January 2024 Edition of The Christian Recorder

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VOLUME 173, NO. 4

JANUARY 2024

Helene Howard Brookins Memorial Fountain and Gardens Dedicated at First AME Church, Los Angeles On Sunday, October 29, 2023, the officers and members of First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church in Los Angeles, with members of the Brookins family, paused at 12:30 p.m. to honor former FAME first lady and Episcopal Supervisor Helene Howard Brookins by dedicating the fountain and garden in front of the church in her memory. This recognition was one of the last acts at FAME presided over by then pastor the Rev. J. Edgar Boyd before his retirement.

After the opening prayer by the Rev. Boyd, coorganizer Errol W. Briggs gave a brief overview of Mrs. Brookins’ legacy and importance to FAME— particularly in acquiring the land through her employment with the Max Factor Cosmetics Corporation. First AME Church Trustee Anna Moore then talked about the importance of the fountain and gardens to FAME’s edifice and the pride in ...continued on p2

Israel Young Embarks on a New Adventure as President of Georgia Elementary National Beta Club Israel Young, a remarkable fifth-grade student at Cliftondale Elementary School, has emerged as the newly elected president of the Georgia Elementary National Beta Club. His dynamic approach to leadership and passion for innovation make him a trailblazer in the academic landscape.

Israel’s journey is a testament to his love for exploration, whether it’s navigating the digital realms of academics, video creation, or gaming. Alongside his role as the Beta Club president, he actively contributes to Wake Up Mustangs, serves as a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) ambassador, participates in the Safety Patrol, acts as the technical director for the upcoming Lion King production, and excels as a TAG student. ...continued on p3

No More Itching Ears; Learn the Word Rev. Dr. Debra A. Whitlock Lax 3

For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 Churches need teachers and preachers who can teach beyond basic Bible studies. It is common to see church members, who should be seasoned in their faith, struggling to articulate the meaning of what they read or what the Bible says. The same ...continued on p3

Barriers to Entry … p3

The Roles of Women in Our Society.… p6

Running on Empty.… p9

I’ve Got a Secret …

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Macedonia AME Church, Flushing, New York, Celebrates Groundbreaking Ms. Katie Boykins

On Saturday, November 4, 2023, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church occurred after many years of waiting to begin building a new edifice.

Bishop Julius H. McAllister, presiding prelate of the First Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton, presiding elder of the Brooklyn/ Church will occupy space in this building.

Westchester District of the New York Conference, ...continued on p3

Connectional News: New Partnership Resources for Climate Justice-AME + ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow Program… p18

Be Proactive, Not Reactive…

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JANUARY 2024 ...From Helene Howard Brookins p1

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restoring them. Retired Episcopal Supervisor Ernestine Lee Henning, a co-organizer of the service, was unable to be present

yet provided a statement read by Jackie Dupont-Walker, AME Connectional director of Social Action.

Norma J. Cook (former Connectional Women’s Missionary Society first vice president) and Margot W. Harris (a co-worker of Supervisor Brookins at the Youth Intervention Family Restoration Project) also provided reflections. A letter was also read from Cordelia D. Mitchell, president of the Episcopal Superisors’ Council of the AME Church.

After the tributes, members of the Brookins family sprinkled her ashes on the fountain and rose garden. A brief tribute was also given by her son, Steven Brookins. Pastor Boyd delivered the benediction to culminate the dedication service. ❏ ❏ ❏

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JANUARY 2024 ...From Israel Young p1 In the world of Israel’s imagination, he dreams of becoming a tech wizard and envisions starting his own daring business. His creative prowess serves as a compass, guiding others to undiscovered treasures within our schools.

Guided by his parents, the Rev. John and Mrs. Chasity Young, Israel embodies the principles of leadership, kindness, and service from a young age. As he takes the helm of the Beta ...From No More p1

find it challenging to volunteer to lead a Bible study, Sunday school class, or even teach children. Too often, emphasis is placed on the animated preaching style rather than “rightly dividing the Word of truth.”

The substance of the message is critical to spiritual growth and development. It is time to get off of the milk of the Word and consume the meat of the Word. Let us be good Bereans and study scriptures daily. Let us learn the Word on

The Christian Recorder Club, he brings a fresh wind of innovation to the adventure ahead.

