October 2, 1989

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October 2, 1989

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Vol. 139, No. 1

October 2, 1989

Seventh Episcopal District
Appeal for Hurricane Hugo Relief

Bishop F. C. James

Columbia, SC—In the early morning
hours of September 22, 1989, Hur-
ricane Hugo swept through South Ca-
rolina with unprecedented fury.
While there has been national cover-
age of this tragedy, that coverage
doesn’t even begin to express the
physical and human devastation
caused by this storm.

Almost every city and small town
along the coast of the state and in the
central and eastern part of the state
suffered damage. Major cities like
Charleston, Georgetown, and Sumter
suffered massive damage and lost all
power and water. In rural areas, small
homes were obliterated and families
lost all that they had. Across our
state, thousands of people in general
and A.M.E.’s in particular are with-

Out even the basic necessities of life.
Relief efforts have been mounted,
and the A.M.E. Church is playing a
crucial role in those efforts. Through
the work of Bishop Frederick C.
James, an A.M.E. relief network has
been established through churches in
those areas that felt the fury of Hurri-
cane Hugo. Those efforts are typified
by Mount Pisgah A.M.E. Church in
Sumter, pastored by the Rev. Frank
C. Maddox. Mt. Pisgah serves as a
Red Cross Center as well and is offer-
ing daily meals to those who would
otherwise go hungry. Pastor J. C. Ro-
berts and the people of Greater Zion
A.M.E. Church in Awendaw have
opened their doors to the victims of
the storm along the coast. They still
have over two hundred people literally
living at the church because they have
no place else to go. Included in that
two hundred are over forty families

who are members of Greater Zion.
We Praise God that we have come
through the storm and the rebuilding
effort can begin, but we will need the
help of the church in that rebuilding
effort. Regional church centers have
been established to receive relief ma-
terials. There is a need for canned
goods and other non-perishable food
items, paper towels and bags and
tissue, infant clothing, food, formula
and bottles, hand tools, sheets and
Please turn to page 7

‘“‘Growth Through Prayer’’
CONFERENCE THEME

Bishop H. A. Belin, Jr.

Warren, AR—Under the direction of
the Rt. Rev. Henry Allen Belin, Jr.,
Presiding Prelate of the 12th Episco-
pal District of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church, the 116th Session
of the South Arkansas Annual Con-
ference convened at Bethel African
Methodist Episcopal Church with a
focus on ‘‘Growth Through Prayer,”
the conference theme.

The opening session of the confer-
ence began at 8:30 a.m. with devo-
tions and the conference Institute.
“Growth Through Prayer’? was the
subject for the daily morning discus-
sions that explored the meaning and
value of prayer. Dean of the Institute
was the Rev. J. R. Hooper and the in-
structor was the Rev. R. K. Young.

Among other things, prayer was said
to be a direct approach to God and
the method by which one learns how
to serve Him.

The Rev. Tyrone Broomfield
preached the Annual Sermon on the
subject ‘‘An Unusual Man; An Un-
usual Mission; An Unusual Mes-
sage.’? The Text for the thought-
provoking sermon was taken from
Isaiah 40:3-5 and the context was
St. Mark 1:2-9. The preacher ex-
pounded on the unusual character of
God’s creation, Man.

In an afternoon business session,
reports were received from pastors,
and reports on the State of the
Church, State of the Country, Tem-
perance and Education were present-
ed.

The Rev. J. D. Jamison, Presiding
Elder of the Monticello District, de-
livered the sermon on Laymen’s
Night. Rev. Jamison’s provocative
subject was ‘‘What Is Man?” and his
text was derived from St. Luke 2:5
and St. John 3:2.

The President of the Laymen, Mr.
Edward Swift, made an excellent
report, including information on the
monies raised this year for Shorter
College. He also gave special awards
of recognition to Mrs. Addie Brown,

Please turn to page 4

PRICE: 50 CENTS

From A Lay perspective

The Touch is Taking: The Adams

Touch is Taking in Georgia

Bishop John Hurst Adams

Dr. D. D. Adams

by Vera L. Benton, Interim
Public Relations Director
Sixth Episcopal District
Lay Organization

One year ago, the Episcopal Com-
mittee made it official: Sixth Episco-
pal District, John Hurst Adams.
Then, days later, the Senior Bishop
and Dr. D. D. Adams placed their feet
on Georgia soil for the first time as
Head(s) of African Methodism in the
State. The exposition began at Harts-
field Airport where the grapevine(s)
had assembled a representative group
of clergy and lay greeters.

Mrs. Merlissie Middleton presented
flowers from the W.M.S. and Rever-
end L. J. Jones made his speech from
a script. With major Metro-Atlanta
pastors and presiding elders in the

group, strains of ‘‘Bishop, I have my
car’’ were heard as we reached the
baggage claim area. The gestures were
gracefully acknowledged, but in a
short while, Mrs. Jann Hurst Adams
-Brogdon (Assistant Professor of Psy-
chology at Clark Atlanta University)
drove up with the Bishop’s ‘‘main
man’’ (Grandson Mitchell). Guess
who drove Bishop and Mrs. Adams
home.

The next day was Sunday, which
put an end to much speculation about
where the Bishop would choose to at-
tend his first worship service. He
walked unannounced into Flipper
Temple Church, sending the congre-
gation to ‘‘cloud nine’’ and placing an
irremovable smile on Pastor Gay’s

Please turn to page 6

20 Women and 7 Men in Ordination Class of Deacons and Elders

Bishop H. Hartford Brookins
Presides Over Great Conference

Bishop H. Hartford Brookins
(Preacher and King-Maker)

Bishop D. Ward Nichols
(Preaches Ordination Sermon)

Washington, DC—The 39th Session
of the Washington Annual Confer-
ence opened in the nation’s capital,
with excellent reports, under the dy-
namic leadership of the Rt. Rev. H.
Hartford Brookins, Presiding Prelate
of the Sensational Second Episcopal
District of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church.

Hosted by Brown Memorial Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal Church, pas-
tored by the Rev. Edgar James, and
with opening and closing sessions held
at Washington’s Metropolitan
A.M.E. Church, the Conference was
described by clergy and lay alike as ‘‘a
great celebration of worship, praise,
thanksgiving, and fellowship!”’

Overflow crowds of ministers, dele-
gates, and friends participated in revi-
val-like worship experiences, and in-

formative conference institutes; and
witnessed the ordination of four wo-
men and two men as Itinerate Elders,
sixteen women and five men as Itiner-
ate Deacons, and one woman as Lo-
cal Deacon.

Lay Night on Thursday featured as
keynote speaker Mr. Juan Williams,
Washington Post reporter, while Fri-
day night’s Youth Night program fo-
cused on Black History. The weekend
of the conference was equally exciting
with a Saturday afternoon, almost-
rained-out picnic at the historic Ft.
DuPont Park, and a delightful Sun-
day afternoon concert by the excep-
tionally trained and artistically ta-
lented Washington Conference
Choir.

Please turn to page 7

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2 i The AME Christian Recorder

October 2, 1989

Count Your Many Blessings...Then Share Some With‘‘Hugo’ Victims

Hurricane Hugo is reported to have
been the worst and most devastating
storm, in the last ten years, to hit the
islands and pass along the eastern sea-
shores. Thousands of people were left
homeless, without telephone service,
without food or electricity, and
without other basic necessities for liv-
ing. They were wiped out overnight
and, today, are in need of whatever
you and I will share with them. In this
instance, it is blessed to give and to re-
ceive. Think about it, and give gener-
ously.

Maybe you have never been wiped
out; thank God you have not been.
But just stop and think how it would
be if such a calamity were to happen
to you overnight. It is difficult to imagine yourself in such a condition. The
rich and poor alike were victimized by the fury of Hurricane Hugo. All of
them are trying to put their lives back together. Entire communities were
leveled as Hugo passed through and, in its wake, citizens, like pioneers, are
starting from scratch to rebuilt their lives and communities. Billions of
dollars of damage have been reported as a result of Hugo, and some of the
areas hardest hit are absolute disaster areas. Wherever Hugo struck—where
there were people—some of us had some kinfolk.

The government, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, World Vision and
many other relief agencies have begun to offer assistance. Our church net-
work of congregations has also begun the sharing process with the hurricane
victims. A great deal more remains to be done to help those countless
thousands who need baby food, Pampers, medicine, blankets, food, water,
shelter, electricity, and a lot of money. The church has never failed to meet
tragedy and disaster head-on. This is a new call and one, no doubt, of
greater dimensions.

Bishop H. A. Belin, Jr., has flown to the 16th Episcopal District to access
the damage and to determine the needs of the people there. Bishop Frederick
C. James has assessed the damage in South Carolina and established several
7th Episcopal District Hugo relief and distribution centers. Bishop J. H.
Adams has reported on the status of Georgia, and Bishop H. H. Brookins
has assessed the Hurricane-caused problems in the 2nd Episcopal District.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is expected to rise to this emergen-
cy situation and share their blessings with those who are solely in need of
major help. God will, indeed, provide through human instruments the
answers to countless prayers for help in this time of trouble. We are human
beings with social concerns who tend to help each other.

The Fall annual conferences are in session now and will, among other
things, receive reports on the State of the Church and the State of the Coun-
try. Because of conditions created by Hugo, | am also sure there will be
State of the Hurricane Victims reports. The nation is looking forward to the
celebration of Thanksgiving Day, 1989; however, thousands whose lives and
properties are in shambles will be better able to do so.if we remember to
share our blessings with them.

A massive missionary project will, one would hope, provide both for the
Thanksgiving and Christmas for the children and adults who lost all through

THE A.M.E. CHRISTIAN RECORDER

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tributing Editor, Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams General Features Editor; Mrs
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sulting Editor; Rev. Alonzo Middleton Regional Editor; Rev. E. L. Blankenship
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Contributing Editor, Rev. Cecil Murray Contributing Editor; Dr. Marjorne Jones
Contributing Editor; Rev. Walter Winstead Reid, Sr., Contributing Editor; Rev

Cyrus Keller, Religious Literature Editor

Tne A.M.E. Christian Recorder welcomes letters from its readers on matters
of general interest All letters must be signed and contain the adaress ¢ {the wr ter
The A.M.E. Christian Recorder wil) occasionally withhold the name of a writer of a
signed letter, if there is a valid reason given. No defamatory, libelous or Slanderou
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quirements

Postmaster please send address correc tion to A.M.E,. Sunday Sch U ’
500 Bth Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37203-4 181

no fault of their own. Elsewhere in the columns of the Christian Recorder
there will be listed addresses where EmergyCare provisions and money
should be sent for the Hugo victims. Also, you can check with your bishop,
your presiding elder, or with your pastor, who will direct you as to how to
get your gifts and donations on the way to people who have lost everything.
Don’t wait for someone to ask you to share; make it your personal respon-
sibility to address this catastrophe immediately. The sooner you do, the
sooner someone else will be helped in the rebuilding process of his of her

shattered life.

I am not being over-dramatic about the severity of Hugo’s damage, nor
the needs of the people. This is a very serious situation and time is of the
essence. There are, indeed, victims who have absolutely nothing left but
their lives. Though there are numbers of people who say they are very
thankful just to have their lives spared, this is not to suggest that there is not
an ever-pressing need to sustain that life.

I am pleased to report that as I editorialize this cause, I have, by
telephone, been told of the TRUCKLOADS OF GOODS that are already en
route from fellow A.M.E.s. Likewise, the bishops of the church have met
and formulated plans to give full support. Pastors, I am told, have made ap-
peals, to their congregations and money is on the way. PRAISE GOD for
those who have counted their many blessings and are sharing them with

Hugo victims.

“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave
me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

““Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me. . .”’

‘‘Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

‘““When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed

thee? ...

‘And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, In-
asmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of my brethren, ye have done

it unto me.’’

Letter to the Editor

Rev. A. G. Thurman

My Dear Editor Reid:

Just a note to express my appreci-
ation to Bishop Anderson, the Pub-
lishing Board, and my Editor, for
thinking so kindly of me. My entire
bunch had to have a copy of your let-
ter.

My next birthday will be October
24th, a few days from now; and | will
[be] one hundred-two-years-old, if 1
can make it,

I trust you can read my writing; it is
the best I can do. I married my second

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to the Christian Recorder

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=>
SS Se SSS STSSSTTSSSSVST SS SSS S808 9S 8 S

wife, Mrs. Angie Alexander, Novem-
ber 24, 1988.

Enclosed is a photo.

Love to you, yours and your staff.

Rev. Albert Gentry Thurman was
born October 24, 1887, in Yazoo
County, MS. Was licensed to preach,
1915. Joined the Missouri Annual
Conference, A.M.E., October 1919.
Ordained Elder October 1923. Never
missed a Roll Call.

Was married to Alice Stanford
December 24, 1905. She departed this
life March 12, 1985, ending seventy-
nine years of a very happy life. We
were happy parents of eight children,
seventeen grandchildren, fifty-nine
great-grandchildren, and forty-three
great-great-grandchildren, all living
but nine.

Sincerely yours,
A. G. Thurman, wife and children

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October 2, 1989

The AME Christian Recorder

Bishop and Mrs. Robert Thomas, Jr.
Leave for South Africa

7

Bishop Robert H. Thomas, Jr.

Mrs. Beverly Thomas

Bishop and Mrs. Robert Thomas,
Jr. left for Cape Town, Republic of
South Africa, on September 20, 1989.
Their first Annual Conference opens
on September 27 in Namibia.

These dedicated episcopal leaders
of the A.M.E. Church are committed
to church expansion, education and
the struggle for the end of apartheid
in South Africa. Mrs. Thomas (Mo-
ther Beverly) resigned as Principal of
Detroit’s nationally-renown Renais-
sance High School to share with her
husband the work of Christian mis-

sions.

They are looking forward to greet-
ing visitors from the United States at
the planning meetings, January 16-17,
in Port Elizabeth,

Bishop Bob and Mother Beverly
certainly would appreciate gifts for
the work. Checks should be made
payable to the 15th Episcopal District
and sent to Ebenezer A.M.E. Church,
5151. W. Chicago Blvd., Detroit, MI
48204, Attention: Rev. Clarence
Robinson. These checks, after clear-
ance, will be sent by transfer draft to
South Africa.

Indiana Conference Layman-of-
Year Honored at Banquet

Bishop James H. Mayo

F
ie

Mr. Landy A. Williams

LAY GROUP HONORS
FOUNDER OF INDIANA
CONFERENCE LAY MALE
CHORUS AT 151ST
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Indianapolis, IN—The One Hundred
Fifty-First Session of the Indiana An-
nual Conference was held at Allen
Chapel A.M.E. Church with Rev.
Leonard N. Williams host pastor,
Rev. Handley A. Hickey, host presid-
ing elder, and the Rt. Rev. James
Haskell Mayo, presiding bishop. This
was Bishop Mayo’s first annual con-
ference in the 4th Episcopal District,
having been assigned only a few days
earlier after the untimely death of the
beloved Bishop Frank Madison, Reid,

Je.

One of the most memorable high-
lights of the conference was the Lay
Organization Gala Banquet, held on
Saturday night at the Sheraton Meri-
dian Hotel in Indianapolis.

Mr. Landy A. Williams, founder
and director of the Indiana Confer-
ence one-hundred-member Lay Male
Chorus, was named Indiana Confer-
ence Layman-of-the Year. This award
is made each year to an outstanding
layperson in the conference. Landy
organized the chorus in 1981, and has
directed it since its inception. The
chorus performs concerts throughout
the conference and the 4th Episcopal
District. Also, they perform for other
church denominations and groups.

Dr. John L. Henderson, President
of Wilberforce University, Wilber-
force, Ohio, was keynote speaker for
the occasion. He used the Lay theme,
“Stirring the Gifts Within: Lay Min-

istries of Liberation and Reconcilia-
tion,’? to challenge his audience to
face up to the problems of the 20th
and 21st centuries. He itemized select-
ed historical events that were a source
of suppression of Black people. Some
statistics were given that are presently
causing Black suppression: 44 percent
of Blacks are basically, functionally,
illiterate; one in four Blacks is poor;
one in seven Black children is on wel-
fare; thirty percent of Black young
men are too illiterate to be accepted
into the armed forces; two-thirds of
Black children drink alcohol or use
drugs occassionally; . . . etc.

Dr. Henderson said, ‘‘We must de-
cide how to address these issues and
straighten out our priorities and edu-
cate our children. With God’s help,
we can face up to some of these prob-
lems with proper solutions. Education
is the key to the solution of suppres-
sion in our society. Black colleges
should not be allowed to become ex-
tinct. Using these tools along with
helping others, we will, with God’s
help, be able to face up to the prob-
lems of the 21st century.’’

Greetings were given by the Honor-
able Mr. Joe Hogsett, Secretary of
the State of Indiana, Retired Senior
Bishop D. Ward Nichols, Bishop
Mayo, Connectional Lay Ist Vice-
President Churchel Swarn, Connec-
tional W.M.S. President Mrs. Deloris
Williams and Conference President
Willie A. Gholston.

Jasper Wilder, Reporter

Director, Public Relations

Indiana Conference Lay Organization
African Methodist Episcopal Church

om

Bishop Wants Churches to Act

Like a Big Family

Bishop P. R. Cousin
(Credit The Orlando Sentinel)

by Adelle M, Banks

Orlando, FL—Cooperation between
churches should extend far beyond at-
tending a different church for an in-
ter-faith worship service every
Thanksgiving, says the leader of Flo-
rida’s A.M.E. churches.

