Street Marker Unveiled to Honor the Late Rev. Dr. E. E. Coates, Pastor Emeritus of Wesley AME Church in Houston
With unanimous approval by the Houston City Council, an honorary street marker bearing the name of the Reverend E. E. Coates was unveiled on May 13, 2024, in a very moving ceremony presented by Wesley and the city of Houston. Wesley's pastoral team, the Rev. John White, II and the Rev. Maria Mallory White, and Houston’s Mayor John Whitmire greeted the throng of well-wishers gathered to witness this momentous occasion.
The marker is located at the intersection of Emancipation Avenue and Webster Street in Third Ward, where the historic Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church that the Rev. Coates pastored has stood for more than a century. The front steps of this picturesque landmark in the shadows of downtown Houston made the most befitting backdrop
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Remembering Peter Allen, a Texas Patriot and Son of the AME Church
Presiding Elder Raymond Bryant, 10 th Episcopal District
Recently, I had a phone call from a gentleman in San Antonio who wanted to know if his church could come down and honor someone who was buried with Fannin at the Fannin Monument. I asked who the man was and was told it was Peter Allen. Well, I knew the name and that he was indeed one of the men that was massacred with Fannin.
I thought that it might be a nice article to tell you
about Peter, in case you did not know the story of this hero. Peter was born in 1805 in Philadelphia, a free man of color. His parents both had been born into slavery, but both had acquired their freedom before they married. His father, Richard Allen, belonged to Benjamin Chew, the attorney general of Pennsylvania, and bought his freedom in 1783. His mother was born in Isle of Wight, Virginia, in 1764 and came to ...continued on p24
St. James AME Church Welcomes Governor Wes Moore on a Historic Occasion
Charonda D. Huff, Public Relations Coordinator
Historic St. James African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Columbus, Georgia, had the distinct honor of hosting Governor Wes Moore, the esteemed 63 rd governor of Maryland and a trailblazer in American political history. Governor Moore, renowned as the first Black governor of Maryland and the third black governor elected in United States history, graced the pulpit of St. James AME Church as the guest speaker on the second Sunday of March.
The atmosphere within the church was electrifying as Governor Moore, a distinguished member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., delivered an inspiring message on “intentionality and work.” His words resonated deeply with the congregation, echoing the values of faith, determination, and service cherished within the walls of St.
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AME Farm and Garden Initiative: Growing Together to Strengthen Community Through Local Food Systems
Jennifer
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical importance of robust local food systems for resilience, sustainability, and community well-being. In 2021, the African Methodist
Episcopal (AME) Church International Health Commission launched the AME Farm and Garden Initiative in response to rising food insecurity at both local and national levels. This
initiative aims to connect, catalog, and provide resources to AME churches and associated institutions interested in establishing or maintaining gardens or farms.
The family of the Rev. Coates providing remarks with Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Houston Controller Chris Hollins, Council members Davis and Shabazz, copastor the Rev. Maria White and Wesley member Juanita Williams on platform.
Pictured: Governor Wes Moore, Pastor B.A. Hart, and the youth of St. James AME Church, Columbus, Georgia, on March 10, 2024.
The Reverend Dr. Edward Erias Coates, affectionately known only by his two initials, E. E. Coates was an esteemed and beloved figure in the Third Ward community in Houston and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was recognized as an extraordinary pastor, a fiery, prolific singing preacher, and an influential community activist and civic leader. Assigned to Wesley in 1965 by Bishop O. L. Sherman, the Rev. Coates’ 37 -year pastoral leadership was a ministry of exceptional kingdom building where Wesley grew to become the largest AME church in Texas and the Tenth Episcopal District.
An elder AME statesman and a Connectional pastor, the Rev. E. E. Coates proudly served on the Episcopal Committee until his retirement. He distinguished himself in his 14 pastoral charges in Kansas, Wyoming, Missouri, Texas, and the global AME Church. After an impactful ministry spanning nine decades of spiritual guidance and community empowerment, the Rev. Coates passed away in 2018 at 96.
The Rev. Coates’ last surviving child, Lucille Coates, only grandchild, Tyler Coates, and daughter-in-love, Deborah Coates, attended the event. They were joined by other family members, city officials, community and religious leaders, church members, and friends.
Pastor White presided over the ceremony, which opened with a powerful prayer by the Rev. Hunt Harris, one of the Rev. Coates’ more than 35 sons and daughters in ministry, including the late Right Reverend Sarah Frances Davis, the 126 th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The unveiling with the Coates family, city officials, Wesley’s pastoral team and oldest member.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire began the tributes by thanking the family for the honor of being a part of the ceremony. “I’ve grown up in public office knowing who E.E. Coates was. He taught us. He led us. He mentored us. We knew who the visionary pioneer the Rev. Coates was,” Mayor Whitmire said. Building Wesley Square, the first affordable housing
development in Harris County, and creating the Federal AME (FAME) Credit Union to provide vital banking services for those in Third Ward and underserved communities throughout Houston firmly established his great legacy as a pillar of our society.”
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As a tribute to the life that the Rev. Coates embodied, the renowned Gospel Hall of Fame inductee V. Michael McKay, along with Ms. Treva Jones, delivered a soul-stirring rendition of "If I Can Help Somebody," drawing lifted hands from the audience and transforming the mood into a church-like atmosphere.
An inspirational treat for everyone was a moment of reflection from Wesley’s beloved and almost 102-year-old centenarian, Ms. Juanita Williams. As the oldest Wesley member with 80 years of church membership, Ms. Williams boasted about how the Rev. Coates led the church on a mission for community service, keeping them motivated with his secret weapon. “He knew that all he had to do was to call us precious, and we would do whatever he wanted us to do. He was a good pastor and just a really good man. I am proud and happy that his name will always be on this corner, an honor he really deserves,” Mrs. Williams expressed with heartfelt emotions.
Councilwoman Carolyn Evans Shabazz reminded the crowd of well-wishers that the Rev. Coates was “a monumental figure in our community. His tenure as pastor of Wesley Chapel was marked by more than just spiritual leadership. He was a tireless advocate for social justice and dedicated to service. He laid
Precious Memories
Dr. John Wm. Roberts, Ed.D., Contributing Writer
a foundation of compassion and unity that continues to inspire us,” said Shabazz.
While the Rev. Coates was lauded for his significant contributions to the Third Ward Community and Houston, his humbleness and love for humankind were at the core of everything he did. He was a community treasure who loved serving God and serving God’s people. The plaudits of remembrance for the Rev. Coates reverberated throughout the gathering, filling the faces with smiles, laughter, and Amens.
The Coates family expressed their profound gratitude for the accolades and kindness shown in honoring “this remarkable individual,” their father and grandfather, with a street marker. The family acknowledged that “this event reflects the love and respect we hold for the Rev. Coates and serves as a testament to his impact beyond his family circle.”
The ceremony concluded with the crowd, led by Mayor Whitmire and the Coates family, walking just a few steps from the church to the street marker. The cloudy skies opened up to a ray of sunshine as the marker was unveiled, and
onlookers celebrated this historic occasion. This commemoration is not just about remembering the past; it is about inspiring the future. Every glance at the street marker shows the symbol of the Rev. Coates’ enduring legacy in front of the Wesley church building. The structure will be repurposed into the Gospel Music Haus and Museum. The museum will be the cornerstone of the future Gospel Square, a mixed-use development featuring affordable housing, a café, and a recording studio. What better place to honor the name of the Rev. E. E. Coates than during this full circle moment?
Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Edward Erias Coates, and the Third Ward community in Houston, Texas, will be forever inextricably linked. ❏ ❏ ❏
In these tumultuous times, I often wonder what will happen. Divisiveness is pervasive, not only in geographic areas of the country but also within families, neighborhoods, and churches. The chorus to a song by J.B.F. Wright and Lonnie B. Combs says, “Precious mem’ries, how they linger, How they ever flood my soul; In the stillness of the midnight, Precious, sacred scenes unfold.” The song is “Precious Memories.” I am sure there are many times as we mature we look back on times when families, neighbors, and churches were all linked seamlessly.
Growing up in a neighborhood was “an entire family experience.” Every adult in the neighborhood played a part in our childhood and teenage development. There were elders to whom we could go for guidance and just a welcoming, listening ear when we thought no one was hearing what we were saying. Some would chastise us when they saw us doing things that would lead to severe consequences. I remember my mother telling each of us…. “Anyone over the age of 21 has access to your behind.” We knew what that meant! If caught doing anything improper, any adult in the neighborhood could correct us, either verbally or physically. Though corporal punishment is unacceptable today, verbal admonishing can have the necessary effect. I remember one incident quite vividly. As I walked home from school, Ms. Mamie Reed called me while crooking her index finger, “Come here, boy!” Seeing her finger and the tone of her voice, I knew what was coming. “I heard you cut up in school. You know better. The next time I hear about you doing anything unrelated to school, you and I will have business.” All I could do was say, “Yes, Ms. Mamie.” When my mother came home from work, she told me what Ms. Mamie had told her and proceeded to take, in my case, the necessary corrective action.
The family/neighborhood was linked to the church. I grew up in the Smoketown neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, in the 1950s and 1960s. It was an area of workingclass people of many ethnicities, and there
were churches of different faiths; however, the families of other faiths worked together to aid the families of the neighborhood, which needed assistance. There was no distinction of ethnicity or religion. The family/neighborhood
needed help either financially or socially. One specific activity the churches of Smoketown would do every summer is coordinate Vacation Bible Schools. By not overlapping dates and times, there were, during the summer months, places for the children to go during the day during the summer months. This would provide supervised religious instruction, activities, and lunch for the children of the neighborhood. The parents knew their children were supervised and secure while they were working.
As I approach the midpoint of my seventh decade of life, I reflect on these “precious memories,” hoping with a relinking of family, neighborhood, and church, the “divisiveness” that is so preeminent in our society will bring to those who follow me in age ‘precious memories’ of a world of ‘togetherness.’ In the stillness of each of our lives, the memories of days past will emerge as vivid hopes of a brighter future for families, neighborhoods, and churches. ❏ ❏ ❏
A Tribute to Peter Allen: A Litany
Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., #115
Leader: There has not been a war fought in which the United States did not call black citizens to arms, and they did not enlist to fight for the love of country to prove their honor — to earn respect, for equality of citizenship, for inclusion and diversity — risking life and limb for a state and nation that often refused to love them back. Among such volunteers was Peter Allen, fifer and fighter.
People: We hail his memory; we salute him for his sense of vocation.
Leader: Peter Allen, son of the venerable Richard Allen, founder and first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, wh ose image adorns a Forever postage stamp with authority to move the United States mail, and Mrs. Sarah Bass Allen, his mother. Like strong parents-like son, the fruit never falls far from the tree.
People: We hail his memory; we salute him for his vision.
Leader: Peter Allen, a free black man from Philadelphia, who, by way of Huntsville, Alabama, at the risk of being apprehended and enslaved, volunteered for military service and fought for Texas, to be . Peter Allen, a passionate patriot with dignity and honor, served heroically for the territory known as Texas, the Lone Star state. May Peter Allen’s name, alongside the names of his equally heroic and courageous compatriots, be forever etched among the heroes of Texas and the United States.
People: We honor his memory; we salute him for his valor.
Leader: On this day, a Palm Sunday in 1836 (March 27), Peter Allen, musician, and soldier, died by execution as a prisoner of war alongside his fellow captured comrades in the Texas Revolution against Mexico. To save his life, he could have “honored” the request of his captors by playing “Home Sweet Home” on his flute. Instead, he chose to die with dignity, with an “honor” concomitant to his commitment, devotion to duty, and fealty to his fellow soldiers’ mission.
People: We honor his memory; we salute him for his courage.
Leader: Peter Allen, a son of the parsonage, a disciple of the church, and a preacher’s kid, raised to believe God in Christ an d the hope and promise of true liberation, even in a nation that resisted it. Named for the biblical Peter, apostle of Christ, who held the “keys to t he kingdom,” Peter Allen holds the “keys” to a piece of history long ignored.
People: We honor Allen’s witness, his faith, and his hope. His life and death inspire our own lives. On a Palm Sunday, 1836, Pe ter Allen died. On this Palm Sunday, we remember. “Soldier of Christ, well done.”
James AME Church.
For Governor Moore, this visit to Columbus, Georgia held a special significance. At 17, he arrived via Fort Benning after enlisting in the Army. Now, returning as a distinguished leader in his own right, Governor Moore’s journey from humble beginnings to great heights serves as a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and dedication.
Elected and appointed officials from all levels of government were present to warmly welcome Governor Moore, recognizing the importance of his visit to historic St. James AME Church. Among the distinguished guests were members of the local chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, who presented Governor Moore with a token of appreciation for his exemplary leadership and service to the community.
During the service, the second Sunday of March was celebrated as YPD Sunday at St. James AME Church. The YPDers, filled with enthusiasm
and dedication, took charge of the service and presented Governor Moore with the chautauqua. Their heartfelt performance moved Governor Moore, who expressed his admiration and gratitude by greeting each of the young participants and offering them words of encouragement.
Following the worship service, Governor Moore joined the congregation for a group photo, capturing the spirit of unity and fellowship that defines historic St. James AME Church. The photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the historic occasion and the enduring bonds of faith and community that unite us all.
Reflecting on Governor Moore’s visit, Pastor B. A. Hart, senior pastor of St. James AME Church and a fellow member of Alpha Phi Alpha, commended Governor Moore for his humility, honesty, and heart for service. Pastor Hart drew parallels between Governor Moore’s journey and the biblical narrative, emphasizing the transformative power of God to elevate lives from
humble beginnings to great heights.
“In the Bible, we see the ability of God to take a life of humble beginnings to great heights, and this is displayed in Governor Moore,” Pastor Hart remarked. “Governor Moore lets his work speak for him; his humility, honesty, and heart for service are key traits for any public servant. St. James is a historic church; this was a historic occasion, and Governor Moore was well-received. I’m proud of and praying for my brother, for it doth yet appear...”
As the echoes of Governor Moore’s message continue to resonate within the walls of historic St. James AME Church, the congregation remains inspired by his example of leadership, integrity, and dedication to service. Governor Moore’s visit will forever be cherished as a momentous chapter in the rich tapestry of the church’s history, reaffirming the timeless values of faith, community, and hope that continue to guide and sustain us all.
...From St. James AME p1
Under the leadership of the Reverend Carolyn Cavaness, the AME Farm/Garden Initiative, in partnership with the Black Church Food Security Network (BCFSN), has been addressing localized food insecurity. Since 2016, BCFSN has supported churches across the United States in establishing gardens, hosting mini-farmers markets, and connecting churches with black farmers. Through this partnership, AME churches received $500 grants to assist in garden startup or upkeep.
Since the inception of this collaboration, the AME Farm/Garden Initiative has cataloged over 100 gardens within the Connectional church, spanning the United States and Africa. Below are a few highlights of these gardens:
San Antonio Million Garden Project: Under the leadership of Presiding Elder Dr. Raymond Bryant, churches in the San Antonio District have mobilized around the mission of “changing the world one garden and one life at a time by teaching people to grow, cook, and eat healthy food.” Their vision is “to build stronger, healthier, and more vibrant communities by overcoming food insecurity.” Drawing inspiration from 3 John 1:2, the San Antonio Mi llion Garden Project has established 12 gardens at churches and community sites over the past two years. Additionally, they have delivered, set up, and planted 175 garden beds in private homes in the last nine months.
