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February 29, 2016
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THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE AT RICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
VOLUME 165, NO. 11
inthislSSUEC...
Editorial: A Weighty Subject That .
Needs to Be Addressed ........ pee
Monrovia, Liberia-The Empowerment
Temple A.M.E. Church Celebrates
14™ Anniversary...
Get the “Hook Up” in 2016 Deo)
AMEC Ministers’ Alliance Congratulates
Mayor Sylvester Turner, Chris Brown.
and Amanda Edwards ............. [Do )
Ad: McLamore for A.M.E. Church
Growth and Development........ Dor,
Ad: Robes of Faith ....cccscsese pat
Ad: Terence L. Mays, Sr.:
Candidate for Executive Director
of Church Growth and
Development 2016 ...............
Ad: Rev. James Avery Alexander, Sr.:
Candidate for Episcopal
SSAC. Us eee eee
Meditation Based
APO AMIGS 1219°27 seeccseasecvasessseese
The 2016 Candidates’ Guidelines
efor Submitting News Items
TO) sla eee eee een
First Episcopal District Calendar
CNG. eee D6)
The Truth Is the Light ...............
AMEC Episcopal Districts’ oye
Quarterly Payments..........::.000
AD: Elect Green in 2016:
President/Publisher...............-+ [Doo
Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Good
Friday, Easter and Pentecost... Dod),
Annual Conference Schedules. PLO)
The 50" Quadrennial Session of
the General Conference Observer .
Registration Information....... p
Retired Bishop Frederick H. Talbot and
Retired Episcopal Supervisor Sylvia
Talbot Visited with Executive
President of Guyana.............
A.M.E. Church Connectional Lay
Organization to Host Benefit
Be AMLASE Pet ic ciikeeniecicerscccsssesss
St. Croix, Virgin Islands Ceremony
Recognizing the Issuance of Stam
Dis
Honoring Richard Allen... pal
AD: Stafford Wicker
POTAESISHO Dire wats redeem aciseesvene
THE-CHRISTIAN-RECORDER.ORG
pel |
REMEMBERING ABSALOM JONE
hl near and far gathered to celebrate the mortgage burning of
253 Central Avenue in Rahway, New Jersey; the house of worship for
[B 3 African Methodist Episcopal Ebenezer Church of Rahway.
Accompanied by shouts of praise, the cheering of children, thunderous
applause, words of commendation, tears of joy and the watchful eye of the
od
&
’Rahway Fire Departme:
t, the believers at Ebenezer, Rahway watched the
mortgage go up in flames—literally. According to church records, this edi-
fice is the first in the church’s 189-year history not to be damaged by fire.
In June of 2014, under the
leadership of the Rev. Dr. Erika D.
Crawford, Pastor, the believers at
Ebenezer embarked upon a “Jour-
ney Towards Jubilee.” Saddled
with a monthly mortgage pay-
ment of almost $6,000 per month,
the congregation followed Pastor
Crawford on a faith journey to-
wards the pre-mature liquidation of
the quarter of a million dollar bal-
ance of its $1.3 million mortgage.
Since her appointment in June of
2011, Pastor Crawford ceased all
fundraising and moved the mid-
size congregation towards being a
totally tithing congregation as an
act of faith and obedience. This
resulted in the retirement of almost
a half-a-million dollars of debt,
__ the settlement
of multiple
| lawsuits and
the acquisition
— | of two addi-
) tional pieces
of property in
a little over
four years.
im 1997,
after years of
praying and
sacrifice, the
By John Thomas Ill
On November 1 (All Saints’ Day)
of last year, the Most Reverend Michael B. Curry was installed as the
27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church in the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and
Saint Paul (also known as the Washington National Cathedral). On that day, Bishop Curry became the
first African American Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and one of the few African Americans
to assume leadership of a denomination outside of the traditionally Black Church. To African Methodists,
Curry’s selection is especially significant because of our strong historical ties to the Episcopal Church
through the Reverend Absalom Jones.
avery in Sussex County, Delaware on November 6, 1746. He
Wynkoop who brought him to Philadelphia in 1762. Jones was
gs and earned enough money to purchase freedom for his wife
The Reverend Jones was born into sl
eventually was purchased by a Benjamin
allowed to work for himself in the evenin
Mary in 1770 and himself in 1784. He also learned to read and went to a Quaker school for ...continued on p9
is not religious cannot be elected president of the
United States, a new Pew Research Center survey finds
that one of the candidates who is widely viewed by
Republicans as a potentially “good” or “great” presi-
dent, Donald Trump, is not widely seen as a religious
person, even by those in his own party. sntinued on p7
(*)
“GOD OUR FATHER = CHRIST OUR REDEEMER = THE HOLY SPIRIT OUR COMFORTER = HUMANKIND OUR FAMILY” FEBRUARY 29, 2016
MIRACULOUS MORTGAGE BURNING
AT RAHWA
Ay Satay December 13°9014 at T2500 noon, Believers fiom” WRIOSORS CRUE
DU 1 di ig Was
erected under the leadership of
Rev. Rudolph P. Gibbs, Sr., who
faithfully served the congrega-
tion for 32 years before retiring.
in 2007. When asked why she
] pushed to liquidate the mort-
| gage early, Pastor Crawford
replied, “I was led to do this
for several reasons. First,
>| | wanted the congregation
"Ij to see how God honors our
Bi] tithes and offerings by do-
i) ing the impossible. Second,
because I wanted Pastor
Gibbs to see the mortgage
‘burned. I even took him with
me to make the final pay-
ment. Lastly, there are other
things God has in store for
Ebenezer and it was time for
us to.move.in-that direction.”
In anticipation of this celebra-
tion, Pastor Crawford spent two
years doing in-depth research on
the congregation’s history which
revealed years of financial hard-
ship and difficulty dating back
to the mid 1800’s. Ebenezer had
its beginnings on December 25,
1826, and in 1829, thirty or more
families of “free persons of color”
procured a site on the banks of the
Robinson Branch of the Rahway
River, on Central Avenue, the site
of the current edifice.
On April 10, 1841, the
Minutes of the New York Annual
Conference of the A.M.E. Church
say, “It seems that the Rahway
Church was still in pecuniary
embarrassment, and in order
that it might be extricated, a
committee was appointed for
the purpose, which was to act in
conjunction with a Philadelphia
committee.” It was again
recorded in the
— Except for Trump
..continued on p4
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“4 SHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 27, 2016) - While
the conventional wisdom in American
politics has long been that someone who
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THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER FEBRUARY 29, 2016
DR. CALVIN H. SYDNOR Ill
The 20th Editor of ~— ‘% AD D R F S S ED
The Christian Recorder - = .
subject of this editorial is directed to the clergy, but it is applicable to the laity, too. This is not an A.M.E. issue; it’s a concern of clergy in almost
e every denomination and Christian faith group.
