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June 13, 1988
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ie aS IHER
Gop OUR FA we
Vol. 137, No. 19
June 13, 1988
All Night Prayer Vigil
PRE-GENERAL CONFERENCE ACTIVITY
by A. Lee Henderson
Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will be the site of the “ALL NIGHT
Prayer Vigil.’’ The ‘‘Prayer Quake’’ will start at 12 midnight and end at 6:00 a.m. Allen
Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is located at 116 Elm Street, Fort Worth,
Texas, the Reverend W. L. Davis is the Pastor. The Right Reverend V. R. Byrd is the
Coordinator.
Bishop V. R. Byrd
Rev. W. L. Davis
Pastor
Fort Worth, Texas. The Prayer Quake
July 3, 1988, midnight to 6:00 a.m.
proposed by Bishop Vernon R. Byrd
may well turn out to be an earth-
shaking event! In the true spirit of
prayer our eminent Bishops, General
Officers, Deans, Presiding Elders,
Connectional Officers, and distin-
guished Delegates can achieve their
goals.
In a telephone interview Bishop
Byrd said, ‘‘first, we focus on Jesus.
He is the magnet that prepares and
draws men and women to God. Apart
from Him, the Word becomes word.
In Him, the Word becomes flesh. He
is the center of the center. He fuels our
faith.’ ‘‘Many meetings take place,
Please turn to page 7
Delaware Conference Addresses Social
Issues for Today
Bishop Frank Cummings
Chester, PA—The 65th session of the
Delaware Conference convened at the
Murphy A.M.E. Church with the host
pastor, the Rev. Andrew T. Holtz, Jr.,
and congregation.
The pre-conference service began
with the conference evangelists’ ser-
vice, led by the conference Director,
Rev. Sherry Harmon. Seventy-six-
year-old Eastern Shore Baseball Hall
of Famer Condonsal Walters led the
Dickerson Chapel Male Chorus in
“This Old House.’’ The Rev. James
Hill is Pastor of Dickerson Chapel
Church. Rev. James K. Baldwin, the
next Director of the A.M.E. Church
Department of Evangelism, preached
from II Kings 6:16, asking, ‘‘Do You
Know Your Strength?’’
In a high-spirited and loving atmos-
phere, the Conference Branch of the
WMS elected a slate of new officers.
Thus, the tone of the conference was
set. The Rt. Rev. Frank C. Cummings,
Presiding Bishop of the 65th session of
the Delaware Conference, organized
the conference, which was visited by
five bishops: Bishops Huff and Poin-
dexter of the U.A.M.E. Church, the
latter delivering Friday’s noonday ser-
mon; Bishop D. Ward Nichols; Bis-
hop Vernon R. Byrd, who delivered
the Ordination Sermon; and Bishop
Donald G. Ming, who preached the
closing sermon. In a sermon following
the conference organization, Rev.
Charles Dennis stood before the con-
gregation, took a text from Deuteron-
omy 6:3, and told us the Lord said,
“Tell Them About Me.’’
The conference did its work, re-
Please turn to page 7
ECORDE
THE OFFICIAL ORGAN
“A “
PRICE: 50 CENTS
Methodist
Episcopal
Church
1787-1987
Great Throng in South Africa
Invades a City in Jubilate!
By Rev. Daniel S. Modisapodi
Bishop Henry A. Belin
Bishop Harold B. Senatle
South Africa—A crowd of 2,000 loyal
and faithful members of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, in joint
Bicentennial Celebrations by the 15th,
18th, and 19th Episcopal Districts, in-
vaded the City of Bloemfontein, South
Africa, on Wednesday in jubilate!
Bicentennial Celebrations went on
for five days, under the leadership of
Bishops Harold B. Senatle and Henry
A. Belin, Jr., accompanied by their
queenly wives and families and follow-
ed by district leaders—both clergy and
laity—young people, and children. It
was a great event and an extraordinary
occasion, depicting a history unfolding
the beginning, organization, propa-
gation, and continuation of the life and
activity of a religious movement,
which God alone purposed, led, and
moved into being, using man as His in-
strument. Undoubtedly, Richard Allen
was the man, and the early pioneers
and the faithful in America, in Africa,
and throughout the world became
countless witnesses.
Celebrations, as an event, come and
go, but memory lingers, and happen-
ings become memorable and enduring.
Such was the impression gained by
those who attended the Bicentennial
celebrations in Bloemfontein.
The opening day started at 9 a.m.
with a procession of witnesses starting
from Frazer Square, three quarters of
a mile distance to the City Hall, and
arriving at 11 a.m. The City of Bloem-
fontein was quiet; the procession of
witnesses moved the city to enquire
about what was happening. The people
of God had entered a city! Walls of
divisions were shaking, and God had
ushered peace and reconciliation, and
every hotel and Holiday Inn inthe city
was open, and the reception was too
wonderful for words. The spirit of
celebrations was high and enthusiastic,
and the theme, “‘A Liberating and Re-
conciling People,’ became real and
relevant to a part of the world fraught
with disease of hatred, divisions, and
violence. Our celebrations brought
hope and renewed faith and strength
for our people in South Africa.
As we worshiped on the opening
day, the Rev. Dr. James A. Blake,
pastor of Morris Brown A.M.E.
Church, Charleston, SC, delivered an
edifying sermon that brought many
near the cross and set the occasion
glowing on a high and appreciative
note.
FIVE DAYS
Invariably, the five days were used
for combined workshops, separate
Please turn to page 7
Member Churches Voting On COCU
Document During Quadrennial Session
Princeton, NJ—The United Methodist
Church, meeting in its Quadrennial
General Conference in St. Louis,
became the third church to accept the
COCU Consensus, a theological agree-
ment worked out over twenty five
years by the member churches of the
Consultation on Church Union.
In its decision, the United Methodist
Church stated that it recognizes in this
Consensus an expression of the apos-
tolic faith, order, worship, and witness
of the Church. It further declared that
it recognizes in the Consensus a suf-
ficient theological basis for the COCU
covenanting acts that will be brought
to the 1992 General Conference for
discussion and action.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal
Church and the International Council
of Community Churches had already
claimed the COCU Consensus at their
national assemblies.
Four other churches will vote on this
agreement in the summer of 1988, with
the final two member churches of
COCU voting in 1989.
The covenanting document referred
to above will be the center of attention
at the December, 1988, Plenary
meeting of COCU, to be held in New
Orleans, Louisiana.
The nine member churches of the
Consultation are: African Methodist
Episcopal Church, African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church, Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian
Methodist Episcopal Church, Episco-
pal Church, International Council of
Community Churches, Presbyterian
Church (USA), United Church of
Christ, and United Methodist Church.
ee
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»
The AME Christian Recorder
In one chapter of Donald Regan’s
recently-published book, he states that
after the assassination attempt on
President Reagan, his wife Nancy be-
gan checking regularly with astrologers
to determine the best and safest times
for his personal and presidential activi-
ties. I do not know how valid that
report is, but it does bring to mind a
fact of history. It has been pointed out
that beginning with the election of U.
S. President William Henry Harrison
in 1840, each president elected in a year
ending with the symbol digit ‘‘0”’ has
died while in office. For 120 years, the
established historic pattern remained
unbroken. Seven successful candidates
who ran in the years 1840, 1860, 1880,
1900, 1920, 1940 and 1960, and became President, died while holding that of-
fice.
Since President Reagan was first elected in 1980, and was shot in an
assassination attempt, subsequently, it might be a little difficult to ignore the
“0”? pattern of the past. It might even be natural for dormant superstitious in-
stincts to stir somewhat uneasily over this pattern—whether it be coincidental
or otherwise—and lend significance to the fact that every twenty years a presi-
dent has been elected who was either assassinated or died from other causes
while in office.
This editorial is written for the 13th day of June. I do not, however, suf-
fer from ‘‘TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA,”’ the fear of the number 13.
Tradition has it that 13 people dining, or just sitting, together is very
unlucky. One version of this superstition has it that the first to rise will suffer
death or serious misfortune before a year passes. Another puts the last to rise
in danger. The third version says that any one of the 13 may suffer, or all of
them.
Superstitions, like phobias, are based on ignorance and fear of the
unknown. Egyptians buried food and wine with their dead, thinking they
would be on a long journey. The American Indians buried their dead with bow
and arrows because they were thought to be going to another hunting ground
in another world. Originally, the use of tombstone was for the purpose of
keeping the evil spirits in the grave. Pebbles that the mourners put on graves
gave further evidence of this superstition. Though we call the firing of guns at
military funerals a last salute, it is the same symbolic ritual of the American
Indians, who shot their arrows or threw their spears into the air to frighten off
evil spirits.
Primitive religions focused on the power to bring a curse on people. The
greatest power in primitive religions is the power of curse, to create spells, and
engage the superstitious. Their effectiveness resided in their ability to control
men and their minds under the threat of curse and bad luck. Since the begin-
ning of recorded time, trying to solve the mysteries of life and death have pro-
duced soothsayers, seers, medicine men, witch doctors, and magic makers.
Primitive man thought that by observing a fetish, performing some ritual, or
by having it done for him, he would placate a hostile spirit.
Has 20th-century man really progressed beyond primitive beliefs? Many
customs, rituals, and traditions that mold and influence our practices
originated far back in time before recorded history. These traits do not con-
fine themselves to any particular culture, ethnic group or academic communi-
ty. A cleric—superstitious or a victim of triskaidekaphobia—would be hard
pressed to preach from First Corinthians, 13th Chapter and 13th Verse—the
last in the chapter. Some people are that fearful about the number 13,
especially when it falls on a Friday.
What charm are you carring or wearing on your person—and for what
reason? I once asked my daughter, Sheridan, what superstitions and phobias
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The A.M.E. Christlan Recorder welcomes letters trom its readers on matters of general interest. All
letters must be signed and contain the address of the writer. The A.M.E. Christian Recorder will occa-
sionally withhold the name of a writer of a signed letter, if there is a valid reason given. No defamatory,
libelous or slanderous letters will be printed; and the A.M.E. Christian Recorder reserves the right to re-
ject or edit any letter or article to conform with good taste, style and space requirements
June 13, 1988
she had and, much to my astonishment, she said, ‘‘None! Christians are not
superstitious.’ What could I say to that? What can you say?
Our environmental influences do contribute to what we become, think
and believe, and, ultimately, to the way we live. A very intelligent old woman
told me, many years ago, this little verse of unknown origin: ‘‘Monday for
health; Tuesday is for wealth; Wednesday is the best day of all, Thursday is
for crosses; Friday is for losses; and Saturday, no luck at all. Somehow, I still
wonder why Sunday was not included in the verse.
Astrology is a pseudoscience to foretell the future by studying the sup-
posed influences of the relative positions of the moon, sun and stars on
human affairs, The word ‘‘horoscope’’ is taken from the Greek word
horoskopos, meaning one who observes the hour of birth. This also relates to
the position of the planets and stars with relation to one another at a given
time, especially at the time of a person’s birth, and regarded as determining his
destiny. A zodiac is an imaginary belt in the heavens, extending for eight
degrees on either side of the apparent path of the sun, and including the paths
of the moon and the principal planets. It is divided into twelve equal parts, or
signs, each named for a different constellation.
The twelve signs are Aquarius, January 20-February 18; Pices, February
19-March 20; Aries, March 21-April 19; Taurus, April 20-May 20; Gemini,
May 21-June 21; Cancer, June 22-July 22; Leo, July 23-August 22; Virgo,
August 23-September 22; Libra, September 23-October 23; Scorpio, October
24-November 22; Sagittarius, November 23-December 21; Capricorn,
December 22-January 19.
President Ronald Wilson Reagan’s zodiacal sign is Aquarius, and his wife
Nancy Reagan’s zodiacal sign is Cancer. The Tennessean newspaper (5-8-88)
says, ‘‘Ronald Reagan was sworn in as governor of California at 12:01 a.m.
after carefully examining the alignment of the stars. He carries charms in his
pocket, considers 33 his lucky number, and often says Lincoln’s ghost stalks
The A.M.E. Christian Recorder
the White House.’’
Special to the Christian Recorder
Dr. Robert Thomas, Jr.
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE REV.
ROBERT THOMAS, JR., PASTOR
EBENEZER A.M.E. CHURCH
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Dear Co-Laborer in Christ:
I am an aspirant for Episcopal ser-
vice in the African Methodist Episco-
pal Church.
My Record will show thousands of
souls saved, the building of two Chur-
ches and one Educational building,
paying off of mortgages, purchasing of
parsonages and involvement in many
civic and outreach enterprises.
Many of my supporters have ex-
claimed that ‘‘Bob has paid his dues
and deserves to be elected.’’ While I
: SUBSCRIBE!
to the Christian Recorder
Please print. Payment must accompany order. Allow 4 weeks for first delivery.
am grateful for those sentiments, I do
not believe that effective pastoral
leadership need be rewarded with the
Bishopric. To be able to fulfill one’s
calling successfully is, in itself, great
reward. I do, however, feel that pas-
toral accomplishment may give some
indication as to what kind of Bishop a
person would be, if elected.
Frankly, the same skills in admin-
istration and the spiritual maturity
which makes for strong pastoral lead-
ership should qualify one for the office
of Chief Pastor.
