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Highlights of DuPage AME Church Girl Scouts
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The nation’s first, private, Historically Black College/University (HBCU) has begun “Town and Gown,” an official partnership with the city of Xenia, Ohio. Wilberforce University’s geography is Xenia Township in the suburb of Wilberforce, but much of its business connections are within Xenia. With that in mind, a recent VIP mayor’s reception highlighted w proposals between the university and its neighboring municipality. “This p initiative is not just going to just build jobs, but it will also bring ideas to the in table,” said Xenia’s Mayor Sarah Mays. “This will also bring new, innovative ta ways to move forward.” w Along with Mayor Mays, event attendees included members and officers of the Wilberforce University Student Government Association, President o Elfred Anthony Pinkard, Vice President Natalie Coles, Provost Johnny E D. Jones, and Chief Operating Officer William Woodson, among others. “We are so thrilled to be D working closely with Mayor Mays and her team at the city of Xenia,” said Wilberforce University VP w of Advancement, Natalie Coles. “The ‘Town and Gown’ initiative will take advantage of areas where o collaboration offers a greater impact to our students and the citizens of Xenia. Being good partners and c neighbors makes good sense.” n The reception cemented the Town and Gown initiative, designed to promote internships and employment with Xenia for Wilberforce students and strengthen the relationship between the city and e the university. Additionally, Wilberforce participated as a sponsor of the Xenia Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast th h held October 22, 2021, at Emmanuel Baptist Church, and the two groups are working to identify h partnership opportunities that will enhance broadband infrastructure on the campus in the city. The p university’s executive team is also looking forward to a midu November meeting with the Xenia Chamber of Commerce that will be held on the Wilberforce campus. o
Wilberforce University, founded in 1856, is the nation’s first private, Historically Black College/University founded by people of African descent. Located in southwest Ohio near C Dayton, the university is a member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the Ohio D Link Library Consortium, and the NAIA Conference. According to HBCU.com, Wilberforce L University is among the top five HBCUs in the midwest. U
The DuPage AME Church Girl Scouts have continued to stay active throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Girl Scouts range from kindergarten-12th grade, and we are currently meeting via Zoom or outside, weather permitting. The Girl Scout program is girl-driven, reflecting the ever-changing needs and interests of participating girls. It provides girls with a wide variety of opportunities. DuPage AME Church Girl Scout’s current roster consists of 20 adult leaders with 60 scouts.
Troop 357-Class of 2020 (12 scouts with 9 Gold Awards) bridged out of Girl Scouts in June 2020. Under the leadership of Ms. Michele & Mrs. Etiennette, the Scouts Gold Awards covered areas from Autism, Influenza Awareness, Music Therapy, ADHD 101, Reading Awareness, College Prep 101, Self Esteem Awareness, College Prep Ins & Outs, and Diabetes. Troop 357 started as kindergarteners, and 75% of the girls were in the troop since kindergarten/1st grade. During their scouting years, this troop traveled to Savannah, Georgia; Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; California’s Great America; and an annual Girl Scout Ski Trip to Grand Geneva, Wisconsin.
Troop 1582-10th Grade Cadettes (10 scouts), under the leadership of Mrs. Etiennette, has been keeping busy since the pandemic. This senior troop participated in the DuPage AME March for Justice and Peace and a golf outing. They also delivered thank you cards to healthcare providers, donated water to Hessed House Homeless Shelter, and made blankets for cancer patients. These young ladies are currently working on their Gold Awards.
Troop 863-8th Grade Cadettes
(14 scouts) is under the leadership of Mrs. Danell. Scout Landyn completed a research project on children with the medical diagnosis of Autism; she expanded her passion into action and volunteered at a special needs COVID-19 vaccination clinic. This Troop 357-Gold Award Workshop Troop 357 Scouts & Leader (Bridging) Ms. Michele & Mrs. Etiennette clinic partnered with an autistic organization and had social/emotional and sensory supports to help autistic children understand vaccination. Scout Morghan’s school nominated her to participate in its HBCU Summit Series. In addition, she was selected for Black Girls Rock and a mentoring event in the Kids Golf Foundation of Illinois.
Troop 25-7th Grade Cadettes (6 scouts), under the leadership of Ms. Michele and Mrs. Danell, these young ladies made pandemic care packages and gave them to the elderly within the church/community. They also completed a Girl Scout Journey and will begin working on the Silver Award this year.
Troop 169-6th Grade Cadettes (16 scouts), under the leadership of Mrs. Darnetta, bridged to the next level of Girl Scouts. During the past 12 months, they installed a Buddy Bench at the local school and installed a water filtering system at DuPage AME Church. This troop meets once each month, and over the past year, they have attended a Chicago White Sox game and completed a bike ride for Healthy Awareness. They are currently working on the Silver Award.