5 | have dealt with pastoral issues every year since being the Editor of The Christian Recorder and | have sleight of hand dealt with this issue
never “head-on.” | am dealing with this issue because | am concerned about preachers and it is important, not only for clergy, but because it also impacts ministry and fam-
ily. This issue needs to be addressed again and again and perhaps in the spirit of a joke | heard many years ago.
oA preacher arrived at his new pastoral appointment and his sermon was dynamic and the parishioners were
ecstatic about their new preacher. The next Sunday the preacher again waxed eloquent, but he preached the
same sermon. The church members and officers were concerned, but not alarmed because they thought he might just
have accidently re-preached the same sermon and they were looking forward to hearing what he was going to preach
on the next Sunday. The following Sunday he preached exactly the same sermon. The stewards were perplexed and it
showed and the pastor invited the steward pro tem to publicly express to the congregation any concerns about the ser-
mon. The steward stood up and commented on the congregation’s concern about the pastor preaching the same sermon
three Sundays in a row. The pastor stood up and responded, ‘Yes, | preached the same sermon for the past three Sundays
and you all are still doing the same things and are disobedient to the Word of God. | am going to stay on this sermon
until you change some of the behaviors addressed in the sermon and when you change, | will change sermons.”
It’s in the spirit of the humorous story about the preacher preaching the same sermon again and again until The sad aspect is that ignoring the important issue
the people follow the teaching and lessons of the sermon that | am addressing this editorial. has caused low-performing and failed ministries,
The issue | am addressing has not been dealt with in The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal divorces, breakup of families, addictions, rebellious
Church. 2012 and it has never. becn.dealt with, in any Book af Disc iplime-The issue cannot be tegistated and bishops children fractured relationships, low-esteem, depres-
cannot, or have not, enforced it. sion, poor health and in more serious cases, death.
The issue is ignored by presiding elders, pastors, official boards and even the General Conference. The issue The paradox about the issue is that many preachers
is among the most ignored issues in the profession of ministry. function superbly even though they are affected by
| don’t believe that I have ever heard any bishop or presiding elder publicly address the issue head-on the issue.
The A.M.E. Church and the Episcopal leadership can do a better job addressing the issue, but having said that, The major issue is pastoral self-care and in that
the issue is not systemic, but personal. sense it is primarily a personal issue, but a systemic
Laypersons are aware of the issue, and in many cases refuse to do anything about it even when it involves their one too.
spiritual leader. Every church and every member wants the perfect
if we are honest, we know that everyone is aware of the issue, but very few people do anything about it. We pastor, but the bad news is the perfect pastor is burned
won’t even spend time dealing with the issue at connectional or episcopal district meetings out, ineffective, in poor health, in deep ...continued on p3
THE CHETAN pensar crag ll i
The Christian Recorder of the African Meth Episcopal Church (U 16880) is
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..From A Weighty p2 financial debt, with very little sav-
ings; cynical and fed up with ministry, is in repetitive
occupational crises and overweight. Oooops, | have
used the “W” word!
WEIGHT
In the spirit of transparency let me say upfront, | am
overweight and with that admission, | have a license
to discuss the subject.
Weight is a sensitive subject and we don’t like to talk
about weight, and we don’t talk about it, but we need
to talk about it.
Too many preachers are overweight, not just A.M.E.
clergy, but clergy in general.
We have wonderful preachers who are dedicated
men and women of God. They have outstanding min-
istries, but it’s obvious they are not taking physical
care of themselves. Preachers can become so involved
in ministry to the neglect of their own physical
well-being.
| suspect some readers have stopped reading this
editorial because weight is such a sensitive issue, but
| have a few more things to say.
The A.M.E. Church needs to have a conversation
about weight and should develop programs to help
clergy to participate in weight loss and physical exercise
programs.
Have you noticed that our bishops are not overweight?
So, why don’t they pull overweight preachers aside
and counsel them about their weight, if they haven’t
done so; not publically, but pull them off to the side
for a private conversation? The preachers might be
offended at first, but in the long haul, they would
probably be appreciative.
Weight is such a sensitive subject and the issue of
weight must be addressed sensitively and with com-
passion and love. A first step in weight loss-is-the
admission from the individual that he or she has a
weight problem.
The reason for addressing weight is that being over-
weight can lead to serious medical issues. Weight and
wellness go “hand in hand.” If you are young, you might
get away with being overweight with no serious medi-
cal issues for a season, but over the long haul, medical
issues will develop.
The same holds true with physical exercise. Each
individual has to make up in his or her mind that he or
she wants to get themselves in excellent physical
conditioning.
The operative word in weight loss and physical con-
ditioning is “discipline.” And, sometimes, everybody
needs a push and episcopal leaders can take the lead.
It would be helpful for pastors, their churches, their
families if episcopal leaders had special presentations
and workshops about wellness and weight.
| am almost finished with weight and physical
exercise.
Weight loss programs include caloric intake, but any
weight loss program must include a regular regimen
of aerobic physical activities, e.g., walking, jogging,
swimming, jumping, etc.
Other activities include line-dancing, chair exercises
and yoga. Many communities have senior citizens’
programs. Local churches could implement programs.
And there is the “Y” and other organizations that have
wellness and weight programs.
Many pastors are in personal and family crises
because they fail to provide self-care for themselves
and the result is that they neglect their families and in
an insidious way, fail to be in good health so they can
take care of their congregations. In order for pastors
to take care of their families, they must first take care
of themselves.
tej intain good health
It’s important for clergy to main good healt
MONROVIA, LIBERIA-THE EMPOWERMENT TEMPLE
A.M.E. CHURCH CELEBRATES 14" ANNIVERSARY
By Sister Belinda 8. Yahwon*
THAT WAS THEN
JURTEEN YEARS AGO, the Rey. Katurah York Cooper packed her bags, armed with an M. Diy, degree
and her Elder’s ordination papers, and boarded a flight back home. It was like Peter walking on water.
Keeping her eyes on Jesus, she demonstrated the faith of ‘water walkers’ when she founded the Empowerment
Temple A.M.E. Church and opened the doors of the church on September 30, 2001.
Fourteen years later, the members of Empowerment Temple have been hosting several events to commemorate
her founding of Empowerment Temple.
Fourteen years symbolize double the biblical number of completion, When Job went through his great trial it
seemed like he would never recover. At the end Job received “double blessings for his trouble.”
There have been many challenges over the fourteen years. In the beginning, there was no elementary school,
now there is JHB HOPE Academy. In the beginning, there was no 501C/NGO, now there is Helping Our People
Excel, Inc. In the beginning, we were 16 in membership, now we are pushing 1000.
GET THE “HOOK UP" IN 2016
..continued on p7
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 you prepare for 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.
AMEC MINISTERS’ ALLIANCE CONGRATULATES MAYOR
SYLVESTER TURNER, CHRIS BROWN and AMANDA EDWARDS
— — a time where the
J 1 city of Houston is
positioned to be in
the fore-front of change, the city has
elected a leader that is passionate,
determined and has a proven presence
that will ensure Houston’s promi-
nence and future well-being. The
constituents have spoken, a leader
that has the skills and talents to fix
problems, bridge gaps, cross party
lines and make things happen has
been elected. A persistent and sea-
soned tenure present in community
services, this veteran of the Texas
legislature, the Honorable Sylvester
Turner, now carries the mantle for
change and effective leadership.
