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February 1, 2016
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“GOD OUR FATHER = CHRIST OUR REDEEMER = THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR COMFORTER = HUMANKIND OUR FAMILY”
THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
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THE-CHRISTIAN-RECORDER.ORG
VOLUME 165, NO. 9
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
2016 Richard Allen Forever Stamp Unveiling
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Editorial: | Am Not Confused,
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Reflection” in the life of African Methodism. It was BRE ii
The AMEC Connectional Day of the day that the Richard Allen Forever Stamp went from | | |
Prayer Will Be Wednesday, _ idea to reality. The conception was from the late Bishop
LT S07) | Dee eee Dee) Vinton R. Anderson and the tireless follow-through since
8002 was coordinated by Sister Jackie Dupont-Walker of
The Social Action Commission of the
A.M.E. Church Thanks President
Obama for His Bold Stance on Gun
ee
Getthe “Hook Up” in 2016... ad)
How | Wrote Prince Hall
Freemasonry in the Lone
Sint SSIS 3 ee
Ad: Robes of Faith..................
Ad: Terence L. Mays, Sr.:
Candidate for Executive Director of
Church Growth and Development
I oc coeecrcccrvcnnee [D>
Meditation Based
___on Matthew 51-12... pb) i
The 2016 Candidates’ Guidelines
for Submitting News Items
The Truth Is the Light............. peo
Albany State University Marching Band
Headed to Pasadena.............. pee
(NEW ORLEANS) - On
January 16 and 17, world-
famous pianist and vocalist
Ellis Hall joined the
Louisiana Philharmonic
Orchestra in a concert includ-
ing well-known favorites by
Ray Charles and Stevie
Wonder. Soul Revival: The
Music of Ray Charles and
History Made in Fayetteville - First Black
Mayor in City Solicited GOP Votes, Is
Seen as “Bridge-Builder’”....... PG
AD: Elect Green in 2016:
President/Publisher............ pe
Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday,
Good Friday, Easter and
ECHCCOSL cegteiencccsieieceisn- Dor), More, featuring songs such
The Macon North District aS oe On My Me
GONE ENCE oc cctresscsseces.. Doo) “I Can’t Stop Loving You,
and other favorites by Stevie
Wonder, Tower of Power and
The California Raisins, took
pall
Annual Conference Schedules.
Rio, Texas (UMC) Bishop
Resigns After Admitting place January 16, 7:30 p.m.,
Wrongdoing -veecsssssseeseeesee Pel/O) and January 17, 2:30 p.m.,
t the Orpheum Theater.
AD: Stafford Wicker Be eee :
MIDIS OD erveteccctsesrenens
PRUETT WAIN LD, ON RS Pe
AME PASTOR WILL LEAD
THE BLACK CLERGY
OF PHILADELPHIA AND VICINITY
By Angelena Spears,
Philadelphia Conference Reporter
The
Church, Philadelphia, has been elected the new
President of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and fF
The
REV. JAY BROADNAX, Pastor
of the historic Mt. Pisgah A.M_E. FF
Vicinity. The election was held November 19 and F
the installation ceremony was held January 31 at
Mt. Pisgah. ..continued on p9
pal 2 Information is online at
HISTORICAL POINT OF VIEW -
A PROUD CHURCH
HERITAGE
YEAR 2016
' Allen. “Negro Richard,” as he was called
BY RAY CHARLES AND MORE WITH
“AMBASSADOR OF SOUL” ELLIS HALL
RICHARD ALLEN
the
Commission on Social
Action. The event coincides
with Richard Allen’s 256th
| Birthday on February 14th
and the 200th Anniversary
of the A.M.E. Church which
| will be celebrated July 2016
fanaLeteneg Ute fot Ugo PU fyege EG eh
Church
) 1 |in Philadelphia.
LPOmusic.com or by calling a
(504) 523-6530.
Ellis Hall, accomplished
and prolific performer, multi-
instrumentalist and vocalist
with a five-octave range, is
entertainment’s best-kept
secret. In a career spanning
more than four decades, Hall
has solidified a reputation
for soul-searing rhythm &
blues, and has electrified
audiences throughout the
world. A master of the guitar,
bass, piano, keyboards and
drums, Hall has also made
a mark as an incredible song-
writer, arranger and producer.
He is well-known for his
work with the magnetic soul
-_bontinued on p6
IN TIME FOR THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH. There are two outstanding events that are
a direct result of the forward thinking and progressive
actions of the founder of our denomination-- Richard
WILL RESONATED
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND
| IN AMERICAN HISTORY AS A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD
..continued on p9 :
William Bernard and Candace
Mention Clark,
was selected as
a delegate to the
prestigious
Congress. of
Future Science
and Technology
ee a dees Ss
(CFS&TL) pro-
gram representing
the Prince George’s Community |
College Academy of Health
Sciences and the state of
Maryland. This event will take
place in Boston, Massachusetts
on June 29, 30 and July 1, 2016.
das oe of Feature
Pastor’s Conference
preheat dcekoes ha, aca
Durin
» Christian Methodist E
Joshua Clark, the son of
P STATEMENT ON SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES
| BY THE CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL
| CHURCH (CME) COLLEGE OF BISHOPS
Presented at the January 2016 Phillips School of Theology
"| The official stamp
: ee oa place at the
..continued on 4
“LPOFEAT TIRED MW FVENING OF MUSIC F ~ JOSHUA CLARK SELECTED ASA DELEGATE.
T0 THE CONGRESS OF FUTURE SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY LEADERS PROGRAM
Leaders is a highly selective
national program honoring aca-
demically supe-
rior high school
| students dedi-
cated to careers
in science, tech-
nology, engineer-
ing or math
(STEM). The
CFS&TL is an
academic honors
program with strict require-
ments, and you must have a
minimum 3.5 GPA to attend.
Joshua is being recognized
because of his outstanding
grades, his leadership potential
and his desire to contribute to
..continued on p7
THIS NEW YEAR SEASON,
The College of Bishops of the
copal Church continues to be con-
cerned about the various social calamities and tragedies that
we hear about in our nation and world daily.
We urge the church to continue to use the ...continued on p11
«Sub bel LZxLO00T LIDIO-Seeresesvenseseesesenses
===== DSC04306.JPG =====
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THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
&£
[ ~ |thought | was confused when | wrote the previous editorial that was entitled,
“1 Am Confused, Is Anyone Else Confused?”, the use of the term “confused”
was'sort of “tongue in cheek” because | am not really confused about the reality of
the injustice experienced by a large segment of our population in the U.S.
| had not intended to deal with law enforcement terrorism this editorial because |
wanted to address some pastoral issues, which | love addressing, but the Chicago
officials’ release recently of the video of police officers chasing and fatally shooting
an African American teenager angered me.
The images show Cedrick Chatman, a 17-year-old black youth, running away from the police and being shot in
the back. Each time | viewed the video, | got angrier.
In November a video showed Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times while he was walking away from the
policeman. As in the case of Cedrick Chatman, the Laquan McDonald video was released under a judge’s order
after months of resistance from city officials.
And to add insult to injury, in these two cases and probably many more cases, the city officials had fought for
months to keep the videos private. The Chicago city officials’ rationale for not releasing the images was because
they make the decision about how much information the city should reveal when an officer fatally shoots a resi-
dent. The police officers involved in the Chatman shooting have not been charged with wrongdoing, and both
remain on full-duty status. The officer involved in the Cedrick Chatman shooting is still a free man and if the past
is any indication, he will be exonerated.
If Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel didn’t know about
the cover-up, he should have known. Everyone con-
nected with the cover-up should be disciplined.
We have been saddened by the news of too many
deaths of unarmed African American citizens by white
police officers.
We recall Sandra Bland, a black woman stopped for
a minor traffic violation of switching lanes without
using her turn signal, thrown to the ground, arrested
and found dead three days later.
We read about the University of Cincinnati police
officer, Ray Tensing, who shot unarmed Samuel Debose
in the head in July 2015. Mr. Dubose did not act aggres-
sively or pose a threat to the officer. And to add insult
to injury, the police officer lied about being dragged
by Mr. Dubose’s car.