Also, the ability to relate lovingly
and respectfully to the people of God,
both ministerial and lay, is a priority
for the bishopric. I believe I qualify on
all of the aforementioned statements.
I cannot give a platform of what I
would do if elected. I would simply be
one in a system with many. I do,
however, promise to work under God
with other persons, both ministerial
and lay in progressive ministry for the
advancement of our Zion.
Thanks for your prayers, support
and vote.
Sincerely in Christ,
Robert Thomas, Jr., Pastor
Ebenezer A.M.E. Church
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June 13, 1988
The AME Christian Recorder
“Seventh Episcopal District
Min
$e
fe
Rev. Laddie N. Howard
We praise God Almighty for giving
us the determination, faith, and trust
that we were able through prayer to
reach this level of accomplishment.
For the past three years, the Rev.
Laddie Nathaniel Howard traveled
from his home in Sumter, SC,
pastored Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church
of Greenwood, SC, and attained the
Interdenominational Theological Cen-
ter of Atlanta, GA.
We count it a blessing to be a mem-
ber of the African Methodist Episco-
pal Church in South Carolina, under
the direction of Bishop F. C. James,
Presiding Prelate of the 7th Episcopal
District. Rev. Howard is a member of
the Piedmont Annual Conference ser-
ving in the Greenwood District where
the Rev. G. T. Devlin is the Presiding
Elder.
As if the afore mentioned of travel-
ister Earns Master’s Degree”’
ing every week was not enough, Rev.
Howard found time to serve as the
president of the Turner Seminary Fel-
lowship. He was the winner of two
awards during his senior year, the
Dean’s Award, and the Bishop
William Alfred Fountain, Sr., and
William Afred Fountain, Jr., Award
for Academic Excellence. He was also
a member of the Student’s Life Com-
mittee, Campus Security Committee,
Member of the Executive Committee
of the Student Christian League, and
many others.
ried to the former Katherine Rivers of
Bamberg, SC, and the father of two
teenage children. He is the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Robert N. Howard of
Sumter, SC.
The struggle for Rev. Howard paid
off May 7, 1988 as he was awarded the
Master of Divinity Degree in
Psychology of Religion/Pastoral
Care. Very important in the struggle,
Rev. Howard was able to maintain a
3.23 G.P.A.
Rev. Howard says he credits first of
all his success to God’s blessings and
the prayers of the many who kept en-
couraging him to keep on keeping on.
We encourage all ministers to accept
the challenge which Paul gave to
Timothy, to study to show thyself ap-
proved, a workman who need not be
ashamed rightly divining the word of
truth.
43rd General Conference to Convene
in Fort Worth, Texas, July 6th thru 14th
By The Connectional Christian
Debutante-Master Commission,
A.M.E. Church
The 43rd General Conference of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church
will convene in Fort Worth, Texas, Ju-
ly 6th thru July 14th, 1988. The Right
Reverend Rembert E. Stokes of the
10th Episcopal District will be Host
Bishop to the thousands of clergy and
laity who will gather for this Quadren-
nial legislative assembly. Dr. Nancy P.
Stokes, Episcopal Supervisor of the
District, the First Lady and official
hostess, is assisting her husband in
planning to make this Quadrennial
meeting especially memorable.
One of the numerous highlights of
the meeting will be the 10th Quadren-
nial Christian Debutante-Master
(DMC) Dedication Ceremony at the
seat of the General Conference, 4:00
p.m., the first Sunday afternoon, July
10, 1988. Unmarried young people en-
tering adulthood (ages 17-20) will
dedicate their lives for a greater Chris-
tian witness, in an inspirational reli-
—ELECT—
Dr. Robert Thomas, Jr.
Fourth Episcopal District
gious service involving pageantry,
music, choral readings and prayers. An
elaborate reception will follow the
dedication. Professional video taping
of the entire activity will enable in-
terested persons to possess a lasting
remembrance of the occasion.
Honorees who will be selected to
participate by their Pastors or youth
leaders will engage in preparatory stu-
dies to deepen their knowledge of the
Christian faith, denominational
history, Black studies and brother-
hood awareness. The young person re-
porting the highest amount of money
over the participation quota will be
crowned “Mr. or Miss Bicentennial
A.M.E. of 1988’. There is no limi-
tation on the number of qualified
young people who may participate in
the Dedication from a local church,
area, Presiding Elder District, or an
Episcopal District.
For further information, write to:
DMC Headquarters
P.O. Box 497125
Chicago, IL 60649
Dr. J. B. Crawford
To the Bishopric
3
UM Senior Lee Richard Coleman
Set to Study Medicine
Lee Richard Coleman, Jr., 21-year-
old senior at the University of Miami,
who graduated May 6 with a Bachelor
of Science degree, has an interesting di-
lemma: six medical schools have ac-
cepted him. Which one should he
pick?
Coleman, class representative for
the UM College of Arts and Sciences,
sent off applications last fall to
medical schools in the East. So far, six
have said yes, several offering full
four-year tuition scholarships.
The schools that are seeking Cole-
man include Yale, the University of
South Florida, Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity, University of Pennsylvania, Duke
University, and the University of
Said Coleman, ‘‘Yale, John Hop-
kins, the University of Pennsylvania,
and Duke are considered to be among
the top 10 medical schools in the coun-
try. I need to decide which one offers
the best financial deal. It’s a good feel-
ing to be wanted.
“Tf I accomplished anything in my
years of study, I hope that it is a state-
ment and a good example for the
young Blacks in my community,
because Blacks need more positive
role models.”’
Coleman is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Lee Coleman, Sr., of 13810 Harrison
St., Richmond Heights. His parents
and sister, Sandi, 8, watched him
graduate.
At the UM, Coleman majored in bi-
ology and minored in chemistry in the
pre-med program, which included or-
ganic chemistry, physics, biology, and
eight years weekly of independent re-
search in platelet activation factor with
the Florida A&M School of Pharmacy
extension lab at Jackson Memorial
Hospital. Coleman worked with Dr.
Gershwin T. Blyden, learning about
research techniques and various instru-
mentation, including the gas chroma-
tographer and high pressure liquid
chromatographer. Coleman wants to
specialize in cardiovascular or neuro-
surgery.
“Someday, I’d like to be involved in
academic medicine, affiliated with
some university, and possibly work in
the field of cancer research. Since I
was a kid, I heard how terrible cancer
is. I’d like to be on the team that
someday could eradicate this killer.
They need to find that one factor that
is common to all cancers. If they can
do it, they can find a way to battle it.””
Coleman was born in Miami’s Bap-
tist Hospital September 16, 1966. He
studied at Leewood Elementary
School, Arvida Junior High School,
and Miami Killian Senior High School.
At Killian, he found his scientific in-
terest, and was in the science honor
society. He also was a member of the
Civil War Roundtable, ‘‘which was
fascinating. I learned that it was a di-
vided war, but one with a great pur-
pose—ending slavery.’’
At 220 pounds and 5-feet 10, Cole-
man was asked by the football team
coach if he wanted to play, but Cole-
man told him tongue-in-cheek that he
was more ‘‘academically inclined. So I
went to the games and rooted for my
buddies instead of playing.’’ But he
keeps in good health by playing bas-
ketball and fishing in the Everglades
off the Tamiami Trail.
His high school record helped him
to win a four-year, full-tuition Golden
Drum Scholarship to study at the Uni-
versity of Miami, At the UM, he
played four years for living expenses.
It will help tremendously,’’ he said.
Another welcome surprise: his aunt,
Barbara Nickerson, is taking him on
vacation this summer to Germany, Ita-
ly, and France for four weeks as a
graduation gift. They have relatives in
the military stationed in Germany and
will visit them.
““Someday,’’ said Coleman, ‘‘I hope
to help my sister go to college, in case
she is not as fortunate as me.’’
Now, in the spring, a few people
around his neighborhood tease him by
calling him ‘‘Doc.’’
Said Coleman, with a big smile, ‘‘I
tell them they’re a few years early and
to wait until I pass the gross anatomy
course in medical school.’’
Dr. U. A. Hughey
Leadership
for the
THIRD CENTURY
— Elect —
Him Bishop in
Dr. Carl Hunter
CHURCH EXxEEEE
excay EXPANSION
DEPARTMENT Egy
ELECT
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4 The AME Christian Recorder
June 13, 1988
Ms. Cooper-Blair Joins Agency Board
THE MINORITY VIEW—Cesar A. Perales, right, Commissioner of the New York State
Department of Social Services, discusses New York City’s human care services agencies
with Ms. Antoinette Cooper-Blair, a manager for Citibank, center, and with Horace W.
Morris, Executive Director of United Way of New York City, during a reception at Con-
tinental Insurance Corp.
Perales and Morris organized the Minority Board Placement Project last year to recruit
Hispanic and Black corporate executives to the boards of private agencies. This followed a
United Way study that revealed minorities made up fewer than 15 percent of the boards of
directors of such agencies, while clients served by these agencies come to more than 80 per-
cent. One of 45 Black and Hispanic business executives honored at the reception, Ms.
Cooper-Blair recently joined the board of the Louise Wise Services agency in New York
City.
THE TENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Presents
“PROFILES IN FAITH”
DIANNE TUCKER, Director
Friday, July 8, 1988 — 8:30 P.M.
Saturday, July 9, 1988 — 2:00 P.M.
William Edrington Scott Theatre
3505 W. Lancaster Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas
BENEFIT FOR PAUL QUINN COLLEGE
Donation — $15.00
43rd Quadrennial Session yA
of the
General Conference of the
African Methodist Episcopal
Church
FAMILY BANQUET
Tuesday, July 5, 1988 — 7:00 P.M.
Tarrant County Convention Center
1111 Houston Street Ft. Worth, Texas
Please plan to attend this exciting feature. We’re looking
forward to seeing you.
Reservations are already being made. Tickets are in the
hands of each Episcopal District Bishop. Ticket donation
$50.00.
Mrs. Izean F. Davidson, Chairperson
4509 Rolling Hills Dr., Ft. Worth, Texas 76119
Reverend W. D. Turner, Co-Chairperson
Mrs. Nancy P. Stokes, Advisor
The Right Reverend R. E. Stokes, Bishop
Tenth Episcopal District
Elect
Editor
of Religious
Literature
IN FORT WORTH
JULY 1988
When Elected...
¢] will move to Nashville and work there
e] will give you Bible base literature
eMy writing will be of the highest quality
ePublisher will have material on time
Develop a ‘Bank of Writers’ across the Connection
eImprove literature and work hand in hand with the Publisher
28 Years Experience As A Writer Of Church School
‘ae Literature For The African Methodist Episcopal Church De,
Edward W. Jackson
(%
Henderson
A Man of experience
A-1 Publisher
_ Candidate for Re-Election
‘ Secretary-Treasurer
The Sunday School Union
African Methodist Episcopal
Church
Dr. A. Lee Henderson
July 1988
“I will try to do my duty when re-elected July 1988 in the same spirit
exemplified in the past. I promise to do justice, show mercy and to
walk humbly with my God.
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI
and
EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Right Reverend Donald G. Ming, Presiding Bishop
Present
Twelfth Annual Church Music Workshop
Music Ministry in the Contemporary Urban and Rural Church
JUNE 28 - JULY 1, 1988
Outstanding Consultants / Excellent Workshop Experiences
ROBERT RAY — St. Louis, MO WORKSHOP EXPERIENCES
Instructor of Music, St. Louis Conservatory Selecting, Analyzing, Interpreting Spirituals
Minister of Music, West Side Baptist Church _—_ Structuring The Church Music Program
Composer: Gospel Mass The Children’s Choir: Handle With Care
ELLA WASHINGTON Milwaukee, WI Service Music
Supervisor of Music Education, Milwaukee Spirituals and Hymns of the Black Church
Public Schools Interpreting and Teaching Gospel Music
Director of Music, Calvary Baptist Church The Minister and the Music Program
ROBERT L. MORRIS Jackson, MS Rehearsals Techniques
Director of Choral Activities, Jackson State
University
Director of Music, Central United Metho-
dist Church
JIMMIE JAMES The Workshop Director is Professor and Chair of the Department of Music at
Jackson State University. He is Minister of Music at Pearl Street A.M.E. Church and former
Director of Music for the Eighth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
TUITION / FEES
HOURS GRADUATE CREDIT
HOURS UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT
HOUR GRADUATE CREDIT
HOUR UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT
NON-CREDIT
NON-CREDIT (10 or more from one church)
SPECIAL CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP (Ages 6-12)
For Information, Please Write Or Call The Workshop Director
DR. JIMMIE JAMES, JR., CHAIR
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI 39217
(601) 968-2141
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The AME. Christian Recorder
June 13, 1988
a ee |
loa
News From The Northwest Texas District
2
Presiding Elder 1. C. Cooper, Jr., pictured with his constituents. ‘Charges: Bethel,
Lubbock, Reverend D. A. Smith; Greater St. Luke, Midland, Rev. S. V. Ferguson;
Visitor's Chapel, El Paso, Rev. Caiaphas Cain; Johnson Chapel, Amarillo, Rey. C. L.
