Being Human in the Time of Trump

THECHRISTIANRECORDER.COM TRIBUTE TO BISHOP WILLIAM PHILLIPS DEVEAUX, SR. FROM THE JAMAICA CONFERENCE

By Rev. Newton G.A. Dixon, 16th Episcopal District

Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux first visited the Jamaica Conference in 2000 for a familiarization and exploratory tour. Having arrived in Montego Bay, it required that the local delegation which had received him would then escort him to Kingston on a 3 ½ hour ride back to Kingston. What could have been a laborious and languid journey turned out to be an engaging and enjoyable trip of laughter, wit, and wisdom. Thus began the encounter between the 113th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the members of the Jamaica Conference. Shortly thereafter, his effervescent and erudite partner in love and labour, Dr. Patricia (PAM) DeVeaux, joined him. Together they raised the engagement and effectiveness of the work of the Conference.

Bishop DeVeaux was an unflappable human being who walked as the epitome of sweetness and grace and possessed a truly convivial spirit. He was decisive, firm, and focused but never crude or hostile. A paternal yet cordial relationship flourished between him and the members of the Conference. This relationship progressively unfolded into a multi-faceted experience of leadership, mentorship, and friendship.

Administrative Aplomb

Bishop DeVeaux led the Jamaica Conference with aplomb and ease. He was a peacemaker who encouraged and facilitated bridge-building and embodied a superintendency that empowered, encouraged, and affirmed clergy and laypersons. His adeptness with managing conflict, astuteness in guiding procedure, and acute physical and mental agility were hallmarks of his administration. He was not one to prolong debates but was incisive in his ability to pierce through the “husk” to discern the “kernel” of the many issues brought before him. His understanding of the often-troublesome nexus between human nature and divine imperatives was unmistakably potent. Difficult issues would be dealt with and dispatched with an amicable resolution.

Approach to Strategic Development

Bishop DeVeaux’s contribution to the development of the Jamaica Conference through education was significant. He held the view that competent human capital was a strategic component of church growth. In this way, he encouraged and facilitated theological and secular education and training.

Acute Mind

The Jamaica Conference experienced the brilliance of Bishop DeVeaux, an attribute that was on full display during a television interview in 2001 with arguably the brightest religious journalist Jamaica has seen. The interview was epic! His command, understanding, and articulation of the issues were masterful. Thereafter the conference was blessed to see his brilliant mind at work up close and from a distance. He was truly gifted and was himself a gift and a treasure to the church.

The Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Marvin C. Zanders II, Supervisor Zanders, the presiding elders, pastors, and the members of the Jamaica Conference mourn his passing but take joy and comfort in joining the members of the 16th Episcopal District and countless sisters and brothers across the Connection in thanksgiving and celebration of his life, work, and memory. We give thanks, in particular, for the many lives he indelibly and profoundly touched and transformed.

“Walk gud,” Bishop DeVeaux. Rest in peace. ❏ ❏ ❏

...From Jesus (The Truth) p8 It hurts me so much when I see my colleagues at the hospital work so hard and risk their own lives and the lives of their families to save those who cared less about their own. In my many years in nursing and medicine, and even now as a medical ethics advisor at Henry Ford Hospital, I have seen firsthand the physical and emotional stress my colleagues have to go through. Sometimes they are not able to go home in fear of bringing the virus home to their children. Still, through all of this, they—we— continue to treat patients because we took a vow to “do no harm.” So why don’t you do likewise and do no harm as well by masking up, praying, and getting vaccinated!

And one more thing, let us do ourselves a favor and stop walking around saying things like “I am not taking the vaccine because I do not know what’s in it.” I can guarantee you that when you go to that major store, go to buy those cigarettes, or go to that liquor store to get that pint of something that you drink, you are not going to say to the clerk, “I really would like to buy that liquor, but I don’t know what’s in it!” Oh no, you will buy it, drink it, and keep on drinking it, and not worry about what kind of poison they have put in it. So let’s wake up and cut the mess out! Pray and ask God for wisdom.

