Bishop Richard Franklin Norris - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. I RECEIVED RESPONSES TO MY EDITORIAL - I WANT TO KNOW…:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
I received responses to my Editorial, “I Want to Know…” from members of the clergy and laity. A couple of respondents also had some questions.
Restated Questions and Responses -
I want to know why any pastor would allow any steward, trustee and other officers to serve in leadership positions in the local church that does not study the Bible or seek spiritual growth and development.
Response:
- The Book of Discipline says that Stewards "must be of solid piety, know and love the word of God, the African Methodist Episcopal Church Doctrine and The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church." Since Stewards are the key lay leaders, that should apply by extension to all laypersons holding office and should be one of the prayerful considerations for pastors preparing for Conference year church organization. We sometimes, however, hang onto incumbent officeholders because they and their allies might not like it, and we sometimes choose officers on the basis of profession or connections rather than piety and spiritual commitment. A colleague of my acquaintance once appointed a fairly new member as a Steward because he was a banker, and then said after a year of that Steward’s performance, "I shouldn’t have done that - he knows money, but he doesn’t really know Jesus!
I want to know how any pastor would allow officers to serve in leadership positions in the local church who does not have any knowledge of The Discipline or how the AME Church functions.
Response:
- The root cause for such appointments arises out of a pastor's self-interest / insecurity. A lot of pastors are uneasy about working with an informed laity because they (pastors) don't like sharing power or participating in shared governance.
I want to how we can allow any itinerant elder, local elder, local deacon, licentiate, exhorter to be in good and regular standing in the Church who does not maintain biblical and theological proficiency.
Response:
- Many AME congregations do not take theological proficiency as a serious requirement for ministry. We are more concerned with the superficial aspects of preaching, singing, whopping and talking ad nauseum about the "evils" of conservative politics.
I want to know how we can allow candidates for ministry to move toward ordination who do not have a plan for meeting the requirements and maintaining proficiency in the profession of ministry.
Response:
- Mandatory retirement for our senior clergy creates a supply-bottleneck. In order to replace the retired population the AMEC is now receiving too many unqualified candidates for ministry. The AME Church has bottlenecks and such bottlenecks, in the absence of enforcement standards; inefficiencies will occur.
I want to know how any local church would not insist that their ministers regularly attend theological and educational updates.
Response:
- We need to deal with the issue of continuing education and professional review for competence when we gather for the General Conference in Nashville in 2012 because The Discipline doesn’t include a systematic requirement for continuing theological education or professional evaluation - once you’re in and elected and ordained an Elder, you’re pretty much free and clear. That may be because a good portion of those who amend the positive law at the General Conference are itinerant Elders of long standing and know that a firm requirement for continuing education might have an impact upon us. Human nature seems to lead us to make firm requirements for others, but not for ourselves. As one of my seminary professors said, "Sins of the flesh have always been considered more egregious than sins of the spirit because those church fathers that made the rules were less likely at their age to commit sins of the flesh!"
I want to know why any local church would recommend a candidate for ministry who does not have a spiritual, biblical, educational, emotional foundation, or aptitude for ministry.
Response:
- Any local church that recommends a candidate for ministry without the necessary requirements is an indication that the congregation is theologically immature.
- The Book of Discipline also sets firm standards for educational preparation for itinerant ministry and rules that can be applied to local ministry, but we sometimes find ways to "skirt" those rules for those that we like. We also apply the same standard for local clergy and licentiates who are well connected in our church families, lest we incur the wrath of their family members. I discovered during an Annual Conference "roll call" that I had an itinerant Deacon on my staff at my second pastoral appointment that I had never met. When I asked those at the church why the brother didn’t attend, they said, "He’s never attended - he just came one Sunday and said that he was called to preach, and the old pastor took him through!"
I want to know how any local church would not insist that their ministers regularly attend theological and educational updates.
Response:
- Churches that are indifferent to ministers’ re-tooling and re-training typically have low collective biblical and theological IQs. Theological education is not a priority for many local churches because they are content with mediocrity.
I want to know why a local church would not say, “No" to someone who is not suited for ministry and why local churches, the Quarterly Conference and the District Conference recommend unqualified candidates for ministry.
Response:
- We fail to say “No” to unqualified candidates because we are terrified about hurting someone's feeling or acting as "judging" or usurping God's role in determining a candidate's call to service; in short, we are spiritual cowards.
I want to know why any pastor would tell a local congregation that he or she does not know where the budget money goes.
Response:
- The response by a pastor of not knowing where the budget money goes is plausible. There is not a lot of transparency in our financial reporting activities.
- The pastors who do that are often the ones who have problems in choosing and supervising good lay leadership and in general pastoral performance, and who are most likely to voluntarily or involuntarily "church hop." I wouldn’t judge my colleagues who say that, but I can share with them what has worked for me for over thirty years.
- As a pastor, I make it a practice of plainly including all financial responsibilities beyond the local church in the annual budget - not for a vote, but for information - and take the time to explain where the money goes for each line item. In the event of special "askings," I do the same. I’ve found that if we take the time to educate our members, then they’re more willing to do the right thing. I’ve also found that the laity who ask those questions are sometimes those who also question the pastor’s salary and the local church budget. When pastors say, "I don’t know where the money goes," those lay folk are more comfortable in saying the same thing to other members of the church about the local budget!
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry when he or she knows that they are not going to fulfill the academic and theological requirements for ordination.
Response:
- This is an enforcement issue. If sanctions are credible about not meeting such standards people would comply. Economic theory teaches compliance is always low when agents perceive the costs of enforcement are less than the benefits of a given activity.
- We don’t prayerfully and objectively follow our structure, and that those of us in pastoral ministry sometimes opt for what is “convenient,” rather than for what is right.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry who does not believe or accept The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Response:
- Perhaps some people aspire to the AME ministry to acquire a pastorate; they like the idea that a Bishop will assign them a Church rather than the congregational model of selecting pastors.
- Itinerant ministers who are agnostic about The Discipline feel they have leverage over a congregation which may be generally ignorant about The Discipline. If AME congregations demanded more and presiding bishops accommodated those demands, this would cease to be a problem.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry knowing full-well that he or she has no intention of pastoring a church, or no plans to do fulltime ministry in any capacity.
Response:
- Such itinerant ministers like the benefits that the status of "itineracy" brings, but reject the costs associated with such status. The AMEC should adopt the principles of the Armed Forces and reduce a minister's rank if he/she is unwilling to comply with the conditions of this level of ordination.
- The answer to your "I want to Knows" with regard to ministry can be found if those of us who are blessed to serve as pastors and members of the Boards of Examiners simply do their work. The questions you asked as to intent, willingness to be truly itinerant pastors and educational plans should be asked when anyone answers the call to ministry. They should be asked one-on-one during initial pastoral counseling, publicly explored before the Board of Stewards, the Church Conference, the Quarterly Conference and the District Conference, and should be a part of the counseling and evaluative process of the Board of Examiners
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry and just be satisfied with sitting in the pulpit, praying when called upon, reading the scripture or leading in the Decalogue.
Response:
- Sadly, some of our ministers are just lazy and see no problem with their slothful behavior.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry track with the thought that they cannot go into fulltime ministry because there are no local churches that can support them. Even the disciples quit their fishing jobs to follow Jesus.
Response:
- Some ministers are simply too risk-averse to engage in meaningful ministry. Sitting in the pulpit and giving perfunctory prayers represents a low-risk option.
I want to know how any local church accepts “weekend warrior" pastors; pastors who only work on weekends; do nothing at the church during the week; paid a fulltime salary; and essentially, get paid to go to church.
Response:
- With the exception of a mid-week funeral or noon-day Bible Study, many pastors do not have a comprehensive weekly schedule and many do not post or publish their office schedules; those who do are an exception.
I want to know how any pastor could be satisfied in part-time ministry; preach on Sunday and go back to his or her secular (real) job on Monday morning like anyone else who has a job.
Response:
- When you are pastoring a flock of 10-30 members the rate of monetary remuneration will not support a pastor and his or her family. Supplemental income is logical. We need pay equity among our AME Pastors. Full-time pastors who pastor large congregations can forgo working in a "secular" job whereas pastors of smaller congregations are faced with different economic constraints.
I want to know how any local church would not insist that their pastors and ministers subscribe to all of the periodicals of the Church. And for those who don't know the names of the AME periodicals: The Christian Recorder, The A.M.E. Church Review, The Voice of Missions, The journal of Religious Education, The Women's Missionary Magazine, The Secret Chamber, and The YPD Newsletter.
Response:
- We give lip service to Christian Education but in reality, for the large part, Christian Education is not a priority. Our Bible Study classes and Church School attendance are only a small fraction of our Sunday morning 11 o’clock worship service attendance. Many of the clergy do not set the example of attending Church School.
Additional Questions asked by others:
- What I want to know is when we as a Church will simply do what we should do in a faithful and responsible manner?
- What is the correct procedure and process for a license minister on trial as a licentiate who leaves his or her local church he or she was actually license by the quarterly conference and who then decides to leave and move his or her membership to a another local AME Church; do they start over and will they have to go before another church Conference and quarterly Conference to restart the ministerial process?
Editor’s Note: I decided to exclude the names of the respondents, because their responses were more important than their names. A special thanks to the persons who responded.
2. THE NIGHT I CRIED FOR MY COUNTRY:
*Danica Daniels
Here I am again… arguing for, and defending Barrack Obama’s platforms; arguing against the usual Southern GOP sympathizers who look as if the anti-Christ has come every time I utter Barack Obama's name.
Every school day, consists of the mighty liberal warrior (me) against the provincial southern good ol’ boy and good ol’ girl’s ideals assaulting my belief system.
I cannot remember when the madness began.
Ahhh… It was back in the weeks before Super Tuesday. It was in January 2008, that I heard about the split of the Democratic Party between the Obama supporters and Clinton supporters (who are we kidding John Edwards never really mattered.
That night, instead of fueling my YouTube addiction, I felt strangely propelled to check out the issues and Google the candidates’ platforms. As usual, thanks to my circuitous nature, I ended up back on YouTube, where I found one of Barrack Obama’s speeches ad-libbed into a song by Will.I.AM. At first, it was the catchy beat that stole my attention but I decided to loop the video and took the time to listen to the words… Bam! It hit me...Hard! Hope, “Yes We Can, Change!” Chanted with a spirit that I had never heard before; and I felt the blindfold of indifference lift off my eyes.
When I listened to Hillary Clinton’s speeches, I didn’t feel the same spirit in her voice.
Choice time! Here is the question? Who am I primarily, an African-American, born to hardworking first-generation Americans or a woman?
My life, before I pondered this question, is lost in the months and years I spent in walking around in my blindfold of indifference through my self-contoured hazy bubble separated from the world.
The truth of the matter is that a substantial amount of people died so that I could have a say in the affairs of my government. The first who sacrifice themselves were those crazy colonists thirsting to be independent. The colonists were followed by those insane women who called themselves feminist, and fought ferociously for women’s suffrage; and last, but not least, those blacks that dared to believe that they were just as good as their white counterparts.
All of those tortured souls pushed on in the heated turmoil that surrounded their bold and vehement decisions to break stringent social constructs and believe something different and embraced a new paradigm took place so that my country would want to hear my thoughts and count my vote. Those people suffered and died for my freedom. I thought to myself, “Why let their ultimate sacrifices be in vain?” Thus, my obsession started with the word, “Hope.”
It is election night. I am pacing back and forth in my living room, while holding five different electoral maps; flipping between news channels and eating gummy worms. This is how I’ve been for an hour or so. All the comments I heard at school today replay in my head. The remarks varied from, “We all know Obama is going to win” to “Can’t wait ‘till McCain is President.” Call it female intuition but I have a feeling that “hope” will prevail and I want to see it. So the counting of electoral votes starts, McCain with eight electoral votes while Obama possessed three electoral votes. The minutes are dragging on with America’s future hanging on every passing second, while my heart rate is increasing. The New England states are in. Obama with 77 electoral votes and McCain with 34 votes, could it be! Calm down, calm down; can’t get excited yet. A premature victory announcement that could lead to a monumental loss would be enough to give me a heart attack.
An hour and a half later, Obama’s numbers are rising with his electoral count at 102 while poor ol’ McCain is still hanging on to his 34.
“God, seriously; you’re going to make me go through all of this mental stress, when I have school tomorrow? Could you speed the process up, Big Man,” I say while staring at my ceiling. But God is busy, even though I know God hears my prayer, God also has to process the prayers for McCain at the same time. Two hours later, its 9:00 p.m. No, No, Lord have mercy, No! Must be my stupid contacts playing a joke on me. Obama is at 194 electoral votes while McCain is at 69. Breathe 270 votes to win. Wait, what’s 270 minus 194? 76.
I can’t control myself and I’m out of gummy worms… what now? Picking up my cell phone, I plan to call everyone in my phone book, including my parents who probably are thinking that being across the Atlantic, in West Africa, exempts them from my Obama - induced insanity but, oh no!
“Hello” a groggy voice that sounds like my father says.
“Dad, are you watching!” “Hi Dee, How are you?”
“I’m fine! But are you watching the election?”
“No, but we’ll turn CNN on”
“Okay, call you a little later, Dad. Bye!” I practically scream!
The numbers keep rolling Obama with 207 and McCain 89.
Breathe, Danica!
Millions of thoughts speed down the autobahn of my mind and it is just way too much to handle.
McCain at 135 votes now. It is up to the Western states now. Holding my chest so my heart won’t pound out of my body, Ten minutes until the polls on the West coast close. I blink and when I open my eyes a minute is left. My heart is beating like it would be in the last seconds of a soccer or basketball game, when victory is so close and adrenaline takes over your body and you’re no longer in control. Thirty-four seconds more and then I will know how this race will finish.
Counting 24 more seconds, 16 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 more second.
The CNN announcer says, “We can now project Barrack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America.”
Where’s the remote? Quickly, I switch to FOX News and they make the same announcement. So does CBS, NBC and ABC.
My schizophrenic pacing begins. I don’t know how to handle these emotions. There are people all over the world rejoicing. But I will not cry. While I am trying to keep the sangfroid of a Buddhist monk, the phone starts ringing.
“Hello” I say in a shaky voice.
My cousin Zoee answers “Hey Dee, Are you watching? Isn’t it amazing he won?”
I do not know how to control it anymore so, I let the rain pour. I can’t utter a word; I put the phone down hoping she would understand.