Our upcoming events include Trunk of Treats and Learn How to Double Dutch. Troop 1582-March for Justice and Peace
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Visit the DuPage Girl Scout Website or, to learn how to start a Girl Scout or Boy Scout Unit at your church, please contact Vivianne Frye-Perry at vfrye-perry@amescouts.org for Girl Scouts or Clarence Crayton at ccrayton@
...From Highlights p6 amescouts.org for Boy Scouts. Also, visit us on Facebook at AAMES Scouting Connection. ❏ ❏ ❏
Troop 1582-Golf Outing Troop 25-Pizza Outing Troop 55169, 55339, and 50726 donated over 300 food items to DuPage AME Reach Program.
Troop 25-Pandemic Care Packages Troop 169-Bike Ride Daughter & Dad Troop 169-Bike Ride Daughter & Dad
James H. Salley, a passionate, charismatic, and demonstrably effective leader in institutional advancement, has been named president and chief executive officer of Africa University (Tennessee), Inc.
The Africa University (Tennessee), Inc. Board of Directors, meeting in a virtual plenary on October 18, 2021, voted to create the position of president/CEO and name Salley to it as part of the ongoing evolution of governance within the United Methodist-related institution. The new role is in addition to Salley’s current responsibilities as associate vice chancellor for Institutional Advancement.
“We are thrilled to name Mr. Salley the first president/CEO of Africa University, Inc., the U.S. organization that raises, holds, and distributes funds for the benefit of Africa University,” said Board Chairperson Mrs. Lisa Tichenor.
Africa University (Tennessee), Inc. is the oldest of three legal entities that comprise Africa University. It is a registered U.S. 501c3 non-profit organization created in 1988 to enable the birth of Africa University as part of the global mission and ministry of The United Methodist Church.
Two Zimbabwe-registered entities were subsequently added—Africa University (Zimbabwe), which delivers the teaching/learning, research, and community outreach operations of the institution; and the Mutare United Methodist Educational Company (MUMEC), which holds title to Africa University’s physical assets in Zimbabwe such as land, buildings, and other infrastructure.
Members of the board of directors serve on all three corporations; among them is Bishop Julius C. Trimble, who leads the Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church and is both a major donor and a tireless advocate for Africa University (A.U.). As chair of the Africa University (Tennessee) Board Development Committee as well as the Advisory Development Committee, Bishop Trimble helps to guide the institution’s friend-making and fundraising initiatives.
“Mr. Salley’s record of leading the efforts to raise friends, funds, and institutional stability and growth for A.U. is well documented,” said Trimble. “The growth in enrollment of students and the expansion of buildings and partnerships is a reminder that with God, all things are possible. This new role allows Mr. Salley to continue to cast the vision and open partnership windows for resources as he works with his Africa University Development Office (AUDO) team, the vice-chancellor, and the leadership team of Africa University (Zimbabwe), and friends of Africa University across the globe.”
Known to many as “Mr. Africa University,” Salley was a member of the site selection committee, which chose Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, in 1988 as the future home of Africa University. In addition, he served on Africa University’s founding Board of Directors, representing the General Board of Global Ministries. In 1992, Salley left the university board and a senior institutional advancement role at South Carolina State University to become Africa University’s chief advancement officer. In addition, he established the Africa University Development Office (AUDO), located within the headquarters of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) in Nashville, Tennessee.
“The AUDO, managed by Mr. James H. Salley since 1992, has developed into a major organization requiring leadership of a CEO,” said Tichenor. “With over $100 million in endowed funds, it requires the structure and leadership to continue to build Africa University. In addition, as The United Methodist Church determines its course, Africa University will have a strong presence to ensure support for future African students.”
Bishop Mande Muyombo, a two-time graduate of Africa University, leads the North Katanga Episcopal Area and chairs the Africa University (Zimbabwe) Board of Directors. He highlighted Salley’s hard work and dedication. “He has been the face of Africa University and has been preaching Africa University in the power of the Holy Spirit throughout the USA and the world,” said Muyombo. “To name Mr. Salley as president/CEO of Africa University (Tennessee), Inc. is a recognition of the growth of Africa University, and its nearly 30 years of investing in Africa’s future. It is also a celebration of the hard work of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), the agency that has been the focal point for the implementation of the vision of The United Methodist Church of a university for all of Africa.”
A task force chaired by the general secretary of GBHEM, the Rev. Greg Bergquist, is currently examining how A.U. and GBHEM will relate to each other and work together in the future. The task force is focused on governance and sustainability issues and will report its findings and recommendations for Board action in 2022.
Bishop Minerva Carcaño is vice-chairperson of the Africa University (Zimbabwe) Board of Directors and chairperson of the Personnel Committee. She noted that the position of president/CEO of A.U. (Tennessee), Inc. was envisioned from the beginning of the planting of Africa University. “This position will include a high level of oversight in the areas of development, finance, scholarship administration, and audit,” said Bishop Carcaño. “(It) creates an administrative structure that allows this critical work to be done more effectively and efficiently both in the U.S. and in Zimbabwe. It is a sign of
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WHAT ARE WE HARVESTING TOGETHER?
By Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith
When [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38 The harvest season is normally beautiful, bright, and full of glory. In North America, many of us are now experiencing this as we view the colorful foliage and behold anew the beauty of the trees, leaves, and other plant life. No matter where you live in the world, you can witness this splendor of God’s glory through various media.