Bethel AME Ardmore Victory Gardens: The Bethel Community Garden was started in 2017 by the Rev. Carolyn Cavaness and members of the congregation in partnership with Trellis for Tomorrow. Originally a 288-square-foot space with six raised beds and an in-ground drip system, it has grown into a network of community gardeners and 50 gardens known as the Ardmore Victory Gardens. Volunteers from Bethel provide ongoing technical support, seedlings, and garden beds to members of the network. In 2024 alone, the Bethel Community Garden has produced nearly 1,000 pounds of food, all distributed to the community through local food banks at no cost. For more information, visit Ardmore Victory Gardens.
Thabitha Forage Farm at Paul Quinn AME, Eswatini (also known by its former name, Swaziland): Upon learning about the AME Farm/Garden Initiative, Sis. Tsakasile Ndlangamandla saw an opportunity to enhance food security, create jobs for young and elderly community members, and foster intergenerational fellowship. With funding and support from Bishop Francine Brookins and Supervisor Dr. Miriam Burnett, the Tha bitha Forage Farm was established. In April 2023, the farm completed its first harvest of oyster mushrooms, which have become a vital commodity for local markets and restaurants.
As a food scientist and food systems developer, I firmly believe investing in local food production and distribution can mitigate risks associated with global supply chain disruptions and enhance food security. As a connectional church historically rooted in underserved communit ies, we have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in innovatively creating a sustainable food system for the future. This effort can help achieve the global goal of zero hunger while promoting health and wellness in our communities. Join us in this endeavor!
For information about joining the AME Farm and Garden Initiative, contact the Rev. Carolyn Cavaness at amefarmfresh@gmail.com or register at AME Farm and Garden SignUp Form.
The Rev. Jennifer Oliver holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and has published peer reviewed articles in research areas including nutritional toxicology, food safety and security, colon cancer prevention, and functional foods. She is an itinerant elder in the 5th Episcopal District, serving on the ministerial staff at First AME Church in Pasadena, California.
San Antonio Million Garden Project setting up community garden at Grant Community AME Church.
Young adult farmers at Paul Quinn AME, Eswatini Thabitha Forage Farm.
Bethel AME Ardmore Victory Gardens.
Bishop Francine Brookins celebrating the first harvest of oyster mushrooms at the Thabitha Forage Farm.
4
An Annuity Controversy Did Not Begin in the Last Decade or Two
Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath
I was a youth clergy member of the General Board 1980-1984. In that quadrennium, a crusade for a better annuity/pension system found voice in the late Rev. Dr. Henry A. Hildebrand. The complaint was crystal clear: we need a system that affords participants the opportunity to direct at least a portion of their investment, and we need to invest with companies that pay higher interest.
Wherever money is involved, there are trust issues. When the church moved from a “pension” system to an “annuity” system, participants received statements reflecting deposits, fees, and balances. We “believed” the money was “ours” being held and invested by the church. We did not think the church could decide to give us less than what we contributed plus interest.
The “Connectional Church” was NOT necessarily the donor! Some pastors made the assessed “contribution to their annuity” out of their own pocket because the church could not afford it. Others sacrificed pay raises to secure their retirement compensation.
We were not always content with various aspects of administration, but the focus was on the returns on invested funds. Our annuity system was a salary-based, vested interest retirement plan, not an employer “pension” program where the “connectional employer” set aside funds to pay a variable “pension.” This was no longer the plan where administrators paid $50 per quarter (or some other amount) to those retired and less than $100 per year to widows. This was a better, more equitable approach to funding
retirements. If anything, folks saw it as a pooling of resources for better gain. The obstacles were limited available choices for investment, poor returns, and (yes) questions about who was being enriched by administrative fees–no bearing on the current situation (This is pre-2000.).
It seemed like a logical move to allow the Department to fund administration through various incentives, commissions, and financial perks that were common many years ago. However, rules and customs in the financial world are different today, and yesterday’s strategy is no longer feasible.
After forty years, can’t we get this right? There are those who have been on the General Board and delegates to general conferences for many of the last 40 years. Are you woke yet? Blind
God Cares: Lament Is Necessary - Part 1
Rev. Dr. Wanda C. Henry-Jenkins, Contributing Writer
loyalty kept questions and demands to a minimum. It took a secure person who was not seeking position to speak out in the 1980’s (Yes, it helped that his brother was a bishop. If you knew him and his bloodline, you can affirm that it was more his courage and integrity that ran deep.). Who will cry out in 2024?
In addition to the “Restoration,” we need a sound, secure, participant-involved, efficiently administered, productive annuity system. We need plan trustees who will heed reasonable participants’ wishes according to the law and block avenues for administrative personal gain and abuse.
Dr. Hildebrand would surely cheer on our current Wespath relationship. We are only halfway there, though. Please support efforts to reform the entire system and make our administration the best possible.
God, give us the will and the way! ❏ ❏ ❏
Historically, loss and lament have been companions of humanity since ‘the fall’ in Eden. From the moment Adam and Eve disobeyed God, loss was the result. First, they lost innocence and were ashamed of their nakedness. The couple lost trust and respect, blaming each other for their sin. They lost their home and the wealth of Eden. Ultimately, the greatest loss was their relationship with God. 1 One act of disobedience and the first couple lost everything.
Since then, loss has been a natural aspect of life.2 Humanity’s separation from God led to moral decline. This caused God great disappointment and resulted in God releasing a massive flood. Everyone and everything died. The world was destroyed, except for a remnant of humanity and animals to restore, reproduce, and repopulate the world. God covenanted never to destroy the world again. Yet, history reveals humanity has continued down a cyclical path of moral decay and separation from God. Consequently, death and loss were always present. Therefore, the need to address the sorrow and suffering was also necessary.
From ancient to modern-day societies, humanity has had many ways to address loss. Feeling the pain of grief and mourning the loss are important aspects of holistic healing. The final rituals, such as funerals, memorial services, and celebrations of life, are methods human beings use to help
acknowledge the loss of a deceased loved one. The process of mourning a loss can be long and difficult without social support. Many people participate in support groups.
Everything, including bereavement, has its season and is a part of the circle of life. 3 Loss will be integral to humanity until the second coming of Jesus Christ. The portrait of bereavement is vast and may present itself in multiple ways. It may occur because of poor health, the loss of employment, diminished wealth, a change in self-image, as well as mental health, geographic relocation, and spiritual decline. Regardless of how or why, loss is an event that changes the person and possibly the entire world. This is especially true when the loss is systemic worldwide, such as during the recent coronavirus pandemic.
Scholars, social scientists, psychologists, thanatologists, and theologians have always been
concerned with loss, grief, death, and dying.
In the latter half of the last century, serious research began on the effects of bereavement, grief, and mourning. Throughout the ages, people have been encouraged to move on after a loss without any method of going forward. With all the work that academic researchers and other professionals did in the latter half of the last century and this century, Americans still exist in a death-denying society where the bereaved are subjects of neglect. The seminal work of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross brought to light what most identify as the stages of grief: shock, denial, anger, guilt, and acceptance. 4 It is important to know that while many, including ministers, hold to this identity, Ross was not describing what individuals experience after the loss of a deceased loved one. She delineates the process of loss and grief the terminally ill experience as they approach the end of life. ...continued on p16
Ministering on the Margins: The Harsh Realities of Namibia’s Rural AME Churches
Rev. Albert E. Biwa
For ages, ministering in rural communities has represented a sacred calling. However, within the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, misconceptions about rural ministry and leadership in remote areas persist, frequently voiced by those lacking first-hand experience. Such assumptions cast doubt on their grasp of the immense sacrifices and challenges those serving rural congregations face. This illuminating discourse exposes the socio-cultural and socioeconomic obstacles confronting Christian leaders dedicated to r ural ministry, specifically focusing on rural churches within the Namibia Conference of the 15th Episcopal District of the AME Church.
The Namibia Conference encompasses five presiding elder (PE) districts, with only one located in an urban setting while the remaining four span rural territories. Consequently, 17 of the 33 charges within the Namibia Conference are situated in remote rural villages. These churches find themselves in the isolated expanse known as “Nama Land” in the vast Republic of Namibia. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the issues they face, I conducted an indepth assessment of eight rural churches across Namibia’s districts, with revealing findings shared herein.
Namibia is sparsely populated, with the 2023 census tallying 3,022,401 residents. While considered an upper middle-income country, stark inequality persists, as evidenced by an alarmingly high Gini coefficient of 0.56. Furthermore, a staggering 43.3% of Namibians are classified as multidimensionally poor according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index. Spanning fourteen regions inhabited by diverse ethnic groups, the rural churches under examination are concentrated in the Hardap and Karas regions.
Namibia’s 2023 population and housing census data reveals an accelerating rural-to-urban migration trend driven by persistently high unemployment rates and rampant poverty in rural areas. The nationwide unemployment rate currently stands at 19.63%. In these rural locales, economic activities constituting the primary sources of income are deeply limited - with subsistence farming accounting for a mere 2% in Karas and 3% in Hardap, while old age social pensions provide 6.8% and 13.3% respectively. This grim economic backdrop has profound ramifications for the AME Church’s rural ministries.
First, the eight rural charges examined in this study are scattered across villages of varying population densities, with only two exceeding 1,000 residents. Accessibility to these isolated churches is solely via gravel roads, which become treacherous during the rainy season – posing a serious challenge. Despite their remoteness, the churches benefit from being connected to the national electricity grid.
Second, church membership averages 151250 per charge, yet attendance is low at approximately 75 congregants per quarter. This infrequent gathering is necessitated by the daunting logistical hurdles. Demographic data
reveals that most households are two-parent families, surpassed only by child-headed homes where minors astonishingly serve as the primary breadwinners. In six of the eight charges, the overwhelming majority comprises the elderly, while younger demographics dominate the remaining two. Notably, church attendees are predominantly female and elderly.
Third, the economic drivers sustaining these villages are limited to farming and, in two cases, shebeens (liquor outlets). Consequently, church members’ primary income sources are farming and/or social pensions. Drought poses a severe threat, as it directly impacts agricultural productivity. Despite government drought relief efforts, only 30-75% of church members benefit, undermining their ability to profit from farming, contribute to church budgets, and maintain a reasonable standard of living.
Fourth, the average monthly income for most charges ranges from a meager $25 to $75, with only two exceeding $103. As a result, pastors receive no monthly stipends, housing allowances, or service benefits like health insurance or pensions. The highest-paid rural pastor earns just $53 monthly, while the lowest receives a mere $13 – alarmingly below the country’s $96 minimum wage for farm workers. This dire financial situation renders charges incapable of sustaining church budgets, let alone providing for their pastors. Exacerbating the crisis, donor assistance is scarce or non-existent, with only one charge reporting a one-time $500 donation. While four charges receive aid from the Council of Churches (CCN) for soup kitchens, merely three churches maintain active social programs: two soup kitchens and one kindergarten.
Fifth, Namibia’s rural areas recognize various traditional authorities. Fortunately, charges and church leaders experience relatively low
interference from these entities, except in two villages where the traditional authority wields prominent influence over the area and its cultural norms. In these cases, church leaders engage in mutually beneficial dialogue with the traditional authorities.
Sixth, the health of church members remains a pressing concern, with moderate to high rates of tuberculosis found in villages, although HIV/AIDS rates are reported as low. This has significant implications for the well-being of congregants, particularly the elderly who are especially vulnerable.
Finally, despite all eight churches having established buildings/sanctuaries, none possess parsonages or homes where serving pastors could reside or stay during visits. This compels pastors to seek accommodation with church members or convert their own homes into parsonages if they reside in the village. Compounding this challenge, the churches lack any vehicles at the pastors’ disposal, forcing many to rely on personal transport, taxis, or even hitchhiking to reach these rural areas and fulfill their pastoral duties. Furthermore, training church members remains arduous due to a scarcity of welleducated lay leaders. Only one village offers junior secondary-level education, while the remaining seven provide primary schooling, resulting in most members having only a 7 thgrade education.
Based on these findings, rural ministry in the Namibia Conference is confronted with dire and varied socio-economic challenges. The AME Church must introduce a housing agenda for Christian leaders, especially those serving churches in rural places. Furthermore, the church must introduce a robust minimum salary package sufficient to provide a dignified living for those ministering in rural areas. Moreover, cultivating dynamic partnership programs between churches in districts 1-13 and their counterparts in the Global Development Council (GDC) Districts is a necessity. The AME Church must fully embrace the transformative strength inherent in its Connectional model and organizational structures. The path forward demands transcending a narrow focus on individual excellence. Instead, the church must embody connectedness, expanding its reach to reinvigorate existing relationships and forge new, enduring bonds among AME members and congregations across the global Connection.
The SHIFT Leadership Program Celebrates 3 Years Impacting Pastoral Well-being
In this fast-paced and demanding world of pastoral ministry, clergy well-being is paramount. The pressures of leadership, the emotional toll of caring for others, and the challenges of balancing personal and professional responsibilities can all take a toll on those called to serve in pastoral roles. Recognizing the need for support and growth in this area, the SHIFT program, funded by the Lilly Endowment, began in 2020 as a transformative initiative to focus on enhancing pastoral well-being through self-awareness.
The SHIFT program is a unique and innovative approach to pastoral development that seeks to empower clergy to cultivate self-aw areness, deepen pastoral imagination, and enhance pastoral agency in ministry. Thr ough a series of mentoring cohorts, participants have engaged in reflective practices, explored their personal and vocational narratives, and developed the skills, insights, and resources necessary to navigate the complexities of pastoral leadership with grace and resilience.
Central to the success of the SHIFT program are the mentoring cohorts and small peer groups of clergy leaders who come together to support and challenge one another in their journey of self-awareness and growth. These cohorts provide a safe and nurturing space for participants to share their experiences, ask questions, offer insights, and receive feedback from their peers and mentors. Through this intentional community of practic e, participants build deep connections, foster mutual accountability, and experience the transformative power of shared learning and reflection.
Dr. Cynthia Parnell McDonald, SHIFT program project director, shares her insights, “At the heart of the SHIFT program is the belief that having access to exemplar pastors throughout our Connectional church through mentoring while having the peer support of colleagues is the cornerstone of healthy and effective pastoral leadership. By cultivating a brave, safe space for clergy to have real talk and support while cultivating a deep awareness of their own strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations, hearing the actual experiences of exemplar
pastors and clergy through mentorship, clergy are better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities that arise in ministry. It is truly an awesome experience!”
