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 – WE ARE BUSY CHURCH, AND THERE IS NO TIME TO REST, BECAUSE BLESSED PEOPLE ARE…:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Summer is a busy season for the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and this summer is no different. This is the season for the Christian Education Congress; and what some districts call the Christian Education and Leadership Congress (CELC).
In addition to Christian Education and Leadership Congresses, AME Churches across the Connection have had, and are having Vacation Bible Schools, homecomings, friends and family days, family reunions, men’s days, women’s days, District Conferences, Sunday School Conventions, the General Board Meeting / Bishops’ Council in New Orleans, Episcopal District Planning Meetings, the Connectional Biennial Lay Meeting in Little Rock, and the AME-SADA Annual Founder's Award Gala in September.
All of these activities are “sandwiched in” between the spring and fall series of annual conferences, the General Conference Commission, the Church Growth and Evangelism Conference, Founder’s Day in February, the Turner Theological Seminary's 116th Founder's Day, the Global Development Council (GDC) Executive Board Meeting, and the Ministries in Christian Education Meeting.
AMEs are busy people and that’s a good thing.
When we “complain” or hear people “complain” about how busy all of us are and how busy, we, in the AME Church, are; we, in reality, are not complaining, because being busy is a good thing.
I used to hear my Grandmother Eva Price say, “An idle mind or idle hands is the devil’s workshop.” Young people most often get in trouble when they have little or nothing to do. Local churches that are active in their local communities have more viable ministries than churches that isolate themselves and who posture themselves in a survival mode. Active congregations, busy about the Master’s work and about evangelism change lives and impact the larger community. Local churches that focus upon raising budget money, paying the pastor’s salary, and growing a choir have little impact beyond the walls of their building or beyond their property line.
I heard Dr. Louis G. Harvey say, “Blessed people are busy people” and when I heard him say that, it really put my busy life in perspective. I came to understand and appreciate that being busy was a blessing and being blessed required some action on my part to be a blessing to others. And so, when we say that we are busy, we should do it, not complaining, but rather in the spirit of praising God for the work and responsibility God gives us. When we are busy it means that God has enlarged our borders (I Chronicles 4:10). Blessings are not meant to be bottled and hidden; blessings are to be shared.
All of the meetings held by the AME Church are held for a purpose. Meetings are held to conduct the business of the Church, to provide knowledge and guidance, to increase ministerial efficiencies, to educate, to provide spiritual growth, enhance morale and provide encouragement. Connectional meetings are great venues for fellowship and for providing and exchanging information and ideas for ministry.
But, one of the most important meetings that the AME Church holds is the Christian Education Congress because it is probably the most effective feeder for ministry; along with the Sunday School Convention, if the Sunday School Convention is well-planned and supported by pastors and the laity. My call to ministry was fertilized and finalized at the Sunday School Convention that was held at Bethel AME Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania in the mid-fifties. I didn’t tell anybody, but that’s when it happened. Youth meetings are important for our youth and for sustaining the ministry of the Church.
The Christian Education Congress or (CELC) reaches and inspires more young people than any other meeting. I am always inspired when I attend one of those meetings or hear about those meetings; to see and hear about excited and inspired young people. I remember my own excitement.
Last night, I attended the 13th Episcopal District Christian Education and Leadership Congress that is being held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and seeing the hundreds of excited young people who had arrived in buses, vans, and automobiles assembled for the glory of God and their chaperones who were already worn out and the announcement about the midnight curfew and the invitation for the youth and their chaperones to join in a silent walk at 6 a.m. the following morning; and with that announcement the quiet that prevailed in the auditorium. The 100-voice youth choir and the congregation that took up every seat in the Convention Center auditorium was indicative of the preparation of very busy clergy and laity of the 13th Episcopal District led by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie and Episcopal Supervisor Stan McKenzie. The sermon last night, delivered by the Rev. Dr. Lance Watson, the pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia was dynamic, inspiring and appropriate for the occasion. His sermon taken from Hebrews 12:1-2, entitled, “You are Expected to Win” had the rapt attention of both young and old. He spoke about Christians being heirs and the strategies to combat failure. I am sure that some seeds for ministry were planted and all that is needed is for local churches to “water” and tend to the “seeds.”
This editorial is not a message about the 13th District because I know that the episcopal leadership teams in all of the other episcopal districts have equally dynamic and spiritually-focused Christian Education Congresses. The point is, that in the midst of all that is going on in the African Methodist Episcopal Church; the financial struggles we face, and how busy all of us are, with all of our meetings; we take time for our youth. They are the AME Church of today. If we take care of our youth today, our youth will take care of our Zion today; and in the days to come.
Yes, we are a busy people, we are a busy Church, but as Dr. Louis Charles Harvey said, “Blessed people are busy people.”
2. READER RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL AND OTHER ISSUES:
- To the Editor:
RE: AME Bishops and General Officers Take Salary and Operational Cuts for the Next Four Years:
Greetings, this information will be on my notice boards in, and around the charge.
We had a symposium where we had different speakers teaching the community around us especially the youth about saving at this critical time in our history. Yes, we believe in God who blesses in abundance but we need also to be practical. I am proud to be an AME.
God bless our Bishops and the General Board for the wise decision.
The Rev. Ntiti Jacob Sefatsa
The Republic of South Africa
- To the Editor:
RE: AME Bishops and General Officers Take Salary and Operational Cuts for the Next Four Years:
I am not surprise that the AME Church has stepped up to the plate in a leadership role in this time of financial crises.
I am convinced that God will bring us through.
Mrs. Mary Mills
- To the Editor:
The Christian Children’s Fund
Do you know of the fraud and abuse allegations made against this org?
I have been a faithful donor for over 30 years. I did not know in 1994 there was a serious investigation into fraud and abuse of funds. The Christian Children’s Fund has never promoted a Christian education since it's inception in the early 70s. The organization changed its name to "The Children's Fund" on July 1, 2009.
Today I received an Annual Report on my sponsored child. She is the third child I sponsored in a community in Togo, West Africa. I read that she attends a school of the Koran on Fridays and Saturdays. I bless her very much, but I cannot support an Islam-based education system when there are Christian feeding/education programs needing this help. I have decided to withdraw my funds. I will research and find a valid Christian organization.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is a very generous religious organization. Our Sons of Allen and Women’s Missionary Society both support a Christian Children’s Fund child.
I will be making an announcement in church and encourage their disengagement as well.
I mention this to the TCR should any other AME church organizations and members who might be unaware as I was.
*Sister Nadine Rhodes-Marsh is a Licentiate at Bethel AME Church, Leesville, Louisiana
Steward, Shorter Chapel AME Church, Franklin, Tennessee
3. THE AME CHURCH IS A GLOBAL CHURCH:
When articles and notices are sent to The Christian Recorder from Episcopal Districts 14 – 20 please keep in mind, that those of us in the United States and in other countries may not be familiar with those areas. When cities are listed, please include the country because some overseas districts encompass more than one country. When a city is listed readers of The Christian Recorder might not know in which country the city is located.
A reminder to those of us in the United States in Episcopal Districts 1 – 13; when writing articles, please be cognizant that The Christian Recorder readers are located all over the world and, likewise, they may not be familiar in which state some cities are located and may not be familiar with the postal abbreviations of states in the United States. Please spell out the full name of a state, e.g., Maine instead of ME.
3. THE NAACP AND ITS CENTENNIAL CONVENTION 100 YEARS: BOLD DREAMS – BIG VICTORIES:
Special Report to The Christian Recorder by Paulette Coleman, Ph.D.
Convention Overview
A rousing version of “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” concluded the Centennial Convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on Friday July 17, just after 12:00 noon. When Vice Chair Rosalyn M. Brock struck the ending gavel, 5,000 adult and youth delegates, alternates, observers, and friends began their return journeys home. Without any doubt, they were re-committed and re-energized to continue the struggles in their local communities to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. The NAACP is still necessary, in spite of claims that the United States is now a post-racial or post-civil rights nation. Yes, we celebrate the election of Barack Hussein Obama, as the nation’s 44th President and the first African American, but President Obama’s victory does not mean that race as an issue has been vanquished. The celebration stops short, however, when on almost every social indicator black-white disparities persist. As President Julian Bond noted in his address to the Centennial Convention, “Almost a quarter of Black Americans live below the poverty line as compared to only 8.6 percent of whites. Infant mortality rates are 146 percent higher for blacks; chances of imprisonment are 447 percent higher; rate of death from homicide 521 percent higher; lack of health insurance 42 percent more likely the proportion with a college degrees 60 percent lower. And the average white American will live 51/2 years longer than the average black American.”
Stirring oratory; melodious music; excellent advocacy training in education, criminal justice, housing, etc; exceptional presenters; productive business sessions; a diversity job fair; and numerous sponsored celebratory events were all a part of the NAACP’s 100th national convention. Youth delegates met in concurrent “youth only” sessions, but were also integrated into the plenary sessions and other parts of the convention as presenters and program participants. Politicians and government officials including Sen. Charles Schumer, Sen. Christine Gillebrand, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Gov. David Patterson of New York and Gov. John Corzine of New Jersey, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Thomas Vilsack, USDA Secretary were among those bringing greetings or speaking at the Convention. Michael Steele, the first African American to be elected Republican National Committee Chairman, also addressed the crowd and pledged to “move beyond doing outreach to building coalitions…” that will sustain the growth of the African American middle class and “bring out of poverty those left behind.”
The African Methodist Episcopal Church Well Represented at the NAACP Centennial Convention
I am pleased to report that AMEs had a more visible presence at this Centennial Convention than had been the case at other recent NAACP national conventions. The late Rev. J. R. Williams (pastor of AME churches in the 5th and 13th Episcopal Districts) served for many years as the NAACP National Convention Organist until his death. Today, Ms. Kia Heath (2nd Episcopal District) is the Chief of Staff for NAACP President & CEO, Benjamin Todd Jealous. Ms. Heath is the daughter of the late Rev. Eleanor Bryant-Graham and the niece of Bishop John R. Bryant.
Dr. Alma Martin, an officer at Bethel AME Church in Harlem and president of the NAACP New York City Branch, had prominent roles throughout the convention presiding at several events and serving on the host committee. The Rev. Jo’An L. Owings pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church (1st Episcopal District) gave the invocation at the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Memorial Lecture Luncheon. Among the AMEs attending this convention were Mrs. Dolores Thompson (1st Episcopal District); Presiding Elder Thomas Hughes (4th Episcopal District) along with his mother and sister who are members of Bethel AME Church (1st Episcopal District); the Rev. Reginald Jackson, pastor of St. Matthew AME Church (1st Episcopal District); the Rev. Alphonso Sherrill, pastor of Bethel AME Church (1st Episcopal District); the Rev. Garland Pierce Associate Director of Christian Education (National Council of Churches) and ministerial staff member at Bethel AME Church (1st Episcopal District); and Dr. Paulette Coleman (13th Episcopal District).
Bishop John R. Bryant, the senior bishop of the AME was the featured speaker, at the Religious Affairs luncheon on Monday, July 13th. The Rev. Melvin Hughes, pastor of St. Luke AME Church – Harlem (1st Episcopal District), gave the invocation at this luncheon. In addition to his challenging message, The Kingdom Requires More from the Church than Our Worship, Bishop Bryant also presented a check to the NAACP on behalf of the AME Church with donations from the Bishops of the AME Church and others in addition to the fundraising efforts of Dr. Alma Martin for a total of $40,000. This generous contribution was also acknowledged during the Gospel Extravaganza on Wednesday evening.
Using word imagery, Bishop Bryant conveyed the brutality and dehumanizing character of slavery. Following are excerpts from the sermon:
Five hundred years ago ships began leaving the west coast of Africa across the Middle Passage to the islands of the Caribbean, and the shores of North and South America. These were not just ordinary trading ships, but trading ships with human cargo in their bellies. These human beings were stripped from their ancestral homeland, their families, their culture, their history, their names, and even their personhood. They were redefined as less than human and treated as chattel. In spite of all of this, the slave traders made one mistake. They let one name get out and that was the name of JESUS. Things happened when the names of Jesus was used. Jesus gave His head, heart, spirit, and body for the church, the company of the committed, the ecclesia. The name of Jesus kept us from going crazy. Because we could call on the name of Jesus, we learned how to pray through our dire circumstances and difficult situations. We learned how to bind and loose and how to sing until the power of the Lord came down. We learned how to preach with punctuated power. But with all of that, God reminded them and us that more is required than worship. God chose the church to be his liberating presence on the earth.
For 100 years the NAACP with the help of the church has helped our people deal with systemic racism. Anything having to deal with people, the Church is required to be involved, but also to be the headlights.
In Matthew 17, Jesus picked three - Peter, James, and John – whom he “took up” not to heaven but for encouragement. On November 4, in Grant Park, people began to weep, fell in each other’s arms, and laughed. That wasn’t heaven, but it was encouragement. President Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Robert Johnson have all made significant contributions, but don’t build your life around them, they are tokens of encouragement that the Lord has sent among us.
There is a war going on and the underclass is becoming even more impoverished. Our community produced more doctors, dentists, and lawyers percentage wise 40 years ago than we do today. The 9th Ward of New Orleans still looks today like it did 5 years ago.
So what if you got your praise on? So what if your mass choir is the bomb? There is a war going on and God sent me to say “you are my warriors.” Come out of the sanctuary and fight for our children and our communities. When there is only praise, it no longer turns God on. Am I a soldier of the cross, then I must fight, if I would reign supported by God’s word.
Bishop Bryant’s provocative message was enthusiastically received with thunderous applause and many “Amens!”
The Rev. W. R. “Smokie” Norful, Jr., a product of AME parsonages (12th Episcopal District) joined Hezekiah Walker and Mary Mary as headliners for the Gospel Extravaganza. Smokie Norful is a Grammy award winning singer, songwriter, and musician.
Leadership Change and New Directions
Chairman Bond officially announced he would not be seeking re-election as Board Chair in 2010 and it is not clear who the successor will be. Among those rumored to be in contention for the position are Rosalyn M. Brock, a 10-year veteran of the NAACP National Board of Directions serving as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Convention Planning Committee and also a member of the NAACP Special Contribution Fund Trustees during that time and Rev. Wendell Anthony, President of the NAACP Detroit Branch, the Association’s largest local unit.
Benjamin T. Jealous in his first address to the national convention as the 17th President and CEO of the NAACP reminded the delegates that the NAACP is a human and civil rights organization that fights for the human rights of all people. He also reported that the NAACP is back in the black financially; membership is up online and in the field; and this Centennial Convention is the largest in the Association’s history. Among the Association’s top priorities are outlawing racial profiling everywhere; abolishing the death penalty; investing in research; improving communications; increasing the use of technology; organizing communities; and changing the position of young people in the movement. Successful litigation, the hallmark of the NAACP’s civil rights victories, will be combined with more vigorous grassroots organizing to address the barriers to full participation of all citizens in American society. The virus of racism has mutated in our lifetime according to President Jealous and in the 21st century it manifests itself in the “school to prison pipeline.” Citing January 20, 2009 as a moment of transformative possibility, Jealous asked all NAACPers to join him, “I have dream. I know the first step. Won’t you come and join me?”
President Jealous introduced “Smart and Safe” a new NAACP initiative based on the premise that public safety is a civil and human right. He also emphasized that citizens have a role to play in ensuring equal justice and safer communities. Association members were urged to use their cell phones or other electronic devices to photograph acts of police misconduct or abuse and to e-mail them to the Rapid Reporting System at the national office. The national office will then follow-up with appropriate action.
Presentations of Past Executives
All of the living executives who served the NAACP gave enthusiastic presentations at this historic convention, with one exception, Ben Chavis. Former President and CEO Ben Chavis’ absence from the convention was glaring as was the total silence during the Centennial Convention regarding his tenure. Those who previously served as the national leaders of the NAACP and their terms in office follow: Benjamin Lawson Hooks – Former Executive Director – 1977-1993; The Late Earl Shinhoster – Interim President & CEO - 1994-1996, represented by his widow and brother; Kweisi Mfume – Former President & CEO – 1996-2004; Dennis C. Hayes, Esq. – former interim President & CEO – 2004-2005 and 2007-2008; Bruce S. Gordon – Former President & CEO – 2005-2007; and Benjamin Todd Jealous – President & CEO – 2008-Present.
Freedom Fund Dinner/Spingarn Awards Presentation
The Freedom Fund Dinner and Spingarn Awards Presentation is always a highlight of the NAACP National Convention. This year the excitement and anticipation surrounding the dinner was heightened, because President Obama was the keynote speaker and longtime NAACP National Board Chair, Julian Bond was honored as the 94th recipient of the Spingarn Medal.