I run upstairs to get my aunt and my grandma and we are all crying. Salty tears are washing away the atrocities of the past and cleansing my body of any act of racial or moral injustice reverberating in my memory.
My parents! I have to call them.
“Hello Dee,” answers my mom.
“Mommie” I say through the gallons of salt water falling from my eyes. “He did it, Mom! He did it. No one thought he could, Mom! I hoped and I prayed but I didn’t think I would see it.”
She soothes me and tells me to calm down before I make myself sick and she passes the phone to my dad.
The tears start all over.
“Dad, I never thought I would be alive to see this and here I am. What force, what majesty has the power to do such a thing, but God?”
He did his best to calm me down and I say “Goodnight” (or rather good morning, since it is 4 a.m. in West Africa).
I pray and ask God what I did to deserve such a moment in my lifetime? I don’t know the answer but I thank God. As the slaves had done, in the darkest hours from the bottom of the slave ship until the Bells of Freedom rang, over every mountain top and valley low. The water from my salty tears dissolved away leaving spots of salt on the counter, just like the national troubles facing the United States will surely melt away, leaving the hope of a new tomorrow.
November, the forth, two thousand and eight; the night I cried for my country because for the first time, I felt my tears were not in vain.
Up these stairs in Barks Hall at Hammond school, another morning but this morning I hold my head a little higher and walk just a little faster, not letting my lassitude slow me down.
As I burst through the heavy metal door, Robert Killifer is the first to greet me, with the words I thought only I was thinking, “We did it!”
Smiling, I reply, “Yes we did!”
I will let the McCain supporters have their moment to overcome their candidate’s defeat. I refuse to let any bitterness infringe on this moment for me. I won’t speak out when they inveigh against the President-elect with their crude angry remarks. Only a few people at Hammond would understand how personal this was.
This country has so many opportunities that are taken for granted each day.
This country accepted my parents when they had nothing to offer; they were just two Liberians stuck in a war-torn country that was vibrating with eruptions of violence. Neither of them were American citizens so, the U.S. government wasn’t concerned with their safety. They were a young married couple who possessed only the clothes they wore on their backs; their faith in God; and an eighteen-month-old baby girl who happened to be an American citizen. That was enough to get them airlifted to safety.
This country was capable of saving my family, but I would have never thought we could elect a man who is a part of a minority to lead the masses of this marvelous nation.
President Barrack Obama said on election night, “Change has come to America.”
But hasn't America, instead, come to change? All the way from, the long walks through the darkest and hardest moments to the patriotic marches through the shining times in our young nation’s history.
Fifty-three percent of Americans came knocking on Change’s door that night. I didn’t vote but I’m one of them. My country finally accepts me. Just the way I am, just the way I look. And that’s why I was crying.
That night God answered my prayers and showed me that I’m an American for a reason. That night will be forever etched in my memory.
Because of that night I now can proudly say that this is the United States of America, where nothing is too hard and anything can be achieved.
This Liberian-American who considers herself a dreamer can dream again. For this is why, on that night, I cried for my country because my country opened her arms to me for the second time in my life and once again whispered promises of a better tomorrow in my ear.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Miss Danica Daniels. Danica is 14-years-old and is the daughter of Bishop David R. and Mrs. Irene Moifoi Daniels. Danica wrote the article for her English 9 class that’s taught by Mrs. Norris. Danica attends Hammond School in Columbia, South Carolina.
3. THE TWELFTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT WELCOMES NEW EPISCOPAL FAMILY:
The Twelfth Episcopal District welcomed our new Episcopal family, Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., Dr. Ava S. B. Green and Stephen Green at the yearly Christian Leadership Congress at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, Arkansas two weeks after Bishop received his appointment to the 12th at the General Conference. Their son Stephen immediately became one of the working youth in the district.
Bishop Green spent his time after the Leadership Congress getting to know members of the Twelfth in Arkansas and Oklahoma before the Annual Conferences. His travels have been like the Circuit Riders of olden days. He has worshiped in almost every AME Church in the Twelfth Episcopal District, because he felt a need to meet all the people as Chief Pastor of these churches. He has met almost everyone during the last six months. His future plans are to touch the floor of every sanctuary in the twelfth at least four times during this Quadrennial.
He has preached at many revivals with large numbers in attendance crossing over into all denominations. The crowds are getting larger everywhere he goes. His focus is on Frangelizing. In other words, he is energizing the members to start evangelizing first their friends, then their relatives and then to go after their neighbors. Telling them that God is alive, the African Methodist Episcopal Church is alive and that the church has a mission to fulfill their spiritual needs. Bishop Green has been a doer and has been spreading the word that our Zion is a need meeting church and we have something to offer the whole community of faith.
A new website has been developed, www.12thdistrictame.com and Bishop Green is teaching bible study using computer technology, “real time” every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. central standard time. You can find the site immediately at www.jacksonseminary.us and click on the words “bible study”.
Bishop Green, Dr. Ava and Stephen attended all seven conferences and round reports were made at every conference. The theme: “God First” has resonated throughout the district. All the worship services have been spirit filled as many have come forth to be saved.
The last meeting for the year was the Fall Convocation and Planning Meeting held at Union African Methodist Episcopal Church in Little Rock, Arkansas on December 11-13, 2008, where the Reverend Nolan Watson is pastor, the Reverend Dr. Thomas G. Allen, host Presiding Elder (Little Rock District) and the Reverend Clarence Guy, the Associate Presiding Elder (North Little Rock District).
Bishop Green has brought a new concept with the incorporation of a Fall Convocation designed using the spoken word to uplift and revive the pastors and members of the district while still planning for a new conference year.
The Reverend Willie R. Norful, pastor of Saint John AME Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas served as worship leader for the opening worship service on Thursday morning. The Oklahoma Conference Choir provided the music for the service. Bishop Green introduced the speaker of the hour, Reverend Harvey G. Potts, pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who preached from the subject, “Holding On to Pharaoh “ and his text was taken from Exodus 14:10-15.
The first day afternoon business session of the Twelfth District Planning Meeting convened at 2:50 p.m. opening with devotion. Rev. Kent J. Broughton, pastor of Mt. Pleasant AME, Pine Bluff, Arkansas was the devotion leader. Rev. Randolph Martin, pastor of Allen Chapel, Pine Bluff, AR, offered the prayer and Rev. Tom Scott, pastor of Bethel AME, Stuttgart, AR, read the scriptures.
Bishop Green spoke to the District about our future plans. He reviewed the 2008-2012 Program of Ministry. The program had 10 Ministries listed for the 12th Episcopal District; Evangelism, to include FRANgelism and Street Ministry; Economic development, to promote and facilitate community economic development by engaging in faith based initiatives, etc; Empowerment, to provide an atmosphere where the value of every member, their ideas and suggestions are welcomed, encouraging all to participate in the development of the mission of the district; Education, providing opportunities for Continuing Education, through Shorter College and Jackson Theological Seminary, which has established and new relationship with the Florida Center for Theological Studies to provide an opportunity for students to obtain accredited degrees until Jackson is accredited; Family Ministry, to educate and arm families with tools necessary to combat the secular world, to provide opportunities where families can celebrate and experience their joys and sorrows of life as Married Couples /Singles / Youth and Young Adults / Seniors / Women and Men. The Nehemiah Men are being establish to pool their engineering, carpentry, electrical, plumbing skills, etc., so that they can be a blessing to the churches of the Twelfth in need of aid for their physical plants. Bishop commended the 12th on singing a new song and walking in a new ministry. He further thank the district for accepting that in planning some things may change and he challenge the 12th to walk the walk they talked, recognizing that if you want different results you may have to do different things.
Bishop Green welcomed two transfers: The Reverend Roy Jones from the New York Conference, First Episcopal District to the Twelfth District and The Reverend Eddie Harris, Jr., who transferred from the Eighth District to the Twelfth District, Oklahoma Conference and was appointed to Barnett Chapel AME Church in Lawton, OK. Reverend Harris is one of Bishop Green’s sons in the ministry.
The following departments met from 3:30 to 5:30 to plan their goals and objectives for the new conference year: Women Missionary Society, Board of Examiners, Women in Ministry, Music Ministry, and Conference Secretaries. Bishop met with everyone not attending a meeting in the fellowship hall of Union to discuss insurance and financial savings for their churches.
Thursday Night was designated as the Bishop’s Night Worship Service, the Reverend Larry Banks, pastor of First A.M.E. Church Oklahoma City, served as worship leader. The choirs from the Oklahoma and West Conferences provided the music. Special guests, Ministers of Music Michael and Gerry Thompson, travelled from Florida to be with Bishop during this time. The title of Bishop Green’s sermon was, “A Fresh Anointing”. His text was taken from Psalms 92. Bishop stated, “A season has ended and the 12th is on the threshold of the beginning of a new season and we need a fresh anointing. Too many have been operating in the natural, trying to do the spiritual; God wants us to step into our season with a fresh anointing. God will breathe a fresh anointing on you tonight”. The spirit was high and the church had standing room only! This was unusual for a Thursday night planning meeting.
President David Fielding and the Twelfth Episcopal District Lay Organization sponsored an Education Prayer Breakfast at the H.A. Belin Complex, Shorter College at 8 a.m. Friday. Mr. Mike Beebe, the Governor of Arkansas was the featured speaker. Bishop Green shared plans for a new set of dormitories for Shorter College and made a major announcement that Shorter College should be accredited by 2010.
The Planning sessions for Ministries continued from 10:00 AM –12 Noon. They were the Women’s Missionary Society, Richard Allen Young Adult Council (RAYAC) and Sons of Allen. During this same time period, Dr. Tom Diamond, pastor of Abyssinia Missionary Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida conducted a workshop titled, “Growing Your Church through an Effective Sunday School”. President Piccola Washington and the M-SWAWO Executive Board met at 11:15 AM in Union’s multipurpose room. The Board of Examiners was given a seminar utilizing Jackson Seminary’s live video conferencing system.
The Reverend Michelle Moulden, pastor of Vernon Chapel AME Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma served as worship leader during the noonday worship service on Friday. The district choir and Michael and Gerry Thompson provided music. Superintendent Derrick Hutchins, Chairman of the General Council of Pastors and Elders in the Church of God in Christ was the preacher for the hour. His subject was, “Life from God’s Point of View”, from James 4:14. Superintendent Hutchins asked the question, “What is Life?” He stated, “Life is a test! Many things drive you; for example, many people are driven by guilt, fear, and many are driven by materialism”. He stressed that God does not change, but things do. We must try to look at life through God’s eyes and develop His point of view.
The third Ministries Planning Session convened after lunch from 3:00 PM to 5 PM. The organizations that met were the Lay Organization, Christian Education and M-SWAWO. During this time Workshop II, “Growing Your Church through an Effective Sunday School” with Dr. Tom Diamond as instructor continued at Union Church and Bishop Samuel Green was the instructor for a workshop titled, Church Growth” at Bethel Sanctuary.
Mrs. Lyndajo Jones, the 12th Commissioner and The Debutantes and Masters Commission met at 4:00 PM
The Reverend Thomas G. Allen, Presiding Elder of the Little Rock District served as worship leader for the Friday evening worship service. The worship participants included the following Presiding Elders; The Reverends Lonnie Johnson, James Hooper, Clarence Reynolds, Thomas Adair, Napoleon Davis, Roger Alford, Pollie Ragsdale and Clarence Guy. The Arkansas Conference Choir directed by Mr. LaBarron Mizer, their Minister of Music and the South Arkansas Conference Choir provided the music. The speaker for the hour was the Reverend Dr. Michael Bell, Pastor from the Second District. His subject, “You Already Heard Enough” with his text taken from John 20:30-31.
Pastors and Members of the Twelfth Episcopal District surprised the Green family just before dismissal with a special Christmas appreciation as everyone in attendance came by to hug and give a gift to Bishop Green, Dr. Ava and Stephen. The Christmas Reception sponsored by the Green Family was planned at no cost to the district. It was a gift from Bishop and family. As usual, Bishop greeted everyone by walking throughout the crowd and help Senior Citizens who needed help getting refreshments.
Mrs. Brenda Fields, YPD Director, Dr. Ava and The YPD Executive Board met at 10:45 PM at Union AME Church to make their plans for the new conference year. The YPD had their planning meeting on Saturday, December 13 at 8:00 AM. A large delegation of young people from all over the district was in attendance.
The closing plenary session on Saturday morning included the District Calendar, Annual Conference agenda, Twelfth Episcopal District (T.E.D.) Budget Presentation and the Ministries Plans and Schedules. The following ministries reported; Women’s Missionary Society, Young People’s Division, DMC, RAYAC, M-SWAWO, Ecumenical Relations, Health Commission, Social Action, Board of Examiners, Church Growth & Development, Conference Secretaries, Lay Organization, Christian Education, Sons of Allen, Women in Ministry and Public Relations.
Rev. Michelle Moulden, one of the host pastors of the Mid Year Holy Convocation & Pastors Conference gave information during the morning session about the reservations for lodging at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She reminded everyone that everything would be held in the hotel. You will not have to go outside for anything after you arrive. She encouraged everyone to reserve their rooms, because rooms were filling fast. The deadline is February 2, 2009.
Bishop Green reminded everyone about an All Ministry Retreat Weekend scheduled for May 21-23. He stated it was for everyone and really stressed that all clergy should be there. Additions to the calendar were two Pentecost Revivals, one in Oklahoma (Avery Chapel AME Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) and one in Arkansas (the Convention Center in Pine Bluff). The Rev. Jasper W. Williams, Jr., will be the Evangelist.
The Annual Conference Schedules were reviewed, and all were moved up two weeks on the schedule. No conference will take place on Sunday. Bishop stated he remembers how hard it was to catch up after missing a Sunday. This brought applause from the congregation. Pre-conference activities will include a Monday night for the Men (Sons of Allen) and Tuesday will remain the Women’s Missionary Annual Convention Day. Additional calendar dates and special programs added, (i.e. Economic Development Sunday and Theological Fund Sunday), were approved by the delegation.
Bishop Green introduced his brother, Dr. John F. Green, Dean of Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Green brought greetings and thanked the 12th for the excellent treatment given to his brother, Bishop Green and family. He invited the 12th to Atlanta on February 2-5, 2009 where he will be hosting Turner’s Annual Founder’s Day Celebration.