“Instead of us doing the nice thing
of having the worship service, let’s do
some of the difficult things,’’ said
Bishop Philip Cousin, who presides
over the 11th Episcopal District of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The tougher projects could include
joint churches in neighborhoods in
transition or halfway houses for drug
abusers or pregnant teens.

““My personal goal is still to pursue
(my) hope and dream that one day all
Christians can recognize each other as
one family,’’ he said. I don’t want a
mega-church. I would like mega-co-
operation.’’

As a past president of the National
Council of churches, Cousin has
practiced what he preaches. And
when he hasn’t been challenging
churches to be more involved in
ecumenism—cooperation and under-
standing among churches—he has
been pushing members of his own de-
nomination to be active outside their
sanctuaries.

“‘We’re about the business of try-
ing to make our message heard and
seen and our message is one of jus-
tice, love, liberation, understanding,”’
he said. ‘‘Justice for everyone, love
for all the family of God and under-
standing of the problems that separate
us and helping to build bridges to span
the gaps that separate us.”

Cousin, the leader of ninety-six
members of four hundred-thirty-se-
ven churches in Florida and the Baha-
mas, was in Orlando this week to at-
tend his district’s Christian Education
Congress. Between two thousand and
two thousand-five hundred pastors
and lay people were expected at the
training institute focusing on evange-
lism and stewardship.

The fifty-six-year-old bishop em-
phasizes that members of his denomi-
nation and others need to reach out
beyond their pews. On the political
front, he has long been a supporter of
voter registration within churches.
Likewise, he thinks topics like AIDS,
substance abuse and teen pregnancy
are not to be touched on only in ser-
mons, but, rather, in congresses like
the one in Orlando and in projects
like the district’s Sarah Allen House
in Miami.

The Sarah Allen House, which of-
fers assistance to the homeless, drug
abusers, the hungry and immigrants,
including those from Haiti, is an ex-
ample of the church’s outreach. The
center, which is run by women mis-
sionaries and ministers’ spouses in the
district, has become a prototype for
the 3.5 million-member worldwide de-

nomination, Cousin said.

The bishop would like to see his
mostly Black denomination support
economic development by encourag-
ing Black businesses and helping its
members become ‘‘producers, not
just consumers.’’ He noted that other
churches have purchased radio sta-
tions and hotels. And his own denom-
ination has founded six colleges and
two seminaries.

Cousin also hopes A.M.E. church-
es will begin offering tutorial pro-
grams and job training centers to help
students at the elementary and sec-
ondary levels. He has concerns within
the church walls as well, especially re-
lating to tithing. Cousin said the focus
on suppers and bazaars needs to be re-
placed with the philosophy of Meth-
odism founder John Wesley: ‘‘Give a
tenth, save a tenth and live on the
Testya:

Although A.M.E. church members
are basically Methodist in their the-
ology, like Episcopalians, they in-
clude bishops in their hierarchy.
Cousin calls the A.M.E. church, one
of the largest mostly Black denomi-
nations in the country, ‘‘the oldest
protest against segregation in the
Western world.’’ Its founder, Richard
Allen, created the church two hun-
dred-two years ago when he left a
Methodist Episcopal Church in Phila-
delphia where Blacks were not allow-
ed to pray at the same time as White
congregants.

For the past fifteen years, Cousin
has been involved with both the
A.M.E. church and ecumenical activi-
ties. He served for four years as the
president of the National Council of
Churches and now is the chairman of
the council’s Church World Service
Committee. Church World Service is
the division of the council that deals
with disaster relief, overseas develop-
ment and refugee assistance.

Cousin, who has met Pope John
Paul II and church officials in Cuba,
Poland and Russia, says joint coop-
eration is the only way to overcome
problems. Although it isn’t always
easy to juggle A.M.E. and council ac-
tivities, the bishop said his jobs often
have complemented each other.

“What I brought to the National
Council I think was an awareness (of)
the importance of the Black commu-
nion within the ecumenical world,”’
he said. ‘‘What I bring back to Afri-
can Methodism is we are a part of a
larger circle.’’

The Bible doesn’t con-
tain dos and don’ts
just to spoil our fun.
God’s word is

: \-@ intended to
Te ” bless and
, protect us.

\

.
Jesus Said. . .
everyone who hears these words of
mine and does not put them into prac-
tice is like a foolish man who built his
house on sand, Then rain came down,
STE the stream rose, and the winds blew and
beat against that house, and it fell with a
great crash.

MATTHEW 7:26,27 i


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The AME Christian Recorder

October 2, 1989

Shorter College Trustee Board
Elects First Woman President

Bishop Henry Allen Belin, Jr.
Chairman of Shorter Trustee Board

N. Little Rock, AR—The Trustee
Board of Shorter College, of which
Bishop Henry Allen Belin, Jr., is
Chairman, in special session Tuesday,
September 19, 1989, unanimously
elected DR. KATHERINE P. MI-
CHELL the first woman President of
Shorter College.

Dr. Mitchell, a deeply dedicated,
committed, personable and eminently
qualified and experienced educator,
received the baccalaureate degree
from Philander Smith College, the
Master of Education degree from
Cleveland State University, and the
Doctor of Education degree from the
University of Arkansas at Fayette-
ville.

A native of Little Rock, Arkansas,
Dr. Mitchell is a faithful member of
Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church in Lit-
tle Rock and is a person of broad and
excellent experience. She has served
eight years as coordinator of River-
side Cable T.V. in Little Rock, was
operator of the Career Advancement
Demonstration Project in the City of
Little Rock, Chairman of the Divi-
sion of Education at Philander Smith
College, Chief Planner of the Central
Arkansas Consortium (City of Little
Rock) and a teacher in the Pulaski
County Special School District.

In addition, Dr. Mitchell served as
Assistant Professor of Education at
the University of Central Arkansas,
Graduate Assistant for the University

Dr. Katherine P. Mitchell
B.A., M.Ed., D.Ed.
President of Shorter College

of Arkansas at Fayetteville (Special
Services), Program Coordinator of
the City of Cleveland Student Neigh-
borhood Youth Corps, Special Tutor
at Cuyahoga Community College Pa-
raprofessional Program, Metropoli-
tan Campus at Cleveland, and a
teacher at Alabama A. and M. Uni-
versity.

Dr. Mitchell is presently a member
of the Little Rock School Board. She
has received numerous awards and
honors, including listing in Who’s
Who in American Colleges and Univer-
sities 1964-1965), The Rockefeller
Scholarship recipient (1961-1965),
and The Outstanding Young Woman
in America for Higher Education
(1981) from Philander Smith College
Alumni Association.

Bishop Henry Allen Belin, Jr., the
sagacous and thoroughly committed
Presiding Prelate of the Twelfth Epis-
copal District of the A.M.E. Church,
and Chairman of the Trustee Board
of Shorter College, with Dr. Ka-
therine P. Mitchell as President of
Shorter College, and the good support
of the constituency of the ‘‘Magnifi-
cent’? Twelfth Episcopal District and
friends, will surely move Shorter Col-
lege onward toward the fulfillment of
her mission and destiny.

by Theophilus D. Alexander
Chairman of the Interim Personnel

Committee of the Trustee Board
of Shorter College

Continued from page 1

“‘Growth Through Prayer’ is Conference Theme

Mrs, Nellie Cross, Mrs. Martha
Simpson and Mr, Lewis C. Williams
for their outstanding services.

Ordination Services were held on
Thursday at Noon, The Rev. T. D.
Alexander delivered the message for
the special occasion. His subject,
“The Stuff That God’s Preachers Are
Made Of,”’ was scripturally based on
a text from Exodus 2:10.

“The Stewardship of Power’’ was
the subject for the Friday Hour of
Power sermon preached by the Rev.
R. K. Young. His text was found in
St. Luke 12:35, 48.

Superintendent Raymond Colon
was in charge of the Friday evening
Sunday School session. With Mr.
Reuben Newton teaching, the school
explored the subject ‘‘Delivered by
God’s Power.’’ Mr. Lamar Jones re-
viewed the lesson.

Plaques were awarded by the super-
intendent to the churches raising the
largest amounts of money. In the
‘small churches’? category, Quinn
Chapel, North Crossett, was awarded
Ist Place, and Ryles Chapel, South
Crossett, received 2nd Place recogni-
tion, Soldiers Chapel, Hamburg, and
Holland Chapel, Dermott, received
Ist Place and 2nd Place, respectively,
in the ‘*medium size churches’’ cate-
gory. Gates Chapel, Crossett, was

awarded Ist Place in the ‘‘large
churches’’ category, with Bethel,
Warren, receiving 2nd Place.

The Rt. Rev. Henry Allen Belin,
Jr., Presiding Bishop, delivered the
sermon for the Friday night closing
services of the conference. His sub-
ject, ‘‘The ‘I Am’s’,’’ and the mes-
sage based on Matthew 28;17-20, gave
his hearers much to ponder. Bishop
Belin pointed out that one cannot al-
ways have the job of his or her prefer-
ence, but must have some kind of job.
Since Jesus called you, he said; it is
your responsibility to travel with the
Lord, He reminded the congregation
that Jesus said, | will supply your
every need.

With appointments read at the
10:30 p.m. hour, a highly successful
conference was brought to a close,

Thelma Gibson, Reporter

y **Christianity
Is More

Than |
pt Fire Insurance!’ \

Introducing the Program
on Women in Ministry

by Dr. Jacquelyn Grant

The Women in Ministry Program
of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church continues in its quest of rais-
ing critical issues facing the church re-
garding the ministry of women.

The Rev. Carolyn Tyler, now pas-
tor of Walker Temple A.M.E.
Church, Los Angeles, brought the
group into the 1988 General Confer-
ence, at which time the Rev. Lillian
Frier Webb assumed the leadership.
Rev. Webb is the pastor of Mt. Olive
A.M.E. Church, Port Washington,
NY, and she is also a practicing psy-
cho-therapist.

Since the General Conference, Rev.
Webb, along with other members of
the executive board, has been working
faithfully on three items: (1) Struc-
tural and organizational matters.

Much time has been spent on the
issue of organization in order to en-
sure total connectional representa-
tion. Along with the executive board,
therefore, episcopal district coordi-
nators have been sought. The inten-
tion is that these episcopal district
coordinators will, in turn, oversee an-
nual conference representatives. Rev.
Elizabeth Scott and Rev. Cheryl Mat-
lock from the executive board have
been designated to facilitate the or-
ganization of episcopal district coor-
dinators.

(2) The 1991 Women in Ministry
Conference. We are moving ahead in
plans toward a major celebration of
the work of women in ministry. At
this conference, women will preach,
pray, sing, tell their stories and do
critical reflections. Women will pro-
vide resources for more effective min-
istries in the church and strategize to
enhance the participation of clergy-
women in the church. This confer-
ence is being planned for January
1991 in Atlanta, Georgia, at Turner
Theological Seminary, the A.M.E.
Constituent of the Interdenomina-
tional Theological Center.

(3) Locating/identifying A.M.E.
Women in Ministry. A major project
is the identification of women in min-
istry. As we plan for the welfare of
women in ministry, it is important to
be able to ‘‘feel their pulse.’’ Addi-
tionally, as plans are made for the
1991 Conference, women must be in-
formed, Consequently, the assistance
of women and the general church is
solicited in identifying who and where
the women in ministry are.

Perhaps, the most celebrated recent
occurrence is the official establish-
ment of a Commission on Women in
Ministry in the A.M.E. Church at the
last Bishops’ Council, gathering in
June 1989, in Houston, Texas. This is
a milestone, for it represents the offi-
cial acknowledgment that the church
must move forward on women’s con-
cerns and issues. Consistent with
other commissions, representatives
from the general board have been de-
signated to serve.

Finally, we look forward to accent-
ing the work of women in ministry on
a continuous basis. We encourage
you to tell your story, You are invited
to contribute articles on your work of
the work of other women, Tell us
about accomplishments, unusual
struggles, ups and downs and celebra-
ions.

All articles and inquiries are to be
Jacquelyn Grant, ITC,
Atlanta, GA

sent to Dr
671 Beckwith St., SW,
30314

The Executive Board consists of the

Rey. Lillian Frier Webb

following persons: Chairperson, Rev.
Lillian Frier Webb (1); Vice-
Chairperson, Rev. Patricia Spear-
man (10); General Secretary, Rev.
Alyson Browne Johnson (1); Corre-
sponding Secretary, Rev. Gloria Bar-
rett (2); Regional Assistant Secre-
taries, Rev. Lillian Rainey (2), Rev.
Sherryl Matlock (10); Treasurer, Rev.
Ann Henning Byfield (4); Financial
Secretary, Sis. Rolyn Dicks (13); His-
toriographer, Rev. Pearline Chase;
Worship Leader, Rev. Esmay Walsh;
Parliamentarian, Rev. Deborah K.
Blanks (11); Consultants, Rev. Eliza-
beth Scott (2), Dr. Jacquelyn Grant
(6) Presiding Elder Cornelia Wright
(4), Rev. Louise Harris (2) and Pre-
siding Elder Ernestine Ward (1).

Episcopal District Coordinators
are: Rev. Clara Castro (1), Ms. Jose-
phine Hill (2), Rev. Helen Millner
Burton (3), Rev. Deborah Brown-
Williams (4), Rev. Carolyn Tyler (5),
Rev. Mary Ann Bellinger (6), Ms.
Harriet G. McCombs (7), Rev. Mary
E. Moody (8), to be filled (9), Rev.
Julia Ferguson (10), Rev. Beletia Rus-
sell (11), Rev. Mardell Johnson (12),
Ms. Joanne Allen (13), to be filled
(4), to be filled (15), Rev. Pauline
Chase (16), Rev. Elizabeth Siwela
(17), to be filled (18), and to be filled
(19).

Commission on Women in Minis-
try consists of: Chairpersons, Bishop
Robert Thomas, Jr., Rev. Lillian
Frier Webb; Ms. Jane Harris (1),
Rev. Gregory Edmond (2), Rev. Wes-
ley I. Reid (3), Rev. A. D. Tyson (4),
Rev. Jesse Boyd (5), Ms. Tammie
Garrett (6), Ms. Velma Mason (7),
Ms. Leslie King (8), Ms. Juel Harris
(9), Rev. Drinkard Timms, Jr. (10),
Rev. James Proctor (11), Mr. Her-
man Guy (12), Rev. J. L. Gleese (13),
Bro. Yancy P. Flah, III (14), Rev.
Zebulon Madolla (15), Dr. Marjorie
A. Jones (16), Sis. F. M. Chileshe
(17), Mr, Tsoane P. Pule (18) and
Rev. P. N. Lodi (19).

c “* wr

Let Us Come Before
His Presence With
Thanksgiving—
Psalm 95:2


===== DSC05894.JPG =====

October 2, 1989

The AME Christian Recorder

Wilberforce University Features
JOSHUA I. SMITH As
Convocation Speaker

Wilberforce, Ohio—Wilberforce Uni-
versity featured Joshua I. Smith,
founder and CEO of the MAXIMA
Corporation, at its annual John F.
Morning, Sr., Convocation, which
was held recently in the campus’
Alumni Multiplex Building. Only
eleven years old, MAXIMA rose from
last place on Black Enterprise Maga-
zine’s Top 100 Companies in 1984 to
ninth in 1988. Its Dayton office,
headed by Division Vice President
William G. Dwyer, is one of fifty lo-
cations in 18 states.

Smith’s presentation was the ele-
venth in Wilberforce’s Morning lec-
ture series which features nationally
recognized minority business leaders.
Earl Graves, John H. Johnson, and
Percy Sutton are among the previous
speakers. The lecture on ‘‘Minority
Participation in the American Econ-
omy’’ was open to the public.

JOSHUA ISAAC SMITH

In 1986 Black Enterprise named the
MAXIMA Corporation the nation’s
fastest growing Black-owned firm,
and by 1988 MAXIMA ranked ninth
on Black Enterprise’s list of the top
100 Black-owned businesses. The pri-
vately-held computer services and
products firm was founded in 1978 by
Joshua Smith who started with
$15,000, one room, and one employ-
ee. Today, as chairman and chief ex-
ecutive officer of MAXIMA, Mr.
Smith heads an organization of one

thousand-four hundred employees in
eighteen states and over fifty loca-
tions. The company, headquartered
in Rockville, Maryland, had annual
sales of $60 million in 1988. Its Day-
ton office has a staff of forty employ-
ees.

Joshua Smith grew up in Loveland,
Ohio, a small town northeast of Cin-
cinnati, in a family of eight children.
He earned his B.S. degree in biology
and chemistry at Central State Uni-
versity in 1963 and was a high school
teacher for a few years. In 1969, he
entered the information field as an
administrator at the University of
Akron’s Center for Information
Systems. In New York he managed
the data-book division of Plenum
Publishing Company. He later work-
ed for a Washington-based trade asso-
ciation, the American Society for In-
formation Science, eventually becom-
ing its executive director.

Mr. Smith’s success as an entrepre-
neur has been due to a combination
of expertise, strong management
skills, and an aggressive diversifica-
tion and acquisition program. Having
acquired four companies as a part of
its operation, MAXIMA is today a
full-service computer firm. Its compe-
titiveness in the marketplace may be
credited to its CEO’s emphasis on
having satisfied clients and motivated
employees, a management style that
has been described at MAXIMA as
‘high touch as well as high tech.”