But today we are seeing fewer glimpses of this glory as climate change increasingly robs the earth of previously predictable seasons of transition. Instead, we see our lack of care for creation. We see a lack of human laborers planting good seeds for a harvest that feeds all.
These matters are being discussed this month at the U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland—even as climate change takes its devastating toll on the people and the land, dramatically decreasing access to nourishing food. As COP26 summons us to this emergency, we are reminded that the Bible has always summoned us to be good laborers who invest in good labors that yield harvests with and for all. Today, as in biblical times, Matthew 3:22-23 suggests we are “falling short of the glory of God.”
It is especially hard to hear that we are falling short of God’s glory as we continue to cope with a pandemic that, like climate change, has deepened historic inequities and exposed the reality that not all people share in a just and plentiful harvest. These inequities are manifested in policies and practices that limit access to full employment, that limit access to land and nourishing food and water, and that limit access to a lifesaving vaccine. This reality bares our lack of will to eliminate gender and racial discrimination through systemic change.
Yet, God says that the harvest is plentiful—despite the few laborers committed to a harvest by and for all. While many of us do harvest what is good for us individually and within our family and friendship networks, the challenge and opportunity our faith offers is to live more fully into loving our neighbors as an expression of how we love God. I Corinthians 13 is our guide for appreciating the definition of love by all of us to harvest what God has given for all of us.
May this season be a time for you to recommit to this vision of harvesting individually and collectively with and for all, in love.
Angelique Walker-Smith is senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church Engagement at Bread for the World.
NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION BIBLE UPDATED WITH CONSIDERATION FOR ‘MODERN SENSIBILITIES’
By Adelle Banks, Religion News Service
An updated edition of the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible includes thousands of changes in language, reflecting the research of a wide range of scholars who spent four years reviewing its contents as well as taking into consideration “modern sensibilities.” For example, a verse in the New Testament Book of Galatians that previously referred to the sons of Abraham as “one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman” will instead read “one by an enslaved woman and the other by a free woman.” The second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew will tell of “magi” rather than “wise men” coming to Jerusalem after Jesus’ birth. A reference to “sin offering” in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Leviticus has been updated to the more precise “purification offering.”
The New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition Bible is the result of a commission of the Society of Biblical Literature by the National Council of Churches (NCC), which includes dozens of denominations representing 30 million church members. Representatives of both organizations joined in a presentation Tuesday (November 16), as NCC subsidiary Friendship Press released the newest rendition of the translation, which was first published as the New Revised Standard Version in 1989. “It is both ecumenical and interfaith, suitable in Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish contexts,” John Kutsko, SBL’s executive director, told the dozens attending the event via Zoom. “In a period of social and political divisiveness, it’s a virtue to be celebrated.”
A 36-page sampler details relatively few of the some 12,000 substantive changes — out of a total of more than 20,000 revisions — made for the new edition, which scholars made clear was not a new translation. Some of the updated wording is based on what Kutsko called “new compelling textual evidence,” including findings in the Dead Sea Scrolls on the West Bank’s Qumran region. For example, more than 25 words are added to a reference to David in First Kings, which now reads, “‘Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any of the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there, nor did I choose anyone to be a ruler over my people Israel. But I have chosen Jerusalem in order that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.’”
Bob Buller, director of Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) Press, said the new version also reflects “thorough and professional copy-editing” that removed outdated aspects of the language and made other improvements. “For example, the NRSV lowercased the names of some Jewish holidays and holy days, such as Passover, Sabbath, and Festival of Unleavened Bread,” he said. “This could be interpreted as a sign of disrespect for these Jewish holy days, so we capitalized them just as we would for other religious communities.” He further noted that the new edition does not use the word “girl” when referring to a young woman. Mark 14:69 now speaks of a “female servant” instead of a “servant-girl.” Other changes reflect a decision to avoid identifying people based on their disabilities. A verse in Matthew that previously referred to “demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics” now reads “people possessed by demons or having epilepsy or afflicted with paralysis.”
Shively T.J. Smith, a New Testament assistant professor at Boston University School of Theology who edited First, Second, and Third John for the project, said she appreciated the range of voices that were heard and considered as the updated edition took shape. “The NRSVue is an updated English translation that listened broadly and closely to a variety of faith-based constituencies, reading the Bible in our current times,” said Smith, who worked with focus groups and discussed the updated edition with African Methodist Episcopal Church bishops and students in her classroom. “It attempts to reverse the historic trend in translation history from the 19th and 20th centuries in which some Christian communities and scholars of the Bible were historically excluded from the translation endeavors of our English Bibles.”
Over two years, seven general editors and 56 book editors used Dropbox, tracked changes and other tools to organize their rationales for proposed revisions. In addition, they held 76 two-hour meetings about the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and the Apocryphal/deuterocanonical books, frequently used by Catholic and Orthodox communities before the NCC governing board approved the NRSVue in October. ...From James p8 the maturing of A.U. and signifies a historic moment in which a significant step toward shared leadership and true partnership between A.U. Zimbabwe and A.U. Tennessee has been taken,” said Carcaño.