The Reverend Marcellus Fields, pastor of St. John AME Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma was the worship leader for the closing worship service. Saint Paul AME -Jonesboro, AR., Curry Chapel AME- Strong, AR and Bethel AME –Stuttgart, AR Choirs provided the music. Michael and Gerry Thompson provided special music. The preacher of the hour was the Reverend Wayne A. Johnson, the new Presiding Elder of the Muskogee District and pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He selected for a subject, “Hope in the Mist of Despair”. His text was taken from II Corinthians 4:8-18. The Presiding Elder stressed that as the Lord’s people we need to keep our eye on the prize. Even when we can’t see God, every now and then we can feel God’s presence. He said, “It is what it is, but it ain’t what it seems. You got to hang in there. No matter what you’re going through, there is hope in despair!”
A few ministerial appointments were read, and as Bishop shared his closing remarks, he walked down the aisle to the front door and said, "Praise God from whom all Blessing flow.” The Fall Convocation and Planning Meeting came to an end as members walked down the aisle to shake Bishop Green’s hand as they exited the church doors.
*Submitted by: Mrs. Ann Gilkey, Public Relations Director (Arkansas); the Rev. Roger Alford, Public Relations Director (Oklahoma); the Rev. Charles Frost, Coordinator, Conference Secretaries
4. FIRST AME CHURCH CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OAKLAND COMMUNITY:
Oakland’s First African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated 150 years of service to the community during a gala event on Friday at the Oakland Marriott City Center.
First AME Church is the oldest black church in the immediate East Bay area. Since its beginning in 1858 (under the name Shiloh AME Church), seven area AME churches have been organized. Today, with over 3,700 members, First AME Church is one of the largest churches in the Fifth Episcopal District.
“FAME has to be that light that says to people, ‘We can break through,’” said FAME’s pastor the Reverend Harold Mayberry. “It has been 150 years of up and down, bitter and sweet. But it is worthy of the work witnessed in the community we love and doing what God has asked us to do. This marks the dawning of our life.”
Television station KRON 4 news anchor Pam Moore served as the mistress of ceremonies during the event. Marc Morial, CEO and president of the National Urban League, gave the keynote address.
Also in attendance were First Lady Mary Mayberry; Bishop T. Larry Kirkland; City Councilwoman, Desley Brooks; Congresswoman Barbara Lee; Assemblyman Sandré Swanson; actor and director Delroy Lindo; and Mrs. Nashormeh Lindo.
Mayor Ron Dellums’ deputy chief of staff Leslie Littleton and deputy director of intergovernmental affairs VaShone Huff presented a proclamation to FAME for its commitment to the Oakland community. Nov. 14, 2008 was declared as First African Methodist Episcopal Church Day.
“We are a church that truly has a legacy of excellence,” said Brooks. “We have much work to do. Without First AME, we would have a void. We will continue to do the work in God’s way as a community.”
Grammy Award winner Dorinda Clark-Cole of the famed Clark Sisters performed at the event. “I am excited about what God is doing in the Oakland area,” she said. “Look around and see what God has brought us out from. One hundred and fifty years, that’s wonderful to still be sticking around, the grace of God keeping us in His care.”
The celebration also honored three outstanding individuals for their hard work, leadership and contribution to the community. J. Alfred Smith Sr., senior pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church, received the Visionary Award; Bernard Tyson, executive vice president for health plan and hospital operations for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, received the Leadership Award; and Congresswoman Lee received the Trailblazer Award.
Future projects planned by First AME Church include employment opportunities for Oakland residents and a shoeshine parlor, grocery store, bookstore and community daycare center.
For more information, contact FAME at (510) 655-1527 or visit www.fameoakland.org.
Courtesy of the Globe Newspapers, www.globenewspapers.com
By Aqueila M. Lewis
This article reprinted, "Courtesy of The Globe Newspapers"
5. WAYMAN CHAPEL, ENNIS, TEXAS CELEBRATES 129TH ANNIVERSARY:
On Sunday January 25, Wayman Chapel AME Church celebrated its 129th Anniversary. Wayman Chapel AME, “The friendly Church where everybody is somebody and Christ is All,” is located across in Ennis, Texas.
This 129th Anniversary celebration was awesome!
This service included the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”; the invocation, scripture, and words of welcome by Sister Joan Turner; a proclamation by Ennis mayor, the Honorable Russell Thomas; and a presentation of a Landmark Plaque by the Ennis Heritage Society President, Sugar Glaspy.
Musical selections were rendered by Sisters Jessie Leaks and Nettie Brown, accompanied on piano by Brother Buford Gee; as well as by the Reverend K. M. Williams, the Texas Country Blues Preacher.
Fraternal greetings were brought by District Grand Master Gerald Black of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows (the organization that laid our 1905 cornerstone); Worshipful Master Charles Holliday of Cherubim Lodge #237 of the Prince Hall Masons (the organization that laid our 1966 cornerstone); and my old friend, Masonic Past Grand Secretary C. A. Glaspie.
Special remarks were made by Presiding Elder Emeritus Albert Moore, the man who first suggested that I come to Ennis in 2002. The Reverend Moore introduced Presiding Elder Marshall S. Hobbs, Sr., who delivered the message in place of Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram, who had to return to his home state of Michigan due to a weather-related emergency.
At the conclusion of the service, the congregation assembled by our electronic Cross Sign, where the Reverend Marshall Hobbs, Presiding Elder of the Paul Quinn District, led us in a Prayer of Dedication.
*Dr. R. L. (Bob) Uzzel is the pastor of Wayman Chapel AME Church in Ennis, Texas
6. NUPTIAL CEREMONY OPENS WITH SPIRITUAL SURROGATES:
*Dr. Phyllis Quarles
It was a beautiful autumn day for a wedding in Nashville, Tennessee. And it was the wedding day of Lovette Carene Brooks and Daren Graham Curry, on Saturday, October 11, 2008, held at Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church in Nashville. The bride is the daughter of Mr. Lindsey C. Brooks, Jr. and Dr. Phyllis Qualls-Brooks of Nashville and the groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Clarence Curry of Herndon, VA.
The event was s traditional wedding, with the church decorated simply elegantly with the Rev. Dr. Clement W. Fugh, the CIO/and Secretary of the AME Church and who was the childhood pastor of the bride, officiating.
This wedding was unique because it began with the “March of the Spiritual Surrogates.” These were ministers who had a significant impact on the life of the bride. The wedding began with this group marching in on the song “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Their entrance set the tone for the spirituality of the nuptial ceremony in this holy place, the church, so that the union would be blessed by God, from beginning and evermore.
The Spiritual Surrogates included the Rev. Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., publisher and Secretary-Treasurer of the AMEC Sunday School Union and the bride’s pastor when she was a baby, who christened her when he was pastor at Pearl Street A.M.E. Church in Jackson, MS.; the Rev. Yvette Tisdale, who has been a steady and solid supporter of the bride since her high school years; the Rev. W. W. Easley, the bride’s former home church pastor at Greater Bethel, when she was a student at Howard University, and the Rev. Pattie Hardimon, a long-time family friend and spiritual advisor.
Last but not least, was the special uncle to the bride, the Rev. O.D. Evans, pastor of New Hopewell Baptist Church in Taylorsville, MS., who sat with the family, yet spiritually wrapped his loving arms around the couple in prayer to start them on their journey of life together.
The bride and groom are members of First AME Church in Los Angeles.
*Dr. Phyllis Quarles is the mother of the bride
7. MAIN STREET RESPONSE TO WALL STREET WOES:
Mr. Eric Stradford
Investors discovering human capital value in “The Whole Village”
AMWS, Feb 3, 2009, Atlanta -- You have heard of the ancient African proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” But few, if any Americans have considered the Whole Village as an asset for restoring the nation’s troubled economy. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, no federal or state agency has been mapping human capital assets. That means a region’s most valuable asset, its children is not even in the mix.
So what is a whole village? What is human capital? How do we distinguish a human capital asset from a human capital liability? In a nutshell, the Whole Village is a circular economy. It augments tops-down government investment with grassroots good works. The concept, though historically underfunded, is older than and as valuable as the 12 economic regions collectively known as the Federal Reserve Banking system.
Candidate Barack Obama’s Historic Speech on Racism pointed to America’s “Improbable Experiment in Democracy,” conflicting values in the constitution, and as such, an historic opportunity for realizing the “perfect union” envisioned by some of the nation’s founders. “Yes we can” is a great motivator outside the chambers of the U. S. Congress. However, inside the hallowed halls, it’s about money and power. This week, as debate continues on the President’s Economic Stimulus Bill, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is looking at strategies for including more Americans in the economy.
To understand the inherent challenge in creating an inclusive ownership society, it is useful to consider what ownership in America looks like today. Recent data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances estimates that the median family net worth in 2004 was $93,100, and the mean value was $448,200. The average wealth of the top 1% of wealth holders grew from $13.5 million in 2001 to $14.8 million in 2004, a 3 percent annual increase.
Meanwhile, the bottom fifth of U.S. households sunk further into debt; the average debt of this cohort increased to $11,400 in 2004. Aided by policy incentives, Americans build wealth in both financial and non-financial assets. Between 2001 and 2004, financial assets as a share of total assets fell 6.3 percentage points, to 35.7 percent.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) notes: There are an estimated 28 million unbanked and 44.7 million under-banked people in the U.S. today, representing a potential market of 40 million households with little or no current relationship with a financial institution. Underserved consumers generate more than $1.1 trillion in annual income, of which unbanked consumers represent nearly $510 billion each year. The Center for Financial Services Innovation reports that Americans spend at least $10.9 billion on more than 324 million alternative financial transactions a year.
The Alliance for Economic Inclusion (AEI) is the FDIC's national initiative to establish broad-based coalitions of financial institutions, community-based organizations and other partners in ten markets across the country to bring all unbanked and underserved populations into the financial mainstream. To date, 952 banks and organizations have joined AEI nationwide; more than 65,000 new bank accounts have been opened; 45 banks are in the process of offering or developing small-dollar loans; 33 banks are offering remittance products; and more than 61,000 consumers have been provided financial education.
Unfamiliarity with banks or distrust of banks is among the most common reasons why people are unbanked. Unbanked and under-banked individuals rely on a mix of non-bank financial service providers for their needs and are willing to pay the high fees associated with these alternative providers in exchange for the convenience of locations and relative ease in cashing checks, paying bills and accessing cash. The national nonprofit group, Youth Achievers USA Institute underscores the urgency with free FDIC financial literacy for the whole village.
“Financial literacy is a necessary first step to economic inclusion,” said Stephanie A. Walker Stradford, CEO of Youth Achievers USA Institute. “By accessing the mainstream financial system, the whole village can build savings and collectively improve credit-risk profiles, lower their cost of payment services, eliminate a common source of personal stress, and gain access to basic financial services that promote asset accumulation.
The FDIC wants to provide an alternative to high-cost and often predatory financial products for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, including the unbanked and underserved. Every member of the whole village can have reasonable access to full service banking and other financial services.
To achieve these goals, broad-based coalitions in nine markets across the country are working to increase banking services for underserved consumers in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, minority and immigrant communities, and rural areas. These expanded services include savings accounts, affordable remittance products, targeted financial education programs, short-term loans, alternative delivery channels and other asset-building programs.
8. SEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT MINISTERS GAIN CHAPLAIN CERTIFICATION:
The Rev. Tobie Hardy Pollock, pastor of Antioch AMEC and New Chapel AMEC, Union South Carolina, serves as chaplain at Hospice Care of TriCounty, Columbia, South Carolina, has been awarded the distinction of certification as a Board Certified Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains. The presentation took place at the association's conference held in Orlando, Florida, on January 31, 2009. She is also an AME pastor, serving in the Seventh Episcopal District, Presiding Prelate Preston W. Williams, II and Presiding Elder Joseph Postell of the Newberry-Spartanburg District.
The Rev. Ralph Brown, an AME minister serves as chaplain at Palmetto Health [Baptist Hospital], Columbia, South Carolina, has been awarded the distinction of certification as a Board Certified Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains. The presentation took place at the association's conference held in Orlando, Florida, on January 31, 2009. He is also an AME pastor, serving in the Seventh Episcopal District, Presiding Prelate Bishop Preston W. Williams, II and Presiding Elder [Senator] Clemente Pinckney.
Submitted by the Rev. Tobie Pollock
9. BLACK HISTORY ANNOUNCEMENT:
Knights Monumental AME located at 224 Red Oak Road, Stockbridge, Georgia 3028, will celebrate Black History on Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 11 am. Our guest speaker will be Commissioner Eldrin Bell, Chairman, Clayton County Board of Commissioners, Jonesboro, GA.
For further information, you may contact Monica D. McIntyre, DDS, Chairperson at 770-490-2694.
10. THE POORNESS OF YOU:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
How do we determine when one is poor? Webster defines 'poor" as lacking material possessions. He did not specify whether those possessions that are lacking are our need or our wants.
When we consider ourselves as being poor, we are merely comparing our lives to those around us and what they possess. When I was a young boy I did not realize that we were poor until I saw others with things we didn't have. I remember going off and standing by a big tree in our front yard and crying because we didn't have electricity in our house. We had oil lamps. It was then that I felt that we were poor.
You are not poor because you can't own a Lincoln. You are poor if you don't have any means of transportation. You are not poor because you can't afford to eat steak. You are poor if you don't have anything to eat. You are not poor because you can't wear the latest fashion; you are poor if you don't have anything to wear. You are not poor because you can't live in a split-level house with a double carport; you are poor if you have not place to live.
The word "poor" is mentioned numerous times throughout the bible. Job said "my soul grieved for the poor." Job 30:25
Jesus said; the poor will always be with us. In other words there will always be those who are lacking the "necessities" not their wants. Jesus also said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall be comforted." Jesus' statement infers that you can be poor in ways, other than the lacking of material possessions.
Jesus also said "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15
I have come to surmise that there are some rich poor folk and some poor rich folk.
Zacchaeus stood and said, "behold lord the half of my goods I give to the poor, if I have taken anything from any man by false means I'll restore him fourfold' Luke 19:8
None of us desire to be poor in regard to material goods. You may possess all of the material goods you desire and yet be poor. If you are rich in material goods and have no friends, you are poor. If you possess all of the knowledge worth knowing and have no integrity you are poor. The wise man Solomon said "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool." Proverbs 18:1
"Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches." I Timothy 6:17
We can be poor in many ways, but to be poor in spirit is most devastating and debilitating.
We so often sing, "My father is rich in houses and land; he holds the whole world in his hand." I wish that all of us believe that.
- You don't have to be raggedy to live righteously
- You don't have to wear sandals to be saved.