Israel Young’s presidency marks a new chapter for the Georgia Elementary National Beta Club, promising a future where academic excellence, character development, leadership, and service take center stage.

About the National Beta Club The National Beta Club is a prestigious organization dedicated to promoting

a deeper level so that we can discern whether what is taught or preached aligns with the Bible.

An emotionally stimulating sermon is perfectly fine, but its value lies in its substance. It is easier to discern that substance with a personal understanding of the Word.

Consider why church Bible studies are not well-attended and why some Christians prefer less educated leaders. Do people truly desire a deep understanding of the Word, or do they use

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academic achievement, character development, service, and leadership among elementary and secondary school students.

With a rich history of nurturing young leaders, the Beta Club empowers students to excel in their academic pursuits and make a positive impact on their communities.

Sixth Episcopal District Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference Atlanta North District Christ Community AME Church Pastor C.O. Adams, Jr. excuses for their ignorance and lack of depth?

The concept of “itching ears” reflects a desire for teachings that align with personal preferences, even if they deviate from truth. Unfortunately, some Christians are drawn to teachings that cater to their preferences rather than seeking sound and truthful doctrines. Attend your local church Bible study and sit under the teaching of your pastor, who invested in a seminary education so that they can help you rightly divide the Word of truth. ❏ ❏ ❏

...From Macedonia AME p1 honored guests and dignitaries, which included United

States congresswoman, the Honorable Grace Meng, Queens Borough president, the Honorable Donovan Richards, and New York City councilwoman, Sandra Ung, joined with the Rev. Dr. Richard O. McEachern, pastor of Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church, the congregation, and friends of Macedonia AME Church for this groundbreaking ceremony. Approximately one hundred fifty members and friends of the community participated in this joyous occasion.

The gathering was enthusiastic and full of excitement.

In 1811, Macedonia AME Church was established in Flushing, New York, and the new edifice will be built on the same site where the church has served the community for two hundred and twelve years. We eagerly await the construction and completion of our new edifice. We currently worship at Calvary AME Zion Church in Jamaica, New York, where we continue to serve the community.

©Your Beauty Studio, Steve Young, photographer.

During this celebration, Pastor McEachern expressed gratitude for the faithfulness of almighty God and the people of Macedonia for their steadfast L-R: Presiding elder, the Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton, hosts the Rev. Dr. Richard O. McEachern and the Rev. Dr. Ellen Canty commitment through the years.

McEachern, Bishop Julius H. McAllister, First Episcopal District We continue with prayer, faith, and perseverance as we move forward with prelate, and First Episcopal District Supervisor, Mother Joan Marla McAllister. this exciting period in the life of Macedonia AME Church. ❏ ❏ ❏

Barriers to Entry B. Washington, Columnist

When I conduct leadership training, especially in the corporate space, there is always a discussion about barriers that keep people from progressing. These constraints or people work within the system to restrict who moves forward. Barriers to entry do not always have to be negative. However, in some cases, barriers to entry can show up as systemic racism, prejudice, or bias.

The barrier is not designed as a litmus test but rather as a structure to keep certain people from progressing instead of ensuring that the best people excel in the organization.

When it comes to organizations with barriers designed to restrict certain people, my work is to help the organization dismantle those barriers and create a balanced process that allows individuals best suited to move forward in the organization. Stay with me because there is a reason that we have some barriers. In other organizations, I have observed barriers, and people have asked me to help them refine the process because more people need to achieve specific goals or milestones. Based on the organization, I would recommend they keep the process the same in some cases.

Why? Because when you add ease to a process unnecessarily, it compromises quality. Again, when there is a rigorous process, and you make the process easier for no reason other than to allow more individuals to meet a goal, you will compromise on quality.

Let me give you a real-life example. If an individual wants to join the United States Marine Corps (based on the Marines I know), 3

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JANUARY 2024 ...From Barriers p3

they face a rigorous process.

The intent of that process is not to allow everyone to become a Marine but to ensure that the people who do can live up to the history, legacy, demands, and expectations of the United States Marine Corps. So, for a system like the U.S. Marine Corps, you do not change the process; you provide better information to those wanting to join so they can better prepare for the tests and challenges. The rigor and strict standards are necessary.

So, as leaders, we must ensure that we

The Christian Recorder are considering the end goal. What is the organization looking to produce? What should those individuals represent? The world we currently live in is trying to make everything easier.