Queen Honors Apartheid Fighter

London (AP)—Queen Elizabeth II
honored veteran anti-apartheid cam-
paigner Helen Suzman by giving her
the honorary title of Dame Comman-
der of the British Empire.
Yesterday’s award ‘‘recognizes the
distinguished contribution which
Mrs. Suzman has made toward fos-
tering relations between this country

and South Africa and in the struggle

ANNOUCING THE

RETREAT

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Erlanger, Kentucky
Phone: (606) 371-4224

dd ddadiiiididdia

6 meals and 2 nights lodging.

tnusssiiisisssititititititel

Ve ULL LLLL LLL LLL Eh

Dr. Edgar L. Mack
Secretary-Treasurer
Department of Christian
Education

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Special Christian Education
Announcement

3RD CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Noon, Wednesday, December 13, 1989
to Noon, Friday, December 15, 1989

MARYDALE RETREAT CENTER

The flat rate at Marydale is $83.20
per person. This rate includes

A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR
PRAYER, STUDY AND REFRESH-

Bishop Vernon R. Byrd, Chairman
Commission on Christian Education

Dr. Edgar L. Mack, Executive Secretary
Department of Christian Education

Retreat Registration: $20.00
MARYDALE IS CONVENIENTLY

© only 4 miles from the Greater Cincinnati

© only 9 miles south of Cincinnati, a half-mile
from I-75 and I-71 and close to the 1-275
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against apartheid,’’ the Foreign Of-
fice said. ‘Mrs. Suzman has champi-
oned the cause of human rights for all
the people of South Africa for more
than forty years.’’ Suzman, seventy-
one, is a longtime member of Parlia-
ment. Britain also plans to set up the
Helen Suzman Awards, a scholarship
program for Black South Africans.

VILLLLLILIILILL IIL ML LLL LLL LL LLL

VI

The Rt. Rev. Vernon R. Byrd
Presiding Bishop
13th Episcopal District
Chair, Commission
on Christian Education

MENT!

LOCATED

International Airport

WILLE dddddddddddddddddddddddddaddddddadddddddddddddddddaadddddddddddddddddddddd

S

ZION CHAPEL A.M.E, CHURCH — (Rev. Charles E. Bartley, Pastor)

Mississippi Conference Closing Held at Historic Zion Chapel

Church Edifice Purchased by
Hiram Revels in 1868

Natchez, MS—A_ round of
thunderous applause greeted the an-
nouncement of the return of the Rev.
Charles E. Bartley to the Zion Chapel
A.M.E. Church, Natchez, MS, at the
close of the 122nd Session of the Mis-
sissippi Annual Conference, held at
St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Natchez.
The Rev. Bland Washington was host
pastor, Rev. J. D. Watkins, host pre-
siding elder, and Rev. James Manley,
associate presiding elder. The closing
service was held at Zion Chapel.

Rev. Bartley was first asigned to
Zion Chapel in May, 1989, succeeding
the Rev. R. L. Stanton, who was pro-
moted to the presiding eldership fol-
lowing the death of the Rev. E. D.
Williams of the Central Louisiana
Conference. The Bartleys came to
Zion Chapel from the Northeast--
West Mississippi Conference and Ed-
wards Chapel, Coldwater, MS, where
they served for five years. The family
includes wife Ethel and daughters
Lakitta and Latrese.

During Rev. Bartley’s tenure at Ed-
wards Chapel, the church experienced
numerical, spiritual and financial
growth. The amount of money raised
was doubled, as was the pastor’s
salary, the mortgage was burned, and
plans were being made to purchase a
new parsonage.

Zion Chapel is one of the truly
great churches in the A.M.E. con-
nection; founded in the 1860’s, the
church is listed on the Register of Na-
tional Historic Sites. The sanctuary
was built in 1858 as the Second Pres-
byterian Church and acquired by
Zion Chapel in 1868. The modern an-
nex, consisting of classrooms, office
suites, choir room, dining hall, fel-
lowship hall, library, conference
rooms and a prayer chapel, was added
in 1980 under the dynamic leadership
of Rev. Stanton, who served there for
fourteen years.

Bishop Donald George Kenneth
Ming, Presiding Prelate of the
“Exciting, Emergetic, Empowered
and Progressive’’ 8th Episcopal Dis-
trict, in returning Rev. Bartley to
Zion, declared, ‘‘Finding someone to
replace Dr. Stanton I knew would be
difficult, but there was a young man I
always had in mind, Rev. Bartley, and
he is proving equal to the task.”’

Historic Zion is taking on new life
under the leadership of the Bartley
team, with attendance doubling and a
new sense of direction and contagious
optimism engulfing the entire church
and Natchez community.

“Upon arriving at Zion, we were

greeted by a warm and responsive
congregation. We thank God, our
bishop, our presiding elder, the Rev.
J. D. Watkins, and the former pastor,
Rev. Stanton, who worked hard to
make the transition smooth and pain-
less, and the very fine people at Zion
Chapel, Natchez, the Natchez-Port
Gibson District and the Mississippi
Conference for a most warm and gra-
cious welcome,’’ Bartley said.

A welcoming reception was held in
the dining hall on the first Sunday of
their arrival, with a formal welcome
program being held in June, where
greetings were brought from the city
and county governments, the interra-
cial Ministerial Alliance and various
other social, civic and fraternal or-
ganizations, followed by a most de-
lightful reception in the upstairs Fel-
lowship Hall.

Commenting upon his reassign-
ment to Zion, Rev. Bartley stated, ‘‘ I
am not unmindful of the rich history
and outstanding legacy which is
Zion’s. As we move into the decade of
the nineties and the dawn of the twen-
ty-first century, we have chosen as
our motto: ‘‘A Historic Church Serv-
ing The Present Age: A New Vision of
Worship; A New Vision of Steward-
ship; A New Vision of Service.”’

The Old Ship of Zion has been
steered over the years by such
stalwarts of African Methodism as
the Rev. Page Tyler, first pastor; the
Rev. Hiram Revels, first Black United
States Senator and the leader under
whom the present building was pur-
chased; the Reverends R. A. Adams,
P. H. Polk, M. C. Wright, M. R.
Dixon, R. A. Scott, B. J. Jackson, G.
A. A. Jones, James Allen Thornton,
(2) G. Contella Borrum, who paid off
the indebtedness on the pipe organ
now valued at more than $200,000,
Robert M. Stevens, Lawrence W.
Wilson, J. D. Wynn, E. D. Scott, T.
C. Johnson and the Rev. R. L. Stan-
ton.

More good news from Zion is sure
to come in the future!

SVVVVVUVVVVVVVVy
& things go ¢

wrong, don’t go

with them. ’”’


===== DSC05895.JPG =====

6

The AME Christian Recorder

ses esses et 2, 1989

Continued from page 1

FROM A LAY PERSPECTIVE—THE TOUCH IS TAKING: THE ADAMS’ TOUCH IS TAKING IN GEORGIA

face.

The setting changed to Savannah
on Monday because the Christian
Education Congress had been located
on the Savannah State Campus prior
to the General Conference. Dean
Daniel Jacobs informed Bishop
Adams in Fort Worth that the pro-
gram was already completed and dis-
tributed; his reaction was that he and
Dr. Adams would be present to ob-
serve, fellowship and meet with the
various constituencies. They did just
that: Presiding Elders, first; Turner
Trustees, second; lay people, third;
missionaries, fourth.

The lay gathering was a phenome-
non. Not in recent memory has a Bis-
hop—two weeks after his assign-
ment—sat with lay people at every
level simultaneously to hear their con-
cerns. President Stringer who had sur-
veyed the laity presented his findings
first after which Bishop Adams listen-
ed as some new, unnamed voices took
advantage of the rare opportunity to
lift up problems peculiar to their re-
spective areas. Then, there was a re-
versal of roles; we listened and he
talked: about closing annual confer-
ences on Friday evening, about pro-
posing a budget which would remain
for four years and about the district
obligations.

Three hours later, the same scene
was played with Dr. Adams and the
missionaries. Her classroom was
overcrowded and the hall was too as
the six conference presidents pre-
sented written reports from their con-
ferences. Five of the six presidents
were newly elected and expressed their
eagerness to embrace the new supervi-
sor’s agenda. Following the reports
and a period of questions/answers,
Dr. Adams described her style of su-
pervising and announced that the de-
tails would be available at the District
Strategy Session on September 10.
Possibly the most tangible outcome
of the informal, mixed gatherings at
the Savannah Congress was the mes-
sage of hope sent all over Georgia:
that the Sixth has a personalized, pro-
fessionalized and upfront Episcopal
Team. Proof of the pudding came at
the Planning meeting (September 10)
when over fifteen hundred lay and
clergy persons converged on and
around Steward Chapel in Macon.

Bishop Adams had been told that
he could expect about five hundred
people and he prepared materials ac-
cordingly. Pastor David Jackson and
his congregation agree that their
church has a seating capacity of eight
hundred persons; but by ten o’clock,
every seat and standing space in the
main sanctuary, upstairs and down-
stairs was taken. There were vestibule
to vestibule people, front yard to
front yard people and parking lot to
parking lot people. Seasoned presid-
ing elders and pastors whose years of
service in the Sixth date as far back as
the Fountain era admit that they had
never seen that many people at a
Georgia anything.

The agenda as circulated flowed
like a wall Street Executive Board
meeting. Naturally, the proposed
budget required longevity, but item by
item, explanations came directly from
the Bishop’s lips. At the point that the
review revealed the existence of some
huge obligations with which the
district is charged; the huge crowd re-
actions could have—in the hands of a
different kind of person and a less
skilled presider—created a facsimile
of the Forum Scene in Shakespeare’s
Julius Caesar, but, no irony was used,

no mud pies were thrown, no innuen-
does were uttered; just an allusion to
a conversation with Bishop Howard
Thomas Primm which closed with the
line, ‘‘If there were no problems, we
wouldn’t need any bishops,

An item inserted in the agenda was
a report from Morris Brown College.
At the invitation of Bishop Adams,
President Calvert Smith presented an
update on the College. It is no secret
that in the previous few years, the
Sixth had had to receive Morris
Brown information in writing. This
new attitude on the part of Bishop
Adams together with his including
Morris Brown and Turner Seminary
in the District Budget was highly ap-
plauded by laity and clergy.

Around four o’clock, the mission
of the day was completed. The A-
dams’ plan was out in writing and on
top of the table. It seemed refreshing
for many, stimulated curiosity among
some and frustrated the’ comfort of
others. Lay people in general were
particularly pleased to have in hand
district information which over a
period of years had been disseminated
through the kindnesses of the
presiding elders and pastors.

The Mid Year Conference was a
new model. It made history with a
Thursday night opening. Well publi-
cized concurrent workshops for
W.M.S. presidents, treasurers, stand-
ing committee chairpersons as well as
Y.P.D. Directors and Presidents at all
levels were all it took to bring enough
missionaries from all over Georgia to
fill three-fourths of the Flipper Tem-
ple sanctuary and later disperse into
classrooms while Dr. Rosa Baxter
worked with a fellowship hall full of
Y.P.D.’ers: Ask Mrs. Delores Wil-
liams, Connectional W.M.S. Presi-
dent, and Mrs. Bettye Allen, P.M.E.
Director. Mrs. Williams stimulated,
challenged and inspired the mission-
aries with her workshop for Presi-
dents and her soul stirring message.
The Friday morning workshop on
“Church Growth and the Local
Church’’ presided over by St. Philip’s
Pastor George Moore and led by Rev-
erend Grainger Browning (2) inspired
so much participation that the Bishop
had to close the dialogue in order to
keep his schedule. All of us have
learned that when he makes a sche-
dule, he makes a schedule.

The Official Welcome Celebration
for Bishop and Mrs. Adams consisted
of two events on Friday evening: a re-
ception and a worship service. A Big
Bethel trustee named Jesse Hill, Jr.,
hosted the reception at H. F. Hern-
don Plaza of the Atlanta Life Insur-
ance Company and cultural, political,
educational and ecumenical Atlanta
turned out to help us express to our
leaders the sentiments which Dr.
Joseph Lowery was to echo later,
“‘Where you been so long?’’ Repre-
sentatives of AUC Institutions, per-
sonalities like Coretta King, Andrew
Young, Michael Lomax, Maynard
Jackson and Marvin Arrington, were
among those in attendance and the
honorees were careful to shake hands
with every one. Some people went
directly to Big Bethel to assure choice
seating and they were wise.

The main sanctuary was packed.
Pastor McKinley Young presided over
the program which was unusual in a
number of respects. Seven Bishops in-
cluding the honoree [Hickman, Bear-
den, Chappelle, Coles (CME) and
Husband (Church of God in Christ)]
with his mentor Bishop Primm de-
livering the message. Add General Of-

ficer Hercules Miles, three Connec-
tional Officers: Dr. Rosa Baxter,
Mrs, Delores Williams and Dr, K. M.
Brown; Reverend H, Michael Lem-
mons representing the Congress of
National Black Churches and Repre-
sentative of SCLC. From the Episco-
pal District, veteran clergy were pro-
grammed; Benjamin Gay, Sims
Lewis, W. L. Scarbrough, J, E. Jack-
son, Preston Williams, L. J. Jones,
H. M. Threatt, R. H. Martin,
Thomas Kent; new faces on the hori-
zon were Reverends J. C. Reynolds,
Claude James, Elijah Smith, Isiah
Waddy and Allan Wicker. The Sixth
District Organizations Heads: Walter
Stringer, Lay; Mrs. Middleton,
W.M.S.; Floyd Baxter, Sons of
Allen; Carl Clark, Y.P.D. flanked by
L’Tanya Moore and Deana Young.
Speaking for our educational institu-
tions were President Smith and Dean
Jacobs and Music at its highest and
best—including the ‘‘Hallelujah Cho-
rus’? from the Messiah—was ren-
dered by the Combined Choirs of Big
Bethel, the Allen Temple Choir and
the Morris Brown Concert Choir.

Back at Flipper Temple on Satur-
day morning, Bishop Adams kept a
promise made in September: that we
would receive a quarterly financial
statement of income and expen-
ditures.

The Bishop’s decision to experi-
ment with combining three separate
occasions usually requiring as many
trips into one Founder’s Celebration
(February 9-11) proved popular, prac-
tical and positive. Both the Turner
and Wilkes Lectures were streamlined
into a one day agenda and delivered
by Dr. Lee Washington (2). He arriv-
ed early and delivered the first of the
Religious Emphasis Week Messages
at Morris Brown. The Young scholar
took well on campus and clergy and
lay who heard his lectures say he did
an effective job. Turner Seminary
celebrated with a Worship Service
and Alumni Rally.

The Saturday Y.P.D. Observance
consisted of concurrent Interest
Workshops and a program of talents
and skills. More than twelve hundred
Youth jammed Flipper Temple and
the regulars states that it was wit-
nessed by the largest contingent of
clergy and adult lay support groups
ever. Sustained record attendance and
creative program innovations together
with demonstrated improvement in
the business affairs of the District—
tremendous if not phenomenal in a
short span of time—add up to one
fact:

The Touch is Taking

More particularly, when Dr.
Adams returned from the Connec-
tional W.M.S. Executive Board in
February, she took the podium during
the Episcopal District meeting to ex-
plain the Missionary Endowment
Fund—its nature and purpose(s).
With much candor, she expressed
chagrin that because of the small
number of Sixth District con-
tributors, she had the unusual ex-
perience of seeing a district other than
hers take the first place award but
asked that there be no second time
around. With logistical assistance
from Marietta Knight, Dorothy
Young, Wilma Williams, Merlissie
Middleton and Vera Benton, the mis-
sionaries responded to the Supervi-
sor’s appeal with over $10,000.00
in pledges in less than twenty minutes.
Paid on site was $2,835.00 of the
pledged amount. For you see, this
First Lady as the Immediate Past

President of the Links, Inc. and
President of the Black Women’s A-
genda keeps a full itinerary — most

recently a Banquet address for the
C.M.E. Women in Little Rock and a
lecture at Dartmouth College; never-
theless, she plans her schedule around
her role as the Episcopal Supervisor.
Dr. Adams has been present at every
Sixth District meeting from start to
finish and the missionaries like it.
The Touch is Taking
Atlanta town is taken with the new
A.M.E. leadership. In January,
Bishop Adams was tapped to deliver
the Emancipation Proclamation ad-
dress. Two weeks later, he received
the first and only standing ovation at
the Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
Celebration. For the Seventeenth An-
nual Christian Council of Metropoli-
tan Atlanta Community Breakfast on
March 9 at the Omni, Bishop John
Hurst Adams was the main speaker.
The demand for tickets was so great
that the Council was forced to return
checks the week of the event because
every reserved and unreserved space
had been sold. We A.M.E.’s were a
sizable portion of that five hundred
plus interracial ecumenical audience.

The Touch is Taking

He came in as the Bishop with
credibility as an educator already es-
tablished in the AUC. Having chaired
the ITC Board from 1981-1987, our
Bishop after a one year absence
returns the AUC Trustee Board with
Morris Brown as his concern. His
delivering the Morris Brown
Founder’s Day set another precedent
for no one has remembered yet when
the Presiding Bishop was so program-
med.