Throughout their deliberations, Board members celebrated many positive developments and successes that cement Africa University’s position as a leader in African higher education: • Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 700 students are currently in residence on Africa University’s main campus.
Zimbabwe’s progress with vaccinations and in containing coronavirus infections led to a relaxation of restrictions. As a result, Africa University was able to invite students who are benefiting from scholarships and those for whom access to physical learning facilities such as laboratories is essential to return to the campus in September. • There is significant growth in student enrollment: Africa University has 3,116 students enrolled for the 2021-2022 academic year, of whom 540 are studying part-time. There are 27 African nations represented in the student body this year, and 57.5 percent of the students are female. • Demand for on-campus housing continues to grow, leading the East Ohio
Conference of The United Methodist Church to respond: East Ohio United
Methodists, under the leadership of Bishop Tracy S. Malone, are set to complete a three-year campaign to fund the construction of a women’s residence hall one year early. With gifts and pledges exceeding $1.5 million and close to $1.2 million already collected, the East Ohio Conference’s “Teach*Reach*Bless” campaign committee expects to reach its goal by December 2021, instead of year-end 2022 as initially projected. • Enrollment is driving growth in faculty numbers: The University is hiring ten new lecturers this year due to the growth trend in its academic programs.
In addition, student numbers in several degree programs—Social Work,
International Relations, and Health Services Management—have more than doubled in the past year. The tuition fees of these new students will cover the cost of the additional faculty. • Students, faculty, and alumni are contributing vital and innovative solutions to Africa’s current challenges: Africa University’s U-Safe Hand Sanitizer, developed to address a critical shortage in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a market leader in Zimbabwe. Sales of the hand sanitizer and a new lozenge formulated from the Zumbani plant by university researchers have great potential as sources of enterprise income.
“Out of its laboratories, Africa University produced the U-Safe Hand Sanitizer and the Zumbani herbal cough lozenges to mitigate the impact of COVID-19,” said Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, who leads the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area. “These products have pushed the university up the ladder of recognition in the area of research,” said Nhiwatiwa.
Board members and senior administrators acknowledged, celebrated, and expressed their gratitude to the individuals, local congregations, and agencies that make Africa University’s growth and impact possible with their generosity and steadfast investment.
“Africa University is approaching its 30th anniversary in March 2022 and is ranked #1 in Zimbabwe and 39th among the top 200 universities in Africa,” said Salley. “There is growth in enrollment, internationalization, and in the level of investment from indigenous Africans to Africa University, so we are moving towards sustainability. Africa University needs its friends and donors and the resources they provide for the work ahead. My message is, ‘don’t leave us now. Let’s finish the work that we have started for the benefit of the emerging leaders for the continent of Africa that are coming out of Africa University.’ The work of sustaining ministry is never finished, nor is the work of building a university to confront the evolving challenges of our times—pandemics, climate change, injustice/inequity, and economic decline, among them. Thank you for what you have done and for what you will do. It is God’s work, and God’s work shall be done.”
The formal celebration of the 30th anniversary of the opening of Africa University is scheduled for October 22-24, 2022. The celebration will feature virtual as well as in-person events in various parts of the world. ❏ ❏ ❏
“When we embarked on this journey, our goal was to bring forth research for which Bible scholars hold a consensus,” Jim Winkler, NCC president, said in a statement. “This update with its attention to accuracy and clarity has far exceeded our highest expectations.” The new version is expected to be released by publishers on or after May 1, 2022. Friendship Press, a subsidiary of NCC, plans to make an e-Bible of the new version available on its Word@Hand app before Christmas 2021. ❏ ❏ ❏
THECHRISTIANRECORDER.COM SHUTTING DOWN THE MANUFACTURED CRITICAL RACE THEORY “DEBATE”
Beyond the rhetoric, there is a surprisingly broad consensus about the importance of teaching a more honest version of American history.
By Robert P. Jones
On the home stretch of Virginia’s nail-biter of a governor’s race, Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin has been looking for a way to simultaneously present himself as part of the old corporate wing of the GOP who might have crossover appeal while not alienating the base of the party that is now wholly owned by Donald Trump. A key rhetorical move, now a standard applause line in his stump speech, is a promise to “ban” Critical Race Theory (CRT) from Virginia public schools “from Day 1.”
Earlier, Republican Alabama Governor Kay Ivey also boasted that she had “permanently banned Critical Race Theory in Alabama” and then associated Critical Race Theory with hate. Her full tweet follows: Kay Ivey @kayiveyforgov
We have permanently BANNED Critical Race Theory in Alabama. We’re focused on teaching our children how to read and write, not HATE.
October 20th 2021 257 Retweets1,320 Likes
Before I go any further, I want to unpack the Ivey tweet, which is instructive for how this rhetoric is playing out. First, Alabama! This is the state whose rampant racism and entrenched Jim Crow segregation laws prompted the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to organize civil rights protests there and to pen “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Alabama is a state whose Constitution included a ban on interracial marriage until a statewide vote in 2000, and a state whose governors, including Ivey, are still sworn in with the same Bible used to inaugurate Jefferson Davis as the president of the Confederacy.