Boyd; Greater St. Paul, San Angelo, Rey. E. L. Wright; Johnson Chapel, Odessa,
Rey. W. T. Wright; Lee Chapel, Brownwood, Rey. Clinton Roberts; Bethel, Abilene,
Rey. D. Edwin Johnson; Baker Chapel, Big Spring, Rev. M. L. Goffney; Bethel,
Sweetwater, Rey. Vera Clay; Simms Chapel, Stamford, Rey. Floyd Green, Jr.; Gospel
Chapel Slaton/Hester Memorial, Brownfield, Rev. O. V. Harris; Allen Chapel,
Snyder, Rey. Floyd Green, Sr.; Brooks Chapel, Crowell, Rev. J. F. Fletcher; Sherman
Chapel, Vernon, Rey. R. D. Green; Brock Chapel, Borger, Rev. Phillip Randle; Smith
Chapel, Eastland, Rev. Mary Lyles; Sims Chapel, Coleman, Rev. L. B. R. Walker;
Cole Chapel, Faben/Hobbs Chapel, McCamey/St. Matthew, Monahan, Presiding
Elder I. C. Cooper, Jr.
Big Spring, TX—The Northwest
Texas District Ministers and Laity met
with the capable Presiding Elder of the
district, the Rev. I. C. Cooper, at Baker
Chapel A.M.E. Church for the yearly
Planning Meeting.
The Saturday morning registration
began promptly at 9:00 A.M., with the
General Session scheduled for 10:00
A.M. The laymen of the district
conducted a spirited devotional period,
setting the tone for the meeting, which
was presided over by Presiding Elder
Cooper.
In addition to other matters of
business, host churches were elected for
conferences and conventions, including
the District Conference to be held at
Greater St. Paul AMEC, San Angelo,
Texas, Rev. E. L. Wright Pastor;
Sunday School Convention, Greater St.
Luke AMEC, San Angelo, Texas, Rev.
E. L. Wright, pastor; Sunday School
Convention, Greater St. Luke AMEC,
Midland, Texas, Rev. S. V. Ferguson,
Pastor; and the Annual Conference,
Bethel AMEC, Lubbock, Texas, Rev.
D. A. Smith, Pastor.
Those attending the business session
also heard Mr. Worthy Gilbert, the
newly-elected Lay President, introduce
his officers for the conference year and
state, briefly, some of the work that
would be on the agenda for the year. The
Conference President of Ushers, Mr. W.
I. Graham, also gave a summary of plans
for the conference year and read the
Ushers Budget for each church.
Rey. C. L. Boyd, Pastor, Johnson
Chapel AMEC, Amarillo, presided with
distinction over the highly spirited Noon
Worship Service, assisted by some of the
pastors of the district. The speaker for
the hour, the Rev. Floyd Green, Jr.,
Pastor of Simms Chapel, Stamford,
Texas, was presented by Elder Cooper.
In a probing, stirring discourse, Rev.
Green preached on the subject “There Is
a Hell.” His selected scripture reference
was St. Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 18.
The message was superbly delivered, and
the Green Trio was excellent.
Other participants for the Planning
Meeting included Rev. E. L. Wright of
Greater St. Paul, San Angelo, Chairman
of the Tutorial Program, who gave
remarks concerning the program and its
goals. Mrs. Anna D. Jones, President of
the District Missionary Society, presided
over an afternoon assembly with charm
and poise. Mrs. Ora Jean Wilson,
Conference Worship Director, led
the group in a devotion that was a
spirited challenge of faith, hope, love and
devotion. A moving rendition of “I
Surrender All” was sung with the
warmth of love and faith in Jesus. Mrs.
Jones outlined in detail projections for
the new year and introduced the offi-
cers elected to serve during the confe-
rence year. The Standing Committee
Chairpersons for the year were named by
Mrs. Anna J. Lowe, Second Vice
President.
Elected to fill the vacancy of Treasurer
was Mrs. Catherine Robinson, Bethel,
Lubbock, and Mrs. Ronetta Howard of
the same church was elected
Parliamentarian. In the morning’s
business session, Mrs. Leola Jones
William was elected Vice Chairman of
Stewardesses, and elected marshals were
Rev. Floyd Green, Jr., Rev. Richard
Green, and Willie I. Graham.
Rev. M. L. Goffney and the members
of Baker Chapel merited the
appreciation and sincere thanks of
Presiding Elder Cooper, district officers,
Pastors, and laity for the kind hospita-
lity extended those visiting the church
and the city of Big Spring for the an-
nual Planning Meeting.
Naomi L. Graham, Reporter
MAACO
¥%
Dr. Fred Harrison
* Elect *
A Man With
A Cause For
Missions
Dr. Fred Harrison
eigen:
PRI II IIA AIA I IAI AAAI A IAA ASSIS ISAS III AAI ASSIS ASD SI SII SSIS S SISA III SSI SASS
*
SESS SCCSSTCCSSSSCCCCSSSSCCSOSSSSCCSSSSSCSOSCOSCOCCCST CSS COS SSS
*
Dr. Jamye C. Williams
Editor, The A.M.E. Review
Is Doing A Fine Job
* Re-Elect Her «
— Re-Elect —
Dr. Joseph L. Joiner
Pension Department
Mb ‘A Faithful Servant’’
Dr. Joseph L. Joiner
Annual Conferences Schedules
MICHIGAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
September 6-7, 1988
WMS Conference
September 8-11, 1988
St. John A.M.E. Church
505 Beechwood Street
River Rouge, MI 48218
Church Phone: (313) 386-2288
Pastor’s Phone: (313) 861-0281
The Rev. Armistice R. Polk, Host Pastor
The Rey. Martin L. Simmons, Host P.E.
The Rey, J. Allen Parker, Assoc. P.E.
SECOND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E. CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
BISHOP JOHN HURST ADAMS
SECOND EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
PLANNING MEETING
June 16-18, 1988
Bethel A.M.E. Church
Druid Hill & Lanvale Streets
Baltimore, MD 21217
The Rey. John R. Bryant, Host Pastor
Church Telephone: (301) 523-3273
Pastor’s Telephone: (301) 542-2902
CHICAGO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
September 20-21, 1988
WMS Conference
September 22-25, 1988
St. John A.M.E. Church
142 South Fourth Street
Aurora, IL 60505
Church Phone: (312) 898-5333
Pastor’s Phone: (312) 896-0696
The Rey. Jesse Hawkins, Host Pastor
The Rev. W. D. Davis, Jr., Host P.E.
The Rev. Roy L. Miller, Assoc. P.E.
The Rev. David C. Coleman, Assoc. P.E.
FOURTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
PLANNING COUNCIL
October 14-15, 1988
Bethel A.M.E. Church
414 West Vermont Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Church Phone: (317) 634-7002
Pastor’s Phone: (317) 2514777
The Rev. W. W. Reid, Sr., Host Pastor
BISHOP S. S. MORRIS
CANADIAN ANNUAL
SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
INFERENCE
August te 1988 ANNUAL CONFENa conta
WMS Conference
August 12-14, 1988
Tanner A.M.E. Church
727 McDougall Street
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Pastor’s Phone: (517) 752-0474
The Rev. McKinley F. Tyler, Host Pastor
The Rev. Lloyd O. Jenkins, Host P.E.
INDIANA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
August 16-17, 1988
WMS Conference
August 18-21, 1988
Bethel A.M.E. Church
200 South 6th Street
Richmond, IN 47373
Church Phone: (317) 962-7241
Pastor’s Phone: (317) 962-6763
The Rev. Larry J. Bell, Host Pastor
The Rey. William S. Nelson, Host P.E.
The Rev. Handley A. Hickey, Assoc. P.E.
BISHOP F. H. TALBOT
POST CONFERENCE
CONVOCATION
June 18, 1988
Steward Chapel A.M.E. Church
Macon, GA
10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
The Rev. C. E. Shepherd, Host Pastor
The Rev. R. H. Martin, Host P.E.
ILLINOIS ANNUAL CONFERENCE
August 30-31, 1988
WMS Conference
September 1-4, 1988
St. Paul A.M.E. Church
1130 South 16th Street
Springfield, IL 62703
Church Phone: (217) 522-4769
Pastor’s Phone: (217) 529-4053
The Rey. J. S. Benn III, Host Pastor
The Rey. Ivan J. Johnson, Host P.E.
The Rey. Richard D. Smith, Assoc. P.E.
ATTEND
YOUR
ANNUAL
CONFERENCE!
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6
The AME Christian Recorder
June 13, 1988
Historiographer Candidate Discovers Gra
John M. Brown
George R. Ferguson is a quiet and
unassuming man who has lived in
Charlottesville, Virginia, for nearly all
of his 77 years. Only when you press
him does one discover his important
achievements and distinguished line-
age.
Mr. Ferguson has been a leading
Charlottesville mortician for over 50
years, and the courageous leader of the
local NAACP during his city’s tough
fight to desegregate the public schools
during the 1950’s. His daughter,
Olivia, was the principal plaintiff in the
federal courts which started the inte-
gration of the Charlottesville schools.
Yet, Mr. Ferguson is most proud that
his social action involvements do
justice to the memory and example of
his distinguished grandfather, Bishop
John Mifflin Brown, the eleventh
Bishop of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church. Ferguson, his sister
Mrs. Louise F. Bolden, a retired
Cleveland librarian, his daughter,
Olivia Ferguson McQueen, and her
children Tomya and Bandelia, all o-
Washington, DC, are the only living
descendants of this pioneer A.M.E.
prelate.
' Born in 1817 in Odessa, New Castle
County, Delaware, Bishop Brown was
educated by the Quakers, Presby-
terians, and Roman Catholics. He also
attended Wesleyan Academy in Wil-
braham, Massachusetts, and Oberlin
College in Ohio. Although he initially
worshiped at Philadelphia’s St. Tho-
mas Colored Protestant Episcopal
George R. Ferguson
Church, he joined Mother Bethel
A.M.E. Church. After his ordination,
he pastored Allen Church in Pitts-
burgh. Soon he accepted a challenge
from Bishop William Paul Quinn to
build the A.M.E. mission in the slave
territory of New Orleans, Louisiana,
in 1852.
He was jailed once for teaching
Blacks how to read and write. After
other pastorates in Louisville and
Baltimore, and in Virginia and North
Carolina, Brown served the general
Church as editor of the Christian
Recorder, head of the Financial Board,
and secretary of the Parent Home and
Foreign Mission Society. He became
the eleventh Bishop of African Metho-
dism in 1868.
He organized the Alabama Annual
Conference in Selma in 1868 and other
conferences in Texas, Arkansas, Ten-
nessee and South Carolina. Before he
died in 1893, he presided over the Fifth
ndson of Bishop
Episcopal District, which embrace the
western states from Missouri to the
Pacific Coast.
His eleven children included two
ministers, one a Presiding Elder in the
Illinois Conference and the other a
Pastor in the New England Con-
ference. They were Reverends George
L. Brown and Daniel Payne Brown,
respectively. Two children became
physicians: John M. Brown and Mary
Louise Brown. Bishop Brown’s
youngest daughter, Louella Brown,
married George R. Ferguson, Sr., a
graduate of Howard University
Medical school. He set up practice in
Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1904 and
became the city’s only Black doctor.
Their children were Louise and
George, Jr., born February 16, 1911.
Though Bishop Brown died in 1893,
and his wife, M. L. Lewis, died in
1910, their children had matured and
were engaged in chosen vocations.
Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson, candidate
for Historiographer, met George R.
Ferguson, Jr., through the Reverend
Jackson Harbert, a retired A.M.E.
minister living in Charlottesville. Mr.
Ferguson learned that Dickerson
aspired to be Historiographer in the
church that his grandfather served and
gave him his support and formal en-
dorsement!
Dr. Dickerson has already gotten
the Bishop John M. Brown story from
his proud grandson. That story has
been recorded and the important
memorabilia about Bishop Brown has
been located. Bishop Brown would be
pleased!!
Salter’s Chapel Youth Goes To Washington
Ms. Lucretia Johnson
Waverly, TN—Ms. Lucretia Johnson
of Salter’s Chapel A.M.E. Church was
selected as one of two youths to repre-
sent the State of Tennessee as par-
ticipants in the Presidential Classroom
Program in Washington, D. C.
An active member of Salter’s
Chapel, Ms. Johnson attends Sunday
School and church services regularly,
serving as a class leader for her peer
group and as a member of the choir.
She also served as president of Area 6
of the Young People’s Department un-
til, at the last Tennessee Annual Con-
ference session, she was elected Presi-
dent of the Tennessee Conference
YPD.
Lucretia was nominated for par-
ticipation in the Presidential
Classroom Program through her
school, Waverly High. While main-
taining a grade point average of 3.6,
she is a member of the Student Coun-
cil, President of the Sophomore Class,
a member of Law Enforcement Ex-
plorers, the Spanish Club, Fellowship
of Christian Athletes, and the Winter
Guard. These and other involvements
qualified her to take part in the
prestigious program in Washington,
Ms. Johnson was supported in her
efforts to attend the Washington-
based programs through the sponsor-
ship of her church and the assistance
of Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church,
Nashville; Sulphur Spring A.M.E.
Church, Cunningham; McGavock
Chapel A.M.E., Charlotte; Wayman
Chapel, Columbia; and Brother and
Sister Dashielle of Mullin Chapel in
Shelbyville, Tn.