In his speech, President Obama acknowledged the poignancy of the moment to have him as America’s first African American President addressing the NAACP’s Centennial Convention. As a beneficiary of the NAACP's work, President Obama credited the visionary founders of the Association and all of the unsung freedom fighters since that time as paving the way for his presidency. President Obama was more prospective rather than retrospective in his remarks. He placed a great emphasis on education as essential to improving the lives of all children. He said the state of schools is an American problem, not an African-American one. "You know what I'm talking about. There's a reason the story of the civil rights movement was written in our schools. There's a reason Thurmond Marshall took up the cause of Linda Brown. There's a reason the Little Rock Nine defied a governor and a mob," Obama said. "It's because there is no stronger weapon against inequality and no better path to opportunity than an education that can unlock a child's God-given potential."
Yes, this historic convention ended on a high note with gratitude and thanksgiving for the big dreams and bold victories that have shaped the NAACP’s history and successes to this point, but with a new determination to continue to work on until the end racial hatred, bigotry, and discrimination are eliminated.
4. THE DETROIT FREE PRESS ENDORSES AME PASTOR, THE REV. ANDRE SPIVEY FOR DETROIT CITY COUNCIL:
The Rev. Andre Spivey is the pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Detroit, Michigan has been endorsed by The Detroit Free Press.
The Detroit Free Press says, “Andre Spivey's 16 years of Christian ministry have given him both a profound sympathy for Detroit's impoverished families and an appreciation for the practical necessity of using limited resources effectively.”
5. THE REVEREND EDWARD L. BUTLER EULOGIZED BY BISHOP C. GARNETT HENNING SR.:
The Reverend Bruce Lambert Butcher
On Friday, June 26, 2009, the Third Episcopal District gathered to send the Reverend Edward L. Butler home to his final resting place. Reverend Butler passed as a result of an accident that took place in his home.
The Rt. Reverend Bishop C. Garnett Henning Sr. called the processional to order at 11:00 am.
The Bishop lead the family into the sanctuary as the Reverend L. Anthony Gatewood, Presiding Elder of the Columbus District, read the opening sentences. The Reverend Carl Terry offered the prayer. The Reverend Ronald Glenn read the Old Testament lesson and the Reverend Brenda Gregg read the New Testament lesson. Words of comfort were given by the Ohio Conference Missionary President, the Ohio Conference Lay President, Quinn Memorial Church, Payne Seminary Alumni, Ecumenical Clergy, A.M.E. Clergy, family member, and special friend, the Reverend Andrew Newberry. Mrs. Ernestine Henning, Third Episcopal District Supervisor of Missions also had words of comfort for the family.
The theme that permeated throughout centered on how God used the humorous personality and wit of Reverend Butler. Everyone who knew Reverend Butler knew he was always looking for laughter and humor and could use this as an effective tool for ministry. Many who spoke shared their own story of Reverend Butler and his love of laughter. Bishop Henning sounded on this theme as well. Bishop stated, “If you can’t laugh at my funeral then don’t come.”
Bishop Henning took for his text, II Corinthians 5:1; he preached from the subject, “Our Human House and Our Heavenly Home.” He spoke about how frail the human house is in contract to the strength and security of our heavenly home. He shared that Reverend Butler was aware of this and placed his trust in God early on in life. Bishop went further to say Edward Butler trusted God all the way and we who are believers will rejoice along with Reverend Butler on that “great getting up morning.”
After Bishop Henning finished preaching, the Reverend Paul Bigsby pronounced the benediction and the family and congregation recessed from the church, singing, “When We All Get to Heaven.”
We thank God for the life and legacy of the Reverend Edward L. Butler. He will be missed by all who knew him.
6. A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE:
*The Rev. Dr. Nathan A. Dixon
Having just recently returned from the African Methodist Episcopal Church General Board and Council of Bishops in New Orleans, let me first, commend Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Sr., on his capable presiding; congratulate Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the President of the Council of Bishops; and commend the 8th Episcopal District for serving as fine hosts and hostesses.
Having sat in on several commission meeting sessions, I thought to myself, where is the meeting taking place, where we as a connectional church, are addressing the mass exodus of hip-hop youth and young-adults, ages 16-40?
While I’m not convinced that the General Board / Council of Bishops is the correct venue to address this issue, I strongly believe that there needs to be a strategic plan put in place across the connection to address this undercurrent of a significant exodus that is happening right before our very eyes.
As a denomination, the African Methodist Episcopal Church is blessed that there exists congregations across the connection that are thriving and have not experienced the mass exodus of hip-hop youth and young adults ages, 16-40; however, I assure you, that this mass exodus is taking place in African Methodism as well as in the other traditional mainline denominations. Here in Lansing, Michigan, several United Methodist congregations have closed their doors, because of a diminished membership and the lack of youth and young-adults to continue the leadership of the church.
In the book, From Jay-Z to Jesus: Reaching & Teaching Young Adults in the Black Church, Dr. Ralph C. Watkins and the Rev. Benjamin Stephens, III provides their readers some alarming and eye-opening statistics:
“Only three out of ten twentysomethings (31%) attend church in a typical week. Conversely, close to 70 percent don’t attend church. The research shows that church attendance bottoms out during the late twenties when the vast majority of students have transitioned from education to the workforce. Just 22 percent of those ages twenty-five to twenty-nine attended church in the last week. Many twentysomethings are reversing course after having been active church attendees during their teenage years. – From high school graduation to age twenty-five there is a 42 percent drop in weekly church attendance and a 58 percent decline from age eighteen to age twenty-nine. More than eight out of ten twentysomethings (80%) said that their religious faith is very important in their life, and nearly six out of ten (57%) claimed to have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their lives (Stephens and Watkins, 2009).”
If we were to visit many of our churches across the connection, I believe we would find these statistics to indeed be true. “The church that fails to develop its young-adults [and youth] is a church that will not have a future (Stephens and Watkins, 2009).”
I strongly believe, that now is the time to sound the alarm, and it’s time for us to sit down at the common table and begin to dialogue about this crucial issue. For years, the church has taught its youth and young-adults to mimic the adults and their behavior in the church. Many pastors are trapped between a commitment to our fore-parents and an emerging generation that is shaped by Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, BET, and MTV.
As we seek to reach out to the youth and young-adults who are leaving our churches, I feel that one of the first things we must learn is who these youth and young-adults are. Those ages 16-40, make up two different generations. Those born 1965-1986 are known as the hip-hop generation or the post-soul generation.
“…prior to the 1960s the black church was the epicenter of all cultural, social, and political activity. It was a soul culture. You see all musical forms except hip-hop come out of the vernacular of the faith-based community we call, the church. If you talk about spirituals, blues, jazz, R&B, and gospel, it all comes from the church (Moss, TAAP, 2006-2007).”
The hip-hop generation, (those born 1965-1986) is now a part of the working class and middle-class and are parents to what Dr. Ralph C. Watkins refers to as hip-hop² - (those born 1987-2007). The major difference between these two generations of youth and young-adults is that hip-hop squared is a generation that is farther removed from the African American church; and have experienced breakdown of both family and community. Many from the hip-hop generation have left the traditional church because the church presented itself as exclusive and not open to allowing variety.
The Young People’s Department (YPD) has served, for many years, as the organization that helps to train up our youth and young-adults and continues to assist in producing youth and young-adults with a bright future ahead of them. However, I wonder today if YPD is still the answer for our youth and young-adults or is there a need for some re-tooling and re-structuring?
Many of our young-adults, when they become too old to remain in the YPD, find themselves with few options. They join (RAYAC) Richard Allen Young Adult Council, which in my opinion, struggles to be relative to our young-adults. They join either the Women’s Missionary Society or the Lay Organization, which again, in my opinion, are organizations that struggle to be relative to our youth and young-adults; or they go into ministry. Why is this? Is this because they are truly called by God, or simply because there is nothing else for them to do?
As we seek to further develop our youth and young-adults, while the work begins in our local churches, I believe that there should be a mechanism or venue on the connectional level, where we as AME’s, might initiate open and honest dialogue. Some questions that need to be answered are, “How might we address the mass exodus that is taking place in many of our churches across the connection? How do we go about getting those youth and young-adults involved who may never attend a connectional meeting? How can we create a venue that will be responsible for addressing the mass exodus of youth and young-adults? Is YPD still relevant to meet the needs of today’s youth and young-adults or is it in need of a paradigm shift?” etc.
In relation to Moses and Joshua; they lead was differently. One way is not any better than the other; in fact, different types of leadership are needed in today’s church.
“For Moses, it was doo-wop. For Joshua, it was hip-hop. For Moses it’s a whoop. For Joshua it’s a holler. For Moses, it’s a letter. For Joshua it’s email. For Moses it’s Aretha Franklin. For Joshua, it’s Alicia Keys. For Moses, it’s Coltrane. For Joshua, it’s Common. For Moses, it’s devotion. For Joshua, it’s praise and worship. For Moses, it’s dress up. For Joshua, it’s dress down [Come as You Are] (emphasis added). For Moses, it’s a hymnbook. For Joshua, it’s a laptop and projection screen. For Moses, it’s a radio. For Joshua, it’s the Internet. For Moses, it’s a board. For Joshua, it’s a ministry. Moses is low-tech. Joshua is high-tech… (Moss, TAAP, 2006-2007).”
Let me add one or two of my own… For Moses, it’s a telephone call. For Joshua, it’s a text message. For Moses, it’s a board meeting. For Joshua, it’s a conference call. For Moses, it’s Youth Sunday. For Joshua, it’s Youth Ministry. For Moses, it’s a choir. For Joshua, it’s a praise team. Moses feels comfortable staying inside the box. Joshua feels freedom outside of the box, expressing him/herself through spoken word, mime ministry, liturgical dance, drill/step team, etc. The fact of the matter is, Moses was not threatened by Joshua, and Joshua was not trying to push Moses aside. What is needed is an intergenerational ministry. Joshua has to respect Moses’ history, and Moses has to respect where Joshua’s direction.
It is up to the church to reach out to the youth and young-adult who have a future in leading our church to the next level. “Without question, the greatest potential of the Black Church today resides in the group we call ‘young adults’ (McCray, 1992).” There in fact must be an open and honest dialogue between the elders and the youth and young-adults in order that the youth and young-adults might understand and appreciate the tradition, and in order that the elders might understand and appreciate the vision of the today’s youth and young-adults.
We must play an active role in fostering relationships between the elders and youth and young-adults of our Zion, preparing them to both receive the baton, and release the baton of leadership. We need youth and young-adults in place to receive the baton of leadership, and committed to lead our church in the future; but likewise, we need elders who are willing and faithful to let go of the baton, trusting our youth and young-adults to run the race, even if they run the race differently!
Historically the church, like hip-hop, spoke to political issues, social dilemmas, injustices of the community, and race concerns. Something happened in the Reagan era where both entities consumed themselves with the many capitalist struggles caused by the many cuts by the Reagan-Bush regime. However, during the post-Reagan era, following the financial struggles at the rise of the crack and black suburbia, both entities became consumed with capitalistic gain (Chang, 2005).
Mega pastors in many forums have taken on the same mystique as rap moguls. The difference is however, that the hip-hop community has, by and large, captured the youth and the church has struggled to reach the hip-hop generations. The question as to who will be relevant hip-hop or the black church; right now, it’s too close to call.
Youth and young-adults today in AME churches across the connection are tired of being set aside and treated as if they are the church of tomorrow. In a real sense, they desire to be active participants in the life of the church, today in order that they might use their current and innovative ideas.
As I conclude, I believe that the bigger question that needs to be considered is, “What will happen if we continue to ignore this issue?” If the African Methodist Episcopal Church does not hear the alarm that is sounding loudly but rather maintains the status quo, “where do we see the church 10 – 20 years from now?”
One thing the Church cannot dispute is the fact that the average ages of the majority of our congregations are 60+. Who will the Church call on twenty years from now to financially sustain the work of the Connectional Church? Who will the Lay Organization call on twenty years from now to make sure that the Laity has a voice, and to make sure that the Laity is working alongside the clergy to further advance of our Zion? How can we be assured that we will have thriving congregations 20 years from now if we are not addressing the mass exodus of our youth and young-adults ages 16 – 40 now? ?
If African Methodism does nothing and maintains the status quo, I’m afraid that we would end up being reactive instead of proactive. It is a fact that hip-hop remains very influential in the United States among our youth and young-adults. It is also a fact that these hip-hop youth and young-adults are capable and willing to use their God-given gifts to further advance the mission of Christ and vision of African Methodism. The seven last words of a dying church are, “We’ve never done it that way before.” Let’s flip the script, and instead, recite the first nine words of thriving church - “I never knew we could do it like this!”
A church that ceases to change ceases to exist. It’s now up to the church to unite and engage this culture of youth and young-adults, because if not… we will lose the next generation.
“We are called to all nations to make disciples: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.’” (Matthew 28:18-19). Nations are made up of generations, cultures, subcultures, and we must speak into them all to carry out the mission given to us by the Lord (Smith & Jackson, 2005).”
*The Rev. Dr. Nathan A. Dixon is the pastor of Trinity AME Church, Lansing, Michigan
7. THE SECOND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT SAID, YES YOU CAN - CHOICES - YOUTH CONGRESS AND DISTRICT PLANNING MEETING:
The Rev. Glenda Murray-Kelly
The Second Episcopal District (SED) of the A.M.E. Church under the leadership of Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., Presiding Prelate and Mrs. Connie Speights Richardson, Episcopal Supervisor along with Sister Robin Porter Smith, Director of Christian Education hosted the SED District Planning Meeting and Christian Education Youth Congress with Clergy, WMS and Lay on July 12-July 15, 2009. The meeting was held at the Hampton Convention Center, Hampton, VA.
The SED Planning meeting was hosted by Rev. Andre' Pierre Jefferson and Bethel AME Church in Hampton, VA. Presiding Elder Larry Hinton served as the event coordinator. The Rev. William A. Dyson, Sr. served as Host Presiding Elder and The Rev. Chester Morris, as Associate Presiding Elder. In the parking lot of the Convention Center were vans from the various local churches within the SED. It was amazing to see such participation from the five Conferences.
As a matter of record, by Monday July 13, almost 1,100 youth had registered to be a part of this great occasion with a total registration for both events being 1,991. On the cover of the program booklet for the Youth Congress were the words, "Got A Lot on Your Mind? Yes, You Can! Choices! The workshops were based on four words: Get Ready (Preparation); No Looking Back (Perseverance); I'm About 2 Win (Opportunity); and, Above the Influence (Choices).”
"O thou' in whose presence my soul takes delight, on whom in affliction I call, My comfort by day and my song in the night, my hope, my salvation, my all. The Youth Conference and the District Planning meetings were combined because of the economy and to ensure that the District as a whole will “keep it real”. We want our youth to be on their best behavior and we have put together a program that will enhance their Christian education experience. We must keep in mind the vision and mission of the A.M.E. Church. We must also maintain our focus on the 7 point vision for the SED which includes: (1) ministry to youth and young adults, (2) ministry to men, (3) ministry to incarcerated, (4) ministry for educational support: Theological Scholarships and AMEC Institutions, (5) ministry for missions support: beyond the shoreline, (6) ministry for health and personal development and (7) Nehemiah Ministry: Physical and monetary support for small congregations," said Bishop Richardson.
In attendance were Bishop Paul J. M. Kawimbe of the 17th Episcopal District and Dr. Willie Clayton Glover, candidate for Connectional Lay President, and a member of the 3rd District. Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu founder and CEO of African American Images, The Reverends Tony Lee and Bill Lee and the Rev. Brent Edward shared their preaching gifts during the meeting. The Rev. Dr. Cain Hope Felder facilitated a workshop on "The Past and the Present."
The highlight of the eve of July 13th was when the Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, pastor of Empowerment Temple preached from the text Genesis 14:11-16, "The Last Man Standing." Dr. Bryant defined the moment of being the last man standing in the form of examples and situations using the late Pop Star Michael Jackson as a matter of reflection of comparison and contrast.
"Chapter 14 is where the first war and conflict begin in the Bible. There is more war than peace. The chapter is about four Kings, "The Sayers of Darkness" and "The Son of Evil." Both sides of the kings were evil and both sides were destroyed. Yet, on June 25, 2009 there was an announcement on television that Michael Jackson is dead. A sign reading the "King is Dead" and I'm still here. What in the world is going on? The King of Comedy is dead, the King of Pop is dead, the King of Rock and Roll is dead and the King of Soul is dead but the King of Kings is still alive" said Dr. Bryant.