At First A.M.E. Church in Athens,
he laid his first cornerstone in March.
The Clayton D. Wilkerson Education
Center was constructed long ago, but
somehow it was not until this year
that the Church asked Pastor Claude
James to ask Bishop John Adams to
come and complete the work. Pastors
from the Atlanta-North and Macon
Conferences journeyed to Athens to
participate in the ceremonies. First
A.M.E. was organized by Henry Mc-
Neal Turner and four of its pastors
have been elected to the episcopacy:
Flipper, Fountain, Wilkes and Bear-
den.

Hopefully, everybody knows that
nobody is trying to delude anybody.
Transitions by their nature are never
simple and seldom smooth and the
one in progress in Georgia is no excep-
tion. People generally are reluctant to
abandon established behavior pat-
terns; others are less anxious to learn
that like new occasions, new leader-
ship brings new duties and sometimes
renders the old good less good. On the
flip side at this juncture is surfacing
appearance of a lay canvas which
seems to be etched with images of re-
juvenation and renewed confidence
which signal more cohesion, broader
perspectives and the purposeful
resolve to help carry the responsibility
of change. Convinced of the Adams’
sensitivity to their concerns, several
local churches and presidents want to
get on record now along with the
Conference and Episcopal Presidents.
The Adams Touch is Taking In Georgia

Jesus Christ
Can Satisfy
Your Thirsty Soul

ee

i


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October 2, 1989

The AME Christian Recorder

|

Continued from page 1

Seventh Episcopal District Appeal for Hurricane Hugo Relief

blankets, flashlights, batteries, and
almost any usable item. These things
should be sent to one of the regional
church centers:

7TH DISTRICT A.M.E. HUGO
RELIEF CENTERS
(1) *Emanuel A.M.E. Church
110 Calhoun Street
Charleston, South Carolina
29403
TELEPHONE:
(803) 772-2561—Church
(803) 723-3670—Parsonage
Rev. John H. Gillison
Pastor

( 2) *St. Stephens A.M.E. Church
1913 Winyah Road
Georgetown, South Carolina
29440
TELEPHONE:

(803) 546-7364—Church
(803) 546-6385—Parsonage
Rev. W. C. Gadson
Pastor

(3) *Greater Zion A.M.E. Church
U.S. Highway 17 North
Awendaw, South Carolina
TELEPHONE:

(803) 884-7468—Church

(803) 884-1675—Church
Rev. J. C. Roberts
Pastor

(4) *Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church
217 West Bartlette Street
Sumter, South Carolina
29150
TELEPHONE:

(803) 775-9040—Church

(803) 775-3844—Church
Rev. Frank C. Maddox
Pastor

(5) *Allen University

1530 Harden Street
Columbia, South Carolina
29204
TELEPHONE:

(803) 254-4165

(803) 254-9735
Dr. Collie Coleman
President

( 6) *Bethel A.M.E. Church
1528 Sumter Street
Columbia, South Carolina
29211
TELEPHONE:

(803) 779-0138

(803) 779-7243
Rev. J. Arthur Holmes
Pastor

(7) *Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church
1308 East Cheves Street
Florence, South Carolina
TELEPHONE:

(803) 662-2343—Church

(803) 665-499 1—Parsonage
Rev. Julius H. McAllister
Pastor

( 8) *Mount Olive A.M.E. Church
1108 Carber Street
Post Office Box 2431
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
29577
TELEPHONE:
(803) 448-5541—Church
(803) 448-3441— Parsonage
Rev. T. E. Shields
Pastor

(9) *St. Paul A.M.E. Church
133 Pleasant Hill Street
Lancaster, South Carolina
TELEPHONE:

(803) 283-4360—Church

(803) 788-4664— Residence
Rev. Nathaniel A. Johnson
Pastor

(10) ** Greater Goodwill A.M.E.

Church

U.S. Highway 17 North— 11
Miles

Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
29464

TELEPHONE:

(803) 884-0903—Church
Rev. A. J. Blake
Pastor

(11) **Williams Chapel A.M.E.
Church
198 Glover Street
Orangeburg, South Carolina
29115
TELEPHONE:
(803) 536-0600—Church
(803) 536-0984— Parsonage
Rev. Allen W. Parrott
Pastor

(12) **Morris Brown A.M.E.
Church
13 Morris Street
Charleston, South Carolina
29403
TELEPHONE:
(803) 723-1961—Church
(803) 571-2858—Parsonage
Rev. James G. Blake
Pastor

(13) **Ebenezer A.M.E. Church
44 Nassau Street
Charleston, South Carolina
29403
TELEPHONE:

(803) 723-4660—Church
(803) 723-1076—Church
Rev. Charles C. McLamore

Pastor

(14) **Greater Gordon Chapel
A.M.E. Church —
Murrells Inlet
Turn Table Road
Murrells Inlet,

South Carolina
TELEPHONE:
(803) 651-2212—Church
(803) 722-6956—Residence
Rev. Ernest O. Simmons
Pastor

(15) **Liberty Hill A.M.E. Church
St. Paul Road
Summerton, South Carolina
29148
TELEPHONE:
(803) 478-4812—Church
(803) 432-7567—Residence
Rev. Malachi Duncan
Pastor

**MAJOR A.M.E. DISTRIBUTION CENTER
**DISTRIBUTION CENTER SATELLITE

(Please make checks payable to:
7TH DISTRICT A.M.E. HUGO
RELIEF FUND)

Send your financial assistance to the
following address:

7TH DISTRICT A.M.E. HUGO
RELIEF FUND

c/o Bishop F. C. James

Seventh Episcopal District

African Methodist Episcopal Church
Post Office Box 4837

Columbia, South Carolina 29240

In the tradition of Richard Allen, who
helped to bring Philadelphia through
the yellow fever epidemic, we too are
working to rebuild. We ask for and
appreciate your prayers and assist-
ance.

Rev. Joseph A. Darby
Director of Public Relations
Seventh Episcopal District

Continued from page 1

Bishop H, Hartford Brookins Presides Over Great Conference

Host Presiding Elder George A.
Manning of the Potomac District,
and Presiding Elder Walter L. Hilde-
brand of the Capitol District both ex-
pressed pleasure with the overall par-
Uicipation in the conference, They
were especially proud of the work of
the men and women in their respective
districts.

Of the fifty-seven pastors reporting
from the sixty churches of the Wash-
ington Conference, numerous out-
standing accomplishments were
noted. Of the many conversions and
accessions, Ebenezer, Ft. Washington
received rousing applause for over
four hundred conversions and one
thousand-twenty-three accessions for
the 1988-89 conference year. First
A.M.E. Gaithersburg, founded in
1984, reported the completion and de-
dication of their first church
facility—a two hundred-fifty-seat
sanctuary and activity center; while
three other newly formed congrega-
tions, St. Mark, First A.M.E. Manas-
sas, and Waldrof reported the finali-
zation of plans to begin construction
of their first church buildings.

Falls Road, Reid Temple, Turner
Memorial, and Hemingway Memorial
Chapel Oaks informed the conference
of negotiations to sell their present
buildings and relocate their congrega-
tions to other metropolitan communi-
ties; while Mt. Pisgah Columbia pre-
sented plans for new construction.
Allen Chapel in Southeast DC and
Union Bethel in Brandywine noted
that the expansion of their churches is
proceeding according to schedule; and
St. James Frederick invited all to at-
tend the dedication of their new
church offices.

Not only was there building of phy-
sical plants, but almost all pastors re-
ported new and exciting ministries,
with several pastors indicating co-
operative efforts in drug prevention
programs. Of special note is the Good
Shepherd Ministry to the Homeless
which provided goods, services, and
worship experiences for over two
thousand homeless adults and chil-
dren in the DC area.

In other business, the conference
honored the Rev. James A. Carey and
the Rev. L. M. Bowie who retired
from the active ministry. Other mem-
bers of the Conference were me-
morialized, including the former Pre-
siding Elder of the Potomac District,
the late Rev. A. J. Mattison.

Bishop Brookins praised the people
of the Washington Conference for
their hard work, and dedication to do-
ing the Lord’s work. He noted that he
enjoys being in this area, and that al-
though much has been accomplished,
there is still much to be done. Despite
the fact that Brookins has been in the
Washington area for only eight
months, he has already made his pre-
sence felt in both the ecumenical
community and political circles. In a
press conference held on the Friday
morning of the conference, Brookins
was interviewed by members of the
Washington press corp; and in Sun-
day’s Washington Post, an article in
the ‘‘Metro”’ section of the paper
dubbed him ‘‘kingmaker,’’ and talked
about his role as an activist in his
church as well as in the political arena
and the civil rights movement.

Nevertheless, the public relations
fanfare, the good reports, the warm
fellowship among the people took sec-
ond place to the electrifying and spi-
ritually rich preaching which was a
major highlight of this particular
Washington Annual Conference.

A pre-conference sermon by the
Rey. Vivian A, P. Castain inspired the
missionaries on their day as they wor-
shiped at Turner Memorial on Tues-
day, with the Episcopal Supervisor,
Mrs. Verdelle Johnston in atten-
dance, It was truly a preaching cele-
bration of ‘major proportion’ as the
people were fed—from the Opening
Sermon, ‘‘Case of Mistaken
Identity’? (Matthew 16:13-15) skillful-
ly preached by Rey. Lee Washington;
to the inspirational Communion Ser-
mon, ‘‘Church, Let’s Fall in Love’’
(John 13:43-55) preached by Rev.
Dessie L. Carter; to the Thursday
mid-day sermon by the renowned pul-
piteer, Dr. H. Beecher Hicks, pastor
of DC’s Metropolitan Baptist Church
who preached on ‘‘The Tragedy of
Psychotic Preachers’? (Romans 7:19-
25); to the powerful Ordination Ser-
mon by Retired Bishop D. Ward Ni-
chols, ‘‘Don’t Lose Your Tang’’
(Luke 14:34-35),

However, the real challenge to the
Church of Allen represented in the
Washington community came in the
Closing Sermon of the conference, as
our own Bishop, the Rt. Rev. H.
Hartford Brookins, preaching from
Numbers 13:33, called on the people
to make full use of their abilities,
energy, and resources, and not to see
themselves as ‘‘grasshoppers,’’ but as
strong men and women able to do
“all things through Christ who
strengthens us!’’

Thus, as men and women were
given new appointments, presiding
elders, pastors, and people felt em-
powered and richly inspired to move
forward into the conference year
which will bring us to the beginning of
the last decade of-the 20th century—
returning to the vineyards to do God’s
work for another year and to make a
difference in the lives of our people,
our communities, and our world...To
God Be The Glory! for an outstand-
ing Washington Annual Conference!

The Rev. Dr. Lois A. Poag
Reporter for the Washington Conference

St. Paul AME to
Observe 120th

Anniversary

Jacksonville, FL—Special worship
services in celebration of the 120th
anniversary of St. Paul A.M.E.
Church climaxed the more than two
weeks of activities held by the church
membership and featured Dr. J. B.
Blackwell of Miami. Dr. Blackwell,
now retired, served the church as pas-
tor, presiding elder, Episcopal Com-
mittee officer and member of the
General Conference on several occa-
sions. The prominent A.M.E. minis-
ter delivered the keynote message at
the September 24th Sunday worship.

A series of celebratory events in-
cluded a seminar on Managing and
Controlling Your Resources held on
August 19. On September 7, a dy-
namic presentation featured Mrs.
Byllye Avery, founder and Chief Ex-
ecutive of the National Black Wo-
men’s Health Center of Atlanta, who
discussed ‘‘Health Related Issues as
They Affect Black People.’’

A Bonding Fellowship Dinner was
held on September 19, bringing to-
gether senior members and those who
have joined the church since January
1987. An unusual presentation of ta-
lent, featuring older members of the
church, was held on September 21.
Former pastors of St. Paul were par-
ticipants in the services.

—E——— ee


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The AME Christian Recorder

October 2, 1989

Bishop C. E. Thomas is

Centennial Anniversary Speaker

Bishop C. E. Thomas

Enterprise, AL—The One Hundredth
Anniversary of Johns Chapel A.M.E.

Church will begin on September 3 and
conclude on September 10, 1989.
Bishop C. E. Thomas will preach the
historic sermon on September 3, as
the church begins the great celebra-
tion,

The pastor, Rev. G. W. Curry, said
he, the officers and congregation are
very thankful to God for this eventful
blessing. They are most desirous that
the connectional family of African
Methodists join them in prayers of
thanksgiving to Almighty God for
these one hundred years of service to
the Enterprise community.

Mr. Edward Marshall Brown, Jr.,
is the Centennial chairperson.

THIRD DISTRICT LEADER IS
WOMEN’S DAY SPEAKER

Pittsburgh, PA—Ms. Ruth G.
Dalton, Church School Superinten-
dent of the Third Episcopal District,
was guest speaker for St. Paul
A.M.E. Church’s annual Women’s
Day service. Her subject was ‘‘Virtu-
ous Women Are One in the Spirit.’’
Ms. Dalton is ‘‘Ms. St. Paul’’ of
her church for the 1988-1989 Confer-
ence year and is well known for her
participation in a variety of organiza-
tions of the Third District and on the
conference and local levels. At St.
Paul she is President of the Lay Or-
ganization, Steward Board member
and a member of the Women’s Mis-
sionary Society. She is Church School
Superintendent, Christian Education
Board member and Director of Public
Relations of the Lay Organization of

the Pittsburgh Conference. In addi-
tion, she serves on the Beltzhoover
Neighborhood Council Board as Sec-
retary and is a member and secretary
of the Community Development
Corporation Board.

Other participants on the highly
successful Women’s Day program at
St. Paul A.M.E., where the Reverend
Elbert E. Matthews is pastor, were
Misses Regina Higginbotham, Karla
Bruce, Doris Hargrove, Helen Mat-
thews, Lucy Armstrong and the
Women of St. Paul Choir, under the
direction of Mr. James Smith. A pow-
er-filled prayer was offered up by the
Rey. Esther Grinage.

Ms. Betty Grinage served as a cap-
able program chairperson.

7th District A.M.E. Hugo Relief Fund
c/o BISHOP F. C. JAMES

P. O. Box 4837

Columbia, South Carolina 29240
Send Your Financial Assistance Today!

DeVry to Offer more than 1.55 Million in Scholarships

120 Scholarships Offered for 1990

Evanston, I1L—DeVry Institute will
offer forty full-tuition and eighty
half-tuition scholarships at a total
value Of more than $1.55 million to
1990 high school graduates through-
out the Unjted States,

According to DeVry Chairman
Dennis Keller, each full-tuition scho-
larship, valued between $18,735 and
$20,995, and each half-tuition scho-
larship, valued between $9,368 and
$10,477, may be used for application
fees and tuition towards a Bachelor’s
degree program in Electronics Engi-
neering Technology, Computer Infor-
mation Systems, Business Opera-
tions, Telecommunications Manage-
ment or Accounting. The scholarship
can be applied at any of the nine De-
Vry Institutes in the United States.
(Not all programs are offered at each
institute; programs at the Wood-
bridge, NJ, institute do not result in
degrees.)

Finalists will be determined on the
basis of SAT, ACT or WPCT scores
and will be announced in April of
1990. Scholarship recipients will be
chosen on the basis of those scores,
high school academic achievement,
extracurricular activities and an es-
say. Announcement of winners will
be made shortly thereafter.

Applications are available at the
Admissions Office at each DeVry In-

sutute and must be returned before
March 30, 1990,

Keller said scholarship recipients
will receive a plaque to commemorate
the honor, and a similar plaque will
be presented to the students’ high
schools for permanent display,

The number of scholarships grant-
ed by each DeVry Institute will be
determined by the number of appli-
cations received by that school. Each
campus will have the opportunity to
award at least one scholarship to an
Outstanding student from the area.
All 1990 high school graduates are eli-
gible, with the exception of the imme-
diate families of DeVry employees.

For further information, students
should contact their high school gui-
dance counselors, or write to the Of-
fice of Admissions at the local DeVry
Institute. Campuses are located in At-
lanta (Decatur), Chicago and Lom-
bard (IL), Columbus, Dallas (Irving),
Kansas City (MO), Los Angeles (City
of Industry), Phoenix, and Wood-
bridge (NJ).

DeVry Inc. is one of the largest
private postsecondary education net-
works in North America. It consists
of the eleven-campus DeVry Institute
System and the eight-campus Keller
Graduate School of Management Sys-
tem.

Commissioner Gwendolyn S. King New
Head of Social Security Administration

Gwendolyn S. King
Photograph by William Fitz-Patrick

Washington, DC—Gwendolyn S.
King is the new head of the Social
Security Administration. The agency
has sixty-five thousand-forty-five em-
ployees. Ms. King, forty-eight years
of age, brings long experience in
government and politics to her new
job. She will try to reassure the
younger Americans that Social Se-
curity will be there for them at their
retirement time. Ms. King also brings
a new look to the Social Security Ad-
ministration, and vows that she will
work to protect the Social Security
trust funds.

DIAMOND JUBILEE THEME TELLS THE STORY

GRANT MEMORIAL
CELEBRATES
75TH ANNIVERSARY

Chicago, IL—‘‘Dwelling Together in
Christian Unity’’ was the theme when
Grant Memorial African Methodist
Episcopal Church, led by its pastor,
Dr. Wilfred Reid, recently marked its
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary with a
week-long Diamond Jubilee Celebra-
tion.