While in Washington, Lucretia at-
tended seminars, visited landmarks,
and talked with legislative represen-
tatives. She returned feeling that she
had been greatly enriched by her ex-
perience and was elated over the op-
portunity to meet and talk with Presi-
dent and Mrs. Reagan. Ms. Johnson
describes the unique experience in her
own words:
My trip to Washington, D. C., was a
very enriching experience. I had a
wonderful time. There were many
great seminars that were given by many
distinguished leaders, To my surprise,
the seminar that | liked best was about
military spending. General Gray did a
fantastic job answering questions and
explaining to us where the taxpayers’
money goes. During that seminar, we
were filmed for a segment of **60
Minutes.”’
We had group discussions called
Crossfires, Crossfires gave us a chance
to voice our opinions and listen to
others’ opinions. | attended the *‘Just
Say No”’ Crossfire, We came to a deci-
sion that the ‘‘Just Say No’’ program
isn’t very effective if you hire actors or
actresses to speak to the young people
about drugs. It’s up to us—the older
teenagers—to tell the younger kids
that it’s okay to say ‘‘no’’ to drugs.
The young kids look up to us as role
models. If we don’t set good examples
for them, who are they to look up to?
People who have actually overcome
their addiction are effective also.
Parents need to stress better values
and rely on the Lord more these days,
because fighting this problem and
Others starts at home, and a home
without God is a problem within itself.
I got the opportunity to visit Capitol
Hill, I met with my Representative,
Don Sundquist, and talked with one of
my Senators, also. While I was on the
Hill, I got to sit in on a session of the
Supreme Court.
Friday, we visited Arlington
Cemetery, where the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier and the Kennedys’
graves are located. It was really ex-
citing to see the changing of the guard.
We conducted a wreath-laying
ceremony. It was really special
because it was pouring down rain, but
everyone stood there with ‘‘American
Pride.””
The Vietnam Memorial Wall sent
chills up my spine, As I looked at all
the names on the Wall, | thought
about all the soldiers who gave up their
lives for their country.
I would just like to extend my
thanks and gratitude to all the chur-
ches and individuals who contributed
to my trip and to those who said a
special prayer that helped me make it
there and back safely. But, most of
all, to my pastor, Rey, Webbie Ross
Rogers, for caring and sharing his love
for me and all the other children of our
church.
Extremely
Disturbing
New York, NY—The Anti-Defama-
tion League today described as ~ex-
tremely disturbing” the U. S. Supreme
Court’s decision to consider overturn-
ing a 1976 civil rights ruling that
protects minority rights.
In a statement issued here,
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL’s
national director, said that reversing
the ruling in Runyon v. McCrary
would be a “severe setback to the hard
won civil rights progress in this
country.” ADL had filed an amicus
brief in the Runyon case 12 years ago
urging the Court to recognize Con-
gress’ intent to provide statutory pro-
tection for minorities.
Mr. Foxman noted two related
cases last year in which ADL had also
filed friend of the court briefs. In one
the high court explicitly reaffirmed the
rights of minorities to sue private per-
sons for racial discrimination under S
1981, the same 1866 statute at issue in
the Runyon case. The case upheld the
rights of an Arab Moslem to sue an
employer for racial discrimination,
citing the Runyon decision as prece-
dent.
In the other, the Supreme Court
held that Jews could invoke the 1866
statute to protect them against dis-
crimination.
The Anti-defamation League, Mr.
Foxman said, “supported the rights of
the victims in both of these cases. We
believe that the post-Civil War laws
provide an effective remedy against in-
vidious and stigmatizing discrimna-
tion. “The vote by the five justices to
hear new arguments on the viability of
the Runyon decision places that legal
remedy in jeopardy.”
Dr. R. J. King
Bishop
July 1988
—=A— =
A—
Candidate
for the
Bishopric
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===== DSC05548.JPG =====
June 13, 1988
The AME Christian Recorder
7
SSS SSS SSS
Continued from page 1
Great Throng in South Africa Invades a City
in Jubilate!
district meetings, and noonday wor-
ship services. Sermons were delivered
by the American guest preachers,
among them, Drs. James A. Blake,
pastor of Morris Brown A.M.E.
Church, Charleston, SC; T. B. Brown,
pastor of Union Bethel A.M.E.
Church, New Orleans, LA; Preston
Williams, pastor of St. Paul’s A.M.E.
Church, Atlanta, GA; and young
Minister Roderick D. Belin, assistant
pastor of St. Phillip A.M.E. Church,
Decatur, GA. Other visitors who par-
ticipated in the celebrations were Mrs.
Delores Kennedy Williams, Connec-
tional President of WMS, Mrs. Irene
Bennet Reid, Episcopal Supervisor of
the 9th District, Henry Allen Belin,
Ill, and Ms. Toni L. Belin, also
children of Bishop Henry A. Belin, Jr.
THE BANQUET
A sumptuous meal was served to an
audience of more than 1,000 in the Ci-
ty Hall, with all the wings of the hall
open, on Thursday evening. The Rev.
Frank Chikane, General Secretary of
SA Council of Churches, gave a
keynote address focused on ‘‘Political
human rights and Christians vs. Chris-
tians in a period of social change.’’ His
eloquence and challenge claimed the
audience’s applause and standing ova-
tion, and cheers were heard from over
the four corners of the City Hall. The
Rev. Chikane vehemently opposed vio-
lence from all quarters and found no
justification for it as a Christian. The
Rev. Lionel R. Louw, President of the
Western Cape Region of the Council
of Churches and Director of World
Vision, responded in a few well chosen
words, thanking the speaker. During
the interval, music was rendered by the
Swaziland A.M.E. Church Choir,
which visited the USA in Septem-
ber/October, 1987.
THE FEAST OF MUSIC
Saturday evening was programmed
for the feast of music by selected
choirs from Worchester and Kimber-
ley in the 15th District and other choirs
from the 18th District, including the
famous Swaziland A.M.E. Church
Choir, and the 19th District—in all,
about nine choirs fed the audience with
memorable melodies. The combined
selection on ‘‘Richard Allen And
Other Leaders’? was a masterpiece. It
kept the audience rocking in shouts of
Alleluia and Amen! Concluding part
of the feast was a real feast for the
soul in song. What a great evening!
A dramatic presentation depicted
the history of the A.M.E. Church,
both in the United States and in South
Africa, written and directed by Mr.
David J. Antjies, with a cast of the
bicentennial celebrations. Fraternal
greetings were appreciatively received
from the SA Council of Churches, Bis-
hops of the Roman Catholic Church,
Bloemfontein, Church of the Province
(Anglican), Bloemfontein, and the
President of the Methodist Church of
Southern Africa.
SUNDAY—THE CLIMAX
The closing worship service marked
the climax of the celebrations. At
10:30 a.m., choirs, presiding elders,
and pastors led the procession, fol-
lowed by the two prelates. Bishop
Senatle conducted the service, and Bis-
hop Belin preached the closing sermon
on the subject ‘‘God Is,’’ with empha-
sis on power given by the Lord Jesus
Christ in commanding His disciples
“to go and teach all nations’’ with a
promise of His abiding presence. A
ceremony of renewal of membership
vows followed, also pastoral appoint-
ments in the 15th District, as part of
their unfinished business. The bicen-
tennial celebrations closed with a deep
sense of spiritual renewal for retooling
our membership commitment for an-
other 100 years. This was a real
jubilate!
20 PHILLIP STREET PROJECT
JOHANNESBURG
My account of the bicentennial cele-
brations would not be complete
without mentioning the fact that the
building of Headquarters for the 19th
Episcopal District has been completed
and that, to date, the project costs 1.4
million Rand, and of this amount
250,000 ($500,000.00) remains as in-
debtedness.
An appeal for 3,000 memmbers to
make a pledge at R30.00 has been
made by Bishop Harold B. Senatle,
and report for this special EFFORT is
expected on 13th-15th May, 1988, dur-
ing the joint Midyear Session of the
five annual conferences. But the fi-
nancial appeal still goes to members
and friends throughout the connec-
tion. Please send your contributions
and donations to:
Bishop Harold B. Senatle
c/o Wilberforce Institute
P. O. Box 12
Residensia
1980, South Africa
on
Continued from page 1
ALL NIGHT PRAYER VIGIL
but the General Conference will never
open and carry out the business of the
Church without prayer. Things go bet-
ter with prayer,’’ Bishop Byrd stated.
I know we have a lot of business
that we have to do during the General
Conference; however, we must
remember that Jesus Christ is the con-
tent. He incarnates the character of
God. His Holy Spirit is at work in the
world through His word and through
His body the Church.”’
The energy, as we know is released
in prayer, should fuel us to accomplish
beyond our own limitations. The im-
possible dreams become possible and
through prayer we are able to reach the
unreachable stars.
One of the great Corporate Execu-
tives of America, Charles O. Ander-
son, initiated prayer meetings in his
own business which became the giant
oil and energy conglomerate we know
as ARCO.
Even in business meetings we can
advance the word of God through
heartfelt prayers as a beginning of the
agenda we have before us. By describ-
ing this venture as the Prayer Quake,
Bishop Byrd has exalted simple prayer
into an instrument of the highest
power through which our collective
objectives will blossom. Sons and
Daughters of Allen will act out their
faith by attending the Prayer Quake.
Prayer changes things!
Prayer upon the knees is a means of traditional
humbling and an added exercise for the body as well
as the spirit!
—A. Lee Henderson
Continued from page |
Delaware Conference Addresses Social Issues for Today
ceived all reports, set its goals, and
closed with the following statement:
Strong prophetic preaching and Af-
rican Methodism have always been sy-
nonymous, and the people for two
hundred years have turned to our Zion
for interpretation of current social
problems, to assess the viability of
community and national movements,
and for the equivalence of dependa-
bility in time of crisis. Always ready to
stand tall, criticize, evaluate, and pro-
pose solutions to problems in the per-
formances of politicians, educators,
and labor and business leaders, is Af-
rican Methodism. And as we here in
the Delaware Conference retool for
the third century, we must continue as
never before to, through the preached
word, analyze and criticize the evils of
the day, but not to stop there. For the
theme of hope must continue to be in-
herent in the Gospel, and there can be
no qualms about God’s power to de-
liver, as we proclaim to the waiting
congregation the powerful message of
hope.
We shall, through the leadership of
the Church, provide the retooling of
the third century by developing edu-
cational programs to help our people
to really learn, and grasp not only the
facts but the concepts that tie them to-
gether. We shall help them to learn to
think instead of memorize; we shall
develop learning centers in our chur-
ches for our youth, centers that will go
beyond traditional formulas and regu-
lations that are the enemies of good
and creative teaching. Our goal shall
be to find better ways to teach and
help our children learn more. The
stakes are high. We cannot afford for
our youth to graduate and not have the
skills they need to hold a job. We can-
not afford for even one student to
drop out or to fall along the wayside.
The Delaware Conference of the Af-
rican Methodist Church joins with The
National Coalition for the Homeless
in their plan to ask presidential can-
didates this year to back a three-point
plan that would restore federal bud-
gets to pre-Reagan levels, proclaim
federal guarantee of decent emergency
shelters, and issue an executive order
enforcing existing programs like those
provided for in the McKinney Act. We
need programs comparable to CORPP
in Philadelphia, not crash courses in
reading want ads or a tutorial on
resumes, but instead, help in develop-
ing self-portraits. Many are in need of
what Tolstoy called ‘‘spiritual food,”
and what social workers call ‘’support
systems.’’ We must offer the help that
we have, where they are. We (the
Church) can stop the revolving door,
seal up the cracks, and offer some pro-
spects for progress. Every church may
not be able to be a job training, learn-
ing center, but they can become sup-
port centers. That one place that says
to the down-and-out, to the working
poor, to those who are despondent and
feel unloved, you are somebodv. We
need to develop the programs that at
least speak to people.
We believe that the federal govern-
ment must play a much stronger role
in directly financing long-term care
through a social insurance program.
While it encouraged the development
of private insurance, many proposals
for tax subsidies for the purchase of
such insurance may not benefit large
segments of the population. The na-
tion’s new long-term care program
must rely primarily upon expansion of
Medicare and cannot expect private in-
surance to carry the burden alone. We
(the Church) must build a consensus
among our members about the need to
pay. Until they understand what it will
take to finance a long-term care pro-
gram, and let Congress know they are
willing to pay for it, we will face an
uphill battle to secure the necessary fi-
nancing for an adequate program.
Every A.M.E. Church in the Dela-
ware Conference will become a voter
registration center.
For many in our congregations,
perhaps, AIDS may be little more than
a curiosity or a horror story appearing
on nightly TV news. The public was at
first indifferent to the malady, thinking
it was a ‘‘gay disease,’’ but that per-
ception has changed dramatically.
People now know that AIDS may be
contracted through infected blood
transfusion, intravenous drug use, and
heterosexual intercourse. The fact is
that AIDS ‘‘is not only a public crisis
of global magnitude, it is a crisis for
the Church.”’
As believers in Jesus Christ, we can
rest in the Lord and trust in Him. The
Bible tells us that perfect love casts
our fear. There is no fear in love; but
perfect love casts out fear, because
fear involves punishment, and the one
who fears is not perfected in love. (1
John 4:18)
As for changes in sexual behavior it-
self, we hope there will be a significant
increase in selectivity and a decrease in
extreme indulgence and experimenta-
tion, that new dangers in non-mono-
gamous sex will prompt couples to
make a greater effort in maintaining
their marriages.