Furthermore, there is Ivey’s track record. Shortly after her election, Gov. Ivey herself had to apologize for wearing blackface, donning overalls, and participating in a minstrel skit at an event sponsored by the Baptist Student Union—the student organization affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention—when she was a student at Auburn University. In her apology, she declared, “I want to do all I can, going forward, to help show the nation that the Alabama of today is a far cry from the Alabama of the 1960s”—but that was then.
What about Ivey’s claim to have “banned CRT in Alabama?” It turns out that this assertion is neither based on a new state law nor any other policy that explicitly mentions CRT. Rather, she is referring to a policy passed by the Alabama State Board of Education, on which she serves as president, that now includes this statement in its administrative code: “The State Board of Education specifically prohibits each local board of education from offering K-12 instruction that indoctrinates students in social or political ideologies or theories that promote one race or sex above another.” That statement, however unremarkable, provides enough of a foothold to anchor the spectacular tweet above. That is the point.
Over the last year, following the nationwide protests for racial justice after the murder of George Floyd, Republican elected officials at the local, state, and national levels began a coordinated effort to introduce a flurry of bills and policies that could be touted as banning CRT. According to a study by The Brookings Institution, as of August 2021, eight states had passed, and 20 states had introduced, bills that are being promoted as banning CRT. As Brookings’ Senior Fellow Rashawn Ray noted, however, none of the laws that have passed mention CRT explicitly but refer to a frighteningly broad and deliberately vague array of banned activity, such as “the discussion, training, and/ or orientation that the U.S. is inherently racist as well as any discussions about conscious and unconscious bias, privilege, discrimination, and oppression.” Ray also notes that these prohibitions often “extend beyond race to include gender lectures and discussions.”
The Republican anti-CRT campaign is leading to some bizarre, even absurd, outcomes. In Oklahoma, Republican Governor Kevin Stitt found himself banished from the Tulsa Race Massacre Commission after signing a bill that could be interpreted as banning the teaching of the very history the commission was working to uncover. Youngkin has taken to quoting the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in support of banning CRT, even while such policies would have a clear, chilling effect on teaching King’s works—at least his whole books rather than sanitized quotes taken out of context— to the next generation.
Because of their perceived effectiveness at energizing a white conservative and Christian Republican base, these efforts are likely to dominate not only the 2022 mid-term elections and the 2024 presidential elections but also state and local elections and hyperlocal gatherings like school board meetings. In addition to the deluge of legislative and policy efforts, there is strong evidence that Fox News has played a role in familiarizing its audience with and stoking fears about CRT, which, prior to this year, was primarily found in graduate school syllabi. A recent study by Media Matters for America found that “critical race theory” had been mentioned over 1,900 times on the network over a 3 1/2 month period last summer as fall legislative agendas were set. Check out how tightly the mentions by month on Fox News (left-hand scale) track with Google trends data, which shows relative search interest in the term (right-hand scale) between June 2020 and June 2021. As a political and cultural tool to stoke racial resentment in the white base of the Republican Party, CRT, as political propaganda, seems to be enjoying some success. However, something interesting—and hopeful—happens if you move away from the jargon to the underlying conflict, which is at root about what public schools should teach our children about American history and, by extension, what understanding the next generation will have of the American story. Despite the well-publicized scenes of wild-eyed soccer moms screaming at suburban school board meetings, among the broader public, even across partisan and religious lines, there is surprisingly broad common ground. In a large August 2021 survey of over 500 respondents, The Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey of over 5,000 respondents, we attempted to get underneath the CRT debates by testing a positive and negative statement about whether we should teach our children about the history of racism in the country: 1. “Teaching children about the history of racism in America will help our country move toward a healthier future.” 2. “Teaching children about the history of racism in America will hold our country back from making progress on these issues.”
We split the sample into two random subsamples, with one getting the positive statement and the other getting the negative statement. Even though the two statements were quarantined (i.e., each respondent was randomly assigned to receive only one of the statements), we found a remarkable convergence of opinion and surprising common ground across partisan and religious lines.
More than three-quarters (76%) of Americans agreed that teaching children about the history of racism in America would help our country move toward a healthier future and disagreed that it would hold our country back from making progress. Among Democrats, there is near consensus: 91% agreed teaching kids about the history of racism in America would be helpful, while 85% disagreed it would hold the country back.
While levels were lower among Republicans, the opinion patterns were similar: 57% agree that teaching children about the history of racism will help the country, and 64% disagree that it would hold us back from making progress. Among Republicans, however, we can see the clear impact of the CRT media blitz. Republicans who most trust Fox News are divided on these questions, while Republicans who most trust mainstream news (e.g., CNN, broadcast networks) look more like Americans overall.
There is near consensus among religious groups as well. Even among white evangelical Protestants—who comprise around one-third of the Republican base nationwide and higher proportions in southern states (e.g., 56% in Alabama)—63% say teaching children about the history of racism will help our country move toward a healthier future, and 70% disagree that it will hold us back.