- You don't have to wear expensive shoes to walk circumspectly
- You don't have to be a beggar to be blessed
- Being poor is not a pre-requisite for salvation.
Of all of the things in which I may be poor in; I would not want to be poor in the Spirit for it is the fruit of my living.
In what areas do you consider yourself poor?
The Rev. N.T. Pitts is a retired AME pastor who lives in Eatonville, Florida
11. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY NOTICE:
- Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Williamson on receiving his D.Min Degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio on December 18, 2008.
Dr. Williamson is the pastor of First AME Church in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Congratulatory messages can be emailed to: grammybb@aol.com
12. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you that Mr. John A. Collier, the brother of the Reverend Cleophis Collier (Pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Sweet Home, Arkansas), died on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 in a house fire.
Services for Mr. John A. Collier were held today:
Friday, January 30, 2009
11:00 a.m.
The Robinson Mortuary, Inc.
1201 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive
Little Rock, AR 72202
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend and Cheophus Collier
1903 South Grant Street
Little Rock, AR 72204
Phone: (501) 664-0255
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing on Monday, February 2, 2009 of the Rev. John L. Boatwright, retired pastor in the Sixth Episcopal District (South Georgia Conference - Thomasville-Bainbridge District).
Funeral Service:
Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Grant Chapel AME Church
318 West Central Avenue
Moultrie, GA 31776
Phone: (229) 985-2553
The Rev. Martin Kohn, Pastor
Professional services provided by:
Luke Strong & Son Mortuary Inc.
20 1st Street, NE
Moultrie, Georgia 31768
Phone: (229) 890-1717
Fax: (229) 985-7854
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The family of the Rev. John L. Boatwright
521 4th Court, NW
Moultrie, GA 31768
Phone: (229) 985-1645
The Rev. Harvey R. Williamson, Presiding Elder
Thomasville-Bainbridge District
South Georgia Conference
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of Sister Precious Pritchett on Monday, February 2, 2009; the mother of the Rev. James Pritchett, Staff Minister at Agape Temple AME Church-Dallas, Texas.
Homegoing Celebration for Sister Precious Pritchett:
Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.
Prosperity Missionary Baptist Church
6893 Saint Francis C 224
Forrest City, Arkansas 72335
Phone: (870) 633-6034
The Rev. Willie B. Sanders, Pastor
The Rev. James Pritchett, Eulogist
Sister Precious Pritchett’s final earthly care has been entrusted to:
Clay Funeral Home
116 N. Water Street
Forrest City, Arkansas 72335
Phone: (870) 633-8135
Condolences may also be sent to:
The Rev. James and Sister Veti Pritchett
508 South Cannady Drive
Cedar Hill, Texas 75104
Phone: (469) 272-0493
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
The Clergy Family Information Center
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action
Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
E-mail: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936
Fax: (615) 833-3781
Cell: (615) 403-7751
16. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris; 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.
Archive of The Christian Recorder Online from 2004-2016; Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
1/29/2009
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (1/29/09)
Bishop Richard Franklin Norris - Chair, Commission on Publications
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. EDITORIAL – I WANT TO KNOW…:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Have you ever had things that you wanted to know? I want to know how airplanes, heavier than air, carrying trucks and tanks, can fly. I want to know how ships made of steel, loaded with cargo, can float. I want to know how the Egyptians built the pyramids. My list could go on and on.
There are a lot of things that most of us would like to know. Experts in the field of aviation, an engineer and archaeologists could probably answer my questions.
There are some questions that I have in the realm of ministry and about the Church that I would like answered. I am just as inquisitive about those questions as I am about things that seem to defy nature, and the quirks that we observe everyday.
I want to know…
I want to know why any pastor would allow any steward, trustee and other officers to serve in leadership positions in the local church that does not study the Bible or seek spiritual growth and development.
I want to know how any pastor would allow officers to serve in leadership positions in the local church who does not have any knowledge of The Discipline or how the AME Church functions.
I want to know how any pastor could allow any officer in the local church to serve in a position of leadership who has not purchased The Discipline or who has not taken the time to read and understand The Discipline.
I want to how we can allow any itinerant elder, local elder, local deacon, licentiate, exhorter to be in good and regular standing in the Church who does not maintain biblical and theological proficiency.
I want to know how we can allow candidates for ministry to move toward ordination who do not have a plan for meeting the requirements and maintaining proficiency in the profession of ministry.
I want to know why any local church would recommend a candidate for ministry who does not have a spiritual, biblical, educational, emotional foundation, or aptitude for ministry.
I want to know why any local church would recommend candidates for ministry who clearly are not capable for ministry.
I want to know how any local church would not insist that their ministers regularly attend theological and educational updates.
I want to know why a local church would not say, “No” to someone who is not suited for ministry and why local churches, the Quarterly Conference and the District Conference recommend unqualified candidates for ministry.
I want to know why any pastor would tell a local congregation that he or she does not know where the budget money goes.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry when he or she knows that they are not going to fulfill the academic and theological requirements for ordination.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry who does not believe or accept the Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry knowing full-well that he or she has no intention of pastoring a church, or no plans to do fulltime ministry in any capacity.
I want to know why a person chooses the Itinerant track when he or she knows that he or she will only serve in a local ministry.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry and just be satisfied with sitting in the pulpit, praying when called upon, reading the scripture or leading in the Decalogue.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry track with the thought that they cannot go into fulltime ministry because there are no local churches that can support them. Even the disciples quit their fishing jobs to follow Jesus.
I want to know how any local church accepts “weekend warrior” pastors; pastors who only work on weekends; do nothing at the church during the week; paid a fulltime salary; and essentially, get paid to go to church.
I want to know how any pastor could be satisfied in part-time ministry; preach on Sunday and go back to his or her secular (real) job on Monday morning like anyone else who has a job.
I thank God for the fulltime pastors who were models for me. They were not mega-pastors, but they were faithful to the Itinerant ministry. Among them, the Rev. Theodore Clements, the Rev. Aldustus Jordan, the Rev. Jesse F. Owens, the Rev. B.C. Burton, the Rev. George “Tookie” Reid, the Rev. W. P. Stevens, the Rev. George Simms, the Rev. Donald Tucker, the Rev. C. E. Blake, the Rev. Rudolf Gibbs, and many, many more. They didn’t make a lot of money, sent their kids off to college, and trusted God to “supply all of their needs…” Not only were the pastors fulltime, the presiding elders were also fulltime. My dream for ministry was to be a fulltime pastor and to work in ministry fulltime.
I want to know how any local church would not insist that their pastors and ministers subscribe to all of the periodicals of the Church. And for those who don’t know the names of the AME periodicals: The Christian Recorder, The A.M.E. Church Review, The Voice of Missions, The journal of Religious Education, The Women’s Missionary Magazine, The Secret Chamber, and The YPD Newsletter.
I just want to know and would welcome any insights that any of our readers could provide. I might discover that I am the only one who wants answers to the issues I have raised.
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
- To the Editor:
Thank you for being a voice for reality checking. Many of our members are expressing this reality by giving less. Many churches are experiencing reductions in income, particularly from tithes and offerings. To put it more bluntly, if we, as Christians and our spiritual leaders do not speak up and offer some guidance, the people will not contribute and they will go, where their needs for support, comfort, and encouragement are met. I believe 75,000 or so jobs were lost yesterday alone, that is staggering. Some of those newly unemployed people are AME members.
I am still heartbroken about the 93 year old man who died from hypothermia in Michigan because of his utility bill. My prayer is that I will have laser like sensitivity to challenges among those in my spheres of activity so that I will respond as the Holy Spirit directs.
Dr. Paulette Coleman
Retired General Officer
3. A GREAT WEBSITE RESOURCE:
The link below is an excellent resource that addresses current issues. The website was shared by Dr. Paulette Coleman that she accessed from the AMEC Christian Education Website.
http://www.iwj.org/template/page.cfm?id=201
4. SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT IMPLEMENTS TIME AND COST REDUCTIONS:
In the words of Charles Dickens, we are in “the best of times and in the worst of times.” On the one hand, we have the joy of President Obama's Inauguration and all the possibilities it brings. And, on the other hand, we live in the midst of serious economic conditions that have left many of our citizens mired in financial crisis. The African Methodist Episcopal Church and its members are not immune from the problems facing the wider society. For this reason, we in the Sixth District and across the Church must think of new ways in which we can save resources and still carry out the mission of bringing souls to Christ.
We have already begun to use some cost-reducing strategies that are most helpful. The budget has been stabilized, and we have made the commitment to live within our means. Now, we will prayerfully employ several time and cost reductions in the following schedule adjustments in our upcoming Annual Conferences:
1. Each of the six Annual Conferences will close on Thursday evening rather than Friday.
2. The Ordination and Commissioning Services will be combined into one closing service on Thursday evening.
3. The Services of Retirement, Memorials, and Church School will be conducted on Thursday morning before the Women in Ministry Service, which will now be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
4. The Ministers’ Spouses Luncheon will be held on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
5. Finally, after the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference closes on Thursday, June 4th at St. Paul A.M.E Church/Pryor Road, Atlanta, GA, the Planning Meeting will convene at this same location on Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6, 2009.
It is our prayer that the financial benefits of instituting the above changes will far outweigh any corporate or personal inconvenience we may experience as we strive to tighten, shorten, or alter our former ways of operating in order to accommodate these new cost-saving strategies.
As we endeavor to be better stewards of the resources God has entrusted in our care, your patience and support are needed to help make these changes occur as smoothly as possible.
If you have any concerns, please send them via email to sixdistr@bellsouth.net or bring them with you to our Founders’ Day Celebration on February 19-21, 2009 at Saint Philip Monumental A.M.E. Church in Savannah, GA. Your input and support are appreciated.
Bishop William P. DeVeaux,
Presiding Prelate, the Sixth Episcopal District
5. THE SECOND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT WILL ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AT 2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
The Second Episcopal District will spend time addressing issues facing the current economic climate during the Conference Institutes in each Annual Conference. The Right Rev. Adam Jefferson Richardson is the presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal District.
The background for the discussions will be led by a "practitioner" in the field, who will focus on the economic issues in a “plain English” analysis of Ali Velshi's book (primary economics analyst of CNN), "Gimme My Money Back." The book also addresses not only how the market downturn happened, but also how we can begin to recover individually.
The next session will feature Dr. Cain Hope Felder, who will make a presentation on our Conference Theme: "Celebrating a Political Milestone, Continuing a Prophetic Ministry." This, too, has economic implications as we consider the fact that the church can not be a mere "Cheerleader" for the Obama administration, we must also be a gadfly as Prophets of the Most High God -- even while we are praying for him and his administration. This is especially relevant for not only the economy, but the other thousand and one things that will come across his desk and ours.
6. FIRST AME CHURCH BUILDS NEW SANCTUARY:
God’s Newest Oasis in the Desert …
“In the midst of it all, First AME Church in Las Vegas, Nevada is doing God’s work, God’s way. Now that we have made it, God is going to establish, strengthen and settle us in this new land.”
Thus, began the sermon of the illustrious Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson, Senior Pastor of First AME Church, 2450 Revere Street, Las Vegas, Nevada.
As Pastor Williamson approached the pulpit in announcing the subject text; “We Made It” (1 Peter 5:10) the parishioners were filled with joy and thanksgiving as he delivered an inspirational and thought provoking message in the new sanctuary. First AME founded in 1966 has grown through the years and found the physical facility “bursting” at the seams as it established itself as a stronghold in the Las Vegas community. The culmination of five years of pray, planning, and focusing under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Williamson, Senior Pastor, came to fruition on Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 9:30 am as an overflow of worshippers filled the sanctuary. The groundbreaking ceremony was April 27, 2008. Now, just nine months later, despite being “in the midst of it all” – financial markets tumbling, mortgage foreclosures, job layoffs, wars and rumors of war - the people of God of First AME, Las Vegas were celebrating the first service in the 500 seat, state-of-the art, spiritually filled sanctuary.
On the preceding Sunday, First AME was truly blessed during three days of revival services during the first week in January 2009. God’s presence filled the sanctuary every night as the revivalist, the Rev. Dr. Benjamin N. Thomas, Sr., senior pastor of Tanner Chapel AME Church in Phoenix, Arizona delivered dynamic and soul-stirring messages using the theme, “Chosen to Serve: Enhancing the Kingdom of God ”(Matthew 9:37).
At the conclusion of Friday night’s worship experience, the anointing of the Lord led the senior pastor, ministerial staff, officers, visitors, and congregants of First AME Church to march around, and into the new house of worship singing, “We’ve Come this Far By Faith.”
The best was yet to come; oh, what a morning!
People began arriving early Sunday morning, January 11, 2009 and continued to arriving until the sanctuary was overflowing, the choir loft was overflowing, the narthex was filled and yet they continued to come. Many persons stood outside participating in the service via the outdoor speakers that allowed them to hear the service.
To God be the Glory for this new stronghold - an oasis for God in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, as Rev. Dr. Williamson concluded, “While we are challenged as a nation, First AME believes we must be a light that continues to shine even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty. We must be a source and inspiration to others who have lost their way, to those who are in our own household and to those in our community. We must show them the way to the Kingdom of God. The work has just begun but to God be the Glory for the things He has done and will do as he establishes us in this new place.”
The Rt. Reverend T. Larry Kirkland serves as the Presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District and the Reverend Dr. Howard Gloyd, serves as the Presiding Elder.
Submitted by Glenda Logan Osby,
Director of Christian Education
7. AME-INDIA REPORT - JANUARY 2009:
Greetings from AME India
We praise the Lord for God's care and guidance in 2008. We thank the Lord for enabling us to start this New Year with new vision and new hope. We thank God for all our prayer partners and all those who read this report.
We praise God for enabling us to conduct a Pastor's meeting in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. We had a total of 25 people where 12 Pastors along with their spouses attended the meeting. All these Pastors are with AME-India. We are pleased to also inform you that four new Pastors have joined AME-India in this region. All the Pastors in this region are doing wonderful work and are sending their reports regularly.
Please pray for all the 16 Pastors, their families, children's education, that God to meet all their financial needs and that their ministry will grow; for protection in the midst of all the opposition that they face in the mission field, and for permanent places for worship in the respective villages.
Pastor Samuel Ramachandran shares a testimony which makes us wonder at the miracle that God has done for him.