As we retool for the third century,
we shall continue to grow in grace and
as people of thought, word, and ac-
tion, each of these intimately related in
our being. We realize there can be no
dissonance between what the A.M.E.
Church says and does if it is to main-
tain any credibility as a transformative
influence in our world. This is at the
heart of what the gospel requires of us
and emphasizes the dynamic relation-
ship between action and reflection
upon that action.
Rev. James Hill, Reporter
Wuvartn oo © © 6 @.0.0,0.0,0,0.0,0.8.0e!
*—ELECT—«
Dr. O. U. Ifill, Sr.
Third Episcopal District
KKK KKK KK KK
Secretary of the Church
POPPI III IAI SSA IIIA IIA
Ce ee eee en cee emesis iain
===== DSC05549.JPG =====
8
June 13, 1988
The AME Christian Recorder
Opening Reception For Service
And Development Agency
Front Row (From Left to Right): Ambassador Margaret McDonald, Bahamas; Ambassa-
dor Tolo Beayogui, Guinea; Ambassador Nalumino Mundia, Zambia; Ambassador
Eugenia Wordsworth-Stevenson, Liberia; Ambassador Timon Mangwazu, Malawi; Am-
bassador Sahr Matturi, Sierra Leone; Ambassador W. T. Van Tonder, Lesotho.
Second Row (From Left to Right): Dr. Paulette Coleman, Member of the SADA Board of
Directors; Rev. Jonathan Weaver, Executive Director, SADA; Dr. Cyril Ifedigbo, Information
Attache, Embassy of Nigeria; Dr. Joseph McKinney, Treasurer, African Methodist Episcopal
Church and Member of the SADA Board of Directors; Rev. William Deveaux, Member of the
SADA Board of Directors; Ms. Delores Kennedy Williams, President of the Women’s
Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Member of the SADA Board
of Directors; Bishop James Haskell Mayo; Member of the SADA Board of Directors; Bishop
Donald George Ming, Chairman of the SADA Board of Directors; Mr. James Parker; Member
of the SADA of directors; Mr. Carlton Dlamini; Head of Chancery, Embassy of Swazi-
land.
Conference Theme ‘‘The Year After: Forward With The Future’’
A.M.E. Tulsa/Muskogee District
Conference Touches All Bases
Tulsa, Ok.—The theme for the
Tulsa/Muskogee District Conference,
of the 12th Episcopal District, meeting
at St. John A.M.E. Church, was ‘‘The
Year After,’’ with emphasis on the
topic ‘‘Forward With The Future.”’
The first session opened ‘‘with a
bang’? in an ecumenical fellowship
that brought many churches, ministers
and choirs together. The dynamic Rev.
James McGriff, Hosley Chapel
C.M.E. Church, brought tire from
heaven as he spoke from St. John 3:8,
on ‘‘Winds of the Spirit.’’ Every soul
left the service eagerly awaiting the re-
mainder of the conference.
After breakfast and registration on
Thursday morning, the Love Feast
filled all hearts with love and inspira-
tion. Chieftain of the District, Presid-
ing Elder Rev. B. S. Roberts, then pro-
ceeded to set the house on fire as he
presented to the body ‘‘What Jesus
Can Do For You.’’ After the ad-
ministering of the Holy Communion,
the stage was set for the educational
workshops and institutes that were to
follow.
Spiritual food was in abundance for
every minister, layman, and missionary
present, from the youngest to the
oldest. The afternoon institute,
“‘Membership On All Levels,’’ was in-
structed by Rev. Melvin Felton, Pastor
of Wharton Chapel, Red Bird,
Oklahoma. The evening worship
found melodious tones flooding the
sanctuary, as the Vernon A.M.E.
Church Mass Choir prepared hearts
for their Pastor, Rev. David R.
Stuckey, who spoke from I Kings:18
on ‘‘Go Again...Sometimes Once Is
Not Enough.’’ A very special guest,
Mrs. Simmons, recommended to us by
Presiding Elder Roberts as ‘‘our
adopted daughter,’’ provided soul-
stirring gospel tunes each night as a
special added incentive.
The entertaining pastor, Rev.
Tilford C. Owens, saw to it that each
session was executed in a timely man-
ner, and each Devotional Service was
conducted by Rev. Lula Adams,
Pastor of Allen Chapel, Boynton,
Oklahoma. Friday’s institutes focused
on such key issues as ‘‘Social Action
and Rules of the Church,’’ instructed
by Rev. T. G. Allen, pastor, St. Paul
A.M.E.; ‘‘Church Administration,’’
instructed by Rev. Robert Peoples,
Pastor, Christ Temple C.M.E.; and
“‘The Danger of Neglecting Appoint-
ments,’’ instructed by the host Pastor,
Rey. Owens.
Following the break, everyone was
in place for the ‘‘Hour of Power.”’
Rev. W. T. Erby, Visitors Chapel,
Nowata, delivered a moving message
from St. Matthew, 14th chapter, on
“Jesus Is in the Miracle-Working
Business.”’
The institutes continued after lunch
with a continuation of ‘‘Church Ad-
ministration,’’ led by Rev. Russell
Cephas, assistant pastor of St. Paul
A.M.E. Through the use of visual aids
and audience participation, Rev.
Cephas delivered a _ captivating
workshop, which benefitted both
laymen and ministers.
Friday afternoon found the mis-
sionaries ‘Empowered by Christ,’’ as
District Supervisor, Mrs. O. L.
Roberts, and District President, Mrs.
Warnetta Barnett, presented a highly
informative ‘‘special program.’’ With
a panel of speakers—all expert in their
specific fields—timely topics were
thoroughly covered, including ‘‘Elder-
ly Care,’’ ‘‘Child Care,’’ ‘‘AIDS,”’
and ‘‘Financial Aid for Scholarships.’’
The closing worship was in step with
the rest of the conference when Rev.
Pollie Wallace, Pastor, Bethel, Mus-
kogee, accompanied by her Senior
and Youth choirs, brought us a spirit-
filled sermon from Joel 2:17, entitled
“Attempting to Build on Shaky
Ground.”’
After two days of well-planned
workshops, institutes, and soul-stirring
services, it was evident that Presiding
Elder Roberts had orchestrated one of
the best conferences ever held. The
members of St. John A.M.E. and Rev.
and Mrs. T. C. Owens left no stones
unturned in providing the finest service
and hospitality imaginable. Souls were
filled and hearts were inspired to go
“‘forward with the future.’’
Reporters: Fannie Hill, Chairperson
Beatrice Owens
LaJuanta Young
Is
The Choice
For General
Secretary
Dr. David C. Coleman
Candidate
for the
Bishopric
Z. L. GRADY
The Record Shows That
HE IS ASERVANT PREACHER
Ready For Service As Bishop
In The Third Century
ELECT
“Eyes on Buffalo”
for
EPISCOPAL LEADERSHIP
ELECT
A Man that you
can respect
ELECT |}
A Man that will
respect you
ELECT McASHAN BISHOP
41 years of experience in the Ministry
———————
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June 13, 1988
The AME Christian Recorder
Black Church Seeks Historic
Designation
Reprint From The Tampa Tribune
By Lynn Afendoulis
Tribune Staff Writer
St. Petersburg—At ¥, the Rev. Way-
mon Dixon says he finds it humbling
to be the Pastor of a church ‘‘with
such a history and such a rich ex-
perience."’
He also finds it compelling enough
to push for historic designation of
Bethel A.M.E. Church at 912 Third
Ave. N., a Gothic-revival structure
and the oldest surviving Black church
in the city.
Today, the City Council is to vote
on a recommendation to name the
church a local historic landmark. It
also is to vote on a proposal to make
Granada Terrace, a northeast neigh-
borhood, the city’s second historic
district.
“This is the first step toward a long
journey for national recognition,’
Dixon said. He hopes to get the church
on the National Historic Register.
Dixon, pastor of Bethel since 1986,
speaks with pride about the congre-
gation’s past and with enthusiasm for
its future. While the church is striving
for historic designation, it is planning a
$250,000 renovation that would make
the church’s gathering areas more
modern and comfortable for the many
social and educational programs it
hosts.
“‘We’re preserving our past and
building for our future,’’ he said.
Bethel A.M.E. Church, a_ brick
building with two towers, arched
stained-glass windows, and heavy
woodwork in its sanctuary, looms over
neighboring warehouses. Its lower
level contains a room of carefully kept
books, newspaper articles, photo-
graphs, reports, and other documents
that chronicle the community’s
history. The archives are tended to
every Tuesday by the same five-mem-
ber committee that submitted the pro-
posal to the city of historic designa-
tion.
The church’s past dates to 1894,
when the local African Methodist
Episcopal (A.M.E.) community built
a small wooden church. A masonry
church, then called the ‘‘Stone
Church, was later built in its place and,
in 1922, the present building was con-
structed over the stone structure. Since
its early days, the church has played an
important role in the social, cultural,
and educational developments of the
area’s Black community, according to
Dixon and reports prepared by the
church and by city staff members,
*‘Bethel A.M.B. was located in the
midst of a thriving business area and
many activities were given at Bethel for
the purpose of uplifting the spirits of
its members and people in the
surrounding community,’’ states a
report to the City Council.
“The community surrounding the
church was named ‘Methodist Town’
in honor of the church,”’ it adds.
The surrounding neighborhood now
is primarily industrial and commercial,
but Bethel A.M.E. still sponsors com-
munity programs such as Blacks
Against Dangerous Drugs (BADD)
and tutoring sessions for students,
Dixon said. And the young pastor sees
a historic designation as being influ-
ential in the future of the congrega-
tion. As the country’s A.M.E. church
grew, ‘‘we became all that America is.
In fact we became so Americanized
that we almost forgot our heritage.’’
“The (historic) recognition is an at-
tempt to focus on that, to recover
that,’’ Dixon said.
If Bethel A.M.E. Church gets his-
toric designation, it will become the
11th structure to win that status since
the city’s Historic Preservation Or-
dinance was adopted in September
1985, and Jan Norsoph, the city’s
manager of urban design and develop-
ment.
And if Granada Terrace, the north-
east neighborhood also seeking his-
toric designation, wins its approval, it
will become the city’s second historic
district after Roser Park. All but one
of the homes in Granada Terrace, plat-
ted in 1924 by local developer C. Perry
Snell, date to the 1920s boom era.
“Tt is the handsome, well-preserved
period structures, often built on the
most prominent lots, that dominate
the character of the subdivision,’’
wrote Junerose Wissker in the applica-
tion to the city. Wissker is president of
St. Petersburg Preservation and lives
in Granada Terrace.
Granada Terrace is a seven-block
area of wide, brick streets and Medi-
terranean-revival architecture on the
west side of Coffee Pot Bayou. It is
bounded by Coffee Pot Boulevard,
26th Avenue Northeast, 22nd Avenue
Northeast, and First Street North.
Tribune photograph by BRITT LAUGHLIN
Bethel A.M.E. Church, which dates to 1894, now sits amidst warehouses.
SOI III IIe
* Elect *
FOR
BISHOPRIC
DR. ROBERT WEBSTER
FOI IOI III II IOI TOT TA TOTTI IAA III AI AAI A ISAS ISAS AIA IA IAACACDC Ae tee
* Re-Elect x
Henderson Davis
Historiographer
If its authentic historical materials
that you seek, then Henderson
Davis is your man!
Dr. Henderson Davis
DEES A AE A RAN AEN A A NN EY EY,
He served the
HA Ms TON Church as
A General Secretary
the Man for
the Holy Office
of Bishop
KKKKKKKK
—Elect Him—
and did a good
job.
Dr. Richard Allen
Chappelle, Sr.
Candidate for the
Bishopric
He’ll make a good
bishop
Elect Him in ’88
SOAS IN NE Me
Dr. R. J. Hampton
NONYRY
Re-Elect
Dr. Robert H. Reid, Jr.
Editor, A.M.E. Christian Recorder
His Record of the Past
Speaks for him!
Let him Continue the Work
of Making a Greater
A.M.E. Recorder
AN i oe
Dr. R. H. Reid, Jr.
<
===== DSC05551.JPG =====
10
The AME Christian Recorder
June 13, 1988
Foster For Historiographer—
His Hat Is Still In The Ring
Dr. J. Curtis Foster, Jr.
J. CURTIS FOSTER, JR., who has
been an A.M.E. minister for 40 years,
often jokes with his colleagues about
how they are now the “Fathers of the
Church.’’ As the years have gone by,
he has kept track of them all, watching
how the Church has grown and chang-
ed with the passage of time.
A candidate for Historiographer since
1964, after the bill he authored was
ratified to open up the office of
Historiographer for anyone interested in
running, Foster takes the subject of
history seriously: if you dont keep a
record of what has happened, you will
forget where you came from. He has
pastored churches in Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, Ohio, and California during
his career, which is still smokin’ down the
tracks of takin’ care of business. He is
now pastoring First A.M.E. Church in
Santa Monica, California.
Though he has never held the office of
Historiographer, he has kept himself
busy as though he has. Foster has been
collecting the Church’s history since
1946; has authored the book, The
A.M.E. Church Makes its Mark in
America, published in 1976, which is
available through the A.M.E. Publishing
House, and can be found in libraries and
schools; and has just co-authored a new,
more comprehensive work about the
Church, entitled The First Black
Church—The A.M.E. Church in
American History.
