153rd Church Anniversary

ST. JOSEPH AME CHURCH

THE REVEREND DR. JONATHAN C. AUGUSTINE, SENIOR PASTOR

THE REVEREND DR. DEBORAH L. BURROUGHS, ASSOCIATE MINISTER

THE REVEREND ERIKA D. LEWIS, ASSOCIATE MINISTER

THE REVEREND VALERIE MCIVER, ASSOCIATE MINISTER

THE REVEREND DR. SEQUOLA COLLINS, ASSOCIATE MINISTER

THE REVEREND DR. LINDA K. NORFLETT (R), ASSOCIATE MINISTER

Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton

Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton is an American bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She became the first woman to be elevated to the episcopate in her denomination, when she was elected as the 59th CME bishop in 2010. From 2011 to 2022 she was the presiding bishop for the fifth episcopal district, which has oversight of CME churches in Alabama and Florida. In 2022 she was appointed as the church’s ecumenical and development officer. She is the ecumenical officer and the endorsing agent for the CME church. She also serves as the president of Churches Uniting in Christ, and on the steering committee for the World Methodist Council.

She is a fourth generation, life long CME. Her great grandfather, father and uncle were all CME pastors and her grandmother was an active missionary. Her two sisters are also CME ministers. As an ordained minister in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, she was a former pastor in Kentucky.

Prior to moving to Atlanta, in addition to being a pastor, she was a Psychiatric Staff Chaplain in Louisville, on the adjunct faculty of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Kentucky, and on the faculties of the Patient Counseling Program at the Medical College of Virginia and the School of Theology of Virginia Union University in Richmond.

Bishop Jefferson Snorton has a B.A. degree from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Divinity degree from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Patient Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Bishop Snorton is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Miles College, Fairfield, Alabama. She serves on the Pan Methodist Council, the governing board of the National Council of Churches, President of Churches Uniting in Christ and as Chair of the Family Life Committee of the World Methodist Council.

Bishop Jefferson Snorton has been active on several boards and committees of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, including the Commission on the Concerns of Women in Ministry and immediate past President of the Chaplains Commission. She is the current Ecumenical Officer and En-

dorser for the CME Church. She has been a delegate to six CME General Conferences, is a former National Youth Conference officer, and a member of several committees in her region/annual conference, including the Joint Board of Finance, the Committee on Ministry, the Leadership Training School faculty, and the Coordinator of the Renewal Plan for the Second Episcopal District.

Bishop Jefferson-Snorton is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She has been a member of several boards and advisory committees related to interfaith dialogue, religion and health, and pastoral education. Her awards include the Wayne Oates Pastoral Care Award from the Long Run Baptist Association in Louisville, Kentucky, a recipient of the B. Julian Smith Award from the Board of the Christian Education in the CME Church and a recipient of the Legacy Award of the CME Women's Missionary Council.

In 2010, she received the Fortitude Leadership Award from the East Point, GA chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, the Distinguished Service Award from the Racial, Ethnic, Multicultural Network of the ACPE, Inc, and the Distinguished Achievement in Research and Writing Award from the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

She is frequently a guest preacher at churches of all denominations and lecturer and speaker for hospitals, seminaries, conferences, leadership schools and retreats on religion and health, multicultural, ethical and gender issues, pastoral care and spiritual development. She is the author of several articles, chapters and book reviews on topics related to pastoral care and ministry. Her most recent writing is a co edited work with Dr. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Women Out of Order: Risking Change and Creating Care in a Multi Cultural World.

Bishop Jefferson-Snorton is married to the Rev. Lawrence Jefferson Snorton and their blended family includes six sons, one daughter and three grandchildren.

ORDER OF LITURGY

CELEBRATING THE 153RD CHURCH ANNIVERSARY

Sunday, November 13, 2022 | 11:00 am

Worship in Song

The Processional

The Doxology

The Opening Song of Praise

The Music Ministry

The Reverends Clergy

All Worshipers (standing)

The Music Ministry

The Prayer of Invocation The Reverend Dr. Sequola Collins (prayer chant)

Worship in Music The Music Ministry

The Scripture Readings

The Old Testament Isaiah 65:17 25………....The Reverend Dr. Deborah L. Burroughs The New Testament

Luke 21:5 19………………………..…...…Brother Justice Hill

The Music Ministry Special Presentation

Sister Lauren Hester The Announcements, Recognition of Visitors..