On December 30, 2008, the hostel authority asked Pastor Samuel to vacate the room and leave the work because he was working for AME-India. Many souls have been touched by his ministry. On January 1, 2009, by faith Pastor Samuel organized a meeting for 150 people, without any financial resource in hand. He had prayed until the last night in December 2008; he wept and pleaded with God for a miracle, he prayed for God to guide him to preach. To his surprise early in the morning at 5 a.m., different people donated 15 kilograms of chicken, 20 kilograms of rice, cooking oil, fruits, sweets etc. Just as he had prayed the Lord provided enough food to feed all the 150 people, there was still much left over to distribute to other needy people. He also preached a very powerful sermon from Isaiah 40:31; people were touched. Of the 150 people only 10 were Christians; all others are Hindus from the fishing community. He shared this experience with us. It was amazing. Though the Lord took him out of the job which had helped him to sustain himself, the Lord blessed him with a powerful ministry. All praise, be to God, the Almighty.
Pastor Samuel Ramachandran, at the same time he was pastoring two of the AME churches, had been working as warden in the Christian boys’ hostel. He hails from the fishing community. Samuel's whole family was thrown out of their community because the whole family had converted from Hindu background; the family didn't get any benefit from the Government during the Tsunami because of their Christian identity. In 2006 we met with him shared about AME, after that, with much prayer he joined AME-India. We encouraged him. With God's guidance he has two churches in two villages, where people come to worship secretly, because all of them are Hindus from the fishing community.
Pastor Samuel also reports that that two new converts have been baptized and renamed, Daniel and Esther.
Please pray that the Lord would provide a job to Pastor Samuel to sustain himself; that his tow churches each acquire permanent place for worship, with a structure for people to gather for worship; for protection from the enemies of the gospel; for the two churches to grow in spiritual life and become mature Christians; that more people come to know the Lord in this region; and that Daniel and Esther grow in their new-found faith and become mature Christians.
On January 24, 2009, we visited the Bangalore AME-India Churches.
First of all we praise God and give all the glory to God for the way God used us in Bangalore. Both the Rev. Sarah and the Rev. Abraham preached in the Nepali and Tamil congregations. Pastor Joshua Vijayamani, the pastor of the Prince of Peace AME church, has started an English service, the Rev. Abraham preached in this service. Although it is a small gathering it has the dynamic potential to grow.
Rev. Sarah also had the opportunities to cast out evil spirits, heal and prophecy; some very interesting revelations came to her as prophecy for this congregation.
Please pray for Sukanya, a teenage girl, who was delivered from a spirit that tormented her with epilepsy; and for Sukanya's mother, Gowri, to make a personal commitment to God and that she will experience salvation; for Mr. Philip and Mrs. Susan to make a deep commitment to the Lord and experience salvation. They were also delivered from the evil spirit. They also need physical healing. Please pray for Gary, son of Mr. Philip and Mrs. Susan, who is an ex-drug addict; that he will be touched and healed by the Lord; and for Sanjay, a dynamic young person, who is at cross-roads of life as he seeks God's guidance in his life. We also request prayer for Mr. Alex, who lost his leg in an accident; he urgently needs a good prosthetic leg to make him mobile. He is one of the most active members of the Prince of Peace AME church.
Pastor Samuel Murugavel, reports that he conducted a public meeting in the month of December in which 200 people attended. He had invited the village elders and other officers to attend. They positively responded to his invitation, he recognized their presence and honoured them. Most of the people who attended the meeting, including the honoured guests were all Hindus. This was an opportunity for Pastor Samuel to convey the gospel to them. The region where Pastor Samuel works is a Hindu dominated place, surrounded by temples and it is also a Hindu pilgrimage centre.
Please pray for the safety of Pastor Samuel Murugavel, his family and for his children's education; and for he new converts in his church.
Finally we request you to pray for us as our rental agreement with the present house is coming to an end; we have to rent a new house, and this is a tedious and expensive process. Since we do not have a regular support, we are finding it very difficult to maintain and rent a house. Just for the monthly house rent we require a minimum of 300/- USD.
We would like to inform you that our residence is also the AME-India's office and a place where lot of people come for counseling and prayers. God has given us an excellent ministry, but our lack of resources limits our involvement. We surely know that God is our Jehovah Jireh, but sometime our human weakness becomes a source of discouragement. We request you for your valuable prayers for us in this matter.
The Reverend Sarah and the Rev. Abraham Peddinny
Presiding Elders, AME-India
Editor’s Note: AME-India needs our prayers, but AME-India also need our financial support if the ministry is going to be successful. Donations may be sent to:
We just wanted to inform you that our contact address given in the TCR for donations is our old address. For the last two years we are residing in the following address:
Revds. Sarah & Abraham Peddiny,
30/65, Medavakkam Tank Road,
Kilpauk, Chennai - 600010, Tamilnadu, India.
Donations could be sent to the following Bank Account, which will be the safest mode of making donations:
Name: MINNIE SARAH ABRAHAM PEDDINY,
Name of the Bank: State Bank of India .
Name of the Branch: Puraswalkam Branch.
Branch Code: 01515
My Account Number: 00000010332995153.
Place: Chennai, Tamilnadu , India .
Swift code: SBININBB 458
In India the postal system cannot be trusted, therefore a bank transfer is the safest way for transactions. We request you to kindly make the changes. Thanking You.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev Sarah & the Rev. Abraham Peddiny
Presiding Elders, AME-India.
8. JUXTAPOSING MAMA’S CHURCH AND THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH:
January 24, 2009
The Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter
Editor’s Note: The following presentation was delivered at Candler School of Theology by the Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, pastor of Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, Macon, Georgia
I am the product of the Silent Generation. I was reared by my maternal grandparents who are presently respectively 79 and 83-years-old.
I learned the value of hard work and ethics. I can recall at the age of 7 and 8, having to attend Quarterly Conference with my Great-Grandfather who was a Presiding Elder. No one is more aware than I of the enormous challenge the 21st Century church faces in attempting to minister to four generations at the same time.
We must face reality in that Mama’s Church, as glorious as it seems, needs some tweaking and tailoring for the sake of relevancy and growth. The Yer and Xer’s generation have invaded our Churches in mass numbers causing our Churches to make many adjustments in order to deal with this phenomenon. Youth pastors and young adult pastors are in positions and hear terms that Mama’s Church never had to deal with.
As I attempt to Juxtapose Mama’s Church versus today’s church, I do believe as President Barack Obama, our 44th President stated on Tuesday (January 20, 2009) that times have changed and we must face it. However, I do believe that the values, sacrifices, and work ethic our forefathers and mothers exhibited, are worth preserving.
Advances in technology has redefined our worship and preaching.
In this season, the preacher can no longer rely on clichés such as, “Ain’t He Alright” and “Won’t He Do It” and a “sweet hoop” to suffice as preaching.
Today’s Church mandates that scripture integrity, and careful exegesis be done before any “hooping” can take place, or we risk leaving today’s parishioners spiritually starved, and suffering from spiritual indigestion.
Pastors no longer preach to parishioners who can’t read or, like my grandfather, who only completed the 3rd grade.
Today we preach to persons that possess earned PhD’s, Masters, Bachelor, and Associate degrees. These persons, instead of taking the sermon as gospel; go home and, as Dr. Teresa Fry-Brown says, they “Google God” to checkout the validity of our sermonic interpretation of scripture. The German Theologian Karl Barth stated, “In order to be relevant in our preaching; the preacher must possess in their mediation time, a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.”
It’s A New Season: A season in which Sola – Scripta = Scripture being the sole authority, is actually practiced in our churches. The Discipline or Law of the Church, or “this is how we always done it,” is almost non-existent in most churches. Terms in which Paul Tillich coined in his 4-step Systematic Theology have become household terms.
Members now know that God as Greater deals with Theology. Jesus as the Christ is Christology. The work of the Spirit is Pneumatology, and the Kingdom of God is Ecclesiology (at least my folk do).
Today’s Church has, and uses all types of Bible software in order to spiritually develop itself.
It’s A New Season! It’s a season in which financial and fiscal reports can no longer be written out on a torn piece of paper and handed to the just the treasurer and pastor like Mama’s Church did. In this season, accountability is a must and the usage of software such as Excel and PowerChurch Plus are being used to effectively balance accounts and keep the IRS away.
It’s A New Season! It’s a season in which our parishioners don’t walk to church, but drive to church from the suburbs and other areas requiring the church to invest in a city, county, and surrounding area demographical study in order to effectively evangelize. George Thompson’s book, “How to Get Along With Your Church” emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural capitol and tacit assumptions which can alleviate unnecessary stress. In Mama’s Church everybody knew each other.
It’s a New Season. In today’s church, women are not limited to just being stewardesses, ushers, missionaries, or choir members. Unlike Mama’s Church, today’s church believes in gender equality; women can be bishops, pastors, elders, and professors. In today’s church sexual harassment by clergy is taken seriously and not swept under the rug.
It’s a New Season. It’s a season when technology is used to communicate visions and explain the purpose of ministries. Emails, text messaging, telephone tree calling and websites are now used to announce upcoming events instead of a church sister reading the announcements for ten minutes in Mama’s Church. Board meeting agendas and minutes are presented and available through PowerPoint presentations or emails. In this season, the Steward Pro-tem and trustees no longer sing songs that only they know; instead video screens in worship now display the words of the songs.
I declare again. It’s a New Season. We’re no longer fighting for a seat on the bus or a seat at the White House dinner table; we’re now fighting against sexism, racism, and classism which requires the church to not only have a dream, but to believe we bring about change!
As I close, I’m Methodist, not Baptist. I was playing on the Internet and discovered a gentleman named Austin Cline. My mentors in seminary told us that that we need to read a variety of sources. Austin Cline educates people about atheism and agnosticism and secular humanism. He quoted religion historian Jaroslav Pelikin who stated, “Tradition is the living faith of the dead. Traditionalism is the death faith of the living.” Cline went on to say, “People insist that tradition should not be lightly overturned in favor of new ideas.” But sometimes the defense of tradition can become a sort of fetish that is done for its own sake and becomes traditionalism. He says there’s nothing wrong with tradition or respecting tradition. However, when tradition is placed beyond questioning or debate, it becomes traditionalism. Tradition that doesn’t adapt over time becomes dead and ultimately irrelevant to how people need to live their lives.
Some may argue there’s nothing wrong with Mama’s Church but I don’t believe it’s beyond critique. After all, “It’s a New Season.
The Reverend Ronald L. Slaughter, Senior Pastor, Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, Macon, Georgia
9. REFLECTIONS FROM THE MALL – E PLURIBUS UNUM:
*The Rev. Derrell Wade
This past week was full of excitement, joy, hope and thankfulness for me. I could not get to sleep on Monday night because I feared oversleeping and missing my 5 a.m. train trip to Washington, D.C.
I left home about 3 a.m. and arrived at one of my best friend’s home at 3:30 a.m.; and woke him up early. We prayed for God’s blessings and safety upon the inauguration and presidency of President Barrack Obama, and then we shared Holy Communion, remembering our God’s “Divine sacrifice,” God’s beloved Son Christ Jesus.
We arrived at the local train station in Manassas, Virginia at 4:45 a.m. and found it overflowing. The train departed promptly at 5:15 a.m. and arrived in Washington at 6:15 a.m. As I stepped off the train, I questioned my own sanity. The temperature outside was freezing, but not cold enough to dim my spirits.
To my dismay, when we arrived at the Mall before the dawn, it seemed as if a million people had already taken their places. The group I was with could not enter the Metro’s 7th Street Gate, so we walked down to the 12th Street Gate and entered. I greeted everyone I passed as I pressed my way to a closer view of the Capital. Excitement and cooperation filled the air. It was at that moment that I realized I was exactly where the Lord wanted me to be. It was confirmed when I met a lady and her family from my home town of Columbia, South Carolina. I spent a considerable amount of time sharing and fellowshipping with people from all over this country and around the world. It was especially rewarding, fellowshipping with a young lady from Romania and two students from Israel. We all rejoiced together for hours in the frigid cold. When my feet began to feel like ice, I thought about the 75 and 80 year old ladies that were standing in front of me hardly able to stand. When one of them was encouraged to go into a building and warm up, she replied “Child, my body might be chilled, but my soul is warm and filled. I’ve come too far; can’t miss a moment of this!”
My heart remained filled with joy throughout the whole inaugural celebration, for my God had allowed me to meet people of every race and creed from all over the world.
Between conversations, I thought and mediated on what my Sunday morning sermon would be. One thought was to pick up a handful of pebbles and place them in the isles of the church and invite the worshipping congregation to pick them up as they came to the altar for prayer to symbolize the twelve men who returned to the dry river bed and took stones to serve as a sign of what the Lord God had done for them (Joshua 4).
Then it occurred to me that out of approximately 2 plus million men, women and children the Lord God chose just one person to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River(Numbers 1:46).
On Tuesday, January 29, 2009, I was reminded that and even today, God’s people all around the world had, and still has, a different kind of Jordan River to cross.
Today’s Jordan River ebbs and flows with economic calamity, declining stock markets, banking and business failures, home foreclosures and auto repossessions. The current economic calamity reaches seniors dying in their homes in the midst of winter because their heat is turned off. Some choose suicide rather than evictions from their homes they have lost due to unscrupulous charlatans.
To cross today’s Jordan River, we have to tread through the pains of hunger in the land of plenty and limits to health care in a nation of abundant health-care facilities and great scientific minds.
Furthermore, the Jordan River crests vengeful terrorism, devastating wars, and climate and environmental abuse.
Despite the berth and dept of our current Jordan River, President Barrack Obama was chosen out of more than 300 million people, to be the leader of these United States of America. Just as God had ordained Joshua to be a great leader and do a great work for Him, I firmly believe within my heart and soul that this President was not just being inaugurated as President of these United States, but he had been ordained to do a great work for the Lord our God.
It also occurred to me that like Moses of old, President Barack Obama is going to face some of the same challenges and problems that Moses faced as the leader of Israel.
President Obama like Moses is going to face people who make excuses and who don’t believe; people with rebellious hearts. He is going to be confronted with people who are determined to do things their own way.
As I boarded the train to return to the warmth of my home, I reflected on the day’s historic events and the many people I met. I surmised that if I could personally speak to President Obama or had I been invited to give an inaugural message to the President and to his cabinet, I would have reminded him that the Lord God chosen just one person to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan and into the Promise Land and that out of over 300 million people he, Barack Obama, was chosen to be the leader this great nation.
I would have said to him that, "Out of many, one" was chosen. I would encourage him to do all within his power to heal wounds, divisions and strife in this nation and to bring people closer together as Americans.