Coming from a modest and
humble beginning in the Houston’s
Acres Homes community, Turner
knows what it means to work hard
to achieve success. Promising to
bring more opportunities to
Houston’s middle class families,
Sylvester Turner ran for mayor to
be a voice for all, because,
“Houston works best when it works
for all of us.” Sylvester Turner
pledges to fix potholes, make the
city safer, address economic
inequalities, support local schools,
create partnerships, etc. All of this
can be seen in the work he did as
a state representative for more than
twenty-five years. He has the expe-
rience, connections and passion
to get the job done.
The Texas Conference Ministers’
Alliance (A.M.E. Church) is proud
to have pledged its support early
on to the Honorable Sylvester
Turner’s campaign. We stood firm
in our faith and belief that as a
community we have the responsi-
bility to elect people who hold our
best interests at heart. We have the
responsibility to ensure that we put
people in place that will be pur-
veyors of positive change in our
city. It was our choice and is our
belief that the Honorable Sylvester
Turner, Mayor-elect, is the change
agent to galvanize a positive direc-
tion for the multifarious require-
ments for a city destined to lead as
we grow.
The Texas Conference Ministers’
Alliance (A.M.E. Church) also
pledged its support early on to Chris
Brown, City Controller-elect, and
Amanda Edwards for City Council-
elect At-Large Position 4.
These dedicated servants are
poised and positioned to work with
the mayor and other elected officials
for the greater good of the whole
community. Their commitment to
a better city is evident in their
dedicated work and support of
overall community development
and improvement.
These leaders will help complete
a team that will go to work and lead
change along with the Honorable
Sylvester Turner, Mayor-elect. In
AMECPUBLISHINGHOUSE.COM
a world in which the only constant
is change, Houston has a mayor
that is not afraid of the
“constant.”
Bishop Vashti McKenzie,
Presiding Prelate, 10th Episcopal
District, A.M.E. Church:
“We offer our congratulations to
all the newly elected officials of
Houston. We are excited about the
future of Houston under their lead-
ership. We are glad to see Sylvester
Turner have the opportunity to take
the helm of the city and usher in a
bright future. Amid the backdrop
of challenges and crises which all
major cities are currently facing,
we pray that God will bless all these
elected officials to provide wise,
creative and innovative leadership
to the 4th largest city in the nation.”
The Rev. David Israel Madison,
President, Texas Conference
Ministers Alliance and Pastor,
Greater Ward A.M.E. Church:
“Our hearty congratulations go to
Sylvester Turner on his historic elec-
tion. He has been a champion for his
district and the entire state of Texas
for over 25 years and now he brings
all his experience to serve at city hall
as the Mayor of Houston. We stand
in prayer for all of our elected offi-
cials as they tackle the daunting
issues Houston faces. We pledge our
support to work with them to make
Houston the greatest city in the nation
and the world.” ..continued on p11
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THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER FEBRUARY 29, 2016
.-From Miraculous p1 May 21, 1842 minutes that, “The Rahw ay Church
Rev. Dr. Charles C. McLamore
2016
Candidate for
AME Church
Growth & Development
Greetings and blessings be unto the A.M.E. Church in the
4} name of Christ Jesus our king. I am pleased to offer my CALL
in Ministry to a greater level of SERVICE in the ficld of
EVANGELISM during our Historic General Conference Y car
of ‘JUBILEE ' at the very location where Bishop Richard Allen
) began the First Class of Bishops - Elected and Consecrated to
our Lord's Work 1816.
As a Candidate for The Director of Church Growth and Development out of
South Carolina (The 7th Episcopal District) I wish to extend "A Nation -State
African Methodist Episcopal" 'THANK YOU' to the General Connection for
the millions of Prayers you poured out for us in The 7th Episcopal District as
we went through the Gun Fires of "The Emanuel 9" in Charleston, SC and
then, what was described as "A 1000 Year Flood" in South Carolina during ER Onis
2015. Yes Isay THANK - YOU to one and all who kept the faith. Bishop
Daniel [actin Payne
appears again to have been in an embarrassing condition and a collection
was recommended to be taken up for its relief.”
“Reading about Ebenezer’s rich yet trying history, made me more
committed to setting them on a path of financial freedom and good
stewardship,” said Pastor Crawford.
In addition to burning the mortgage, the congregation dedicated its
most recent property acquisition - a little red-brick building formerly
known as, “The Rahway School for Colored Children.” In 1844, the
construction of the one-room schoolhouse for colored children com-
menced on the property belonging to Jacob R. Shotwell (former Vice
President of RSI Bank). In 1848, with hopes of giving the school some
stability, several Rahway citizens met in the home of Jacob R. Shotwell
to incorporate trustees for the Rahway School for Colored Children.
The school averaged an enrollment of approximately 35 pupils. By
1882, the Rahway schools integrated, and by the mid-1880s, the Rahway
School for Colored Children was closed. After the closing of the school in
the late 1800's, the building was turned into a one-bedroom home. How-
ever, in spite of its change in use, much of the structural and architectural
integrity of the building has remained intact, making this 185-year-old
building the oldest standing schoolhouse in the city of Rahway and per-
haps the oldest standing “Colored School in the State of New Jersey.”
In attendance at the mortgage burning were: Bishop Gregory G. M.
Ingram, Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District; Bishop Reginald
T. Jackson, Presiding Prelate of the Twentieth Episcopal District; Rev.
Dr. Jessica Kendall Ingram, Episcopal Supervisor of the First Episcopal
District; Rev. Vernard R. Leak, Presiding Elder of the New Brunswick
District of the New Jersey Annual Conference; Rev. Melvin E. Wilson,
Presiding Elder of the Brooklyn-Westchester District of the New York
Annual Conference; Rev. Rudolph P. Gibbs, former Pastor of Ebenezer
(1975-2007); pastors and preachers of the New Jersey Annual Confer-
ence; and a host of members and friends from the community.
Together with the officers and members of Ebenezer, Pastor Crawford
is prayerfully discerning the best way forward for this historic site, which
will become The African American History and Heritage Learning Center
of Rahway, NJ, as well as the future of Ebenezer Church as it continues
Our God is up to Something Good in this Season! You will be Getting More
With MCLAMORE in Church Growth And Development Department.
Hear the words of Oren Arnold:
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2) To an Opponent give Tolerance
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5) To All give Charity
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d Bishop 7) To Yourself give Respect : east ee
to do great work for God. William Paul Quinn Henry MeNeal Turner
GETTING MORE WITH MCLAMORE
Submitted by Ms. Paula Braxton (Trustee for Ebenezer).
Ms zy
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THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
MEDITATION BASED ON JAMES 1:19-27
By the Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Darby*
I'm WRITING THIS MEDITATION AS THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORAL SEASON
BECOMES AN INCREASINGLY INTERESTING SPECTACLE. Some candidates pur-
Suing the “evangelical Christian” vote are proclaiming their love for the Lord, to the delight of
potential voters who also say that they love the Lord.