...From Shutting p10 As the data make clear, this avalanche of legislative and policy activity is not a case of legislators responding to widespread concerns or outrage among the bulk of their constituents. We have seen this before. When we put it into this historical context, the efforts become more transparent. Here is Lee Atwater, a longtime Republican operative who worked in the Reagan White House, describing in explicit terms, the GOP’s “southern strategy” in a 1981 interview: You start out in 1954 by saying, “N*****, n*****, n*****.” By 1968 you can’t say “n*****”—that hurts you, backfires. So, you say stuff like, uh, forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff, and you’re getting so abstract. Now, you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things, and a byproduct of them is, blacks get hurt worse than whites.… “We want to cut this,” is much more abstract than even the busing thing, uh, and a hell of a lot more abstract than “N*****, n******.” For those of us who grew up in the white Christian world in the South, Randall Balmer’s work and new book, Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right, reminds us that the animating spark of the Religious Right—with its accompanying great white Christian flight from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party in the 1970s and 1980s—was not prayer in schools or so-called “family values” but the defense of racist policies at private Christian schools. The anti-CRT crusades we are seeing today are the worst form of policy, designed not to redress an actual social problem—neither Youngkin nor Ivey, for example, has yet to provide any evidence that CRT exists, much less is problematic, in Virginia or Alabama schools—but sowing resentment that is useful to political campaigns and culture wars. It is clear that anti-CRT rhetoric resonates among a small portion of the Republican base, particularly those dialed into Fox News. But it is hopeful that broad swaths of the country, including a solid majority of Republicans overall, today, believe that teaching our children about this history of racism in America will help move the country toward a healthier future. It is time to shut down the manufactured outrage around critical race theory and call it what it is: the latest racist dog whistle in the old “southern strategy” toolbox of the GOP and the white Christian Right.
Robert P. Jones is the CEO and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute and the author of “White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity.” This article was originally published on Jones’ Substack #WhiteTooLong. Read more at robertpjones.substack.com.
NEWLY APPOINTED PASTORS SUCCEED BISHOPS AND GENERAL OFFICERS
At the 2021 General Conference, the African Methodist Episcopal Church elected four new bishops. These are the preachers who have been appointed to fill the positions of the newly elected bishops.
Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware: Dr. Stanley Hearst II succeeds Bishop Silvester S. Beaman (15th Episcopal District).
Saint Paul AME Church in Jacksonville, Florida: The Rev. Willie N. Barnes, Jr. succeeds Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II (16th Episcopal District)
Bethel AME Church of Fontana, California: The Rev. Terrence Sims succeeds Bishop Francine A. Brookins (18th Episcopal District).
Quinn Chapel of Forest Park, Ohio: Dr. Jermaine Covington succeeds Bishop Fred A. Wright (20th Episcopal District).
At the 2021 General Conference, the AME Church elected three new clergy general officers. These are the clergy that have been appointed to succeed them.
DuPage AME Church in Lisle, Illinois: The Rev. Conitras M. Houston Dickens succeeds Dr. James F. Miller (executive director, Department of Retirement Services)
St. Luke AME Church (Harlem, New York): The Rev. Stephen A. Green succeeds Dr. Marcellus A. Norris (executive director, Department of Church Growth and Development).
The Rev. Dr. John F. Green was elected as executive director of Global Witness and Ministry. He is the president/dean of Turner Theological Seminary and will serve until the school’s Board of Trustees elects his replacement. ❏ ❏ ❏
MAKE YOUR STATEMENT OF FAITH KNOWN
By Michael C. Carson, Full Columnist
The immortal Richard Pryor in the legendary movie Car Wash played the role of Daddy Rich. Daddy Rich’s theme song and credo was, “You Gotta’ Believe” by Rose Royce and sung by The Pointer Sisters: “You got to believe in somethin’, why not believe in me? You got to believe in somethin’, why not believe in me?” Daddy Rich’s credo was self-evident. I was listening to another credo made by the Gaither Vocal Band: “I believe in a hill called Mount Calvary. I believe in a hill called Mount Calvary. I believe whatever the cost. And when time has surrendered, and earth is no more, I’ll still cling to the old rugged cross.”
While attending Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary working on my Master of Divinity, one of the graduation requirements was to write and defend my personal credo — my personal statement of faith. A credo is a declaration of one’s theological belief. The Apostles’ Creed is a foundational credo. It is paramount to your faith to be able to exclaim what you believe and why you believe what you believe. This will help to ensure that you are standing on a firm foundation.
Paul, in the midst of experiencing some struggles in his life, shares with Timothy his credo: “I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:11-13).
A major spiritual project to engage in — if you have not already done it — would be to meditate on and write your own credo. Then, verbally defend it. When a person is able to declare what they believe, and defend why they believe what they believe, this will greatly enhance their theological witness. One thing for sure, Daddy Rich was very clear in what he believed and what he wanted other people to believe in him. “You’ve got to believe in somethin’, why not believe in me? You got to believe in somethin’, why not believe in me?”