Through a holistic approach that emphasizes self-awareness, mentoring cohorts, and support, the SHIFT program is transforming the way pastoral leaders engage with their calling, their communities, and their well-being. Dr. Parnell McDonald comments, “The SHIFT program is making a significant impact in pastoral well-
This process was adapted and applied to describe the bereavement process in the aftermath of a beloved one’s death. Psychiatrist-thanatologist William Worden’s research suggests that grievers need to perform four tasks of mourning to work through the loss. The mourning tasks are to accept the loss as irreversible, to experience the pain, to adjust to an environment where the loved one is permanently absent, and to adapt and begin the process of reorganizing a new life. Worden espoused the theory that regardless of the nature or type of loss, the tasks are applicable to all forms of loss. Mourning is the psychological and social process of addressing the loss and experiencing the grief (pain) accompanying bereavement. This has also become the standard goal and outcome of most professional death educators and counselors.5 5 Ibid.
being by equipping clergy and lay leaders with the tools, insights, and support they need to thrive in their vocations. As clergy in the 6 th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church continue to seek opportunities for growth, support, and renewal in their ministry, we are very thankful for Bishop Reginald T. Jackson’s blessing to do this work. We celebrate the opportunity to stand as a beacon of hope and transformation in the journey toward flourishing and faithful leadership.” ❏
With grief work, this writer agrees more with Dr. Kenneth Doka, a thanatologist, gerontologist, and Lutheran minister, who said there are five “tasks of grief” for bereaved individuals. These are: acknowledging the loss; coping with pain; managing change; maintaining bonds; and rebuilding faith and/or philosophy.” 6 For the Christian, it is imperative that reconnecting with faith is included in the healing process. Without faith, trust in God, and a pathway to spiritually process the loss, grief, and mourning, there can be no promise of hope and healing. This writer believes that integrating Doka’s five tasks of mourning and processing them through biblical lament as a spiritual discipline will enhance and increase the effectiveness of helping the grieving among us to stay connected to God and experience spiritual transformation.
The Neglected Admonition of TheDoctrine and Discipline in the Church
Rev. Syphio A. B. Whack
I recently completed a well-taught class on Ministerial Ethics, which included the nine rules for pastors from the 2021 edition of The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church . Our assignment was to write a reflection paper on the nine rules.
we are to do so lovingly and plainly as soon as possible, or else it will fester in our hearts. Make all haste to cast the fire out of your bosom.
The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church teaches that it is not only our job to preach and take care of society but also to save as many souls as we can and to bring sinners to repentance and build them up on that holiness which without they cannot see the Lord. One of the main objectives of pastoral admonition is to restore people who have sinned to faithful obedience to God and full fellowship with the congregation.
should be a respectful dialogue that prayerfully helps the individual redirect their behavior voluntarily. Effective admonition must be addressed in the context of love and respect, ensuring that the individual feels valued and respected.
I chose to write about Rule Number Six because it is undisputable that many churches today lack the values of admonition and doctrinal discipline. Pastors must acknowledge this without hesitation or doubt. Pastoral Rule Number Six teaches that we are to tell everyone under our care what we think is wrong in his conduct and temper and that
Admonition, as defined, is the offering of counsel, warning, or instruction to someone. It should never be coercive, demeaning, or manipulative. Instead, it
The apostle Paul urged the Christian leaders at Thessalonica “to admonish them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.”
As a former pastor, when I needed to address an issue of discipline, I spoke words rooted in spiritual love, mutuality, and trust. I understood that my admonition of discipline would
...From God Cares p12 ...continued on p17
6 Kenneth Doka, Grief Is a Journey: Finding Your Path Through Loss. Atria Books
Check Your Life-Bag
Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, Columnist
I remember when my wife and other sisters from Allen went to South Africa for a denominational convocation for women. My spouse is super-organized (unlike me), and among her many gifts and talents, she can pack bags in a space-saving way. When she returned home, she told me several good sister friends came to her room to “inspect” her bag. They could not believe all of her outfits came out of one small piece of luggage.
It is possible to carry life bags overstuffed with past hurts, slights, bitterness, hate, bad memories, broken promises, and un realized dreams. The carrier of this heavy weight can build up strength (heart tolerance) by dragging their life-bags everywhere they go Once life-bags no longer seem burdensome, the carrier can become comfortable with this uncomfortable situation.
I want to put heavy life-bags one may be carrying, dragging, or having in storage on the scales of life and ask this question: Is the price of guarding, toting, or worrying about life-bags worth all the pain and suffering you experience? If you are looking at your life-bags in the same way, or perhaps in a different light, hang on— not to the handle, mind you, but to the following life-bag insights that can be transforming.
Life-Bag # 1
The contents of this life-bag were packed, as all life-bags are, at birth. It contains the total of the owner’s interpretation of their lived experience. The negative contents have a way of simultaneously shaping and misshaping how you deal with reality, as well as how others see you. Old hurts can cause new pains when you look in your life-bag and grow angry or confused. This constant action and reaction can render the thought of unpacking pointless.
not be effective if spoken in a loud, overbearing, or judgmental tone.
Years ago, one of my parishioners, who held a very prominent position in the church, relentlessly demeaned his wife in the presence of others. He did not seem to care who heard as he verbally abused her.
I invited him to my office for a “fireside chat” and spoke to him out of concern for his soul. However, he came with a defensive attitude and a spirit of blame. Well-conceived admonition, in most cases, will not elicit a defensive response. The receiver will welcome it. I patiently listened to him until he stopped his tirade. I then called him by his church title and his name and asked him two questions: (1) If he loved his wife and (2) if he would harm himself? These questions allowed me to fully explain the Word of God to him, found in Ephesians 5:25-33.
When confronting defensiveness, it
Life-Bag # 2
The contents of this life-bag are in total disarray, prompting the question, “Who packed this bag?” The sad answer is that the owner has allowed people to drop inside their personal disparaging opinions, negative thoughts, or stinging indictments. This extra weight is designed to minimize and hurt, giving the “dumper” a false sense of “lighter” superiority over the one duped into carrying unwanted biased weight.
Life-Bag # 3
When the owner peeks inside, the contents of this life-bag are unrecognizable. This “mystery bag” can lead the carrier to experience deep psychological issues that only a trained life-bag professional knows how to unpack and help reorganize.
Beloved, it is time to Check Your Life-Bag . It is
is important to address the issue in a way that allows for reconciliation. It is crucial to remember 1 Peter 4:8, which reminds us that “love covers over a multitude of sins.” As pastor, I refused to maintain the status quo and stay quiet because of his title or the fact that he and his family made up much of the congregation and were significant financial contributors to the church.
In his book Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry, Thomas C. Oden states, “Church discipline is thought to be an important part of the proximate purification of the church. Without it, how could one envision a church that hopes to stand in good conscience before the Holy One? The point: If the ministry does not constantly seek to surveil its standards and reform itself in the light of Christ, its mistakes compound, and havoc is created in the life of the church.”
Oden further stated that “the
time to empty old bits and pieces of what was you but is no longer you. Some items don’t fit because you have grown emotionally and spiritually. Get rid of “stuff” you no longer wish to wear, or is a mischaracterization of who you are, or blatant lies intended to belittle and malign you.
I remember being forced to check my life-bag in my twenties. I had created a complicated, multilevel thought apparatus designed to protect me from probes from others who may or may not have meant me harm. In retrospect, this compartment of my life-bag became too hard to maintain. I had to discover the “room-making” truth my wife knew about packing: Less can surely be more—as in more peace, more love, and more joy.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry. Matthew 11:28-30 ❏ ❏ ❏
other side of admonition is the redemptive concern for the person, the reformation of the misguided, and the restoration into fellowship of persons estranged from the body of Christ.”
I agree with Oden that the assumption is that individuals who join the Christian community do so voluntarily, wishing to share in the life of Christ and striving to embody Christ-like behavior. When this does not happen, is it not our responsibility to help nurture and support a redirection of behavior? Shouldn’t there be a process to encourage growth and a greater responsiveness to Christ?
It is my opinion that the pastoral office would be more trusted today if it had diligently maintained the task of admonition. As pastors and ministers of the Gospel, we must now endeavor more than ever, not to let it be said that we neglected to teach and admonish the doctrinal
truth of the Discipline . By doing so, we will inspire and motivate each other to come together in the unity of faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, as the written Word states in Ephesians 4:13.
In conclusion, trust in the pastoral office can be restored if we provide careful doctrinal admonition and discipline. A deeper comprehension of the role and a dedication to consistently uphold it are necessary to achieve this. These are necessary for the ministry to become excessively adaptable to the prevailing culture, which can undermine its impact. Therefore, choose to tell those under your care about their conduct and temper and refuse to allow it to fester in your heart. And make all haste to cast the fire from your bosom.
...From The Neglected p16
Come and Receive a Free Meal
Rev. Dr. Maxine Thomas, Columnist
*Reprint from March 2019*
Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)
My friend, have you ever felt left out? Has there ever been a time in your life when you did not feel a part of something? God is an inclusive God. And because God is not selective when giving out blessings, the Bible says, “Hear, everyone who thirsts…” You do not have to live in the ghetto and be on welfare to be thirsty. Just because you can eat at the finest restaurants and drive a Lexus, Lincoln, or Lesabre does not mean you do not get thirsty. If the truth be told, every now and then, we all get thirsty as we long for something more. I will bet some brother or sister thought that if the Lord blessed them with a mate, everything would be all right—that their loneliness would go away. What are you thirsting for?
God said, everybody who is thirsty, come to the waters. I believe Jesus described these waters best as he engaged in conversation with “the woman at the well” in the fourth chapter of John’s Gospel. Jesus said to the woman, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). The waters God offers you will cool the fury of your tongue when you want to get someone told. These waters will extinguish the flames of the lust of the flesh. God’s living waters will spring up within your soul and cause the lame to walk and the blind to see. Your healing is in those waters. Your breakthrough is in those waters. Your miracle is in those waters.
The Prophet Isaiah says, “…and you who have no money….” God’s living and eternal water is not for sale. The food prepared to nourish your soul has no price tag and cannot be bought, bartered, or borrowed. God says to your thirsty soul, “…come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” While the pleasures of this life are varied and many, the extent of God’s blessings is not limited to the physical realm—which is soulish and will one day pass away.
The climactic expression of God’s blessing is experienced in the peace God gave you when mama passed away. You experience it in the height of joy that ignites the flames of eros in an undefiled marriage bed. You know you have living water when you go to lay your
religion down and get somebody told, but the Spirit of God just will not let you. How can you buy the kind of love that is patient, kind, and not irritable?
Sis, you can spend money on doctors, lawyers, video games, clothes, cars, and land. But God will give you peace that passeth all understanding. God will give you strength to hold on and hold out. God will give you love that will not leave when the sun rises. God gave you Jesus at no cost. And God will freely give you the precious gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Yes, come and get a free meal. You are loved.
Exhale
God has blessed me in abundance. As I experience the wonder of divine love, I realize I am better than blessed. There is no price for the air I breathe, the gentle breeze, and the beauty I see. There is no price for the meal I partake of that satisfies the longing of my soul. And so, I exhale the desire for things and am renewed in my quest for more of thee, oh Lord. ❏ ❏ ❏
Côte d’Ivoire Conference Votes to Leave Denomination
Heather Hahn and Chadrack Tambwe Londe
Côte d’Ivoire Conference members, meeting in a May 28 special session in Abidjan, unanimously voted for the conference to leave the United Methodist Church.
Two days later, in a briefing to local press, conference leaders in this West African country explained the reasons for the exit—namely, changes that the recent international General Conference made to the Book of Discipline , the denomination’s governing document.
Côte d’Ivoire members especially objected to the removal of the Discipline ’s longtime stance against homosexuality and the broadened definition of marriage to include a man and a woman or two consenting adults.
“The change of language related to sanctions in the 2016 Book of Discipline is a serious departure from the Wesleyan principle that bases the Methodist Church on two key pillars: doctrine on the one hand and discipline on the other,” said the Rev. Isaac Bodjé, Côte d’Ivoire Conference secretary, reading a statement in French on behalf of the conference. French is Côte d’Ivoire’s official language, with another 60 indigenous languages also spoken in the country.
Even with the vote, the Côte d’Ivoire Conference has not yet left the United Methodist Church—which it officially joined 16 years ago. It is also unclear if any Ivorians or church members in Côte d’Ivoire’s mission areas in Senegal, Cameroon, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau plan to remain United Methodist.
The United Methodist Council of Bishops announced on June 5 that it is working with the conference’s leadership on the next steps. Bishop Benjamin Boni oversees the
conference. However, due to illness, he was unable to respond to United Methodist News inquiries and did not speak at the briefing.
“While we grieve Côte d’Ivoire Conference’s
decision to separate from The United Methodist Church, we commit to work with them through the process of becoming an Autonomous Methodist Church,” Council of Bishops President Tracy S. Malone said on behalf of the bishops. She also leads the East Ohio Conference.
“While we are not all of one mind in all things, the strength of our connection is love, respect, compassion, and a shared commitment to faith in Jesus Christ.”
The bishops’ statement also noted that the General Conference’s removal of the Discipline ’s restrictive language related to LGBTQ people does not force pastors or churches to act contrary to their conscience. Conferences can also make decisions in their missional contexts.
The United Methodist Church spans four continents and operates in multiple legal, linguistic, and cultural contexts. The Côte d’Ivoire Conference is one of 133 United Methodist annual conferences—organizational bodies—spread across Africa, ...continued on p21
Europe, the Philippines, and the United States. Annual conferences, including Côte d’Ivoire, elect the delegates who serve at the General Conference.
United Methodists also long have held varying interpretations of the Bible on matters of marriage and homosexuality.
Recognizing these differences and others, the General Conference moved forward with a plan for what United Methodists call regionalization. Under the legislation, the U.S. and each central conference — church regions in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines consisting of multiple annual conferences — would become regional conferences with the same authority to adapt the Book of Discipline for missional effectiveness. However, for regionalization to take effect, it needs to be ratified by at least two-thirds of the total annual conference voters around the globe.
Bodjé, in a statement on behalf of the Côte d’Ivoire Conference, cites regionalization as one reason the conference voted to leave.
“Regionalization would have been a good model of geographical division, welcomed by all if it had not been filled with derogatory, incongruous, and scandalous content,” he said in French. He was referring to varied policies related to same-sex marriage and gay ordination that would be allowed under regionalization.
Bodjé also said the conference took issue with the apology read at the General Conference for sexual misconduct within the church. However, this appears to be based on a misunderstanding. Ivorian General Conference delegates heard the statement as an apology to LGBTQ people. However, the apology — submitted by the denomination’s Commission on the Status and Role of Women — was to victims and survivors of sexual violence and harassment.
The Côte d’Ivoire Conference’s decision to leave comes after the debate over the place of LGBTQ people in church life, which already has led about a quarter of U.S. congregations to depart the United Methodist Church under a provision added by a special General Conference in 2019. The recent General Conference ended that disaffiliation policy, instead leaving it up to individual annual conferences to determine how to handle a congregation’s exit.
Nevertheless, the General Conference left untouched the multistep process laid out in the Discipline ’s paragraph 572, which enables conferences outside the United States to become autonomous—essentially to form a separate denomination.
Four Eurasian annual conferences—encompassing congregations in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan—followed that process and received approval at the recent General Conference to leave and form the autonomous Christian Methodist Church. Eurasia’s departure will become official in April next year.
The Council of Bishops said conversations are underway with Côte d’Ivoire Conference leaders to begin the process outlined in Discipline paragraph 572 so that the conference might become an autonomous church.
The Methodist Protestant Church of Côte d’Ivoire was already autonomous when it sought to join the United Methodist Church. It previously had been part of the British Methodist Church before it left and became autonomous in 1985.
The union with the United Methodist Church happened first provisionally in 2004 and then fully in 2008.
Boni, elected the Côte d’Ivoire church’s president in 1998, spearheaded the effort that led to Côte d’Ivoire becoming an annual conference within the United Methodist Church.