What’s interesting, however, is how many of them apply their professed faith. They ridicule
the President of the United States, question his faith and oppose his every move. They speak
against allowing refugees fleeing terrorism into the United States - although Jesus and his earthly
parents were once refugees who fled to Egypt to avoid genocidal terrorism in Israel.
They label those seeking to immigrate to America from some countries as rapists and crimi-
nals, perpetuate divisive racial stereotypes, speak against aiding those in need and engage in
angry rhetoric that is rude, crude, insulting, inflammatory and often blatantly untrue.
Those candidates and their “evangelical Christian” supporters remind me of what Jesus said
about differentiating between those with authentic faith and those with bogus, self-serving
faith - that, like some trees, we’ll be known by the fruit that we bear.
Remember that not only in this political
season, but also as you travel life’s roads.
Authentic faith is something that’s not only
proclaimed in worship or at other convenient
or advantageous times, but that’s lived out in
the spirit of the “golden rule” articulated in
different ways by most world religions.
Authentic faith means reaching out to and
making the needy whole. Authentic faith means
defending those Jesus called “the least of these”
and seeing that their well-being isn’t trampled
under the feet of the powerful. Authentic faith
THE 2016 CANDIDATES’ GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING NEWS ITEMS TOTCR —
FEBRUARY 29, 2016
means respecting all of
those who cross your path,
even those with whom you
disagree, Authentic faith
means lifting others up
instead of putting them
down and not quietly accom-
modating to evil.
Do better than some of our presidential candi-
dates. Don’t just talk about your faith - live your
faith. You'll find new joy in life, new peace of mind,
new direction and new appreciation for the song
of my ancestors in the faith: “I’m gonna live so
God can use me, anywhere, Lord; any time.”
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 present, the article becomes an advertisement. Advertisements are still available
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
for Submitting Articles to The Christian Recorder.” All submissions will be in
Word format or imbedded (pasted) in an email message.
299
FIRST EPISCOPAL DISTRICT CALENDAR OF EVENTS
First District Bicentennial Celebration April 10, 2016
April 8, 2016
Social Justice Forum
Reenactment of the First General Conference
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
April 9, 2016
Sarah Bass Allen Awards and Dinner Theater
First District Plaza
First District Plaza
June 16-18, 2016
Planning Meeting
July 3-13, 2016
Episcopal Church
A Tribute to Sarah Allen for Youth and Young Adults
Ecumenical Worship Service
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church
Bicentennial Celebration of the African Methodist
THE TRUTH ISTHE LIGHT
BIBLICAL TEXT: “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to
deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out
of thine hand, O king.” — DANIEL 3:17 KJV
Th ACCOUNT IN THE 3RD CHAPTER OF DANIEL is a familiar
a story to most of us. It is a story many of us have probably heard
in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School when we were growing up as a child.
However, the truth of the matter is that even though many know this story of faith
and courage, some may still not practice this kind of faith in our lives each day.
What is faith? The Bible says that, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
evidence of things not seen.” In other words, even when it is not clear by faith we just
know. When our way seems dark by faith, we know that as long as we have Jesus every-
thing is going to be alright. When we can’t seem to make ends meet, more bills than we
have money, by faith we know that God will make a way some how. When nobody else
can give us what we need by faith we know that God is able. By faith we know that when
nobody else can, God can. By faith we know that when nobody else will, God will.
There are examples of this kind of faith in our everyday life. Think about it;
we go to a doctor whose name we can’t spell or pronounce. The doctor gives us
a prescription we can’t read. We take the prescription to a pharmacist we have
never met. The pharmacist gives us some medication we don’t understand and
we take it without thinking twice about it.
What I am attempting to demonstrate is proof that faith involves believing that
somebody else will do something that is not yet visible. Faith involves believing
that somebody else will do something that has not yet happened. In other words,
to have faith is to relinquish trust in ourselves and put that trust in something or
By the Rev. Dr. CHARLES R. Watkins, Jr.*
somebody else.
That’s the way it is with Jesus. We
have to decide that Jesus is what we need.
We have to make our way to Jesus. We
have to embrace Jesus and know by faith
that Jesus can hold us. We must know
by faith that Jesus will take care of us.
Faith is the medium by which the power
of God is made visible. Just like an artist
may use paint as his medium and a sculp-
tor might work through clay, God works
through faith. The Bible tells us that faith
moves mountains, heals the sick, raises
people from the dead, makes the lame
walk, makes the blind see and feeds mul-
titudes. It is also by faith that we can have
entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
In our text we find that the three
Hebrews boys believed by faith that “God
is able!” I submit that too many of us have
never learned to trust God. Too many of
us have never learned to have faith in God.
There are a whole lot of us, church folk,
who profess to be Christian, having a
relationship with and knowing Jesus, but
when things start to get a little rough we
July 6-13, 2016
50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
July 25-28, 2016
Christian Education Congress
Dover, Delaware
July 29-30, 2016
First Episcopal District Lay Organization Annual Meeting
Wilmington, Delaware
call on everybody else
but Jesus. The truth of
the matter is, when things get a little tight
some of us look and act as worried as folk
who don’t know Jesus. We are praising
the Lord during the good times but oh as
soon as things go bad we act like we don’t
know who to turn to or where our help is
coming from.
You see, the Lord didn’t say that
Christians wouldn’t have any more prob-
lems but he did say by faith we should
know, he’ll never leave us nor forsake us.
The Lord didn’t say that Christians
wouldn’t run into obstacles but he did say
our faith will move mountains. The Lord
didn’t say that for Christians everything
would be easy but he did say that by faith
we should know that with him everything
is possible. In other words, we should
have the kind of faith like the three Hebrew
boys. We have to say by faith, “I know
my God is able!” 90.4
amen
*The Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr. is the Pastor
of Morris Brown A.M.E. Church in Charleston, SC.