The Reverend Valerie McIver and the Giving of Tithes & Offerings The Presentation of the Preacher

St. Joseph AME Church | stjosephsamec@stjamec.org | $stjosephame

The Reverend Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine Worship in Music

The Music Ministry The Proclaimed Word

The Right Reverend Dr. Teresa Jefferson Snorton The 59th Bishop, CME Church The Call to Pray

Dr. Collins The Doxology

All Worshipers (standing) The Benediction

Bishop Jefferson-Snorton Please remain seated and follow the directions of the ushers as we exit the sanctuary from the Rear to Front.

History of Saint Joseph A.M.E. Church

1869 to 2022

The history of Saint Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church reflects legacies of spiritual dedication, diligence in service and unity of purpose. The founder, Reverend Edian D. Markum (later, Markham) was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on April 23, 1824. In 1868, Rev. Markham and his wife, Sister Molly Markham, came to Durham and purchased a parcel of land from Mrs. Minerva Fowler, which he used for preaching and holding prayer meetings. Historians report that “the newly found church was nothing more than bushes supported by long poles which were fixed in the ground, with God’s ‘grassy earth’ as the floor”.

Shortly thereafter, a log cabin was constructed in which Rev. Markham continued to preach and teach the doctrine of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. On August 20, 1869, the church, with its six members, officially organized under the name Union Bethel A.M.E. Church. Rev. Markham’s wife, Sis. Markham, worked diligently with her husband in ministry and placed special emphasis on missionary endeavors until her death in February 1941. When the membership of the church reached fifteen, Rev. Markham was transferred to another pastorate. Rev. Markham’s ministry was succeeded by Reverend Lewis Edwards and Reverend George Hunter, respectively. Rev. Hunter accepted the challenge of initiating the construction of the first frame church building, which was replaced later on by a more stable frame edifice. Subsequent to the transfer of Rev. Hunter, the second frame building was completed by the Reverends O. Ofley, L. Edwards, and W. D. Cook. As the membership continued to increase, the pastor, officers and members developed plans for a more “stately” brick structure. The cornerstone was laid for the facility in 1892, at 804 Fayetteville Street, with the Reverend Andrew Chambers as pastor. Soon the name of the church formally changed to Saint Joseph African Methodist Episcopal Church. The building program continued under a succession of pastors, including the Reverends W. J. Jordan, W.E. Walker, D.J. Beckett and J.E. Jackson, who shepherded the church’s completion.

The bricks used in construction were obtained from Robert Fitzgerald and Sons, an African American Company. Church records show that church members and prominent community leaders made generous financial contributions. Key among them are Brother John Merrick, Trustee and Co-Founder of the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company; Professor W.G. Pearson, Trustee and Principal; Sister Minnie S. Pearson, Missionary Leader; Brother John Avery, Connectional Layperson; Brother E.D. Mickle, outstanding Steward. Washington Duke, General Julian Carr, W.T. Blackwell and Eugene Morehead are among the white citizens of Durham whose financial contributions assisted the building program, and the maintenance of the new facility. Their names are embossed on the church’s stained glass windows. The basement of the church was completed to street level during the administration of the Reverend J.A. Valentine.

St. Joseph’s membership made rapid gains in the 20th century. On November 28, 1948, Reverend David A. Johnston with his wife, Sister Verdelle Johnston, and their daughter, Doris, arrived at St. Joseph. Rev. Johnston was a visionary leader. During his tenure, the church planned and expanded its facility to include, the construction and dedication of the Edian D. Markham Memorial Educational Building

and a new parsonage. The sanctuary was renovated, the exterior was painted and the bricks of the structure were restored to their original beauty. The Official Board endorsed the naming of the Education Building as a tribute to the founder on March 17, 1952. After the completion of the education building, Rev. Johnston established a Nursery School and First Grade. He also expanded his family by welcoming another daughter, Loretta.

Rev. Johnston was succeeded in 1958 by the Reverend Melvin Chester Swann who was accompanied by his wife, Dorothy. Under the leadership of Rev. Swann, the Lay Organization was established at St. Joseph in 1964.

In September of 1965, the Reverend Philip R. Cousin, Sr. and his wife, Margaret Joan, and their sons came to St. Joseph. Rev. Cousin was a young, assertive minister with progressive ideas. These resulted in the establishment of new programs and building plans. A new parsonage was constructed in October 1968, and seven acres of land at the corner of Fayetteville Street and Burlington Avenue was secured for a new facility.