“The most important thing to me is to be part of a big family — the family
of Christ Jesus — and the big mission that John Wesley started,” Boni told United Methodist News in 2018. Boni is set to retire as bishop at the end of this year.
From the moment it joined, the Côte d’Ivoire Conference was among the biggest in the United Methodist Church. But just how big has long been difficult to ascertain.
When it provisionally joined in 2004, the Methodist Protestant Church of Côte d’Ivoire said it had 1 million members. Subsequent surveys by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries tallied 677,355 members.
The General Council on Finance and Administration, the United Methodist finance and data-collection agency, an nually asks all of the denomination’s annual conferences to report their membership data.
In 2016, the Côte d’Ivoire Conference journal submitted to GCFA showed contradictory information. The journal said the conference had a membership of 1.2 million, but numbers reported individually by districts — subdivisions of annual conferences — added up to about 198,000.
The conference has not submitted a journal to GCFA since then.
Based on the most recent data reported to GCFA as of 2022, the United Methodist Church has about 5.4 million members in the United States and about 4.6 million in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines. That total includes the 1.2 million reported by the Côte d’Ivoire Conference.
GCFA also collects conference apportionments — requested shares of giving — that support the denominational budget. United Methodist conferences in the U.S. pay the bulk of apportionments, which are distributed among seven funds that support denomination-wide ministries. Conferences in Africa, Europe, and the Philippines contribute only to two apportioned funds — one that supports bishops and another that supports global administration, including the General Conference itself.
In 2023, the Côte d’Ivoire Conference paid $32,400 in apportionments — about 6.1% of the $528,404 requested. The average annual cost of a bishop who serves in Africa is about $210,000. That amount includes not only the bishop’s compensation but also travel expenses, housing allowance, and support for the bishop’s office staff.
But beyond the numbers, there is shared ministry. Over the past 16 years, the church in Côte d’Ivoire has partnered with United Methodists around the globe in developing ministries that support food distribution, education, malaria prevention, clean water access, economic development, and evangelism.
The Côte d’Ivoire Conference, the Texas Conference, United Methodist Communications, and the denomination’s Board of Higher Education and Ministry teamed up to finance and launch a Christian radio station in 2009. The Voice of Hope — called “La Voix de L’Espérance” in French — continues broadcasting a Gospel message. It also has served as a model for United Methodist broadcasting around the globe.
Hahn is an assistant news editor for UM News . Londe, who transcribed the Côte d’Ivoire Conference video, is a communicator and UM News correspondent in Congo. Contact them at (615) 7425470 or newsdesk@umnews.org.
My Dad Was My First and Best Role Model. Thank You, Dad!
James B. Ewers Jr., Ed.D.
Father’s Day was June 16, 2024. This column is dedicated to my father and to all fathers who are making a difference in their children’s lives.
My dad was there when I went to bed at night and when I woke up each morning. He was always there leading our family. Upon reflection, I probably took my dad’s presence for granted. I never had to wonder if my dad was coming home. It never occurred to me growing up that I would have to ask my mom where my dad was. My dad passed away many years ago, yet I never had doubts or trepidation about him being in my life. The life lessons he gave me have stayed with me. He was a role model for me in every sense of the word.
My dad, Dr. James B. Ewers, was a dentist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was Jamaican and a graduate of the Howard University School of Dentistry in Washington, D.C. After graduating, he moved to WinstonSalem and met my mom. At the time, he was the only Jamaican in the city. (I cannot imagine what that was like.) He then sponsored my cousin, Wilfred Ewers, who became the second Jamaican in the city.
As I grew older, I saw that my dad was greatly
Philadelphia at the age of 8; she had acquired her freedom prior to marrying Richard Allen in 1801.
Richard’s dad became one of the black leaders in Colonial America. An accomplished writer, he published books, tracts, and sermons while serving as a minister and educator until his death
respected and admired. People saw him as a leader and a difference-maker. People were always at our house, some just seeking counsel and a good word. On the humorous side, some were also intrigued by his Jamaican accent. I found myself at times being an unpaid interpreter.
My dad was a big man with kindness and gentleness wrapped inside him. He had character, integrity, and honesty, which I saw on display every day. Yet, as a boy, I probably could not have used those words to describe him.
Being from the West Indies gave my dad a keen sense of money and how to value a dollar. He also understood that not all his patients could pay him for his services. On occasion, he would take me horseback riding or bring food home. I later learned that this was how some of his patients paid him.
I can remember some of his long and exhaustive lectures like they were yesterday. I would sit on the couch, and he would begin.
It was important to him that I be respectful and
in 1831. His mom, Sarah Bass Allen, was active in reform activities until her death in 1849.
In 1835, Peter Allen moved from Philadelphia, where most of the black population was free, to Huntsville, Alabama, where less than 1% of the entire black population was free. We don’t know the reason for his move to this area, but we do know that it was very dangerous for a free black to move freely in the South. While there, he met and married a slave named Mary. Despite the danger, the events that unfolded in October 1835 suggest that Peter Allen had gained some acceptance by the white community of Huntsville.
There had been appeals published in several Alabama newspapers, including the Huntsville Southern Advocate , calling for men to aid the people in Texas. On October 31, 1835, an
that I not get into any trouble. I can recall his words, “Jimmy, my boy, if you get into any trouble, don’t call me.” As a young boy, you can imagine the thoughts I had when he uttered those words.
Knowing that he meant what he said made me apprehensive. Well, it worked. Would he have come to my aid? I believe so. However, I never had to find out. He was never called by any official at any level about his son getting into mischief. My father emphasized education. I always knew I was going to college because my parents talked about it very early in my life. It was simply where I was going.
There is not a day that I do not think about my dad. He gave me the foundation and the fundamentals for successful living. I am thankful to God that he blessed me with him.
Sunday, June 16, 2024 was Father’s Day. If your father is living, I hope you celebrated with him; if he is not, remember him with fondness.
organizational meeting was held in Huntsville, and a volunteer company was formed. Although he was a free black who had only recently arrived in the city, Peter Allen was welcomed into the company as a musician as it departed Huntsville on Sunday, November 8, 1835.
A steamboat transported the twenty volunteers, including Peter Allen, on the Tennessee River and into the Ohio River before stopping at Paducah,
...From Remembering p1 ...continued on p25
When God Pushes Our Space
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., Columnist
As pastors and resident theologians, we are used to hearing from God. As a pastor for over thirty years, I have spent time with God in prayer and meditation. Sometimes, God speaks as a small still voice, but sometimes, God shouts at us to do God’s bidding and God’s ministry. My space has been pushed, and I am sure and understand this push of God.
First, when God pushes our space, he always provides support and people to aid the process. This is a confirmation that God is with us as he pushes our space. This push is a source of immense joy and fulfillment when we allow God to move in our space, place, and spirit. I am grateful for the itinerant ministry of our Zion. Why? Because God will push us to speak to the needs of the community. It is a joy and a responsibility to be pushed into our space. The joy is when we know we are making a significant difference, with God’s help. It is a responsibility, because if we do not do it “the blood will be on our hands.” Lord, I do not want to be under judgment when I can do better.
Second, we must be obedient when we feel God’s push on our lives. We are the only hands and feet that God has for kingdom building. I feel the push, and I am listening to God’s voice in my ear. Do you hear God’s voice in your ears? Has God pushed your space? Well, God is pushing
...From Remembering p24
my space now. The tears flow, the nights get long, and the eyes see beyond our vision, this God pushing our space.
Lastly, be thankful when God is pushing our space. God pushes our space when he needs us to make a difference. The gifts and talents we
possess are not ours to keep, but they belong to God. He has entrusted them to us, and our debt is to use these gifts for the kingdom. The push and the press on our space means that God is calling us to service in his name. As I write about the push of God on our space, I am being pushed to do something for the kingdom. I am being summoned by God to make a difference in the community I presently serve. The push is so clear I can see it, taste it, touch it, and believe in the reality of the vision. As I continue to go into my prayer closet and close the door, remember we cannot run away from the push of God.
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., columnist is the pastor of Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Amite, Louisiana.
Kentucky, for two days. There, Peter Allen and his small group of volunteers marched through the streets, played music, made speeches, and exhorted the local men to join them before continuing their journey down the Mississippi to Natchez and overland to Nacogdoches. They arrived in Texas in early December and mustered into the service on Christmas Day, 1835. They were dispatched to Goliad and joined the volunteers at Refugio in late January 1836. He participated in the battle of Coleto Creek under Fannin.
The night before the massacre, Capt. Shackelford, the commander of the Red Rovers, recalled that the musicians in the troop played “Home, Sweet Home” on their flutes, as many of them shed tears down their manly cheeks. Palm Sunday, the men were awakened at dawn by their guards and led out in different directions; shortly after, Shackelford heard shots and screams of men as they were being executed. Later that day, the Mexican soldiers burned the corpses.
Peter Allen was one of these corpses that were burned. Later, his siblings in Philadelphia, who claimed to be his only heirs, obtained title to 4,036 acres in Texas. Later, his wife, Mary, proved her marriage and filed a claim as well. His heirs in Philadelphia objected, but after a court battle that ended in the Texas Supreme Court, Mary Allen’s claim was confirmed, and the suit against her by Allen’s heirs in Philadelphia was dismissed.
A group from the San Antonio District, Southwest Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was at the Fannin Monument on Palm Sunday at 4:30 p.m. to hold a service of remembrance for Peter Allen. ❏ ❏ ❏
Transitions
Randolph Scott, Jr. (1944-2024)
Born on April 17, 1944, to Randolph Scott, Sr. and Mary Emma (Roberts-Scott) Logan in McKreesport, Pennsylvania, Randy was raised in Clariton, Pennsylvania, with his siblings. Randy attended West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he earned his B.A. in Liberal Arts, and then went on to West Virginia University to obtain his M.A. in Educational Administration.
After graduation, Randy went on to actively serve in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, where he earned the rank of captain and received the Distinguished Service Award before being honorably discharged in 1971 after six years of service. Proud of who he was and where he came from, Randy braved discrimination as a young black man in the service. His formative experiences inspired a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others and shaped the direction of an illustrious professional career.
Driven by his calling, Randy served as a human resource administrator and commissioner for several private-sector and public health-related organizations, eventually earning the senior professional in human resources (SPHR) title. His work would take him across the country and then the world, the locations of which he proudly pinned on a globe. Randy served as vice president of Human Resources for Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco and finally as the office of the president’s executive director for human resources for the University of California. Randy would bring focus and discipline, and instill a culture of integrity in all these roles. After he felt he had sufficiently laid the groundwork for his proteges, Randy “retired”—as many men claim to—but continued to serve.
Randy was active both locally and nationally, serving as a senior executive HR consultant to the Institute on Aging in San Francisco, a commissioner and president of the Health Services System Board of Directors for the city and county of San Francisco, a retired trustee of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, and a past president of the Northern California Human Resource Management Association.
Randy Scott was a member and past regional officer of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and was recently elected archon emeritus of the Beta Upsilon Boule΄. He was also the first African
American to be initiated into the Theta Xi Fraternity.
Randy was just as spiritually entrenched as he was secularly acclaimed. As a compassionate leader of the Bethel AME Church of San Francisco, Randy served as a member of the Sons of Allen, the Board of Trustees, and the Bethel Heritage Foundation Board of Directors. He previously served as the lead lay delegate from the California Conference to the 49 th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, a 5 th District delegate to the 50 th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, California Conference lead lay delegate, and the 5 th District lay delegation leader to the 51 st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference. At the time of his death, Randy was president of the California Conference Lay Organization.
As impressive as his resume is, what he has done is not nearly the sum of what he was but a sampling of the wonderful breadth of experiences and the excellence he exemplified.
In addition to his parents, Randy was preceded in death by his brother, Dandridge J. Scott, and halfbrother, Michael J. Scott. Randy is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Mrs. Bettie Davis Scott; his daughters Patrice Davis and Diane (Brian) Davis-Weeks; and their six grandchildren: James Powell, Jessica Flanagan, Jonathan Williamson, Kristen (Zack) Williamson, Angelica Davis, and Briana Davis. Randy is also survived by his siblings, Dr. Bradley (Kathleen) Scott, Raymond (Desnice) Scott, Eric J. (Stephanie) Scott, Melissa A. (Kevin) McGuire, and a great host of nephews, nieces, extended family, and friends.
Memorial services will occur at Bethel AME Church on June 7, 2024, at 10 a.m. PST, 916 Laguna St., San Francisco, California 94115. A repast will be held at Bethel AME immediately following the memorial. Please send floral arrangements to Randy Scott c/o AME Bethel Church, 916 Laguna St., San Francisco, CA 94415. Condolences may be sent to the family at 1700 California Street, #807, San Francisco, CA 94109.
The Reverend Dr. Randall L. Webster was born on April 13, 1961, to the late Reverend Leland H. Webster and Annie M. Webster. At the time of his death, he was the senior pastor of Bethel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in
Columbia, Tennessee, following eight impactful years as the pastor of Woodfork Chapel AME Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Throughout his tenure, the Rev. Webster was instrumental in transforming lives, strengthening families, and fostering positive change within the community.
The Rev. Webster’s journey in ministry began in 2010 when he answered his calling and delivered his trial sermon at Wayman Chapel AME Church in Columbia, Tennessee, under the guidance of his father, the Rev. Leland H. Webster. His pastoral appointments have included serving at St. James AME Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and previously at Woodfork Chapel AME Church before assuming his current role at Bethel Chapel AME Church.
Educationally, the Rev. Webster earned his Master of Divinity (Cum Laude) from Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio, in 2013. He furthered his academic pursuits by attaining a Doctor of Ministry from Payne Theological Seminary in 2021.
Before entering the ministry, the Rev. Webster dedicated 26 years of exemplary service to the United States Air Force, achieving the highest enlisted rank of chief master sergeant. During his military career, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Studies from the University of Maryland and a Master of Human Resource Management from Webster University. His last assignment at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia saw him lead a team responsible for overseeing military human resource actions for a vast number of service members and their families.
Beyond his professional and pastoral commitments, the Rev. Webster remained deeply engaged in community service. He was the district coordinator of the 13 th Episcopal District Sons of Allen and recording secretary for the Connectional Sons of Allen. The Rev. Webster also contributed his expertise to various civic organizations, including as vice-chairman of the Maury County Regional Planning Commission and his previous chairmanship of the UT/TSU Extension Advisory Council and the Mount Pleasant Planning Commission.
In addition to his diverse professional and community involvements, the Rev. Webster found joy in personal pursuits such as golfing, hunting, fishing, and tending to his mini-farm. His life is guided by his motto since his youth: “If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody how they’re traveling wrong, then my living shall not be in vain.”
The Rev. Webster transitioned on June 20, 2024. He is survived by his wife, Betsey P. Webster, formerly of Melbourne, Florida.
Leading Together: A Pastor and Layperson’s Reflections on Shared Congregational Work
Rev. Jason D. Thompson, Ph.D. and Ms. Jahna Nicks
Congregational life often resembles a sitcom, complete with quirky characters, unexpected plot twists, and the occasional theological cliffhanger. At the heart of this divinely inspired “dramedy” lies the delicate dance between pastoral authority and congregational participation – a relationship that can be both harmonious and harrowing. As a pastor and a lay member serving different congregations, our unique perspectives naturally led us into a conversation about areas of similarity and differing viewpoints on authority and decision-making in congregational work. While our reflections are certainly applicable to local congregations, we also believe they are timely and undoubtedly relevant as our denomination prepares for another General Conference.