Dr. Bryant called the entire congregation of over 2,000 participants to lift their hands to surrender unto the Lord. We must preach and pray for salvation. The sinner’s prayer was prayed over every participant under the sound of his voice and the youth were invited to the altar. Approximately 139 youth came and surrendered their lives unto the Lord.
There were a series of component meetings for the adults such as: The Board of Examiners, Minister's Spouses/Widows/Widowers + PKs, Lay Organization, YPD, Women in Ministry, RAYAC, Christian Education, Nehemiah Ministry, Debutante-Masters Commission, Women's Missionary Society, Clergy Caucus, Evangelism, Family Life Ministry, Social Action, Sons of Allen, Theological Scholarship Fund and Health Commission.
While the adults were in their component meeting, the youth participated in the Praising God though the Arts workshops: Step, Mime, Choir, Liturgical Dance and Rap. Youth and adults attended age appropriate workshops: Get Ready! No Lookin' Back! I'm about 2 win! The youth participated in Life Application workshops that included but were not limited to: Graphic Design, Medical Field, Law Enforcement, Culinary, Fashion Marketing, Psychology and the Legal field.
The meeting gave memoriam to Connectional and District leaders who have died and included Bishop Vernon Randolph Byrd.
The conference was a work of art. The preaching, teaching, workshops and the activities provided to the attendees were first for Christ and second to none.
8. THE 52ND ANNUAL LAY MEETING 12TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
*Ms. Patricia Roberts
On June 18th - 20th, 2009 under the direction of Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr., Presiding Bishop and Mr. David Fielding, President of the 12th Episcopal District Lay Organization convened for its 52nd Annual Lay Convention. The gathering was held at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) located in Little Rock, Arkansas where the Rev. Dr. James H. Thomas is Pastor. The Comfort Inn and Suites located downtown Little Rock provided the accommodations. A brief synopsis of each day’s events is as follows:
Thursday June 18, 2009
The 12th Episcopal District Lay President Mr. David Fielding called the Executive Board Meeting to order. He presided with great anticipation and expectation. All facets of the 12th Episcopal District and business of the Connectional Lay Biennial were put in their proper electronic wheel.
The opening business session was called to order at 1:30 pm by 1st Vice President, Sis. Dorothy Henderson. A heartfelt and genuine welcome was extended by the Arkansas Conference President, Brother Harold Martin. President David Fielding proclaimed the opening of the 52nd Annual Convention of the 12th Episcopal District Lay Organization. He expressed that the first 6 rows would set the boundary for this convention. In his annual address he called the roll of the gallant soldiers gone from our rank, they are as follows: Dr. W. B. Wynn, Mrs. Betty Lindsay and Bro. Adolphus Daniel. He informed us that the state of the Episcopal District Lay Organization has moved to the next level under the leadership and support of Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr. and asserted that “The best is yet to come.” We were blessed as Chaplain Bro. L.C. Williams led us in a spirit filled and thought provoking devotion and Bible study entitled: “God’s Plan for the Ages: The Eternal Triune God.” The 1st report of the registration committee was discussed and yielded 106 laity, 61 clergy who registered prior to the conference start and 8 laity and 10 clergy who registered on site for a grand total of 114 laity and 71 clergy. This is a new high for this conference and gives credence to the statement “The best is yet to come.” The Presiding Prelate Bishop Samuel L. Green Sr. greeted us with his illuminating smile and that reassuring phrase “God First.” Hearing him speak dismissed all anxiety and proclaimed a successful hosting of the Connectional Biennial Convention in July. After receiving several committee reports as well as the conference president’s report the 1st Business Session was adjourned.
In the evening the worship and communion service was held at Bethel AME the host church. What a wonderful spirit filled time. We were led in the singing of praises by the Arkansas Convention Choir under the direction of Mr. Jason Bivens. Immediately following Pastor James Thomas delivered a powerful message entitled “With unlimited possibilities. “ This message ignited a powerful surge within our souls and after experiencing the Holy Ghost’s presence we were treated to a scrumptious repast by the host and hostesses of Bethel AME.
Friday June 19, 2009
Lay leadership Ministry/Workshops
Rev. Banks set the stage for the 1st workshop by prioritizing the Lay Leadership Ministry of the local church. The list goes in this order; Steward, Trustee, Class Leader and Stewardess. His objective was to raise the level of awareness regarding the purpose, duties and responsibilities of each ministry. Emphasis was placed on attending, participating and supporting each Local, District and Episcopal conference and or meeting, especially if you hold a leadership position. He was very motivational and inspired everyone to make a difference at their local church.
The 2nd workshop was presented Joyce B. Vaughn entitled Community Outreach. She explained three major points; access the needs, take time to pray, and research the project as outlined in the Word
The 3rd workshop was a three panel discussion entitled, “Enhancing our Christian Growth through Prayer, Patience and Perseverance,” presented by the Rev. Curly Roberts, Ms. Patricia Roberts and Mrs. La Ryssa Blunt. This workshop centered on the importance of prayer patience and perseverance (The 3 P’s) and the specific requirements for an effective Christian Life; Humility, Faith, Righteousness, and Obedience.
We were taught that through patience, we must be consistent in trusting and honoring God; knowing that he will not abandon you. One should wait, listen and watch God work. God is a forgiving God He continues to give us chances to get it right with him. Perseverance is a combination of both prayer and patience. The question “How bad do we want it?” was asked and the response was answered in three steps; “You must envision it, back it up with determination and motivation, and work until you get it.”
At 7:30 pm Friday evening the Lay Person of the Year Gala Banquet was held at the Comfort Inn Hotel Grand Ballroom. The banquet featured a musical that was both inspiring and uplifting. The dinner was superb, very delicious. Both Bishop Sam and Mr. David Fielding presented plaques of appreciation to the following outstanding and dedicated living legends:
Mr. Albert Yarbough, Oklahoma Conference; Mrs. Warnette Barnett, Central Methodist Oklahoma, Mrs. Alice Northful, Northeast Arkansas Conference; the Rev. Willie Ray Northful pastor of Saint John in Pine Bluff and candidate for Bishop received the plaque in honor of his aunt; Mr. Edward Wells, South Arkansas Conference; Mrs. Johnnie Booker, West Arkansas Conference; Mrs. Helen Davis, Arkansas Conference; and Dr. Dorothy Henderson, Central Arkansas Conference
At the conclusion of the presentation Bishop Green gave us some very encouraging and inspiring words to take our organization to the next level and he ended the session in prayer.
Saturday June 20, 2009
At 7:00 am the Edward Swift Prayer Breakfast was held. It was very inspirational and spirit filled. The voices raised in prayer to our God in prayer enhanced our spiritual growth. We then reflected on the love ones and our memories were refreshed during the memorial service where we honored those who gave themselves diligently and untiringly for the cause of the 12th Episcopal District Lay Organization. May God allow their contributions to forever remain in our memories.
The closing worship service under the leadership of the Rev. Larry Banks was spiritual and uplifting. We raised our voices and hands in praise to bless the Holy Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We were all anxiously awaiting the powerful message of our own Bishop Samuel L. Green and after a beautiful introduction by Presiding Elder Clarence V. Boyd Sr. our waiting and anticipating were finally over. We were not at all disappointed by the electrifying, forceful and powerful message of our energetic Bishop entitled “The Funeral of a Dead Church.” The text came from Revelations Chapter 3 verses 1-6. He taught us the various ways to keep the church alive and encouraged all of us with the text; he that has an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. We must listen to the Spirit of God and know that God is in the blessing business.
We were blessed by streams of guests who marched enthusiastically through the Halls of the Lay Convention. Guests included:
- Mr. Raymond Frazier-Senator Blanch Lincoln’s Community Affair Specialist; Mr. Milton Ezell- Outreach Director of U.S. Congressman Mike Ross; Dr. & Mrs. Willie Glover- 3rd Episcopal District Candidate for Connectional Lay President
- Mr. Johnny Tellis Jr. – 3rd Vice President of Connectional Lay 10th District Candidate for re-election; Mrs. LaRyssa Blunt- The Workshop Specialist, Hot Springs, Arkansas; Mr. Jesse L. Burns- President of Connectional Lay 11th District Candidate for re-election; Mr. Thomas Edward Greene- 1st Vice Connectional Lay 9th District Candidate for re-election; and Mr. Richard Bowden Sr. – Candidate Connectional Lay Financial Secretary of 9th District.
Giving Honor when Honor is Due
The 52nd Session of the 12th Episcopal District Lay Organization Convention wishes to especially thank Pastor James H. & Mrs. Naomi Thomas along with the officers and members of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for your kind hospitality. We are much obliged to the 7 Conference Branch President’s Mrs. Patricia Davenport-Oklahoma, Mrs. Jackie Weary- Central Northeast Oklahoma, Mr. Sam Williams-East North East Arkansas Conference, Dr. Dorothy Clay Henderson- Central, Mrs. Martha F. Simpson- South, Mrs. Patricia Roberts- West Arkansas and Mr. Harold Martin-Arkansas Conference. We would also like to thank all Episcopal District and Conference Lay Officers led by Mr. David Fielding and Mr. Jessie Burns Connectional Lay Presidents, Loyal Pastors and Presiding Elders. We extend a heartfelt thank you to our Resident Bishop the Rev. Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr. Suffice it to say servant of God and all of his extended family, “God First.” As the 12th Episcopal District we go forth under his impeccable leadership.
*Ms. Patricia Roberts is the 12th District Lay Director of Public Relations
9. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DOWNTOWN CHINGOLA, AME CHURCH, SOUTH WEST ZAMBIA CONFERENCE, 17TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT:
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
On behalf of the Downtown Chingola AME Church family, my wife Connie and I take pleasure in informing you that we are rapidly approaching the final days of a very exciting season of four (4) Days of 2009 International Preach-A-Thon Conference. Theme: “Being Empowered to Reach the Unreached and Unchurched.”
The Conference will be held from Friday night, July 31 until Monday, August 3, 2009.
The “Preach-A-Thon Conference” is a divine convocation, where a series of carefully selected bishops, presiding elders, evangelists, apostles, teachers and pastors drawn from the global body of Christ will minister the uncompromising Word of God, one after the other, to the people and children of God non-stop. Take note that our confirmed Conference guest preachers are drawn from within and outside of the territorial boundaries of the 17th Episcopal District.
Friday, evening, July 31st 2009 the conference opens with an “Overnight Gospel Music Extravaganza”. This will be held from 19:00 hours to 06:00 hours the following day. We are featuring Pastor Irrady, Genesis, Elias, and Milton as guest artists. A senior Pastor and Gospel music Director from Chililabombwe will be speaking to praise teams, choirs, quartets, duets, soloists and the assembled congregation. Confirmations from several churches and ministers are still being received.
The Conference venue is Chingola Basic School Mini and Main Halls.
Saturday afternoon, August 1st 2009, the “Keynote Empowerment Celebration Worship Service” will be held from 14:00 hours to 18:00 hours. This is a grand Official Opening and our Chief Guest Preacher is a great man of God, himself a senior pastor, from Rustenburg in the Republic of South Africa. Coming with his dear spouse, he presides over a number of churches in the Garankuwa District. He is the Rev Lekubela S. Moobi.
Sunday, August 2nd 2009, there will be two “Sacred Empowerment Celebration Services,” one in the morning and the second in the afternoon respectively. Mrs. Miniver Phiri from United Methodist Church will be the main preacher during the morning service. Speaking in the afternoon on the same day is a pioneer church planter. He is a Zambian clergy based in Botswana running the fastest growing ministry in his area.
Monday, August 3rd 2009; we shall have two “Grand Finale Empowerment Closing Celebration Services” in the morning and afternoon respectively. We have lined up men of valor who were among the first to embrace Senior Pastor Mwandu of Downtown AME Church as a he planted the new work in the town centre of Chingola. These are Bishop Joseph S. Kazhila and the Rev Winner Simbeye respectively.
*Please take note that on Day Four (4) Monday, August 3, 2009, our recommended attire will be gold shirts, T-shirt on black skirt or trousers and Jacket in both sessions. Immediately following the close of the afternoon service, we shall have cash Empowerment Grand Finale Dinner, time at 18:30 hours to 20:30 hours. This is a forum that automatically earns participants an express entry into the hall of grand finale Dinners with our guest speakers.
We pray that you plan now to be a part of this special celebration! It is the goal of the Downtown AME Church family to execute plans for these days of excellence. Be present and bring your family and friends every day for all services.
In order to assure that these days will be one to remember, your participation is needed! Once again, the Officers and members of the Downtown AME Church thank you in advance for your prayers, participation, and support. We look forward to seeing you and celebrating with you on these very special days.
In Kingdom Service,
The Rev Royd Mwandu
Mobile phone, +260-966-786632
P O Box 11125, Chingola, Zambia
http://ourchurch.com/member/s/StThomasZambia
10. HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE TAKES FIRST CONGRESSIONAL VOTE TO END CRACK COCAINE SENTENCING DISPARITY:
WASHINGTON – The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security voted on an historic markup today of the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009, a bill that would result in the elimination of the unjust and discriminatory disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentences under federal law. H.R. 3245, sponsored by Representative Robert Scott (D-VA), removes references to “cocaine base” from the U.S. federal code and takes the welcome step of removing the five-year mandatory minimum sentence for simple possession of crack cocaine.
More than two decades ago, based on assumptions about crack which are now known to be false, heightened penalties for crack cocaine offenses were adopted. Sentences for crack are currently equivalent to the sentences for 100 times the amount of powder cocaine, and the impact falls disproportionately on African Americans. Today, policymakers from both judicial and executive branches of the federal government, including former President George W. Bush, agree that Congress must pass legislation to eliminate the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing.
The following can be attributed to Michael Macleod-Ball, Interim Director of the ACLU Washington Legislation Office:
“Today’s vote is an historic first step in ending a 20-year injustice. Lawmakers must act now to eliminate the disparity between crack and powder cocaine sentencing by treating both forms of the same drug equally under federal law. Congress alone has the authority to put a stop to the crack-powder disparity and long mandatory minimum sentences.”
Contact: Linda Paris, (202) 675-2312; media@dcaclu.org
11. THE TRAGEDY OF CARRYING UNEARNED GUILT:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
I am sure that you will agree that each of us has been and even now guilty of something. I don’t know of anyone who can truthfully boast of being guilt free. However the guilt may not be as devastating as those who are carrying “unearned guilt.”
You may not realize it but there are a number of people who are burdened with guilt that they should not be carrying. Carrying guilt takes a toll.
Throughout my ministry I have encountered many parishioners whose lives have been affected, ruined and destroyed all because they were carrying guilt that they did not deserve to be carrying. A few committed suicide because they could not shake the load of guilt.
The sad thing about all of this is that some parents have ways of making their children feel guilty. And children have ways of making their parents feel guilty. Siblings have ways of making one another feel guilty. It is cruel to try to “dump” guilt on another person. Some try to vindicate their guilt by “dumping” it on someone else.
During my ministry I have counseled individual who, at the passing of a love one said, “If only I had been here.”
My question to them was, “What would you have done? What do you think you could have done to make a difference?” In each case, they had no logical answer, but yet they go on feeling guilty. Some never shake the guilt even when they are shown that the guilt is not theirs.
Cain earned his guilt when he murdered his brother. The brothers of Joseph earned their guilt when they sold him all because they were jealous.
I have seen parishioners whose personality changed; their, lifestyle changed and new habits developed after experiencing the lost of a loved-one. They carried guilt that was not earned, but dumped on them by some insensitive, cruel, and uncaring individuals; most often by their own family members.
We have church members sitting in the pews every Sunday with an “overload” of guilt. Some would not dare mention it to anyone. They wrestle with it, day after day. You can see the expressions on their faces that they are wrestling with unresolved guilt. Pride keeps them from seeking help and they wouldn’t dare consult another family member. I have seen some cases where it appeared that some people felt good in seeing others go through the agony of unresolved guilt.
Guilt makes people sick. Physicians often cannot diagnose the cause of some people’s illnesses; that I am quite certain are guilt related.
Unearned guilt will cause insomnia, nervous breakdown, high-blood pressure, isolation of family and friends, lost of appetite and other related illnesses.
How does one shake the feeling guilt? By coming to a realization that they were not at fault and that they had no control over what happened. It is not an easy thing to do, to just drop guilt. It is a painful process. Clearing one’s mind calls for meditation and prayer in sincerity.
It is time to “dump” the guilt and lighten your mental load. There is an open invitation we often sing, “There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins. And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all thy guilty stains.”