In Chicago, both young men, Laquan McDonald and
Cedrick Chatman, were moving away from the police-
men, and it appears in the video that neither posed a
threat to law enforcement officers, but in both cases,
DR. CALVIN H. SYDNOR III
The 20th Editor of
The Christian Recorder
the law enforcement officials felt threatened and their
excuses were supported by their superiors even in the
face of videos that showed a different scenario from
of the policemen’s version of events.
| am angry about white police officers violently act-
ing against black males and females for seemingly
minor issues; and in the case of Trayvon Martin, killed
by a man who wanted to be a cop.
Police violence seems to be rampant and out of
control. Police violence against black citizens includes
Hempstead, Texas; Chicago, Staten Island, Cleveland,
Baltimore, North Charleston, South Carolina; Ferguson,
Missouri; and other cities and probably a lot of other
incidents of which we are unaware
| am angry about use of force by law enforcement
generally and specifically as it relates to race; and most
specifically as it relates to police crimes against blacks
It seems to me that “black lives don’t matter.” Black
women and children are violated by white policemen
who apparently feel threatened by black Americans
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
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The Christian Recorder
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
Let me get back to Chicago and the videos we have
been privy to see. | wonder how many more images
are “out there.”
| am angry that the Chicago officials, and probably other
officials, withheld videos, in other words, “covered-up the
evidence.” And, what makes me “more” angrier (eboni-
cally, “twice as angry”) is the fact that the videos appear
to show the policemen acting grossly inappropriate.
| guess, if the officials, after seeing that the policemen
acted inappropriately, took some kind of negative action
against the offending policemen, like firing them, demot-
ing them, giving them letters of reprimand, suspending
them “or something,” but to “cover up” the offense; do
nothing and issue statements that the offending police-
men acted appropriately, without even a “blush of
shame,” shows disrespect and contempt for the law and
order that they should be protecting. It shows dishonesty
and racism (and now | have used the “r” word).
If you changed the race of the black men and women
who have been killed by white policemen, you could
not even imagine that the outcomes would have been
the same.
\f Sandra Bland, the black woman stopped for a
minor traffic violation of switching lanes without using
her turn signal, had been white, she would have never
been thrown to the ground, arrested and found dead
three days later.
lf Trayvon Martin had been white, he would have
never been confronted by George Zimmerman.
{f Laquan McDonald and Cedrick Chatman had been
white, they would still be alive.
\f an armed group of militiamen who have taken over
the federal wildlife refuge in Oregon had been African
Americans or Muslims, my gut tells me there would have
been a significant law enforcement response that would
have resulted in significant deaths.
| am angry about inequality of law enforcement and
the justice system!
It’s time for a change and change needs to happen
now! O99
| SUBSCRIBE!
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THE AMEC CONNECTIONAL DAY OF PRAYER WILL BE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016
By Dr. Val Eloby-Slade, Evangelist
EXTRA! EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It!
The time is quickly approaching when all of
God's children will be gathering for the 2016
AMEC Connectional Day of Prayer.
The glorious day of prayer and praise will
be taking place on Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
There are “Save the Date” flyers and note-cards
being distributed to all Episcopal districts.
Hopefully you have seen them.
This year’s Connectional Day of Prayer will be
a date that you will not want to miss, so mark
your calendars, update your note book, and
send out invites on FaceBook, Twitter and feel
THE SOCIAL ACTION COMMISSION OF
THE A.M.E. CHURCH THANKS PRESIDENT
OBAMA FOR HIS BOLD STANCE ON GUN
VIOLENCE
4 pew you, President Obama. As we sit across
this nation listening to you, we have never felt
closer to the work that you are engaged in, because we
are on this journey together. Your commitment to take
action to help make our communities safer by stopping
gun violence is a welcomed trek and the African Methodist
Episcopal Church is ready to go forward with you.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church is no
stranger to the impact of gun violence, not the least of
which is the most recent massacre at Mother Emanuel
A.ME. Church in Charleston, South Carolina where
9 innocent lives were snuffed out and hundreds of
thousands of people around the globe still shudder
when thinking about that senseless and tragic loss.
While we continue to struggle with the “open sore” of
free to text the event and date now!
The Jubilee Prayer Team 2016 under the lead-
ership of Bishop McKinley Young, Bishop E. Earl
McCloud, Jr. and the Rev. Dorisalene Hughes
have been fasting and praying since last year
for the special anointing of the Holy Spirit to in-
fuse the 2016 Connectional Day of Prayer events
with a magnification of our Lord and Savior Je-
sus Christ throughout Episcopal districts 1 - 20.
In March, the Jubilee Prayer Team will distrib-
ute the “dial-in conference numbers” to all the
Get ready! Get ready, and get ready! You will
surely be blessed by reserving the date -Wednes-
day, April 13, 2016, the African Methodist Episco-
pal Church Connectional Day of Prayer, which
has been endorsed by the Council of Bishops.
If you would like to be a part of the prayer warriors
and intercessors team, email your contact informa-
tion to Jubileeprayerteam2016@gmail.com.
Bishop McKinley Young, Chair
The Rev. Dorisalene Hughes, Director
Episcopal districts.
Submitted by Evg. Dr. Val Eloby-Slader
GET THE “HOOK UP" IN 2016
By the Rev. JANICE CASEY*
If you Google the word fantasy, you’ll end up with everything from football to amusement parks to fiction
writing and beyond. Psychologists will tell you how dangerous it is to live a life based on fantasy. Unbelievably,
though, that’s what we do when we live a life without God at the helm. It’s all a fantasy---an illusion, because in
Him we live and breathe and have our being. (Acts 17:28)
You see, we have no power of our own. Can you start a stopped heart or breathe life into a dead soul? You
might answer that people have done it. No, God has done it through people. Is the creation better and more pow-
erful than the Creator---never! (Romans 1:25) So as go through 2016, remember that your worth is tied to the
source of all life. We are conduits. God is the generator, the life source, the all and all. Hook up!
*The Rev. Janice Casey is an itinerant deacon in the 6th Episcopal District, where she works with her husband, Pastor Darrell Casey,
at St. James A.M.E. Church, Nicholls, Georgia.
HOW | WROTE PRINCE HALL FREEMASONRY
IN THE LONE STAR STATE _
Bes Recs UZZEL .
“yacism, we can surely craft corrective courses and take
away some of the tools that have been and are being
used to carry out senseless acts of violence.
Keeping guns out the wrong hands through back-
ground checks is one of those steps. If an effective
background system had been in place, the Mother
Emanuel shooter very likely would not have been issued
a gun. As you noted, we are no stranger to check-points;
so background checks would serve that purpose for
those who want to “bear arms.”
As we reflect on the value of further screening and
the accounts of family and friends of the racial hatred
that characterized the Emanuel shooter’s vocabulary,
an effective mental health system may have provided
some preventive care or early intervention. When a
person with a troubled mind who believes that (s)he
has a mandate to destroy people can easily and legally
purchase or obtain guns to destroy that race, gender or
group, it seems that, by omission, we are issuing a
permit to kill. Early intervention and diagnosis can
help break the cycle of killing by gun power.
All of us must become engaged to create and maintain
safe communities. Acquiring more guns is not the
solution nor should we fuel a destructive economy,
which creates weapons of human destruction that can
be carelessly used to kill innocent people.
You have given new and invigorating definition to
statesmanship and selfless leadership. Misguided and
selfish persons who benefit from the sale of guns must
be brought along on this journey and the faith community
is obligated to play a role in that conversion effort.
The A.M.E. Church pledges to do what it is called
to do — speak truth in far and remote places, carry the
good news, and incentivize changing of lives and
minds. We will also educate the “true” intent of the
“right to bear arms,” which has been twisted by those
with a motive of greed.
Te ie ae Prince Hall
Freemasonry is a subject
with which I have been fascinated
for many years. From the begin-
ning of my involvement in the
Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Texas
in 1981, I thought of one day
writing a history of my beloved
fraternity. In view of my passion
for biographies, I felt that the
history of the Grand Lodge could
best be written in terms of the
lives of the grand masters.