Nevertheless, in doing so, we are seeing a compromise in the quality of our communities, education system, and even our churches.

Spiritual growth requires effort and discipline.

As easy as it is for people to access a Bible either on their phone or tablet, many Christians still do not do it. One thing we cannot make easy

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is living for Christ. We cannot downgrade the guidance God has given us in his Word to make life spiritually easier. To reduce the Word and God’s commandments is to compromise on the result of us being “salt and light” in this dark and dying world.

Consider this in closing: We cannot make Christianity so “easy” that we reduce the standards God has provided us, thus reducing the quality of our Christian expression to the world around us. ❏ ❏ ❏

Two Political Presidential Outcomes for 2024 Quardricos Driskell, Columnist

Less than a year before election day, both parties believe they can win the White House and control both chambers of Congress, underscoring the high stakes for our country over the next 12 months.

It is no secret that former President Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. However, with nary a vote cast in Iowa or New Hampshire, there is still time for a strong challenger to emerge from the pack of candidates chasing him. The GOP presidential race will pit the contest’s winner against a seemingly vulnerable President Biden, whose approval ratings have the Republicans thinking it can end his presidency at one term.

Thus, the country is seeing a repeat of 2020. Here are my two political prognostications for 2024.

1) Donald Trump, this time around, is the first former president in U.S. history to face criminal charges. Thus, given that the two indictments are on state charges and two are on federal charges, these indictments amount to 91 felony charges. I am not an attorney, but if Trump is charged before the election, his attorneys could advise him to stop his third campaign for president and drop out of the race so that he could avoid prison time.

This is further complicated that the Supreme Court announced they will hear an appeal that could impact the Justice Department’s criminal trial on the charges related to January 6.

If, for some reason, Trump drops out of the race, which I doubt, especially after his “I want to be a dictator for one day” – a prime example of how politics and reality TV have come full circle. And parenthetically, some Republicans have dismissed Trump’s line as a joke and “typical Trump rhetoric.” It would be easy to agree and sum all of this up as hyperbole if so much of it hadn’t come from Trump and his allies before and if he hadn’t tried so much of it already during his term in office. His exit – given her debate performance and poll ratings, the former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley could secure the GOP nomination and eventually win

the presidency.

2) Meanwhile, President Biden is experiencing low approval ratings from every demographic in the Democratic base. Biden’s immediate and decisive show of support for Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas appears to have turned off many within the Democratic base, most especially Arabs, Muslims, Palestinians, and Jewish Americans, resulting in Democrats’ worst assessment of the president since he took office.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict comes at a time when Americans remain pessimistic about the economy, and the future of the federal republic governed by an octogenarian. Furthermore, the Biden administration continues to struggle to deal with increasing numbers of migrants attempting to enter the country, and debate rages about how much aid to provide to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Former President Obama’s senior adviser David Axelrod recently said, in,a Wall Street Journal poll showing President Biden’s approval rating hitting a new low, this is “very, very dark” for Biden’s reelection campaign.

President Biden’s potential doom is similar to that of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

As 1968 dawned, President Johnson had every expectation that he would receive the Democratic Party’s nomination that summer to serve a second four-year term and then cruise

to re-election. But after announcing the ceasing of the U.S. bombing of Vietnam, he decided not to seek the Democratic party’s nomination, ultimately resulting in Richard Nixon becoming president. As such, might President Biden be willing to step aside and allow his party to go in a different direction for the nomination – again ultimately resulting in Nikki Haley becoming the first woman and South Asian American president?

Despite these two potentially piteous options, democracies don’t exist automatically.

Democracy is an idea we argue into being and must work to keep. That requires reaffirming the value of democracy and speaking out against those who try to score political points by undermining it.

We are witnessing a global movement that casts doubt on democracies and casts ballots against them. We are also seeing the fragility of our American democracy. As we close out 2023, I caution all of us to seriously consider who we choose as the leader of the United States of America. Lest we forget the famous words of Benjamin Franklin’s response to Elizabeth Willing Powel’s question: “Well, doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”

“A republic, if you can keep it.”

Reverend Professor Quardricos Bernard Driskell, a federal lobbyist, an adjunct professor of religion and politics at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, and pastor of the historic Beulah Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA. Follow him on Twitter @q_driskell4.