Pastors are frequently portrayed as either sage advisors or bumbling fools, depending on the episode of “this week in church antics.” Pastoral authority comes from their theological training, ordination, and the trust their congregation has placed in them (Willimon, 2002). This authority grants them a unique perspective on faith and morality, enabling them to offer counsel and direction. They are expected to deliver inspiring sermons and counsel and occasionally work miracles.
However, this authority does not entitle them to absolute rule. In many denominations, such as African Methodism, congregational polity should resemble a democracy more than a dictatorship, with decisions often made through a blend of prayer, debate, and diplomacy. We pose a crucial query in this piece based on Jesus’ intention to form groups of leaders who would use collaborative leadership to advance the kingdom: How can clergy and lay foster this same spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility in our ministry contexts?
This shared governance model, as outlined in the Book of Acts and other New Testament texts, emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit guiding the church community as a whole. Pastors are not meant to be solitary decision-makers but facilitators of discernment and consensusbuilding. This theological foundation provides a framework for understanding the importance of pastoral leadership and congregational participation.
“In my experience,” Pastor Jason reflects, “the most effective ministry happens when pastors and congregants work together as partners, each contributing their unique gifts and perspectives. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be disagreements or challenges, but it does mean that we are committed to working through those challenges together, with mutual respect and shared commitment to the mission of the church.”
Ms. Nicks, speaking from her perspective as a lay leader, adds, “As congregants, we have a responsibility to not only share our ideas and concerns but also to support and encourage our pastors actively. At the same time, we need to recognize the unique burdens that clergy and lay carry and offer our prayers, encouragement, and grace in support of our collective partnership.”
This shared governance model, while biblically
sound, is not without its challenges. It can lead to moments of both brilliance and bewilderment. On the one hand, it allows for diverse voices and perspectives, ensuring that decisions reflect the collective wisdom of a range of members within the local church. On the other hand, it can also devolve into a theological version of the syndicated television show “Survivor,” with alliances formed, egos bruised, and the occasional insider knowledge weaponized.
Undoubtedly, pastors and other clergy leaders must navigate the treacherous waters of committee meetings, church politics, and the occasional passive-aggressive comment. “But these challenges are not unique to the church,” notes Pastor Jason. “They are simply a reflection of the human condition. The key is to remember that we are all on the same team, working towards a common goal.”
Ms. Nicks asserts, “And that goal is not just to build a successful church, but to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. When we lose sight of that, we lose our way.”
The congregational journey is fraught with challenges and imperfections, but these experiences ultimately provide opportunities for growth and transformation. By embracing the messiness of shared leadership and remaining grounded in our theological foundation, we can create communities that are effective and
faithful to the Gospel’s mission, which we hold as a tenet of our faith tradition.
The following questions are meant to help clergy and laypeople think about authority and decision-making in their shared congregational work:
Reversal Thinking Question:
1. If congregations had absolute authority over all decisions, with no pastoral leadership, what potential benefits and drawbacks could arise for the church’s mission and community life?
2. If pastors were solely responsible for all decisions, with no congregational input, what potential benefits and drawbacks could arise for the church’s mission and community life?
Cause and Effect Exploration Question:
3. What actions can both pastors and congregants take to foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility within the church? How might these actions lead to positive outcomes for both the individuals involved and the broader community we serve?
Personal Context Application Question:
4. Reflecting on your own church experience, how does the dynamic between pastoral authority and congregational participation play out in your specific context? What steps can you personally take, whether as a pastor or a congregant, to promote a healthier and more collaborative dynamic?
Willimon, W. H. (2002). Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. Abingdon Press.
The Rev. Jason D. Thompson, Ph.D., is pastor of Sacramento’s historic St. Andrews AME Church, the oldest black congregation on the Pacific Coast.
Ms. Jahna Nicks is steward pro-tem at Brookins AME Church in Oakland, California.
Are We Rethinking or Not Thinking?
Marlon D. Ector, D.Min., M.B.A., MS, CIS
As we eagerly anticipate the 52 nd Quadrennial Session of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a pivotal moment for our community, we stand at the precipice of great potential for transformation. This session presents a unique opportunity for all members to engage in influential conversations, take proactive measures, and make significant decisions. The need for change is pressing, and the urgency is undeniable. Are we committed to rethinking or content with the status quo (not thinking) and shying away from embracing meaningful change?
Our churches currently operate without accurate membership data, relying on unreliable historical figures to inform their budgets. This leaves us with no option but to base our initial insights on anecdotal evidence. In today’s world, effective stewardship is not just a choice but a necessity to align resource management with our mission. Without careful management, resources may be directed in ways that no longer align with the mission. When devising the church’s budget, we must first define our mission and plans. Then, every ministry and department should propose practical budgets, with each expense assessed based on its contribution to our overall mission. We must recognize the importance of seemingly mundane expenses like utility bills and maintaining safe worship environments as integral to our mission. The budget must be scrutinized with practical perspectives, ensuring that every expense is justified and aligns with our mission. Even Jesus himself contended with this challenge in Luke 14:28, 29, when he clearly
states that you need to have a plan to count the costs, consider your resources, and make a wellinformed decision to finish the work.
After earning an MBA and gaining valuable experience in the corporate sector, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the importance of having a proper, balanced, and realistic budget. When we operate without one, we hamper our ability to provide proper planning, allocate resources for the future, and make wellinformed decisions. A budget is indispensable for church leaders, enabling them to allocate resources effectively, prioritize expenses, and make astute financial investments, ensuring accountability and transparency. To advance the mission of spreading the Gospel globally requires provisions for clothing, transportation, and financial support, and these needs persist today, if not more intensely.
In our esteemed church, we must believe
it’s possible to avoid downsizing, restructuring, and reorganizing when necessary. However, in the corporate world and our personal lives, we fully grasp this concept and make proper adjustments to ensure longevity. The church must reassess its current position and make significant sacrifices for its future. This requires adjusting personnel costs, divesting some of our buildings, and contemplating uniting congregations under one roof. It requires us to reorganize our departments and consider deploying ministers to support smaller congregations from larger church staffs. We must reconfigure the percentage of the budget each church contributes within the Connectional church.
In the end, we must have made tough decisions about the life of our Zion, which has a rich history, while rethinking our prosperous future without sticking to the status quo of our past. Pastor, Joseph Chapel AME Church, Chattanooga, Tennessee (13th Episcopal District)
Leading With Honour, Integrity, Obedience, and Faithfulness
Rev. Chaplain-General Monwabisi A. Jamangile, 15th Episcopal District
In pastoral leadership, as in the military, there is a demand for loyalty, faithfulness, honour, integrity, and obedience. A lifestyle that models loyalty, honour, integrity, faithfulness, and obedience to the Word is as important as convicted preaching of the Word. To this end, I want to use two biblical leadership models and explain why they ended in dismal failure.
The Word of God describes Samuel as a faithful man of honour, someone who God highly favoured. Yet we read in God’s Word that he ended his life and ministry in disappointment. Good beginnings do not guarantee good endings. It is possible to be faithful in ministry and yet close your life to disappointment. That is what happened to both Samuel and Eli. The sons of Samuel were not able to carry on their father’s ministry because they did not follow their father’s godly example. Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phineas, showed complete and total disregard for both the sacrificial system given by God in the law and for their own roles as priests/pastors within that system.
Rather than bringing honour to their own responsibilities, Hophni and Phineas used
their leadership positions to fulfill their fleshly worldly desires. Not only were Hophni and Phineas treating the sacrificial system with contempt, but they were also involved in sexual scandals in the house of God. Their actions involved more than just disregard for sacrificial customs and the cultural norms of their society; they were disregarding God and dishonouring God’s holiness. They wanted God for the crisis experiences of life but not in their daily ministry. They wanted God’s help but not God’s holiness. They did not know how to honour.
The Lord made it clear to Samuel, “They that honour me I will honour.” Samuel’s sons, the Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 8:2-3, Joel and Abijah, Samuel’s oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their fathers, for they were obsessed with greed for money; they were corrupt, and they accepted bribes and perverted justice.
Dishonesty is truly the enemy of integrity. They lacked the character, vision, integrity, and holiness that their father had. They were open to bribery even in the sanctuary.
Bribery erodes the very foundation of the law and the land. It perverts justice and provides offices
for dishonest people; it purchases favours and pacifies people without solving problems. The leader whose integrity is for sale is not fit to lead or govern. We have answered the call to lead in this sacred sphere, and therefore, we should conduct ourselves with integrity. Our moral law, the Ten Commandments, encapsulates honour. The first four deals with honour to God, and the second six deals with honour to man. It is impossible to honour God and at the same time show total disregard for the people of God.
Dishonour and disobedience lead to disaster.
To honour is to treat with respect and reverence who and what you are dealing with within the economy of God’s things. Leaders must earn respect. It is not something that we demand or learn. We earn respect by giving it. Our perceived value of something determines whether or not we will treat it with honour or dishonour. Honour is a biblical moral imperative.
The High Priority of Discipling Our Children
Joseph Parker, Dir., Outreach and Intercession/Radio Hostmore
4“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. 7Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. 8Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblemon your forehead, 9and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
1Listen, children, to a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching. 3When I was a son with my father, tender and my mother’s favorite, 4he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments and live. 5Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 6Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight (Proverbs 4:1-7).
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord,[a] for this is right. 2“Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise— 3“so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” 4And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1–4).
Parents carry their children in their hearts. Their children are very important to them and precious to them. As parents, we want the absolute best for our children in every area of life. A very important truth for all parents to remember is that the best we can give our children is Jesus. The greatest gift they can ever receive is Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus is eternal life. So, as parents, we are wise to do all we can to help and encourage our children to receive Christ as their personal Savior and Lord.
Once our child is saved, it is one the great responsibilities of Christian parents to disciple them. It is our calling from the Lord to help and guide our children to become strong, vibrant believers who love and follow Jesus Christ in their lives and lifestyles.
Why is this so important? We are commanded to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). This very important calling requires us to start with ourselves and then move directly to our families—our spouses and children. So, in
George Bernard Shaw, the English playwright, said to his students: “I would rather you fail with honour than succeed with fraud.” The Greek philosopher Sophocles said something similar centuries before to his students: “The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honour.” Proud and haughty leaders who are spiritually high-minded cannot honour. The Bible teaches us that “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). And when we fail to honour we dishonour! The word of God teaches us, “The fear of the Lord teaches man wisdom, and humility comes before honour” (Proverbs 15:33).
Honouring is an attribute of the humble.
considering the great responsibility of discipling our children, what can we do to effectively and practically carry out this important responsibility of helping their children begin to grow up in the Lord?
The following are some practical things—ideas and suggestions—Christian parents can do to help and encourage their children to know the Lord and grow in their faith.
❖ Pray daily with your children. Pray the Lord’s Prayer with them and allow them to lead. Pray Psalm 91 daily with them. Allow them to hear you call their name in prayer daily. Give your children incentives to memorize and learn Bible-based prayers.
❖ Model reading of the Word of God with your children. Have your child read no less than three chapters in the Word of God daily. You can find shorter chapters like Psalms or select a passage for younger children. For children who do not yet know how to read, let them repeat short chapters or passages after you. In addition, ask your child questions about the
Honour is a principle to be applied in all dimensions of life. First things first! Honouring God first, honouring God leads to honouring man. Because honouring God will always lead us to honouring the people of God, our level of honour can be seen by how we treat people. To honour is a very important principle in life. When we honour, we recognise the value and importance of a thing or person. When we honour we are fulfilling a biblical command and pleasing God, who himself said, “...Them that honour me I will honour...”
Jesus models the true nature of leadership by being a servant. Being a servant is not a stepping stone to greatness; being a servant is greatness!! Greatness is not something to be sought as an end
daily reading (This means you have to read the passage, too.). Ask about two or three important things that stood out to them.
❖ Teach your children to obey the Word of God. Teach them to be doers of the Word of God (James 1:22).
❖ Teach your children the meaning of each of the Ten Commandments. Have your children memorize and pray the Ten Commandments every day for the church and our nation.
Parents, we need to recognize this reality: Someone or something will disciple your child, one way or another. Certain people or things will capture your child’s attention, interest, and heart in this world. Some of these are celebrities, sports figures, television, the internet, cell phones, video games, and people they “meet” in chat rooms. Topics that they come across on the internet may captivate them and their mind and interest. And yes, these things can begin to “disciple” them. Some of these things can begin to mold their thoughts, thinking, and perspectives — about life and the world in too many wrong and twisted ways. The results can be tragic.
Consider sad incidents that you hear of too often in the news. Some include:
❖ A teenage boy was shot and killed by an individual as he tried to run away after stealing something.
❖ Elementary-age children attempt and sometimes succeed in committing suicide.
❖ Young people commit suicide after being bullied online or in school.
❖ Three young girls went off ...continued on p36
in itself. The pastoral leader who is ambitious to be great will probably never achieve greatness. Whereas the pastoral leader who is doing the job in present circumstances can be depended upon to do the job in the future faithfully. Faithful here and now, they will be faithful there and then! Faithful in little things, they will be faithful in big ones. Pastors listen! The best way to bring out the best in people is to serve them. God’s kingdom needs servants, not bosses! God still honours faithfulness.
The above is a portion of the speech, “Leading the Leaders in the Context of the 15th Episcopal District of the AME Church, “ delivered at the 15 th Episcopal District Planning Meeting in Worcester, South Africa, in December 2023 ❏ ❏ ❏
into the woods, and two of them tried to stab the third one to death.
❖ A teen recently walked into his school and murdered a number of his classmates.
Tragically, we could go on and on.
Where do children and youth get the ideas and thoughts to do such things? Too often, the Devil—through the internet and social media, TV, and movies—is discipling them in darkness. Too often, these young people are consuming darkness by the gallon. Some youth may attend church. But many of them, while they consume darkness and put so much negative info and ideas into their minds, may literally never, or
ECUMENICAL NEWS
Trump the Totem
Robert P. Jones, White Too Long
Like other fascist leaders, Trump has transposed himself from a man to a symbol. And that’s the danger.
The recent historic verdict is worth rehearsing. On May 30, 2024, Donald J. Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a crime. Twelve ordinary citizens unanimously found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an attempt to conceal hush money he paid to a porn star with whom he allegedly had an affair—all driven by a desire to protect his 2016 presidential campaign.
Following the verdict, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who had already made a public pilgrimage to the New York courtroom to undermine the legitimacy of the trial while the jury was still considering the evidence, continued to defend Trump and called for the U.S. Supreme Court to “step in.” Here’s the full context from an interview he gave Friday on Fox & Friends:
“There are a lot of developments yet to come, but the Supreme Court should step in; obviously, this is totally unprecedented. I think that the justices on the court – I know many of them personally – are deeply concerned about that, as we are. So I think they’ll set this straight. It’s going to take a while ... this will be overturned, guys, there’s no question about it, it’s just going to take some time to do it.”