I obtained copies of the early
Grand Lodge proceedings which
provided valuable information
on Texas’ first Grand Master,
Norris Wright Cuney of
Galveston. These documents
revealed to me that our second
Grand Master was Richard Allen
of Houston, not to be confused
with Richard Allen of
Philadelphia, founder and first
Bishop of the A.M.E. Church. I
learned that Grand Master Allen
was a Baptist layman, but that
two of his successors—Abram
Grand (our fourth Grand Master)
and Josiah Haynes Armstrong
(our seventh Grand Master) were
ie M. E. pehors
During the summer of 1992,
I took a seminar in Oral History
at Baylor University (where I
was then working on my Ph.D.
in World Religions). My research
project involved recoded inter-
views with twelve people, all
African Americans aged seventy
or above. My focus was on three
Worshipful Masters who pre-
sided over Prince Hall lodges in
Waco during the early 1900s.
These three were John Adrian
Kirk of Mount Mariah Lodge
No. 6, who served as our twelfth
Grand Master; William D. Cain
of Wyatt Lodge No. 31, who
served as Grand Recorder for
thirty-three years; and Willis
Porter of Union Seal Lodge No.
64. Bros. Kirk and Cain were
members of Saint Paul A.M.E.
Church in Waco.
By the year 2000, I had com-
pleted papers on all twenty
grand masters who had served
since 1875. I revised and com-
piled these articles as twenty
chapters of a book, along with
Acknowledgments, Dedication,
AMECPUBLISHINGHOUSE.COM
| Prologue, ioduedon.
Epilogue, Bibliography and Vita.
I then submitted my manuscript
to the well-known publisher of
Texas history, Eakin Press. In
October 2000, I was elated to
receive a letter from founder Ed
Eakin, announcing plans to
publish my book in 2001. As it
turned out, I would achieve my
goal but not as quickly as I had
hoped. For the next three years,
publication would be delayed
by Grand Lodge politics.
On September 21, 2003,
Wilbert M. Curtis was
installed as the 21st Grand
Master of the Prince Hall
Masons in Texas. On
November 22, 2003, at the
Mid-Winter Session of the
Grand Lodge in Fort Worth,
the Board of Directors and the
Grand Lodge as a whole
approved the publication of
my book. By the end of the
year, I had updated my manu-
script and added a new chapter
on Curtis, who sent a fax to
Eakin Press, requesting that
they proceed ..continued on p11
===== DSC04308.JPG =====
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER FEBRUARY 1, 2016
scone Peri * Dr. fn Allen Lewis - Treasurer /
Presentation of Gallas for t! an coon ” os : ME Church Finance Office
Mayor of Philadelphia, The
Honorable Jim Kenney offering
greetings and welcome
THE-CHRISTIAN-RECORDER.ORG
===== DSC04309.JPG =====
REBRUARY 1, 2016
Richard Lawrence -
8th generation direct
descendant of Richard
Allen offering greetings.
- A <a report: &
our cllé Dr. Terence L. Mayes, Sr.
Presiding Elder, East Tennessee
13th Episcopal District
DIRECTOR OF EVANGELISM
tmayes511é6@aol.com
EXECUTIVE race 7 z
CHURCH SENT eS :
AND DEVELOPMENT 26
% ia A TU fy Re
~ ae, 4 URA w.
Ty AF 4 at ;
_ OFFICIAL DESIGNER FOR A.NLE. CLERGY ROBES, APPAREL AND aS
Serving the Needs of the Church, Clergy and Laity. :
Satisfied clients include WMS, YPD, LAY, SOA, me ee and more! Sa ae
===== DSC04310.JPG =====
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
MEDITATION BASED ON MATTHEW 5:1-12
By the Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby*
I'm writing this meditation after listening
to President Barack Obama announce mea-
sured but significant Executive Action steps
he'll take to help stem the rising tide of gun
violence in America in the absence of mean-
ingful Congressional action. His words were
eloquent, powerful, resolute and moving - and
were immediately and unilaterally criticized
and rejected by fearful and insecure people
who care more about guns than about God.
Some of that criticism came even before he
announced his course of action.
That was no surprise to me, because President
Obama, has been criticized and attacked by
enemies of progress almost from the day of
his election, but I admire and appreciate his
committed Christian spirit. President Obama
epitomizes not only Christian action, but posi-
tive action by principled people of good will,
regardless of their faith. He’s always chosen
to do the right thing - even in the face of criti
cism and ridicule.
His example should be instructive to all of
us in a world where it’s tempting to choose
the easy and least controversial path - to “go
along to get along.” Too many good people
never realize their potential and never make
a difference in life because we seek to please
those around us. We often hold our peace and
hesitate to share or act on our thoughts out
of fear of the personal cost in terms of prestige,
acceptance and positive regard.
We’d do well to remember that the Jesus
whose birth we just celebrated was, in the
words of the Prophet Isaiah, “...despised and
rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with
grief.” Jesus faced ridicule and rejection - and
eventual death - for doing the right thing, but
he stood for principle to better the lives of
others anyway.
THE 2016 CANDIDATES’ GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING NEWS ITEMS TO TCR
TCR will publish news received from the 2016 candidates for election | to be purchased for publication in the “print edition of ‘The Christian Recorder.” |
at the 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference. If | Candidates’ news items should be submitted in accordance with “The Guidelines |
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
Make a personal commit-
ment to take a principled
stand in 2016 - to do what’s
right and not what’s expedi-
ent, even if it “ruffles the
feathers” of those who reject
progress and even if you're ridiculed and criti-
cized. You'll have the spiritual satisfaction of
knowing that you made a difference in the lives
of others and gain a better understanding of
why a hymn of my faith tradition says, *...be
not dismayed when men don’t believe you, he’ll
understand and say, ‘Well done.”
Get ready for Sunday, and have a great day
in your house of worship!
*The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby is the Presiding Elder
of the Beaufort District of the South Carolina Annual
Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
| the phrase or any semblance of the phrase, “Candidate for election/reelection...is | for Submitting Articles to The Christian Recorder.” All submissions will be in |
| present, the article becomes an advertisement. Advertisements are still available | Word format or imbedded (pasted) in an em
ail message.
...From LPO Featured p1 sensations Tower of Power,
where he was lead singer and keyboardist in the mid-
1980s. He has also performed with a multitude of
musical icons, including Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle,
George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Earth Wind & Fire,
Natalie Cole, George Duke, Bobby Womack, Billy
Preston, James Taylor, Kenny G, Sheila E, John Mayer
and his musical mentor Ray Charles.
Diagnosed with glaucoma as a child, in a time when
there were no treatment options available, Hall and
his family were informed by doctors that he would
ultimately lose his sight. For many years he maintained
good vision in one of his eyes, and was blessed to
enjoy the sense in many ways. Unfortunately, he lost
this ability after a devastating wrestling accident at
the age of 18. By then, however, he had already begun
attending the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston,
Massachusetts, and found himself determined to suc-
ceed beyond his limitation.
Hall’s passion for music has also led him to share
his powerful vocals throughout the years on many
types of projects. He was a lead voice in the animated
blues/soul band “The California Raisins,” and the
whimsical “Beetlejuice” for a Universal Studios show.
A versatile talent, Hall is a star of numerous film
soundtracks, including “The Lion King 2,” “Chicken
Run,” “Shrek 2,” “A Bug’s Life,” “Bruce Almighty,”
“Beneath the Darkness” and “Invincible.” He has even
THE TRUTH IS THE LIGHT
By the Rev. Dr. CHARLES R. Watkins, Jr.*
had acting roles in the box office hits “Big Momma’s
House” and “Catch Me If You Can.” He also served
as advisor to Jamie Foxx on the set of the movie “Ray.”
For more information, contact Sean Snyder, Director
of Marketing and Communications, at (504) 523-6530,
ext. 201 or email sean.snyder@|pomusic.com. For
interviews contact Ellis Hall’s publicist Diane Larche’
at (404) 273-3227 or email diane@larchecommunica-
tions.com
Soul Revival: The Music of Ray Charles and More
Saturday, January 16, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 17, 2:30 p.m.