A more excellent credo is from the “gospel according to the Gaither Vocal Band.” “I believe that the Christ who was slain on the cross has the power to change lives today. For he changed me completely. A new life is mine. And that is why I will stay by the cross. I believe in a hill called Mount Calvary. I believe whatever the cost. And when time has surrendered, and earth is no more, I’ll still cling to the old rugged cross.”
“Brother Mike, how do I begin working on my credo?” Friend, simply begin by meditating on God in your life and write down “I believe …” The rest will follow.
Peace with justice, be blessed real good, attend worship, and families matter.
Dr. Michael C. Carson may be reached at refreshingcoach@gmail.com.
REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY FOR THE 140TH SESSION OF THE NORTH OHIO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
By Rev. Dr. Quentin White, 3rd Episcopal District
Overshadowing the state of the United States is the decline of the U.S. as a superpower. Other nations are challenging the U.S. position in the world and winning the confidence of countries once dependent on the U.S. and Europe. Chief among U.S. rivals is China, a nation gradually eclipsing the U.S. as an economic, political, and military power. China and other nations are taking advantage of the decline of U.S. power in places like Africa and filling in the leadership gaps created because of the loss of U.S. power around the world.
This U.S. decline was on full display this year as an unrelenting pandemic reached the shores of the United States. The pandemic exposed a failing U.S. economy that was unable to effectively address the mass unemployment of American workers thrown out of the job market because of the virus. The failure of the U.S. health care system was a further shock to the public as the death rates from the coronavirus climbed to unbelievable numbers. The high death rates of black and brown Americans, and people of color generally, exposed the systemic racism of a U.S. capitalist economy that tolerates inferior health care of African Americans and Hispanics.
Another shocking development this year was the revelation of how deeply systemic the racist roots of American society are. Following the murder of George Floyd at the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, a flurry of brutal police-related incidents targeting African Americans and Hispanics has taken place. Major protests have erupted among Americans of all colors over state-sponsored brutality of African Americans by the police. Other longstanding problems in American society have also caused grave concern and protests. Inequality in housing, education, healthcare, employment, and other areas has worsened. African Americans, especially among the low-skilled and poorly educated underclass, are still the last hired and the first fired. Evictions of poor African Americans and others are at an all-time high. Sadly, the condition of African American women is not only socially shaped by these factors but also particularly aggravated by public policies being propagated in the country. Among these policies are the present attempt to revoke a woman’s right to choose. If these attempts are successful, the choices women have over their bodies will be jeopardized. Infringement upon these rights and choices disproportionately affects women of color.
On a positive note, African Americans have made gains. African American CEOs can be found among fortune 500 companies. Top government officials, such as the U.S. vice president, secretary of Defense, and the Air Force chief of staff, are African American. Several black members of Congress hold top leadership positions in that body. Women-owned minority businesses appear to be on the rise. These gains, however, must be seen against the backdrop of some very disturbing developments that are evident on both the national and local levels.
Recommendations to address some of these issues are: 1. A single-payer health insurance plan. We need action at national and local levels. 2. Legislation curbing gun violence needs to be introduced. We need stronger gun laws. 3. An increase in the minimum wage. We also need more jobs created for the poorest Americans. 4. Protections for an aging population. 5. End housing instability, especially in cities. The cost of housing is a burden. 6. Infant mortality among blacks is unacceptable. We need prevention measures like neonatal care. 7. Government and NGO institutions need to promote political and racial unity to address white nationalist extremism. 8. More access to quality public and private education. 9. Reform of the justice system and reduction of the prison population. 10. Support of a woman’s right to choose in political systems and courts.
Respectfully Submitted,
COMMITTEE MEMBERS The Rev. Dr. Quentin J. White The Rev. Dr. Louise V. Jackson The Rev. Terrence Slayton Sis. Elayne Dunlop Sis. Sharon Wilson Sis. Jackie Mullin ❏ ❏ ❏
A CENTENARIAN MILESTONE: MOTHER SOPHIE JOHNSON CELEBRATES HER 105TH BIRTHDAY
By Rev. Dr. Msizi Thothoma Dube-Sadiki, 16th Episcopal District
The Grady Chapel AME Church in Amsterdam was blessed to be invited to celebrate the 105th birthday of Mother Sophie Johnson with her two daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family and friends. It was an amazing celebration of life still well-lived, as, during her celebration, she caused all in attendance to do some reflection on what it really means to turn 105-years-old.
Mother Sophie Johnson was born in Suriname on 28 September 1916, in the Nickerie Suriname District. She was baptized and married in the AME Church in Nickerie. According to her children, she comes from a family of five siblings: three brothers and two sisters; she is the only sibling living. From her marriage, she had three children: two girls and one boy (who recently passed, and may his soul rest in peace). Her children were baptized in the AME Church in Nickerie Suriname. Mother Sophie has nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. In 1984, at 69-years-old, Mother Sophie migrated to the Netherlands, where she lives now in Amsterdam Southeast.