A dedication service for the land was held in 1974, and immediately, Mr. Clinton Gravely, an African American architect from Greensboro, North Carolina, was employed to design a new church. Male and female designers in the corporation selected the color scheme, and the cornerstone was laid in October 1975. A historic milestone for the Church occurred on February 15, 1976, as the congregation marched from 804 Fayetteville Street (the old site) to 2521 Fayetteville Street (the new site) for its grand opening. The new facility was dedicated on April 11, 1976.

While the membership celebrated the construction of the “new” St. Joseph, they also recognized the historic value and civic contribution of the original site to the community. Consequently, the site was repurposed as a cultural enrichment and arts education facility and renamed the Hayti Heritage Center. The year 1976 marked another milestone in St. Joseph’s history. During the month of June, Rev. Cousin was elected the 96th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the Fortieth Session of the General Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the first Bishop elected from St. Joseph, as well as the First A.M.E. Bishop from the State of North Carolina.

On August 15, 1976, Bishop Henry W. Murph appointed Reverend William Webster Easley, Jr. to St. Joseph. He was accompanied by his wife, Ora, and their son. During his tenure, the church continued to grow in membership and programs. A new Reuter Pipe Organ was installed and paid for; the mortgage for the parsonage was paid off; and the Sarah Allen Missionary Unit was formed. Rev. Easley served as pastor for 16 years.

Pastor Easley was succeeded by Reverend Philip R. Cousin, Jr., on August 16, 1992. He is the eldest son of Bishop and Mrs. Philip R. Cousin, Sr., who previously served the St. Joseph congregation. Under his guidance, the church initiated a van ministry, refurbished the church offices and rooms, purchased new office equipment, completed a total renovation of the parsonage and instituted an aggressive plan to liquidate the church mortgage. In 1996, the mortgage, which had been in excess of $400,000.00, was burned. Further, under his leadership, St. Joseph also received its first female members of the Board of Stewards. Included among the new appointees were Sisters Cora Bryant, Ava Haskins Brownlee, Azzie Conley, Emily Marshall and Natalie Perkins. Rev. Cousin’s service at St. Joseph spanned 21 years.

On June 16, 2013, the Reverend Ronald L. Owens was appointed pastor of St. Joseph A.M.E. Church. Rev. Owens, along with his wife, Gwendolyn and daughter Ronnise, embraced the rich history of the church and progressively implemented a new twenty first century vision and commitment to the St. Joseph church family and community. Notably, Rev. and Mrs. Owens initiated a progressive community outreach ministry, instituted programs and resource networks for seniors and established a college connection ministry with students at North Carolina Central University (NCCU).

On May 4, 2019, during the Western North Carolina Conference, Bishop James Levert Davis appointed the Reverend Jonathan C. Augustine as St. Joseph’s 31st Pastor. Rev. Augustine, along with his wife, Sister Michelle, and children, Mason and Jillian were officially welcomed on Sunday, May 5, 2019. Since then, “Pastor Jay” has continued to collaborate with NCCU, establishing #NCCUSundays, while also emerging as a prophetic voice in Durham, while instituting #SocialJusticeSundays. The high profile quarterly events have honored and welcomed, the Royal Ice Cream Seven, of the 1957 Durham sit in, Vice President Kamala Harris (then a member of the United States Senate), the Honorable Andrew J. Young, and the Reverend Dr. William J. Barber, II, among others. Pastor Jay led St. Joseph through an exciting and spirit filled, “150 days for 150 years,” as St. Joseph celebrated her 150th Anniversary. With innovation and creativity, new ministries have been birthed under his leadership. As St. Joseph also responded to the COVID 19 Pandemic, Pastor Jay led the church’s transition into a thriving virtual space, ministering to people around the world. He calls St. Joseph “The best church this side of Heaven.” St. Joseph’s historic pastoral leadership has been complemented by the rich engagement of its members. Since the early 1900’s, members of St. Joseph have held leadership positions on the Connectional Level in the A.M.E. Church including Brother John Avery, Lay Leader and Sister Minnie S. Pearson, Missionary Leader. Following these early pioneers were others who made significant contributions to the Connectional Church. Notably, Attorney William A. Marsh, Jr. was elected, in 1976, as a member of the Judicial Council of the A.M.E. Church at the General Conference in Atlanta, Ga. Subsequently in 1992, he became the Chief Counsel and in 1999, the General Counsel of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Between 1960 1988, Sister Verdelle Johnston served as President of the Western North Carolina Conference Branch of the Women’s Missionary Society; Chairman of Promotion and Missionary Education for the Western North Carolina Conference; Connectional Historiographer of the Women’s Missionary Society; Chairman of Promotion and Missionary Education for the Second Episcopal District and was appointed by Bishop H. Hartford Brookins as the Second Episcopal District Supervisor. During her tenure, Sister Johnston also authored the seminal text of the history of the WMS entitled One Hundred Years of Victorious Service. Sister Willia R. George was appointed by Bishop John Hurst Adams and Dr. Dolly Desselle Adams as Connectional Chair of the Hughes Smith Life Membership Committee of the Women’s Missionary Society, 1987 1995. The Connectional WMS established the Endowment Fund of which Sis. George