Johnson’s boasts of personal relationships with and open partisanship among U.S. Supreme Court justices are deeply troubling. They build on the legitimacy problems the nation’s highest court is facing in the wake of recent stories that Justice Alito flew flags representing support for the January 6 th insurrection and white Christian nationalism at his primary residence and a beach house. That revelation, in turn, amplified previous confirmations that Justice Thomas’ wife, Ginni Thomas, was deeply involved in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election to keep Trump in office.
But ahead of a Republican fundraiser event in Peoria,
almost never, even open a Bible and read it.
Parents, we have much work to do in discipling our own children. We also have much work to do through the church to reach youth in our communities. We do not have to be fearful. We simply have to trust our heavenly Father and diligently be about God’s business. God can work through each of us as parents to help our children grow up in the faith and not fall victim to this world.
Not only can we help them avoid being victims of this wicked world, but we can also help them become kingdom warriors. As kingdom warriors, they can help bring Christ, the solution to all of the world’s problems, to a world that desperately needs him. ❏ ❏ ❏
Johnson said something even more disturbing in his continued defense of Trump.
“Trump,” Johnson said, “is not just our nominee, not just an individual running for president. I think now he’s seen as a symbol, a symbol of one who is willing to fight back against that corruption, the deep state, and all the rest.”
Given any number of other statements by Johnson, this comment may seem unremarkable.
But the transformation of Trump from a person to a symbol is the key to understanding the power of the MAGA movement and the internal logic of the upside-down world where a unanimous guilty verdict in a fair trial results in solidified support, record fundraising, and desperate Christian defenses of a convicted felon. [On the latter, see Al Mohler, president of the SBC’s flagship seminary: “Say what you will about Donald Trump and his sex scandals, he doesn’t confuse male and female.”]
Sociologists have used the term “totem” to describe the way symbols come to have a powerful unifying effect among groups. It struck me that this passage in Emile Durkheim’s The Elementary Forms of Religious Life vividly captures the internal dynamics of the circus-like Trump events that have become the mainstay of the MAGA movement.
“Now, the totem is the flag of the clan…. [The participant] does not know that the coming together of a number of men associated with the same life results in disengaging new energies, which transform each of them. All he knows is that he is raised above himself and sees a different life from the one he ordinarily leads. However, he must connect these sensations to some external object as their cause. Now, what does he see about him? On every side, those things that appeal to his senses and strike his imagination are the numerous images of the totem…. Placed thus in the centre of the scene, it becomes representative.
Deus Vult, An Appeal to Heaven, and other flags among the crowds at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Source: Uncivil Religion, The Smithsonian Institution and the University of Alabama.
“The sentiments experienced fix themselves upon it, for it is the only concrete object upon which they can fix themselves. It continues to bring them to mind and to evoke them even after the assembly has dissolved, for it survives the assembly, being carved upon the instruments of the cult, upon the sides of rocks, upon bucklers, etc. By it, the emotions experienced are perpetually sustained and revived.”
The MAGA movement, more than any in my adult lifetime, has spawned a multitude of transgressive and aggressive symbols. The proliferation of flags alone is remarkable: the ubiquitous blue Trump 2020, the “Trump is My President, Jesus is My Savior,” and the thin blue line. These commune with older flags resurrected with new meanings, such as the Tea Party’s “Don’t Tread on Me,” the insurrectionist’s inverted U.S. flag, and the Christian nationalist’s “An Appeal to Heaven.” And they whip alongside white supremacist flags that still mean what they have always meant, such as the Confederate flag and even Nazi flags.
sacrifices of fallen soldiers, insensitively mocking a disabled person— any significant misstep may be enough to break the magical, often fragile social spell that binds the person to the symbol.
However, authoritarian rulers such as Trump perform a sleight of hand that hides the distinction between candidate and symbol and fuses that projection with the state. As Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present and the Lucid Substack newsletter notes, an essential attribute of authoritarian rule is “the leader’s claim that he does not just represent the nation, as do democratic heads of state, but embodies it and bears its sorrows and dreams.”
Beyond the banners, a gleaming golden idol made in Trump’s image appeared at a Conservative Political Action Conference, clad in a coat and tie paired with American flag shorts and flipflops, holding the U.S. Constitution in one hand and a magic wand in the other. At the individual level, a plethora of hats, t-shirts, bumper stickers, digital art (often featuring Jesus and Trump), tattoos, and, of course, Trump’s “God Bless the USA” branded Bible flooded into public spaces.
This explosion of symbolic material was the result of the energy unleashed by the Big Bang of the MAGA movement. Yet, this chaotic cloud of symbols is only mediating objects of devotion, held in loose orbits around the gravitational force of Trump, transposed from man to totem.
It is true that every presidential candidate becomes, to some extent, a symbol. We read into their biographies and project onto their bodies a broader set of principles, values, and worldviews. But typically, in healthier times than ours, the connection between a candidate’s character and actions, on the one hand, and their idealized symbolic projection, on the other, remain visible and, therefore, functional. An illicit affair, a divorce (or two), business fraud, a racist remark, denigrating the
Trump has consistently sought to make this classic authoritarian move. During his acceptance speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention, Trump claimed, “I am your voice.” In 2019, Trump called himself “the chosen one.” More recently, Trump transposed his criminal trial into the persecution of his followers, saying:
“I’ve been very busy fighting and, you know, taking the bullets, taking the arrows. I’m taking ‘em for you. And I’m so honored to take ‘em. You have no idea. I’m being indicted for you…. And never forget our enemies want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom. And I’m never gonna let it happen. They wanna silence me because I will never let them silence you. And in the end, they’re not after me. They’re after you. I just happen to be standing in the way.”
When the leader becomes the totem, no transgression is capable of separating him from his acolytes. A totem can’t lie or be vulgar. A totem doesn’t have marriage vows that can be violated. A totem can’t sexually assault a woman. A totem can’t commit fraud. A totem can’t betray an oath to the Constitution. A totem has no innate human characteristics at all. It is a mirror, reflecting the collective fears and aspirations of the group, which both generate its image and receive it back reinforced.
Mike Johnson is wrong about the legitimacy of the trial, but he’s right that Trump has become much more than a political candidate for his followers. This is why Trump, the totem, much more than Trump, the man, poses such a unique danger to democracy and the rule of law.
Robert P. Jones is president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute and, most recently, author of TheHiddenRootsofWhite SupremacyandthePathtoaSharedAmericanFuture. This article first appeared on his “White Too Long” newsletter.
Golden statue of Donald Trump seen at CPAC Conference in Orlando, FL. Associated Press, used with permission. ...From
Juneteenth and Solidarity With People of African Descent
Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith
Three years ago, on June 19, 2021, the United States welcomed Juneteenth as a new federal holiday. In his executive proclamation, President Joe Biden said this:
“Juneteenth is a day of profound weight and power. It is a day in which we remember the moral stain and terrible toll of slaver y on our country—what I’ve long called America’s original sin. A long legacy of systemic racism, inequality, and inhumanity. But it is a day that also reminds us of our incredible capacity to heal, hope, and emerge from our darkest moments with purpose and resolve .”
Later that year, on August 2, the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent was established at the U.N. General Assembly. It was established as “a consultative mechanism for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent.”
Both historical events have and do encourage our remembrances of the legal bondage and abolition of enslavement of African peoples in the United States and globally. Those events also remind us of historical challenges that are still with us today—despite other significant remembrances of reforms this year, like the 60 th anniversary of Brown versus Board of Education, the 60 th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and the 30 th anniversary of Apartheid falling in South Africa. These anniversaries represent steps that helped move
the agenda of more equitable political and economic policies and practices, led by the faithful leadership of African peoples and their partners. The same resilience led to the political independence of African and Caribbean nations and the first black republic, Ayiti (Haiti), in 1804.
Still, reforms and recognitions like these have not yet reached the goal of sustainable life, which includes food security and sovereignty, economic justice, full employment, nonviolence, and environmentally
stable communities. At the UN Permanent Forum, the Honorable Anielle Franco, Brazil’s minister for racial equality, said, “When we talk about happiness in Brazil, we talk about dignity, jobs, health, food, being able to explore one’s own culture.” Brazil is the nationstate with the second largest number of African people after Nigeria.
Since the enslavement period, discriminatory policies and practices still contribute to unsustainable lives for a disproportionate number of African people who have fewer financial resources like savings or property than their white counterparts. For example, as of 2020, the racial wealth gap showed
that in the United States, white households have a median family net worth of $147,000, while black households have a median family net worth of $3,600. The median white family in the United States has 41 times more wealth than the median black family.
Bread for the World celebrates the resolve, resilience, and faithfulness of African peoples remembered on Juneteenth and at the new U.N. Forum. Remembrances like Juneteenth help to inspire and engage prayerful advocacy today that seeks to repair the past, present, and future. We invite you to learn more about our advocacy agenda and to be a part of the movement at bread.org.
CONNECTIONAL NEWS
Prayer for Our Quadrennial Conference
August 21-28, 2024, will be a historic time for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Historic because this will be our first quadrennial, post-pandemic, where we can breathe a physical and spiritual breath of fresh air. As we reflect on the constraints of 2021, we prayerfully expect to experience a move of God like never before freely.
We are asking all members of our Zion to join us in prayer. Your prayers,
June Is Men’s Health Month
Rev. Natalie Mitchem, Ed.D., RDN, DipACLM, Executive Director
Shirley Caesar said in her “You Name It” song, “I got beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes…” and evidence-based nutritional research indicates meals consisting predominantly of vegetables, fruit, and fiber can help men fight and prevent prostate cancer, diabetes type 2, heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, premature aging, and cognitive decline. According to the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), “prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer for black men”; however, it is also preventable and curable if detected early (Prostate Health Education Network, 2024. https://phenpsa.com). Dr. T. Colin Campbell, in his comprehensive study on nutrition, The China Study , found the high consumption of dairy products and meat presented an elevated risk for
alongside those of Bishop Sarah Frances Davis Covenant Keepers and Intercessors, are crucial for a spirit-filled General Conference, for decently conducted business, and for God’s will to be fulfilled in all our efforts. We will have onsite prayer available to all who desire special intercession. The prayer room will be open and staffed by intercessors during all the hours of the conference. Please pray effectually and fervently for the team and the conference. ❏ ❏ ❏
prostate cancer in men (Campbell, T.C., & Campbell, T.M. 2006. The China Study . BenBella Books).
Type 2 diabetes, according to Dr. Neal Barnard, is reversible by switching to a healthy diet that is low in fat to prevent the blockage of insulin or insulin insensitivity, and consuming meals containing fiber along with daily fitness is key (Barnard, N., 2017. Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes. Rodale). The American Diabetes Association has created and is recommending the Diabetes Plate Method®, with vegetables as the main dish on the plate and a list of superfoods that includes beans, greens, berries, whole grains, yogurt, milk, fish, and no counting or measuring (American Diabetes Association, 2024, https://diabetes. ...continued on p43
Angelique Walker-Smith is a senior associate for Pan-African and Orthodox Church engagement at Bread for the World.
org/). The Harvard Healthy Eating Plate® is a guide developed and based on disease prevention research and the power of healthy food choices and not influenced or based on food companies or popular restaurant food choices (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2024, https://www.health.harvard. edu/staying-healthy/healthyeating-plate).
The African Heritage Power Plate® is based on healthy traditional foods consumed in the African diaspora, including the Caribbean, Africa, and South America. Soul food and traditional favorite foods do not have to be unhealthy to taste good. The African diaspora nutrition research indicated fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and beans were staple foods compared to the standard American diet (https://oldwayspt.org/health-studies).
Researchers in the health studies conducted by Oldways Cultural Food Traditions and Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine demonstrated an increase in prevention and reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, cancers, obesity, and heart disease (https://oldwayspt. org/health-studies) for those that consumed more plant-based foods. Dr. Columbus Batiste, a black cardiologist, and the Healthy Heart Doctor, has made it his mission to address health disparities and empower communities of color to “defeat defeatable diseases” and understand the power of healthy meals, fitness, sleep, and gratitude (https://drbatiste.com/).
Nutrition is only a critical aspect of fighting and preventing disease. The quality and quantity of sleep, positive social interaction and healthy
Delegate and Empower
A successful leader does not know everything or cannot do everything, but is one who surrounds themselves with a team with the collective expertise and ability to do what is needed. The leader casts a vision, provides direction, and organizes the team to accomplish a goal, but the leader does not do everything necessary to obtain the goal. Instead, a good leader delegates authority and responsibility while maintaining
relationships, not smoking, not engaging in risky behavior, limiting alcohol consumption, daily fitness, and faith also play a major role in overall wellness, well-being, and waking up each day with a body, God designed and created, ready to fight disease and renew cells throughout the stages of life.
In June, take a 30-day men’s health challenge. For 30 days in June, follow one of the healthy plate options: Harvard Healthy Plate,® The African Heritage Power Plate,® or American Diabetes Plate Method® presented in this article. Be intentional about daily physical activity and fitness, and do something fun and safe every day. Keep your brain active, learn something new and get 7-8 hours of sleep at night. Faith and our spiritual connection with our heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is health and healing for the mind, body, and spirit. Participate in worship, enjoy the music at church, and read scriptures about
lines of accountability. The leader develops and empowers others in key positions to fulfill the mission. What can happen when we do not worry about who gets the credit but simply focus on getting the job done and using the most effective people and means is amazing. Of course, it is important to recognize accomplishments by commending workers, rewarding them suitably, and giving them appropriate honor. Team members
overcoming challenges and walks of faith. Host a 30-day prayer and walk event: Men Walking for Wellness, at home, at work, at church, and on vacation. The International Health Commission will host the annual July Faith-Based Health, Wellness, Nutrition, and Fitness Month webinar on Zoom on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 11 a.m. EST. Guest speakers include Dr. Columbus Batiste, Mr. Farrington, founder of PHEN and prostate cancer survivor, and Dr. Scott Stoll. Join us for a lifesaving and life-changing conversation on how to fight and prevent disease. Visit www.AMEChealth.org for the Zoom link and additional health and wellness information.
INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF THE AME CHURCH BISHOP FRANCINE BROOKINS, Chair REV. NATALIE MITCHEM, ED.D., RDN, DIPACLM, Executive Director REV. MIRIAM BURNETT, MD, MPH, Medical Director ❏ ❏ ❏
must know they are appreciated, and the constituency must also understand it. Research has shown that non-monetary rewards such as recognition and appreciation motivate people more than cash, even in a secular context. People often choose non-monetary recognition over cash because they value what others think about them. In our volunteer context, this principle is even more applicable. Leaders should be generous in
giving credit without trying to take credit for themselves.
In summary, we should learn to use others to get the job done. Satisfaction does not require that we do everything personally or that people regard us as indispensable. Instead, we find our true sense of accomplishment in doing God’s will, leading our team to achieve their goals, and advancing the kingdom of God.
CHURCH GROWTH CORNER
Be Accountable
Rev. Dr. Marcellus A. Norris
We are accountable to our constituents to do what we have promised and what they have asked us to do. When a governing conference or board makes decisions, we are accountable to implement those decisions. Our authority is not arbitrary or unrestricted; it’s limited by our structure and policy. We are leaders with authority but also under authority. As leaders we cast vision, set direction, and promote policies, plans, and changes that we think are needed. In the end, however, we are bound by the decisions of our leaders, boards, and conferences. If a policy or a plan results in unexpected difficulties, we can ask for reconsideration or revision. In general, however, we should follow up on each action item until it has been accomplished or until it becomes evident that the plan
needs to change. We should report the results, including results that don’t meet expectations, and if necessary offer explanations or proposed modifications. If at some point we can’t or don’t want to fulfill our job description or implement a decision of the body, then it may be time to leave our position. If we stay in a position, we must be diligent to do our job with excellence and complete the goals that are set before us. Ultimately, our ministry is in the hands of the Lord. Our goal is not merely to please our constituents but to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).