Mother Sophie is one of the founders of the Grady Chapel AME Church in Amsterdam. She was the president of the Women’s Missionary Society in Amsterdam. At 90, she was made a life member of the Women’s Missionary Society of the London/Holland Annual Conference. Mother Sophie was elected five times to represent Grady Chapel at the European Annual Conference in London. In the year 2004, she was an elected a delegate to attend the General Conference. From the Netherlands, she was the only delegate to travel to the General to represent the 16th Episcopal District. Mother Johnson remains an active member of the cell group in her neighbourhood. Mother Sophie is well known for her belief, faith, and unshakable trust in God; she is a woman of prayer, a teetotaller who can sing all hymns from memory. She is still a pillar and foundation of the church in Amsterdam.
She has truly earned the title of Mother in the church.
As her pastor, I am in awe at her stalwart belief in God that grows stronger and wiser each day. Whenever we do house visits to gather for prayer meetings, Mother Sophie sings and prays. She enables us to experience the presence of God in our midst. The dimension of her spirituality is fundamental to giving meaning to life and dealing with adversity and the experience of any disease. At her age, she is among the most vulnerable, but she is very healthy. Whenever we visit her, she recognizes who we are and calls us by name. The spirituality of Mother Sophie in this context can be understood as the relationship with the transcendent and is multidimensionally anchored in subjective reasons and influenced by her cultural background shaped by her parents’ teachings during the days of slavery in Suriname. Mother Sophie credits her parents as her most important early influencers on her belief in God and link to the AME Church in Suriname. Mother Sophie Johnson has chosen to belong to a Christian community whose members believe that we, as blacks throughout the diaspora, have come “this far by faith,” leaning on the God of our parents who have experienced slavery. She reminds me of Lois, the grandmother of Timothy, who lives as an example before her family of sincere faith. This faith that first dwelt in her parents now continues to dwell in her. She has passed this same faith to her two daughters, son, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We can see them today in the Netherlands as they, too, walk the walk and talk the talk of Christ.
Our prayer is that Mother Sophie Johnson may break the record again to reach super-centenarian, seeing one hundred ten years. May goodness and mercy continue to follow her. ❏ ❏ ❏ Reverend. Dr. Msizi Thothoma Dube-Sadiki, Cecile Winkelman-Dube, and Mother Sophie
Mother Sophie and her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Reverend DrMsizi
by ba du So ea th to be di on sl T MotherSophieandherchildren grandchildren of
EXHALE—MEDITATIONS FOR HEALING THE HEART OF A WOMAN
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10
I Am Somebody
We are living in a world where corruption and violence, like an untamed beast, stalks the land by day and night. Police officers shoot first and ask questions later when it comes to policing those who are black and brown. Blacks are killing blacks, not only with guns but by refusing to support black businesses. Drug wars are claiming the lives of our young black brothers. Babies are having babies. People are raping, robbing, and killing. The list could go on and on.
So it is that Satan wants us dead. God would have you to know that the real enemy is not a person in the flesh, but it is Satan who, through unclean and manipulative spirits, seeks to destroy our lives. Ephesians 6:12 notes, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” So there is a spiritual war going on. However, I am so glad that there is a word of hope. For, while Satan wants to kill and destroy us, and sabotage our visions and nullify our dreams, Jesus came that we might have life, not only eternal life in the sweet by and by but life in the right here and now.
Sis, God loves you, and he wants you to live a victorious life. God does not want any of us to live powerless and defeated lives. You do not have to be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. God does not want you to be filled with anxiety moving in and out of cycles of depression. When you repented of your sins and asked Jesus to come into your heart, you accepted Jesus by faith. You received eternal life by faith. God also wants you to accept his abundant life in your daily living.
You are somebody! You may not have the money to eat steak every night, eat at the finest restaurants, or lodge at the finest hotels. You may not have been educated at Duke, Yale, or Harvard University. Maybe you are separated, widowed, or still just waiting for Mr. Right to come along. Nevertheless, God wants you to know that you are somebody; he has invested something wonderfully divine in your life. You are created in his divine and holy image. You are his wonderful love creation. There is nobody quite like you, and nobody can do what God has given you to do quite the way you can do it.
You are a royal child of the king! You are somebody! Girlfriend, the Prince of Peace lives on the inside of you. Therefore, you can live at peace with your neighbor and yourself. Whatsoever state you are in, you can learn to be content (Philippians 4:11). The Holy Spirit lives on the inside. You can make it! You’ve been through some Y ’ b h h storms, and you’ve seen some hard times. I’ll bet the devil thought he had you just where he wanted you. But, Hallelujah! Jesus has set you free! And, if that doesn’t make you feel like running, I don’t know what will!
Every now and then, when I look back over my life, I realize that if it had not been for the Lord on my side, I do not know where I would be. It makes me feel like jumping and shouting for joy! Hallelujah! I have been set free! God loves you, and he wants you to be whole. He wants you to know his love. His abundant love can only be experienced in living an abundant life in Christ Jesus. You are somebody!
Exhale
As I behold the splendor and beauty of a love so divine, without hesitation, I let go of the pain of my
past as I embrace peace for today. ❏ ❏ ❏
