Total

• The ‘Fourth’ Estate is the digital monthly newsletter of the 4th Episcopal District of which Mrs. Saundra Roberson serves as Editor -in-Chief. This is the means by which the members of the 4th stay connected and informed.

Section IV. Stewardship and Fiscal Condition

Total amount of General Funds assessed and paid during each year of the quadrennium.

Annual Conferenc e General Funds Assessed 2018 General Funds Paid 2018 General Funds Assessed 2019 General Funds Paid 2019 General Funds Assessed 2020 General Funds Paid 2020 General Funds Assessed 2021 General Funds Paid 6/30/22

South LA $57,195.00 $57,195.00 $57,195.00 $57,195.00 $57,195.00 $57,195.00 $57,195.00 $22,257.00 Louisiana $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 143.310.20 $64,771.25 MS South $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 $143,310.20 No-East $185,456.60 $185,456.60 $185,456.60 $185,456.60 $185,456.60 $185,456.60 $185,456.60 $185,456.20 Total $529,272.00 $529,272.00 $529,272.00 $529,272.00 $529,272.00 $529,272.00 $385,961.80 $415,794.65

Total amount General Funds assessed and paid during the fiscal year in which the General Conference is held.

Name of Annual Conference General Funds Paid 2018 South-Louisiana $22,257.00 Louisiana $64,771.25 Mississippi-South $143,310.00 North-East Mississippi $185,456.60 Total $415,794.85

The total amount raised in the Annual Conferences for each year of the quadrennium.

Annual Conference

South Louisiana Louisiana Mississippi-South North-East Mississippi

Total 2018 2019 2020 2021

$189,673.00 $154,670.00 $225,754.00 $256,013.00 $486,467.00 $466,600.00 $452,444.00 $426,067.00 $1,485,002.00 $667,633.00 $797,662.00 $783,564.00 $1,026,853.00 $1,101,151.00 $1,051,151.00 $1,091,151.00 $3,187,995.00 $2,390,054.00 $2,527,011.00 $2,556,795.00

[Nota Bene: A current auditor’s state accompanies this report)

The fiscal condition of all Episcopal District properties including valuations and indebtedness.

We are pleased to report that, thanks to Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr., there is no indebtedness on the Episcopal residence located at 206 Springwood Drive, Terry, MS 39170; nor the Episcopal District office located at 5417 Robinson Road Extension, Jackson, MS 39204. An extension. An extension of the Episcopal office for Louisiana, on lease in the office complex of the Williams Memorial CME Temple, 3301 St. Matthias Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana.

Section VI. Challenges and Concerns

As we experience it, there are two primary challenges facing the 4th District, but, we dare say, are not unique to the 4th . The first is this “post-Christian” age in which the church is at best marginalized and at worst, irrelevant. Today, only 47% of the population in America considers itself religious, of that dwindling percentage only 34% are members of any church. Further, the vast majority of these are age 60 and above. This reality is laid bare in the membership and ministerial statistics of the 4th . It is reflected in the paucity of youngpersons entering the itinerancy of the church in this District. We have no facile answers to the challenge this age poses to the church. However, we agree with Dr. James E. Washington that the popular religion we see on television and zoom, which he describes as ‘moral therapeutics based on Deism” is a part of the challenge —not its solution. Further, weare not convinced that the dwindling of persons entering the ministry of the church can be addressed by simply offering financial inducements such as competitive salaries, better health packages, assured retirement benefits or even guaranteed long term appointments.

The second challenge experienced in the 4th that is of serious concerns a bit awkward to state in this General Conference setting. But to put it bluntly, it seems that we are “CME-ing” CMEs to death. Paragraph 700 of the Discipline, for example, calls for twenty Connectional Days each CME Church in the 4th is supposed to observe. There are only 52 Sundays in a year —meaning 38% of the Lord’s Day are CME Days— and most of them ask for an offering. Then, of course, there are the demands of the Annual Conference, the Presiding Elder district askings, the incessant requests of certain General ‘Departments, not to mention the countless workshops conducted by somebody almost every week. Each one of these is good in and of itself, but when they are put together, our concern is that they are draining the spiritual, emotional, and financial life of local CME churches

Conclusion

There are times when the church must face the unexpected. Such was the case in the 4th District this quadrennium when the Presiding Bishop, C. James King, Jr, was beset with some health challenges. Accordingly, he asked Bishop Paul A. G. Sewart, Sr. to assist him. On September 22, 2021, the College of Bishops assigned Bishop Othal H, Lakey, Retired, to be the Associate Bishop, to carry out all administrative responsibilities on behalf of Bishop King until this General Conference. We conclude this second report in the Episcopal ministry of Bishop C. James King, Jr. by saying he has run his race and finished his course. And when the Episcopal Committee reports that his character passes, he will be honorably retired.

Accordingly, grateful recognition and thanks are given to Bishop Stewart along with Mrs. M.Erlene Stewart for their help and assistance. Words cannot express the loving and unceasing support of Constance, the First Daughter of the 4th and to “Sis” for keeping the “home fires” burning. Words of thank should also be extended to Dr. Wayne A. Williams for his personal support of Bishop King as well as to Reverend Bobby G. Wilson for his unwavering service as the Executive Assistant. Last, but by no means least, we express not only appreciation but love to Dr. Elfreda Almond Lakey for her understanding though reluctant acquiesce for her” retired” husband to “be on the road again”. And when her husband left to taken extended visits to Mississippi and Louisiana, he loving comment always was, “I’ll be waiting for you when you get back home.”

Mr. Chairman, permit me to close with this personal note. On September 22, 2021, an hour after the College of Bishops assigned me Associate Bishop of the 4th, my oldest son, James Othal, died. Though his death was not entirely unexpected, it hurt and has left and aching void in my heart. Trying to serve the people of the 4th these past nine months, however, has soothed that hurt and helped to fill that aching void. Thank you, members of the 4th.

And to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church I say in closing that I may report to you ever again, and if I never see you in this setting any more, rest assured that I will be there with you when the morning stars sing together and the sons of God shall shout for joy.