Negro College Fund, Director of
the Voter Education Project of the Southern Regional Council and Georgia Field
Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. His
presidential appointments include the President’s Advisory Committee for the
Points of Light Initiative Foundation, the Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee
on South Africa and the Presidential Clemency Board; in 1992, he served as the
Chairman of the Clinton Presidential Transition Team. He holds a number of corporate directorships
and holds honorary degrees from more than 60 American colleges and universities. Jordan is the author of, “Vernon Can Read! A
Memoir.”
Free parking is available
directly across from the church and at 1615 M St. NW.
11. SMITHSONIAN’S DR. JOHNNETTA COLE FEATURED SPEAKER
AT HISTORIC METROPOLITAN AME CHURCH:
(Washington) Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, director of the
Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (NMAfA), will be the guest speaker
at the historic Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church on
Sunday, September 15, 2013, during a commemorative service beginning at 10:00
a.m. The church is located at 1518 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005, only a
few blocks from the White House. The
spirit-filled service is being presented by Metropolitan’s Circles of Twelve. The 175th Church Anniversary theme
is, “On the Solid Rock: We Stand. We Serve.”
The event is one of several in a year-long celebration of this iconic
church’s history and anniversary.
Dr. Cole was appointed to the
NMAfA in March, 2009. She currently
serves on the Scholarly Advisory Board for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of
African American History and Culture, the construction of which will be
completed on the National Mall by 2015.
Before assuming her current position, Johnnetta Cole had a long and
distinguished career as an educator and humanitarian. Through her work as a
college president, university professor and through her published works,
speeches and community service she has consistently addressed racial, gender,
and all other forms of inequality.
Dr. Cole served as president
of Spelman College and Bennett College for Women. She is the only person to
have served as president of these two historically Black colleges for women in
the United States. She is also Professor Emerita of Emory University from which
she retired as Presidential Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Women’s
Studies and African American Studies.
Founded in 1838, Metropolitan
was formed by two existing churches: Israel Bethel A.M.E., founded in 1821 and
Union Bethel A.M.E., which was also founded in 1838. The parent A.M.E. Church
movement grew out of an anti–segregation protest in Philadelphia in 1787.
Similarly, both Israel Bethel and Union Bethel began as a result of
dissatisfaction among African Americans over racial segregation here in
Washington at Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church. The name of the Church was
officially changed to Metropolitan AME Church in 1872 at the Baltimore
Conference.
The Circles of Twelve is
affiliated with Metropolitan AME Church’s outreach arm; the Daniel Alexander
Payne Community Development Corporation.
All are active members of the church, and are servant leaders devoting
their time to prayer, partnership, preservation and philanthropy.
Senior Minister, the Reverend
Dr. Ronald E. Braxton extends an invitation to the public to attend this
commemorative service and celebration.
Please contact the church office at 202 331-1426 for additional
information about this celebration.
12. NAACP PRESIDENT AND CEO ANNOUNCES PLAN TO STEP
DOWN FROM ASSOCIATION AT YEAR’S END:
Benjamin Todd Jealous will
remain in role through December 31, 2013
(Baltimore, MD) – NAACP
President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous today announced plans to transition out
of his role as President and CEO on December 31, 2013. Roslyn M. Brock,
Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors, accepted his formal letter of notice
this week.
“We thank President Jealous
for his time leading the Association,” stated Brock. “Under his leadership, the
NAACP has built a highly competent staff that will carry our mission forward
and meet the civil rights challenges of the 21st century. Our board,
staff and volunteer leaders throughout the country deeply appreciate his
sacrifice, and will continue to implement our game-changing goals for the next
half century that include the restoration of Section 4 of the Voting Rights
Act, implementing Trayvon’s Law, bolstering civic engagement efforts and
ensuring our community is enrolled in the Affordable Care Act exchanges.”
“The NAACP has always been the largest civil
rights organization in the streets, and today it is also the largest civil
rights organization online, on mobile and at the ballot box too,” stated
Jealous. “I am proud to leave the
Association financially sound, sustainable, focused, and more powerful than
ever. Beginning next year, I look forward to pursuing opportunities in academia
to train the next generation of leaders and, of course, spending a lot more
time with my young family."