Foster is carrying the torch of our
Church’s history, determined to keep the
flame burning and to pass it on when the
time has come. But he’s not through yet!
Distinguished Leader Will Extend African
Methodism into the Third Century!
Dr. John H. Gillison
Dr. John H. Gillison is the eminent
Pastor of Mount Pisgah African Meth-
odist Episcopal Church from the
Sumter District of the Seventh Episco-
pal District. He has a great ministerial
heritage and 30 years of very successful
pastoring in our Zion. He has great
qualifications and skills for the ex-
tension of the great A.M.E. Church in
the third century of existence.
Dr. Gillison has represented the
A.M.E. Church on the highest levels,
including the 7th Episcopal District
State Congress President, President of
the Christian Action Council of South
Carolina, and is now serving as Active
Dean of the Northeast Conference
Theological Extension School spon-
sored by the 7th Episcopal District of
the A.M.E. Church.
He is an international traveler. Re-
cently his travels included Nairobi,
Kenya; Maseru, Lesotho; Capetown
and Johannesburg, South Africa. He
toured the 15th and 18th districts,
however, he likes Africa in general.
His recent article was titled, ‘‘Here
Am I, Send Me to Africa, I'll Go
Gladly.’’ Since Dr. John H. Gillison is
a candidate that likes Africa, please
join with us in the 7th Episcopal Dis-
trict and others in electing him a Bis-
hop in the 43rd Session of the 1988
General Conference. He is the man
and is ready now.
He is married to Mrs. Jean
Waymer; they have two daughters,
Alfreda Melessa and Gloria Louise.
The Sumter District Booster’s Club
Dr. L. J. Hyman, Presiding Elder
RRRRRRRERRRRR RR RRR RRR RAR RIAA RISK IIIA IIIS IIS ISI IIIA I SA
Elect_A Man Who *
Is On The Job
Dr. Y. Benjamin Bruce
Director, Worship and Evangelism
Dr. Y. Benjamin Bruce
SnunsssnnennnnssssssnnnnnnteyssnennennTSTeeses Penn eee yey
MEMREURERENEEREYREYAERDNEYEDYREREREYELESY ELH EY EYES ESV EYES
4 The Best Man For x.
The Job Is On The Job
— Re-Elect —
Hercules Miles
The Church Extension
For
Zo?
My Friend, Dr. G. Edward West
by Dr, Ruth Akins
Dr. G. Edward West
1 am proud to recommend to the
delegates of the forthcoming General
Conference G. Edward West for the
Office of Bishop.
Dr, West is a dedicated and wholly-
committed servant of God, the A.M.E,
Church, and all her members. During
his time as a Pastor and Presiding
Elder, Dr, West has built an excellent
record of service in dispatching the
duties of his office and building
churches, In addition, Dr, West, while
on the Fort Smith/ Little Rock Dis-
trict, was the impetus behind several
older churches being remodeled,
He is a man of impeccable honesty
and forthrightness. Those in the
Twelfth District will attest to the fact
that he is kind and unselfish in sharing
his resources with the needy as well as
with the Episcopal District and
Shorter College. And he has done so
consistently across the years.
I am honored and delighted to call
Dr. G. Edward West my friend.
Reverend Lewis E. Grady, Jr.—
Secretary of Miss
Dr. Lewis E. Grady, Jr.
Greetings, Christian Friends!
The Seraphic Renaissance Singers
were presented in concert at Allen
Temple A.M.E. Church, Detroit,
Michigan, officially announcing the
candidacy of Rev. Lewis E. Grady, Jr.
for Secretary of Missions.
The concert, sponsored by the
Committee to Elect Grady For
Missions, was a rousing success and
brought spiritual uplift to all in at-
tendance. Thanks to the Seraphics for
a job well done!
In pursuing his candidacy, Rev.
Executive Secretary
Department
Re-Elect
Dr. Joseph C. McKinney
Treasurer
The Financial Affairs
of the
A.M.E. Church
have always been handled
in a business way.
Joe McKinney
is aman of integrity,
honesty and is accountable.
— Re-Elect —
Dr. Edgar L. Mack
The Christian Education
10nS
Grady expresses confidence that he
can “make a difference.” “Treating
social ills encompasses many concerns
that need to be addressed in order to
effectively deal with the many prob-
lems of our society. At a time of
yielding pressures from every aspect,
we must maintain wholesome, dis-
ciplined avenues of relief for those in
need. We can’t reach everyone, but we
must work intensively with those in
need. We can’t reach everyone, but we
must work intensively with those who
can be reached to teach and help them
become the most they can be. With the
many problems pervading society here
and abroad, we must continue with
positive minds so that there can be a
brighter outlook tomorrow. We must
work not only to correct yesterday’s
errors, but we must also look toward
tomorrow’s needs to make a dif-
ference.”
Lewis E. Grady, Jr., can and will
make a difference with the help of our
Lord and Saviour and your prayers
and support.
VOTE FOR REVEREND LEWIS E.
GRADY, JR., FOR SECRETARY OF
MISSIONS. HE CAN MAKE
DIFFERENCE!
Dr. Edgar L. Mack
WISIN INN IANANIINIANA
===== DSC05552.JPG =====
June 13, 1988
The AME Christian Recorder
Center, Bishop Frank C. Cummings, Ist Episcopal District; L-R, Mr. Cancion Brown,
Trustee; Presiding Elder Herbert L. Eddy, Boston-Hartford District; Rev. Edward L.
Green, pastor; Mrs. Pearl Brown, Program Director, Dedication.
IFILL GAINS SUPPORT
The City of Philadelphia joins the First Episcopal District in supporting Dr. O.
Ureille Ifill, Sr., for General Secretary of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church, at recent Service of Appreciation for the Candidate.
an , *, Fo
we =
Left to right: Dr. O. U. Ifill, Sr., Pastor of A.M.E. Union Church, Philadelphia, and
candidate for General Secretary; the Rev. Lester A. Ifill; Hon. W. Wilson Goode, Mayor of
the City of Philadelphia; Presiding Elder Harry J. White, Sr., of the Philadelphia District;
Bishop Frank Curtis Cummings, Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District; and Dr.
J. Jerome Cooper, Pastor of Berean Presbyterian Church and official of the Black Clergy
of Philadelphia and Vicinity.
Left to right: TOP: Hon. Lucien E. Blackwell, Chairman, Finance Committee of the City
Council of Philadelphia; Dr. Ifill; State Representative, David P. Richardson, Jr., of
Pennsylvania, President of the National Black Caucus of State Elected Officials, and
member of A.M.E. Union Church.
BOTTOM: Hon. Onah Weldon, member of the Civil Service Commission of Philadelphia
and President of the National Political Congress of Black Women; Mrs. Eleanor Ifill, First
Lady of A.M.E. Union Church, wife of Dr. Ifill; and the Hon. C. DeLores Tucker, former
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and President of the Philadelphia Martin
Luther King, Jr. Association.
KKKKKKKKKKEKKEKY
For the Bishopric
KAKKKKKKE |
Dr. John R. Bryant
Second Episcopal District
OO OO
DR. PRESTON
WILLIAMS
Sixth Episcopal District
+e tt tt t+ ++ + +4 +e E
INNA
— Elect —
Third Century
Leadership
To
The Bishopric
In
July 1988
HE IS A CHRISTIAN
DR. DAVID HARRIS
Candidate for the Holy
OFFICE — BISHOP
NAINAINYY
SCHOAAZM KAM UKE
— Elect —
General Secretary
Nt
JONES in ’88
Tenth Episcopal District
x.
See Pe ran
PL ELLELLLLELCLLLA LEC eee ee
Elect
DR. THOMAS
BROWN
Eighth Episcopal District
Edward
West
Camden District
Twelfth Episcopal District
Rev. T. B. Lamb
Rev. C. D. Willis
Rev. T. A. Broomfield
REV. DENNIS C.
DICKERSON, PH.D.
Preacher, Professor, Author
From 13th District
CANDIDATE
FOR
HISTORIOGRAPHER
===== DSC05553.JPG =====
2
The AME Christian Recorder
June 13, 1988
———
‘ohty
Tt +e
FRONTLINE with Judy icc
Black students at the University of Michigan protest the growing number of racial in-
cidents on their campus. ‘‘Racism 101,’’ a FRONTLINE with Judy Woodruff, explored
the disturbing resurgence of racism at some of the country’s most prestigious universities.
February 4, 1986, University of
Michigan—A campus radio station
airs a program of racial jokes touching
off confrontations between Black and
White students.
March 23, 1987, Columbia Univer-
sity—An early morning brawl between
Black and White students prompts of-
ficials to announce a full scale review
of race relations on campus.
February 12, 1988, University of
Massachusetts—After White students
assault a Black student and his White
girlfriend, Black students stage a sit-in,
demanding the administration deal
with racism on campus.
“Racism 101,’’ a FRONTLINE
with Judy Woodruff documentary
aired Tuesday, May 10, and examined
the disturbing increase in racial in-
cidents and violence on America’s col-
lege campuses.
“The Justice Department reports
that there have been more than thirty
major racial incidents on American
campuses in the last three years,’’ says
producer Thomas Lennon. ‘‘Each in-
cident, when taken alone, could be
dismissed as freakish. But when we
began to look at these incidents collec-
tively, we found an alarming pattern.”’
The list of campuses that have been
District Conference Re-Evaluates Goals of
the Christian Community
Rey. Benjamin R. Booker, Sr.
Nashville, TN—The challenge to revive
church expansion, revive the ACE Fel-
lowship League, and to become con-
scious of the Christian responsibility
to be the bearer of each other’s
crosses, highlighted the opening of the
South Nashville District Conference
by Reverend Benjamin R. Booker, Sr.,
host presiding elder.
As this year’s District Conference
convened during the Season of Lent,
the themes of repentence, fasting, pre-
paration, and spiritual renewal per-
meated the heart of the convention ac-
tivities. Relevant workshops and pre-
sentations, addressing crucial social
and religious issues, held the attention
of many and motivated others toward
a re-evaluation of the goals of the
Christian community, as Rev. Edward
Thompson conducted a Love Feast
and Rev. Kenneth Robinson conduct-
ed a workshop on Temperance, fol-
lowed by The State of the Church by
Rev. Howard S. Clark.
the Church by Rev. Howard S. Clark.
~ Rev. Edgar Mack, General Officer
and Director of Christian Education,
led a discussion on the Allen Christian
Endeavor Fellowship. The Role of Ste-
wards and Trustees in the Local
AMEC, led by Rev. L. H. Sykes, was
followed by a presentation on The
Role of Commissions in the Local
AMEC by Rev. Edward Thompson.
The timely and informative work-
shops led the way from educational en-
lightment to spiritual awakening when
Rev. Spencer L. Booker, a graduate
student at ITC in Atlanta, Georgia,
elevated the District Conference to a
spiritual plateau and excited our spiri-
tual imaginations. He brought all of
his hearers into a oneness with God
and all His creation, as he spoke for
the Friday evening service from the
text of 2 Corinthians 5:20, and chal-
Ikenged both clergy and laity to be-
come ambassadors for Christ and to
be reconciled to God.
On Saturday noonday service was
also a time to be remembered as cups
overflowed with Christian joy, when
Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church Choir
sang ‘“‘Don’t Wait Until the Battles
Over: Shout Now!’’ Rev. Dr. Kenneth
Robinson, Pastor of Payne Chapel
and preacher of the hour, took his text
from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-11 and chal-
lenged both ministers and laity to
“Study to be Quiet; and to Work with
Your Own Hands; and to Mind Your
Own Business.’’ Rev. Robinson’s
moving and charismatic preaching
style set the conference ablaze with
spiritual fervor.
The Committee on Admissions
made their report and recommended
to the Committee on Admissions that
the following ministerial candidates be
admitted on trial and passed to Annual
Conference: Keith R. Mays, Joan Mc-
Glouckton, and Henry Allen Belin,
Ill.
In the final session of the confe-
rence, Presiding Elder Booker reflect-
ed on the fine reception and job that
St. Phillip Church family and host
Pastor, Rev. Eddie Marshall, did in
feeding and hosting the District Con-
ference.
marred by racial unrest in recent years
reads like a higher education honor
roll and includes: Columbia, Smith,
Swarthmore, Dartmouth, Purdue, the
University of Michigan, and Harvard.
‘Black students have come to ex-
pect that in society as a whole, racism
is always going to be a factor,’’ ex-
plains FRONTLINE co-producer Or-
lando Bagwell. ‘‘But when they go off
to college, they just never expect it will
be a major problem. But it is.’’
At the University of Michigan,
where the racial radio broadcast led to
demonstrations by Black student acti-
vists and calls for increased Black
enrollment, FRONTLINE found that
today’s racial hostilities are rooted in
the scars of old civil rights battles.
“It’s generally assumed by all the
White students that your presence here
is a function of affirmative action,’’
says Black undergraduate Dave Col-
bert. ‘‘That’s pretty much taken as
given. And they’re wondering if you’ re
going to be as stupid as all the rest of
them.’’