How long will this pandemic last? I do not know because more variants are coming. Maybe this will continue until God sees that we have learned whatever God wants us to learn, and we repent and make a change in our lives (especially those who are Christians), for we are in the last days. Jesus, “The Truth”…is knocking at your door. Please let him in! Blessings to you. Be blessed, be safe, wear a mask, and please get the vaccines!

Pastor and founder Deborah SmithSatterwhite serves New St. John AME Church Dearborn. She is the director of Evangelism for the Michigan Conference-North District, chaplain for the Dearborn Police Department, and medical ethics advisor for Henry Ford Hospital-Detroit in West. Bloomfield, Michigan.

BEING HUMAN IN THE TIME OF TRUMP

By Rev. Roger A. Sawtelle, 1st Episcopal District Life isn’t always fair, but God is just.

Some people just will not take NO for an answer. The prime example is Satan, who was defeated by Jesus some two thousand years ago, but still keeps peddling his lying ways to anyone foolish enough to listen.

For instance, God said NO to Russian imperialism more than 100 years ago, but Vladimir Putin is acting like a tsar. God said NO to racial inequality when enslaved people were freed, but racism seems as blatant as ever. God said NO to the Republicans when Trump lost the election, but they refuse to let go and let God.

God doesn’t like ugly. There is much too much ugly in today’s world because some people refuse to heed God’s NO. These lies are not only sad and ridiculous. They are dangerous to everyone.

Life does not always seem fair when we must bear the burden of the lies of others, but we know that God is just. Our hope and faith are in Jesus Christ, not the foolishness of the rich and arrogant. ❏ ❏ ❏

ministry. Pastor Mike received several pastoral assignments throughout his career, and now he is on loan from the AME Church to First Friends Meeting of Kokomo, Indiana. “Cathy has been everywhere with me, and thank God she was there,” Pastor Mike recalls. “Sometimes I might be ‘flunking.’ The sermon was going south, and I’d begin singing a song and give that microphone to Cathy, and the congregation would be walking out of church saying, ‘We had church today.’ But, I am sure somebody was wise enough to know that she bailed me out.“

Dr. Carson admits it was much more than just sermons, the “regal, sweet, and still, regular” Evangelist Sister Cathy was his solace and sidekick. “She bailed me out my whole life,” Pastor Mike proudly admits and is advising others to learn from him. “Your significant other, if she’s with you, you better let her bail you out,” he often preaches. “But my wife, my Queen Cathy, lives on. She was no joke.”

The family held two services for Evangelist Catherine L. Carson, “A Special Celebration of Life

...From Kokomo p9 Service” on January 6, 2022, at First Friends Meeting of Kokomo, Indiana, and “A Celebratory Service” on January 7, 2022, at Wayman Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Kokomo, Indiana, where the Reverend William L. Gary is pastor. In his remarks, the Right Reverend John Franklin White, presiding prelate of the Fourth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, shared the following concerning Evangelist Carson: “We praise God for her commitment and loyalty!” ❏ ❏ ❏

FINDING SACRED SPACE

By J. Jioni Palmer, Contributing Writer

“My mind is mine and mine my mind will always stay No way of life, no man-made law is gonna take it away I see the light and taste the blood of your song It tells me to carry on, and it tells me to come on home.” Fantasy is Reality, Parliament

In my basement, there is a door. On one side of the door, laundry is done, and occasionally where my family retreats to watch movies—like the Cars trilogy by Pixar— and enjoy pizza. It is where our houseguests stay.

The other side is wholly other.

On the other side are my office and library. It is where I go to retreat from the mundanity and triviality of life or to reflect on the vicissitude of life I encounter as a husband, father, and the other roles I play in life. The door leading to my office is a threshold, a portal of sorts that transports me to a new world where I am able to expand the temple of my mind, which draws me closer to the divine.

It was where I went to dwell in contemplation; to seek wisdom and knowledge. It is where I once went to create—where I wrote words like this. Where I wrestled with the call to enter ministry and where I digested thoughts and feelings that shaped my relationship with myself, family, friends, and others.