Edward Waters University Receives Historic Funding in Governor DeSantis’ “Focus on Florida’s Future” Budget
Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the “Focus on Florida’s Future” budget for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025. The comprehensive state budget, totaling $116.5 billion, includes pivotal support for several key initiatives at Edward Waters University (EWU), reinforcing the university’s commitment to academic excellence and student success.
The budget, reflecting a decrease in overall state spending from the previous year, features the governor’s line-item vetoes amounting to $949,611,399. Despite these reductions, EWU has been fortunate to secure substantial funding for several of its critical projects, amounting to a total of $12,433,026. This represents the highest-ever single-year state legislative allocation to EWU in its history.
Key allocations include $6,429,526 for access, retention, and graduation programs to enhance student retention and access for underserved communities, $1,000,000 for the Edward Waters Criminal Justice Institute to prepare students for careers in criminal justice and forensic science, $3,500 per student through the Edward Waters Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) program to alleviate financial burdens, and a $5,000,000 allocation to improve campus security infrastructure in the wake of the tragic racially motivated shooting that took the lives of citizens in the New Town community in the shadow of the Edward Waters campus last August.
“We are profoundly grateful to Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature for their unwavering support and recognition of the vital role Edward Waters University plays in the higher education landscape. These funds will significantly bolster our efforts to provide exceptional educational opportunities, support student retention, and enhance campus safety,” said Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., president and CEO of Edward Waters University. “I extend my heartfelt thanks to our distinguished alumna, Senator Tracie Davis, for her unwavering advocacy and leadership in championing this cause. Additionally, I would like to express our deep appreciation to the entire Jacksonville delegation for their steadfast support in securing this vital investment for our university’s future.”
The allocations in this year’s budget will allow Edward Waters University to continue its mission of fostering intellectual, personal, and professional growth in our students, preparing them to be influential leaders in their communities and beyond.
Allen University Welcomes Matthew Goodman III as Director of Bands
Columbia, SC - Matthew Goodman III has been selected to lead the Allen University Band of Gold! He is a distinguished musician with a robust background in music performance and education. He holds a Master of Music degree and has demonstrated exceptional talent and leadership throughout his career.
During his tenure at Miles College, Mr. Goodman served as assistant director of Bands. His expertise extended from arranging music to directing the euphonium section. He also served as a graduate assistant for the Alabama A&M University Marching Maroon and White Band.
Mr. Goodman’s musical ambitions flourished once he assumed the role of head band director at Pleasant Grove High School, in Metro Birmingham, AL. Under his guidance, the band achieved outstanding success, including a Straight Superior Rating in competitions and the prestigious title of 1 st place US Bands Champion. His directorship also
2024 General Board and Council of Bishops Meeting
TCR Staff
From June 23-26, 2024, the members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church gathered for the annual General Board and Council of Bishops Meeting at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida. The Investiture Worship Service for Bishop Frank M. Reid III as the president of the Council of Bishops was held on the evening of June 23. Retired Senior Bishop John R. Bryant preached a provocative message, “Go Back and Get Him” from Acts 2:36-41.
The General Board was called to order by Bishop Paul J. M. Kawimbe, president of the General Board, at the Rosen Centre Hotel, on June 24, 2024. Bishop Kawimbe then presented Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, presiding prelate of the 13th Episcopal District for devotions. Rev. Clay Holliday, Jr., pastor of New Wright’s Chapel AME Church of Memphis, Tenn., preached a message entitled “Shift” based on Mark 2:21-23. Bishop Kawimbe called on Dr. Jeffery B. Cooper, general secretary/CIO of the AME Church, to call the roll.
led to the band receiving the 2023 All Superior Rating and being recognized as the Best-in-Class 2A Central Alabama Marching Band.
Allen is not only pleased to welcome Mr. Matthew Goodman III to the AU family, but equally excited to witness the continued growth and success achieved in his earlier work. ❏ ❏ ❏
After the roll call, Bishop Kawimbe presented Senior Bishop Richardson who addressed the General Board reminding those assembled that we must remain focused on the church’s mission even with the challenges facing the denomination. Bishop Reid welcomed the assembly and spoke to the need for healing within the Connectional church. There was a brief reflective moment where “We Shall Overcome” was played. Statistics and Finance Chair Bishop Samuel L. Green, Jr. spoke and stated that while AME Church was not able to fully share strategy, positive developments were occurring regarding the Department of Retirement Services. Bishop James L. Davis, first vice president of the General Board, acknowledged the various dignitaries present.
General Counsel Douglass Selby was presented to give an update on the legal issues facing the denomination. Regarding the investigations that are being handled by federal agencies, the AME Church is being treated as a victim and not a subject. No AME Church leadership is under criminal investigation currently. As of 2024, the AME Church is two years in litigation. Of the seven counts that were brought against the denomination by the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit, only two remain: breach of fiduciary responsibility and negligence. The process of fact discovery has included the exchange of 28,000 documents with approximately 100,000 pages from 2000-2021. Twenty-eight persons have been
deposed including eight persons for which the AME Church has provided legal counsel. The process of discovery is ending with one hearing scheduled for late June and another for late July. One of the key findings that has emerged is that Newport and Symmetra played a much larger role than was previously thought. Attorney Selby stated, “The AME Church is objectively in a much stronger position in liability than twelve months ago.” As the discovery phase of the lawsuit closes, Attorney Selby stated that there are opportunities to explore alternative resolution through three approaches: 1) restoration of investors money; 2) reform of the Department of Retirement Services; 3) resolution of claims.
This resolution will allow the AME Church to focus on the culpable defendants. Attorney Selby closed by reiterating that a settlement is not an admission of guilt, but a method of resolution to cease being at odds with the litigants.
After the general counsel’s presentation, co-chair of the Commission on Retirement Services, Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II, presented for the Commission on behalf of Chair Bishop John F. White, Sr. He stated that legislation has been created to sunset the annuity department and ensure that departmental redirection funds is prohibited. He also stated the reforms that have been instituted including a new exclusive secure plan provider (Wespath), online access to
account information, age adjusted options, trained Episcopal district representatives to guide onboarding, and timely deposits into accounts.
Members of the General Board were then invited to ask questions of the Commission on Retirement Services and the General Counsel. During the exchange, the Rev. Dr. James F. Miller, executive director of the Department of Retirement Services indicated that the department has continued to offer services to pastors and has provided $137,000 in matching grants through a program from the Lilly Foundation. He also indicated that the Department finally completed an Agreed-Upon Procedure (AUP) engagement to provide the first accurate figures in over 20 years due to corrupted data from the previous administration.
The General Conference Commission then gave its report with an audio-visual presentation led by chief financial officer/treasurer, Dr. Marcus T. Henderson, Sr. ...continued on p50
The treasurer indicated that the General Conference would cost the Connectional church $11.2-11.5 million dollars. Due to the financial issues regarding the Department of Retirement Services, the contingency for the meeting has been cut to 5 percent of the budget.
After further discussion, the General Board voted to hold an additional meeting in July on Zoom before the General Conference to review the AUP as well as the legislation for the Department.
The General Board reconvened after lunch to consider the 20252028 budget that will be presented to the General Conference. Bishop Green introduced Dr. Henderson to make the presentation. The budget included the following: 1) a 2.7 percent increase to raise Episcopal district contributions back to the 2016-2020 level; 2) reallocation of 25% of the budget to fund Wespath fees, Department of Retirement Services restoration, and increased legal expenses; 3) Funding for AME ...continued on p51
...From 2024 General p47
University and Wilberforce Institute will be equal to United States institutions of higher education. After a brief discussion, the budget was approved to be forwarded to the General Conference and the meeting adjourned.
CONGRATULATORY ANNOUNCEMENTS
* Purple font connotes Episcopal Family; Red font , General Of ficers; and Blue font , Connectional Officers.
In the evening, the Investiture Banquet for Bishop Reid as president of the Council of Bishops was held. The evening of family tributes and entertainment culminated in a masterful sermon by Bishop Paul Morton, “The Eagle Stirs Its Nest,” drawn from Deuteronomy 32:11. ❏ ❏ ❏
Judge Monique R. Richardson Was Recently Re-Elected to the County Bench in Tallahassee, Florida
The Tallahassee Democrat has announced the reelection of Monique R. Richardson as county judge in Leon County, Florida. She was one of six sitting judges who qualified for the 2024 election without opposition. Incumbents were automatically re-elected on Friday, April 26, 2024. Judge Richardson was reelected to a sixyear term. She was first elected on August 28, 2018. Judge Richardson is the daughter of Senior Bishop A. J. and Senior Supervisor Connie S. Richardson of the Tenth Episcopal District. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University and the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Congratulations, Judge Richardson!
Mail congratulatory responses to Bishop A. J. and Dr. Connie S. Richardson at bishoprichardson_2000@yahoo.com.
Dr. Thema Bryant on Black Church and Mental Health - John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University
Healing trauma in the African American community is often caught between either seeking professional mental health services or relying on faith leaders in the Black Church. Dr. Thema Bryant, the 2023 president of the American Psychological Association (APA), joins Dr. Mark Anthony Neal to dispel this binary of mental healthcare to demonstrate how they can work together, instead of against each other, to benefit African American psychological wellness. Dr. Bryant is a tenured professor of psychology at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. She is also the author of “Homecoming: Overcome Fear and Trauma to Reclaim Your Whole, Authentic Self,” published by Tarcher Perigee of the Penguin Group. https://youtu.be/2smmlkIBayY?si=ojD1Q0NL NLKpZki-
Dr. Thema is also an ordained minister, sacred artist, and mother. She is the daughter of Bishop John R. Bryant (retired) and the Rev. Dr. Cecelia
Williams Bryant (retired Episcopal supervisor).
Mail congratulatory responses to bishopjohn4th@aol.com (Bishop John R. Bryant) and queenakosua@icloud.com (Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant).
Maryville, Illinois Hosts Mayor’s Prayer Dinner at First Baptist Church, Dr. Dorothy Owens Honored
The Portsmouth Richmond Roanoke District Host Retirement Event to Celebrate the 87 Years of Combined Ministry of Presiding Elder the Rev. Dr. Samuel E. Hayward III and the Rev. Althea J. Hayward
The Portsmouth, Richmond, Roanoke District of the Virginia Conference celebrated 87 years of combined ministry of the Rev. Dr. Samuel E. Hayward III, presiding elder, and partner in life and ministry, the Rev. Althea J. Hayward. God has truly anointed the work of their hands.
In celebration and honor of their 87 years of combined ministry, contributions, and achievements, loved ones, colleagues, and friends gathered for a musical tribute featuring Rhema Praise on Saturday, April 13, at 3 p.m. and a celebratory retirement worship service on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 3 p.m. All events were hosted at Bethel AME Church, 2521 N. Armistead Street, Hampton, Virginia.
The American Psychiatric Association Announced Its New CEO and Medical Director - Marketa Wills, M.D., M.B.A.
The American Psychiatric Association announced that starting June 1, 2024, its new CEO and medical director will be Marketa Wills, M.D., M.B.A. This life-long AME will become the eighth medical director in APA’s 180-year history and be the first black American and woman to fill the role. Wills has decades of experience driving innovation and promoting quality mental health care.
The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the oldest medical association in
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the country. It is also the largest psychiatric association in the world, with more than 38,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses. The APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.
Most recently, Dr. Wills served as the senior vice president and chief medical officer of Johns Hopkins Health Plans, had a clinical practice at the University of South Florida Student Health Services in Tampa, Florida, sat on for-profit and not-for-profit boards, and served as the chair of the Standards Committee of the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Earlier in her career, Dr. Wills was a member of the APA Board of Trustees as an APA SAMHSA Minority Fellow; she recently sat on the APA Future of Psychiatry Presidential Task Force and was a member of APA’s Council on Health Care Systems and Finance.
“As a longtime mental health advocate, I am honored to take the reins of the APA at this time in our history,” said Wills. “Given where we are, with the explosion of AI, innovation, and the changing landscape of technology, I look forward to working with APA’s membership and the administration to accelerate psychiatry into the future.”
At Johns Hopkins Health Plans, Wills led a staff of 300 employees and was instrumental in evaluating and implementing digital clinical tools for members to manage their health conditions better. She has served in different leadership capacities in health care plans and academic settings and is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is an alum of McKinsey & Company (Cleveland office), where she consulted on various healthcare engagements. She has also served on her local NAMI board and as a volunteer at her local Mental Health America affiliate.
Dr. Wills has been named to Maryland’s Top 100 Women List by the Daily Record (2022), as a Woman of Influence by I-95 Business (2022), and chair of the Medical Alumni Advisory Council at the University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2022). In April 2024, Wills was inducted into the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine honor society (Alpha Omega Alpha). She also co-authored a book in 2019 entitled “Understanding Mental Illness.”
Dr. Wills holds an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business, and an A.B. from Brown University. She completed her training at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital Adult Psychiatry Residency Program. She hails from Dayton, Ohio, where she spent her formative years. She has been a devoted member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, having been brought up in the Third Episcopal District under the guidance and care of her parents, Mr. Charles Anthony Wills and the late Mrs. Jacqueline Wills, and her former pastor and trusted family members the Reverend Dr. Earl and Dr. Jeanette Harris. While Dr. Wills has recently transitioned to Washington, D.C., in anticipation of her June 1 start date, for now, she continues to be a member of the Mt. Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church located in Tampa, Florida, under the leadership of the Rev. Gregory V. and exhorter LaShunda Gay. https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2024.03.3.37
Dr. Tony DeMarco Hansberry II Graduation From the Morehouse School of Medicine
Presiding Elder Tony and Mrs. Kathi Hansberry are proud to announce their son’s graduation, Tony DeMarco Hansberry II, from the Morehouse School of Medicine on May 18, 2024. Upon graduation, Dr. Hansberry II was commissioned as a captain in the United States Army and will continue his post-graduate training (residency) in Psychiatry at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Tony’s interest in medicine began at the age of 14 while a student attending a medical magnet school in his hometown of Jacksonville. His goal was simply to excel on his science fair project, which was titled “A Comparison of Vertical Closure with an Endo StitchTM Laparoscopic Instrument and Horizontal Closure With Conventional Needle Driver, and the Effect on the Novice Surgeon’s Vaginal Cuff Suture Procedure Time.” Little did he know that his efforts would garner national attention and become the catalyst to a future filled with many amazing opportunities to meet and interact with medical and other professionals near and far.
Armed with the desire to become a medical doctor, he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (Tallahassee) and a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Medicine from the University of South Florida (Tampa) before beginning his medical training at Morehouse in June 2020.
As a “pastor’s kid,” Tony was engaged in the ministries of the congregations where his father served: Greater Tanner Chapel AMEC and Arnett Chapel AMEC (Quincy, Florida), Greater Payne AMEC, and Greater Grant Memorial AMEC (Jacksonville, Florida). While in college at FAMU, he and his twin brother, Tyler, became affiliate members of Bethel AMEC (Tallahassee, Florida), where their grandmother Janie L. Hansberry (retired radiologic technologist) holds membership.