In recent years the NAACP has
won state and local battles to abolish the death penalty, shrink prison
systems, outlaw racial profiling, expand voting rights protections, reform gun
laws, close dangerous power plants, expand early childhood education, secure
health care coverage for the uninsured, and more.
The Association will continue
its as an ally in the fights for workers’ rights, women's rights, immigrants’
rights, and marriage equality, as well as in the struggle to end the HIV
epidemic.
13. THE 10TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2013
SCHEDULE OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
Bishop Vashti Murphy
McKenzie, Presiding Prelate
Mr. Stan McKenzie, Episcopal
Supervisor
The Northwest Texas Annual Conference
September 10 - 14, 2013
The Rev. Dr. William
Campbell, Host Pastor
Anderson Chapel AME Church,
Host
1002 Jefferis Avenue
Killeen Texas 76543
254-690-5030
Opening and Closing of the
Northwest Texas Annual Conference
Greater Vision Community
Church
2000 E. Stan Schlueter Loop
Killeen, Texas 76542
Telephone: 254-200-4382
The North Texas Annual Conference
September 24 - 28, 2013
The Rev. Dr. Juan Tolliver,
Host Pastor
St Paul AME Church- Host
Church
2420 Metropolitan Ave.
Dallas, Texas 75215
214-421-1344
The Southwest Texas Annual Conference
October 8 - 12, 2013
The Rev. Dr. W. Raymond
Bryant, Host Pastor
Bethel AME Church – Host
Church
225 North Swiss Street
San Antonio, Texas 78202
The Texas Annual Conference
October 22 - 26, 2013
The Rev. Kevin L. Bullock,
Sr., Host Pastor
Evangelist Chapel AME Church-
Host Church
3401 Hondo St.
Houston, Texas 77051
2013 Planning Meeting
November 6-9, 2013
The Rev. Adam T. Carrington,
Host Pastor
Grant Worship Center-Host
Church
1701 Kramer Lane
Austin, Texas 78758
512-339-4726
Host Hotel: Hilton Garden
Inn-Austin North
12400 N IH 35
Austin, Texas 78753
Telephone: 512-339-3626
Room Rate: $109.00
Reservation Cut-Off Date:
October 23, 2013
Group Name: 2013 Planner
Meeting-10th District
14. HUNGER CONTINUES TO DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACT
MILLIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS:
By Bishop Don DiXon Williams
According to new data released
by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 25.5 percent of African-American
households suffered from food insecurity in 2012. This figure is nearly twice
as high as the overall rate of food insecurity in the United States—14.5
percent of Americans, nearly 49 million people, lived in food insecure
households in 2012. Food insecure households are those that often don’t know
where their next meal will come from.
“While hunger impacts far too
many people in our country, we cannot ignore the disproportionate prevalence of
hunger in the African-American community,” said Rev. Don Williams, associate
for African-American church relationships at Bread for the World. “The fact
that so many people in this country continue to struggle to put food on the table
is unconscionable.”
African-American children
also experienced higher than average food insecurity rates. According to the USDA report, nearly 16
million children—more than one in five—lived in food insecure households in
2012. This means that 21.6 percent of
children were at risk for hunger, but the figure rises to 31.5 percent for
African-American children.
The data also showed that the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) provided
assistance to 42 percent of food insecure households. SNAP is a lifeline for
millions of hungry Americans, but all SNAP households will see their monthly
benefits reduced on Nov. 1 and the House of Representatives is currently
proposing to cut the program by $40 billion.
“With nearly one in six
Americans living in food insecure households, now is not the time to slash
SNAP,” said Williams. “Without federal safety net programs, which are essential
in helping to keep hunger at bay, that figure would be even higher. Cutting $40
billion from SNAP would remove as many as 6 million people from the program.
This is unacceptable.
“We must remind members of
Congress that they have a moral obligation to protect federal safety net
programs. We cannot turn our backs on the 49 million Americans that live in
food insecure households,” Williams concluded.
Bishop Don DiXon Williams is
racial-ethnic outreach at Bread for the World and sits on the Board of Bishops
of the United Church of Jesus Christ, Baltimore, Md.