The anniversary activities began
Monday with nightly Praise Services,
and culminated on Sunday with
morning Anniversary Services and an
afternoon concert given by the Sum-
mer Workshop Chorale.

Officiating at the nightly Praise
Services were Rev. Robert Morgan,
Greater Union Baptist Church; Rev.
Richard Coleman, Wayman A.M.E.
Church; Rev. Andrew R. Leak, St.
Andrew Temple Baptist Church; Rev.
Claude Wyatt, Vernon Park Church
of God; and Dr. Carrol Felton, Kelly
United Methodist Church. Former
members of Grant Memorial who are
now in the ministry served as devo-
tional leaders, including Rev. Donald
Guest, Rev. Thomas Higginbothan,
Rev. Brenda Jackson, Rev. Esther

Dr. Wilfred Reid, Pastor

Mitchell and Rev. Leonard Harris.
The members of Grant Memorial
were greatly inspired and uplifted by
the messages brought by these men
and women of God.

On Saturday, a sumptuous banquet
was held, which included a skit por-
traying the history of Grant Memorial
from 1914 to 1989. This very humor-
ous collage of events in Grant’s
history was written by choirmaster Jo
Ann Hawkins White, and performed
by Grant members.

Culminating the Anniversary Week
were two spirit-filled Sunday services.
At the morning service, with close to

fifteen hundred persons in attend-
ance, Grant was treated to a wonder-
ful sermon by the late Bishop Frank
M. Reid, Jr. Grant Memorial was
blessed to have several other distin-
gished visitors in the audience, includ-
ing State’s Attorney Cecil Partee;
Spenser Leak, Director of Cook
County Jail; Sid Ordower, commu-
nity activist; Atty. Clarence Crooks,
Grant’s Economic Development and
Housing attorney; Mr. Elzie Higgin-
bottom, consultant to Grant’s hous-
ing project; and Commissioner Glenn
Carr, who represented Mayor Rich-
ard M. Daley. Mayor Daley sent
greetings and congratulatory remarks
to Grant Memorial, as well as a Pro-
clamation, which were read to the
congregation by Commissioner Carr.

On Sunday afternoon, Grant mem-
bers and friends were treated to a
lovely concert given by the Summer
Workshop Chorale. The Chorale,
made up of young people, most of
whom are in college, has as its goal
the raising of funds to be used for col-
lege scholarships. The excellent con-
cert proved to be truly inspirational.

When all the festivities were over,
Grant members and friends were left
with lasting memories of a week of

revival and a_ beautiful Souvenir
Booklet that reflected seventy-five
years of good and not-so-good times;
high roads and low roads; and peaks
and valleys. But they were also left
with a confirmation that Jesus lives
and their faith in Christ’s goodness
and sovereign power, as well as the
faith, dedication and hard work of
those members who have gone on be-
fore, which was the real reason Grant
Memorial was able to celebrate seven-
ty-five years of ‘‘Dwelling Together in
Christian Unity.”’

JoAnn Hawkins White, Reporter

Bo

Give All You
Can To

Our Brothers

4 And Sisters Who

Were Victims Of

HURRICANE
“HUGO”’

4:

Bo

BS

oo poo poopoopoogpo

RRA:

as


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October 2, 1989

The AME Christian Recorder

NCC Informs Missionaries About AIDS

New York—With an increase in the
number of countries reporting epi-
demic levels of AIDS, the National
Council of Churches is stepping up ef-
forts to inform missionaries about the
virus and how to reduce their risk of
contracting it.

Educational materials and special
sterilized injection kits are among the
resources being provided to NCC
member church bodies as they send
missionaries Out to the field.

“The risk of AIDS is real for mis-
sionaries serving in infected areas, but
not very high if a person takes precau-
tions,”’ according to Dr. John Frame,
director of the Interchurch Center
Health Office and consultant on
health affairs to the NCC.

‘*The risk to missionaries is almost
certainly related to profession (medi-
cal) or events that cannot be predict-
ed, such as accidents or complications
in pregnancy requiring blood transfu-
sions,’? he said. ‘‘There is also the
risk of getting an injection from in-
adequately sterilized equipment.”’

““We are seeing the missionary
community face AIDS and put it in
perspective with all the other risks in
the field,’’ said the Rev. Paul Yount,
director of the NCC Overseas Person-
nel Office.

Missionaries ‘‘need to lean over
backwards a bit to ensure govern-
ments that they have tested’’ for HIV-
1 infection, according to Wilbur Pat-
terson, associate director for mission
personnel for the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) in Louisville, KY.

“Governments are increasingly pay-
ing attention to whether there has
been AIDS testing as they grant
visas.”*

“The very nature of missionary
work makes the risk of contracting
AIDS higher than the risk for diplo-
mats serving Overseas, assuming simi-
lar sexual practices,’’ Frame said.
*‘Missionaries lead a different style of
life and have more contact with the
people of a country.’’ He said the
U.S. State Department medical advi-
sor has determined no greater risk for
government people overseas than
those working in the U.S.

Missionaries also risk contracting a
variety of other illnesses while in the
field. Hepatitis-B, a chronic, per-
manent liver inflammation transmit-
ted through blood or sexual inter-
course, is a growing problem, ‘‘Mis-
sionaries die of liver cancer in Africa
more commonly than one would ex-
pect of North American Whites pri-
marily because of the chronic Hepa-
titis-B infection,’’ according to
Frame, who advises vaccination
against Hepatitis-B for missionaries
going to Africa and East Asia.

Ultimately, the church faces a chal-
lenge, Yount concluded, in that mis-
sionaries tend to be in better health
than the people they are working
with. ‘‘We need to think about how
we can express concern for our mis-
sionaries in those places, how we can
do it appropriately and yet not make
it out of all proportion to the kinds of
care people there receive.”’

Shaffer Chapel Hosts District S.S. Convention

Cambridge, OH—The Columbus Dis-
trict Church School Convention, un-
der the direction of Presiding Elder E.
B. Jordan, was convened at Shaffer
Chapel A.M.E. Church, where the
Rev. George Scott is pastor. The Rt.
Rev. Richard Allen Hildebrand is the
Presiding Bishop of the Third Episco-
pal District.

Theme for the convention was ‘‘Bi-
ble Direction in Christian Living,”’
and the meeting was set in motion by
Sister Peggy Cross, who opened with
songs that were inspiring and appro-
priate for the occasion. Officers and
marshals were elected as Presiding
Elder Jordan organized the conven-
tion. The Christian Education De-
partment was introduced and pre-
sented.

Following the devotional service,
presided over by Rev. Palmer, Rev.
Jordan introduced the Rev. Thomas
Edwards to preach the convention’s
opening message, the subject of which
was ‘‘We Who Have Sinned Like

Peters

Rev. Elisha Reed served as chair-
man of the Finance Committee and
Rev. Elizabeth Scott served as chief
celebrant of the Holy Communion,
assisted by Rev. Louise Harris and
Rey. Bernard Gaiton. .

Classes were taught and held both
at the city park and at the church.
Basic Sunday School Growth was an
important and engaging topic.

The evening service was opened
with the introduction of Mayor
Charles Schub, who gave a welcome
and presented a rose to the oldest
female present. Several choirs and
guest soloists rendered beautiful
music.

The convention adjourned with the
forming of a prayer circle, and the
closing sentence prayer was given by
the Rev. Wheatley.

The District Convention will meet
next year at Mt. Pisgah A.M.E.
Church of the Columbus District.

Bertie Ellsworth, Reporter

Year End Report Shows Noteworthy Progress

Fort Walton Beach, FL—The note-
worthy reports made by all boards,
commissions and auxiliaries at the
Fourth Quarterly Conference of
Gregg Chapel A.M.E. Church were
evidence of marked increases, both
spiritually and financially. The con-
ference was presided over by Rev. C.
E. Nichols Presiding Elder of the Pen-
sacola District of the West Florida
Annual Conference of the Eleventh
Episcopal District. Providing pastoral
leadership at Gregg Chapel is the Rev.
Calvin Griffin, Sr.

The theme for the Eleventh Episco-
pal District is ‘‘Winning, Teaching,
Keeping,’’ which Gregg Chapel mem-
bership is striving to do. For the con-
ference year just ended, fifteen (15)
souls were won for the cause of

Members are also striving to make
their church 100 percent on the tithe
system, and the year-end reports re-
flected the ssubstantial increase in
their quest for this goal.

Mary A. Silva, Reporter

Late Starters

Are Seldom
Winners

Winners Begin
Like They Hope
To Finish

Presiding Elder Herbert L. Eddy
Leads Boston-Hartford District
Church School Convention —__

“LETS TEAM UP FOR CHRISTIAN GROWTH AND SERVICE”

On July 7-8, 1989, Presiding Elder
Herbert L. Eddy called the Boston-
Hartford District, New England An-
nual Conference together at Bethel-
Norwalk for its Church School Con-
vention. Presiding Elder Eddy
planned and organized an enriching
and uplifting convention. This year’s
convention set the record for atten-
dance during Elder Eddy’s six year
tenure as supervisor of the Boston-
Hartford District.

On Friday, July 7 at 7 p.m. the con-
vening worship service was led by the
Rev. Rodger Sawtelle, Church School
Superintendent of the Boston-Hart-
ford District. Various youth from the
different churches on the district par-
ticipated in the worship service. The
message for the evening was delivered
in dynamic style by Presiding Elder
William L. Freeman of the Manhat-
tan District, New York Annual Con-
ference. Elder Freeman allowed the
Lord to use him and the spirit of God
descended on the convention that all
present were shouting the praises of
God. Presiding Elder Eddy assisted by
Presiding Elder Freeman led the con-
gregation in the celebration of the
Lord’s Supper. Music for the evening
was provided in excellent fashion by
the Southern Cluster Choir under the

direction of Vernon Jones. Refresh-
ments were served by the Host church
to close the opening day.

On Saturday, Presiding Elder Eddy
called the convention to order and all
in attendance enjoyed classes and
seminars that were conducted for all
ages. An afternoon worship service
closed the morning session and the
Rev. Bennie Colcoulgh of Bethel-
Bridgeport preached to the Glory of
God. After a delicious lunch, Presid-
ing Elder Eddy administered over the
convention and received the various
committee reports. After calling his
wife, Amelia Eddy, to his side, the
Elder closed the convention with a
soul-stirring prayer.

Presiding Elder Eddy thanked the
Rev. Donald L. Tucker, Christian
Education Chairperson of the Bos-
ton-Hartford District; Sis. Barbara
White, Christian Education Director
of the Boston-Hartford District; Rev.
Rodger Sawtelle, Church School Su-
perintendent; Sis. Josephine Ander-
son, Superintendent of Church
School, Bethel-Norwalk; Sis. Glorine
Townsend, Christian Education Di-
rector of Bethel-Norwalk; and the
Rev. Richard Allen Stenhouse, host
pastor.

‘‘Working Together on Hunger in Kentucky”’
A One-Day Conference sponsored by Kentucky Task Force on Hunger
Monday, November 6, 1989—9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Beaumont Presbyterian Church ¢ 1070 Lane Allen Road ¢ Lexington, Kentucky

Featured Speakers —
Rep. Ernesto Scorsone (D-Fayette)

Member, Appropriations and Revenue committee, Education Committee, Health

and Welfare Committee
Nancy Amidei

Former Director, Food Research and Action Center, Syndicated Columnist, Catholic

University
Workshop Topics

Federal food programs

Welfare reform

Housing and the homeless

Farm producing coupon program
Accessing commodities

Health care strategies
Developing food box programs
Working with food banks
Identifying community needs
Fund raising

Developing local, state and national strategies

Workshop presenters include Community Farm Alliance; Kentucky Coalition for the
Homeless; God’s Pantry—Crisis Food Center; Cooperative Christian Ministry; For a

Change; Kentucky Task Force on Hunger:

Cost $20.00 (Lunch, refreshments, conference materials) f :
$15.00 Volunteers, students (Some partial scholarship assistance available.)

For More Information Contact
KENTUCKY TASK FORCE ON HUNGER
1039 Goodwin Drive ® Lexington, KY 40404

606/253-3027


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10

The AME Christian Recorder

October 2, 1989

* ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE x

THIRD EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E. CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

THE FIFTH DISTRICT
PLANNING MEETING
October 16-17, 1989
Wayman A.M.E. Church
5010 Cabanne
St. Louis, MO 63113
Church Phone: (314) 3614123

» Pastor's Phone: (314) 991-0966
x The Rev. L. C. Wormley, Host Pastor
BISHOP R. A. HILDEBRAND

OHIO
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 11-15, 1989
Quinn Memorial A.M.E. Church
515 North Street
Steubenville, OH 43952

W.M.S. CONVENTION
OPENS IN EACH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
ON TUESDAY

SEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

AME CHURCH
Church Phone: (614) 282-3192 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Pastor’s Phone: (614) 264-6698 *
The Rev. Elizabeth Scott, Host Pastor be:
The Rev. E. B. Jordan, Host P.E.

SOUTH OHIO
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 18-22, 1989
St. Paul A.M.E. Church
2608 Kemper Lane

Cincinnati, OH 45206
Church Phone: (513) 861-2955
Pastor’s Phone: (513) 731-2370

The Rev. Ralph T. Newell, Sr., Host Pastor
The Rev. William Gazaway, Host P.E.

BISHOP F. C. JAMES

COLUMBIA SOUTH CAROLINA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 4-8, 1989
Emmanuel A.M.E. Church
3120 Barhamvyille Road
Columbia, SC 29204
Church Phone: (803) 254-5067
Pastor’s Phone: (803) 775-7893
The Rev. Robert L. Chinn, Jr. Host Pastor
The Rev. C. R. Hawthorne, Host P.E.

NORTH OHIO
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 25-29, 1989
St. Andrews A.M.E. Church
117 E. Rayen Street
Youngstown, OH 44503
Church Phone: (216) 746-4686
Pastor’s Phone: (216) 743-7952
The Rey. Lawrence Thompson, Host Pastor
The Rey. S. E. Lancaster, Host P.E.

SOUTH CAROLINA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 18-22, 1989
Macedonia A.M.E. Church
48 Alexander Street
Charleston, SC
Church Phone: (803) 723-1829
Pastor’s Phone: (803) 723-0819
The Rey. F. L. Davis, Host Pastor
The Rev. Z. L. Grady, Host P.E.

FOURTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

PIEDMONT SOUTH CAROLINA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 25-29, 1989
St. James A.M.E. Church
305 Henry M. Turner Street
Abbeville, SC 29620
Church Phone: (803) 000-0000
Pastor’s Phone: (803) 459-2035
The Rey. Lindsey Crumlin, Host Pastor
The Rev. O. A. Klugh, Host P.E.

BISHOP J. HASKELL MAYO

PLANNING COUNCIL
October 13 - 14, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
5050 St. Antoine
Detroit, Michigan 48202
Church Phone: (313) 831-8810
Pastor’s Phone: (313) 956-7762
The Rev. Norman V. Osborne, Host Pastor
The Rey. Allen Parker, Host P.E.

CENTRAL SOUTH CAROLINA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 8-12, 1989
Shiloh A.M.E. Church
706 West Cleveland Street
Elloree, SC 29047
Church Phone: (803) 897-2379
Pastor’s Phone: (803) 897-2052
The Rev. Harold Hunter, Host Pastor
The Rev. R. L. McCants, Host P.E:

FIFTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The 1989-1990 SEVENTH EPISCOPAL
DISTRICT PLANNING MEETING
November 24-25, 1989

EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
BISHOP V. R. ANDERSON ANNUAL CONFERENCE

NORTHWEST MISSOURI P
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 4-8, 1989
Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church
2126 Prospect
Kansas City, MO 64127
Church Phone: (816) 241-3719
Pastor’s Phone: (816) 767-1180
The Rev. Ronald Williams, Host Pastor

BISHOP DONALD G. K. MING

JOINT CONFERENCE
MISSOURI NORTHEAST-WEST MISSISSIPPI
ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND

CENTRAL NORTH MISSISSIPPI
ANNUAL CONFERENCES
October 3-8, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
P.O. Box 552
Mound Bayou, MS 38762
Church Phone: (601) 741-2864
Pastor’s Phone: (601) 741-2444
The Rev. A. W. Christian, Host Pastor
The Rey. A. R. Brown, Co-Host Pastor
The Rey. E. C. Taylor, Host P.E.
The Rey. L. L. Guy, Assoc. P.E.
The Rev. C. L. Woodley, Assoc. P.E.

October 11-15, 1989
St. James A.M.E. Church
4301 St. Ferdinand
St. Louis, MO 63113
Church Phone: (314) 371-0679
Pastor’s Phone: (314) 367-1652
The Rev. Leslie R. White, Host Pastor

“Never let yesterday
use up too much
of today”’

NORTH LOUISIANA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 11-15, 1989
Allen Chapel A.M.E, Church
501 North 11th & Pine Streets
Monroe, LA 71202
Church Phone; (318) 325-8972
The Rev. R. S. Boyd, Host Pastor
The Rey, N. R. West, Host P.-E.
The Rey, G. K. Tomkies, Assoc, P.E.

CENTRAL LOUISIANA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 26-29, 1989
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
1106 LeGarde Street
Thibodaux, LA 70301
Church Phone: (504) 446-6731

The Rev. Robert Brumfield, Host Pastor

The Rev. R. L. Stanton, Host P.E.