===== DSC04335.JPG =====
(1st Quarter)
Payments
Owed
Episcopal
Districts
718,378
164,943
316,323 |
357,473 | 240
355,000 |
332,454 |
106,342 |
213,713 |
[390,782 |
79,475 |
2,000 | ; a
(ist Quarter) | Difference from | (2nd Quarter)
Payments June
Received
AMEC Episcopal Districts
3rd Quarterly Payments
Payments
(Overpayment) Owed
($2,835) $494,331
(250,240) 218,185
(0) 166,486
- 316,323 |
357,761
339,177 |
332,454 |
-| 106,836 |
(126) 148,748 |
213,708 |
390,003 |
116,570 |
120,114 |
(15,100)
(10,095)
- (15,100)|
7,000 |
7,000 |
18,000 | Bai
2000 |
esi ——— +
|
|
r
|
|
April 2015 - December 2015
September
(Overpayment)
($5,669), $491,497 $
(718,667)| -250,242
27 | 166,512
-| 316,323
288 357,809
(15,823)| 333,449
-| 332,454)
494 | 107,329
(149,000)! (126)
_(5)| 213,708
(779), __ 390,003)
_(2)| 116,570)
2,114 120,335)
(15,100)| (15,100),
Payments
Owed
t
Payments
Received
_ 118,221
(2nd Quarter) | Difference from | (3rd Quarter) | (3rd Quarter) | Difference from
Payments
Received
December
(Overpayment)
($8,504)
| (250,242) |
166,500 | 12 |
316,323 | 0 |
357,473 | 336 |
350,000 | (16,551)
341,361 | (8,907) |
107,000 | 329 |
=i (126)
213,713 | (5),
390,783 | (780),
116,572 | (2))
2,114 |
(15,100) |
Payment
500,000
ee athe
: "Includes 3/31/15 Receivable PAID IN FULLwith an ‘overpayment =i
From Monrovia ps3 +~=We remember
our humble beginnings in the small
lobby space of a defunct bank build-
ing. We remember one bathroom
and one meeting room for every-
body. We remember no lights and
no running water. We remember
cardboard partitions, un-tiled floors,
no windows and leaking roofs.
THIS IS NOW
Now we do ministry in a multi-
complex 3-storey edifice with a
sanctuary capable of seating over
600 persons. Now we have adequate
classroom spaces (nursery through
6th grade), a boardroom and several
ministry meeting rooms.
Now, we touch the lives of hun-
dreds of families, single mothers,
young adults and children.
Now, Empowerment has become
a voice for social justice, economic
empowerment and spiritual refresh-
ing in the nation of Liberia and
across our Zion. Through it all, the
— Se es
manifestation of God’s blessings is
very visible.
With such a history, our 14th
Anniversary theme succinctly cap-
tures our testimony: “God’s Divine
Revelation: From Fulfillment to
Manifestation.” The biblical text of
Romans 4:20-21 is our Anniversary
scripture. It reads, “He did not
waver at the promise of God
through unbelief, but was strength-
ened in faith, giving glory to God,
and being fully convinced that what
God had promised God was also
able to perform.”
Empowerment Temple members,
led by Pastor Katurah York Cooper,
kicked off the celebration with the
unveiling of the official 14th
Anniversary Banner on Sunday,
September 27th.
On Wednesday evening, September
30th, we honored six sister churches
that have partnered with us over the
years. Each church was presented
with a certificate and given a moment
_____ Approved by _
___ Richard A.Lewis
AMEC Treasurer, CFO
to reflect on our journey together.
On Saturday, October 3rd, hun-
dreds of Empowermenters took to
the streets with a marching band
and banners held high proclaiming,
“The Lord has done great things for
us and we are glad!”
On Sunday morning, there was
not a vacant seat at the Anniversary
Thanksgiving Service.
At that service, fifteen dedicated
and committed members were
pinned, sashed and certificated as
Giants of Empowerment.
This year, our Anniversary
Preacher was our own founding
pastor, the Reverend Dr. Katurah
York Cooper, who exhorted us from
the theme, “Believe in a Grander
Vision.” She challenged us to build
on the big vision that God had
already given for Empowerment and
to get ready to embrace an even
grander vision for our personal lives.
The 14th Anniversary ended on
the afternoon of the 4th of October
_ _ ke feeb
___Date_
__Last Updated: 2/18/2016
with a fantastic Gospel Music and
Art Exposition in support and appre-
ciation of Dr. Katurah York Cooper.
What a week it was and what a
wonderful manifestation of the
fulfillment of God’s promises to
Empowerment Temple.
TO GOD BELONGS ALL THE
GLORY!
The Empowerment Temple A.M.E.
Church is located in the Central
Liberia Annual Conference of the
14th Episcopal District. Bishop
Clement W. Fugh is the Presiding
Prelate. Dr. Katurah York Cooper
is the founder and pastor. Email:
katu.cooper2012@gmail.com.
Facebook Pages: Members of
Empowerment Temple & Hope
%
}
Liberia.
*By Sister Belinda S. Yah-
won, the Steward Pro-tempore of
Empowerment Temple A.M.E.
Church in Monrovia, Liberia.
...From Faith and p1 And on the Democratic side, the
share of Americans who say Hillary Clinton is
not a religious person now stands at 43%, which
is sharply higher than it was in the summer of
2007, when she was seeking the presidential
nomination for the first time.
The new survey, conducted Jan. 7-14, 2016,
among 2,009 adults, finds that the leading
Republican presidential candidates are more widely
viewed as religious people than are Clinton and
Bernie Sanders. Roughly two-thirds of adults (68%)
say they think Ben Carson is “very” or “somewhat”
religious, while 65% say the same about Ted Cruz
and 61% think Marco Rubio is a religious person.
By comparison, 48% of adults say they believe
Clinton is a religious person, and 40% think
Sanders is “very” or “somewhat” religious.
The major exception to this pattern is Donald
Trump; just 30% of U.S. adults view Trump as
a religious person.
The new survey confirms that being an atheist
continues to be one of the biggest perceived short-
comings a hypothetical presidential candidate
could have, with 51% of adults indicating they
would be less likely to vote for a presidential can-
didate who does not believe in God. The study also
AMECPUBLISHINGHOUSE.COM
shows that having a president who shares their
religious beliefs is important to many Americans,
with about half of U.S. adults saying it is “very
important” (27%) or “somewhat important” (24%)
to have someone in the White House who shares
their religious perspective. This view is particularly
common with Republicans, among whom 64% say
it is at least “somewhat important” to them that
the president share their religious beliefs.
At the same time, many Republicans think
Trump would be a good president despite his
perceived lack of religiousness. Of the 56% of
GOP voters who think Trump would be a good
..continued on p9
Nee
===== DSC04336.JPG =====
f ceed GREE N
"leside, LW / Publis A |
AME Su i
Unk le)
‘MUING
21st Century
MINISTRY
Publishing
4k &k ——
x,
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Led Mount Hermon AMEC, Miami
Gardens, FL in completing a $6.2
million Worship Center and
Community Center in 2007
Purchased 4 acres of land for Grant
Memorial AMEC, Jacksonville, FL
Purchased 5 acres of land for
Mount Hermon AMEC, Miami
Gardens, FL
Founder of the Richard Allen
Leadership Academy (First
all-Boys Charter School in the
State of Florida in 2007)
Purchased 3 acres of land for New
Bethel AMEC, Jacksonville, FL
Increased Membership and
Stewardship at every
congregation and District served.
ELECPHENRY E. GREEN. JR.
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER of the AMEC Sunday School Union
===== DSC04337.JPG =====
ASH WEDNESDAY, PALM SUNDAY, G00D
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
-- Pentecost Sunday - May 15, 2016
Read more: http:/www.calendarpedia.com/.
..From A Weighty p3_ which includes height and weight, because healthy pastors can
be more effective pastors.
Here is the word for every preacher:
| would tell pastors and preachers that they need to set up a physical training
program and be committed to doing physical exercise at least five times a week, but
no less than three times a week, e.g., jogging, walking, swimming, join the YMCA or
some other athletic facility.