15. GETTING TO ZERO:
The regular column will
resume next week.
16. iCHURCH COLUMN:
The regular column will
resume next week.
17. MEDITATION BASED ON ISAIAH 40:21-31:
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
I'm writing this meditation after
visiting the 136th session of the Columbia Annual Conference of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church at Pine Grove AME Church in Columbia, South
Carolina, where I was blessed to serve as pastor from 1985 to 1991. Pine Grove has changed considerably in the
last 22 years. The facility that we
envisioned way back then - when Pine Grove more than doubled in membership and
was outgrowing its physical plant - is now a reality. The campus is larger, the old sanctuary is
now a fellowship hall and the church now has a new, modern and spacious
sanctuary.
Many of those who were
leaders in the congregation 22 years ago are no longer active or have gone on
to glory. Many of those who now lead the
congregation were "new" members 22 years ago and were sometimes
viewed with apprehensive suspicion by those who grew up in that church. They endured that suspicion and apprehension,
never got discouraged, gave up or walked away and they’re now leading the way
in serving the Lord, nurturing new members and making a difference in the
congregation and in the community.
Remember those who now lead
Pine Grove AME Church as you travel life's roads. We'll all face opposition and obstacles in
life sooner or later - difficult situations and difficult people that make us
want to simply give up, give in, accept whatever comes our way and not “make
waves.”
When we realize, however,
that Jesus never gave up on us and chose to give his life so that we can find
pardon for our missteps and mistakes and have the promise of eternal life,
we'll find new vision, new determination, fresh encouragement and marvelous
inspiration to travel life's roads with assurance that we never walk alone.
We'll all face
discouragement, disappointment and self-doubt sooner or later, but that's not
what really matters. What really matters
is that if we stay the course and trust God to give us strength for the
journey, we'll find new comfort, new peace of mind and new encouragement in the
words of the writer who said, "I hear the voice of Jesus telling me still
to fight on, He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone."
Get Ready for Sunday, and
have a great day in your house of worship!
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby
is the Presiding Elder of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual Conference
of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
18. EPISCOPAL, GENERAL OFFICER AND CLERGY FAMILY
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-- The birth of Steven Anthony Cousin III to the Rev.
Steven A. Cousin, Jr. and Dr. Christina Dickerson Cousin
With great joy, we announce
the birth of Steven Anthony Cousin III, born Monday, September 9, 2013 at 10:23
a.m. at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. He was a healthy, bouncing 9 pound
bundle of joy for his proud parents, the Rev. Steven A. Cousin, Jr. and Dr.
Christina Dickerson Cousin. The Rev.
Cousin is the pastor of Bethel AME Church in New Haven, Connecticut.
Steven III is the grandson of
Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson, Retired General Officer, and Mrs. Mary A. E. Dickerson;
Presiding Elder Steven A. Cousin, Sr., Kansas Nebraska District AMEC and Mrs.
Linda Cousin; and Mr. Lorenzo Henderson and Mrs. Sybil Henderson of Bristol,
Pennsylvania.
Retired Bishop Philip R. and
Dr. Margaret Joan Cousin are the proud great-grandparents.
Congratulations may be sent
to either of the following:
The Rev. Steven Cousin: sacousin@gmail.com
Dr. Christina Cousin: c.dickerson82@gmail.com
The Rev. Dr. Dennis
Dickerson: dennis.c.dickerson@vanderbilt.edu
Presiding Elder Steven A.
Cousin: scousin@kc.rr.com
Dr. M. Joan Cousin: mjoancousin@aol.com
Bishop P.R. Cousin: prc7696@aol.com
--The Rev. Dr. Charlotte Blake Sydnor accepts faculty position
to teach in the Argosy University Counseling and Psychology Doctoral Program
The Rev. Dr. Charlotte Ann
Blake Sydnor has accepted a position as Adjunct Faculty at Argosy University
Nashville in the Counseling Education and Psychology Doctoral Program as of
August 29, 2013. Dr. Sydnor will instruct pastors, lay ministers and
counselors/therapists in Pastoral Community Counseling as they strive to
receive their Ed D degrees. Please keep the pastor in prayer as she serves the
church and community.