As we celebrate Tony’s accomplishments, we thank you, our AME Connectional family, for your prayers and all other acts of kindness and support shown to Tony II and our family throughout the years. “For I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Mail congratulatory responses to elderhansberry@aol.com (Presiding Elder Tony and Mrs. Kathi Hansberry).
Guilty 34 Times: Will We Be Guilty, Too?
Rev. Monica C. Jones, Ph.D.
I was sitting in my living room when I heard the first count of the verdict: Guilty. The second count: Guilty. As I listened to counts 3-34, hearing “Guilty” on each one, I screamed, “Praise God!” I felt enormous relief, thinking that, finally, we see accountability. Then I realized this was not the end for us; it was simply the beginning of the next stage. A guilty verdict does not a victory win. We have to fight all the harder as anger, hate, and revenge will be the order of the day for those who embrace corruption and greed. Instead of the incidents of violence curbing, we may very well see an escalation. What can we do? We can respond with a definitive call to action: Let’s not be guilty of complacency.
It is far too easy to think things are over when we have one victory. Yet, in this instance, we are at a crossroads, and to save our people, our democracy, and even our church, our response must be one of fortitude and resistance.
THE PEOPLE
Why are we in danger? As voters, our rights are being threatened from state to state. Wherever a thinker, politician, or policymaker believes in suppressing the vote to maintain power, the people will suffer. Therefore, we must vote like we have never done before. We must vote all the way down the ballot to be sure that we put people on our school boards, our city councils and county commissions, and in our state legislative bodies who are godly, justice-minded, and fearless in their fight for a righteous community.
OUR DEMOCRACY
The democratic way of life is certainly under threat every day, from the Supreme Court to the local voter registration office, where people persistently embrace exclusion and discrimination. These individuals refuse to recuse themselves, even when they are obviously biased. Whether it is storming the United States Capitol or hanging the United States flag upside down, these acts of hatred demonstrate a deterioration that has completely saturated our society. In addition to speaking out and actively resisting attempts
to end democracy for all persons, we should become more active in recruiting, identifying, and electing voices to represent us in the halls of Congress and other legislative bodies.
OUR CHURCH
Yes, the church is in danger, too; we are not exempt. Christian nationalism is still an issue that we cannot ignore. It is still something we must speak out against, define in every segment of the faith community, and call it as we see it when it is in our pulpits. False teachings under the cloak of Christianity threaten the very fiber of who we are in the Black Church. We cannot go back to the days when we allowed the misinterpretation and miseducation of God’s Word to keep us bowed before those who enslaved us.
THE MOST IMPORTANT VERDICT
It is absolutely astonishing how one individual has been the influencer in each of these issues. It is amazing how one individual, who is now a convicted felon and yet running for president of the United States, is a causal factor in the destruction that we face now in our country. This says that the guilty verdict from the trial in New York should spur us on to a verdict of not guilty in this entire country. We will be found not guilty of laziness; we will be found not guilty of fear; we will be found not guilty of complacency, and with God’s help, we will win.
The Reverend Monica C. Jones, Ph. D., is the director of Christian Education Ministries at Big Bethel in Atlanta.
NECROLOGY LISTINGS JUNE 2024
* Purple font connotes Episcopal Family; Red font , General Of ficers; and Blue font , Connectional Officers.
Brother Robert Earl Davis, the brother of the Reverend Larry Davis, retired itinerant elder and the Reverend Emanuel Davis, pastor of New Bethel (Bishopville) African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Sumter District, Northeast Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church
Brother Lewis Roosevelt Damon, the brother of the Reverend D. Pennie Damon, pastor of Mt. Calvary (Hartsville) African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Sumter District, Northeast Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church
Mr. Larry Ducre, father of Sister Marlice Sander, wife of the Reverend Dr. Keith Sanders, pastor of Union Bethel AME Church, New Orleans, LA, Eighth Episcopal District
The Reverend Rufus Lloyd, retired pastor in the Southeast Alabama Conference, Ninth Episcopal District
Brother Sam Johnson, the spouse of the Reverend L. Vanessa Johnson, pastor of St. Stephen (Hardeeville) African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Beaufort District, South Carolina Annual Conference
of the Seventh Episcopal District
Mrs. Navry Maxine Tyler Rand, the sister-in-love of Bishop Caroyln Tyler
Guidry, the 122nd elected and consecrated bishop of the AME Church
Mrs. Dorothy Jackson Fugh, a lifelong member of New Tyler AME Church, Memphis, TN, the mother of Gwendolyn Fugh Dillihunt, and the late Rita Fugh Powell, the grandmother of Dr. Monica L. Dillihunt, AME Connectional WMS historiographer and statistician, and aunt of Bishop Clement W. Fugh and Supervisor Alexis Fugh
Brother Edgar Childs, Jr., the father of First Lady Gwen Hayes, father-in-Law to the Reverend Burney H. Hayes, pastor of Greater Mt. Zion AME Church, Arcadia, FL, and grandfather to Ezekiel Hayes, Eleventh Episcopal District
Mrs. Anna Brown, active in the WMS, Lay and served as steward emeritus at Ralph Avenue AMEC and the mother of Therese’ Ann Baker, AME WMS Connectional recording secretary, Thirteenth Episcopal District
The Reverend Dr. Randall Lee Webster, husband of
Mrs. Betsey Piper Webster and the senior pastor of Bethel Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Columbia, Tennessee; the district coordinator of the Thirteenth Episcopal District Sons of Allen and served as the recording secretary for the Connectional Sons of Allen, and was a civic organization leader
Mrs. Tracy Wood-Robinson, 54, of Quincy, FL, the wife of the Reverend Kevin Robinson, pastor of Union Chapel AME Church, Quincy, FL, and the mother of son, Kevin Robinson, Jr., Eleventh Episcopal District
Mrs. Constance Smith, mother of Mrs. Bertha Thomas, she attended and served at Quinn Chapel AME Church, Ironton, Ohio for almost a century, where she served as president of the Daughters of Allen, president of the Missionary Board, member of the Stewardess Board and as a steward to the pastor, Third Episcopal District
Mrs. Dolores Mason
Jennings Morton, a lifelong member of Campbell AME Church of Southeast Washington, D.C., the mother of the Reverend Glenda Jennings Harrison, retired
commander, USN chaplain at U.S. Navy
Sister NyKeba Jakirah Mack, the daughter of the Reverend Deirdre Howard, pastor of St. John (Bishopville) African Methodist Episcopal Church, Sumter District, Northeast Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church
The Reverend Abraham Temoney, Sr., a retired itinerant elder, spouse of Sister Agnes Temoney, the father of the Reverend Abraham Temoney, Jr. (LaTasha), pastor of St. Luke (Johnsonville) AME Church, Florence-Dillon District, the brother of Presiding Elder Herbert Temoney (Kimberly), Santee District, the brother of the Reverend Archie Temoney, Sr. (Henrietta), pastor of Mill Branch (Pamplico) AMEC, Seventh Episcopal District
Mrs. Georgia Bland Braswell Gleese, the widow of Presiding Elder James Gleese III, of the West Tennessee Annual Conference of the Thirteenth Episcopal District
Sister Levester A. Campbell, mother of the Reverend Lemarcus T. Campbell, pastor of Greater Edwards Chapel AME Church, Palmer, Texas
Condolences to the bereaved are expressed on behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., president/ publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) the Reverend Dr. Roderick D. Belin, and editor of The Christian Recorder, Dr. John Thomas III.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NRSV)
To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center. Mrs. Ora L. Easley, administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Office) • amecfic.org • facebook.com/AMECFIC.
Know Your Church History - Part 2 of 4 Part Series
1. Who was the first president of the 15 th District Lay Organization and later organized and served as the first president of the 19 th District Lay Organization located in the Republic of South Africa (RSA)?
2. What is the name of the outstanding layperson who served as an AME Church general officer and has an office building named in his honor in downtown Washington, D. C.?
3. Who is the current “President/Publisher” of the AME Church Publishing House?
4. Who was the first elected bishop of the AME Church?
5. What is the name of the first female president of the Connectional Lay Organization who served the CLO from 1985-1993?
6. Who was elected to serve as the Fourth and Fifth District President of the 19 th District Lay Organization (RSA)?
7. Who was the CLO president when the 2006 Empowerment Summit was held in Johannesburg (RSA)?
8. What is the name of the historiographer’s book every layperson should own as a resource tool?
9. What do the initials “YAR” mean?
10. He is a former general officer (Publishing House), a former Lay Commission chair, and is currently a retired bishop. What is his name?
11. What is the name of the Connectional Lay Organization’s quarterly publication?
12. The CLO Biennial was held in what city and state in 2015?
13. Sister Christian Brogdon Gilchrist was president of which Episcopal District’s Lay Organization?
14. When and where was the first AME Church founded?
15. Who is referred to as the “Four Horsemen” of the AME Church?
16. He served four years as the AME Church historiographer and published the book “History of the AME Church.” Name him.
17. He served as a member of the AME Church General Board from 1972 to 1976 from the 4 th District. What is his name?
18. He represented the 16 th District as a member of the General Board in 1972 - from Trinidad, West Indies. What is his name?
19. In what year were laymen given equal lay representation in the General Conference and in all other areas of the AME Church?
20. She was one of ten persons from the 1 st District to serve as an officer in the CLO. Her dad was an officer as well. What is her name?
Submitted by:
Mr. Matikane A. Makita, CLO President Mr. William “Bill” Ayers, CLO Historiographer
Know Your Church HistoryPart 2 of 4 Part Series
ANSWERS
1. Dr. Wilfred Noel Nduna. He was selected to organize the 15 th and 19 th District Lay Organizations (RSA) because of his outstanding leadership qualities and organizational skills. Dr. Nduna received a Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the USA. He was an active participant in Trinity AME Church in Evaton (RSA). The AME Church in Letihabile Brits North West (RSA) honors him and bears his name.
2. Dr. Joseph Columbus McKinney. The building was rededicated and renamed in 2010. General Officer McKinney served as Treasurer of the AME Church from 1972 to 1990. “Joe”/“Doc” also served as one of the outstanding presidents of the 2 nd District Lay Organization and was an active member of Ward Memorial AME Church in Washington, District of Columbia.
3. The Rev. Dr. Roderick Dwayne Belin.
4. The Rev. Daniel Coker. However, while he was elected bishop, he did not serve. Richard Allen was then elected, consecrated, and ordained the first bishop of the AME denomination.
5. Dr. Kathryn Vernetta Middleton Brown. A principal in the Georgia school system, she also served as a president of the World Methodist Council Presidium. A talented and gifted woman, “Dr. Kay/Kay” was an active member of Cosmopolitan AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
6. Brother Matikane Abednego Makiti. Our current Connectional Lay Organization president.
7. Dr. Jesse L. Burns, Jr. (See the tribute to Dr. Burns in the October 2022 Historiographers webpage on the CLO website as submitted by 11 th District historiographer, Sister Deborah Gillard).
8. The CLO Historical Journal (a written history of the Connectional Lay Organization of the AME Church).
9. (Y) Young (A) Adult (R) Representative.
10. Bishop Henry Allen Belin, Jr.
11. We Speak, published by the CLO director of Public Relations (DOPR).
12. Charleston, South Carolina.
13. Seventh Episcopal District Lay Organization.
14. The first AME Church was founded in 1816 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
15. Richard Allen, William Paul Quinn, Daniel A. Payne, and Henry McNeal Turner.
16. Dr. Howard D. Gregg.
17. Judge Sidney A. Jones.
18. Mr. S. Napoleon Cuffy.
19. 1928.
20. Mrs. Ethel M. Wallace Jenkins - director of Lay Activities and first vice president. ❏ ❏ ❏
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A Love Letter to Our Clergy-Servants, Forgive Us! From the Heart of Lay Persons
Sis. Cynthia Gordon-Floyd, Contributing Writer and Sis. Penny Oliver
We acknowledge our silence as we sat with you in Nashville, Tennessee, in December 2021 as you listened to the Department of Retirement Services report that 66% of your retirement savings was gone. We sat with you in disbelief. We sat in silence.
We acknowledge our silence.
We acknowledge our silence, as we have asked you to constantly be attentive to our needs, pain, and struggles. Yet, when you needed us to be attentive to your needs, your pain, and your struggles, we sat by quietly and followed behind those who led us to this egregious loss.
We acknowledge our silence as we have gathered and financially supported celebrations for Episcopal leadership while refusing t o speak out against celebrating in a time of extreme loss and uncertainty for the church as a whole.
Forgive us.
Forgive us for our thoughtlessness, as we have participated in raising money for the few and making plans to help the “less for tunate,” while our own retired clergy family seeks employment at 75 years of age to have money to put food on their table, or as the clergy widow( er) applies for government assistance to afford their medication. You should be our most pressing cause for raising money.
Forgive us for our silence as we sat by and allowed those who have failed in their leadership responsibilities to paint those w ho were forced to pursue legal remedies as traitors and enemies of the church when it was them who failed to protect your future by mismanaging your retirement legacy that you worked decades to receive.
Forgive us for our selfishness as we sat in our pews, allowing you to preach, teach, console, and love on us with a broken heart and a disturbed spirit. Forgive us for not praying aloud for you each day that the Lord would continue to keep you and strengthen you as you continue to serve with a broken heart.
Forgive us for gathering as delegates at the General Conference and allowing those presiding and on the floor to contort the op eration of the quadrennial body for the benefit of the few with the labor and funding of the many. We should gather for the good of the church body – nothing more or less.
Forgive us for our weakness. We have not prayed, fasted, or studied the Word enough to be bold enough to stand flat-footed for what is right, trusting that the Lord will fight our battles.
We stand in love, care, concern, and solidarity with all clergy-servants who have experienced the loss of 66% of their retireme nt savings and retirement income. Our hearts ache as we recognize the years of sacrifice, service, and loyalty of our clergy-servants, who hav e preached the unadulterated Word of God, served the needy, visited the sick, eulogized members (including their own loved ones), and baptized our children. We want it known that we love our clergy-servants and grieve with them through this horrific loss.
Forgive us; we will not be silent any longer ❏ ❏ ❏
Congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Marlon D. Ector Who Received the Doctor of Ministry Degree From Payne Theological Seminary
Congratulations to the Reverend Dr. Marlon D. Ector, who received the Doctor of Ministry from Payne Theological Seminary on May 10, 2024. His dissertation is entitled “A Model for Church Administration Within the Black Church, Utilizing Biblical Principles.” The Reverend Dr. Ector holds associate, bachelor, and master degrees in Business Administration and a
Master of Science in Computer and Information Systems. He is enrolled in a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) program. The Rev. Dr. Ector is the pastor of Joseph Chapel AME Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the MCAM director of the East Tennessee Annual Conference of the Thirteenth Episcopal District. He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the Black Collective, Inc. owner, which focuses on helping to build black business brands, church administration, and leadership training.
On behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., president/publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sund ay School Union) the Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, and editor of The Christian Recorder Dr. John Thomas III, we celebrate and applaud your achievements.
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV) To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center: Mrs. Ora L. Easley, administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Offi ce) • amecfic.org • facebook.com/AMECFIC.