For younger preachers, | suspect physical exercise would probably take care of the
weight. Older preachers should consult their physicians before beginning a rigorous
exercise or diet program.
Dealing with weight and wellness is a personal decision. It’s as personal a decision
as a person accepting to be a Christian. One is physical and the other is spiritual —
and both are important!
Okay, | am finished with “weight,” but | have some other issues to address and |
want to expand on some of the top issues of ministry that destroy members of the
clergy, their families and ministries and at the top of the list is...
.«From Remembering p1 matic : ichar i
gp . mathematic s. He and Richard Allen became friends, bond-
ing together over their similar life experiences and their desire to uplift the black
community. They were acknowledged as the leaders behind the Free African
Society that was founded in 1787 as a mutual benefit society to provide for the
care for widows, orphans, indigent persons as well as to assist in burial expenses,
They both served as lay preachers at St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church
and together led the walkout on that fateful day after being accosted by church
officers during prayer. “The African Church” was formed by them as an indepen-
dent house of worship.
It was here where their paths diverged into parallel courses. While Allen and
Jones both wanted to affiliate with the Methodist Church, a majority of their fol-
lowers wanted to go with the Episcopal Church. Those who wanted to maintain
the Methodist doctrine left The African Church with Allen in 1793 to form what
would become Mother Bethel. The African Church would eventually become
“The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas” with Absalom Jones as its deacon
and lay reader. Jones would finally be ordained a priest in 1802 becoming the first
African American to be ordained an Episcopal priest.
Despite these differences in church affiliation (and a legal proceeding due to a
failed business), Allen and Jones remained lifelong friends until Jones’ death in
1818. In “Freedom’s Prophet”, Richard Newman extensively records the relation-
ship between the pair. For example, Jones was one of Allen’s consecrators at the
first General Conference and in his will left Allen his favorite walking cane. Even
though Jones was Allen’s senior by almost fifteen years, they appeared to have a
mutual respect and genuinely worked well together for the black people of
Philadelphia.
The Episcopal Church celebrates the Feast Day of Absalom Jones on the day
of his death, February 13th. The A.M.E. Church observes Founder’s Day on the
birthday of Richard Allen, February 14th. In some places, A.M.E. churches have
joint celebrations with Episcopal churches in honor of Jones and Allen to celebrate
the friendship of these men and their joint contributions to religious liberty and
social uplift for African Americans during the early history of the United States.
The following collect (brief prayer) is said during services on Absalom Jones’ Feast
Day:
“Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, hon-
oring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in
our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you.
have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen!” ‘
As we reflect upon the 200 years since our first General Conference, may we
also never forget Absalom Jones and his partnership with our founder. Bishop
Michael Curry’s election may open a new chapter in the relationship between our
denominations and a chance to build upon our shared heritage.
*John Thomas III is a member of the General Board and a Ph.D. student at
..From Faith and p7 or great president,
a substantial minority of them
(17% of Republican registered vot-
ers overall) say they think Trump
is not religious. The pattern is very
different for the other leading GOP
candidates; virtually all
Republicans who think Cruz,
Rubio and Carson would be suc-
cessful presidents (and who express
a view about their religiousness)
also say they view those candidates
as at least somewhat religious. Just
2% of GOP voters think Rubio
would be a good president and that
he is not particularly religious,
with just 1% saying the same about
Cruz and Carson.
The new survey shows that among
religious groups, 52% of white evan-
gelical Protestant voters (regardless
of party affiliation) think Trump
would make a “good” or a “great”
president. Evangelicals express a
similar degree of confidence that
Carson (52%) and Cruz (49%) would
be successful presidents. They are
less convinced that other Republican
candidates would be good presi-
dents. And few evangelical voters
think Bernie Sanders (16%) or
Clinton (15%) would be good
presidents.
On the Democratic side, the view
that Sanders and Clinton would be
good presidents is most common
among black Protestants and reli-
giously unaffiliated voters (i.e., reli-
gious “nones”). Fully half of reli-
giously unaffiliated registered voters
(51%) think Sanders would be a
successful president, while 42%
think Clinton would be a good or
great president. Among black
Protestant voters, 62% think Clinton
would be a “good” or a “great”
president, while 36% say this about
Sanders. Among both groups, just
15% or fewer think any of the
Republican candidates would be
good presidents.
The survey finds that 68% of U.S.
the University of Chicago in the Political Science department.
adults believe that religion is losing
influence in American society. And
most who hold this view - 51% of
all U.S. adults — say they think reli-
gion’s declining influence is a bad
thing for American society.
The survey also shows that 40%
of Americans think there has been
too little expression of religious
faith and prayer by political lead-
ers, compared with 27% who say
there has been too much religious
talk by politicians. These figures
are considerably different from the
results of a survey taken at a similar
point in the 2012 presidential elec-
tion cycle. At that time, there were
more people who thought there
was too much religious discussion
(38%) than who said there wasn't
enough (30%).
Other key findings include:
Candidates are viewed as religious
by more people in their own party
ne
AMECPUBLISHINGHOUSE.COM
than the opposing party. The big-
gest partisan gap on these questions
is seen in views about Hillary
Clinton; two-thirds of Democrats
say she is “very” or “somewhat”
religious, while two-thirds of
Republicans express the opposite
view, saying that she is “not too”
or “not at all” religious.
Like Hillary Clinton, Barack
Obama is also seen as less religious
today than in 2007; about one-third
of adults (35%) now say Obama is
“not too” or “not at all” religious,
up from 9% in 2007.
Half of Americans (51%) believe
religious conservatives have too much
control over the GOP, and more than
four-in-ten (44%) think that liberals
who are not religious have too much
control over the Democratic Party.
Two-thirds of Democrats say the
GOP has been co-opted by religious
conservatives, while most
Republicans reject this rrinved on p10
===== DSC04338.JPG =====
THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
FEBRUARY 29, 2016
FIRST EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
A.NLE. CHURCH
WMS DAY
St. John, Niagara Falls, Host
MARCH 28, 2016
WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION
Saint James A.M.E. Church
FOURTEENTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
The Rev. Tar-Kolo Miller, Host
A.M.E. CHURCH re
SIXTE
MAY 16-22, 2016 632 E. Broad Street OIE eee
PHILADELPHIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Savannah, GA 31401 ,,*
MAY 17, 2016 Church Phone: 5
was DAY urch Phone: (912) 236-2051
The Reverend J. C. Roberts, Host Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Dan Stevenson, Host P.E.
SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT | APRIL 26-29, 2016
Mother Bethel, Host
BISHOP GREGORY G. M. ADLE CHURCH | AUGUSTA GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE BISHOP CLEMENT W. FUGH
INGRAM Stone Springfield A.M.E. Church MARCH 4-6. 2016 ———
MARCH 1-6, 2016 7476 Georgia Highway 296 SIERRA LEONE ANNUAL CONFERENCE BISHOP JOHN F. WHITE
DELAWARE ANNUAL CONFERENCE ) Stapleton, GA 30823 Bishop Campbell A.M.E. Church, Host Church MARCH 2-6, 2016
MARCH 2, 2016 The Rev. Forrest Dickey, Host Pastor Freetown, Sierra Leone VIRGIN ISLANDS ANNUAL
WMS DAY The Rev. Bertram Smith, Host P.E. j
Delaware Ministerial Alliance, Host raya oe Bethel Neo Church
MAY 3-6, 2016 MARCH 11, 2016 St. Croix, Virgi
ve — MACON GEORGIA ANN - Cro, Vino Reais
vera 8 13,2016 RETA S OReeTANT Anan iA A UAL CONFERENCE NIGERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE The Rev. Uklyn Hendricks, Host Pastor
WILLIAMS II ' Christ Love A.M.E. Church, Host Church and Host P.E
MARCH 9, 2016 WILLIAMS II WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION pee
lle Ife, Nigeria
Phone: (340) 718-0495
The Rev. Margaret Fadehan, Host Pastor
WMS DAY
Bermuda Ministerial Alliance, Host
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
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.
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
MARCH 15, 2016
TOGO/BENIN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
St. John A.M.E. Church, Host Church
Lome, Togo
The Rev. John Afawoubo, Host Pastor
MARCH 28-APRIL 3, 2016
NEW JERSEY ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MARCH 28, 2016
WMS DAY
Atlantic City District, Host MAY 17-20, 2016
ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHEDULES
The Rev. Timothy Sands, Host Pastor ATLANTA NORTH GEORGIA MARCH 18-20, 2016
APRIL 12-17, 2016 The Rev. Patrick Brinson, Host P.E. ANNUAL CONFERENCE GHANA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
NEW ENGLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE MAY 16, 2016 St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Host Church APRIL 28-MAY 1, 2016
APRIL 13, 2016 MARCH 8-11, 2016 WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION Takoradi (Sekondi), Ghana EUROPEAN ANNUAL CORFERSIES
WMS DAY SOUTHWEST GEORGIA Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church The Rev. Stephen Ainu, Host Pastor Richard Allen A.M.E. Church, Host Chueh
Bethel, Bloomfield, Host ANNUAL CONFERENCE 492 North Marietta Parkway NE Londen aaa
MARCH 7, 2016 Marietta, GA 30060 MARCH 23-25, 2016 The Rev. Rudolph Aaron, Host Pastor
APRIL 25-MAY 1, 2016 WMS ANNUAL CONVENTION Church Phone: (770) 422-6791 CENTRAL LIBERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE and Host P.E,
NEW YORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE Live Oak A.M.E. Church The Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Marcus, Host Pastor | Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church, Phone: (442) 038e a
APRIL 26, 2016 402 Baldwin Street The Rev. Dr. David Rhone, Host P.E. Host Church
_WMs DAY Donaldsonville, GA 39845 Monrovia, Liberia MAY 31-JUNE 3, 2016
Bridge Street, Host Church Phone: (229) 524-2395 JUNE 8-10, 2016 The Rev. Dr. Katurah Cooper, Host Pastor PLANNING MEETING
The Rev. Millie Rambeau, Host Pastor and PLANNING MEETING The Rev. LB Beanies
MAY 10-14, 2016 Host PE. Macon Marriott Centreplex MARCH 28-31, 2016 The Rev. Clarence Turpin, P.E.
WESTERN NEW YORK ANNUAL 940 Coliseum Drive LIBERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Kingston, Jamaica
Sto MARCH 29-APRIL 1, 2016 Macon, GA 31217 Mt. Ashton A.M.E. Church, Host Church
GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Site Phone: (478) 621-5300 Cape Palmas, Liberia
THE 50” QUADRENNIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE OBSERVER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Go to the AMEC Website: http://ame-church.com/. From the main Here is the link to that information:
page you will see banners that continuously scroll at the top of the page. http://ame-church.com/fiftieth-quadrennial
When the General Conference banner comes up you can click on it to -session-of-the-general-conference/.
get additional information.
RETIRED BISHOP FREDERICK H. TALBOT AND RETIRED EPISCOPAL SUPERVISOR
SYLVIA TALBOT VISITED WITH EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT OF GUYANA
ee es Bete Seton for all.” During our visit and only after | the “Garden City of the Caribbean.”
DECEMBER 2,| The new President on the 50th | six months in office, the President | There is a great sense of hope for
2015 DURING | Anniversary of Independence of | had already begun the restoration | the nation as the President leads it
OUR VISIT TO | Guyana from colonial rule produced | of Georgetown to become again | into the future.
a document, which traces the move-
GUYANA, retired Episcopal
Supervisor Dr. Sylvia Talbot and I
paid a courtesy call on His
Excellency, the Honorable David
Arthur Granger, Executive President
of Guyana. We were accompanied
by my niece, Lucinda Harding.
President Granger was sworn in
as Guyana’s eighth Executive |
President on May 16th, 2015 and |
extended the “olive branch” to the |
outgoing party and administration |
by pledging to work for the unity |
of our country and the “good life |
_.From Faith and p9 notion. Conversely, two-thirds
of Republicans believe that secular liberals have
too much power in the Democratic Party, while
two-thirds of Democrats disagree.
One-quarter of adults (26%) say they would
be less likely to vote for a gay or lesbian presi-
dential candidate, while 69% say it would make
no difference to their vote. Since 2007, the share
of Americans who say a candidate’s sexual
ment from colonialism to the inde-
pendent nation on May 26, 1966.
President Granger is a retired
military officer who served as
Commander of the Defence Force
and retired with the rank of
Brigadier. He is a graduate of the
University of Guyana and pursued
post-graduate Studies in
| International Relations at the
/a communicant of the Anglican
Church.
University of the West Indies. He is |
orientation would not matter in their vote has
been steadily rising, while the share who say
they would be less likely to support a gay or
lesbian candidate has been declining.
There are more than twice as many
Republicans who say they would be less likely
to support a presidential candidate who has
been an elected official in Washington for many
years as who would be more likely to support
such a candidate (44% vs. 18%). Among
Democrats, the balance of opinion leans in the
opposite direction; 27% see extensive Washington
experience as a positive, compared with 19%
who see it as a liability.
The full report is for immediate release and
available at: http://www.pewforum.org/2016/01/27/
faith-and-the-2016-campaign/
Pew Research Center is a ..continuedon p11
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«From Faith and p10 nonparti
the public about the issues,
attitudes and trends shap- its primary funder.
ing America and the world.
It does not take policy
positions. Pew Research
san fact tank that informs Center is a subsidiary of
Che Pew Charitable Trusts,
Press Release
«From AMEC Ministers’ p3
American Methodist denomination based in
Annual Conference.
A.M.E. Church, is a predominantly African
Texas Conference Ministers’ Alliance is
made up of pastors and ministers in the Texas
The African Methodist
Episcopal Church, usually referred to as the
the United States. It is the oldest independent
denomination founded by blacks in the world.
