Central Texas

Section V. The State of Academic Institutions

Lane College, founded in 1882, continues to be a leading institution for the preparation of men and women for civic responsibility and leadership in society. Its mission statement is as follows:

With strong ties to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, the College’s Mission is to develop the “whole student”. Academic excellence is the institution’s top priority, and it is achieved through a student-centered and nurturing approach to learning supported by excellent teaching, teach-related research, and service. The College believes that one’s intellectual capability coupled with social and spiritual growth is essential to the development of a well-rounded individual. In keeping with this Mission, the College offers creative and enriching academic programs to prepare students for their chosen careers; and encourages active student engagement to cultivate life-long learning. Dr. Logan C. Hampton, Jr. was elected the 10th President in 2014. He has with the help of the Board of Trustees set the vision, mission and goals of Lane College to transform the students to become world-class scholars. Our hope is for Lane College to partner with corporate America to prepare our students for successful careers. We have with the help of the Trustee Board of the College, Alumni and other special fundraising events increased donations to the college. We are proud of the Impact Movement and Ministry of Discipleship for the students at Lane College, and the future plans for Lane College to become Lane University. The partnership between the CME Church and the CVS Pharmacy has produced positive results for the students at Lane College and the Administration. With the help of Dr. Willie Mae Willett, CME Coordinator, and Dr. Olivia Lang, CVS Executive and the Chair of the Board, Bishop Henry M. Williamson Sr., a $150,000 in student scholarships has been given along with a $400,000 mock pharmacy being built on the campus to train students to become healthcare professionals.

Section VI. Challenges and Concerns

A narrative stating such from the Episcopal leader.

Improving the spiritual leadership, health and numerical growth of the First Episcopal District has been our number one priority. I recommend we study and implement my recent book, “God Did It”. This book presents us withthe Eight (8) Quality Characteristics of Healthy Growing Churches by Christian A. Schwarz. These eight characteristics were proven to be effective in our sixteen yearsin ministryat the CarterTemple CME Church in Chicago where we grew from 300 to 3000 members and 50 ministries. This book is designed, especially, to help CME churches of any size to increase their membership.

We also recommend two other books that are written by Methodist’s pastors who have successfully grown their churches. (1) “12 Standards of Leadership” written by Reverend Dr. William D. Watley, and (2) “Go Grow (Build) Your Church” written by Reverend Dr. James F. Miller, for both clergy and lay.

Clergy, Lay Institute For Evangelism (C-LIFE)

To achieve the goal of church growth, we have implemented the C-LIFE (Clergy, Lay Institute for Evangelism) to train both clergy and laity on how to share their faith. Reverend Dr. Phillip S. Nelson coordinated these efforts as our Evangelism and Church Growth Consultant.

On designated Saturdays, on each presiding elders’ district, we have been engaged in “Love Journeys” in the communities of local CME churches. These journeys consisted of Bishop, presiding elders, local pastors and laity from the region going door-to-door distributing Love Packets (door hangars). The Love Journey Packets consist of a Salvation Tract, a brief history of the CME Church and our CME related colleges (Lane, Paine, Miles, Texas, Phillips School of Theology). During the workshop on that Saturday, we trained from the Empowerment Pack which contains the training material needed to equip our members to be effective witnesses.

Seven Day Prayer Ministry Call …Each One, Reach One for Jesus

We have started the First Episcopal District Seven Day Prayer Call every morning with Bishop Williamson, our Prayer Coordinator, Reverend Willie Ward, Jr., Reverend Dr. Phillip S. Nelson, our Church Growth Consultant, and a Presiding Elder leading in prayer and presenting a prayer leader (from their district) for that day. The Call is held from Sunday through Saturday from 6:00am to 7:00am where all members of the First Episcopal District are encouraged to call in and pray each morning. The prayer call has a focused theme with scriptures to help our local churches to grow Spiritually, Numerically and Financially.

Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital (CCCH)

The First Episcopal District has led the way in the revitalization of the Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital. I, and the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. has joined together raising the awareness of revitalizing and renovating historical value of revitalizing Memphis’ only owned and operated African American hospital. This hospital was founded by the Collins Chapel Church in 1910 and later adopted by the CME Connection under the leadership of the College of Bishops. In 1954, the Connectional CME Church, built a brand- new hospital to provide medical services for African Americans living in the tri-state area of Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. This hospital was the only place during the era of segregation where Black people could receive medical service and Black doctors and health professional couldpractice. We pray each day for the partnership between CCCH and Room In the Inn, Homeless Ministry.

Voter Registration

Across the First Episcopal District, Tennessee and Arkansas, we have formed a movement to support Voter Registration, Voter Education, Voter Mobilization. We have led a campaign to register new voters in Tennessee and Arkansas including the registration of college students at Lane College, Rust College, American Baptist College and Tennessee State University. We have been assisted by the Reverend Dr. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., National President and Founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Social and Civic Engagements

John Wesley, the father of Methodism states, “I see the World as our Parrish”. We are therefore to think globally but to act locally. In the First Episcopal District, we have striven to carry out the Wesleyan mandate in raising awareness of the needs of our communities. The church must help create public policy to improve the quality of life for all our citizens in the following areas:

• Affordable Healthcare for all, i.e., England,Canada • Year-Round public schools adequately funded (Pre-K through 12thgrade) • Employment with livable wages and benefits (advocating for a minimum wage of $15 per hour) • Safe and affordable housing • Economic development for blighted areas in our communities • A ban on assault weapons and other guns thatthreatens the safetyof our schools and communities

• Drug treatment programs for those in society and those incarcerated • To reform the present Criminal Justice System in America, i.e., the unjustified shooting of Black Males by thePolice • Concerned for the increased imprisonment of black males and females in America

As we listen to Jesus in the scripture, He commands and request us to pay attention to the “least of these”. (Matthew 25:34-45) There are many victims in our communities today because of negative and demonic influences in every area of our society. We must identify these critical issues and problems and provide solution-based programs that are effective. We trust that in all elections, we will vote for those candidates who will change public policy at every level. We must then as the church do Voters’ Education, Voters’ Registration, and Voters’ Mobilization to get our people to the poles on or before election day. We must also lobby state government to stop voter’s suppression laws that do not allow early or Sunday voting and provide transportation to the polls by taking off on electionday.

One Church One School

I would like to take this time to acknowledge and honor the work of Dr. Phedonia J. Johnson who has served in a volunteer capacity as the National Executive Director for the past 30 Years with excellence.

The First Episcopal District held a very successful MLKJR Dream Keepers Workshop in Tennessee and Arkansas. The One Church One School Outreach Program allows us to intervene early at Pre-K through Six-grade so that our children are reading, writing and computing at or above grade level. We know that every local church can give one-hour, one-day to help oneteacher in one-class room to reach one-student and family that needs to be encouraged. It is always the goal of One Church One School to help achieve three objectives in the life of a student: 1) improved one academic achievement, 2) personal development and, 3) the proper social behavior.

We can also follow the mission mandate that Jesus gave in his Luke 4:18 call to serve and witness. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,…”.

It is very important that we be intentional through local churches to create a culture of love, kindness, excellence and forgiveness as we share the message of Jesus Christ and our wonderful heritage as the CME Church. The ministries of Salvation, Education and Liberation must be directed to meet the needs of the 21st century. We must provide Christian education programs that reaches the local community and teaches our leaders how to disciple our children, youth and adults of all ages. It is imperative that Needs Meeting Ministries be designed for the local church to address the critical issues in our homes, schools and communities for the children in the sunrise of life and for our elderly in the sunset of life. We must unite the church, home, and school to make our students learn how to succeed in life in the following five ways:  Attendance  Attention  Attitude  Appearance  Achievement

In our 150th Year, the First Episcopal District hosted the Anniversary Celebration of our denomination from 1870-2020 at Mt. Olive Cathedral in the city of Memphis, Tennessee. This Celebration was made possible by our Technology Team that streamed world-wide for all

Notes of Gratitude and Reflections of Thanksgiving

To God be the Glory for the Great Things He Hath Done!