Orpheum Theater
O00
BIBLICAL TEXT: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of
Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on
him.” — JOHN 2:11 KJV
Our text is from the Gospel account of the first miracle performed by
Jesus Christ. The manifestation of this miracle set in motion the earthly
ministry of our Lord. Jesus came to earth on a definite, pre-ordained
mission. To accomplish his purpose, it was necessary that men recog-
nize him and respond to him as the Son of God.
Jesus was a patient, gifted teacher with the ability to intertwine the
mundane activities of daily living with heaven’s most valuable lessons.
His parabolic style of teaching confounded the scholars while reaching
out to the hearts of the common man. And by the use of miracles, Jesus
publicly revealed himself to be the Son of God.
We need to understand that Jesus’ miracles were never selfish. In fact,
his miracles were always executed for the benefit of someone in need
and brought forth an essential revelation. The first of seven miracles
recorded by John is where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding.
John was a true evangelist and this account of the wedding event in his
New Testament Gospel, written from an evangelistic viewpoint, is an
attempt to win new converts to Jesus.
We can conclude that this wed- | Jesus acted both unexpectedly and
ding in Cana was a large one, or generously when he came to the
certainly larger than anticipated, aid of the new bride and groom,
because the wine soon ran out. | filling their pots with new wine.
However, there is an even greater
significance of this wedding gift.
With his simple command to “fill
the pots,” Jesus reveals his super-
natural power over nature. After
all, “all things were made by him;
and without him was not anything
made that was made.” Jesus exer-
cised his divinity and certified his
blessing with this wedding gift.
But that’s not all. With the command
to “fill the pots,” Jesus reveals his
ability to make the last better than
the first. The wine he creates is
better than the wine served by the
hostess.
At the Cana wedding, Jesus
begins his ministry with the cre-
ation of new wine. And the Bible
shows us that three years later, at
the Feast of the Passover, Jesus
closed out his earthly ministry with
the Last Supper wine as a testament
of his blood, which was shed for
the remission of sin.
Jesus is inviting us today to come
to his feast! The
table is set and the
invitations have
gone out. No gift is necessary; the
greatest gift has already been
given. We are invited to come and
fill our vessels with his new wine.
This new wine Jesus offers us will
set us free from our agonies and
afflictions; free from our burdens
and battles; free from our conflicts
and crisis.
We are invited to come and fill
our vessels with Jesus’ new wine
that will free us from discourage-
ment and danger, heaviness and
hardships, pressures and problems,
trials and tribulations! Jesus is
inviting us today to come to his
feast! The table is set. All things
are ready. We just have to come to
the feast! QO
piece
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins,
Jr. is the Pastor of Morris Brown
A.ME. Church in Charleston, SC.
===== DSC04311.JPG =====
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND HEADED TO PASADENA
ALBANY, Ga. -- Albany State Uni-
versity has exceeded its goal to
raise $270,000 for the “Rams in the
Roses and Beyond” campaign. The
campaign raised $332,775; thanks
to supporters, the Albany State Uni-
versity Marching Band will head
to the 2016 Tournament of Roses
Parade in Pasadena, Calif. The re-
maining funds will be used to sup-
port need-based scholarships.
“This is an outstanding accom-
plishment for the university and the
hundreds of supporters who do-
nated, not only funds, but time and
effort to help us send this talented
group of scholar musicians to Pasa-
dena,” said Chanta Haywood, vice
president of Institutional Advance-
ment and Executive Director of the
ASU Foundation.
The ASU Marching Band is the only
Georgia band, the only university
band from the southeastern United
States, and the only historically black
university band in the nation to partic-
ipate in the event that serves as a pre-
lude to the nation’s oldest bowl game.
“We really can’t thank everyone
enough who donated to help us get
to Pasadena’, said Band Director
Michael Decuir. “All of the alumni,
students, and supporters in Albany
and around the nation, on behalf of
the band, I want to let you know that
we couldn’t have done this without
you. We’re ready to show the world
what it means to be a Golden Ram.”
Funds raised are being used for
travel and expenses associated with
sending the band to California.
Band members will leave for the
Golden State on Dec. 28 for a week-
long stay that includes band per-
formances, television interviews,
community service projects, and
visits to top California tourist at-
tractions such as the Grammy Mu-
HISTORY MADE IN FAYETTEVILLE - FIRST BLACK MAYOR IN
CITY SOLICITED GOP VOTES, IS SEEN AS “BRIDGE-BUILDER”
By Tammy Joyner
ees ED JOHNSON was elected as the city’s first black councilman
in 2011 and recently was elected as the city’s first African American mayor.
Steve Schaefer / Contributed
The Edward James Johnson File
Age: 60
Native of: New Orleans
Residence: Fayetteville, GA
Political history: Elected to Fayetteville
City Council, 2011. Currently, Fayetteville
mayor-elect.
Work history: Retired in 2000 as a naval
commander after 22 years in the Navy.
Currently, Pastor of Flat Rock A.M.E.
Church in Fayette County, the oldest
African American church in the county.
Community activities: Has served three
times as President of the Fayette County
branch of the NAACP since its founding
in 1997.
Family: Married to retired naval officer
Vanessa Johnson for 36 years. The couple
has two sons, Edwin and Devan, both
graduates of Fayette County High School.
Edwin is a graduate of Georgia Tech and
Devan is a graduate of Georgia State
University.
Hobbies: Fishing and golf.
As Fayette County continues to spar
over the question of preserving at-large
voting or embracing district voting,
voters in the county seat of this
Republican stronghold elected a con-
sensus-building Democrat recently as
the county’s first black mayor.
Ed Johnson, a retired naval com-
mander and Pastor of Fayette’s oldest
black church, unseated incumbent mayor
Greg Clifton in an at-large, nonpartisan
race that drew only 11 percent of
Fayetteville’s 12,000 registered voters.
Johnson got 673, or 54 percent, of the
votes. Clifton drew 582, or 42 percent,
of the votes. About a third of
Fayetteville’s 16,000 residents are
African American.
It is the second time the 60-year-old
Johnson has made history in a part of
the county where streets are named after
Confederate generals. In 2011, the three-
term President of the local NAACP was
elected Fayetteville’s first black City
Council member with the help of a
coalition of political groups that included
the local Tea Party.
“He’s a person who can attract support
seum and Museum of Tolerance.
“These students will have cul-
tural and educational experiences
and memories that will last them
a lifetime,’ said ASU President Ar-
thur Dunning, who contributed to
the fundraising campaign with his
wife Karen Baynes-Dunning. The
Dunnings also matched donated
gifts in the month of October, dol-
lar for dollar, for up to $25,000. “For
many of our students, this will be
their first time in California and we
want to provide them with enrich-
ing experiences that will benefit
them, academically and culturally.”
Student buses will depart from Re-
ese Hall at Albany State University
promptly at 6 a.m. and the Walmart
Supercenter at 6020 Harrison Road
in Macon, Ga., at 7 a.m. Community
members and supporters are in-
vited to attend the send-off. Event
participants will depart from Harts-
from those who historically differ from
African American views,” said Fayette
NAACP President John E. Jones. “He’s
a bridge-builder.”
During his run for mayor, Johnson
attended the Fayette County Republican
monthly breakfast and solicited votes
for his candidacy.
“T cannot ever recall that happening
before in my two decades of residing in
Fayette County,” County Commissioner
Steve Brown said.
At that time of his election to the City
Council, Johnson was only the second
black candidate to win any kind of politi-
cal office in Fayette. (Chief Magistrate
Judge Charles “Chuck” Floyd holds the
distinction of being the first. Floyd was
first appointed to the job in 2002 and
later elected to the post in 2004 and again
in 2008. He died in 2010.)
In the bigger political picture, Johnson’s
win could “bolster the argument that
African Americans can get elected in the
county under an at-large system,” said
Charles Bullock, Richard Russell
Professor of Political Science at the
University of Georgia. “For the defense
it’s something they could point to,” added
Bullock, author of the 2009 book, “The
Triumph of Voting Rights in the South.”
At the same time, Bullock said “the other
side would come back and say ‘So this
African American wins in Fayetteville
field-Jackson Atlanta International
Airport and arrive in Los Angeles
International Airport.