I once started, but never completed, a short story about the mind as a sacred temple in that room. It is about a society where ideas are the central organizing principle and are exchanged like currency fueling the economy and politics, religion, and technology. Not all ideas are equal. Some are favored, mainly because they perpetuate the status quo and reaffirm orthodoxy.

The protagonist produced ideas in abundance, but they were unorthodox and challenged the power structure. He lived in “poverty” because most of society did not embrace, buy, and exchange his ideas, at least in public. But privately, his thoughts were discussed and mulled over, which afforded him some measure of wealth, which deeply concerned the society’s rulers. Ultimately, he was imprisoned where he was supposed to be unable to think, but the power of his ideas could not be restrained because the mind is sacred space—holy ground.

My family and I recently moved to a new house, and I mourned the loss of my sacred space. I lost the ability to think as I sat in the corner of a cold, unfinished basement surrounded by three walls of boxed books while the washer and dryer rattled in the background at the new house. I was imprisoned in depression.

About a month in my new abode, I decided to get lost in Rock Creek Park, about a block away. The frigid wind blew briskly. I let my dog lead the way. I could not think, so I just felt. I lost track of time, but my Apple Watch logged 2.78 miles in just under an hour.

That evening, I decided to cook some red beans and rice—one of my favorite meals—for the first time in the new house. The batch was not my best, but it was comforting and helped the fog clear a bit. Later after my family went upstairs to bed, I retreated to the basement to write. The ideas came slowly and the words even slower, but they began to trickle like water flowing from an aquarium filter.

The ability to think and conjure new ideas that can transform our reality is one of the greatest gifts the divine has given humanity. Thoughts are powerful because they are at once ethereal and tangible with the ability to repel and attract. Our minds allow us to contemplate the mysteries of creation, which draws humanity— individually and collectively—closer to each other and the divine.

While I may no longer have the sanctuary on Douglas Street that once nurtured my mind and soul, I know that any space that allows me to play and wrestle with my thoughts is sacred space. The pews at Metropolitan AME Church meet the criteria, but so does Founder’s Library at Howard University, an art gallery, or a lecture hall. That space is also a wooded path in Rock Creek Park or an empty desk in an unfinished basement. The key is to make myself available to receive and accept divine inspiration.

J. Jioni Palmer is the founder and publisher of “Thinking Good,” a digital media community that helps men be their better selves, and is the men’s minister at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C. A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and Howard University School of Divinity, Palmer is a former journalist, Congressional staffer, and Obama administration appointee. He lives in Washington, District of Columbia, with his wife, two sons, two cats, and a puppy.

...From Misguided p11 approaches, and which aspects must we strive to perpetuate and deepen going forward?

Disposal/Recycling Site

What ministry practices or beliefs no longer seem fitting, and what should we discard and leave behind or potentially recycle?

Re-imagining Possible Futures

What ministry models must we create that are necessary to leverage our congregations next to the needs of our communities?

Ultimately, as Chicago artist Amanda Williams asserts, “What we value is reflected in what each of us chooses to pay attention to, to care for, and sustain.” Good or bad, the choice is ours. ❏ ❏ ❏

I KNOW HE CARES

By Rev. Dr. Maxine Thomas, Columnist

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:14

My friend, Jesus, the living word of the Father, says that he knows his sheep. Beloved, it does not matter whether you are known in the circles of the elite of society. Did the pastor forget to call your name? Have you ever felt left out, forgotten, overlooked, or pushed aside? Jesus knows who you are. Your name has been written down in glory. Hallelujah! I do not know about you, but I would rather be known by God than by the princes of this world.

God knows you by name. The Bible says those known by the Good Shepherd also know him. Are you glad that you know him today? I know his power. His power supersedes any previous notion about the investiture of and results of power. God can open doors that no man can close. Yes, the devil thought that he had closed the door to your self-esteem when your cousin James molested you as a child, but God is the key to your emotional healing. Hallelujah! That may not be your story, but whatever had you bound, or whatever force or power that tried to lock you out, drag you down, and/or count you as lost, God has the power to pick you up and turn it around for your good!