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The Desire for Oversight Without Structure Cynthia Gordon-Floyd, C.P.A., C.F.E., Contributing Writer

I was blessed to attend the recent CONVO XI at the seat of the 52nd Session of the General Conference as a member of the Connectional Lay Organization’s Legislation Group. While I have been a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-two years, these meetings are helpful in understanding the many nuances of how our Zion is structured.

Attending these meetings, I apply what I learn to my experiences outside the AME Church instead of blindly accepting the norm.

My team and I were always the first group in the door of all newly acquired entities. Why? Because we knew that once we took control of their money, the rest of the integration would move smoothly.

Therefore, how can we provide the authority, access, and control to any officer and expect oversight in an area the church does not control?

This sounds like a weak effort to keep the current structure in place.

I participated in a session on “Oversight and Accountability.” I was encouraged by the topic, as many interesting and useful statements were made, but I was distressed by the overall conversation. I raised the issue of a proper financial umbrella with a chief financial officer responsible for the financial management and safeguarding of all the assets of the organization. While many agreed with my concern, when the summary of our session was read, all comments about this type of structure were deleted, and the ideas pushed by several bishops of a chief compliance officer/chief operating officer (or some other similar paid position) were noted as the recommendations of the group.

The role of a true chief financial officer cannot be replaced in the overall structure of any organization because of the critical need to center financial control, authority, and the responsibility of oversight into one function. The structure may have many branches, but it must retain one solid foundation for proper execution within this role. Anything less will produce the same results we are currently suffering through.

Cynthia Gordon-Floyd is a certified public accountant and a certified fraud examiner. She is the founder of Willing Steward Ministries, LLC. Willing Steward Ministries (www.willingsteward.com) is a financial consulting and accounting firm for churches and other faithbased non-profits, specializing in Bible-focused financial practices, pastoral compensation issues, IRS compliance, and other financial needs specific to churches. Cynthia is a graduate of Lake Forest College and holds her MBA in Accounting from DePaul University.

She teaches a certificate program in Church Financial Management at Turner Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia.

In my experience, it will be impossible for any hired executive to put oversight and compliance in place where we have abjugated the authority to control where the money of the organization flows into—the Episcopal districts. I spent years heading teams in mergers and acquisitions as we built our company from $25 million to $125 million to prepare it for sale.

Connectional Lay Organization’s (CLO) Tribute to Judge Patricia Mayberry For we know that, if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1 In May of 2022, it pleased the almighty God to call our dear colleague, distinguished layperson, and Connectional officer, Judge “Pat” Mayberry, from labor to reward. We take this opportunity to pay tribute to her work and service to the Connectional Lay Organization (CLO).

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Pat’s life training prepared her for the exemplary service she gave to the CLO. As a member of the 5th District Lay Organization, she served as its 2nd vice president from 2017-2021. During her tenure as a layperson in the 5th Episcopal District, she served as Election Commission chairperson, Southern California Conference Lay Organization (SCCLO), member of the Constitution and By-laws Committee, director of th Lay Activities, 5 District Lay Organization, and a living legend of the SCCLO. In her local church, Price Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, California, Pat served as steward pro-tem, Membership Development Class instructor, Stewardship and Finance Commission member, and Benevolent Committee chairperson.

She held membership in the following civic organizations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, (PAD) NAACP, American Bar Association (ABA), honorary membership in Golden Key International Honor Society – University of Missouri-St. Louis Chapter and Life Membership in Blacks in Government (BIG). She received numerous accolades as a

layperson while traveling throughout the AME Church, providing leadership training for church boards, organizations, and congregations.

Layperson Pat Mayberry held the following degrees: BA, University of Missouri-Columbia, MSW, University of Houston, and JD, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University. She held the following employment positions: Air Force judge advocate general (JAG), trial attorney, Homeland Security, and Administrative Law judge (ALJ), California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board.

We hold these truths to be self-evident that Judge Pat Mayberry was “blessed to have been a blessing to the African Methodist Episcopal Church” and 5

that her service to the Lord was not in vain.

As such, we are pleased to paraphrase Paul’s writing in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: “Please do not be ignorant concerning the fact that Pat has fallen asleep. Do not sorrow as others who have no hope. If you believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, our dear sister Pat, who sleeps in Jesus, will God bring with him. We say this to you by the Word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first! Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, in Judge Mayberry’s absence, comfort one another with these words.”