Soon after the band returns from
Pasadena, Calif., Albany State will
officially launch the second phase
of its fundraising campaign, which
includes the Tom Joyner Foundation
School of the Month. As the School
of the Month, the TJF will promote
raising funds for the university and
highlight its programs for the entire
year, although ASU will be featured
daily during its designated month of
November.
“The TJF designation allows us to
expand our fundraising to the millions
of listeners and website visitors of Mr.
Joyner’s show. We can’t put a price tag
on this level of exposure. The fact that
very single dollar given to ASU via
Mr. Joyner’s Foundation flows directly
back to the university shows his com-
mitment to the success ...continued on p11
but that’s not the entire county.’ So it’s
not as strong an argument for the defense
because it’s not a probate judge or some
officer who’s running countywide.” Either
way, advocates and opponents of at-large
voting hailed Johnson’s win.
“He’s won twice now in a small
Southern town with a white majority
population,” said Bob Ross, co-founder
of the Fayette County Issues Tea Party
and an advocate of at-large voting. “They
looked first at the person to see what kind
of person he is. He certainly gets a check
in the box for being a good citizen. He’s
community-minded and selfless with his
service. He’s got the ability to listen to
different sides of an issue and he tries to
build consensus,” Ross said. “People
appreciate that and they say “That’s the
kind of person I’d like to be running my
city.’ Clearly, the majority of voters were
voting for the right person. They’ ve seen
how he performed as a City Council
member for four years and they elevated
him to mayor,” Ross added.
The NAACP’s Jones called Johnson’s
win “a testament to the work the NAACP
is doing to make our community more
inclusive and diverse as far as the people
who govern. We look forward to great
things from Rey. Johnson. I know he has
some great ideas he wants to implement.
We’re all concerned about the high rate of
vacant commercial properties in
Fayetteville. I’m sure he ...continued on p11
From Joshua p1_ the field of science or technology. At the Congress, Joshua will
come face-to-face with winners of the Nobel Prize, deans of top universities, world
leaders in science, the nation’s most innovative and successful technologists, and
award-winning young inventors and scientists.
His congratulatory letter, signed by the President of Washington Adventist
University, Dr. Weymouth Spencer, stated that, “Joshua’s presence at the Congress
would enhance his academic profile and distinguishes him as one of their most
promising future leaders in science and technology.” The letter further stated that
Joshua would leave better prepared to achieve his dreams and mold himself into the
strongest candidate for competitive college admissions.
Joshua is a 10th grade student at the Prince George's Community College Academy
of Health Sciences in Largo, Maryland. The Academy’s rigorous, innovative four-
year program combines high school and college courses through duel enrollment
credits. Josh enjoys the rigors of the school’s curriculum.
His hobbies include doing research, playing video games, reading and compiling
material toward becoming a fiction writer. During his spare time, he enjoys hanging
out with his friends and playing with his dog, Max. Josh is also a dedicated member
of Ward Memorial A.M.E. Church in Washington, DC, where the Rev. Dr. Michel
O. Thomas is Pastor. At Ward, Josh is actively involved in the Young People’s
Department (YPD), serves as a worship service acolyte and is a volunteer with the
Church’s Share program.
Joshua’s future plans include a short-term goal of graduating with all A’s, and
increasing his volunteer service. His long-term goal is to acquire a doctoral degree
in one of the sciences. He looks forward with great enthusiasm to his latest aca-
demic challenge and opportunity as a delegate to the Congress of Future Science
and Technology Leaders program in Boston, MA.904
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Led Mount Hermon AMEC, Miami _— Founder of the Richard Allen
Gardens, FL in completing a $6.2 Leadership Academy (First
million Worship Center and all-Boys Charter School in the
Community Center in 2007 State of Florida in-2007)
Purchased 4 acres of land for Grant Purchased 3 acres of land for New
Memorial AMEC, Jacksonville, FL Bethel AMEC, Jacksonville, FL
Mount Hermon AMEC, Miami Stewardship at every
Purchased 5 acres of land for Increased Membership and 4
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PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER of the AMEC Sunday School Union —
===== DSC04313.JPG =====
ASH WEDNESDAY, PALM SUNDAY, GOOD
FRIDAY, EASTER AND PENTECOST
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calen-
dar. It occurs exactly 46 days before Easter (40 fasting days not counting
Sundays). It is a moveable feast that can fall as early as February 4 and as
late as March 10.
Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. Christians
commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death on the cross of Jesus
Christ.
Easter is the oldest and most important festival of the Western Christian
year, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ (rising from the grave)
following his crucifixion on Good Friday. Easter marks the end of the 40
days of Lent.
Pentecost, meaning “fiftieth day,” is celebrated 50 days (seven weeks
plus one day so it always falls on a Sunday) after Easter Sunday.
%* Ash Wednesday - February 10, 2016
* Palm Sunday - March 20, 2016
* Good Friday - March 25, 2016
% Easter Sunday - March 27, 2016
% PentecostSunday - May 15, 2016
Read more: http://www.calendarpedia.com/
THE MACON NORTH DISTRICT CONFERENCE
The Macon North District is part of the Sixth Episcopal District under the lead-
ership of Bishop Preston and Dr. Wilma Delores Webb Williams. We held our
Annual District Conference on November 5-6, 2015. This year’s theme was
“Leadership Matters: Laying the Foundation for Successful Church Growth.” The
Conference was held at the Williams Chapel A.M.E. Church, Forsyth, Georgia and
hosted by the Rev. Selena Clark.
The District Conference was opened by our Worship Leader, the Rev. Esther K.
Powers, who serves as the Christian Education Director of the Macon Georgia
Conference and the Pastor of Mathalama A.M_E. Church in Morrow, Georgia.
November is the month where many in our country celebrate the lives and sac-
rifices of our veterans. We were honored to have veterans and ‘Soldiers in the Army
of the Lord’ through our district conference worship services.
Thursday night, army veteran and the District Presiding Elder Benjamin opened
the service. From the pulpit where he pastored over 36 years ago, Elder Ridley
delivered another amazing and timely message from Luke 23:39-43 - “God Can
Save Anyone, Anytime and Anywhere.” He followed up on his lesson Friday morn-
ing using the other accounts from Matthew, Mark and Luke. During Friday’s Hour
of Power, the Rev. Dr. John Foster shared with us “How to Reach the Masses”
from Luke 15:31-32. For further lessons on our conference theme, we had dynamic
presentations from gifted speakers.
Conference Workshop Highlights:
- The Rev. Dr. John Foster of Big Bethel A.M.E. Church in Atlanta, Georgia
“Strategies for Church Growth - 44 Church Growth Principles That Are Real
and Work”
Necessary Ingredients for Church Growth: Right Preacher, Right Place, Right
People, Right Time
- Major George Foster of the Forsyth Police Department
Safety in Our Church - Home - and Community
_ Pastor Arthur Brown of Cleveland Chapel AMEC, McDonough, Georgia
Know Your Church
We wrapped things up with a fantastic dinner set up to honor the veterans in
our district. The YPDers of Williams Chapel A.M.E. Church served during the
dinner, We were able to give ninety veterans special recognition with a certificate
of appreciation. The Worship Leader was Rev. Ezekiel Powers, a veteran from
Mathalama A.M.E. Church. Our speaker on Friday evening was retired Army
veteran, the Rev. Dr. Johnny L. Cook of Greater Allen Chapel | continued on pi!
From The Social p3 also include the elected leadership in the United States Senate and
the United States House of Representatives, the African Methodist Episcopal Church
also pledges to speak truth to our elected servants and show boldness at the polls.
Let’s get going! Our moral outrage and action must be palpable, visible and
unstoppable. As Richard Allen said, “The Lord was pleased to strengthen us, and
remove all fear from us, and disposed our hearts to be as useful as possible.” With
God, and together, we will prevail!