I pray for those who are carrying “unearned guilt,” and that they seek help by consulting one whom they can trust and confide.
Guilt is a serious malady, so please don’t take it lightly, seek help before it’s too late.
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts is a retired AME pastor who resides in Eatonville, Florida
12. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY NOTICES:
- It is with great pride, and in the joy of Jesus that we announce that Mrs. Aimee Anderson, the wife of Dr. Derek Anderson gave birth to their son Cory Isaiah Anderson on Saturday, July 11, 2009. Dr. Derek Anderson is the Connectional President of the Richard Allen Young Adult Council and is Treasurer of the AME Church Inc. Board of Trustees. Mrs. Aimee Hurst Anderson is the Ohio Annual Conference YPD Director. Aimee is the daughter of the Rev. Mac C. Hurst, pastor of Grant Chapel AME Church in Amite, Louisiana and Mrs. Brenda Hurst, Louisiana Conference WMS President.
Congratulatory messages can be emailed to mrdha143@yahoo.com or can be mailed to:
The Anderson Family
P.O. Box 09262
Columbus, Ohio 43209
- Kenneth Tyzion Christmon was born Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 12:50 pm, 6 lbs 12 oz to the Rev. Kenneth Charles Christmon and the Rev. Kimberly Majors Christmon. He joins his brother Jackson Isaiah Christmon. The Rev. Kenneth C. Christmon is the pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Indianapolis. Kenneth Tyzion Christmon is also the grandson of the Rev. Kenneth A. Christmon and Mrs. Carolyn Christmon. The Rev. Kenneth A. Christmon is the pastor of Providence AME Church in Indianapolis.
Congratulatory messages can be sent to:
1825 E. 25th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46218
Or emailed to: Kadmit1@aol.com
13. GENERAL OFFICER FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
Service Arrangements for Dr. John W. P. Collier, Jr., Retired Secretary-Treasurer of Missions
Atlanta, Georgia Services:
Friday, July 24, 2009
Visitation: 5:00 p.m.
Funeral: 6:00 pm
Flipper Temple A.M.E. Church
580 Fair Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30314
Phone: (404) 522-5020
The Rev. Augusta H. Hall, Jr., Pastor
Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr., Officiating
Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Sr., Eulogist
First A.M.E. Church - Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta, Georgia home church of Dr. John W. P. Collier, Jr.)
The Rev. Larry Ervin II, Pastor
Professional services entrusted to:
Murray Bros Funeral Home
1199 Utoy Springs Rd SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Phone: (404) 349-3000
Fax: (404) 349-5001
Rahway, New Jersey Services:
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Family Visitation: 2:00 p.m.
Funeral: 3:00 p.m.
Ebenezer A.M.E. Church
253 Central Avenue
Rahway, New Jersey 07065
Phone: (732) 382-0541
The Rev. Louis P. Attles, Pastor
Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, Officiating
Bishop Frank Curtis Cummings, Eulogist
Professional services entrusted to:
Jones Funeral Home
247 Elm Avenue
Rahway, New Jersey 07065
Phone: (732) 381-6981
FAX:(732) 381-5164
The family respectfully request in lieu of flower, that contributions be made in memory of Dr. John W. P. Collier, Jr. to "God's Share Ministry", a Help Ministry that benefits Missions at Home and Abroad.
Contributions can be mailed to:
1235 Regency Center Drive, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Phone: (404) 691-3052
Cards and other expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
Dr. Jacqueline Grant Collier and family
1235 Regency Center Drive, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30331
Phone: (404) 691-3052
Please remember the Collier family in your prayers.
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
With sadness we announce the passing of the Rev. Curtis Francis, retired Presiding Elder of the Camden-Trenton District of the New Jersey Annual Conference, First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Viewing: Friday July 24, 2009 - 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Funeral: 11:00 a.m.
St. Paul AME Church
1203 Harrison Avenue
Pleasantville NJ 08232
Eulogist:
The Rt. Rev. Richard F. Norris
Presiding Prelate, First Episcopal District
Internment:
Saturday July 25, 2009
New Allen AME Church
Franktown, Virginia (Eastern Shore)
Arrangements:
Greenidge Funeral Home
301 Absecon Blvd
Atlantic City NJ 08401
Telephone: 609-345-6305
15. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We are saddened to announce the passing of Attorney Priscilla Green. Attorney Green was a member of the Judicial Council of the AME Church, died on Sunday morning, July 19, 2009.
We hereby inform you of the passing of the Rev. H.M. Mamabolo on the 12th of July 2009. He will be buried on the 21st of July 2009. The service will be held at the Agnes B. Hildebrand AME Church in Mabopane, the Republic of South Africa. He will be laid to rest at the Klipgat Cemetery.
The Rev. H.M. Mamabolo served the AME Church in the following capacities:
15th Episcopal District:
Cape Midlands: Langa AMEC as a pastor
19th Episcopal District:
North Annual Conference:
Pietersburg as a presiding elder
Lenyenye AMEC as a Pastor
FC James AMEC in Nylstroom as a pastor
West Annual Conference:
H.B. Senatle AMEC in Moletsane as a pastor
North Annual Conference:
North End District as a presiding elder
JE Hunter AMEC in Soshanguve as a pastor
Warmbarths District as presiding elder
Pretoria District as a presiding elder
The Rev. H.M. Mamabolo served under the following bishops:
1. The Rt. Rev. G.D. Robinson
2. The Rt. Rev. F. C. James
3. The Rt. Rev. J. E. Hunter
4. The Rt. Rev. D. G. K. Ming
5. The Rt. Rev. H. B. Senatle
6. The Rt. Rev. C. G. Henning
7. The Rt. Rev. A. J. Richardson
8. The Rt. Rev. J. L. Davis
The Rev. H.M. Mamabolo retired in 2003.
Family Contact Phone Numbers:
Sophia Mamabolo (wife) 082 688 6142
Esther Mamabolo (daughter) 073 130 8360
Maki Manyaneng (daughter) 073 169 8908
Condolences may be emailed to: mathildam@ananzi.co.za
Submitted by the Rev. Dr. Frederick C. Harrison
16. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to inform you of the passing of the Reverend Dr. Samuel L. Bradford, Sr. Rev. Bradford superannuated in November 2008, having given lengthy service to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He served in both the Fifth and Fourth Episcopal Districts. His last pastorate was Bethel AME Church in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Service arrangements for the Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Bradford, Sr:
Saturday, July 24, 2009
Family Visitation: 10.00 a.m.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m.
Greater Pentecostal Church
6080 Florissant Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63136
Phone: (316) 389-9332
Professional services are entrusted to:
Austin A Layne Mortuary Inc
7239 W Florissant Avenue
Saint Louis, Missouri 63136
(314) 381-6900 Phone
(314) 381-6321 Fax
(888) 254-8259 Toll Free
Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be sent to:
The family of the Rev. Dr. Samuel L. Bradford, Sr.
C/o Austin A Layne Mortuary Inc (see address above)
17. 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
Email: Amespouses1@bellsouth.net
Phone: (615) 837-9736
Voice Mail: (615) 833-6936
Fax: (615) 833-3781
Cell: (615) 403-7751
18. 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
7/16/2009
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER ONLINE ENGLISH EDITION (7/16/09)
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: OUR BISHOPS AND GENERAL OFFICERS RESPOND TO ECONOMIC CRISIS BY MAKING SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL FINANCIAL SACRIFICES, AS OF 2008:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Several weeks ago, the United Methodist News Service and more recently the Associated Press exclaimed, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay.” The article also appeared in most major newspapers.
The article reported, “One of the nation's largest Christian denominations is addressing the nation's financial crisis with what it hopes will be a spiritual teaching moment as well as a cost-saver.”
The article went on to say that the 50 bishops would roll back their salaries by 4 percent next year as a “gesture of solidarity with others hurt by the global economic downturn” and went on to say, ‘The salary cut is one of the strongest statements taken yet by a faith group as U.S. churches respond to a recession that has left growing numbers of people jobless and hungry. Other denominations have eliminated jobs, frozen salaries or canceled mission trips.”
I know that a number of AMEs saw the news article because several persons forwarded the article that they had seen on various websites. In each case the article was forwarded to me without comment. No comment was needed because I think I know what each sender was thinking. I believe they were thinking, “Now why don’t our bishops take a cut in salary” or “all of the other denominations are sensitive to the economic downturn, but our Zion seems oblivious to the current economic situation."
The article about the 50 bishops taking pay cuts next year also reported that two United Methodist Boards had cut more than 90 jobs. The article closed with saying that the United Methodists bishops’ salaries will fall back about $4,700 annually to their 2008 level, $120,942, on Jan. 1 from $125,658 currently. (See The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008, page 659 to view the salaries of AME Bishops).
Appended at the end of the article were cuts other denominations have made; the Evangelical Lutherans have cut executive salaries, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has frozen salaries, the Southern Baptists had suspended some overseas missions, the Episcopal Church’s headquarters staff offered to take pay cuts, but the executives rejected the offer because “they didn't want to balance the budget on the backs of staff.” Don’t you just like those Episcopal Church executives!
And so, if one read the article, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay” the thought might be, “How has the AME Church responded?” or “Why haven’t our bishops taken a pay cut?”
If the news media had called Dr. Clement Fugh, the General Secretary and the AME Church’s Chief Information Officer or Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the President of the Council of Bishops, they would have discovered that the African Methodist Episcopal Church did indeed take drastic steps to address the current economic environment.
Dr. Daryl Ingram, the Executive Director of the Christian Education Department explained it best. He wrote, “I applaud the action of the UM Bishops regarding that (remove) their pay reduction of roughly $5,000 per bishop resulting in $125,000 savings per annum. However, the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference that was held in St. Louis, Missouri in 2008 froze personnel costs at the 2008 levels. The AME Bishops receive $63,000 annually for this quadrennium and that is roughly 53% of the reduced salary of the UM bishops. Our executive leadership to include General Officers are sacrificing with our congregants in a similar way as the UM leadership. In addition, our episcopal leadership does not receive health-care benefits like their UM colleagues. Therefore, it is important for our constituency to understand that our leaders and communion are sensitive to and appreciate the difficulties of this dire economic climate and will continue making appropriate adjustments to alleviate and ease the burdens that all congregants experience, whether in Los Angeles or Livingstone, in Chicago or Capetown, in Atlanta or Accra, in Knoxville or Kingston, in New York or Nassau.”
In other words, the AME Church took salary cuts and operational cuts across the board for the entire quadrennium – 2008 - 2012, not only the AME Bishops, but the General Officers and their departments.
The media never inquired from the AME Church the cutbacks it had taken, and unfortunately, we never told them. We did not “shout it from the rooftops,” but we should have done so.
Our biggest problem in the AME Church is that we fail to tell our stories. The African Methodist Episcopal Church does great things around the world, but few know about the great things we do. Often when AMEs greet each other the first question we ask, “What is going on in the AME Church?” or “Did you hear about…” We tend to focus and are energized on negative issues. Some of our pastors and local churches have great ideas and viable programs, but we don’t share our successes, nor do we caution others about our failures.
Unfortunately the lack of sharing is not just in local churches, but it’s a Connectional anomaly also. We need to do better, and we can.
In the news article, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay” some Methodists said the bishops' action would have been more effective - and might have saved some church jobs - if it had come earlier.
In that same vein, an AME wrote, “’Earlier; that's the operative word here, as far as our AME leadership is concerned. Whatever they may have done, it should have been done earlier and the AME Church should have been more vocal about it. All I ever wanted from the leadership of the AME Church was some ‘words’ that might have lifted our spirits when this economic downslide first happened; just some ‘thoughts’ that might have soothed us. And, again, ‘earlier’ would have been nice.”
Yes, the Bishops, General Officers and their departments have taken salary and departmental operational cuts and those cuts have already been implemented and will continue until 2012.
When someone asks you what is going on in the AME Church, tell them “the Bishops, General Officers and their departments have taken salary and departmental operational cuts and those cuts have already been implemented and will continue until 2012.” Also tell them that the Connectional Officers have taken “a hit” also. No travel reimbursements to the General Board Meetings for the rest of the quadrennium.
Laity share this information with other members of the Church. Pastors share this information with your congregations. Presiding Elders share this information with the persons who attend your Quarterly Conferences and your District Conferences. Bishops share this information at all of your meetings. General Officers share this information in your periodicals. In the words of Psalm 150, “Let everything that has breath” share this information. “Praise ye the LORD.”
2. SOWING THE SEEDS OF OUR FUTURE:
*The Rev Ken Whitley
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 28, 2009 the churches of the New England Annual Conference came together to celebrate the accomplishments of our recent high school graduates. Those graduates who are headed for additional education will receive partial scholarships from the Herbert L. Eddy Scholarship Program.
The Herbert L. Eddy Scholarship Program is named after the Presiding Elder of the Boston Hartford District. His vision reaches out to encourage our youth as they reach meaningful and positive accomplishments in their lives. The secular world is all too happy to publicize the negative stories about our youth. By highlighting the positive, the church can make a Godly impression on the minds of our future doctors, plumbers, teachers, and leaders.
The celebration started at 5:00 pm at the Bethel Springfield Church where the pastor is the Rev Antonio Dawson. The program included several selections by the St Paul AME Church Inspirational Choir from Cambridge Massachusetts. St Paul’s teen liturgical dance team also blessed the attendees with dance. The celebration attendees rose to applaud with excitement as the Rev Sandra Whitley from the HLE Scholarship Committee read excerpts from each applicant’s essay on what they hoped to accomplish by completing their education.
The event needed a special speaker who could motivate and share Godly wisdom. The now retired, former pastor from St. Paul AMC Cambridge, the Rev Dr. Leroy Attles met and surpassed the challenge. This powerful preacher served St Paul as pastor for 31 years and combined his vast experience and knowledge of God’s Word to challenge and encourage our young leaders of tomorrow. He based his words on Eph 5:15-21 and the celebration theme, “Yes we can. We are determined and unstoppable.”
*The Rev Ken Whitley is the pastor of Peoples AME Church in Chelsea Massachusetts
3. NEWS FROM EBENEZER AME CHURCH, FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND:
- It's a Celebration! On Sunday, July 26th at 6:00 p.m. we will honor 30 years of ministry of our very own senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Jr.
The special musical guest will be Bishop Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Tickets are only $10 and available at Ebenezer or online at www.ebenezerame.org
- Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. JoAnn Browning, the Rev. Chandra Marriott and all "Kingdom Women With Holy Ghost Power" on a great Women's Season.
- S.T.O.M.P. (Step Team On a Mission to Praise) has formed a Young Adult Step Team. Prior experience is not needed, just comfortable clothing, willingness to learn, and love for the Lord. Practices are held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Original Sanctuary.
- Join Ebenezer AME Church for Gospel Night as the Washington Mystics takes on the New York Liberty Saturday, July 18th.
Support the Youth Ministry's annual "Back to School Supply Drive." Donations of new backpacks, notebooks, pens, erasers, glue and other supplies are needed so our children can start the school year prepared. No time to shop? Monetary donations are also accepted.
- Ebenezer will host a Youth Fair, featuring basketball, flag football, girls vs. boys relays, Wii tournaments and Gospel Go-Go Bands. There will also be health forums and screenings, including HIV/AIDS testing. (Parental consent is required to participate in health screenings).
- Mission Trip to Kenya (East Africa), July 25 - August 6, 2010. Payment options start soon so register now to reserve space.
The Missionary Society will host an Informational Resource Workshop on July 16th at 7:00 p.m. with The Honorable Peggy Magee, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. Come hear valuable information on court and land records, military discharges, marriage licenses and much more. Registration is required.
- Single Parents Ministry: Come to our July 17th meeting as we focus on "The Glorywatch: Cyber Space and You!" Learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and other cyber-communications. Technology can be misused if you are not educated. Learn to use it in the right way!
- Join the B.A.L.M. Ministry as we "Celebrate Our Marriage Commitment" on July 25th with a Commitment Service led by our Pastors, the Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning and the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning in the Original Sanctuary from 12:00 Noon - 1:00 p.m., then head to D.C. for a "White Linen Affair" at Indulj Restaurant (1208 U Street, NW), from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The cost is $70/couple, tickets available after the church.
4. THE REV. WILLIAM SMITH RECEIVES ACCOLADES FROM THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
The Rev. William Smith and his wife, Willa received notification from the State of Tennessee for 2008 for superior timelessness award. The Reverend William Smith is the pastor of Brown's Temple AME Church in Fayetteville, Tennessee, Reverend Smith and his wife operate The Rose of Sharon Funeral Service in Pulaski, Tennessee.