At Dartmouth College in New
Hampshire the confrontation between
Black and White students has been
particularly intense. Led by the con-
servative student-run newspaper, THE
DARTMOUTH REVIEW, White
students have openly challenged any
special allowances for Blacks in enroll-
ment, housing, and the political life of
the campus. Review editor Chris Bald-
win says the Afro-American society at
Dartmouth is ‘‘the only....racist in-
stitution at Dartmouth.’’
Two years ago, students affiliated
with the Review destroyed shanty style
structures built for an anti-apartheid
demonstration. Editor Baldwin says
the aim was to show the fallacies of
campus demonstrations. ‘‘Banging a
bongo, dancing to bongo music,
screaming into a microphone is not im-
portant. The world doesn’t care.”’
“‘T believe that confrontation is ne-
cessary,’’ replies Charles Wynder, Jr.,
a Black student leader at the Universi-
ty of Michigan. ‘‘Power concedes
nothing without a demand. In order to
make people share power, one has to
take power. And those things are not
done quietly.”
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**This is a disturbing portrait of ra-
cism and prejudice among young peo-
ple whom we expect to be the leaders
of the future,’’ says FRONTLINE ex-
ecutive producer, David Fanning. ‘‘It
is a national tragedy that twenty years
after the death of Martin Luther King,
Jr., and after all the gains of the civil
rights movement, such fundamental
chasm between Black and White still
exists.’’
FRONTLINE is produced by a
consortium of public television sta-
tions and the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting.
FRONTLINE is close captioned for
the hearing impaired.
The anchor for FRONTLINE is
Judy Woodruff.
The executive producer for
FRONTLINE is David Fanning.
3b) SAN
Dr. James Baldwin
Candidate for
Worship and
Evangelism
* Elect x
Dr. Cyrus Keller
Editor
Religious
Literature
a
===== DSC05554.JPG =====
June 13, 1988 The AME Christian Recorder
13
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===== DSC05555.JPG =====
i4
The AME Christian Recorder
Candidate For The Bishopric
Look at an outstanding candidate for the Bishopric from Africa
in the Great African Methodist Episcopal Church
by W. N. Nduna
South Africa—As a layman, he was
one of the organizers of the Lay Or-
ganization is the Orangia Conference
and became its first secretary. Later,
as Pastor, Rev. M. D. Phetlhu became
instrumental in the organization of the
1Sth Episcopal Lay Organization, and
here, he was elected its first Chaplain.
He has served in three of our
conferences: the Orangia Conference,
the Natal, and the West Transvaal
Annual Conferences, which were
formally in the 15th Episcopal District
and later known as the 19th Episcopal
District.
In the Orangia Conference, he
served both as teacher and Pastor
simultaneously. It was in this area that
he was instrumental in the building of
the church at Hoopstad. In the Natal
Conference, he served as secretary for
five years; became chairman of the
school board at a place called
Ladysmith; and, during this period,
was able to place the image of the
church at a very high standard by
opening a night school, which has
helped in the improvement of the
literacy of the community in the area.
Our church membership grew
tremendously.
Because of the great need at one of
our major churches in the Transvaal,
he was moved to the church called
Ebenezer, in the then West Transvaal
Annual Conference, which, today,
through his initiative, hard work, and
effectiveness, is known as the “Great
Cathedral.” There, he increased the
membership and again was made
chairman of the school board, a
position he used for opening and
establishing more schools for our
people.
By improving the knowledge of our
people in the general administration of
our church, he paved the way for that
church to be served by Presiding El-
ders up to the present time. Another
need arose when the Pastor and Pre-
siding Elder of our main church in the
West Transvaal Conference felt he
could no longer stay in a place called
Potchefstroom. The church looked
around to see who would be best suited
for this place, and he was then asked to
serve this church, where he has now
been for a number of years. As Pastor,
he completed one of our biggest
churches in the district and increased
the membership from a small
membership to a very large one. In this
place, he brought about a great
revival, not only in membership, but
inspired the biggest number of young
men to join the ministry, who were
sent to our college, completed their
studies, were ordained, and now are
serving many of our churches in our
various conferences.
Here, again, he was elected
chairman of the school board, and,
under his chairmanship, a night school
was opened that has since been turned
to an adult centre with over eight
hundred students, twenty teachers, and
a full-time principal. In this place, he
has opened three higher primary
schools and one high school. It is from
this place that he was appointed First
Mofolo, and Westonaria—churches
District and, later, the Presiding Elder
of the Johannesburg District. Both of
these districts are in the Johannesburg
area. Under his Presiding Eldership in
both districts, great effort was made to
increase our membership and build
three parsonages, e.g., Orlando West,
Mav. M. D. Phetihu
Mofolo, and ‘Westonaria—churches
Randfontein, Tlado Moletsane.
He has been Presiding Elder for
many years and, because of his
sacrifice, dedication, and commit-
ment, was made leader of the West
Transvaal Conference, appointed
administrative assistant of both the
late Bishop John Hunter, and now,
Bishop Senatle. Under his leadership
of the Conference of the West, when
the District was divided, his
conference gave birth to a new
conference—the North Conference—
to form what is now knownas the 19th
Episcopal District and a whole district
to the 15th Episcopal District. It is my
belief that the division has been
possible through the hard work of men
of this caliber.
Rev. Phetlhu is presently working
ona half-million-dollar multi-purpose
centre which will accommodate a
variety of community projects, such as
day care centre, cripple care, technical
and commercial classes, recreational
facilities, and many others. As layman,
he taught both at higher primary
schools and high schools. He also
became both Tutor and Dean at our
theological college in Evaton, South
Africa.
Now is the time for such a man to be
given the highest honour of service.
We ask the church to elect him a
bishop to enable him to use his talent
and experience on a wider scale.
W.N. Nduna
Episcopal President of the
then 15th Episcopal District
Currently, Episcopal President
of the 19th District School
Inspector, later Secretary of Education
to the
Office of
Church Extension
June 13, 1988
eR RRR RR RRR RET ED
* ELECT *
Dr.
Wilfred Reid
Lk
CANDIDATE FOR
BISHOPRIC
x 1988 *
FOR TOTTI OI IIA TIA IAS IA IOK
Rev. Lewis E Grady
SRHESBET PERIGHOIGEs
Grady, Jr.
For
DR. A. W.
Department
of Minimum salary
JULY
1988
‘er EREELELELLE LEE LECCE EECEEEEEEeerLe rrr
LOAD MOHD ALOUD LOM LOND
{ GREETINGS
ff
¢
REVEREND
O. THOMAS
AUSTIN, SR.
Candidate For The
Bishopric — 1988
..NOT TO BE MINISTERED
UNTO, BUT TO MINISTER“
—Matthew 20:28
OHO” FOU SOHO” KOHOY*
|
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LOAD? AOA? LOH? LOND? ADAG? LOND? AOS? AO)
FI II ADA ISAS ASIAN AISI AAN SSAA AS
%& Elect *
Rev. Felix B. Bancy
Candidate for
Secretary Church
Extension Office
POI III I SAI IIIA II IIIA II III III III SII III IISA ISA SISAA Se te
Se CeCe eS e CeCe SS CCCCC CCST CCT CCC CCC CSCC Teese sete s reese
peeeeessetescorsecocess oes 3
Dr. C. Garnett Henning
St. Paul A.M.E. Church
St. Louis, Missouri
Henning was born in an
A.M.E. parsonage. He
and his family have
served the Church
through four generations.
Garnett will make
a good
Bishop
Elect Him in
===== DSC05556.JPG =====
June 13, 1988
The AME Christian Recorder
Social Action Corner
Rev. John Q. Owens, Jr., Director
I have received a letter requesting
my support and the support of the
Church for a planned National Anti-
apartheid Action Lobby Day, to be
held on June 16, 1988. This date marks
the anniversary of the Soweto Upris-
ing, a day on which hundreds of
children were gunned down by the
South African Defense Force.
To commemorate the deaths of
these children and thousands of others
throughout Southern Africa, there will
be a National Day of Lobbying for the
passage of H.R. 1580 and S.B. 556,
bills which would impose Comprehen-
sive Sanctions against the Government
of South Africa.
The many groups supporting this ef-
fort, of which the African Methodist
Episcopal Church is one, are calling
for a national day of demonstrations,
prayer, candle-light vigils, letter writing
campaigns, teach-ins, rallies, and visits
to Congressional offices, in support of
these bills.
The situation in South Africa is
rapidly deteriorating and sanctions are
necessary for the dignity of the majori-
ty that suffers oppression, among
whom are distinguished African
Methodists, Bishop H. B, Senatle and
Pastor Lionel Louw, both of whom
have been arrested in the struggle.
There is increased repression as the
South African Government has
outlawed all remaining voices of
peaceful democratic opposition inside
the country, and forcibly took into
custody Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
the Rev. Allan Boesak, Roman
Catholic Archbishop Stephen Naidoo,
along with twenty other religious
leaders, on February 29th, this year.
Hundreds of children have been in-
carcerated by the Apartheid regime
and thousands more are condemned to
living in squalid conditions in ways
that accelerate malnutrition and infant
mortality rates.
Over 9,000 South African troops
have invaded Angola and have helped
create a humanitarian crisis which in-
cludes the highest infant mortality and
amputee rates in the entire world.
All of this is happening while South
Africa is occupying Namibia with over
100,000 troops and supporting the Ter-
rorist Organization Renamo in
destabilizing Mozambique.
I strongly urge the Episcopal
District Director of Social Action to
seek the support of the Episcopal
Prelate to lobby his Episcopal District
in support of this effort, and that the
Connectional Missionary Society,
Y.P.D., Lay Organization, and Sons
of Allen will join in this movement.
Our church would be well represented
if each Episcopal District would sup-
port this effort in its major
metropolitan areas.
Continued on page 16
Jordan Moves Forward
We the members of Jordan A.M.E.
Church, Denver Colorado, are ex-
ceedingly grateful to our illustrious
Presiding Prelate, The Bishop Henry
W. Murph, for his expertise in the use
of his Divine Judgement with regards
to the magnanimous appointment of
our present Pastor, the Rev. H.
Charles Farris to our distinguished
church.
We feel that Bishop Murph truly al-
lowed the spiritual guidance from the
Lord God Almighty to aid him in mak-
ing this dynamic decision.
From this perfectly placed union, we
the members of Jordan A.M.E.
Church are proud to say that under the
new leadership of Pastor H. Charles
Farris endowed with the power of the
Holy Spirit we are doing as Philippians
3:13. states, ‘“‘Brethren, I count not
myself to have apprehended: But this
one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth
unto those things which are before.”’
In the words of a favorite selection,
“I Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody
But I Couldn’t Keep It To Myself.’’
Things are happening at Jordan we
must tell.
Jordan has taken on a new name, a
new spirit, a new attitude and a new
motto, Ordinary People Doing Or-
dinary Things In Extraordinary Ways.
We wish to share with you our cele-
bration of the Easter Season.
We began on Palm Sunday one of
our Assistant Ministers, Rev. George
B. Bailey, Jr., preaching from Mat-
thew 14:55-65, taking the subject, ‘‘I
Stand Accused.”’
On Good Friday, our pastor, Rev.
H. Charles Farris shared in the Seven
Last Words services by preaching the
First Word taken from Luke 23:24,
“Father Forgive Them For They
Know Not What They Do’’ at our
sister church Shorter A.M.E. under
the pastorate of the Rev. J. Langston
Boyd.
Our Maundy Thursday service had
to be canceled and rescheduled due to
inclimate weather. But we were de-
termined not to be defeated, therefore
we went forward and held this spirit
filled reinactment of the Last Supper
on Pre-Easter Saturday night.
We continued our Easter celebra-
tion with Sunrise Service which in-
cluded another one of our ministerial
staff, Rev. Jeffrey D. Hampton
preaching from Luke 23:40-43, using
the subject ‘‘The Glory of Being Saved
While Dying.’’ Followed by a con-
tinental breakfast prepared by The
Brotherhood Organization.
Our Easter Morning Worship Ser-
vice proved to be spirit-filled with se-
lections from our Mass Choir and the
Sermon ‘‘Calvary’’ taken from Mark
15:22-23 from our own Pastor, Rev.
H. Charles Farris.
We concluded our Easter celebra-
tion with an afternoon program spon-
sored by our Y.P.D., including skits,
speeches and of course an Easter
Parade followed by an Easter Egg
Hunt.
God has truly blessed us with His
Holy Spirit and the enthusiasm along
with the love from our Pastor, the
Rev. H. Charles Farris and family,
who in the short time they have been at
Jordan, have begun teaching us the
true meaning of loving each other and
becoming a family church.
Again, a Special Thanks to Bishop
Murph for through him, with God, All
Things Are Possible.
Please look forward to hearing
again from us soon!
Jeri Rose, Reporter
15
Chicago Conference Lay Organization Holds
Spring Forum and Brunch
The Chicago Conference Lay Or-
ganization climaxed its years activities
with a Forum and Brunch recently at
Coppins A.M.E. Church in Chicago.
Ever mindful of the leadership role
the church has always played in the
area of Social Action as well as Re-
ligion and Education and dedicated to
continuing that tradition, the Social
Action Committee and the Ways and
Means Committee teamed up to spear-
head that conscious raising Forum.