served as the First Chairperson. In 2016, she received a Living Legacy Award from the Western District Community Development Corporation. Earlier, Sister Claudine Zimmerman was elected as Conference Director of the Young People’s Division of the WMS. In 2018, Sister Florine Roberson received The Western District’s Community Development Corporation Living Legacy Award.

St. Joseph’s history also includes members who have held leadership in the Western North Carolina Conference (WNCC). Sister Minerva Evans, Dr. James W. Hill, Sr. and Sister Mary Dasher McAdams served as President, and Dr. Robert McAdams served as Treasurer of the WNCC Lay Organization. Recently, they were recognized for their stellar contributions to the organization. St. Joseph member, Shontea Smith, was elected to serve as the Historian for the Richard Allen Young Adult Council (RAYAC) in 2014. In 2015, her peers also elected her to serve as the Secretary for RAYAC in the 2nd Episcopal District.

Sister Azzie Conley was elected as an adult delegate of the Western North Carolina Conference to the 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was also elected as the conference delegate of the WNCC Lay Organization to the 35th Biennial Session of the Connectional Lay Organization in 2017. Sis. Conley has represented the church as a delegate of the WNCC Branch of the Women’s Missionary Society as a member of the Second Episcopal District Delegation to the Women’s Missionary Society Quadrennial Convention. Also, at the 127th Session of the WNCC, she was elected an adult delegate to the 51st Quadrennial Session of the 2021 General Conference and has served on the Episcopal Committee. Significantly, she is also the first female treasurer of St. Joseph AME Church. St. Joseph was also represented at the Connectional level by Brother Adam Johnston who was elected as the Youth Delegate of the Western North Carolina Conference to the Fiftieth Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In 2017, he was elected by the WNCC Lay Organization as delegate to the Thirty Fifth Biennial Session of the Connectional Lay Organization and, in 2018, he was elected as the Second Vice President for the WNCC Lay Organization. Additionally, he was elected as the Young Adult Representative for the Second Episcopal District Lay Organization. Most recently, St. Joseph’s current pastor, the Reverend Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine, was elected as a clergy member of the AME Church’s Judicial Council during the 51st General Conference. St. Joseph continues to make significant contributions to the community. Of relevance is Pastor Augustine’s current service, after appointment by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, to the state’s Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental and Health Equity Task Force. St. Joseph’s pastors have also played roles in serving as mentors and providing apprenticeship opportunities for Duke Divinity School students. The church continues to maintain a training partnership with Duke Divinity School. Further, in keeping with the entrepreneurial spirit of Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church, and Reverend Edian Markham, founder of St. Joseph’s congregation, St. Joseph owns several properties that serve the Durham community.

OF THOSE WHO ARE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

November 2021 November 2022

Dr. Patsy Brewington Perry

Mary D. Martin Mary A. Dasher McAdans

Dr. Charles Johnson, Jr.

Loretta Johnston

Robert Clemons

William “Bill” Evans

Betty Perkins Jones

William “Bill” Slade

Dr. Laura B. Smith

Betty McNair

Roy Cuttino

Robert Clemons

Val McLean

Dr. James Hill

Robert McAdams

Dr. David McNair

Ella Mae Allen

The Richard Allen Young Adult Council is hosting Adopt-A-Family for Christmas. Our Adopt-A-Family program aids families that could use some help providing a holiday celebration for their families. RAYAC is asking for your help. We would like to provide 2-3 outfits, underclothes, and some wish list items for each child. For the adults, we would like to provide household items that EBT/ SNAP benefits do not cover.

We are now accepting applications for families who would like to be sponsored. If you know of any families that would like to be sponsored, please call the church office to receive the application.

If you would like to adopt a family or child, please contact Lauren Hester or the church office. Donations are also accepted and appreciated via Givelify, PayPal, or CashApp and indicate RAYAC or Adopt-A-Family in the memo/for section.