The Rose of Sharon Funeral Service was notified of its superior timeliness in Dearth Certificate Filing for the Calendar Year 2008. The Rose of Sharon Funeral Home averaged 2.5 days. The death certificate is important and it takes hard work and a team effort to get this job done.
The same effort must be given at all times. Our service is the only thing that stands above the rest. It's not the merchandise.
The attachments contain the communications that have been received from the State of Tennessee Department of Public Health's Vital Statistic's Division.
5. TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE AME CHURCH:
John Thomas III
During the 2008 Presidential Election Campaign, then candidate Barack Obama made government transparency and accountability a keystone of his message. This message was framed via a backdrop of greed and deceit in Corporate America as well as government malaise which cost the American economy billions (if not trillions) of dollars. President Obama made good on his promises after his election victory by making the Presidential transition process the most transparent to date and signing key Executive Orders and Presidential memoranda to overturn certain policies restricting access to information imposed by the previous administration.
While public and private entities worldwide are adhering to demands from their constituents for increased financial accountability, the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a whole continues to be largely mired in shadow. It is easier for a tithing AME to have access to itemized expenditures for the United States Army than financial records from many Episcopal Districts and Connectional departments. Various attempts throughout history have been made to encourage financial accountability in the AME Church. At the 1956 General Conference, a courageous band of clergy and laity known as the “Brotherhood” succeeded in their quest for accountability and responsible fiscal control from the Connectional church through the creation of the General Budget Fund and the General Board. It was hoped that centralizing the operations of the Connectional Church would allow for better control of the Connectional resources as well as curtail burdensome assessments.
The current level of supervision of the financial resources of the AME Church, however, leaves much to be desired. Per the Discipline, all Connectional departments must render an accounting of their financial stewardship to the General Board at its annual meeting (163; 166). Additionally, all Episcopal Districts must submit a yearly audit of their budgets to their constituent Annual Conferences and the Statistics and Finance Commission of the General Board as well as a quadrennial audit to the General Conference (256). Furthermore, all Episcopal District budgets must be approved at the first regular General Board meeting after the General Conference (168).
The departments, agencies and Episcopal Districts of the AME Church, however, are in varying forms of compliance. While the General Officers of the Church have been diligent in providing information to the General Board regarding their finances, many Connectional agencies have not submitted an audit or balance sheet in years, if ever. Those organizations and agencies which do submit audits give them to the General Board members at the site of the meeting instead of sending them 30 days prior per the Discipline (166). This creates the unenviable situation of General Board members having to cram reading the audits between the worship service and investiture banquet and other activities - if they are even read at all. A thorough reading of audits from several Connectional departments raises questions regarding managements of funds (for example large bank charges) that need to be explained and addressed.
Likewise the audits of the Episcopal Districts are seldom seen and never heard at the General Board meeting. This is not to say that there is a complete lack of compliance. I know several Bishops who bring their audits “just in case” knowing the possibility of a full review is slim to none. And to date no Episcopal District budgets have been formally reviewed for the 2008-2012 Quadrennium, though several Districts have followed procedure and asked for increases in their funding caps due to the presence of institutions of higher learning and the hosting duties of the 2012 General Conference. After hearing numerous complaints from clergy and laity regarding the financial situation of the Church, I offered a resolution at the 2009 New Orleans General Board meeting drafting guidelines for Connectional financial reviews drawing directly upon the mandated directives of the Discipline. It is my fervent prayer that this resolution will be approved at the 2010 meeting.
The AME Church is definitely better off than the “dollar money” days, but we still have a long way to go when it comes to being a well-managed enterprise making the most effective use of our stewardship. We have an apparatus for fiduciary control that has fallen into decay and disuse. The AME Church needs to seriously consider place a Bishop in the role of the Chief Administrator. While the President of the General Board is vested with the responsibility to coordinate our financial oversight, the duties of managing an Episcopal District combined with managing the affairs of the Connectional Church is clearly too much of a task for one person. We need to take our own advice and pass the Strategic Planning legislation recommended for the 2004 General Conference.
Much of what we need to do as a Connection, however, is already laid out in the Discipline. We only need the will as concerned laity and clergy to encourage our leadership to follow through at every level. Laity cannot accuse clergy of malfeasance when they refuse to deal with financial lapses in their own organizations. Pastors cannot point fingers at presiding elders and bishops when they have accountability issues in their own congregations. Bishops must obey the laws they were elected and consecrated to execute. In Luke 16:10, Jesus tells us that "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Instead of worrying our lack of resources, we must administer what we have to the best of our ability. The spirit of thrift espoused by our forebears in the Free African Society requires us to do no less.
6. MOUNT HERMON AME CHURCH FIRST ANNUAL MAN-UP FATHER’S-TO-DAD EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR:
By Marissa C. Brown
The first annual “Man-Up Father’s-to-Dad Empowerment Seminar” will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009; 8:00-5:00 p.m., located in the Family Life Center, Mount Hermon African Methodist Episcopal Church, 401 Northwest 7th Terrace, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This seminar is free and a complimentary lunch will be served.
The Reverend Michael K. Bouie, M.Div., pastor, of Mount Hermon is excited about the men of Mount Hermon and of the South Florida community coming together in this collaborative effort of supporting this special event. The purpose of the seminar is to enlighten and teach men how to become dads in mentoring their children and utilizing their gifts from God and necessary tools for spiritual and successful parenting.
Mr. Harry Robinson stated that in today’s society the family unit of African American families is steadily increasing in divorce, broken homes, juvenile delinquency and all of the many distractions of the family. Many African American men are in dire need of a positive father role model in their lives and are searching for instructions and leadership on becoming that Man of God whom they have been called by God to become. The seminar will enhance the skills and abilities of fathers and pre-assess the needs of fathers in becoming more productive dads and providing the skills needed for dads interacting with their children.
The Presenter for this session will be Mr. Harry Robinson, Jr., Founder and CEO of Father’s-to-Dad Program. He is a graduate to Tuskegee University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Robinson is active in the community in serving and mentoring young men in numerous community service projects, the YMCA, a recipient of the 2008 “ Man of Valor” community service award, a member of Blanche Ely High School Parents Guild 2009. An active member of Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church, he serves as teacher of the Men’s Bible class and of the Sons of Allen Fellowship.
The community is cordially invited to attend. For further information, please call (954) 463-6309.
7. ST. PETER'S YOUTH WINS ESSAY CONTEST:
Coach Alphonso V. Varner
A weekend of joyful experiences was held at the Macon District Church School Convention. The Macon District is in the Sixth Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The activities of the Macon District Conference included essay writing, a hallelujah worship service, planning meeting and workshops were held at Adams-Smith Tabernacle AME Church in Warner Robins, Georgia, June 11 - 13, 2009. The Reverend Deborah Frank Watson was the host pastor. Sister Annie Marshall serves as the District Christian Education Director along with Sister Felicia Meadows; and the Reverend Alan Hale Wicker is the efficient Presiding Elder of the Macon District.
The Convention’s Theme: "Unexpected Greatness"; and the Christian Education Theme: "A Child Shall Lead Them" was most appropriated for this occasion was taken from I Samuel 16:11: “So he asked Jesse, ‘are these all the sons you have?’ ..."There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep". "Samuel said, ‘send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’"
The weekend began on Thursday with a Welcome/Fellowship meal, courtesy of the host church. Nineteen youth presented their essays before the judges of the contest. The title of the winning essay was, "Unexpected Greatness." The judges included a retired educator, the Rev. Dr. Gloria Wicker, and two U.S. Government employees, Sister Brenda Phillips and Sister Janie Grayer.
The Opening Worship Service was held Friday evening. The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon was the worship leader. The Macon District Choir simply “blew the roof off the house” singing the songs of Zion.
The celebrants who effectively carried out the order of service included, the Reverend Deborah Watson, the Call to Worship; the Rev. Dante Rome lined the opening hymn; the Rev. Charles Lewis prayed a powerful Prayer; the Bertram C. Smith, the Troy Daniel and the Marlette F. Gilbert each read the Old Testament, the Epistle, and the Gospel lessons; the Cynthia F. Hughes led in reading of The Decalogue; the Rev. Marvin Colbert led in the benevolent offering; and the Lusora Brown lined the sermonic hymn.
Presiding Elder Alan Wicker took the congregation to a new level with his powerful preaching of the Word using the texts, Acts 2:1-4; and Samuel 15:13. His unique subject was, "Firefly (Lightning bug)." His key points included the statement by Jesus that he was the light of the world and that we, as Christians, should spread our light in the darkness. The preacher went on to say that we should let God's Holy Spirit Light shine in us and that we should keep your light burning through prayer, always representing God in word and deed and that we should always do something good for others.
The sermon ended with the congregation lifted their voices singing, “Jesus, the Light of the World.”
The Reverend Maria Gordon gave the announcements and Sister Annie Marshall quoted several scriptures in reference to Love Feast. Elder Wicker and the Ministry Teams conducted a Love Feast to an overflowing congregation.
The Macon District Planning Meeting and workshops were conducted Saturday morning. The youth were grouped by ages from beginners to seniors. The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon conducted the workshop for adults.
The District Christian Education Committee gave honors and praises to Sister Rosalind Parker, the Youth Advisor for St. Peter AME Church and a District YPD Officer; and to Sister Felicia Meadows, the District Church School Superintendent.
The three finalists of the essay contest are: First place, Terrance Howard, St. Peter AME Church, Fort Valley where the Reverend Bertram C. Smith serves as pastor; the second place winner was Brittney Brown, St. Peter AME Church, Fort Valley, where the Reverend Bertram C. Smith serves as the pastor; third place, Tonyesia Cornelious, Stinsonville AME Church, in Macon where the Reverend Lusora Brown serves as pastor Each finalist received a Certificate and the First-place winner received $100.00; the second-place winner received $50.00 and the third place winner received $25.00.
The session ended with a Pizza Party.
8. SPREAD THE WORD:
Dr. Clement W. Fugh
A strategy session to plan the Official Launch of the Recovery Movement will be held during the Thirteenth Episcopal District Christian Education and Leadership Conference, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 23, 2009, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Agenda will include a word from Dr. Clement W. Fugh, Recovery Team Leader, The introduction of the Coordinator, Dr. Phyllis Qualls Brooks, and the presentation of Reverend Tyronda Burges who will serve as the Point Person for the Official Launch to be held 7:00 a.m., Saturday, November 14, 2009, during a breakfast at the site of the Thirteenth Episcopal District Planning Meeting, Maxwell House Hotel, Nashville, TN. The July 23rd meeting is open to all. Opportunities will be made available for recruits to choose the areas in which they would like to be involved and to sign up.
The excitement grows when we think of the General Conference returning to the Thirteenth District in 2012, and to Tennessee for the first time since 1924.
I look forward to seeing you in Murfreesboro on Thursday evening, July 23rd, at 4:00.
Dr. Clement Fugh is a 2012 Candidate for Episcopal Service
9. PH.D CANDIDATE JOHN THOMAS III SHARES HIS ACADEMIC STUDY EXPERIENCES IN HIS FIRST WEEKS IN BRAZIL:
Prologue
Welcome to the first edition of “Field Notes: Brazil.”
The “Field Notes” concept originated during a week-long excursion to Peru in February 2007 where I served as the Black History month lecturer for the Peruvian-American Cultural Institute (ICPNA). I did a subsequent edition chronicling my two months in Peru and Ecuador last summer. I realized that typing the field notes not only saves me having to repeat the same story a few hundred times, but allows me to record observations that I might miss as well as reflect on how my travel has grown and changed me. I’ve always believed that we find out the most about ourselves when we are in unfamiliar environments, so I thank you for accompanying me on this journey through Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
For those of you included in the previous emails, the format should feel familiar to you…but we have listened to your suggestions and made a few changes. The most noticeable is that I will write only ONCE a week. Another suggestion was made regarding the length. While some people enjoyed the depth of my observations, others asked for a more cursory treatment. I will try to better about redundant writing, but there are some things that just can’t be summarized (Sorry Aaron!)
Salvador da Bahia is a bustling city in the Northeast of Brazil with around 4 million inhabitants. It is popularly known as the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. It is here than one will find the purest traces of African inspired music, dance and religion in the Americas. Because of this, Salvador attracts a LOT of tourists, scholars, and journalists. Additionally, a growing sector specializing in Black tourism from the United States exists as Black United States citizens seek to acquaint themselves with cultural strains that have been lost through the sands of time (It’s a heck of a lot cheaper to go to Brazil than Benin). Salvador (as other parts of Brazil) also has a well-established sex tourism industry whose effects ripple widely and deeply throughout the society here (More than one African-American woman rolled her eyes at me when I said I was going to Brazil for the summer.)
So, why am I here? My primary interest in my graduate studies is the formation and development of Black social movements in the Andes. While I am not interested in becoming a “Brazilianist”, I have realized that much of the work on race in Latin America is based on Brazil. Additionally, for the activists I’ve worked with and studied, the goals achieved by the Black movement in Brazil are akin to the “Holy Grail”. The establishment of a process of Affirmative Action for universities, government mandates to include Black culture in the educational process, and a government ministry dedicated to reducing socioeconomic inequality are just a few of the goals that have been achieved over the last twenty years. Yet, there is still much work to be done to address the legacy of institutional racism in Brazil. (The same can also be said about racism in the United States as well).
So I’ve come to Brazil to gain some perspective about the “Black movement” here and better understand how my cases relate (don’t relate) to the Brazilian reality. Also, learning Portuguese is important for my development and marketability as a Latin American scholar (You’d be amazed at the number of Spanish/Portuguese or Portuguese only conferences that take place OUTSIDE of Brazil). And…Brazil (especially Salvador) is a lovely and interesting place to be. For the next 6 weeks, I will be taking Portuguese classes in Dialogo Institute: Salvador’s best known school for foreigners to learn Portuguese. After I finish my language classes, I will have the last three weeks for research as well as final preparations for the comprehensive exam in American Politics I’m taking on September 16th. This trip is made possible by the generosity of United States Department of Education (i.e. your tax dollars). Now, dear reader let us move on to the journey!
Week 1
Getting there…
As some of my friends know, my experiences in airports have become the stuff of legend. I’ve experienced everything from being blacklisted on the no-fly list to being double charged for a sizeable amount of overseas luggage to being accused of bribery of immigration officials. And of course there’s always the ritual of packing the bag the night before. So, what happened on my way to Brazil you ask? Absolutely nothing. That’s right: after having PRE-PACKED my bag the week before, I calmly made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. The only brief hitch was when American Airlines asked to see my Brazilian visa. Because Americans have to pay $100 plus processing costs for the Brazilian visa, I opted to travel on my Barbados passport—which gives me three months before having to leave and reinter. I explained this to the gate agent who began to tell me of his numerous goings and comings to Brazil as well as his take on Brazilian race issues as a Black man. Aside from the circumlocutous route of Nashville-Dallas-Miami-Salvador, I had no travel hitches at all and even managed to get a few phone calls out of the way before I left the US. I left Miami around 9:30 pm on Thursday night and arrived in Salvador on 6 am Friday morning. After customs and immigration, I met my friend Egypt from Princeton with whom I would be staying.
Beginnings and the Odd couple
Egypt is a late 30 something bi-racial woman from Seattle whom I met in my time at Princeton. Egypt has led a rather free-spirited life and lived in Brazil for a time in the 90s. After finishing her stint at Princeton in 2006, she decided to roam around for a bit before settling back in Salvador. Currently, she is house-sitting for an Australian couple which headed back to their country to attend to their business. I decided to rent a room from Egypt since we had gotten along well at Princeton and I was leery of the unpredictability of a home-stay. Egypt agreed but warned me that her house was a “little” ways from Salvador. She assured me, though, that she frequently went to the city by car and that my school was easily accessible by bus. As Egypt and I drove from the airport to her house, I began to take in the sights and sounds of Salvador. Much appeared similar to my experience in various parts of the Dominican Republic as well as Cartagena, Colombia. I suppose that all Latin American coastal towns have similarities. One thing that I DID see in Brazil that I haven’t seen as yet in other places is the abundance of Black faces on advertisements. As we approached Egypt’s house by the bay of Sao Tome da Paripe, I realized just how far I was from Salvador proper.