"Out of Many, One" or “E Pluribus Unum” can also be translated, “We are all in this together.”
*The Rev. Derrell Wade is the pastor of Beulah AME Church in Farmville, Virginia
10. A POEM - FAITH IS…:
By Sister Doshia Crowley
Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is believing in God even when you don’t understand his means.
Faith is knowing that when one door closes, other one will soon open.
Faith is the God-kind of faith that can move any mountain.
Faith is not depending on man but putting your hand in God’s hand.
Faith is seeing the invisible, believing the impossible, and reaching the unreachable.
Faith is acting on the Word of God, even when times are rough and hard.
Faith is work, commitment, and perseverance.
Faith is reading the Word with persistence and endurance.
Faith is abiding in Him and His Word in you. (John 15:7)
Faith is believing that He will supply all you needs when you have no money or food and your bills are due (Phil. 4:19). God may not come when you want God to come and you may even think God is late.
Faith is keeping you eyes lifted towards heaven because the reward is great.
Faith is giving of your time, talent and your tithe. God assures that anyone who obeys His teachings will never die. (John 8:51)
Faith is praising God, worshiping God and loving God when you’re at your high and even at your low and saying, Lord let your will be done, send me I’ll go.
Faith is acting a fool for God when your friends say you make no sense.
Faith is trusting in the Word of God in your defining moments; to stand on the Word of God; you must have courage, conviction and confidence.
Faith is blessing someone else when you yourself are in need because
Faith is shown through you works and good deeds. (James 2:14-18)
Faith is calling those things that are not, as though they were; and believing that it is already done; with no doubt or distrust.
Therefore, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lend not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)
Sister Doshia Crowley is a member of Greater St. Peter AME Church in Jonesboro, Georgia where the Rev. Isaiah Waddy is the pastor. The poem was written in response to a series of teachings Pastor Waddy did on faith.
11. THE SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2009 SCHEDULE OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
The Right Reverend William Phillips DeVeaux, Presiding Prelate
Dr. Pam DeVeaux, Episcopal Supervisor
SOUTH GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
March 10-12, 2009
Saint John A.M. E. Church
800 West Magnolia Street
Valdosta, GA 31601
TEL: 229-242-9674
FAX: 229-242-0460
The Reverend George Vereen, Host Pastor
The Reverend Jacqueline Smith, Host Presiding Elder
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA CONFERENCE
March 24-26, 2009
Saint John A.M. E. Church
3980 Steam Mill Road
Columbus, GA 31907
TEL: 706-682-6944
FAX: 706-682-4143
The Reverend Dr. Debora F. Grant, Host Pastor
The Reverend Dr. M. S. Karl Colquitt, Host Presiding Elder
GEORGIA CONFERENCE
April 14-16, 2009
Greater Mount Zion A.M.E. Church
1085 State Street
Waycross, GA 31501
TEL: 912-283-3683
FAX: 912-283-3683
The Reverend Abraham Frazier, Sr., Host Pastor
The Reverend Dan Stevenson, Host Presiding Elder
AUGUSTA GEORGIA CONFERENCE
April 28-30, 2009
First A.M.E. Church
521 North Hull Street
Athens, GA 30603
TEL: 706-548-1454
The Reverend Richard A. Washington, Sr., Host Pastor
The Reverend Ella M. Samuels, Host Presiding Elder
MACON GEORGIA CONFERENCE
May 12-14, 2009
Greater Turner Tabernacle A.M.E. Church
1104 Third Street
P.O. Box 6623
Macon, GA 31203
TEL: 478-743-4932
FAX: 478-785-1126
The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon, Host Pastor
The Reverend Alan H. Wicker, Host Presiding Elder
ATLANTA NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE
June 2-4, 2009
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church
1540 Pryor Road, SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
TEL: 404-622-9711
The Reverend Dr. Thomas L. Bess, Host Pastor
The Reverend Walter E. Daniels, Host Presiding Elder
POST-PLANNING MEETING
June 5-6, 2009
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church
1540 Pryor Road, SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
TEL: 404-622-9711
The Reverend Dr. Thomas L. Bess, Host Pastor
The Reverend Walter E. Daniels, Host Presiding Elder
12. THE 7TH EPISCOPAL DATE CHANGE FOR THE THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE:
The 7th Episcopal District's Mid Year and Theological Institute will be held March 4-6, 2009 in Columbia, SC at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center (2100 Bush River Road - Columbia, SC 29210).
Room Rate: $109.00
Rate is good through February 15, 2009
To make Reservation call: 1-803-731-0300
Thank you much.
Submitted by Sister Kabrina Bass, 7th District CED Director
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with regret that we announce the passing of Mr. Larry Garmon, the brother of the Rev. Carl Garmon, Sr., pastor of Brooks Chapel AME Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Mr. Larry Garmon, was called from labor, pain and suffering on Thursday, January 22, 2009.
The Homegoing Service for Mr. Larry Gormon will be held:
Friday, January 30, 2009, 10:00 A.M.
Gregg L. Mason Funeral Home
10936 N. E. 6th Ave.
Miami, Florida 33161
Ph: (305) 757-9000
Fax: (305) 757-3505
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Carl Garmon, Sr
2949 River Bend Court
Corpus Christi, Texas 78415
Ph: (361) 853-7038
Home: (361) 549-9649
Email: garmonsr@hotmail.com
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened to inform you of the death of the Rev. Earl A. James, Presiding Elder of the Monroe-Lake Providence District, Central North Louisiana Conference. Our prayers are with his family and more information is forthcoming as it relates to funeral arrangements.
Eighth Episcopal District Administrative Office
5450 Executive Place
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 366-8240
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Presiding Prelate
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Bessie Carter, the grandmother of the Rev. Tresa L. Coston, pastor of Graham AME Church in Greenwood, Delaware (Delaware Conference, Dover District). The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Viewing - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Funeral - 11:00 a.m.
First United Baptist Church
3728 Haverford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-222-8558
Sunday, February 1, 2009
2nd Funeral Service & Burial
Vidalia, Georgia
Care entrusted to:
James L. Morse Funeral Home, Inc.
4000 Haverford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-382-4322
Fax: 215-382-8830
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Tresa L. Coston
704 Kirkwood Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-655-3201
Fax: 302-656-1364
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Larry H. Thomas, the brother of the Reverend Troy I. Thomas, pastor; and the brother-in-law of the Reverend Maxine Thomas, assistant pastor of Historic St. Paul AME Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
Larry T. Thomas passed on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
Service arrangements:
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Family Viewing:
11:00 a.m. -12:00 Noon
Homegoing Service:
12:00 Noon
Grace AME Church
67 1/2 Winters Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
Phone: 410- 744-9478,
Fax: 410-744-3120
The Rev. Howard Wright, Pastor
The Rev. Raymond Edmonds, Eulogist
Professional services provided by:
Gary P. March Funeral Home
270 Fredhilton Pass
Baltimore, MD 21229
Phone: 410-945-1100
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. Troy & Rev. Maxine Thomas
1325 Copper Run Blvd
Lexington, KY 40514
Phone: 859-224-9961
Email: ThomasRevTroy@aol.com
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Pastor Carl E. Prude Sr., District Superintendent with the Church of God in Christ and father of the Reverend Avis Thompson, pastor of Saint Paul AME Church in Manchester, Kentucky.
Pastor Carl E. Prude Sr. passed on January 24, 2009.
The funeral has been held.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Reverend Avis Thompson
853 Silver Creek Rd
Beattyville, KY 41311
859-948-5344
samavis@bellsouth.net
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Kenneth Garmon, the nephew of the Reverend Carl Garmon, pastor of Brooks Worship Center AME Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Service Arrangements for Mr. Kenneth Garmon:
Viewing:
Friday, January 30, 2009
2:00 PM - 9 PM
Gregg L. Mason Funeral Home
10936 N. E. 6th Ave
Miami, FL 33161
Phone: 305-757-9000
Fax: 305-757-3505
Funeral:
Saturday, January 31, 2009
1:00 PM
Liberty City Church of Christ
1263 NW 67th St.
Miami, FL 33147-7194
Phone: 305- 836-4555
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend and Mrs. Carl Garmon
2949 River Bend Court
Corpus Christi, TX 78415
Cell phone: 361-549-9649
Email: garmonsr@hotmail.com
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
The Clergy Family Information Center
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action
Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
E-mail: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936
Fax: (615) 833-3781
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19. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris; 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.
©
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. EDITORIAL – I WANT TO KNOW…:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Have you ever had things that you wanted to know? I want to know how airplanes, heavier than air, carrying trucks and tanks, can fly. I want to know how ships made of steel, loaded with cargo, can float. I want to know how the Egyptians built the pyramids. My list could go on and on.
There are a lot of things that most of us would like to know. Experts in the field of aviation, an engineer and archaeologists could probably answer my questions.
There are some questions that I have in the realm of ministry and about the Church that I would like answered. I am just as inquisitive about those questions as I am about things that seem to defy nature, and the quirks that we observe everyday.
I want to know…
I want to know why any pastor would allow any steward, trustee and other officers to serve in leadership positions in the local church that does not study the Bible or seek spiritual growth and development.
I want to know how any pastor would allow officers to serve in leadership positions in the local church who does not have any knowledge of The Discipline or how the AME Church functions.
I want to know how any pastor could allow any officer in the local church to serve in a position of leadership who has not purchased The Discipline or who has not taken the time to read and understand The Discipline.
I want to how we can allow any itinerant elder, local elder, local deacon, licentiate, exhorter to be in good and regular standing in the Church who does not maintain biblical and theological proficiency.
I want to know how we can allow candidates for ministry to move toward ordination who do not have a plan for meeting the requirements and maintaining proficiency in the profession of ministry.
I want to know why any local church would recommend a candidate for ministry who does not have a spiritual, biblical, educational, emotional foundation, or aptitude for ministry.
I want to know why any local church would recommend candidates for ministry who clearly are not capable for ministry.
I want to know how any local church would not insist that their ministers regularly attend theological and educational updates.
I want to know why a local church would not say, “No” to someone who is not suited for ministry and why local churches, the Quarterly Conference and the District Conference recommend unqualified candidates for ministry.
I want to know why any pastor would tell a local congregation that he or she does not know where the budget money goes.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry when he or she knows that they are not going to fulfill the academic and theological requirements for ordination.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry who does not believe or accept the Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry knowing full-well that he or she has no intention of pastoring a church, or no plans to do fulltime ministry in any capacity.
I want to know why a person chooses the Itinerant track when he or she knows that he or she will only serve in a local ministry.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry and just be satisfied with sitting in the pulpit, praying when called upon, reading the scripture or leading in the Decalogue.
I want to know why anybody would go into the Itinerant ministry track with the thought that they cannot go into fulltime ministry because there are no local churches that can support them. Even the disciples quit their fishing jobs to follow Jesus.
I want to know how any local church accepts “weekend warrior” pastors; pastors who only work on weekends; do nothing at the church during the week; paid a fulltime salary; and essentially, get paid to go to church.
I want to know how any pastor could be satisfied in part-time ministry; preach on Sunday and go back to his or her secular (real) job on Monday morning like anyone else who has a job.
I thank God for the fulltime pastors who were models for me. They were not mega-pastors, but they were faithful to the Itinerant ministry. Among them, the Rev. Theodore Clements, the Rev. Aldustus Jordan, the Rev. Jesse F. Owens, the Rev. B.C. Burton, the Rev. George “Tookie” Reid, the Rev. W. P. Stevens, the Rev. George Simms, the Rev. Donald Tucker, the Rev. C. E. Blake, the Rev. Rudolf Gibbs, and many, many more. They didn’t make a lot of money, sent their kids off to college, and trusted God to “supply all of their needs…” Not only were the pastors fulltime, the presiding elders were also fulltime. My dream for ministry was to be a fulltime pastor and to work in ministry fulltime.
I want to know how any local church would not insist that their pastors and ministers subscribe to all of the periodicals of the Church. And for those who don’t know the names of the AME periodicals: The Christian Recorder, The A.M.E. Church Review, The Voice of Missions, The journal of Religious Education, The Women’s Missionary Magazine, The Secret Chamber, and The YPD Newsletter.
I just want to know and would welcome any insights that any of our readers could provide. I might discover that I am the only one who wants answers to the issues I have raised.
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
- To the Editor:
Thank you for being a voice for reality checking. Many of our members are expressing this reality by giving less. Many churches are experiencing reductions in income, particularly from tithes and offerings. To put it more bluntly, if we, as Christians and our spiritual leaders do not speak up and offer some guidance, the people will not contribute and they will go, where their needs for support, comfort, and encouragement are met. I believe 75,000 or so jobs were lost yesterday alone, that is staggering. Some of those newly unemployed people are AME members.
I am still heartbroken about the 93 year old man who died from hypothermia in Michigan because of his utility bill. My prayer is that I will have laser like sensitivity to challenges among those in my spheres of activity so that I will respond as the Holy Spirit directs.
Dr. Paulette Coleman
Retired General Officer
3. A GREAT WEBSITE RESOURCE:
The link below is an excellent resource that addresses current issues. The website was shared by Dr. Paulette Coleman that she accessed from the AMEC Christian Education Website.
http://www.iwj.org/template/page.cfm?id=201
4. SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT IMPLEMENTS TIME AND COST REDUCTIONS:
In the words of Charles Dickens, we are in “the best of times and in the worst of times.” On the one hand, we have the joy of President Obama's Inauguration and all the possibilities it brings. And, on the other hand, we live in the midst of serious economic conditions that have left many of our citizens mired in financial crisis. The African Methodist Episcopal Church and its members are not immune from the problems facing the wider society. For this reason, we in the Sixth District and across the Church must think of new ways in which we can save resources and still carry out the mission of bringing souls to Christ.
We have already begun to use some cost-reducing strategies that are most helpful. The budget has been stabilized, and we have made the commitment to live within our means. Now, we will prayerfully employ several time and cost reductions in the following schedule adjustments in our upcoming Annual Conferences:
1. Each of the six Annual Conferences will close on Thursday evening rather than Friday.
2. The Ordination and Commissioning Services will be combined into one closing service on Thursday evening.
3. The Services of Retirement, Memorials, and Church School will be conducted on Thursday morning before the Women in Ministry Service, which will now be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
4. The Ministers’ Spouses Luncheon will be held on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
5. Finally, after the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference closes on Thursday, June 4th at St. Paul A.M.E Church/Pryor Road, Atlanta, GA, the Planning Meeting will convene at this same location on Friday, June 5th and Saturday, June 6, 2009.