I give God all the Praise, Honor and Glory for allowing me to serve 55 Years of continuous ministry as a Pastor and Bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. I am grateful and honored as the 52nd Bishop of the CME Church to make this my 5th Quadrennial Report to the 39th Quadrennial Session and the 40th General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Dr. Doris Yvonne Williamson ~ A very Special Thank You to my loving and faithful wife of 48 years. She has served as my partner in ministry, loyal supporter, and dedicated Christian worker. She has been an outstanding mother to our two adult children, Kelli D. Williamson-Key (Ramon) and our son, Henry Williamson, Jr. (Dana).

The great joy of our life is our three grandchildren, Jonathan D. Williamson- Carpenter, a 2018 Graduate of Lane College, along with Henry Williamson, III, twelve years old, and Derek Alexander Williamson, 10 years old.

Mrs. Alma J. Carvin ~ Mother, I thank God for training me to be an obedient child and guiding me to serve in the life of the church. I thank you for your example and commitment as a dedicated lay person, Sunday School teacher, stewardess and missionary in the CME Church. I thank God for allowing me and the family to serve you with love during your convalescence in your home before passing.. Mrs. Kelli Williamson-Key ~ To our daughter with gratitude and affectionin being a dedicated music teacher, anointed singer and excellent director. You have helped tremendously in coordinating the Music Ministry in the District with a great team of giftedmusicians. Dr. Phillip & Gladys Nelson ~ Thank you for your tremendous effort in guiding the First District through our C-LIFE Church Growth initiative. As our Evangelist and Church Growth Consultants you have been terrific and effective. Presiding Elders of the First District ~ Thank you for serving alongside me and making a positive difference in our local churches and in the Seven Day A Week Prayer Ministry. Reverend & Mrs. Ronald Williams Reverend & Mrs. Don White Reverend Dr. & Mrs. Ronald Powe Reverend & Mrs. Claude A. Bass. Reverend Peris J. Lester, I Reverend & Mrs. Bethel L. Harris Jr.

Lane College ~ We thank the leadership, staff and students of this great and historic learning institution. Our President, Dr. Logan C. Hampton Jr. has done a superb job with the support of Dr. Daryll Coleman, Academic Dean, and with the coordinating efforts of the Chief of Staff, Mrs. Darlette Samuels.

Pastors ~ Thank you for being Great Men and Women of God and Servant Leaders within the CME Church and the larger community where you perform outreach ministry. Loyal Lay Men and Women ~ Thank you for your enormous support and service in the local church where you attend as well as our district, annual and connectional church. You are the key to the growth in the local church as you witness and share your faith with others in Jesus Christ.

Children, Youth and Young Adults

Thank you for your loyal and positive presence as you serve in your local church in Sunday School, CYF, CEF, and many other ministries. Special Thanks to the Rev. Dr. LaVerne BellTolliver, First District Coordinator of the ‘Jesus Crusade to Save the Children’ Ministry. Keep learning, loving, growing and forgiving as we go and make disciples for Jesus Christ.

Missionaries ~ Thank you for being Great Women of God and your outstanding support in being willing workers with your helping hands in God’s Vineyard. You are making a positive difference in your local church as you help to bring in new families and support our One Church One School Outreach Ministry.

Retired Bishops & Widows Residing in the First Episcopal District ~ I thank God for each of you: Mrs. Donna Bentley Graves, Mrs. Gladys Brown, Mrs. Esther L. Isom, Mrs. Elizabeth Coleman, and Mrs. Clarice Cunningham for your loyalty and faithfulness to God and the CME Church.

Mrs. Jo-Ann Jones ~ I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks and gratitude for your dedication and perseverance in serving as office manager in the office of the Bishop of the First District.

Mrs. Juliet Waddell-Pittman ~ Thank you for your willingness to use your gifts and abilities in support of the CME Church through the Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital Renovation Project.

Rev. Giovonnt’e Baker ~ Thank you for your willingness to use your gifts and abilities in support of the CME Church through the Collins Chapel Connectional Hospital Renovation Project.