After I moved my stuff into my room, Egypt informed me that we would have house guests: Lucio (a Brazilian applying for a Ph.D. in Political Science at UCLA); Claudia (an Afro-Brazilian activist/educator and Lucio’s girlfriend); as well as Spike (a musician based in Salvador). Dinner conversation was lively and I received complements on my Portuguese (which turned out not to be too bad for a foreigner just moving to Brazil). Egypt had me to sign a contract stipulating certain house rules. She also intimated that a rent increase was needed (we originally agreed to $150 but after another house stay she realized that $175 was more appropriate). We had already discussed the $175 a week and after I reminded her of it, she seemed relieved.
Sunday was a day off and I recuperated some of my lost sleep in preparation for the beginning of my matriculation at Dialogo. Egypt drove me into the city, but I found she had not idea where the school was so we ended up calling to make sure I knew where I was going. The first day of class was interesting as there were around 15 of us who were new to Dialogo combined with a group of 10 students studying abroad through Temple University (several of whom had arrived on the plane with me). After a preliminary interview, I found myself placed into the advanced class along with an English student named Hannah who arrived after spending a year abroad in Spain. We were joined by another English woman, a Ph.D. student named Olivia who was finishing out her last week in Brazil. Our professor, Tatianna, was an energetic thirty something Brazilian woman who labeled herself as “an obsessive compulsive storm”. Needless to say, our class was interesting. Afterwards, we had the obligatory welcome session where I met the rest of the new students. Additionally, I noticed that there were several African-American students in residence at Dialogo. After school, I spent lunch with Egypt, her friend Alessandra and her boyfriend Georges. Alessandra happened to live right across the street from Diaologo and we enjoyed a rather pleasant coffee and conversation. After we left, Egypt told me that Alessandra was bi-polar schizophrenic and had recently come back from the mental hospital. Egypt was happy to see that her friend had recovered and was on new medication.
Tuesday, I took the bus from Sao Tome da Paripe to Salvador. Both Egypt and I had underestimated the commute. I got up early because I knew that the commute would be long, but after an HOUR AND A HALF commute involving two buses, I knew that I would need to change lodging. I felt myself also missing out on the life of Dialogo—as it were. Even though I had Brazilian contacts, I knew I was missing out on some of the fellowship with the other foreign students as well as taking in the city of Salvador itself. Additionally, I realized that Egypt and I while good friends were probably not the best of roommates. (Incidentally, I wish to give a shout out to my old college roommate Aaron Butler. My brief experience in Brazil with another roommate taught me just how good of a roommate he was). I began to make provisions to change lodging on Wednesday. The rest of the week I began to meet some of the other students, but due to my commute I was not able to engage in too much fellowship. Furthermore, Egypt’s grandmother took ill in the US and she had to make immediate preparations to fly back which pushed my departure time from Saturday to Friday.
A New Place
After visiting two families, I settled on an apartment with two women in a neighborhood known as Graca (grace) which was around 15 minutes from my school by walking. Mara is in her late forties and retired while Luzia is in her mid thirties and working as a medical supply salesperson. Luzia is one of the most attractive Brazilians (to date) that I have met (She also has a boyfriend in Rio de Janeiro). Luzia and Mara both are generous people and I’m only the second male in a long list of house guests that they’ve hosted. My rent includes breakfast, though I can also eat lunch for an extra fee. (A Brazilian breakfast includes bread, fruit, and coffee or tea. Additionally, I’m becoming found of tapioca and milk…Brazilians use a LOT of tapioca). The day after I moved in, I had a meeting with Clovis Oliveira—an Afro-Brazilian academic and friend of a former University of Chicago colleague. Mr. Oliveira requested that I meet him at “Shopping Salvador”: the second largest mall in Brazil. After practically losing myself in the mall, I found Mr. Oliveira and to my surprise he was with an African-American sociology student from Duke named Elizabeth. Needless to say I was somewhat surprised, but took it in stride and gained some useful contacts from Clovis. Elizabeth and I bonded over our mutual sense of distaste for Clovis’ inhospitality (it was left up to us to figure how to leave the rather out of the way mall and Elizabeth had spent LESS time in Salvador than I did). Nonetheless, we managed to find our way home…three hours and several failed bus attempts later. Running late, I made my way to Pelourinho (the historic and tourist district of Salvador) to meet Claudia who was visiting a museum exhibit in preparation for a visit by her students. We had a lovely conversation about Salvador, being Black in Brazil, and how she ended up as a Black movement activist. Claudia travels a lot, but she promised to take me to Liberdade (liberty) the largest Black neighborhood and the true heart of the Black cultural sector.
Somewhere in the midst of all this, I managed to procure a cell phone. Those of you who have journeyed with me know that I have an unlocked phone which can be used all over the world. Or at least so I thought. After going through FIVE cell phone stores in the mall, I stopped at this place with Egypt to get a chip. The woman looked at my passport and commented: "You look different in this picture. You've gotten fatter." Gotta love Brazil. After spending an hour on the phone with the company, I finally activated my chip...yet the phone wouldn't work. The next day I learned (or rather remembered) that Brazilian cell phones function on a different frequency than American phones and I could only buy a chip from ONE company. (Incidentally, the salesperson from this company was FAR nicer than the one from the other company). After a few minutes of waiting, I finally had a Brazilian cell phone chip all of my own.
Sunday, I had lunch with a German student from Dialogo named Julia and spent the evening with several other students and our professor at a mall. I originally was going to see the movie “Jean Charles” (a chronicle of the Brazilian immigrant to London who was mistakenly shot by the London Police)…but due to the slow Salvador bus system (and “system” is a courtesy) I got there after the movie had started but was not allowed to enter. To pass the time until my party left the movie, I visited the large “Temple of Faith” of the Universal Church of Jesus Christ (Igreja Universal de Jesus Cristo). The “Igreja Universal” is one of Latin America’s fastest growing Pentecostal denominations and strongly rooted in prosperity theology combined with supererogation (i.e. God will take care of all your problems right now and if you give all you have you will be doubly blessed). I was someone unmoved by the pleas to hug myself, touch my heart, and cry out to God. Maybe it was the televangelist feel or the big lighted throne on the stage in space of a pulpit chair symbolizing the presence of the Lord. I left early, but will go back for a full service at some point soon. I met up with my friends and after a snack and ice cream, I headed back to my home having an interesting conversation with a rather sheltered English woman named Kate who was still getting over being dumped by her Brazilian fling.
That’s it for now…stay tuned for further updates. If you have any specific issues or questions that you would like me to write about, feel free to email and I will incorporate them in my next journal. Also, you can expect the other journal to be MUCH shorter due to the absence of a prologue.
John Thomas III, an AME, is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago
10. THE 2009 5th Episcopal District ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
The Rt. Rev. Theodore Larry Kirkland, Presiding Bishop
Mrs. Mary Kirkland, Episcopal Supervisor
The Pacific Northwest Annual Conference:
August 3 – 9, 2009
Host: Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington
The Rev. Warren Freeman, Host Pastor
The Desert/Mountain Annual Conference:
August 17 – 23, 2009
Host: Campbell AME Church, Denver, Colorado
The Rev. Regina Groff, Host Pastor
The Mid-West Annual Conference:
August 24-30, 2009
Host: First AME Church, Kansas City, Kansas
The Rev. Anthony Steele, Host Pastor
The Missouri Annual Conference:
September 22 – 27, 2009
Hosted by: St. Peters AME Church, St. Louis, Missouri
The Rev. Brenda Hayes, Host Pastor
The California Annual Conference:
October 5 – 11, 2009
Host: St. Andrews AME Church, Sacramento, California
The Rev. Tyrone Hicks, Pastor
Co-Host: Allen Chapel AME Church, Sacramento, California
The Rev. Clifton N. St. James, Pastor
Co-Host: Murph Emmanuel AMEC, North Highland, California
The Rev. Elmer Redding, Pastor
The Southern California Annual Conference:
October 25 – Nov. 1, 2009
Host: Bethel AMEC, Los Angeles, California
The Rev. Kelvin Calloway, Host Pastor
Planning Meeting – Nov. 2 & 3, 2009,
Hosted by the Southern California Conference
11. AN UNUSUAL DISCOVERY:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
Have you ever thought about how much scripture is implied in some secular songs of yesteryear, unintended of course?
If you will, take a journey with me through memory lane, of course you will need your Bible. After you read this you will probably ask, “Who in the world would have thought of that?”
Get your bible and read.
Do you remember these songs?
“Things I used to do, I don’t do them no more”
Read: II Corinthians 5:17
“On the sunny side of the street”
Read: John 12:35 John 8:12
“All of me, why not take all of me”
Read: Deuteronomy 6:5
“What love got to do with it?”
Read: I John 4:11
“R –E- S- P- E- C- T”
Read: Philippians 4:11
“Love makes me treat you the way that I do”
Read: Romans 12: 10
“You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run”
Read: Ecclesiastes chapter 7:1-8; Matthew 10: 14
“Mamma may have, Papa may have, God bless the child who has its own”
Read: Jeremiah 31:29; Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11
“When the Saints go marching in”
Read: Revelation 7:9-12
“Oh Yes, I’m a great Pretender”
Read: Matthew 6: 16 Mark 12: 40
“Your cheating heart will tell on you”
Read: Matthew 6: 21; Mark 7: 21; Proverbs 23: 7
Isn’t it ironic that we can never get away from the Word of God?
The Word is like hidden nuggets, if you dig long enough you will find therm.
Surprised?
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts is a retired Itinerant Elder who lives in Eatonville, Florida
12. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY NOTICE:
Mrs. Lillian T. Simmons of Slidell, Louisiana will celebrate her 101st birthday on July 25, 2009. The birthday celebration event will be held at three o'clock in the afternoon in the Catherine Fields Center of the Mt. Olive AME Church located at 2457 Second Street in Slidell, Louisiana.
Mrs. Simmons, a daughter of the African Methodist Episcopal Church parsonage, was born on July 25, 1908 in Madisonville, Louisiana. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Louis Thomas, who was an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Simmons' membership in the African Methodist Episcopal Church is extensive: Ebenezer AME Church, Bremerton, Washington; St. Stephens AME Church, Enid, Oklahoma; Ball Chapel AME Church and Anderson Chapel AME Church, Wichita Falls, Texas; Armstrong AME Church, Arlington, Texas; St. Paul AME Church, New Orleans, Louisiana; Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, Pearlington, Mississippi; St. James AME Church, Picayune, Mississippi and Mt. Olive AME Church, Slidell, Louisiana, where she currently holds membership.
Mrs. Simmons is the beloved aunt of the Rev. Frederick Leroy Fields, who is a pastor in the 8th Episcopal District. The Rt. Reverend Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the President of the Council of Bishops is the Presiding Prelate of the 8th Episcopal District.
Birthday cards and birthday well-wishes can be sent to:
Mrs. Lillian T. Simmons
2025 Kaylee Street
Slidell, LA 70461
Or, Birthday greetings can be emailed to:
fredfields@charter.net or fields@peoplepc.com
13. MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM BISHOP JAMES HASKELL MAYO AND THE MAYO FAMILY:
Bishop James Haskell Mayo and the Mayo family express their profound gratitude and deep appreciation for the many kind expressions and sympathies that have been accorded to the family.
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of the Dr. D. Musuleng Cooper, on Monday, July 5, 2009. She was the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Gender, Vice Chair of Monrovia College Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the DEEP and all our AME Church Schools in Liberia and Special Advisor to the Bishop of the 14th Episcopal District on all governmental Affairs, Matters and also on Education.
More information will be forthcoming on the Celebration/Homegoing of a major servant of the Lord in the 14th.
Bishop David Rwhynica Daniels, Jr., Presiding Prelate
Fourteenth Episcopal District
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
Email: 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.
The Reverend Dr. Johnny Barbour, Jr., Publisher
The Reverend Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III, Editor, The Christian Recorder
1. EDITORIAL: OUR BISHOPS AND GENERAL OFFICERS RESPOND TO ECONOMIC CRISIS BY MAKING SIGNIFICANT PERSONAL FINANCIAL SACRIFICES, AS OF 2008:
Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III
The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder
Several weeks ago, the United Methodist News Service and more recently the Associated Press exclaimed, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay.” The article also appeared in most major newspapers.
The article reported, “One of the nation's largest Christian denominations is addressing the nation's financial crisis with what it hopes will be a spiritual teaching moment as well as a cost-saver.”
The article went on to say that the 50 bishops would roll back their salaries by 4 percent next year as a “gesture of solidarity with others hurt by the global economic downturn” and went on to say, ‘The salary cut is one of the strongest statements taken yet by a faith group as U.S. churches respond to a recession that has left growing numbers of people jobless and hungry. Other denominations have eliminated jobs, frozen salaries or canceled mission trips.”
I know that a number of AMEs saw the news article because several persons forwarded the article that they had seen on various websites. In each case the article was forwarded to me without comment. No comment was needed because I think I know what each sender was thinking. I believe they were thinking, “Now why don’t our bishops take a cut in salary” or “all of the other denominations are sensitive to the economic downturn, but our Zion seems oblivious to the current economic situation."
The article about the 50 bishops taking pay cuts next year also reported that two United Methodist Boards had cut more than 90 jobs. The article closed with saying that the United Methodists bishops’ salaries will fall back about $4,700 annually to their 2008 level, $120,942, on Jan. 1 from $125,658 currently. (See The Book of Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church 2008, page 659 to view the salaries of AME Bishops).
Appended at the end of the article were cuts other denominations have made; the Evangelical Lutherans have cut executive salaries, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has frozen salaries, the Southern Baptists had suspended some overseas missions, the Episcopal Church’s headquarters staff offered to take pay cuts, but the executives rejected the offer because “they didn't want to balance the budget on the backs of staff.” Don’t you just like those Episcopal Church executives!
And so, if one read the article, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay” the thought might be, “How has the AME Church responded?” or “Why haven’t our bishops taken a pay cut?”
If the news media had called Dr. Clement Fugh, the General Secretary and the AME Church’s Chief Information Officer or Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the President of the Council of Bishops, they would have discovered that the African Methodist Episcopal Church did indeed take drastic steps to address the current economic environment.
Dr. Daryl Ingram, the Executive Director of the Christian Education Department explained it best. He wrote, “I applaud the action of the UM Bishops regarding that (remove) their pay reduction of roughly $5,000 per bishop resulting in $125,000 savings per annum. However, the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference that was held in St. Louis, Missouri in 2008 froze personnel costs at the 2008 levels. The AME Bishops receive $63,000 annually for this quadrennium and that is roughly 53% of the reduced salary of the UM bishops. Our executive leadership to include General Officers are sacrificing with our congregants in a similar way as the UM leadership. In addition, our episcopal leadership does not receive health-care benefits like their UM colleagues. Therefore, it is important for our constituency to understand that our leaders and communion are sensitive to and appreciate the difficulties of this dire economic climate and will continue making appropriate adjustments to alleviate and ease the burdens that all congregants experience, whether in Los Angeles or Livingstone, in Chicago or Capetown, in Atlanta or Accra, in Knoxville or Kingston, in New York or Nassau.”
In other words, the AME Church took salary cuts and operational cuts across the board for the entire quadrennium – 2008 - 2012, not only the AME Bishops, but the General Officers and their departments.
The media never inquired from the AME Church the cutbacks it had taken, and unfortunately, we never told them. We did not “shout it from the rooftops,” but we should have done so.
Our biggest problem in the AME Church is that we fail to tell our stories. The African Methodist Episcopal Church does great things around the world, but few know about the great things we do. Often when AMEs greet each other the first question we ask, “What is going on in the AME Church?” or “Did you hear about…” We tend to focus and are energized on negative issues. Some of our pastors and local churches have great ideas and viable programs, but we don’t share our successes, nor do we caution others about our failures.
Unfortunately the lack of sharing is not just in local churches, but it’s a Connectional anomaly also. We need to do better, and we can.
In the news article, “50 Methodist Bishops to Cut Pay” some Methodists said the bishops' action would have been more effective - and might have saved some church jobs - if it had come earlier.
In that same vein, an AME wrote, “’Earlier; that's the operative word here, as far as our AME leadership is concerned. Whatever they may have done, it should have been done earlier and the AME Church should have been more vocal about it. All I ever wanted from the leadership of the AME Church was some ‘words’ that might have lifted our spirits when this economic downslide first happened; just some ‘thoughts’ that might have soothed us. And, again, ‘earlier’ would have been nice.”
Yes, the Bishops, General Officers and their departments have taken salary and departmental operational cuts and those cuts have already been implemented and will continue until 2012.
When someone asks you what is going on in the AME Church, tell them “the Bishops, General Officers and their departments have taken salary and departmental operational cuts and those cuts have already been implemented and will continue until 2012.” Also tell them that the Connectional Officers have taken “a hit” also. No travel reimbursements to the General Board Meetings for the rest of the quadrennium.