The theme for the program was
Black America At The Crossroads:
Facing The 2Ist Century, Panelists
were the Honorable Timothy Evans,
4th Ward Alderman, Mr. Russ Ewing,
Veteran Journalist/Newsman with the
local ABC TV News station and Rev.
Dr. Charles Spivey, erudite pastor of
Coppins.
They addressed such issues as Poli-
tics, Religion and the method of
disseminating news as relates to
Blacks.
The large crowd of Laity and Clergy
were enthusiastic in their response and
interrupted the speakers frequently
with loud applause. Mr. Sterling Sut-
ton, moderator of the program,
echoed the sentiments of the audience
when he stated that the Forum would
become an annual event. President
Willie Thompson expressed his appre-
ciation to the Panelist, Audience and
members fro their contribution and
support. Words of commendations
were given by Mr. Morris L. Williams
4th District President and Presiding El-
der William D. Davis of the St. Paul
Milwaukee district.
A delicious Catered Brunch was en-
joyed by all.
Mrs, Rita Williams 3rd Vice Pre-
sident serves as coordinator for the
Social Action Committee, Mr. Jerry
Davis, Ist Vice President, is the coor-
dinator for Ways and Means.
Chairperson for the affair was Mr. Ray
O’neal 2nd Vice President of the 4th
District Lay Organization. The Hospi-
tality of Pastor Spivey, host President
Mrs. Willa Dawson and the members
of Coppins will be long remembered
and appreciated. Mrs. Jacquelyn Ford,
Conference Parliamentarian, was the
very efficient program coordinator.
Next on the agenda for the Organi-
zation is the Annual Convention which
will be held at Bethel in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. President Thompson anti-
cipates a large turnout of Delegates
and Observers at the 2 day session.
Submitted by
Ruth E. Sanderson
Director of Public Relations
Chicago Conference Lay Organization
Is Experience Really That
Important?
Washington—I have received a plea
from a man in Bethesda, Md., asking
me to come out against Jesse Jackson
for president. He asks this because
“this particular Black man is without
a single day’s experience in govern-
ment at any level or in managing a
large organization of any sort.’’
Jackson has countered complaints
about his inexperience by saying that
all people in public office are not
leaders, and all leaders are not in
public office. In that context, let’s
look at some of the presidents of my
lifetime.
Harry Truman—People noted that
the former haberdasher had minimal
credits in domestic affairs and alleged-
ly had no experience in foreign policy.
But he had leadership qualities, and
the guts to gamble, socially as well as
internationally. Truman’s ranking
grows higher every year.
Dwight Eisenhower—He was a war
hero, so few people asked whether he
knew anything about a federal budget
or how to deal with the Soviet Union.
Eisenhower turned out to lack both
experience and the qualities of leader-
ship. He turned foreign and domestic
policy over to aides and gave us eight
years of lackluster mediocrity.
John Kennedy—Experience lim-
ited; qualities of leadership great. No
great legislative achievements, but he
brought us vision. He shaped the
legislative agenda that became vital
after his death.
Lyndon Johnson—Lots of ‘‘experi-
ence’? as the virtual dictator of the
Senate. Knew where the bodies were
buried, and whose arms to twist, and
thus got through Congress an incredi-
ble array of social legislation. But he
had no foreign policy expertise, this
No One Can Make You Feel Inferior
Without Your Consent.
leading in part to his destruction by the
Vietnam War.
Richard Nixon—A wide range of
““experience,’’ some of it in offices
gained ruthlessly. Great qualities of
leadership in foreign policy, but fatal
blind spots in terms of the meaning of
the Bill of Rights or the needs of
America’s underclass. These blind
spots caused him to resign.
Gerald Ford—Years of ‘‘expe-
rience,’’? but no vision, no sense of
leadership; thus a ‘‘caretaker.”’
Jimmy Carter—A nice, smart man
whose four years as President illus-
trate the folly of assuming that ‘‘expe-
rience’ as a governor has anything to
do with success in the White House.
Carter campaigned as an ‘‘outsider,”’
against the ‘‘Washington establish-
ment,’’ and he left Washington as an
‘“outsider.”’
Ronald Reagan—Lots of ‘“‘expe-
rience”? as governor. Clear ‘‘leader-
ship’? qualities based upon assorted
conservative ideologies. Yet, his
policies of ‘‘economic voodoo”’ have
produced a sea of red ink and lingering
misery. His lack of experience in
foreign policy has led to a debacle in
Beirut, the Iran-contra scandal, and an
explosive mess in Israel and the territo-
ries it occupies—plus woeful situa-
tions in central America and Africa.
I am not endorsing or attacking
Jackson on the issue of ‘‘experience.’’
The lessons of history make it clear
that ‘‘experience’’ is not nearly as im-
portant in a presidential candidate as
high intellect, a sense of compassion,
integrity, mental toughness, vision and
the energy and eagerness to do the
homework that is required to deal with
crises that no task force can predict.
a __s
===== DSC05557.JPG =====
Historiographer
Dr. J. S. Benn, II
As I write this article, I cannot help
but think that the church of my life is a
church where preparation and expe-
rience count.
The Rev. Dr. J. S. Benn, III has well
prepared himself to serve in our Zion.
I have found him to be a man of many
natural talents, most especially in the
area of professional writing and re-
search.
He is the author of 14 books and
booklets and has contributed many ar-
ticles to newspapers and magazines on
various occasions. Four of his books
have been professionally prepared and
distributed internationally, and can be
found in Christian bookstores across
the nation—Cokesbury, Baptist book
stores and our A.M.E. Christian Edu-
cation bookstore. Most independent
bookstores also carry his books. He
has authored and independently pub-
lished two historical titles, The
Achievements Of A Race Across The
World, which profiles special persons
of color, and Historical And Pro-
phetic Perspectives Of A Black Church
Serving A Great People. Specifically
are two research studies, ‘‘The Needs
Of The Black Elderly’’ sponsored by
Indiana/Purdue University, and the
City of Indianapolis, and ‘‘The Cha-
racteristics Of Black Americans’’ done
at the School of Sociology, University
of Michigan. These are two of the re-
sults of diligent research.
In addition, Dr. Benn is a well-
rounded pastor and administrator. He
has built two churches, Ward Chapel
A.M.E. Church, Peoria, Illinois and
Big Bethel A.M.E. Church in In-
dianapolis. These are not ordinary ac-
complishments, and need to be
recognized for their merit in furthering
the development of the African Meth-
odist Episcopal Church in the unfold-
ing future.
Dr. Benn now pastors the St. Paul
A.M.E. Church in Springfield, Illinois
The AME Christian Recorder
16 June 13, 1988
Dr. J. S. Benn, III is Ready to do
a Good Job in the Office of
known as the ‘‘Friendly Community
Church,’’ pastored at one time by
William Paul Quinn and George A.
Singleton. He has become involved in
the mainstream of community activi-
ties in Springfield, serving in a leader-
ship capacity to bring about social
change in the public interest. For ex-
ample, the recent class action suit
against the councilmanic government
at Springfield has now been changed to
an aldermanic system which has
resulted in placing two Black aldermen
and eight White aldermen in city
government for the first time in Spring-
field. Because of Dr. Benn and other
leaders, Blacks now have representa-
tion where it counts.
A Benn Community Committee is
sponsoring a city-wide Reception/Tri-
bute on June 18 at the Springfield
Hilton Hotel to support Dr. Benn’s
candidacy for Historiographer of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Educationally, Benn holds the
Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilber-
force University and the Master of
Arts from Columbia University signed
by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
He has done graduate study at Garrett
Theological Seminary on the North-
western University campus at Evans-
ton, Illinois, Research Interviewer stu-
dies, University of Michigan School of
Sociology, and Manpower Manage-
ment Studies at the University of
Utah. In addition he holds honorary
degrees from Edward Waters Semi-
nary and Monrovia College, West Af-
rica.
Dr. Benn, our candidate, is the pro-
duct of four generations of preachers.
Is he a man of experience in a Church
where experience counts? When the
ballots are cast, he should not be for-
gotten!
Isabel K. Patrick, Life Member
Women’s Missionary Society
Secretary, Benn Community Committee
PRIA
“‘Cosmetics
Prevent People
From Reading
Between
The Lines.’”’
ON EN EN Noa
Week-Long Celebration Set
Spiritual High For Anniversary
Tampa, FL—\n a week-long series of
spiritual worship services, Pastor
James P. Mitchell and the members of
Greggs Temple A.M.E. Church set in
motion the observance of their 38th
anniversary. Under the theme
“Increasing Unfeigned Faith Through
the Knowledge of God," the
congregation heard sermons delivered
by such great speakers as Rev. Charles
Edwards, pastor of St. Mark Baptist
Church, Port Tampa, Florida; Rev.
Sammie McQueen, pastor of
Highland MB Church; and Rey.
~ Moses Anglin, pastor of Mt. Sillia MB
Church.
At an II a.m. worship service
presided over by Mrs. Mercedes
Maddox of Eastgate Community
Church, members and visiting friends
heard an inspiring message delivered
by Rev. Willa C. Martin of St.
Peterburg, wife of the Rev. B. H.
Martin, Presiding Elder of the Tampa
District. The afternoon speaker was
Rev. William F, Stokes II, pastor of
Brownsville Baptist Church,
Savannah, Georgia.
At the afternoon assemblage, which
was presided over by Rev. M. Mason
Walker, pastor of Moore's Chapel
AMEC, Mrs, Estella Blakely was
presented a plaque by Mrs. Cynthia
Mitchell. The plaque was in
recognition of Mrs. Blakely’s loyal and
dedicated service to the church
Mrs. Doris L. Anderson served as
chairperson for the anniversary
celebration, and Mr. Rufus Knighten,
Jr., was co-chairperson.
Doris L. Anderson, Reporter
Poet Inspired by G. Edward West
Dedicates Poem
by Annie M. McKnight
Dr. G. Edward West
WE ARE HIS WITNESSES
Written especially for and dedicated
to Presiding Elder West on Sunday,
April 10, 1988, after being inspired by
God and him for his message taken
from Acts 5:20 at Free Union A.M.E.
Church in Eldorado. His performance
of the entire services made an indelible
impression on me, and the fact that he
is a family man, in the truest sense of
the word, reminded me of my own
father, Rev. J. H. Flint, now deceased.
May God continue to bless you, your
ministry and your family; may your
every work prosper ‘‘In the Name of
Jesus.”’
This verse has made an impression
on my life
Because the words are quite true.
No matter what good you might
try to do,
Someone is always after you.
When you let the devil come in
He fills your life with hate.
The apostles were persecuted by
the Sanhedrins;
And jail was their cruel fate.
We are imprisoned by many
things;
Some by marriage, some by dope
or lust.
Evil is present on every hand,
But in God we must always trust.
Enemies will persecute and em-
barrass you;
But God sends an angel to prevail;
No matter our prison conditions,
God will deliver us, without fail.
Too often we forget what God has
done;
But He tells His people what to
GO uss
Go, stand in the temple, speak all
the words of this life,
We owe Him, each and every one
of you.
We are His witnesses and must
tell the story.
It must be told by each of us.
It is a personal responsibility
to witness,
To His peopk, it is a sacred trust.
Go, tell my people.
Stand up, let your presence be
known.
Be courageous, stand firmly!
He will protect His very own.
We don’t believe the promise of
God
No matter what in this life we see.
We must believe if He watches
over the sparrow
Surely, He watches over you and
me.
We have a word of hope He gives,
That we are His witnesses on this
earch.
We must be revived and come to
God,
Who was humbled, even from His
birth.
This life, for a Christian, is
rough;
We are consumed by guilt and sin,
The problems can all be solved
If we let Jesus abide within.
The blood can wash away our sins
And make us whole and complete;
Only Jesus has the power to
cleanse us;
We must kneel humbly and
meekly at His feet.
No matter the trials and tribula-
tions in this life,
We must stand firm, and tell what
Godis...
That He is a Rock, He’s Living
Water, He’s everything
If He is ours and we are His.
Continued from page 1
Social Action
Corner
Come on, Church of Allen, let us
mobilize for our Brothers and Sisters
overseas.
God be with us in this endeavor.
I applaud the Connectional Bi-
centennial Committee for the positive
fall-out that has come after the
celebration of the Paul Quinn focus.
The public relations for our Zion
was impressive. The American Theatre
presentation by both the Fourth and
Fifth Episcopal Districts was outstand-
ing; the television appearances by
members of the Local Bicentennial
Committees and the Connectional
Committees have illicited a great
amount of response from non-African
Methodists; the symposiums at St,
Paul A.M.E. Church, St. Louis, were
of the highest quality and most infor-
mative for those of us who are African
Methodists; and the laying of the pla-
ques commemorating Bishop Paul
Quinn will give us continuing scrutiny
as to our contributions and for the
leadership that we now give in the
areas of religion and social action.
I am sure that a complete article is
forthcoming on the event.
“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the
tree and every tree that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’’
Luke 3:9
P= +4 =f 4h =-+4 >t 4} >
WRU OZ MAIZYZ,
ON See ee,
pet
nF je 4
Sea
ls
Prayer is the exercise
Of the spirit, the
stretching and flexing,
the aerating and
cleaning, and active
outreach, lifting us
from our limits toward
the limitless.
A. Lee Henderson
-
Date
-
1988-6-13