Congratulatory messages may
be sent:
-- Presiding Elder H. Charles Farris retires after 45
years of ministerial service and the Rev. and Mrs. Farris will Renew their 50th
Anniversary Wedding Vows
The Reverend Dr. H. Charles
Farris, Presiding Elder of the Phoenix Albuquerque District, Desert Mountain
Annual Conference of the Fifth Episcopal District retired on August 24, 2013
after 45 years of ministerial service.
On Saturday, September 21,
2013 retired Presiding Elder H. Charles Farris and Mrs. Rayjo Farris will renew
their 50th Anniversary Wedding vows in a formal ceremony at the
Tanner Chapel AME Church, 20 South Eighth Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034 at 1 p.m.
The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas, Sr. is the pastor and officiant.
Congratulatory message can be
emailed to:
Retired Presiding Elder H.
Charles Farris: revhcfarris@yahoo.com
Mrs. Rayjo Farris: crjfarris@yahoo.com
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We sorrowfully announce that
Mr. William Swinton, Sr. entered into eternal rest, Wednesday, September 11,
2013.
Mr. Swinton was faithfully
married to Sis. Elizabeth Swinton. He
was the father of Rev. Dr. William Swinton, Jr., Pastor of Ebenezer AME Church,
Charleston, SC, father-in-law of Sis. Cheryl F. Swinton, former YPD Director of
the 7th Episcopal District, and grandfather of William 'Trey'
Swinton, III and John C. Swinton.
The Christian Wake will be
held
Monday, September 16, 2013
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Ebenezer AME
The Rev. Dr. William Swinton,
Jr., Pastor
44 Nassau Street
Charleston, SC
Funeral Services will be held
at Ebenezer AME Church
44 Nassau Street
Charleston, SC
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
11:00 a.m.
Entrusted with the care of
the arrangements:
Fielding Home for Funerals
122 Logan Street
Charleston, SC 29401
P.O. Box 994
Charleston, SC 29402
Telephone: 843.722.3348.
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Dr. William Swinton,
Jr.: pastorswinton@bellsouth.net
44 Nassau St.
Charleston, SC 29403
Residence Telephone: (843)
881-8454
Office: (843) 723-4660
20. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of
the passing of Sister Rita Howard, First Lady of Holy Trinity AME Church North
Las Vegas, Nevada. Sister Howard is the wife of the Reverend Delman Howard who
is a member of the Judicial Council of the AME Church.
Services for Sister Rita
Howard:
Friday, September 20, 2013 at
11:00 AM
First AME Church
2446 North Revere Street
North Las Vegas, NV. 89030
Telephone: 702.649.1774
Fax: 702.657.2989
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Delman E. Howard and
Family
6904 Homing Pigeon Place
North Las Vegas, NV 89084
21. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
With regret, we announce the passing
of Ms. Patricia A. Carter, sister of the Rev. Anthony G. Carter, pastor of
Quinn Chapel AME Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee and Mrs. Linda C. Finch, wife
of the Rev. C. Robert Finch, Presiding Elder of the North Memphis District,
West Tennessee Conference.
Funeral Arrangements for Ms.
Patricia A. Carter:
The family visitation hour
will be held Friday evening, September 13, 2013 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 p.m. at
Taylor Funeral Home; 3417 Wilcox Boulevard in Memphis; telephone: 423-622-8152.
The Celebration of Life
ceremony and worship service will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, September 14,
2013 in the Taylor Funeral Home Chapel, with interment in the Greenwood
cemetery.
Cards and other expressions
of sympathy can be mailed to:
The Carter and Finch Family
2763 Colony Park Drive
Memphis, TN 38118
Or emailed to: lcfin811@aol.com
22. CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Web page: http://www.amecfic.org/
Phone: (615) 837-9736 (H)
Phone: (615) 833-6936 (O)
Cell: (615) 403-7751
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AMEC_CFIC
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-AME-Church-Clergy-Family-Information-Center/167202414220
23. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend
T. Larry Kirkland; the Publisher, the Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour and the
Editor of The Christian Recorder, the
Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III offer our condolences and prayers to those
who have lost loved ones. We pray that the peace of Christ will be with you
during this time of your bereavement.
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