Laity share this information with other members of the Church. Pastors share this information with your congregations. Presiding Elders share this information with the persons who attend your Quarterly Conferences and your District Conferences. Bishops share this information at all of your meetings. General Officers share this information in your periodicals. In the words of Psalm 150, “Let everything that has breath” share this information. “Praise ye the LORD.”
2. SOWING THE SEEDS OF OUR FUTURE:
*The Rev Ken Whitley
On the afternoon of Sunday, June 28, 2009 the churches of the New England Annual Conference came together to celebrate the accomplishments of our recent high school graduates. Those graduates who are headed for additional education will receive partial scholarships from the Herbert L. Eddy Scholarship Program.
The Herbert L. Eddy Scholarship Program is named after the Presiding Elder of the Boston Hartford District. His vision reaches out to encourage our youth as they reach meaningful and positive accomplishments in their lives. The secular world is all too happy to publicize the negative stories about our youth. By highlighting the positive, the church can make a Godly impression on the minds of our future doctors, plumbers, teachers, and leaders.
The celebration started at 5:00 pm at the Bethel Springfield Church where the pastor is the Rev Antonio Dawson. The program included several selections by the St Paul AME Church Inspirational Choir from Cambridge Massachusetts. St Paul’s teen liturgical dance team also blessed the attendees with dance. The celebration attendees rose to applaud with excitement as the Rev Sandra Whitley from the HLE Scholarship Committee read excerpts from each applicant’s essay on what they hoped to accomplish by completing their education.
The event needed a special speaker who could motivate and share Godly wisdom. The now retired, former pastor from St. Paul AMC Cambridge, the Rev Dr. Leroy Attles met and surpassed the challenge. This powerful preacher served St Paul as pastor for 31 years and combined his vast experience and knowledge of God’s Word to challenge and encourage our young leaders of tomorrow. He based his words on Eph 5:15-21 and the celebration theme, “Yes we can. We are determined and unstoppable.”
*The Rev Ken Whitley is the pastor of Peoples AME Church in Chelsea Massachusetts
3. NEWS FROM EBENEZER AME CHURCH, FORT WASHINGTON, MARYLAND:
- It's a Celebration! On Sunday, July 26th at 6:00 p.m. we will honor 30 years of ministry of our very own senior pastor, the Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Jr.
The special musical guest will be Bishop Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. Tickets are only $10 and available at Ebenezer or online at www.ebenezerame.org
- Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. JoAnn Browning, the Rev. Chandra Marriott and all "Kingdom Women With Holy Ghost Power" on a great Women's Season.
- S.T.O.M.P. (Step Team On a Mission to Praise) has formed a Young Adult Step Team. Prior experience is not needed, just comfortable clothing, willingness to learn, and love for the Lord. Practices are held on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Original Sanctuary.
- Join Ebenezer AME Church for Gospel Night as the Washington Mystics takes on the New York Liberty Saturday, July 18th.
Support the Youth Ministry's annual "Back to School Supply Drive." Donations of new backpacks, notebooks, pens, erasers, glue and other supplies are needed so our children can start the school year prepared. No time to shop? Monetary donations are also accepted.
- Ebenezer will host a Youth Fair, featuring basketball, flag football, girls vs. boys relays, Wii tournaments and Gospel Go-Go Bands. There will also be health forums and screenings, including HIV/AIDS testing. (Parental consent is required to participate in health screenings).
- Mission Trip to Kenya (East Africa), July 25 - August 6, 2010. Payment options start soon so register now to reserve space.
The Missionary Society will host an Informational Resource Workshop on July 16th at 7:00 p.m. with The Honorable Peggy Magee, Clerk of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County. Come hear valuable information on court and land records, military discharges, marriage licenses and much more. Registration is required.
- Single Parents Ministry: Come to our July 17th meeting as we focus on "The Glorywatch: Cyber Space and You!" Learn the good, the bad, and the ugly about Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and other cyber-communications. Technology can be misused if you are not educated. Learn to use it in the right way!
- Join the B.A.L.M. Ministry as we "Celebrate Our Marriage Commitment" on July 25th with a Commitment Service led by our Pastors, the Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning and the Rev. Dr. Jo Ann Browning in the Original Sanctuary from 12:00 Noon - 1:00 p.m., then head to D.C. for a "White Linen Affair" at Indulj Restaurant (1208 U Street, NW), from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The cost is $70/couple, tickets available after the church.
4. THE REV. WILLIAM SMITH RECEIVES ACCOLADES FROM THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
The Rev. William Smith and his wife, Willa received notification from the State of Tennessee for 2008 for superior timelessness award. The Reverend William Smith is the pastor of Brown's Temple AME Church in Fayetteville, Tennessee, Reverend Smith and his wife operate The Rose of Sharon Funeral Service in Pulaski, Tennessee.
The Rose of Sharon Funeral Service was notified of its superior timeliness in Dearth Certificate Filing for the Calendar Year 2008. The Rose of Sharon Funeral Home averaged 2.5 days. The death certificate is important and it takes hard work and a team effort to get this job done.
The same effort must be given at all times. Our service is the only thing that stands above the rest. It's not the merchandise.
The attachments contain the communications that have been received from the State of Tennessee Department of Public Health's Vital Statistic's Division.
5. TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE AME CHURCH:
John Thomas III
During the 2008 Presidential Election Campaign, then candidate Barack Obama made government transparency and accountability a keystone of his message. This message was framed via a backdrop of greed and deceit in Corporate America as well as government malaise which cost the American economy billions (if not trillions) of dollars. President Obama made good on his promises after his election victory by making the Presidential transition process the most transparent to date and signing key Executive Orders and Presidential memoranda to overturn certain policies restricting access to information imposed by the previous administration.
While public and private entities worldwide are adhering to demands from their constituents for increased financial accountability, the African Methodist Episcopal Church as a whole continues to be largely mired in shadow. It is easier for a tithing AME to have access to itemized expenditures for the United States Army than financial records from many Episcopal Districts and Connectional departments. Various attempts throughout history have been made to encourage financial accountability in the AME Church. At the 1956 General Conference, a courageous band of clergy and laity known as the “Brotherhood” succeeded in their quest for accountability and responsible fiscal control from the Connectional church through the creation of the General Budget Fund and the General Board. It was hoped that centralizing the operations of the Connectional Church would allow for better control of the Connectional resources as well as curtail burdensome assessments.
The current level of supervision of the financial resources of the AME Church, however, leaves much to be desired. Per the Discipline, all Connectional departments must render an accounting of their financial stewardship to the General Board at its annual meeting (163; 166). Additionally, all Episcopal Districts must submit a yearly audit of their budgets to their constituent Annual Conferences and the Statistics and Finance Commission of the General Board as well as a quadrennial audit to the General Conference (256). Furthermore, all Episcopal District budgets must be approved at the first regular General Board meeting after the General Conference (168).
The departments, agencies and Episcopal Districts of the AME Church, however, are in varying forms of compliance. While the General Officers of the Church have been diligent in providing information to the General Board regarding their finances, many Connectional agencies have not submitted an audit or balance sheet in years, if ever. Those organizations and agencies which do submit audits give them to the General Board members at the site of the meeting instead of sending them 30 days prior per the Discipline (166). This creates the unenviable situation of General Board members having to cram reading the audits between the worship service and investiture banquet and other activities - if they are even read at all. A thorough reading of audits from several Connectional departments raises questions regarding managements of funds (for example large bank charges) that need to be explained and addressed.
Likewise the audits of the Episcopal Districts are seldom seen and never heard at the General Board meeting. This is not to say that there is a complete lack of compliance. I know several Bishops who bring their audits “just in case” knowing the possibility of a full review is slim to none. And to date no Episcopal District budgets have been formally reviewed for the 2008-2012 Quadrennium, though several Districts have followed procedure and asked for increases in their funding caps due to the presence of institutions of higher learning and the hosting duties of the 2012 General Conference. After hearing numerous complaints from clergy and laity regarding the financial situation of the Church, I offered a resolution at the 2009 New Orleans General Board meeting drafting guidelines for Connectional financial reviews drawing directly upon the mandated directives of the Discipline. It is my fervent prayer that this resolution will be approved at the 2010 meeting.
The AME Church is definitely better off than the “dollar money” days, but we still have a long way to go when it comes to being a well-managed enterprise making the most effective use of our stewardship. We have an apparatus for fiduciary control that has fallen into decay and disuse. The AME Church needs to seriously consider place a Bishop in the role of the Chief Administrator. While the President of the General Board is vested with the responsibility to coordinate our financial oversight, the duties of managing an Episcopal District combined with managing the affairs of the Connectional Church is clearly too much of a task for one person. We need to take our own advice and pass the Strategic Planning legislation recommended for the 2004 General Conference.
Much of what we need to do as a Connection, however, is already laid out in the Discipline. We only need the will as concerned laity and clergy to encourage our leadership to follow through at every level. Laity cannot accuse clergy of malfeasance when they refuse to deal with financial lapses in their own organizations. Pastors cannot point fingers at presiding elders and bishops when they have accountability issues in their own congregations. Bishops must obey the laws they were elected and consecrated to execute. In Luke 16:10, Jesus tells us that "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Instead of worrying our lack of resources, we must administer what we have to the best of our ability. The spirit of thrift espoused by our forebears in the Free African Society requires us to do no less.
6. MOUNT HERMON AME CHURCH FIRST ANNUAL MAN-UP FATHER’S-TO-DAD EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR:
By Marissa C. Brown
The first annual “Man-Up Father’s-to-Dad Empowerment Seminar” will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2009; 8:00-5:00 p.m., located in the Family Life Center, Mount Hermon African Methodist Episcopal Church, 401 Northwest 7th Terrace, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. This seminar is free and a complimentary lunch will be served.
The Reverend Michael K. Bouie, M.Div., pastor, of Mount Hermon is excited about the men of Mount Hermon and of the South Florida community coming together in this collaborative effort of supporting this special event. The purpose of the seminar is to enlighten and teach men how to become dads in mentoring their children and utilizing their gifts from God and necessary tools for spiritual and successful parenting.
Mr. Harry Robinson stated that in today’s society the family unit of African American families is steadily increasing in divorce, broken homes, juvenile delinquency and all of the many distractions of the family. Many African American men are in dire need of a positive father role model in their lives and are searching for instructions and leadership on becoming that Man of God whom they have been called by God to become. The seminar will enhance the skills and abilities of fathers and pre-assess the needs of fathers in becoming more productive dads and providing the skills needed for dads interacting with their children.
The Presenter for this session will be Mr. Harry Robinson, Jr., Founder and CEO of Father’s-to-Dad Program. He is a graduate to Tuskegee University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Robinson is active in the community in serving and mentoring young men in numerous community service projects, the YMCA, a recipient of the 2008 “ Man of Valor” community service award, a member of Blanche Ely High School Parents Guild 2009. An active member of Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church, he serves as teacher of the Men’s Bible class and of the Sons of Allen Fellowship.
The community is cordially invited to attend. For further information, please call (954) 463-6309.
7. ST. PETER'S YOUTH WINS ESSAY CONTEST:
Coach Alphonso V. Varner
A weekend of joyful experiences was held at the Macon District Church School Convention. The Macon District is in the Sixth Episcopal District, African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The activities of the Macon District Conference included essay writing, a hallelujah worship service, planning meeting and workshops were held at Adams-Smith Tabernacle AME Church in Warner Robins, Georgia, June 11 - 13, 2009. The Reverend Deborah Frank Watson was the host pastor. Sister Annie Marshall serves as the District Christian Education Director along with Sister Felicia Meadows; and the Reverend Alan Hale Wicker is the efficient Presiding Elder of the Macon District.
The Convention’s Theme: "Unexpected Greatness"; and the Christian Education Theme: "A Child Shall Lead Them" was most appropriated for this occasion was taken from I Samuel 16:11: “So he asked Jesse, ‘are these all the sons you have?’ ..."There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep". "Samuel said, ‘send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’"
The weekend began on Thursday with a Welcome/Fellowship meal, courtesy of the host church. Nineteen youth presented their essays before the judges of the contest. The title of the winning essay was, "Unexpected Greatness." The judges included a retired educator, the Rev. Dr. Gloria Wicker, and two U.S. Government employees, Sister Brenda Phillips and Sister Janie Grayer.
The Opening Worship Service was held Friday evening. The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon was the worship leader. The Macon District Choir simply “blew the roof off the house” singing the songs of Zion.
The celebrants who effectively carried out the order of service included, the Reverend Deborah Watson, the Call to Worship; the Rev. Dante Rome lined the opening hymn; the Rev. Charles Lewis prayed a powerful Prayer; the Bertram C. Smith, the Troy Daniel and the Marlette F. Gilbert each read the Old Testament, the Epistle, and the Gospel lessons; the Cynthia F. Hughes led in reading of The Decalogue; the Rev. Marvin Colbert led in the benevolent offering; and the Lusora Brown lined the sermonic hymn.
Presiding Elder Alan Wicker took the congregation to a new level with his powerful preaching of the Word using the texts, Acts 2:1-4; and Samuel 15:13. His unique subject was, "Firefly (Lightning bug)." His key points included the statement by Jesus that he was the light of the world and that we, as Christians, should spread our light in the darkness. The preacher went on to say that we should let God's Holy Spirit Light shine in us and that we should keep your light burning through prayer, always representing God in word and deed and that we should always do something good for others.
The sermon ended with the congregation lifted their voices singing, “Jesus, the Light of the World.”
The Reverend Maria Gordon gave the announcements and Sister Annie Marshall quoted several scriptures in reference to Love Feast. Elder Wicker and the Ministry Teams conducted a Love Feast to an overflowing congregation.
The Macon District Planning Meeting and workshops were conducted Saturday morning. The youth were grouped by ages from beginners to seniors. The Reverend Ernest L. Gordon conducted the workshop for adults.
The District Christian Education Committee gave honors and praises to Sister Rosalind Parker, the Youth Advisor for St. Peter AME Church and a District YPD Officer; and to Sister Felicia Meadows, the District Church School Superintendent.
The three finalists of the essay contest are: First place, Terrance Howard, St. Peter AME Church, Fort Valley where the Reverend Bertram C. Smith serves as pastor; the second place winner was Brittney Brown, St. Peter AME Church, Fort Valley, where the Reverend Bertram C. Smith serves as the pastor; third place, Tonyesia Cornelious, Stinsonville AME Church, in Macon where the Reverend Lusora Brown serves as pastor Each finalist received a Certificate and the First-place winner received $100.00; the second-place winner received $50.00 and the third place winner received $25.00.
The session ended with a Pizza Party.
8. SPREAD THE WORD:
Dr. Clement W. Fugh
A strategy session to plan the Official Launch of the Recovery Movement will be held during the Thirteenth Episcopal District Christian Education and Leadership Conference, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., on Thursday, July 23, 2009, at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The Agenda will include a word from Dr. Clement W. Fugh, Recovery Team Leader, The introduction of the Coordinator, Dr. Phyllis Qualls Brooks, and the presentation of Reverend Tyronda Burges who will serve as the Point Person for the Official Launch to be held 7:00 a.m., Saturday, November 14, 2009, during a breakfast at the site of the Thirteenth Episcopal District Planning Meeting, Maxwell House Hotel, Nashville, TN. The July 23rd meeting is open to all. Opportunities will be made available for recruits to choose the areas in which they would like to be involved and to sign up.
The excitement grows when we think of the General Conference returning to the Thirteenth District in 2012, and to Tennessee for the first time since 1924.
I look forward to seeing you in Murfreesboro on Thursday evening, July 23rd, at 4:00.
Dr. Clement Fugh is a 2012 Candidate for Episcopal Service
9. PH.D CANDIDATE JOHN THOMAS III SHARES HIS ACADEMIC STUDY EXPERIENCES IN HIS FIRST WEEKS IN BRAZIL:
Prologue
Welcome to the first edition of “Field Notes: Brazil.”
The “Field Notes” concept originated during a week-long excursion to Peru in February 2007 where I served as the Black History month lecturer for the Peruvian-American Cultural Institute (ICPNA). I did a subsequent edition chronicling my two months in Peru and Ecuador last summer. I realized that typing the field notes not only saves me having to repeat the same story a few hundred times, but allows me to record observations that I might miss as well as reflect on how my travel has grown and changed me. I’ve always believed that we find out the most about ourselves when we are in unfamiliar environments, so I thank you for accompanying me on this journey through Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
For those of you included in the previous emails, the format should feel familiar to you…but we have listened to your suggestions and made a few changes. The most noticeable is that I will write only ONCE a week. Another suggestion was made regarding the length. While some people enjoyed the depth of my observations, others asked for a more cursory treatment. I will try to better about redundant writing, but there are some things that just can’t be summarized (Sorry Aaron!)