It is our prayer that the financial benefits of instituting the above changes will far outweigh any corporate or personal inconvenience we may experience as we strive to tighten, shorten, or alter our former ways of operating in order to accommodate these new cost-saving strategies.
As we endeavor to be better stewards of the resources God has entrusted in our care, your patience and support are needed to help make these changes occur as smoothly as possible.
If you have any concerns, please send them via email to sixdistr@bellsouth.net or bring them with you to our Founders’ Day Celebration on February 19-21, 2009 at Saint Philip Monumental A.M.E. Church in Savannah, GA. Your input and support are appreciated.
Bishop William P. DeVeaux,
Presiding Prelate, the Sixth Episcopal District
5. THE SECOND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT WILL ADDRESS THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AT 2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
The Second Episcopal District will spend time addressing issues facing the current economic climate during the Conference Institutes in each Annual Conference. The Right Rev. Adam Jefferson Richardson is the presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal District.
The background for the discussions will be led by a "practitioner" in the field, who will focus on the economic issues in a “plain English” analysis of Ali Velshi's book (primary economics analyst of CNN), "Gimme My Money Back." The book also addresses not only how the market downturn happened, but also how we can begin to recover individually.
The next session will feature Dr. Cain Hope Felder, who will make a presentation on our Conference Theme: "Celebrating a Political Milestone, Continuing a Prophetic Ministry." This, too, has economic implications as we consider the fact that the church can not be a mere "Cheerleader" for the Obama administration, we must also be a gadfly as Prophets of the Most High God -- even while we are praying for him and his administration. This is especially relevant for not only the economy, but the other thousand and one things that will come across his desk and ours.
6. FIRST AME CHURCH BUILDS NEW SANCTUARY:
God’s Newest Oasis in the Desert …
“In the midst of it all, First AME Church in Las Vegas, Nevada is doing God’s work, God’s way. Now that we have made it, God is going to establish, strengthen and settle us in this new land.”
Thus, began the sermon of the illustrious Reverend Dr. Ralph E. Williamson, Senior Pastor of First AME Church, 2450 Revere Street, Las Vegas, Nevada.
As Pastor Williamson approached the pulpit in announcing the subject text; “We Made It” (1 Peter 5:10) the parishioners were filled with joy and thanksgiving as he delivered an inspirational and thought provoking message in the new sanctuary. First AME founded in 1966 has grown through the years and found the physical facility “bursting” at the seams as it established itself as a stronghold in the Las Vegas community. The culmination of five years of pray, planning, and focusing under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Williamson, Senior Pastor, came to fruition on Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 9:30 am as an overflow of worshippers filled the sanctuary. The groundbreaking ceremony was April 27, 2008. Now, just nine months later, despite being “in the midst of it all” – financial markets tumbling, mortgage foreclosures, job layoffs, wars and rumors of war - the people of God of First AME, Las Vegas were celebrating the first service in the 500 seat, state-of-the art, spiritually filled sanctuary.
On the preceding Sunday, First AME was truly blessed during three days of revival services during the first week in January 2009. God’s presence filled the sanctuary every night as the revivalist, the Rev. Dr. Benjamin N. Thomas, Sr., senior pastor of Tanner Chapel AME Church in Phoenix, Arizona delivered dynamic and soul-stirring messages using the theme, “Chosen to Serve: Enhancing the Kingdom of God ”(Matthew 9:37).
At the conclusion of Friday night’s worship experience, the anointing of the Lord led the senior pastor, ministerial staff, officers, visitors, and congregants of First AME Church to march around, and into the new house of worship singing, “We’ve Come this Far By Faith.”
The best was yet to come; oh, what a morning!
People began arriving early Sunday morning, January 11, 2009 and continued to arriving until the sanctuary was overflowing, the choir loft was overflowing, the narthex was filled and yet they continued to come. Many persons stood outside participating in the service via the outdoor speakers that allowed them to hear the service.
To God be the Glory for this new stronghold - an oasis for God in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, as Rev. Dr. Williamson concluded, “While we are challenged as a nation, First AME believes we must be a light that continues to shine even in the midst of darkness and uncertainty. We must be a source and inspiration to others who have lost their way, to those who are in our own household and to those in our community. We must show them the way to the Kingdom of God. The work has just begun but to God be the Glory for the things He has done and will do as he establishes us in this new place.”
The Rt. Reverend T. Larry Kirkland serves as the Presiding Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District and the Reverend Dr. Howard Gloyd, serves as the Presiding Elder.
Submitted by Glenda Logan Osby,
Director of Christian Education
7. AME-INDIA REPORT - JANUARY 2009:
Greetings from AME India
We praise the Lord for God's care and guidance in 2008. We thank the Lord for enabling us to start this New Year with new vision and new hope. We thank God for all our prayer partners and all those who read this report.
We praise God for enabling us to conduct a Pastor's meeting in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. We had a total of 25 people where 12 Pastors along with their spouses attended the meeting. All these Pastors are with AME-India. We are pleased to also inform you that four new Pastors have joined AME-India in this region. All the Pastors in this region are doing wonderful work and are sending their reports regularly.
Please pray for all the 16 Pastors, their families, children's education, that God to meet all their financial needs and that their ministry will grow; for protection in the midst of all the opposition that they face in the mission field, and for permanent places for worship in the respective villages.
Pastor Samuel Ramachandran shares a testimony which makes us wonder at the miracle that God has done for him.
On December 30, 2008, the hostel authority asked Pastor Samuel to vacate the room and leave the work because he was working for AME-India. Many souls have been touched by his ministry. On January 1, 2009, by faith Pastor Samuel organized a meeting for 150 people, without any financial resource in hand. He had prayed until the last night in December 2008; he wept and pleaded with God for a miracle, he prayed for God to guide him to preach. To his surprise early in the morning at 5 a.m., different people donated 15 kilograms of chicken, 20 kilograms of rice, cooking oil, fruits, sweets etc. Just as he had prayed the Lord provided enough food to feed all the 150 people, there was still much left over to distribute to other needy people. He also preached a very powerful sermon from Isaiah 40:31; people were touched. Of the 150 people only 10 were Christians; all others are Hindus from the fishing community. He shared this experience with us. It was amazing. Though the Lord took him out of the job which had helped him to sustain himself, the Lord blessed him with a powerful ministry. All praise, be to God, the Almighty.
Pastor Samuel Ramachandran, at the same time he was pastoring two of the AME churches, had been working as warden in the Christian boys’ hostel. He hails from the fishing community. Samuel's whole family was thrown out of their community because the whole family had converted from Hindu background; the family didn't get any benefit from the Government during the Tsunami because of their Christian identity. In 2006 we met with him shared about AME, after that, with much prayer he joined AME-India. We encouraged him. With God's guidance he has two churches in two villages, where people come to worship secretly, because all of them are Hindus from the fishing community.
Pastor Samuel also reports that that two new converts have been baptized and renamed, Daniel and Esther.
Please pray that the Lord would provide a job to Pastor Samuel to sustain himself; that his tow churches each acquire permanent place for worship, with a structure for people to gather for worship; for protection from the enemies of the gospel; for the two churches to grow in spiritual life and become mature Christians; that more people come to know the Lord in this region; and that Daniel and Esther grow in their new-found faith and become mature Christians.
On January 24, 2009, we visited the Bangalore AME-India Churches.
First of all we praise God and give all the glory to God for the way God used us in Bangalore. Both the Rev. Sarah and the Rev. Abraham preached in the Nepali and Tamil congregations. Pastor Joshua Vijayamani, the pastor of the Prince of Peace AME church, has started an English service, the Rev. Abraham preached in this service. Although it is a small gathering it has the dynamic potential to grow.
Rev. Sarah also had the opportunities to cast out evil spirits, heal and prophecy; some very interesting revelations came to her as prophecy for this congregation.
Please pray for Sukanya, a teenage girl, who was delivered from a spirit that tormented her with epilepsy; and for Sukanya's mother, Gowri, to make a personal commitment to God and that she will experience salvation; for Mr. Philip and Mrs. Susan to make a deep commitment to the Lord and experience salvation. They were also delivered from the evil spirit. They also need physical healing. Please pray for Gary, son of Mr. Philip and Mrs. Susan, who is an ex-drug addict; that he will be touched and healed by the Lord; and for Sanjay, a dynamic young person, who is at cross-roads of life as he seeks God's guidance in his life. We also request prayer for Mr. Alex, who lost his leg in an accident; he urgently needs a good prosthetic leg to make him mobile. He is one of the most active members of the Prince of Peace AME church.
Pastor Samuel Murugavel, reports that he conducted a public meeting in the month of December in which 200 people attended. He had invited the village elders and other officers to attend. They positively responded to his invitation, he recognized their presence and honoured them. Most of the people who attended the meeting, including the honoured guests were all Hindus. This was an opportunity for Pastor Samuel to convey the gospel to them. The region where Pastor Samuel works is a Hindu dominated place, surrounded by temples and it is also a Hindu pilgrimage centre.
Please pray for the safety of Pastor Samuel Murugavel, his family and for his children's education; and for he new converts in his church.
Finally we request you to pray for us as our rental agreement with the present house is coming to an end; we have to rent a new house, and this is a tedious and expensive process. Since we do not have a regular support, we are finding it very difficult to maintain and rent a house. Just for the monthly house rent we require a minimum of 300/- USD.
We would like to inform you that our residence is also the AME-India's office and a place where lot of people come for counseling and prayers. God has given us an excellent ministry, but our lack of resources limits our involvement. We surely know that God is our Jehovah Jireh, but sometime our human weakness becomes a source of discouragement. We request you for your valuable prayers for us in this matter.
The Reverend Sarah and the Rev. Abraham Peddinny
Presiding Elders, AME-India
Editor’s Note: AME-India needs our prayers, but AME-India also need our financial support if the ministry is going to be successful. Donations may be sent to:
We just wanted to inform you that our contact address given in the TCR for donations is our old address. For the last two years we are residing in the following address:
Revds. Sarah & Abraham Peddiny,
30/65, Medavakkam Tank Road,
Kilpauk, Chennai - 600010, Tamilnadu, India.
Donations could be sent to the following Bank Account, which will be the safest mode of making donations:
Name: MINNIE SARAH ABRAHAM PEDDINY,
Name of the Bank: State Bank of India .
Name of the Branch: Puraswalkam Branch.
Branch Code: 01515
My Account Number: 00000010332995153.
Place: Chennai, Tamilnadu , India .
Swift code: SBININBB 458
In India the postal system cannot be trusted, therefore a bank transfer is the safest way for transactions. We request you to kindly make the changes. Thanking You.
Yours in Christ,
The Rev Sarah & the Rev. Abraham Peddiny
Presiding Elders, AME-India.
8. JUXTAPOSING MAMA’S CHURCH AND THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH:
January 24, 2009
The Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter
Editor’s Note: The following presentation was delivered at Candler School of Theology by the Rev. Ronald L. Slaughter, pastor of Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, Macon, Georgia
I am the product of the Silent Generation. I was reared by my maternal grandparents who are presently respectively 79 and 83-years-old.
I learned the value of hard work and ethics. I can recall at the age of 7 and 8, having to attend Quarterly Conference with my Great-Grandfather who was a Presiding Elder. No one is more aware than I of the enormous challenge the 21st Century church faces in attempting to minister to four generations at the same time.
We must face reality in that Mama’s Church, as glorious as it seems, needs some tweaking and tailoring for the sake of relevancy and growth. The Yer and Xer’s generation have invaded our Churches in mass numbers causing our Churches to make many adjustments in order to deal with this phenomenon. Youth pastors and young adult pastors are in positions and hear terms that Mama’s Church never had to deal with.
As I attempt to Juxtapose Mama’s Church versus today’s church, I do believe as President Barack Obama, our 44th President stated on Tuesday (January 20, 2009) that times have changed and we must face it. However, I do believe that the values, sacrifices, and work ethic our forefathers and mothers exhibited, are worth preserving.
Advances in technology has redefined our worship and preaching.
In this season, the preacher can no longer rely on clichés such as, “Ain’t He Alright” and “Won’t He Do It” and a “sweet hoop” to suffice as preaching.
Today’s Church mandates that scripture integrity, and careful exegesis be done before any “hooping” can take place, or we risk leaving today’s parishioners spiritually starved, and suffering from spiritual indigestion.
Pastors no longer preach to parishioners who can’t read or, like my grandfather, who only completed the 3rd grade.
Today we preach to persons that possess earned PhD’s, Masters, Bachelor, and Associate degrees. These persons, instead of taking the sermon as gospel; go home and, as Dr. Teresa Fry-Brown says, they “Google God” to checkout the validity of our sermonic interpretation of scripture. The German Theologian Karl Barth stated, “In order to be relevant in our preaching; the preacher must possess in their mediation time, a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.”
It’s A New Season: A season in which Sola – Scripta = Scripture being the sole authority, is actually practiced in our churches. The Discipline or Law of the Church, or “this is how we always done it,” is almost non-existent in most churches. Terms in which Paul Tillich coined in his 4-step Systematic Theology have become household terms.
Members now know that God as Greater deals with Theology. Jesus as the Christ is Christology. The work of the Spirit is Pneumatology, and the Kingdom of God is Ecclesiology (at least my folk do).
Today’s Church has, and uses all types of Bible software in order to spiritually develop itself.
It’s A New Season! It’s a season in which financial and fiscal reports can no longer be written out on a torn piece of paper and handed to the just the treasurer and pastor like Mama’s Church did. In this season, accountability is a must and the usage of software such as Excel and PowerChurch Plus are being used to effectively balance accounts and keep the IRS away.
It’s A New Season! It’s a season in which our parishioners don’t walk to church, but drive to church from the suburbs and other areas requiring the church to invest in a city, county, and surrounding area demographical study in order to effectively evangelize. George Thompson’s book, “How to Get Along With Your Church” emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural capitol and tacit assumptions which can alleviate unnecessary stress. In Mama’s Church everybody knew each other.
It’s a New Season. In today’s church, women are not limited to just being stewardesses, ushers, missionaries, or choir members. Unlike Mama’s Church, today’s church believes in gender equality; women can be bishops, pastors, elders, and professors. In today’s church sexual harassment by clergy is taken seriously and not swept under the rug.