If you know that he can open doors that no man can close, give him a shout of praise right now. And I am just as excited that he can close doors that no man can open. He can close the doors to the pain of your past so that you will not even remember the guilt and the shame. Hallelujah! He can grow a mountain in a valley. He can send a river through dry places. Have you ever been hungry and had God feed you? When I was thirsty, he gave me water. In fact, he is a bridge over troubled waters. Sis, God really cares for you.

Do you know his love? Jesus says, “I lay down my life for the sheep.” As women, we know how to sacrifice. t Just now, some mother lies awake praying for a child gone astray or bathing the brow of a child with a fever. Some woman is buying the bread and baking it too and going without so the children might have, helping a husband who refuses to help himself— hoping when all hope is lost. Yes, we know how to sacrifice.

But greater love than this has no man than a man who would lay down his life for a friend (John 15:13). Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice when he laid down his life for you and me. It was love that took on all my sins! It was love that paid the debt I owed! It was love that would not—could not—come down from the cross! It was love that decided to die just to save me! My friend, you are really loved.

b thi th b

Exhale

As I seek to know Jesus more intimately, I let go of all reservations and inhibitions

at this moment. I exhale. And I now receive the abundance of his love.❏ ❏ ❏

A TRIBUTE TO RICHARD ALLEN

By Joan Phillips-Bennett (Ade Nima), 16th Episcopal District, Jamaica Conference

Our foundation is strong. Our foundation is regal. Out foundation is love.

Born way before the world commercialised love as Valentine’s Day, Bishop Richard Allen paved the way for people of colour to freely worship today. Pioneering the African American worship experience with a black bishop, Richard Allen sweeps diagonally against injustice, So, things had to shift up!

Pulled from one church but built your own I bet they never knew who they were trying to control. Writer, minister, educator, advocate You were the first elect and consecrated Today your legacy over 200 years old and counting!

We praise God for light in the midst of the darkness Which was custom made for us, Black in the midst of white Showing the world that true freedom must have all people in the sanctuary Must have all people unite.

Black and AME That combination is YOU That combination is ME That combination a ALL A WE Standing for what is right, We fight the good fight! With Christ before us, No mountain can intimidate us

DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?

By Shae Renee’ AKA, Sharon R. Wisdom

I was born into slavery on February 14, the year of 1760. I could never perceive on the Chew property that I would One day be free.

I taught myself to read and to write, and in 1780 bought my Freedom and finally ended my longest night.

My fellow preacher Absalom Jones and I established the Free African Society, but under control of the white watchful eye.

Because I could no longer tolerate the separation for worship And for prayer. I knew this had to end and that I could no longer Remain there.

Do you know who this is speaking, and do you know who I am? Could I be Richard Allen, who formed the first independent Black Denomination? Yes, that’s who I am.

To avoid oppression and discrimination, I could not give up the fight. To be able to praise God freely, I believed we all deserved that right.

With my wife Sarah at my side, her support got me through while Trailblazing the way so the AME Church doors would be open for you.

Our Legacy continues, and God is with us apparently; thank God for Richard Allen who had the vision that no one else could see.

By the Grace of God, the AME Church still stands, the oldest Black Denomination in all the Land.

Now, do you know who I am? ❏ ❏ ❏

All it took was one thought, one action that became the catalyst for this chain reaction. This chain reaction multiplied into 20 districts across this world.

Thank you, Bishop Richard Allen. Your story will always be told and your legacy lives forever! ❏ ❏ ❏

conservative local churches deciding to remain in the UM Church for a time, we are confident Africa Initiative, Good News, the Confessing Movement, UMAction, and the Wesleyan Covenant Association will continue to vociferously advocate for the ultimate passage of the Protocol. Every theologically conservative local congregation and annual conference should have the right to join the Global Methodist Church with all of their property and assets intact.”