AMECPUBLISHINGHOUSE.COM
From A.M.E. Pastorp1 Prior to the election, the Rev. Broadnax served as the first
Vice President of the organization from 2012 to 2015,
During the November election, the Rey. Paul J. Thomas, Pastor of A.M.B. Union
Church, Philadelphia, was elected to serve as the organization's General Secretary,
The 34-year-old organization represents over 100 faith-based organizations. The
organization was formed in 1981 when black clergy joined together to organize a
demonstration to end a 51-day boycott for the city of Philadelphia School District.
Their strategy to block a major intersection in the city proved effective and gave birth
to the alliance.
Other A.M.E. clergy who have served as president of the organization have included
the Rey. O. Urcille Ifill, when he was the Pastor of A.M.E. Union Church, Philadelphia;
the Rey. Joseph D, Patterson, when he was the Pastor of Hickman Temple, Philadelphia;
the Rey. Vernal E. Simms, Sr., when he was the Pastor of Morris Brown, Philadelphia;
and the Rey. Ellis I. Washington, when he was the Pastor of St. Matthew A.M.E.
Church, Philadelphia.
The Rey. Broadnax said, “I hope to increase the organization’s presence in the
community and build on its tradition of advocacy on issues affecting our people such
as reform of the criminal justice system, full and fair funding for public education,
and economic justice.”
The Rev. Broadnax, who is originally from the Boston area, has been the Pastor
of Mt. Pisgah since 2005. The church is the oldest A.M.E. church in West Philadelphia.
The granite structure at 41st and Spring Garden streets gained national recognition
in the 1980s when it was chosen to depict the fictional First Community Church for
NBC’s popular AMEN television show, which starred Sherman Hemsley and Clifton:
Davis. ; ae
The Rev. Broadnax also serves as the Executive Director of the First Episcopal
District Christian Education Department. eet So cen
He and his wife, Ingrid, have one daughter, Dara Jianna Broadnax.QQQ
..From From a Historical p1 during his early years as a slave, would rise up to improve
himself as a human being and would also better the lives of countless people with
whom he would directly or indirectly come in contact.
It is because of Richard Allen’s visionary outlook on life in particular and people
in general and his standing as one of America’s most active and influential black
leaders that he is being honored by the United States Postal Service with a Richard
Allen Commemorative Forever Stamp on Tuesday, February 2, with a first-day
ceremony at the church he founded, Mother Bethel in Philadelphia. The other
event is the celebration of the denomination’s 200 years in its influential existence
beginning July 6, at the 50th Quadrennial Session of the A.M.E. Church General
Conference in Philadelphia, PA. These two major celebrations are because of the
hard work, determined effort, fortitude and leadership of the Right Reverend
Richard Allen, the first consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. To God be the glory.
As many of you know, Richard Allen was born a slave on February 14, 1760 in
Philadelphia and sold into slavery at a plantation in Delaware. The second owner
sold his mother and three siblings but kept Richard, his older brother and a sister.
Eventually, Richard and his brother purchased their freedom for $2,000 each.
Richard changed his name from “Negro Richard” to “Richard Allen.” During his
lifetime, Richard had several titles including shoemaker, manager of a successful
chimney-sweeping company, journalist, civil rights activist, educator and minister
just to name a few. :
Allen converted to Methodism at the age of 17. He joined St. George’s Methodist
Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia where blacks and whites worshipped together.
There, he became an assistant minister and conducted prayer meetings for blacks.
In 1787, frustrated with the limitations the church placed on him and black parish-
ioners, Allen left the church with the intention of creating an independent Methodist
church. That same year, along with the Reverend Absalom Jones, Allen helped
found the Free African Society, a non-denominational religious mutual-aid society
dedicated to helping the black community. More importantly, in 1816 Richard
Allen founded the first national black church in the United States, the African
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Richard Allen had a vision of what America could--and should--become: a place
where the promise of equality set forth in the Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution was not simply a shining statement of principles but a living real-
ity for all. Allen’s vision has echoed throughout history, influencing activists and
thinkers including Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr. One of Allen’s
last lessons, before his death in 1831 in Philadelphia, was the economic power of
boycotting. Civil rights workers successfully used this tactic in the 1960’s.
Researched and compiled by William “Bill” Ayers, Historiographer, The Joseph
C. McKinney Lay Organization, Ward Memorial A.M.E. Church — Washington, DC,
Volume 1 #1 —January 12, 2016
The Social Action Commission of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Chairperson
Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Director/Consultant
===== DSC04314.JPG =====
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
FIRST EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E. CHURCH
BISHOP GREGORY G. M.
INGRAM
MARCH 1-6, 2016
DELAWARE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 2, 2016
WMS DAY
Delaware Ministerial Alliance, Host
MARCH 8-13, 2016
BERMUDA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 9, 2016
WMS DAY
Bermuda Ministerial Alliance, Host
MARCH 28-APRIL 3, 2016
NEW JERSEY ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 29, 2016
WMS DAY
Atlantic City District, Host
APRIL 12-17, 2016
NEW ENGLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE
APRIL 13, 2016
WMS DAY
Bethel, Bloomfield, Host
APRIL 25-MAY 1, 2016
NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE
APRIL 26, 2016
WMS DAY
Bridge Street, Host
MAY 10-14, 2016
WESTERN NEW YORK ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
MAY 11, 2016
WMS DAY
~~ $t. John, Niagara Falls, Host
ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULES
MAY 16-22, 2016
PHILADELPHIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MAY 17, 2016
WMS DAY
SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E. CHURCH
BISHOP PRESTON WARREN
WILLIAMS II
MARCH 1-4, 2016
SOUTH GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 29, 2016
WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION
Saint Mark A.M.E. Church
700 Lester Street
Thomasville, GA 31792
Church Phone: (229) 226-4614
The Rev. Timothy Sands, Host Pastor
The Rev. Patrick Brinson, Host P.E.
MARCH 8-11, 2016
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 7, 2016
WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION
Live Oak A.M.E. Church
402 Baldwin Street
Donaldsonville, GA 39845
Church Phone: (229) 524-2395
The Rev. Millie Rambeau, Host Pastor and
Host P.E.
MARCH 29-APRIL 1, 2016
GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 28, 2016
WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION
Saint James A.M.E. Church
632 E. Broad Street
Savannah, GA 31401
Church Phone: (912) 236-2051
The Reverend J. C. Roberts, Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Dan Stevenson, Host P.E.
APRIL 26-29, 2016
AUGUSTA GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Stone Springfield A.M.E. Church
7476 Georgia Highway 296
Stapleton, GA 30823
MAY 3-6, 2016
MACON GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MAY 2, 2016
WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION
Greater Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
269 Pursley Street
Macon, GA 31201
Church Phone: (478) 745-4646
The Rev. Johnnie Cook, Sr., Host Pastor
The Rev. Benjamin Ridley, Host P.E.
MAY 17-20, 2016
ATLANTA NORTH GEORGIA
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MAY 16, 2016
WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION
Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church
492 North Marietta Parkway NE
Marietta, GA 30060
Church Phone: (770) 422-6791
The Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Marcus, Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. David Rhone, Host P.E.
JUNE 8-10, 2016
PLANNING MEETING
Macon Marriott Centreplex
240 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217
Site Phone: (478) 621-5300
FOURTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.M.E. CHURCH
BISHOP CLEMENT W. FUGH
= FEBRUARY 27, 2016
COTE D'IVOIRE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
St. Augustine’s A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
The Rev. Desus S. Darkoh, Host Pastor
MARCH 4-6, 2016
SIERRA LEONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Bishop Campbell A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Freetown, Sierra Leone
The Rev. Joseph P. A. Wilhelm, Host Pastor
MARCH 11, 2016
NIGERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Christ Love A.M.E. Church, Host Church
lle Ife, Nigeria
The Rev. Margaret Fadehan, Host Pastor
MARCH 15, 2016
TOGO/BENIN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
St. John A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Lome, Togo
The Rev. John Afawoubo, Host Pastor
MARCH 18-20, 2016
GHANA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Takoradi (Sekondi), Ghana
The Rev. Stephen Ainu, Host Pastor
MARCH 23-25, 2016
CENTRAL LIBERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church,
Host Church
Monrovia, Liberia
The Rev. Dr. Katurah Cooper, Host Pastor
MARCH 29-31, 2016
LIBERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Mt. Ashton A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Cape Palmas, Liberia
The Rev. Tar-Kolo Miller, Host Pastor
SIXTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
BISHOP JOHN F. WHITE
FEBRUARY 10-14, 2016
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
A.M.E. Impacto de Vida Church, Host Church
La Romana, Dominican Republic
The Rev. Abraham Rodriquez Jones, Host Pastor
and Host P.E.