It was founded by the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816,
A.M.E. CHURCH CONNECTIONAL LAY ORGANIZATION TO HOST BENEFIT BREAKFAST
Th e Connectional Lay Organization (CLO),
Glover, President, will host a benefit breakfast at the site
of the 50th Quadrennial Session of the A.M.E. Church
General Conference on Sunday, July 10, 2016 at 7:00 a.m.
The event will take place at the Philadelphia Convention
Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The breakfast is a
fundraiser for the Connectional Lay Organization’s
Scholarship and Disaster Relief Funds.
During the 2012 General Conference, the CLO reached
its goal of raising $50,000 and was able to award three
| $5,000 scholarships in lieu of the $1,000 previously awarded
under the leadership of Dr. Willie C. |
to individual scholarship recipients. The Connectional
Lay Organization also was able to give substantial con-
tributions for disaster relief in Haiti, the Dominican
Republic and to several African countries thanks to a
successful fundraiser and the guests who attended.
This major CLO event is co-chaired by William
“Bill” Ayers and Cheryl Hammond Hopewell. A
primary goal is to raise $60,000 at this breakfast
fundraiser to continue the Organization’s support of
our scholarship and disaster relief funds. Another
goal is to have 100 youth/young adults in attendance
to share in this major occasion, A dynamic program
has been planned with outstanding talent from the
Host (1st) District and Connectional participation
during the breakfast.
Tickets are available now. Your $85 donation will help
us realize our financial goal. Please contact your Episcopal
District Lay Organization President or his/her designee for
tickets to support this worthy cause.
*Submitted by Brother William Ayers, Jr.
ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS CEREMONY RECOGNIZING THE ISSUANCE
OF STAMP HONORING RICHARD ALLEN
And the excitement continues! A remarkable event unfolded after publication in The Christian Recorder
sre DELLA MOSES WALKER, a member of St. James A.M.E. Church
in Newark, New Jersey, moved by the Spirit to visit St. Croix on a short
vacation, read in The Christian Recorder retired Bishop Frederick Talbot’s excite-
ment on seeing the Richard Allen stamp. Sister Della Moses Walker immediately
contacted Presiding Elder Uklyn Hendricks and officials of the postal service in
St. Croix, who put in motion arrangements for a celebration on February 2, 2016
to recognize the issuance of the Richard Allen stamp.
The Governor of the Virgin Islands is a member of the Bethel A.M.E. Church. He was
contacted and got involved in helping to
bring the Richard Allen Postage Stamp
Ceremony in St. Croix to fruition.
On Tuesday, February 2nd some 40
members representing the three congre-
gations on the island gathered at the
Richmond Post Office at 9:00 a.m.
(EST) / 10:00 a.m. St. Croix time, to
purchase stamps. The Postmaster, Louis
Jackson, the Governor’s representative;
Ms. Stephanie Williams, St. Croix
Administrator, were also present as was
the press.
By 11:00 a.m. the post office supply
had been sold out and by noon stamps
in three other post offices on the island
had been sold out. At the post office,
the Postmaster, Louis Jackson, the
Governor’s Representative Mrs. Walker
and Bishop Talbot made remarks
recorded by the press, which later
appeared on television.
The motorcade then proceeded to
Bethel A.M.E. Church nearby in
Christiansted where Presiding Elder
Hendricks had planned an imaginative
Photo credit: Della Moses Walker
and moving program which included
a prayer by the Reverend Carlos
Perkins, Pastor of St. Luke A.M.E.
Church, and remarks by Mrs. Walker,
Postmaster Jackson and Mrs. Stephanie
Williams. Bishop Talbot was invited
to tell the story of Richard Allen, which
he did enthusiastically using narratives
from his book, God’ Fearless Prophet.
Hymns were appropriately placed in
the program, beginning with, “O for
Photo credit: Della Moses Walker
of St. Clement, AMEC #42, and clos-
ing with “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” i Bishop Allen followed at Bethel A.M.E, St. Croix
Reverend Hilborn Talbot. 90th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
an (Retired), left, and Louis A. Jackson, Postmaster, United States Virgin Islands
a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” then (cy ¢yaiy St. Thomas and St John), Also attending ‘walk in event, Dr. Sylvia
Richard Allen’s hymn, “Ministers Who [albot, Supervisor of Ls ea ee ite fn
ing” Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church St. Croix, Pastor Carlos Ferkins OF ol. LUKE A.1VI.©.
ae pean Saad Church, St Croix, Sisters Vestine Williams, Ruth Hansen, Carvell James and a
host of members from the Bethel A.IV.E. Church family. A Reception and Tribute
AMECPUBLISHINGHOUSE.COM
Bethel A.M.E. Church served us refreshments following the program.
We are grateful to the Presiding Elder for his guidance and leadership in producing
a memorable event, to Sister Della Moses Walker for her enthusiasm and energy in
promoting and helping to plan the event and to the Postmaster for providing assistance
in this unprecedented and historic event. It will long be remembered in this small
island where the African Methodist Episcopal Church was started in 1920.
And the excitement continues!
*Submitted by retired Bishop Frederick and retired Episcopal Supervisor, Dr. Sylvia Talbot.
Members of the St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Croix, ‘walk Retired Bishop Frederick Hilborn Talbot, 90th Bishop of the African Methodist
in’ The Wilbert R. Armstrong Main Post Office and purchase Richard Allen
Black Heritage Stamps on Feb. 2, 2016, the first day of sale. The main post
Episcopal Church, is a published expert on the history of Bishop Richard Allen.
Bishop Talbot advocated many years for this stamp, saying, “Its finally here and |
office sold out of Richard Allen Stamps before 10:00 am. Postmaster Jackson am overly excited! Richard Allen was a remarkable man, and we should all read
was amazed, and immediately placed a new order to meet the demand.
his story, and leam from Allen's struggles and victories.” Bishop Talbot shown
purchasing Richard Allen stamps from Postal Supervisor Mrs. Comer-Monelle.
=
Photo credit: Della Moses Walker
Photo credit: Della Moses Walker
Blondelle P. Lawrence, St luke A.M.E, St. Croix, ‘walks in’ to purchase Richard
Allen Black Heritage stamps and mails letter, on the first day of sale, in honor
of Richard Allen, Founder and First Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church. Bishop Allen negotiated a deal, and bought his freedom from his slave
master, then created a plan to help others buy their freedom. He developed an
economic survival plan, built schools, universities and societies to prosper and
uplift the Negro race. In a song verse, penned by Bishop Allen, he wrote: 0
sinners, shun your sinful courses, and trifle not your time away.”
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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
NYERS, GA
STONE MOUNTAIN, GA Ee) ;
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
NTER ANTIOCH MANOR ESTATES
for ots lates bdlvgeigtat 4711 BISHOP MING BLVD; STONE MOUNTAIN, GA
—6AM—6PM, MONDAY—FRIDAY 770-322-8839 770-322-8234-FAX
1 Oe a he eae x WWW.ANTIOCHMANORLIVING.COM
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Date
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2016-2-29