Over the past two years the Transitional Leadership Council has met on almost a weekly basis to create a Global Methodist Church in formation. Informed by the work of the Wesleyan Covenant Association’s Global Council, Legislative Assembly, and dozens of task force teams that prepared white papers covering a host of issues, the members prepared a Transitional Book of Doctrines andDiscipline. The book will govern the church during a transitional period prior to a convening General Conference to be held in the next 12 to 18 months. The Transitional Book of Doctrines andDiscipline and much of the Transitional Leadership Council’s work can be found on the new church’s website and in Crossroads, the weekly e-newsletter it publishes. Persons and churches interested in aligning

...From Global p6 with the Global Methodist Church may express their interest through the new church’s website. “As we embark on this great venture, we know we will stumble and fall at times,” said Boyette. “But with the great prophet Isaiah, we also firmly believe we will, in God’s good time, ‘run and not be weary,’ and ‘walk [in the way of the Lord] and not faint!’”

For additional information about the Global Methodist Church, visit GlobalMethodist.org.

...From The Sacred p7 the same people in my family be reflected in both of these

documents?

“Discomfort” is an impotent word to describe the strong emotions these dueling histories have generated in me. But wrestling with the truth of this difficult history has not been debilitating. It has been a source of personal and spiritual growth. And it has freed me from the delusional fantasy of “goodness” we white Christians feel compelled to defend in every narrative about ourselves and our country. Most importantly, holding a more truthful understanding of the history of my family, my faith, and my country has given me more agency, not less. The assertion in these anti-CRT bills that white people should not feel uncomfortable because of their race presupposes that unpleasant truths are always debilitating. It also assumes that the inevitable result is that white people will simply feel bad for being white.

But these desperate measures fail to imagine the transforming alternative I discovered along this journey and the only alternative that will allow us to live into the promise of a multiracial democracy. The discomfort did not make me feel bad for being white; it gave me the critical distance that enabled me to continue freeing myself from the power that whiteness has held over my family for generations.

If we, white Christians, can muster the courage to walk in its company, discomfort with our racial history can be a sacred and saving gift.

Robert P. Jones is the CEO and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute and the author of “White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity.” This original article was originally published on Jones’ Substack #WhiteTooLong. Read more at robertpjones.substack.com.

WHEN THE OPPRESSED BECOMES THE OPPRESSOR

By Rev. Timothy Dorsey, MS CASP, 2nd Episcopal District

The following is an excerpt from my senior thesis at Payne Theological Seminary, “When the Oppressed Becomes the Oppressor.” This project raises concerns over the pressure from the leadership or the parishioners. Issues such as the inclusion of marginalized groups such as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) and women must be acknowledged in due course for the church to achieve its ministerial role of administering justice for all. The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church leadership must actively foster a supportive environment for inclusion and eliminating oppression by engaging various congregational perspectives. As the AME Church was birthed from discrimination, its doctrines and ministries must, in turn, delegate ways of preventing any form of oppression to its members. Christians are expected to take active roles in being just and refraining from oppression and, according to Zechariah 7:9, “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” The authenticity of Christianity should strive to become God’s inclusive and beloved community that does not discriminate against people based on their identities or gender.

The church must tear down walls limiting Christ’s reconciliation ministry. This reconciliation calls for “a church of all and for all,” in which inclusivity must be structured at its core. Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:14 that “Christ came to tear down the walls,” implying that Christians must uphold social, racial, and class equality. The church must be leading in achieving equality among parishioners and clergy as well by supporting black women’s ministry. Following the teachings of Jesus and his mission on earth, the church should not oppress or marginalize but should accommodate those who seek the comfort of God’s Word and “to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). The ministry to the oppressed is consistent with the ministry of equality, which echoes Christian unity in the service of God and adheres to Jesus’ mission of proclaiming freedom to the oppressed.