Phone: (089) 538-240-6619
FEBRUARY 17-21, 2016
FEBRUARY 1, 2016
St. Peter's A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Georgetown, Guyana
The Rev. Troy Parris, Host Pastor
Phone: (579) 601-0060
The Rev. Andrew C. Morris-Grant, Host P.E.
Phone: (592) 646-2726
FEBRUARY 25-28, 2016
WINDWARD ISLANDS ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
Bethesda A.M.E. Church, Host Church
The Rev. Elton Bobb, Host Pastor
Phone: (868) 680-9772
The Rev. Jonathan Wayne Anthony, Host P.E.
Phone: (868) 750-8062
MARCH 2-6, 2016
VIRGIN ISLANDS ANNUAL
CONFERENCE
Bethel A.M.E. Church, Host Church
St. Croix, Virgin Islands
The Rev. Uklyn Hendricks, Host Pastor
and Host P.E.
Phone: (340) 718-0495
MARCH 8-13, 2016
JAMAICA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Greater Selby's A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Jamaica
The Rev. Michael Blake, Host Pastor
The Rev. L. A. Dawkins, Host P.E.
Phone: (876) 462-5116
APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2016
EUROPEAN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Richard Allen A.M.E. Church, Host Church
London, England
The Rev. Rudolph Aaron, Host Pastor
and Host P.E.
Phone: (442) 088905381
MAY 31-JUNE 3, 2016
PLANNING MEETING
The Rev. L. A. Dawkins, P.E.
The Rev. Clarence Turpin, P.E.
Kingston, Jamaica
Mother Bethel, Host
The Rev. Forrest Dickey, Host Pastor
The Rev. Bertram Smith, Host P.E.
CONFERENCE
GUYANA/SURINAME ANNUAL
RIO, TEXAS (UMC) BISHOP RESIGNS AFTER ADMITTING WRONGDOING ,
By Kathy L. Gilbert
ies METHODIST BISHOP
JAMES E. DORFF admitted to
violating his marriage and ordination
vows and has voluntarily resigned as
episcopal leader of the Rio Texas
Conference, effective Jan. 1, 2016.
Dorff resigned after a complaint was
filed, Bishop Michael McKee, President
of the South Central Jurisdictional
College of Bishops, said in announcing
the resignation on Dec. 4.
Dorff, who also surrendered his creden-
tials effective Jan. 1, expressed his regret
in a letter to the College of Bishops.
“Tt is so difficult to admit and share,
but I must inform you that I did not
uphold the sacred vows I made to God
at my wedding, at my consecration as
Bishop, and at my ordination as Elder.
I crossed what were the clear expecta-
tions of relational boundaries.
“For this transgression, I am pro-
foundly sorry. I offer my sincerest
apologies to all concerned. My actions
have caused pain to many, including
my family, the person involved, each |
of you, members of the annual confer-
ence, and the greater church. I am so,
” Dorff wrote.
Interim bishop to be named
McKee said that an interim bishop
will be appointed to serve. Until the
interim bishop is appointed, he will
provide episcopal oversight. During
the South Central Jurisdictional
Conference in July 2016, a new Rio
Texas bishop will be appointed to a
term beginning on September 1, 2016.
The conference serves South Texas
with nearly 400 churches.
“This is a difficult situation for every-
one involved, but we are confident that
the ongoing ministries of the conference
will continue under the capable leader-
ship of the experienced, faithful confer-
ence staff and laity,” said McKee, who
| will work with the leaders of the Rio
Texas Conference to ensure a smooth
transition.
Dorff is resigning eight months before |
his planned retirement.
Prayers and sadness
He was elected Bishop in 2008, after
serving as a pastor in the North Texas
Conference for 36 years.
As episcopal leader, he oversaw the
merger of the Southwest Texas and Rio
Grande conferences. He also dealt with
the controversy that surrounded the
clergy candidacy of M. Barclay, who
identified as lesbian. The Book of
Discipline forbids the ordination of
self-avowed practicing homosexuals.
Byrd L. Bonner, who co-chaired the
unification steering team during the
merger, said he was “profoundly sad”
to hear the news.
“T am praying for Bishop and Mrs.
Dorff and all affected. That includes
| our new Rio Texas Annual Conference.
| Thankfully our new conference is
strong and is born of a resilient spirit.
It is that spirit that will serve her well
in persevering this and any chal-
lenges,” said Bonner, who is also
President of the United Methodist
Church Foundation,
“In this season of Advent, we must
focus on the future and the promise that
God holds for us all, including and
especially the Dorffs,” Bonner said.
Complaints against bishops are han-
dled within that bishop’s regional
College of Bishops under the denomi-
nation’s law book, the Book of Discipline.
Churchwide leadership
Beyond his episcopal area, he has
provided churchwide leadership
through the Connectional Table, which
coordinates the mission and ministry
of the general church. He has been
President of the United Methodist
Board of Higher Education and
Ministry and a member of Africa
University’s board. He has been a
leader in the Global Health Initiative
and the World Methodist Council.
As a member of the Global Health
Initiative Executive Committee, he led
the former Southwest Texas Annual
Conference in becoming the pilot project
for the Imagine No Malaria campaign.
The campaign to raise $75 million
formally launched with a celebration
and free concert event at the state capitol
in Austin, Texas, on World Malaria Day,
April 25, 2010.
“Our entire annual conference
embraced the opportunity to lead the
way by supporting Imagine No
Malaria,” Dorff said at the time. “We
are excited to showcase this initiative
to the Austin community and to the
entire denomination.”
..continued on p11
===== DSC04315.JPG =====
..From Rio, Texasp10 The campaign was launched simultane-
ously in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Dorff was
part of a delegation of United Methodist leaders who were on
hand to help distribute anti-malaria bed nets there.
Higher education impact
A highlight of Dorff’s tenure as President of the United
Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry included
attending the International Association of United Methodist
Schools, Colleges and Universities’ 2014 Conference in
Hiroshima, Japan, where scholars and students from five
continents focused on peace, reconciliation and human rights.
During the conference, Dorff emphasized the role that
Methodist-related institutions have played for centuries in
developing leaders for the church and world. “As we look to
develop principled Christian leaders as one of our four areas of
focus, it is extremely important that we engage our United
Methodist schools, colleges and universities — that we support
them, encourage them and challenge them to continue to provide
and develop the leaders that we need so much.”
In Texas, Dorff also has served as a member of the Board
of Trustees of the Methodist Mission Home of San Antonio,
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas and the Texas
Methodist Foundation.
He married Barbara Langley Dorff in 1975, and they have
two sons and three grandchildren.
Gilbert is a multimedia news reporter for United Methodist
News Service. Contact her at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@
umcom.org. Heather Hahn contributed to this story.
*Used with permission of the United Methodist News Service.
..From The Macon p9 A.M.E. Church, Macon, Georgia; he spoke
to us from Luke 2:4-7 - “No Room for Love.” Overall, the
District Conference was an experience with teaching and
preaching. We are grateful to God for our Presiding Elder
Benjamin and Sister Dorothy Ellis Ridley, Area Consultant,
as our leadership team for the Macon North District.
..From Albany State p7 of HBCUs,” Haywood said. “The Rams in
the Roses campaign was a testament to what we as a commu-
nity are capable of doing for our students and the university.
| anticipate an even higher level of enthusiasm and support
for this institution through the ‘Tom Joyner Foundation School
of the Month designation.’ ”
The university also received $47,000 in pledges, which
are not included in the fundraising total. Those funds, when
received, will support student scholarships.
Donors can start donating to ASU through the Tom Joyner
Foundation today by going to http://igfn.us/vf/Albanyrams.