It’s a New Season. It’s a season when technology is used to communicate visions and explain the purpose of ministries. Emails, text messaging, telephone tree calling and websites are now used to announce upcoming events instead of a church sister reading the announcements for ten minutes in Mama’s Church. Board meeting agendas and minutes are presented and available through PowerPoint presentations or emails. In this season, the Steward Pro-tem and trustees no longer sing songs that only they know; instead video screens in worship now display the words of the songs.
I declare again. It’s a New Season. We’re no longer fighting for a seat on the bus or a seat at the White House dinner table; we’re now fighting against sexism, racism, and classism which requires the church to not only have a dream, but to believe we bring about change!
As I close, I’m Methodist, not Baptist. I was playing on the Internet and discovered a gentleman named Austin Cline. My mentors in seminary told us that that we need to read a variety of sources. Austin Cline educates people about atheism and agnosticism and secular humanism. He quoted religion historian Jaroslav Pelikin who stated, “Tradition is the living faith of the dead. Traditionalism is the death faith of the living.” Cline went on to say, “People insist that tradition should not be lightly overturned in favor of new ideas.” But sometimes the defense of tradition can become a sort of fetish that is done for its own sake and becomes traditionalism. He says there’s nothing wrong with tradition or respecting tradition. However, when tradition is placed beyond questioning or debate, it becomes traditionalism. Tradition that doesn’t adapt over time becomes dead and ultimately irrelevant to how people need to live their lives.
Some may argue there’s nothing wrong with Mama’s Church but I don’t believe it’s beyond critique. After all, “It’s a New Season.
The Reverend Ronald L. Slaughter, Senior Pastor, Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, Macon, Georgia
9. REFLECTIONS FROM THE MALL – E PLURIBUS UNUM:
*The Rev. Derrell Wade
This past week was full of excitement, joy, hope and thankfulness for me. I could not get to sleep on Monday night because I feared oversleeping and missing my 5 a.m. train trip to Washington, D.C.
I left home about 3 a.m. and arrived at one of my best friend’s home at 3:30 a.m.; and woke him up early. We prayed for God’s blessings and safety upon the inauguration and presidency of President Barrack Obama, and then we shared Holy Communion, remembering our God’s “Divine sacrifice,” God’s beloved Son Christ Jesus.
We arrived at the local train station in Manassas, Virginia at 4:45 a.m. and found it overflowing. The train departed promptly at 5:15 a.m. and arrived in Washington at 6:15 a.m. As I stepped off the train, I questioned my own sanity. The temperature outside was freezing, but not cold enough to dim my spirits.
To my dismay, when we arrived at the Mall before the dawn, it seemed as if a million people had already taken their places. The group I was with could not enter the Metro’s 7th Street Gate, so we walked down to the 12th Street Gate and entered. I greeted everyone I passed as I pressed my way to a closer view of the Capital. Excitement and cooperation filled the air. It was at that moment that I realized I was exactly where the Lord wanted me to be. It was confirmed when I met a lady and her family from my home town of Columbia, South Carolina. I spent a considerable amount of time sharing and fellowshipping with people from all over this country and around the world. It was especially rewarding, fellowshipping with a young lady from Romania and two students from Israel. We all rejoiced together for hours in the frigid cold. When my feet began to feel like ice, I thought about the 75 and 80 year old ladies that were standing in front of me hardly able to stand. When one of them was encouraged to go into a building and warm up, she replied “Child, my body might be chilled, but my soul is warm and filled. I’ve come too far; can’t miss a moment of this!”
My heart remained filled with joy throughout the whole inaugural celebration, for my God had allowed me to meet people of every race and creed from all over the world.
Between conversations, I thought and mediated on what my Sunday morning sermon would be. One thought was to pick up a handful of pebbles and place them in the isles of the church and invite the worshipping congregation to pick them up as they came to the altar for prayer to symbolize the twelve men who returned to the dry river bed and took stones to serve as a sign of what the Lord God had done for them (Joshua 4).
Then it occurred to me that out of approximately 2 plus million men, women and children the Lord God chose just one person to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan River(Numbers 1:46).
On Tuesday, January 29, 2009, I was reminded that and even today, God’s people all around the world had, and still has, a different kind of Jordan River to cross.
Today’s Jordan River ebbs and flows with economic calamity, declining stock markets, banking and business failures, home foreclosures and auto repossessions. The current economic calamity reaches seniors dying in their homes in the midst of winter because their heat is turned off. Some choose suicide rather than evictions from their homes they have lost due to unscrupulous charlatans.
To cross today’s Jordan River, we have to tread through the pains of hunger in the land of plenty and limits to health care in a nation of abundant health-care facilities and great scientific minds.
Furthermore, the Jordan River crests vengeful terrorism, devastating wars, and climate and environmental abuse.
Despite the berth and dept of our current Jordan River, President Barrack Obama was chosen out of more than 300 million people, to be the leader of these United States of America. Just as God had ordained Joshua to be a great leader and do a great work for Him, I firmly believe within my heart and soul that this President was not just being inaugurated as President of these United States, but he had been ordained to do a great work for the Lord our God.
It also occurred to me that like Moses of old, President Barack Obama is going to face some of the same challenges and problems that Moses faced as the leader of Israel.
President Obama like Moses is going to face people who make excuses and who don’t believe; people with rebellious hearts. He is going to be confronted with people who are determined to do things their own way.
As I boarded the train to return to the warmth of my home, I reflected on the day’s historic events and the many people I met. I surmised that if I could personally speak to President Obama or had I been invited to give an inaugural message to the President and to his cabinet, I would have reminded him that the Lord God chosen just one person to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan and into the Promise Land and that out of over 300 million people he, Barack Obama, was chosen to be the leader this great nation.
I would have said to him that, "Out of many, one" was chosen. I would encourage him to do all within his power to heal wounds, divisions and strife in this nation and to bring people closer together as Americans.
"Out of Many, One" or “E Pluribus Unum” can also be translated, “We are all in this together.”
*The Rev. Derrell Wade is the pastor of Beulah AME Church in Farmville, Virginia
10. A POEM - FAITH IS…:
By Sister Doshia Crowley
Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is believing in God even when you don’t understand his means.
Faith is knowing that when one door closes, other one will soon open.
Faith is the God-kind of faith that can move any mountain.
Faith is not depending on man but putting your hand in God’s hand.
Faith is seeing the invisible, believing the impossible, and reaching the unreachable.
Faith is acting on the Word of God, even when times are rough and hard.
Faith is work, commitment, and perseverance.
Faith is reading the Word with persistence and endurance.
Faith is abiding in Him and His Word in you. (John 15:7)
Faith is believing that He will supply all you needs when you have no money or food and your bills are due (Phil. 4:19). God may not come when you want God to come and you may even think God is late.
Faith is keeping you eyes lifted towards heaven because the reward is great.
Faith is giving of your time, talent and your tithe. God assures that anyone who obeys His teachings will never die. (John 8:51)
Faith is praising God, worshiping God and loving God when you’re at your high and even at your low and saying, Lord let your will be done, send me I’ll go.
Faith is acting a fool for God when your friends say you make no sense.
Faith is trusting in the Word of God in your defining moments; to stand on the Word of God; you must have courage, conviction and confidence.
Faith is blessing someone else when you yourself are in need because
Faith is shown through you works and good deeds. (James 2:14-18)
Faith is calling those things that are not, as though they were; and believing that it is already done; with no doubt or distrust.
Therefore, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lend not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. (Prov. 3:5-6)
Sister Doshia Crowley is a member of Greater St. Peter AME Church in Jonesboro, Georgia where the Rev. Isaiah Waddy is the pastor. The poem was written in response to a series of teachings Pastor Waddy did on faith.
11. THE SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT 2009 SCHEDULE OF ANNUAL CONFERENCES:
The Right Reverend William Phillips DeVeaux, Presiding Prelate
Dr. Pam DeVeaux, Episcopal Supervisor
SOUTH GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
March 10-12, 2009
Saint John A.M. E. Church
800 West Magnolia Street
Valdosta, GA 31601
TEL: 229-242-9674
FAX: 229-242-0460
The Reverend George Vereen, Host Pastor
The Reverend Jacqueline Smith, Host Presiding Elder
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA CONFERENCE
March 24-26, 2009
Saint John A.M. E. Church
3980 Steam Mill Road
Columbus, GA 31907
TEL: 706-682-6944
FAX: 706-682-4143
The Reverend Dr. Debora F. Grant, Host Pastor
The Reverend Dr. M. S. Karl Colquitt, Host Presiding Elder
GEORGIA CONFERENCE
April 14-16, 2009
Greater Mount Zion A.M.E. Church
1085 State Street
Waycross, GA 31501
TEL: 912-283-3683
FAX: 912-283-3683
The Reverend Abraham Frazier, Sr., Host Pastor
The Reverend Dan Stevenson, Host Presiding Elder
AUGUSTA GEORGIA CONFERENCE
April 28-30, 2009
First A.M.E. Church
521 North Hull Street
Athens, GA 30603
TEL: 706-548-1454
The Reverend Richard A. Washington, Sr., Host Pastor
The Reverend Ella M. Samuels, Host Presiding Elder
MACON GEORGIA CONFERENCE
May 12-14, 2009
Greater Turner Tabernacle A.M.E. Church
1104 Third Street
P.O. Box 6623
Macon, GA 31203
TEL: 478-743-4932
FAX: 478-785-1126
The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon, Host Pastor
The Reverend Alan H. Wicker, Host Presiding Elder
ATLANTA NORTH GEORGIA CONFERENCE
June 2-4, 2009
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church
1540 Pryor Road, SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
TEL: 404-622-9711
The Reverend Dr. Thomas L. Bess, Host Pastor
The Reverend Walter E. Daniels, Host Presiding Elder
POST-PLANNING MEETING
June 5-6, 2009
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church
1540 Pryor Road, SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
TEL: 404-622-9711
The Reverend Dr. Thomas L. Bess, Host Pastor
The Reverend Walter E. Daniels, Host Presiding Elder
12. THE 7TH EPISCOPAL DATE CHANGE FOR THE THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE:
The 7th Episcopal District's Mid Year and Theological Institute will be held March 4-6, 2009 in Columbia, SC at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center (2100 Bush River Road - Columbia, SC 29210).
Room Rate: $109.00
Rate is good through February 15, 2009
To make Reservation call: 1-803-731-0300
Thank you much.
Submitted by Sister Kabrina Bass, 7th District CED Director
13. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
It is with regret that we announce the passing of Mr. Larry Garmon, the brother of the Rev. Carl Garmon, Sr., pastor of Brooks Chapel AME Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Mr. Larry Garmon, was called from labor, pain and suffering on Thursday, January 22, 2009.
The Homegoing Service for Mr. Larry Gormon will be held:
Friday, January 30, 2009, 10:00 A.M.
Gregg L. Mason Funeral Home
10936 N. E. 6th Ave.
Miami, Florida 33161
Ph: (305) 757-9000
Fax: (305) 757-3505
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Carl Garmon, Sr
2949 River Bend Court
Corpus Christi, Texas 78415
Ph: (361) 853-7038
Home: (361) 549-9649
Email: garmonsr@hotmail.com
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened to inform you of the death of the Rev. Earl A. James, Presiding Elder of the Monroe-Lake Providence District, Central North Louisiana Conference. Our prayers are with his family and more information is forthcoming as it relates to funeral arrangements.
Eighth Episcopal District Administrative Office
5450 Executive Place
Jackson, MS 39206
(601) 366-8240
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Presiding Prelate
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mrs. Bessie Carter, the grandmother of the Rev. Tresa L. Coston, pastor of Graham AME Church in Greenwood, Delaware (Delaware Conference, Dover District). The following information has been provided regarding funeral arrangements.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Viewing - 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Funeral - 11:00 a.m.
First United Baptist Church
3728 Haverford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-222-8558
Sunday, February 1, 2009
2nd Funeral Service & Burial
Vidalia, Georgia
Care entrusted to:
James L. Morse Funeral Home, Inc.
4000 Haverford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-382-4322
Fax: 215-382-8830
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Tresa L. Coston
704 Kirkwood Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-655-3201
Fax: 302-656-1364
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Larry H. Thomas, the brother of the Reverend Troy I. Thomas, pastor; and the brother-in-law of the Reverend Maxine Thomas, assistant pastor of Historic St. Paul AME Church in Lexington, Kentucky.
Larry T. Thomas passed on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
Service arrangements:
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Family Viewing:
11:00 a.m. -12:00 Noon
Homegoing Service:
12:00 Noon
Grace AME Church
67 1/2 Winters Lane
Catonsville, MD 21228
Phone: 410- 744-9478,
Fax: 410-744-3120
The Rev. Howard Wright, Pastor
The Rev. Raymond Edmonds, Eulogist
Professional services provided by:
Gary P. March Funeral Home
270 Fredhilton Pass
Baltimore, MD 21229
Phone: 410-945-1100
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Rev. Troy & Rev. Maxine Thomas
1325 Copper Run Blvd
Lexington, KY 40514
Phone: 859-224-9961
Email: ThomasRevTroy@aol.com
17. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Pastor Carl E. Prude Sr., District Superintendent with the Church of God in Christ and father of the Reverend Avis Thompson, pastor of Saint Paul AME Church in Manchester, Kentucky.
Pastor Carl E. Prude Sr. passed on January 24, 2009.
The funeral has been held.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Reverend Avis Thompson
853 Silver Creek Rd
Beattyville, KY 41311
859-948-5344
samavis@bellsouth.net
18. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of Kenneth Garmon, the nephew of the Reverend Carl Garmon, pastor of Brooks Worship Center AME Church, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Service Arrangements for Mr. Kenneth Garmon:
Viewing:
Friday, January 30, 2009
2:00 PM - 9 PM
Gregg L. Mason Funeral Home
10936 N. E. 6th Ave
Miami, FL 33161
Phone: 305-757-9000
Fax: 305-757-3505
Funeral:
Saturday, January 31, 2009
1:00 PM
Liberty City Church of Christ
1263 NW 67th St.
Miami, FL 33147-7194
Phone: 305- 836-4555
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The Reverend and Mrs. Carl Garmon
2949 River Bend Court
Corpus Christi, TX 78415
Cell phone: 361-549-9649
Email: garmonsr@hotmail.com
19. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICES AND CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS PROVIDED BY:
The Clergy Family Information Center
Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Chair
Commission on Social Action
Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator
AMEC Clergy Family Information Center
E-mail: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936
Fax: (615) 833-3781
Cell: (615) 403-7751
19. CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FROM THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER:
The Chair of the Commission on Publications, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris; 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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