This work proposes the following for advancing the ministry of equality and the oppressed as Jesus did. To start, the AME Church must develop practical strategies for improving inclusion and eliminating oppression. The church is a sanctuary for the soul, and members must feel safe and confident without isolationism that would otherwise make them feel unwelcome or unappreciated in church. For instance, black women have been a part of the reconciliation and liberation process from racial injustices that saw the origin of the AME Church. Therefore, the same challenges should not hinder their full participation as leaders and evangelical workers in the church. Similarly, the LGBTQ members must submit to the will of their bodies, which should not be an attacking point for the church to disenfranchise them. As a guiding principle, the AME Church cannot choose whom it will serve if it requires its members to be governed by its mission. The church’s mission holds that “to minister to the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people.” The “all people” phrase implies total inclusion of LGBTQ and women without stereotyping gender or sexual orientation. Next, the governance structure of the AME Church must erode the rigidity in decisions concerning LGBTQ matters. Such structure must be initiated at the national level and trickled down to the local churches as this matter poses a significant risk of splitting the church due to ideological differences. However, doing so will allow pastors to have honest and genuine, contextually relevant conversations with the congregation. Finally, the church must recognize that as Jesus’ mission was to free the oppressed, it also must play an active role in sanctifying this principle within its policies. The suggestions here are threefold: the AME Church must (1) revisit its structural formation to accommodate women as leaders without discrimination, (2) develop a leveled and safe field where parishioners undergoing sexual misconduct can share their experiences, and (3) institute policies that address the inclusion of people who identify themselves differently in terms of sexuality. These changes can be achieved through seminars, educational programs, and workshops that utilize graphic demonstrations, focus groups, and discussions within the local churches. Other changes may be achieved by fostering prayer candor among parishioners at the local church, which will enhance openness and meaningful dialogue to arrive at amicable solutions. In addition, targeted training of pastors through presentations and anecdotes will promote a paradigm shift towards addressing oppression directly at the local churches leading to permanent reconciliatory solutions. Finally, policymaking during the General Conference presentations and motion debates is essential to promote international inclusivity. According to the Rev. Jennifer Leath, a pastor from the AME Church in Denver, we must “hear the testimonials of LGBTQ+ individuals of African descent within and beyond the AME Church, so that we’re hearing the voices of the people who are affected by the position of the church on these matters.” Taking such an active role when interviewing the affected LGBTQ members will assist the church in formulating actionable legislation. In addition, if the AME Church adopts these strategies, it will become a beacon of change that will echo across other denominations and change the course and interpretation of the scripture and open an avenue for genuine conversations and dialogue about the “ugly” issues that affect the church members. ❏ ❏ ❏

STATE REP. CHRIS RABB HOLDS DEDICATION CEREMONY FOR THE RENAMING OF ALLENS LANE

The Philadelphia Tribune

Rabb recounted that Allens Lane was originally named after William Allen, the 26th mayor of Philadelphia. However, Allen was an enslaver and a British loyalist who was condemned during his lifetime by abolitionists for his stance in favor of the continued enslavement of black people. Therefore, the City Council passed a resolution to redirect the street name to honor Richard Allen. Councilmember Cindy Bass, D-8th District, introduced the resolution at the request of Rabb.

During the ceremony, Rabb encouraged those in attendance to “take time to research our history [as] it gives us a chance to reflect and correct choices made with the inclusion or consideration of a diversity of stakeholders. We must closely examine the history we choose to memorialize and honor, especially versions of the past validated by false narratives that marginalize the value of black people and other communities of struggle.”

Representative Rabb noted that Richard Allen was a man of integrity who fought endlessly for racial justice and equality. Born into slavery, he bought his freedom for $2,000 from his enslaver, Benjamin Chew, the namesake of Chew Avenue. Active in his faith community, Allen led a walk-out from St. George’s Episcopal Church because the church relegated black worshipers to the balcony pews.

Richard Allen co-founded the Free African Society and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where he became its first bishop. The AME Church is the first independent black denomination in the United States. Allen established the first AME Church in 1794 in Philadelphia, which is Mother Bethel AME Church which remains in operation.