The Albany State University Marching Band appeared as
number 25 of 93 participants in the New Year’s Day, two-
hour live special that aired at 8 a.m. PST (11 a.m., EST).
Broadcast outlets included:
* ABC ¢ Univision
¢ Hallmark Channel ° RFDTV
* HGTV * FamilyNet
¢ KTLAS * Rural Radio Channel 147
* NBC SiriusXM Satellite Radio
See
About ASU ... Albany State University, in Southwest Georgia, has been
a catalyst for change in the region from its inception as the Albany Bible and
Manual Training Institute to its designation as a university. Founded in 1903 to
educate African American youth, the university continues to fulfill its historic
mission while also serving the educational needs of an increasingly diverse stu-
dent population. For more information see http://www.asurams.edu.SFGAGA.
..From History Made p7 plans to address this.” | While Johnson said
“With the changing demographics in | at-large, nonpartisan
Fayette, it’s a successful accomplishment,” | races in Fayetteville
Jones said.
In an interview with The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, Johnson talked
about his win and his goals for Fayetteville.
He wants to get more citizens involved
in the city’s decision-making process and
continue to bring in more businesses. |
| “can produce fair and equitable elections,”
he stopped short of saying whether it was
the best method for selecting county-level
candidates. “I don’t know that. I think
people vote their conscience. In a small-
| city election, they look at the quality of
the candidate,” he said.
«From How | Wrote p3 with publication, In
June 2004, I received the first 100 copies | God for the fact that over twenty years
of Prince Hall Freemasonry in the Lone | of research finally bore fruit!
Star State: From Cuney to Curtis, 1875-
2003 just in time for the Grand
..From Statement p1 powerful vehicle of prayer as
a collective expression of hope and faith that God’s
presence will be felt even in the midst of trial,
tribulation, injustice, oppression, natural disaster
and chaos created by human depravity.
We are blessed to be able to make our commit-
ments to these issues real and to assist in the relief
of persons affected directly and indirectly by
them, not only through prayer, but also by provid-
ing donations that resource the relief work and
ongoing efforts to alleviate social ill and distress.
To that end, we want the Church to know that:
(1) In response to recent weather events, includ-
ing tornados and floods, disaster relief checks
have been distributed to the:
¢ 4th Episcopal District, North Mississippi
Region $1500
¢ 8th Episcopal District Churches in Texas
-Mims Chapel, North Park, Mt. Pleasant CME
Churches $250 each
¢ 9th Episcopal District, Oklahoma Region
$1500
¢ American Red Cross $250
* To be given to the Carolinas’ Region $8000
(2) In covenant and commitment to advocacy
for justice and ecumenical collaboration, other
contributions and dues payments made include:
¢ Bread for the World $2500
e American Bible Society $2500
™ © Churches United in Christ $5,500
e Pan-Methodist Commission on Cooperation
and Union $4,250
¢ Urban League $1,000
¢ National Civil Rights Museum $25,000
(3) Last year, in response to the Ebola Crises,
we made donations of $6,000 to the Western
West Africa Methodist Collaborative: Plan for
Working Together as the Methodist Family to
Enhance Human, Economic, Evangelistic and
Healthy Living and $6,000 to the 10th Episcopal
District.
The general funds that the regions of the Church
submit on behalf of the local churches enables
the Connectional Church to make these expres-
sions of care to those in need and to those caring
for them. We are grateful for your faithfulness
in stewardship and giving to make this
possible.
(4) We further want the Church to know that
we continue to be engaged with cooperative
efforts with the other Black Methodist denomi-
nations (A.MLE. and A.MLE. Zion), with the
Black Lives Matter movement, with the Freedom
Sunday Initiative for Voter Empowerment and
many other avenues to speak truth to power and
to speak on behalf of the least and the lost.
Specifically, in response to the ever-increasing
number of incidents of police violence against _
member district voting.
AMECPUBLISHINGHOUSE.COM
Fayetteville is currently in District 5, a
mostly black district.created in 2013 when
US. District Judge Timothy C. Batten
ordered the county to establish single-
The county appealed and an appeals
panel sent the case back to Batten for trial,
| which was postponed from its scheduled
Communication in Fort Worth. I thank
*Dr. R. L. Uzzel is the Pastor of Wayman
Chapel A.M.E. Church in Ennis, Texas,
unarmed black people and of gun violence in
general:
We have signed the Conference of National
Black Churches’ Statement to the United Nations
on Police Violence, condemning recent acts
that appear to target black people and other
people of color;
We stand in support of President Barack Obama’s
Executive Order regarding gun control; and
We adopt the following policy on guns/weapons
on CME Church property:
“No weapons or firearms allowed upon the
premises of this facility except by authorized
personnel as directed by authorized church officials
for security purposes.”
Local churches are asked to post this notice on
all houses of worship and other church-owned
facilities that are open to the public, following
any local and state ordinances or laws pertaining
to the notice and posting regarding weapons.
(5) In keeping with our theme: “The Investment
Factor” and with our historic commitment to
education and the schools founded by our CME
forefathers and mothers, we are declaring the
month of February 2016 as “Love Paine College”
month. We ask every local church to take a special
offering for the school during the month of
February. Offerings should be made payable to
the Department of Finance and submitted to your
Presiding Bishop by the end of February. Our
goal is to raise a minimum of $100,000 for the
school this year.
In conclusion, we urge every local church and
every pastor to be engaged in these kinds of
ministries in their own community, town, city,
county and state as we recall and bring life to
the words of the prophet Amos (5:24) to “let
justice roll down like a river and righteousness
like a mighty stream.”
In the Lord’s Service,
The College of Bishops of the Christian
Methodist Episcopal Church
Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, Senior Bishop
Bishop Bobby R. Best, Chair
Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, Secretary
Bishop Henry M. Williamson
Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.
Bishop Kenneth W. Carter
Bishop James B. Walker
Bishop Sylvester Williams
Bishop Godwin Umoette
Bishop Marvin Thomas
Bishop C. James King
Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, retired
Bishop E. Lynn Brown, retired
Bishop Ron Cunningham, retired
Bishop Othal Lakey, retired
Bishop William Graves, retired
Bishop Marshall Gilmore, retired
Nov. 16 start date.
As for which voting system would
work best for Fayette County? “T prefer
not to answer that,” Johnson said. “It’s
still in litigation.”
——_——_ =e SS
*Used with permission of The Atlanta
Journal Constitution.
===== DSC04316.JPG =====
The Reverend Dr. Stafford J.N. Wicker believes the strength of the church can be found in it’s
economic development initiatives. The ministry of Antioch AME Church is a testament of
how the reach and scope of the church is further broadened by its ability to grow the
church outside of the four walls of the sanctuary to impact lives for positive change. In the
year 2000, Antioch purchased 32.5 acres on S. Hairston near Covington Highway, now
housing all phases of Antioch Manor Estates, a senior housing development for active seniors
consisting of Antioch Manor Estates, Antioch Gardens, and the planned Antioch Summits.
Antioch Manor Estates is 120 units completed in 2005 at a development cost of
$13,500,000. Presently 100 percent occupied. Phase 2, Antioch Gardens is 106 units of villas
and garden apartment s completed in 2005 at a development cost of $14,700,000. Presently
100 percent occupied. Phase 3 Antioch Summits is planned at 123 units at projection of
$15,000,000 with over 500 persons on the waiting list. A total economic development project
of $43,200,000.
765 SOUTH HAIRSTON ROAD 1790 EBENEZER ROAD
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA CONYERS, GA
7:00AM, 8:30AM, & 11:00AM WORSHIP SERVICES, SUNDAYS 10:00AM WORSHIP SERVICE, SUNDAYS
404.299.3388 404-299-0398-FAX WWW.ANTIOCH—AME.ORG 770-761-0006
ANTIOCH CHILD CARE CENTER ANTIOCH MANOR ESTATES
4730 ELAM ROAD; STONE MOUNTAIN, GA 4711 BISHOP MING BLVD; STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
404.299.5521 CENTER HOURS—6AM—6PM, MONDAY—FRIDAY 770-322-8839 770-322-8234-FAX
WWW.ANTIOCHMANORLIVING.COM
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Date
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2016-2-1