LOUISIANA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 8-12, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
1356 South Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Church Phone: (504) 344-6931
Pastor’s Phone: (504) 338-1727
The Rev. Ronald K. Smith, Host Pastor
The Rev. Joseph Cyprian, Host P.E.
The Rey. T. C. Johnson, Associate P.E.
The Rev. Clarence Collins, Assoc. P.E.

CONFERENCE MISSIONARY
MEETINGS
East Mississippi Conference
October 3, 1989
Northeast-West MS
and
Central North Mississippi
Conferences
October 11, 1989
North Louisiana Conference
October 25, 1989
Central Louisiana Conference
November 8, 1989
Louisiana Conference

NINTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP C. E. THOMAS

ALABAMA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 5-8, 1989
Saint Paul A.M.E. Church
1302 South Hall Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
Church Phone: (205) 263-0895
Pastor’s Phone: (205) 271-3893
The Rev. R. R. Greene, Host Pastor
The Rev. F. J. Duncombe, Host P.E.
The Rev. W. F. Thompson, Assoc. P.E.

SOUTH ALABAMA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 12-15, 1989
Saint Luke A.M.E. Church
234 Van Buren Street
Eufaula, Alabama 36027
Church Phone: (205) 687-9037
Pastor’s Phone: (205) 794-7698
The Rev. David Beacham, Host Pastor
The Rey. G. W. Shaw, Host P.E.
The Rey. J. F. McCloud, Assoc. P.E.

EAST ALABAMA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 19-22, 1989
Gaines Chapel A.M.E. Church
921 10th Avenue
Phenix City, Alabama 36867
Church Phone: (205) 297-0130
Pastor’s Phone: (205) 298-8430
The Rev. Sam J. Walker, Host Pastor
The Rev. W. M. Boddie, Host P.E.
The Rey. Roy Walker, Assoc. P.E.

Attend Annual

Conference

NORTH ALABAMA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 26-29, 1989
St, John A.M.E. Church
229 Church Street
Huntsville, Alabama 35801
Church Phone: (205) 534-3265
Pastor's Phone: (205) 852-754]
The Rey. Homer L, McCall, Host Pastor
The Rev, E. L, Blankenship, Host PE.
The Rev. S. T. Davis, Assoc. P.E.

*The Conference Branch Annual Meeting
of the Women’s Missionary Society will
be held on the Wednesday preceding the
Annual Conference.

TENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP ROBERT L. PRUITT

CENTRAL TEXAS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 11-13, 1989
MISSIONARY CONVENTION
October 10, 1989
Metropolitan A.M.E. Church
1105 East 10th Street
Austin, Texas 78704
Church Phone: (512) 475-2857
The Rey. David F. Harris, Host Pastor
The Rey. Dubyer Harris, Host P.E.
The Rey. C. C. Johnson, Asso. P.E.

NORTH TEXAS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 25-27, 1989
MISSIONARY CONVENTION
October 24, 1989
Smith Chapel A.M.E. Church
2406 Childs Street
Dallas, Texas 75203
Church Phone: (214) 374-1534 or 948-9482
The Rey. J. R. Anderson, Host Pastor
The Rey. H. F. Dodson, Host P.E.
The Rey. Jon D. Walker, Asso. P.E.
The Rey. F. D. Thomas, Asso. P.E.

Planning Meeting
November 1-2, 1989
Paul Quinn College

Waco, Texas

ELEVENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP PHILIP R. COUSIN

SOUTH FLORIDA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 4-8, 1989
Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church
801 9th Street
West Palm Beach, FL 33401]
Church Phone: (305) 832-2035
Pastor’s Phone: (305) 832-9923
The Rev. W. J. Jackson, Host Pastor

TAMPA FLORIDA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 12-15, 1989
Hurst Chapel A.M.E. Church
2730 North Links Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236
Church Phone: (813) 954-1920
Pastor’s Phone: (813) 954-1920
The Rev. Latanya Floyd, Host Pastor

EAST FLORIDA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 25-29, 1989
Greater Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church
5533 Gilchrist Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32219
Church Phone: (904) 764-5992
Pastor’s Phone: (904) 765-3026
The Rev. G. L. Champion, Host Pastor

Please turn to page 11


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October 2, 1989

The AME Christian Recorder

ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

FIVE YEAR

Continued from page 10

BAHAMA ISLANDS
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 10-12, 1989
Robinson-Morris Chapel
A.M.E. Church
Nassau, Bahamas

PLANNING CONFERENCE
November 17-18, 1989
11th Episcopal District
Planning Conference
Place to be announced

THIRTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP VERNON R. BYRD

WEST TENNESSEE
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 6-8, 1989
Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church
Memphis, TN

TENNESSEE
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 18-22, 1989
Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church
Columbia, TN

DISTRICT PLANNING MEETING
November 16-17, 1989
St. James A.M.E. Church
Danville, KY

FIFTEENTH DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP ROBERT THOMAS

EASTERN CAPE
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 26-29, 1989
Robinson Chapel, Upington
454 Tilane Street
Paballo Vill., Upington 8800
Church Phone: (0541) 2-2732
The Rev. J. I. Ketwayo, Pastor & P.E.

QUEENTOWN
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 19-22, 1989
Primm Chapel, Aliwal North
Bantu Street 5530
Umtata, Transkei
Church Phone: (04762) 12
The Rev. R. N. Myataza, Host Pastor
The Rev. S. M. Celd, Host P.E.

KALAHARI, EDITH MING
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

P. O. Box 220
Pampierstad, 8565
Church Phone: (0531) 71-1085
The Rev. D. V. Payi, Host Pastor
The Rey. M. V. T. Tyobekas, Host P.E.

CAPE
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
December 6 - 10, 1989
Metropolitan Mitchell’s Plain 7785
15 Kruisduinen Close, P.O. Box 772
Westridge, 7802
Church Phone: (021) 32-2317
Pastor’s Phone: (021) 593-1224 or 593-1283
The Rey. Peter M. Mentoor, Host Pastor
The Rev. H. A. Joubert, Host P.E.

PLANNING MEETING
December 19 - 20, 1989
Bonner Chapel 2 Ntshinga Street
New Brighton 6200
Port Elizabeth
Church Phone: (041) 44-2115
The Rev. W. Guwa, Host Pastor
The Rev. E. A. Plaatjies, Host P.E.

SLLLELLLELESSSH

SEVENTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP R, A. CHAPPELLE, SR.

MALAWI
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 11-15, 1989
W.M.S. CONVENTION
October 9-10, 1989
Bethel A.M.E. Church
P.O. Box 712
Lilongwe, Malawi
The Rev. James K. Mhango, H.P./P.E.

SOUTH ZAMBIA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 1-5, 1989
W.M.S. CONVENTION
October 30-31, 1989
Bright Temple A.M.E. Church
Kitwe, Zambia
The Rey. Stanley Banda, H. Pastor
Rev. C. Y. Katebe, Host P.E.

17th Episcopal District
Post Planning Meeting
November 24-26, 1989
Bright Temple A.M.E. Church
Matero-Lusaka, Zambia
The Rev. F. Sikizwe, Host Pastor
The Rev. D. K. Sifukwe, Host P.E.

EIGHTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP R. A. CHAPPELLE, SR.

NORTHEAST LESOTHO
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 9-12, 1989
W.M.S. CONFERENCE
November 7-8, 1989
Buthe Buthe A.M.E.

Church
Buthe Buthe, Lesotho
The Rev. W. L. Sebata, Host Pastor

LESOTHO
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 15-19, 1989
W.M.S. CONFERENCE
November 13-14, 1989
Emmanuel A.M.E. Church
Maseru, Lesotho
The Rev. S. M. Rafube, Host Pastor
The Rev. M J. Sepitla, Host P.E.

BOTSWANA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
December 8-10, 1986
W.M.S. CONFERENCE
December 6-7, 1989
Gaborone A.M.E. Church
Gabarone, Botswana
The Rev. J. M. Mbulawa, Host Pastor
The Rev. L. M. Mbulawa, Host P.E.

SWAZILAND/MOZAMBIQUE
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
December 14-17, 1989
W.M.S. CONVENTION
December 12-13, 1989
Collins Chapel A.M.E. Church
P.O. Box 276
Mbabne, Swaziland
The Rev, L. B. Dlamini, Host Pastor
The Rev. I. S. Motsa, Host P.E.

18TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
POST PLANNING MEETING
December 29-31, 1989
Emmanuel A.M.E. Church
Maseru, Lesotho

It Is Not
Enough To Aim,

You Must Hit!

NINETEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
AME CHURCH
ANNUAL CONFERENCE

BISHOP HAROLD B, SENATLE

NATAL
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 9-12, 1989
New Castle
Church Phone: (03431) 94-711
The Rev. N. S. Sikhakhane, Pastor
P.O. Box 14140
Madadeni 2951

NORTH TRANSVAAL
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 15-19, 1989
Lebowa-Kgomo
Church Phone: (01529) 2210
The Rev. S. P. Chesane, Pastor
P.O. Box 154
Chuenespoort, Pietersburg 0745

ORANGIA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
November 22-26, 1989
Xaba Memorial A.M.E. Church
Heilbron
Church Phone: (01614) 2-1510
The Rev. J. B. Mbalo, Pastor
P.O. Box 231
Heilbron 9650

EAST TRANSVAAL
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
December 6-10, 1989
Emmanuel A.M.E. Church
Ermelo
Church Phone: (0139) 2511
The Rev. J. W. Dlamini, Pastor
P.O. Box 180
Ermelo 2350

WEST TRANSVAAL
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
December 13-17, 1989
Mmbatho, Mafikeng
Church Phone: (0140) 2-1768
The Rev. E. R. Lechoti, Pastor
P.O. Box 300
Mafikeng 8670

NINETEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
PLENARY MEETING
January 5-6, 1990
St. Francis A,M.E. Church
Potchefstroom
Church Phone: (0180) 5529
The Rev. M. D. Phetlhu, Pastor
P.O. Lesedi

Ikageng, Potchefstroom 2520

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONGRESS

Quwa-Qwa Witsieshoek
Date to be announced

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12

The AME Christian Recorder

October 2, 1989

THE SOCIAL ACTION CORNER

Rev. John Q. Owens

THE PASTOR AND SOCIAL
ACTION
by Rev. John Q. Owens
Director of Social Action

Accepting the premise that a pastor
is an enabler, this treatise will include
not only the role of the pastor in
social action, but the role of those
whom he leads.

Looking further into the many hats
that the minister wears, we find the
four ‘‘P’s’’ of his responsibility: He is
“PRIEST,’’ as he administers the
sacraments of baptist and Holy Com-
munion; he is ‘‘PASTOR,’’ as he
leads and feeds the flock of God in
that part of the moral vineyard that
he serves; he is ‘‘PREACHER,’’ who
exercises his kergmatic function, the
proclamation of the Good News of
Jesus the Christ; and he is ‘‘PRO-
PHET,”’ one who foretells the posi-
tive or negative results attendant upon
the course that an individual or a con-
gregation pursues; and he is the con-
duit of recent revelations coming
from God our Creator to His mis-
guided people.

It is important that we define what
we mean by social action that is
church related: one very central
theme of Christianity is ‘‘God’s love
in action,’’ which encompasses the
total man; it espouses a holistic gos-
pel that embraces every aspect of a
person’s being. Therefore, social ac-
tion is the effort of the church in re-
lieving the suffering of a constituency
by a set of plans, a course of action
that bears fruit.

Encumbered upon the church and
its leaders, then, is the response to the
many questions that are being asked
by suffering humanity: ‘‘Is there
anyone who cares, anyone to cry or
hurt for us? Is there anyone to laugh
with us? Or, are we left to make it
alone?”’

Philip Slater writes in the **Pursuit
of Loneliness’’ that ‘‘an enormous
technology seems to have set itself the
task of making it unnecessary for one
human being ever to ask another for
anything in the course of going about
their daily business. We seek more
and more privacy, and feel more and
more alienated and lonely when we
get it.”

The Roman philosopher, Seneca,
phrases the cry we hear across the
land: ‘‘To whom can any man say
Here I am!! Behold me in my naked-
ness, my wounds, my secret grief, my
despair, my betrayal, my pain, my
tongue which cannot express my sor-
row, my terror, my abandonment.
Listen to me for a day—an hour—a
moment! Lest I expire in my terrible
wilderness, my lonely silence! Oh
God!!, is there no one to listen?!!”’

There is something in man that re-
sists loneliness and isolation, He can-
not stand rejection and alienation,
There’s a sickness that overtakes him,

he feels that he is being used when he
is treated as a Statistic, a case study,

as a cog in the machinery of the sys-
tem. There is machine mindedness
that is prevalent in our world of com-
putors and high tech which dehuman-
izes the individual and causes him so
much stress, because all men need
caring relationships. They need peo-
ple to care about them, to love them.
They need to be a part of the caring
community. They need to be caring
people, who express love and concern
for others. Utilitarianism is the bane
of present day society.

There is a broad spectrum of those
who need to know that someone
cares: a little child; husbands and
wives in love; the widowed; the heal-
thy, the sick; the wealthy, the poor;
the happy, the desolate; men and
women, many still in their teens, serv-
ing in the military, in correctional in-
stitutions; patients laying in beds of
pain praying for a miracle of healing;
sons and daughters away from their
families and friends—at school, on
jobs in unfamiliar places; frightened
girls waiting for their babies to be
born out of wedlock; a _ lonely
neighbor; a youth who has lost his
way; fathers, mothers, children, vic-
tims of broken homes; the guilt-rid-
den, the anxious, the fearful; those
who are up, and those who are down.

This circle can be expanded to the
extent where each of us can say: ‘‘It’s
me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standing
in the need of prayer;’’ because each
of us bears all of the marks of human
frailty and need much love and for-
giveness with care.

We are called to care!! Our human
sympathies prompt it; our faith de-
mands it; our Lord, in His Word,
commands it!!

The pastor and his people must be
fully aware of God’s Creation, God’s
concern, and God’s covenant.

The Bible story of God’s creation is
a story of the many ways that He ex-
presses loving care for us. Those He-
brew writers were confident of God’s
abiding care, because they gave it a
lasting emphasis in their account of
the Creation. God’s care is expressed
in the very fact that He speaks, He
calls, He shows even human emo-
tions. The Lord God Jehovah was no
blind, brute force.

Now, I realize that a God walking
in a garden, having a conversation
with a couple symbolic of the human
race, is pretty hard for some to swal-
low, and seems quaint and unrealis-
tic; but they are missing a larger mes-
sage: a message of a caring relation-
ship between a beneficent Creator
and His Creation: ‘‘l am your God,
your Father. My love is an everlasting
love. Let us walk together.’’ This be-
speaks a God who certainly cares for
the welfare of His Creation,

The Hebrews believe this and we
must believe this, but this belief is not
grounded in a “philosophical sys-
tem,”’ a first cause, a prime mover,
nor an impersonal reality, Our trust is
grounded in One who scales the
heights and walks the depth of human
experience with us. This God calls us
into that ‘‘Koinoniae fellowship”
with Himself and with one another.
We can not, then, fully understand

what it means to be caring persons
until we come to an awareness of
God’s concern for us. We must begin
at the source. We need the ‘‘1-Thou”’
relationship in order to enter fully in-
to ‘‘1-You’’ relationships,

Our souls cry out for a love beyond
all earthly love and for a hope that is
not ultimately thwarted. We need
God!! God does care about His flock,

about their desires, temptations,
faults, failures, short-comings, self-
ishness, successes and accomplish-
ments; and God, through His Holy
Spirit, will help us to overcome our
trials and tribulations. Not so that we
can boast, but so that we can help
others overcome. Pastors must teach
and exemplify this.

The prophet Isaiah describes what
God does in a caring and loving way,
as He speaks of Immanuel, ‘‘God
with us,’’ God, in Jesus the Christ;
loving, caring, reconciling, entering
into the circumstances of our daily
lives.

Thirdly, God demonstrates His
care by establishing a covenant with
His Creation, through the Hebrew
people. Jehovah is their God and our
God; and they and we are His people.
Through His covenant, the Hebrews
were always reminded that He was
with them and for them.

At one time the covenant was ex-
ternal, as God led them, and attended
them in a way that could be verified
by their five senses, but the Prophet
Jeremiah prophesied that the cove-
nant would become internal. Chapter
31:31-33, states: ‘‘Behold the days are
coming, says the Lord, when I will
make a new covenant with the House
of Israel and the House of Judah, not
like the covenant which I made with
their fathers when I took them by the
hand to bring them out of the land of
Egypt, My covenant which they broke
... But this covenant which I will
make with the House of Israel; after
those days, says the Lord, I will put
my law within them, and I will write it
upon their hearts; and I will be their
God and they will be My People.’’

God binds Himself to us in a cove-
nant relationship. He is a living pre-
sence. He joins us in our wilderness
wanderings. He calls us through hope
into new possibilities. He is on the
horizon of our pilgrimage calling us to
Himself through His ‘‘Thou shalts’’
and His ‘‘Thou shalt nots.”’

The pastor who would be success-
ful in social action must realize for
himself and teach others that God ex-
presses His love and care through dis-
cipline and judgment, because we are
not free to do as we please; we are
under orders, within the covenant.