Salvador da Bahia is a bustling city in the Northeast of Brazil with around 4 million inhabitants. It is popularly known as the heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. It is here than one will find the purest traces of African inspired music, dance and religion in the Americas. Because of this, Salvador attracts a LOT of tourists, scholars, and journalists. Additionally, a growing sector specializing in Black tourism from the United States exists as Black United States citizens seek to acquaint themselves with cultural strains that have been lost through the sands of time (It’s a heck of a lot cheaper to go to Brazil than Benin). Salvador (as other parts of Brazil) also has a well-established sex tourism industry whose effects ripple widely and deeply throughout the society here (More than one African-American woman rolled her eyes at me when I said I was going to Brazil for the summer.)
So, why am I here? My primary interest in my graduate studies is the formation and development of Black social movements in the Andes. While I am not interested in becoming a “Brazilianist”, I have realized that much of the work on race in Latin America is based on Brazil. Additionally, for the activists I’ve worked with and studied, the goals achieved by the Black movement in Brazil are akin to the “Holy Grail”. The establishment of a process of Affirmative Action for universities, government mandates to include Black culture in the educational process, and a government ministry dedicated to reducing socioeconomic inequality are just a few of the goals that have been achieved over the last twenty years. Yet, there is still much work to be done to address the legacy of institutional racism in Brazil. (The same can also be said about racism in the United States as well).
So I’ve come to Brazil to gain some perspective about the “Black movement” here and better understand how my cases relate (don’t relate) to the Brazilian reality. Also, learning Portuguese is important for my development and marketability as a Latin American scholar (You’d be amazed at the number of Spanish/Portuguese or Portuguese only conferences that take place OUTSIDE of Brazil). And…Brazil (especially Salvador) is a lovely and interesting place to be. For the next 6 weeks, I will be taking Portuguese classes in Dialogo Institute: Salvador’s best known school for foreigners to learn Portuguese. After I finish my language classes, I will have the last three weeks for research as well as final preparations for the comprehensive exam in American Politics I’m taking on September 16th. This trip is made possible by the generosity of United States Department of Education (i.e. your tax dollars). Now, dear reader let us move on to the journey!
Week 1
Getting there…
As some of my friends know, my experiences in airports have become the stuff of legend. I’ve experienced everything from being blacklisted on the no-fly list to being double charged for a sizeable amount of overseas luggage to being accused of bribery of immigration officials. And of course there’s always the ritual of packing the bag the night before. So, what happened on my way to Brazil you ask? Absolutely nothing. That’s right: after having PRE-PACKED my bag the week before, I calmly made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. The only brief hitch was when American Airlines asked to see my Brazilian visa. Because Americans have to pay $100 plus processing costs for the Brazilian visa, I opted to travel on my Barbados passport—which gives me three months before having to leave and reinter. I explained this to the gate agent who began to tell me of his numerous goings and comings to Brazil as well as his take on Brazilian race issues as a Black man. Aside from the circumlocutous route of Nashville-Dallas-Miami-Salvador, I had no travel hitches at all and even managed to get a few phone calls out of the way before I left the US. I left Miami around 9:30 pm on Thursday night and arrived in Salvador on 6 am Friday morning. After customs and immigration, I met my friend Egypt from Princeton with whom I would be staying.
Beginnings and the Odd couple
Egypt is a late 30 something bi-racial woman from Seattle whom I met in my time at Princeton. Egypt has led a rather free-spirited life and lived in Brazil for a time in the 90s. After finishing her stint at Princeton in 2006, she decided to roam around for a bit before settling back in Salvador. Currently, she is house-sitting for an Australian couple which headed back to their country to attend to their business. I decided to rent a room from Egypt since we had gotten along well at Princeton and I was leery of the unpredictability of a home-stay. Egypt agreed but warned me that her house was a “little” ways from Salvador. She assured me, though, that she frequently went to the city by car and that my school was easily accessible by bus. As Egypt and I drove from the airport to her house, I began to take in the sights and sounds of Salvador. Much appeared similar to my experience in various parts of the Dominican Republic as well as Cartagena, Colombia. I suppose that all Latin American coastal towns have similarities. One thing that I DID see in Brazil that I haven’t seen as yet in other places is the abundance of Black faces on advertisements. As we approached Egypt’s house by the bay of Sao Tome da Paripe, I realized just how far I was from Salvador proper.
After I moved my stuff into my room, Egypt informed me that we would have house guests: Lucio (a Brazilian applying for a Ph.D. in Political Science at UCLA); Claudia (an Afro-Brazilian activist/educator and Lucio’s girlfriend); as well as Spike (a musician based in Salvador). Dinner conversation was lively and I received complements on my Portuguese (which turned out not to be too bad for a foreigner just moving to Brazil). Egypt had me to sign a contract stipulating certain house rules. She also intimated that a rent increase was needed (we originally agreed to $150 but after another house stay she realized that $175 was more appropriate). We had already discussed the $175 a week and after I reminded her of it, she seemed relieved.
Sunday was a day off and I recuperated some of my lost sleep in preparation for the beginning of my matriculation at Dialogo. Egypt drove me into the city, but I found she had not idea where the school was so we ended up calling to make sure I knew where I was going. The first day of class was interesting as there were around 15 of us who were new to Dialogo combined with a group of 10 students studying abroad through Temple University (several of whom had arrived on the plane with me). After a preliminary interview, I found myself placed into the advanced class along with an English student named Hannah who arrived after spending a year abroad in Spain. We were joined by another English woman, a Ph.D. student named Olivia who was finishing out her last week in Brazil. Our professor, Tatianna, was an energetic thirty something Brazilian woman who labeled herself as “an obsessive compulsive storm”. Needless to say, our class was interesting. Afterwards, we had the obligatory welcome session where I met the rest of the new students. Additionally, I noticed that there were several African-American students in residence at Dialogo. After school, I spent lunch with Egypt, her friend Alessandra and her boyfriend Georges. Alessandra happened to live right across the street from Diaologo and we enjoyed a rather pleasant coffee and conversation. After we left, Egypt told me that Alessandra was bi-polar schizophrenic and had recently come back from the mental hospital. Egypt was happy to see that her friend had recovered and was on new medication.
Tuesday, I took the bus from Sao Tome da Paripe to Salvador. Both Egypt and I had underestimated the commute. I got up early because I knew that the commute would be long, but after an HOUR AND A HALF commute involving two buses, I knew that I would need to change lodging. I felt myself also missing out on the life of Dialogo—as it were. Even though I had Brazilian contacts, I knew I was missing out on some of the fellowship with the other foreign students as well as taking in the city of Salvador itself. Additionally, I realized that Egypt and I while good friends were probably not the best of roommates. (Incidentally, I wish to give a shout out to my old college roommate Aaron Butler. My brief experience in Brazil with another roommate taught me just how good of a roommate he was). I began to make provisions to change lodging on Wednesday. The rest of the week I began to meet some of the other students, but due to my commute I was not able to engage in too much fellowship. Furthermore, Egypt’s grandmother took ill in the US and she had to make immediate preparations to fly back which pushed my departure time from Saturday to Friday.
A New Place
After visiting two families, I settled on an apartment with two women in a neighborhood known as Graca (grace) which was around 15 minutes from my school by walking. Mara is in her late forties and retired while Luzia is in her mid thirties and working as a medical supply salesperson. Luzia is one of the most attractive Brazilians (to date) that I have met (She also has a boyfriend in Rio de Janeiro). Luzia and Mara both are generous people and I’m only the second male in a long list of house guests that they’ve hosted. My rent includes breakfast, though I can also eat lunch for an extra fee. (A Brazilian breakfast includes bread, fruit, and coffee or tea. Additionally, I’m becoming found of tapioca and milk…Brazilians use a LOT of tapioca). The day after I moved in, I had a meeting with Clovis Oliveira—an Afro-Brazilian academic and friend of a former University of Chicago colleague. Mr. Oliveira requested that I meet him at “Shopping Salvador”: the second largest mall in Brazil. After practically losing myself in the mall, I found Mr. Oliveira and to my surprise he was with an African-American sociology student from Duke named Elizabeth. Needless to say I was somewhat surprised, but took it in stride and gained some useful contacts from Clovis. Elizabeth and I bonded over our mutual sense of distaste for Clovis’ inhospitality (it was left up to us to figure how to leave the rather out of the way mall and Elizabeth had spent LESS time in Salvador than I did). Nonetheless, we managed to find our way home…three hours and several failed bus attempts later. Running late, I made my way to Pelourinho (the historic and tourist district of Salvador) to meet Claudia who was visiting a museum exhibit in preparation for a visit by her students. We had a lovely conversation about Salvador, being Black in Brazil, and how she ended up as a Black movement activist. Claudia travels a lot, but she promised to take me to Liberdade (liberty) the largest Black neighborhood and the true heart of the Black cultural sector.
Somewhere in the midst of all this, I managed to procure a cell phone. Those of you who have journeyed with me know that I have an unlocked phone which can be used all over the world. Or at least so I thought. After going through FIVE cell phone stores in the mall, I stopped at this place with Egypt to get a chip. The woman looked at my passport and commented: "You look different in this picture. You've gotten fatter." Gotta love Brazil. After spending an hour on the phone with the company, I finally activated my chip...yet the phone wouldn't work. The next day I learned (or rather remembered) that Brazilian cell phones function on a different frequency than American phones and I could only buy a chip from ONE company. (Incidentally, the salesperson from this company was FAR nicer than the one from the other company). After a few minutes of waiting, I finally had a Brazilian cell phone chip all of my own.
Sunday, I had lunch with a German student from Dialogo named Julia and spent the evening with several other students and our professor at a mall. I originally was going to see the movie “Jean Charles” (a chronicle of the Brazilian immigrant to London who was mistakenly shot by the London Police)…but due to the slow Salvador bus system (and “system” is a courtesy) I got there after the movie had started but was not allowed to enter. To pass the time until my party left the movie, I visited the large “Temple of Faith” of the Universal Church of Jesus Christ (Igreja Universal de Jesus Cristo). The “Igreja Universal” is one of Latin America’s fastest growing Pentecostal denominations and strongly rooted in prosperity theology combined with supererogation (i.e. God will take care of all your problems right now and if you give all you have you will be doubly blessed). I was someone unmoved by the pleas to hug myself, touch my heart, and cry out to God. Maybe it was the televangelist feel or the big lighted throne on the stage in space of a pulpit chair symbolizing the presence of the Lord. I left early, but will go back for a full service at some point soon. I met up with my friends and after a snack and ice cream, I headed back to my home having an interesting conversation with a rather sheltered English woman named Kate who was still getting over being dumped by her Brazilian fling.
That’s it for now…stay tuned for further updates. If you have any specific issues or questions that you would like me to write about, feel free to email and I will incorporate them in my next journal. Also, you can expect the other journal to be MUCH shorter due to the absence of a prologue.
John Thomas III, an AME, is a Ph.D. Student in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago
10. THE 2009 5th Episcopal District ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:
The Rt. Rev. Theodore Larry Kirkland, Presiding Bishop
Mrs. Mary Kirkland, Episcopal Supervisor
The Pacific Northwest Annual Conference:
August 3 – 9, 2009
Host: Allen AME Church, Tacoma, Washington
The Rev. Warren Freeman, Host Pastor
The Desert/Mountain Annual Conference:
August 17 – 23, 2009
Host: Campbell AME Church, Denver, Colorado
The Rev. Regina Groff, Host Pastor
The Mid-West Annual Conference:
August 24-30, 2009
Host: First AME Church, Kansas City, Kansas
The Rev. Anthony Steele, Host Pastor
The Missouri Annual Conference:
September 22 – 27, 2009
Hosted by: St. Peters AME Church, St. Louis, Missouri
The Rev. Brenda Hayes, Host Pastor
The California Annual Conference:
October 5 – 11, 2009
Host: St. Andrews AME Church, Sacramento, California
The Rev. Tyrone Hicks, Pastor
Co-Host: Allen Chapel AME Church, Sacramento, California
The Rev. Clifton N. St. James, Pastor
Co-Host: Murph Emmanuel AMEC, North Highland, California
The Rev. Elmer Redding, Pastor
The Southern California Annual Conference:
October 25 – Nov. 1, 2009
Host: Bethel AMEC, Los Angeles, California
The Rev. Kelvin Calloway, Host Pastor
Planning Meeting – Nov. 2 & 3, 2009,
Hosted by the Southern California Conference
11. AN UNUSUAL DISCOVERY:
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts
Have you ever thought about how much scripture is implied in some secular songs of yesteryear, unintended of course?
If you will, take a journey with me through memory lane, of course you will need your Bible. After you read this you will probably ask, “Who in the world would have thought of that?”
Get your bible and read.
Do you remember these songs?
“Things I used to do, I don’t do them no more”
Read: II Corinthians 5:17
“On the sunny side of the street”
Read: John 12:35 John 8:12
“All of me, why not take all of me”
Read: Deuteronomy 6:5
“What love got to do with it?”
Read: I John 4:11
“R –E- S- P- E- C- T”
Read: Philippians 4:11
“Love makes me treat you the way that I do”
Read: Romans 12: 10
“You got to know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, know when to run”
Read: Ecclesiastes chapter 7:1-8; Matthew 10: 14
“Mamma may have, Papa may have, God bless the child who has its own”
Read: Jeremiah 31:29; Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11
“When the Saints go marching in”
Read: Revelation 7:9-12
“Oh Yes, I’m a great Pretender”
Read: Matthew 6: 16 Mark 12: 40
“Your cheating heart will tell on you”
Read: Matthew 6: 21; Mark 7: 21; Proverbs 23: 7
Isn’t it ironic that we can never get away from the Word of God?
The Word is like hidden nuggets, if you dig long enough you will find therm.
Surprised?
*The Rev. N.T. Pitts is a retired Itinerant Elder who lives in Eatonville, Florida
12. CLERGY FAMILY CONGRATULATORY NOTICE:
Mrs. Lillian T. Simmons of Slidell, Louisiana will celebrate her 101st birthday on July 25, 2009. The birthday celebration event will be held at three o'clock in the afternoon in the Catherine Fields Center of the Mt. Olive AME Church located at 2457 Second Street in Slidell, Louisiana.
Mrs. Simmons, a daughter of the African Methodist Episcopal Church parsonage, was born on July 25, 1908 in Madisonville, Louisiana. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Louis Thomas, who was an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Simmons' membership in the African Methodist Episcopal Church is extensive: Ebenezer AME Church, Bremerton, Washington; St. Stephens AME Church, Enid, Oklahoma; Ball Chapel AME Church and Anderson Chapel AME Church, Wichita Falls, Texas; Armstrong AME Church, Arlington, Texas; St. Paul AME Church, New Orleans, Louisiana; Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, Pearlington, Mississippi; St. James AME Church, Picayune, Mississippi and Mt. Olive AME Church, Slidell, Louisiana, where she currently holds membership.
Mrs. Simmons is the beloved aunt of the Rev. Frederick Leroy Fields, who is a pastor in the 8th Episcopal District. The Rt. Reverend Carolyn Tyler Guidry, the President of the Council of Bishops is the Presiding Prelate of the 8th Episcopal District.
Birthday cards and birthday well-wishes can be sent to:
Mrs. Lillian T. Simmons
2025 Kaylee Street
Slidell, LA 70461
Or, Birthday greetings can be emailed to:
fredfields@charter.net or fields@peoplepc.com
13. MESSAGE OF THANKS FROM BISHOP JAMES HASKELL MAYO AND THE MAYO FAMILY:
Bishop James Haskell Mayo and the Mayo family express their profound gratitude and deep appreciation for the many kind expressions and sympathies that have been accorded to the family.
14. CLERGY FAMILY BEREAVEMENT NOTICE:
We regret to announce the passing of the Dr. D. Musuleng Cooper, on Monday, July 5, 2009. She was the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Gender, Vice Chair of Monrovia College Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the DEEP and all our AME Church Schools in Liberia and Special Advisor to the Bishop of the 14th Episcopal District on all governmental Affairs, Matters and also on Education.
More information will be forthcoming on the Celebration/Homegoing of a major servant of the Lord in the 14th.
Bishop David Rwhynica Daniels, Jr., Presiding Prelate
Fourteenth Episcopal District
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
Email: 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.