Therefore, since the covenant is not
internal, we should heed the words of
Dr, Odie J. M. Hilborn, that great
Catholic theologian who said: ‘‘In the
midst of this turbulent, often chaotic
life, we are called upon to honestly
and courageously reach into our in-
nermost self; to reach out with
relentless care to our fellow human
beings; and to reach up with increas-
ing prayer to God.”’

There is no short-cut to spirituality.
The struggle is never over; we must
constantly reach inward, outward,
and upward. As we reach inward, we
must inventory our motives; illumi-
nate our doubts, fears, biases, and
sins; and inspect our appetites; be-
cause we serve God by serving others,
and we certainly want to be successful
in our ‘‘diakoniac functions,”’
because the Word of God is clear: *‘A
tree is known by the fruit that it
bears;’’ so service to others is a must
in the sight of our God,

Finally, the pastor’s and people’s
greatest example and asset is viewing
the ‘‘kergyma, koinonia, and dia-
konia’’ (proclamation, fellowship and
service) of our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus the Christ,

Our understanding of God’s love
for us and for our world is heightened

beyond all measure in the person of
Jesus the Christ. He reveals the heart
of the Father. He personalizes God’s
care in what He says, what He does,
through the sustaining power of His
presence. He brings it home td us to
assimilate. Luke 4:18-19 records His
call to love and care and to action:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because He has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent
me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind, to
set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the acceptable year of the
Lords”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer calls Him ‘‘the
Man for others.’? He sees within a
woman caught in the act of adultry
the need to be needed, to be truly ac-
cepted and loved. He hears the cry of
the sick, He feels the agony of the dis-
traught, the guilt of the sinner, the
pain of the hungry, the loneliness of
the prisoner.

His parables of the ‘‘Good Samari-
tan,’? ‘‘The lost son,’’ ‘‘The lost
sheep,’’ ‘‘The lost coin,’’ all graphi-
cally depict God’s care.

His cross reveals the heartbreak of
God, and the ultimate cost of God’s
love. This gift of caring has convinced
man that ‘‘He died for all, that those
who live might live no longer for
themselves but for Him who for their
sake died and was raised.’’ (II Cor.
§:15)

It follows, then, that a part of the
pastor’s vocation is to follow the
footsteps of our Lord and Saviour,
whose vocation was caring and at-
tending to people’s needs: for the
Master described the criteria for
entering the Kingdom at the last judg-
ment, thusly: ‘‘Come, O blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom pre-
pared for you from the foundation of
the world; for I was hungry and you
gave me food, I was thirsty and you
gave me drink, I was a stranger and
you took me in, I was naked and you
clothed me, I was sick and you visited
me, I was in prison and you came to
me. (Matthew 25:34-35)

The pastor and His people can take
solace from the pen of William Cullen
Bryant, who wrote: ‘There is a
POWER whose care... will guide
my steps aright.’” Oh! What a blessed
assurance.

It was this assurance and the con-
cern of a Christian mother that inspir-
ed Augustine to turn from a youthful
life of revelry to serve his Lord,

This asssurance captured John
Wesley, set his heart aflame, and sent
him out to factory, field, and mine, to
proclaim the grace of One who loved
even him, This same assurance sus-
tained Dieterich Bonhoeffer through
imprisonment and execution by
Hitler’s troops. This assurance led
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to de-
clare from the Washington Monu-
ment his dream of being ‘*Free at last,
free at last, free at last. Thank God
Almighty, we'll be free at last.’’ It
was this same assurance that prompt-
ed Richard Allen to walk out of Old
St. George Methodist Church and
lead those ex-slaves to build a house
of God called Bethel; and when the
yellow fever epidemic of 1793 broke
out in the City of Philadelphia, led
those same people to take over the
operation of the city after most of the
citizens had fled the scene. And it was
this assurance that motivated the Af-
rican Methodist Episcopal Church to

create a Department of Social Action
and will motivate the church to extend
Please turn to page 13


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a a ee

October 2, 1989

The AME Christian Recorder

nnn eee

BLACK MEN: Spirituality
and the Crossroads

by Chaplain R. Curtis Steele, Lt.

Many people in America are still
asking the question ‘‘Where are the
Black men?’’ Just look around in
some major corporation and you
might see one Black man. This is true
of the church, sometimes.

Many of the Black men are in pri-
son, disproportionately more than the
near-fifteen-percent of Black Ameri-
cans in the total population. Certain-
ly, Black men have contributed many
valuable things to the American cul-
ture, including the founding of a great
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
This is not to mention the research
for peanuts, the founding of colleges,
astronauts, performing the first heart
operation and liver surgeries, invent-
ing the cotton gin, air conditioning,
refrigeration, and blood banks and
blood transfusions, as well as endur-
ing the tedious journey to the North
Pole. These are only a few of the bil-
lions of accomplishments of Black
men and women.

The aim is not to belittle Black men
by underestimating their problems, or
overlooking their successes, but,
focusing on the pros and cons,
anyone should clearly be aware of
certain realities, some of which are
listed here:

—Black men last hired—first fired

—Highest unemployment rate

—Compose 15-20% of Black
church attendance (based on Dr.
Ruth Dennis’ Statistics, 1982)

—Black men make up 50% of pri-
son rolls

—Black teenage boys often grow
up without a Black father image
(highest rate of fatherless—no strong
male image)

—Black males 6% of major execu-
tive corporations

—Blacks own 10% of America’s
wealth (Black men own only 6%)

—1 out of every 21 Black male
deaths is from homicide

These statistics and questions are
only a few of those that beg answers
to the question of what can the
churches do? It is the intent of this
paper to make some observations and
recommendations in an attempt to
retard some of the retrogressive con-
ditions that plague Black men in order
to enhance the Black Family.

The A.M.E. Church and the Fed-
eral Government would save money
spent by strengthening families.
Money spent in prisons is being
wasted. The recommendations are
simple and to the point. What is
God’s will for the Black man? These
are some thoughts about the Black
man and the Black family and some
constructive suggestions for the Black
church:

—All Black churches create
special ministries on Fatherhood and
Spirituality to specifically address
Black men’s needs and also to help
strengthen Black families.

—Create a Family Life Department
that deals directly with church activi-
ties outside of preaching and whose
focus is only the family, with a com-
prehensive plan each year.

—Create a Family Night at least
once a month that teaches family life
classes for everybody—father, mo-
ther, sons and daughters.

—Develop a marriage enrichment
seminar that serves as a prevention of
marital problems for presently mar-
ried persons of all ages.

—Develop Black Family classes at
the college/university level, teaching

marriage and family life theories and
skills based on the Bible, with focus
on strengthening Black families.

—Develop a parenting class for
both fathers and mothers, based on
the Bible.

—Churches teach that every family
should have a Family Night at home
to foster better communications
among family members.

—Have a Church Family Sunday,
Week, and Month every year in each
church, based on Biblical principles.

—Each Episcopal District have a
Church Family Celebration during
General, Annual and District Confer-
ences, honoring A.M.E. families.

—Create an “‘Allen Family Life’’
committee on the connectional level
for 1. research, 2. training, 3.admini-
stration and 4. implementation, like
the Sunday School Department,
Evangelism Department and other de-
partments.

—Recommend to the President to
create a special Commission on the
Black Male and the Black Family,
with the focus/purpose to strengthen
the Black family.

—Support a foundation for the
Black Family for 1. Research, 2.
Training. 3. Administration and 4. Im-
plementation. 1 suggest the Afro-
American Foundation also for the
strengthening of the Black Family at
the national level.

These observations/recommenda-
tions are not intended at all to be anti-
A.M.E. Church. They are intended to
help my church, too. Many of my ob-
servations and recommendations may
not invite agreement or disagreement.
They are simply thoughts and ideas
that I think can help retard our course
of direction for the Black Man, but,
more importantly, for the Black
Family and A.M.E. churches. If we
can get a better grip on our families,
perhaps, our commandment from
Jesus to preach unto all the world can
improve and strengthen our churches,
too.

‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God
and all things will be added unto
thee,’’ Jesus said. The kingdom of
God is inside all of us. We can use the
kingdom of God that is in every-
body’s heart, inside the King’s
House—the house of the Lord.

In Dallas, Texas, there is an or-
ganization named the ‘‘Afro-Ameri-
can Organization For The Preserva-
tion Of The Black Male.’’ For
women: my thoughts on men are by
no means, likewise, intended to be an-
ti-women at all. We cannot
strengthen Black men without also
strengthening his family—and vice
versa, for women,

Chaplain R. Curtis Steele, Lt.
Housing/Family Services Chaplain
Marine Corps Air Station
Beaufort, SC 29904

Een

Education Can
Polish Men
But
Only The Blood

Of Christ
Can
Cleanse Them

The Obituary

Rey. Charles Carlos Blake

Rey. Charles Carlos Blake was born
June 9, 1909, in Patterson, Georgia,
the fourth of eleven children of
Samuel and Emma Bell Blake.

He completed Cuyler High School
in Savannah, Georgia. On receiving
the call to the ministry, he furthered
his education, earning his A.B. degree
from Morris Brown College and his
B.D. degree from Turner Theological
Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. From
1943-1946 he served as a Chaplain in
the U.S. Army.

In 1948, he received a M.A. degree
in Religious Education from Boston
University. He was then appointed
Dean of Jackson Theological Semi-
nary in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
While there, he developed and wrote a
curriculum for the studies.

From 1951-1954 he served as Regi-
mental Chaplain in Korea. On his
return from that tour, he served as
Student Chaplain at Connecticut
State Hospital, studying addicts and
mentally disturbed patients. From
1955-1957 he was Protestant Chap-
lain for adolescent drug addicts at
Riverside Hospital in New York City.

From 1957-1964 he pastored in the
New England Conference at Bethel
A.M.E. Church, New Haven, then
Bethel A.M.E, Church, Stamford.
While in Connecticut, he was ap-
pointed to the Civil Rights Commis-
sion by Governor Abraham Ribicoff.

From 1965-1971 he pastored and
served as Presiding Elder in the New
Jersey Conference. While there, he
founded and organized the Southern
New Jersey Opportunities Industriali-
zation Center. In addition, he was the
administrator of the Sarah Allen
Nursing Home in Philadelphia, Penn-
sylvania.

From 1971-1977 he was pastor of

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Calvary A.M.E. Church in Brooklyn,
New York. While there he worked as
Principal Program Specialist for the
Model Cities Program.

In 1977 he transferred to Georgia
where he was assigned to Columbus.
He pastored at St. Mark and New Be-
thel; then he served as Presiding Elder
of the Columbus District before being
appointed to St. James A.M.E.
Church in 1982. He remained there as
pastor until he retired from the active
ministry April, 1988.

He was a member of the Columbus
Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi.

He departed this life on Saturday,
August 12, 1989, at the Medical Cen-
ter in Columbus, Georgia.

He leaves to mourn their loss a de-
voted wife, Dr. Frances Cherot
Blake, Columbus, Georgia; two sons,
Mr. Charles C. Blake, Jr., Washing-
ton, DC, and Mr. Larry B. Blake,
San Diego, California; four daugh-
ters, Mrs. Yvonne B. Erwin, Cam-
den, New Jersey, Miss Brenda Blake,
Atlanta, Georgia, Miss Akia Sanghai,
Yonkers, New York, and Miss Seleka
Blake, Mt. Laurel, New Jersey; two
brothers, Mr. William Blake, Miami,
Florida, and Mr. James Blake, Pat-
terson, Georgia; five sisters, Mrs.
Estella Austin, Miss Eloise Blake,
Mrs. Jessie Cooper, Patterson, Geor-
gia, Mrs. Mary Esther James, Offer-
man, Georgia, and Mrs. Willie B.
Daniels, Opa Locka, Florida; two
daughters-in-law, Mrs. Shirley Roper
Blake, Washington, DC, and Mrs.
Doris Bailey Blake, San Diego, Cali-
fornia; one foster daughter, Miss Te-
resa Blake, Jacksonville, Florida;
three brothers-in-law, Mr. Romeo
Cherot, Brooklyn, New York, Mr.
Adolph OQ. Cherot, Jr., Manhattan,
New York and Mr. Robert Cherot,
Zeeland, Michigan; two sisters-in-
law, Mrs. Naomi Pinn, Springfield
Gardens, New York, and Mrs.
Juanita Ratteray, Flushing, New
York; seven grandchildren; one great-
grandchild; a host of nieces, nephews,
cousins, and innumerable friends.

Good Night, Sweet Prince—You
have fought the good fight, You have
finished the race, You have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for you
the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord the righteous Judge will award
to you on that day.

Done in Sorrow—the Family

Continued from page 12
The Social Action Corner

and expand its efforts in that arena by
encouraging each pastor and layper-
son to become socially involved, and
will give an increased amount of fund-
ing so that greater things can be done.

Pastors must lead their people into
the field of social action, for the har-
vest is ripe, but the laborers are few,

May our Zion never cease to care!!
Amen!

Bibliography: ‘*Called to Care;’’ Chester
Custer (U.M. Theologian) Tidings
Press, 1974, Nashville, TN.

Holy Bible (RSV)

1 extend my appreciation to Dr. Cyrus
Keller for his insight and for the magnifi-
cent job that he is doing for our church,
To have included this department in his
effort to clarify the position of our church
in as many areas as possible bespeaks a
soul that loves and cares for the people of
God who are called African Methodists.

1 pledge my continued support for him
and his department and solicit his con-
tinued support for mine—a support that,
to this present time, has been most invalu-
able.

——————— ae


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14

The AME Christian Recorder

October 2, 1989

Editor Reid’s Long-time Friend Crosses Jordan

Granddaughter Preaches
Grandfather’s Funeral

Dr. Clarence E. Carr

Chicago, IL—A distinguished clergy-
man and educator, Dr. Clarence E.
Carr, was ordained in the African
Methodist Episcopal Church and pas-
tored several A.M.E. churches in Chi-
cago and vicinity. He was listed in
““Who’s Who in Religion’’ and was a
renowned musician. He came to
America in 1924 and, in 1935, became
the first Black man to obtain mem-
bership in the American Guild of Or-
ganists after he performed at the
World’s Fair. Dr. Carr was a member
of the Royal College of Organists in
London, England, where he served as
the American representative.

Dr. Carr was a strong supporter
and great friend of the Christian Re-
corder Editor, Dr. Robert H. Reid,
Jr. Everytime he heard Editor Reid
preach, and they were many, he had
high level praise and great thanks-
giving for the preaching editor. He
always said, ‘‘I enjoy good, strong,
sound, gospel preaching.”’

Dr. Carr, born in Port of Spain,
Trinidad, was a unique personality.
In keeping with the uniqueness of this
multi-talented gentleman, his grand-
daughter, the Rev. Imelda D. Brown,
was requested to preach his funeral.
The service was held at St. Mary’s
A.M.E. Church where Presiding El-
der Roy Miller officiated.

Some of Dr. Carr’s accomplish-

(AO?

Henry A. Belin, Jr.
Chairman

hOHOM MONON

ORDER MATERIAL
Stewardship Worship
Resource Manual
Orders of Service
Calls to Worship
Litanies
Appropriate Hymns, etc.
Offertory Prayers
Sermon Outlines
Meditations

Bulletin Inserts
Stewardship Tracts, etc.
Bishop Bible Study Guides Dr.

We challenge you to lead your congregation into a month of study and emphasis
on Stewardship of time, talent, treasure and life climaxing with a tithing demonstra-
tion Sunday for the local church on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as we bring the

period to a close.
Material available October 15, 1989
Order Today

I> KW” AOU? AIO” AOQUOP> ADWIOP? AOI? SOW AHO? KOH MOVIL”

ments in the A.M.E. Church and
community are listed here: He finish-
ed building St. Paul A.M.E, Church
in South Chicago; helped numerous
ministers Organize their choirs and
music; conducted the A.M.E, Confer-
ence Choir for years; took charge of
music at Camp Baber at the Bishop’s
request; was instructor and examiner
for the Ministers Institute (an exten-
sion of Paine College for young men
entering the ministry); was Vice-Pre-
sident of Ministers Interdenomina-
tional Alliance of Joliet, Illinois; an
auxiliary policeman with the Joliet
and Chicago Police Department for
combating Juvenile Deliquency; was
the only Black serving on the Joliet
Library Board in 1968; the first mu-
sician to present ‘‘Handel’s Messiah’’
with orchestra accompaniment in
Chicago; was offered faculty posi-
tions at DePaul University (Chicago)
and Wilberforce University (Ohio);
and received an honorary music
degree from Wilberforce University
and numerous awards for his service.
He left the A.M.E. Church as an
Itinerate Elder and was related to the
late Bishop Joseph Gomez.

Dr. Carr leaves to mourn his pass-
ing, a daughter, Juanita; two grand-
daughters, Imelda Denise and Cheri
Ann; four great-grandchildren, Tif-
fany, Cina, Latonya and Larry; one
great-great-granddaughter, Parriss
Doreen, nieces, nephews, other rela-
tives, three good friends, Robert S.
Phillips, Dr. H. Hugh Beguesse and
Dr. G. Duncan Hinkson, and others.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

A notice of the passing of Dr. C. E.
Carr, Chicago, Illinois, with the life
sketch of (Rev.) Dr. Clarence E. Carr
was carried on p. 12 of the August 21,
1989, edition of THE CHRISTIAN
RECORDER, Vol. 138, No. 24. God
bless the memory of this great per-
sonality.

ADM? LOUON2 AON? OVO? LOW? LOVON? MOWVON? ALONONW LOMO MLOION? ells

THE DEPARTMENT
OF
SALARY SUPPLEMENT

(Formerly Minimum Salary)
Division of Stewardship Education
Announces

Connectional Stewardship Education Month
The month of NOVEMBER has been declared Stewardship Education
‘Month throughout African Methodism.

Poy

Alonzo W. Holman
Director

72 AQMP? AOQHOP? AOUOP? AQHOP? AOQHOPH> AOHO/> NOW? AOHOP AOUHOPH AOQHUO/” AOU? AOQUOY? AOUOPH> AOws

Rarth’s Labors Done; A New Life Begun
OBITUARY

ALLIE ELIZABETH WINSTON
was born to the union of Joseph W.
Winston and Watsie Ann Humbard,
November 10, 1907, in Centerville,
lowa. She was the sixth of seven chil-
dren,

After graduating from Centerville
High School, she taught in an elemen-
tary school in Piney Woods, MS. She
later began a secretarial career while
in Piney Woods, and continued this
type of work until she became ill.

After her marriage to Houston
Ralph Wilson, they spent several
years in Keokuk, Iowa. In 1937, they
moved to Minneapolis and immedi-
ately became members of St. Peter’s
A.M.E. Church.

For over forty years, Allie E. Wil-
son served the African Methodist
Episcopal Church diligently, She held
a number of positions at her local
church, ‘St. Péter’s A.M.E., and,
also, across the connectional district:
St. Paul, Milwaukee District, the Chi-
cago Conference and the Fourth Dis-
trict.

Among the many positions she held
were secretary of St. Peter’s, for thir-
ty-two years; secretary of the Official
Board, St. Peter’s, twelve years; sec-
retary of the Steward Board, St.
Peter’s, fourteen years; secretary of
the Missionary Board and secretary
of the Finance Committee for twelve
years; treasurer of the Jolly 16 Club
for thirty-six years, of the Senior
Usher Board for over twenty-five
years, and of the Lay Organization
for over thirty years; director of St.
Peter’s Day Care for six years; First
Place winner of Ebony Drive Award
for six years; organizer of Twin City
Lay Organization, 1977-1989; corre-
sponding secretary of the Chicago
Conference Branch Missionary Socie-
ty; secretary of District Lay Executive
Board for twenty-six years; secretary-
treasurer of Fourth District Lay Or-
ganization for over twenty-five years;
secretary-treasurer of the Fourth Dis-
trict Youth Scholarship Fund; Fourth
District delegate to the General Con-

ference 1968 and 1972; and secretary
of the Fourth District General Con-
ference delegation, 1968 and 1972.

Allie was also very involved in com-
munity service, She held the following,
positions: Volunteer driver for the
American Red Cross for fourteen
years; head judge of city elections for
eighteen years; active member and
participant of U Meet Us Club, Sa-
bathani Community Center; class
leader for over twenty-five years;
member of the Steward Board of St,
Peter’s for over twenty-five years; or-
ganizer of the Merry Wives Club;
teacher’s assistant at Hans Christian
Anderson Elementary; and, a lover of
children, served in role of Foster
Grandparent Day in Breck Elemen-
tary School.

Allie E. Wilson was the strength of
her Family. Although she never had
children of her own, she willingly as-
sumed the role of mother to her
youngest sister’s children after her
death in 1952, and was the grandmo-
ther figure for her great nieces and
nephews. She was also known as
“Aunt Allie’? to many, many young
people in Minneapolis and across the
country.

Allie is survived by her sister Lucille
Vv. McAdams, Minneapolis; nieces
Shirlee Berry, Minneapolis, and
Gloria Freeman, Oakland, CA; neph-
ews Thomas Brown, Jay Howard and
Charles Pettit, all of the Twin Cities,
and Albert Pettit of Des Moines;
great nieces Jamese Howard, Sheri
Ann Harris, Misty Thompson, Chris-
ty Pettit, Debra Brown and Deanna
Callender; great nephews Neal Ho-
ward, Robert Howard, Steven
Brown, Troy Brown, Curtiss D. Free-
man, Dan Callender and Michael Cal-
lender; four great-great nephews, five
great-great nieces and a host of
friends from coast to coast.

She has served God, her family, her
friends and her community selflessly.
She has now been called to a better
life for a well deserved rest.

PRESIDING ELDER COMMENDS
CONGREGATION FOR GOOD REPORT

Jacksonville, FL—At the conclusion
of the Third Quarterly Conference of
the Union Community African Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, Jacksonville
District of the East Florida Confer-
ence, Presiding Elder Thomas B. De-
Sue had words of commendation for
the quality of reports made and the
fine support given to the church.
Members of the church also had ex-
pressions relative to the progress
made during the current conference
year.

The quarterly conference was held
on a Friday evening with the pastor,
the Rev. R. Wallace, presiding. Prior
to the Elder’s sermon, devotional ser-
vices were conducted with Mrs. Cor-
nelia Wallace and the combined
choirs rendering the music and Bro.
Freddie Williams leading in the open-
ing prayer. ‘‘Pressing Forward...
Stop Looking Back’’ was the admoni-
tion of the subject for Rev. DeSue’s
stirring message. The presence of the
Holy Spirit was evident as the man of
God spoke to the people.

The business session of the confer-
ence followed the love offering. Mrs.
Vermel Porter served as secretary and
Presiding Elder DeSue appointed
Mrs. Cornelia Wallace to serve as re-
porter for the quarter. In conclusion,

the Elder bid those present God-
speed, anticipating the final quarter
and the soon-coming annual confer-
ence.

Former Presiding Elder Charles E.
Toston of the South Jacksonville Dis-
trict and Rev. A. C. Chandler, Sr.,
were present at the meeting.

Mrs. Cornelia C. Wallace, Reporter

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October 2, 1989

The AME Christian Recorder

15

“Let Mt. Zion Rejoice:”’ 20- Year Mortgage Liquidation in 43 months.

Mt. Zion Holds Victory Mortgage-Burning Celebration

Bishop F. C. James

Florence, SC—Guided by their pas-
tor, Dr. Julius H. McAllister, it took
Mt. Zion African Methodist Episco-
pal Church, in Florence, South Caro-
lina, only forty-three months to raise
nearly one-half million dollars, and to
burn the church mortgage note that
would have matured in two-hundred-
forty months. Pastor McAllister and
the congregation built the church,
valued at nearly one million dollars,
in 1985.

That the theme for the Mortgage
Burning Service should be ‘‘It Is No
Secret What God Can Do’’ is quite
understandable. It was truly through
the power of the Holy Spirit, inspired
leadership and a committed follow-
ship that Mt. Zion achieved a glorious
victory.

Two Saturday services were held to
celebrate the occasion. The Right
Reverend F. C. James, Presiding
Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal
District, who had appointed Pastor
McAllister to serve the Mt. Zion con-
gregation, and who had officiated at
the laying of the cornerstone and the
dedicatory services, officiated at the
Mortgage Burning Services.

Bishop James’ sermon was dy-
namic! The congregation clapped and
lifted their hands in praise and
thanksgiving as their episcopal leader
exclaimed, ‘‘Let Mt. Zion Rejoice!’’
And what a time of rejoicing it was!
What a Word from the Lord!

The service culminated with the
burning of the mortgage. After ig-
niting the mortgage note copy, the
bishop handed it to Mortgage Com-
mittee Chairman Allen Munnerlyn,
who then passed it to those gathered
at the foot of the chancel rail.

= 2b ee ee ee ee a
R-L: Presiding Elders L. J. Hyman, M. W. Singleton, Pastor McAllister, Bishop James,

Presiding Elders A. L. Nichols, L. Harry and W. W. Miller. Rev. F. C. Maddox is at the

podium.

nnn
L-R: Pastor McAllister, Bishop James, Elders A. L. Nichols, L. J. Hyman and LeVern
Harry; Rey. C. J. Graves and Dr, Theressa James in the processional,

Immediately following the benedic-
tion, the congregation left the church,
enroute to the Heritage Restaurant,
where a Victory Luncheon Banquet
was held. Special greetings were

Fourth Quarterly Conference Round-Up

St. Paul Evaluates Year’ s Work at Final Conference

Leesburg, FL—An opportunity was
provided the church body of St. Paul
A.M.E. Church to evaluate a year’s
work when the Rev, L. L. Johnson,
Presiding Elder of the South Ocala
District, held his fourth and final
quarter for the conference year. The
Rev. Sylvester Andrews is pastor of
the church,

We are thankful that we are Sons
and Daughters of God by a dual in-
heritance of royalty, but it is by the
grace of God in conversion that we
receive the spirit of Adoption, where-
by we cry, ‘“‘Our Father,”’

And are we yet alive? We enjoy His
sunshine. He gives us health and
strength; therefore, we must learn
that as our day, so shall our strength
be. So let us keep our eyes on Jesus,

Scanning over the past twelve
months, we are happy to report that
the pastor and his wife, along with
every single working member of the
church, did their share in all of the ac-
tivities, embracing all levels—district

Rev. L. L. Johnson
conference, episcopal and connec-
tional, as well as the different compo
nents of the church: Ministerial, Lay,
Missionary, Sunday School and
A.C.E. Fellowship.

St. Paul A.M.E. Church continues
to serve as the hospitality center of
the District, for we have entertain
ment, district and conference meet
ings, banquets, workshops, gradua
tion exercises and receptions. The last

brought by Florence Mayor Joe
Pearce, U. S. Congressman Robin
Tallon, State Senator Frank Gilbert,
County Councilman Jerry Keith, and
the presiding elders. A creative victory

banquet was held in the honor of At-
torney James W. Durden at the edu-
cational building. Many lawyers,
members and friends came to witness
the special recognition given him.

At the quarterly conference, Ms.
Alice Maye Johnson was re-elected
secretary; Jessie P. Glymp, reporter,
and Ear! Richardson was elected mar-
shal.

Disciplinary questioning revealed
that eight members left the church
without certificates and two members
joined this quarter, Death took five
of our members: Randolph Ward and
James Sertin, stewards; Mary Har-
rison and Gloria Farrier and another
steward, Helena Jones,

Ten of our members moved away
this year, We have a full membership
of one hundred-seventy-seven mem-
bers and three affiliated members,
Fifty-eight are registered voters. Rev,
Andrews administered five baptisms
this year, including one adult, one
child and three infants

Rey. Dr. Julius H. McAllister

dance was performed by Miss Valen-
cia Oxendine.

Again, Bishop James inspired the
audience, as he presented the keynote
remarks. A highlight of the afternoon
was the unveiling of a color, 20x16
portrait of the pastor that is to be
placed in the church library.

In his remarks, Pastor McAllister
acknowledged, ‘‘We are a team. It
took a team effort to do what we have
done. If the pastor was the quarter-
back, as so many have said, then,
surely, the Holy Spirit was the Head
Coach. The members of Mt. Zion
were the players, without whom there
could be no advancement of the ball,
no points scored, and no victory won.
To God be the glory!”’

The pastor thanked Bishop James
for his support, advice and encourage-
ment. He commended Bishop and
Mrs. James for the extraordinary
work they have done in the District.
He commented, ‘‘It should come as
no surprise to anyone that there is a
growing consensus among the lay as
well as the ministers in the state to
seek the return of Bishop James in
1992.

General chairpersons for the affair
were Mr. Allen Munnerlyn, Mrs.
Alexine Smith and Mrs. Thelma Ar-
chie. The Mortgage Committee con-
sisted of twenty captains.

Mrs. Joan McAllister, the wife of
the pastor, served as hostess to Dr.
Theressa G. James, Episcopal Super-
visor, the presiding elders’ wives,
Conference W.M.S. President Irene
Page, and Conference Y.P.D. Direc-
tor Esma Gandy.

—The Mt. Zion Commission
on Public Relations

Sunday School consists of thirty-
eight members, with an average atten-
dance of about twenty weekly. There
are one hundred and twenty-five
books in the library, and we have
three Lay members.

Subscribers to church papers:
Christian Record 2; A.M.E, Review
1; W.M.S. Magazine 1; Secret Cham-
ber 1; Voice of Missions 1; and Jour-
nal of Religious Education 1.

Our church is full of presidents:
Mrs. Margaret C, Ward, Episcopal
President; Mrs. Gwen Andrews, Min-
isters’ Wives; Ms, Alice Maye John-
son, President of the Lay Organiza-
tion; and Mrs, Clifford Adams, Presi-
dent of the Local organization, Mrs.
Doris Daniels, President of the Cen-
tral Florida Conference Branch, was
a guest of St. Paul.

Other visitors to St. Paul have in-
cluded Mrs. Cornelius Johnson, the
Elder’s wife; Mary Anne King and her
daughter, Tamara King, of Silver

Please turn to page 16


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16

een

The AME Christian Recorder

October 2, 1989
(FE acm en

Continued from page 15

ST. PAUL EVALUATES YEAR’S WORK AT FINAL CONFERENCE

Spring, MD, and the daughter and
granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mor-
ris Myrick.

Birthday greetings of the week went
to Willie Mae Mathis and Clifford
Adams and to Jarrell Andrews, son of
Rev. and Mrs. Andrews.

The church boasts two very effi-
cient secretaries, Mrs. Betty Coleman

(financial) and Ms. Alice Maye John-
son (recording), who take nothing for
their services. They believe in the
motto, ‘‘Who does God’s work...
will get God’s pay.’’

Our extra financial efforts were
successful. We thank God for giving
us the health and strength to meet
most of our obligations of the

Reid Chapel A.M.E. Church Assists Victims of ‘“‘Hugo”’
Hurricane Victims Get Helping
Hand from Columbia, SC”

Columbia, SC—The devastation of
“Hugo”? is still with us, and will con-
tinue to be with us for many months
to come; however, this awesome act
of nature and its legacy have been eas-
ed by community leaders, neighbors
nationally, and compassionate people
everywhere.

One such person who felt com-
pelled to act is the Reverend James R.
Glover, pastor of Reid Chapel
A.M.E. Church in Columbia, South
Carolina. Rev. Glover, himself a
native of Charleston, South Carolina,
one of the areas hardest hit by the
storm, visited Charleston to view
first-hand the destruction in the area
and to survey the need. Upon return-
ing to Columbia and conferring with
The Right Reverend Frederick C.

Rev. James R. Glover

James, Bishop of the Seventh Episco-
pal District, who had also traveled to
Charleston and other areas of the
state, a plan of action was developed
and executed.

Rev. Glover spearheaded the drive
to get donations for the victims of the
storm. The support given by the Reid
Chapel Church Family was astoun-
ding. Donations of every description
came to the church from parishion-
ers, V. V. Reid Schools (Kindergar-
ten/Nursery/Elemenary), the Green-
view community and other residents
of the Columbia area. Recipients in-
cluded Morris Brown A.M.E.
Church, Charleston, Reverend James
G. Blake, pastor; and Liberty Hill
A.M.E. Church, Summerton, Rever-
end Malachi Duncan, pastor.

Rev. Glover and the Reid Chapel
family, as well as countless others,
are to be commended for giving of
their time and energy to demonstrate,
once again, good can emerge from
any situation. In this instance, man’s
humanity to man was vividly shown
by various acts of kindness—the basic
principle upon which Christianity is
founded. It is reassuring to know the
church and the dynamic leadership of
the church is steadfast in its leader-
ship role and its demonstrative acts
that exemplify the goodness in God’s

people.

Unloading Van, L to R, Rey. J. R. Glover and Presiding Elder W. W. Miller, Rev. M.

Duncan looking on.

vg

Unloading, L to R, Rev. J. R. Glover and Rev. Malachi Duncan walking with bags,
Presiding Elder W. W. Miller of the Manning District.

ee ee ee ee

church—the most important one be-
ing our Educational Building, which
is now debt-free!

Bible Study continues weekly.

As this conference year draws to a
close, we bow our heads in humble
submission to the Almighty for His
great bounty to us. We thank Him for
soundness of mind, spirit, and purity
of heart to do His will as He would
have us do.

The Elder and pastor both are to be

A. Lee Henderson

Will Be Your Most

by
A. LEE HENDERSON te

Memorable Possession...

References, and Revelations.

RE-AWAKEN TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SIMPLICITY!

NOW ENJOY THE PURE HISTORICAL AND RELIGIOUS
TENETS OF AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL LEGACY

“A. Lee Henderson has earned a place of honor in the
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author Robert J. Shuller. Henderson breathes life into
history and illuminates mankind’s future.”

President, Bruce Merrin Public Relations
And Celebrity Speakers Bureau, L.A.

“Your Church and You’’. .
annals of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.”

St. James A.M.E. Church, St. Louis, MO

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commended for a job well done. Both
have done their homework. The
members, too, are to be highly prais-
ed for their cooperation and harmony
of spirit.

Therefore, if it is possible, the
church would be greatly pleased to
have the Elder and his family, and our
pastor and his family back for an-
other conference year, That God con-
tinue to bless them is our prayer.

Jessie Pearl Glymp, Reporter

A Spf of Yove
and

Your Church

and

YOU

Bruce Merrin,

. “A landmark book in the

Rev. Leslie White, Pastor

Lb Hohbhbhheoeohhoeoehoehe seeds

FS

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