Humbly Submitted, William “Bill” Ayers CLO, Historiographer Matikane A. Makiti CLO President ❏ ❏ ❏

JANUARY 2024

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God’s Presence in Transition Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., Columnist

Change is always a part of life’s journey. We are born, we graduate, we relocate, and we lose loved ones. Transition is a part of the existential experience. As we transition or experience transitional moments in our lives, we must seek God’s strength and direction.

of our faith. Transition causes us to depend on our faith. In our transitory experiences, it is our faith that anchors us. It is our faith that no longer is a noun but becomes a verb, ready for action.

In my own transitional moments, my faith kept, helped, and anchored me in times of storm, confrontation, and uncertainty.

We must believe that God is in the midst of the transition. As we transition from a home full of children to an empty nest, we must still believe God is in the process. As we see our young people graduate or get new employment, we need to see the presence of God. In our transitional moments, we must seek God’s direction and clarity.

We must believe as well in the power of God’s spirit. In the manuscript of God’s Word are the believers’ biblical writings. God’s spirit gave power to the weak, the lame, and the marginalized persons in the community. As I experience personal transition, I am leaning and depending on the power of the Holy Spirit. ❏ ❏ ❏

We also must believe our faith will guide us through our transition. When we have faith, we see the invisible, even if no one else sees the product

The Roles of Women in Our Society Bro. Melvin Esau

As we have just come from a period where we advocated for no violence against women and children and observed World AIDS Day on the 1 December, I would like to draw our attention to the roles of women in our society.

What is the role of women in society?

Why are we interested in this question? Is there anything special about women that makes us pose this question? Is the role of a woman different from that of a man?

This question is one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves today. Something happened pre- and post-democracy that makes finding answers to these questions important.

This question is simple but also very weighty.

Oppressed women in Southern Africa have become aware of the fact that they do not have to accept their oppression. They have realized that women are not inferior to men and are entitled to equality in all domains (spheres/ realms) of life. Women in Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa, through the struggle for national liberation, have started to struggle for women’s liberation. We only need to recall the heroic struggles of our mothers and sisters in Crossroads, Bishop Lavis, and Elsies River–right here on our doorstep.

The main task of our women and men in South Africa is to bring freedom and liberation. One cannot be free as a woman if she is not free as a working-class person in her community, in her workplace, or in her faith-based organization (church).

Many have written about the position of working-class women in South Africa. There is a long list of laws and customs that exploit and oppress the rights of working-class women. We know from our own bitter experience that the majority of women are exploited in the workplace and oppressed in their communities and in their

churches. They are often said to be at the “bottom of the pile.”

Historically, a person’s place was decided first and foremost by the colour of his or her skin. At least, it appeared this way. Just a few skilled jobs were available for black men and women. These people were unskilled workers, slaving away in the factories, in the mines, and on farms. Only a few could dream of becoming a teacher or a nurse, and only a handful became doctors or lawyers. They were often called the lower class of our society. Black women, simply because they were women, were placed in the lowest-paid jobs.

Of these, domestic work and farm work were the most prominent. Today, while you may find working-class women in important positions, they are paid much less than men even when they do the same work.

Let me put it differently: Most women are exploited and underpaid and are oppressed as a class by their communities and in the church.

Their own menfolk also oppress them. They allow it to happen because men stand to gain from the situation, as prostitution is one of the most profitable businesses in many countries, such as Mozambique, and men profit in many ways from this type of oppression of women. When we speak of the struggle for liberation, we speak of the struggle against all forms of oppression. As long as one type of oppression exists, no one can be free.

Some activists are of the opinion that we must first struggle against racial oppression (apartheid) and, after that, against economic and class oppression (capitalism), and after that, against the oppression of women by men (sexism). Nothing can be more wrong with this position. Nothing can be farther from the immediate need.

What Women Have Done For many years now, women have played a leading role in the day to day struggles of our people.

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Whether on the shop floor, in communities, in the homes of their pampered madams and masters, or in churches. Women have shown they are equal to men in standing up for their rights against injustice and oppression. They dared to resist the Pass Laws, forced removals, the slave education dished out to their children, and the high cost of living. Politics is certainly no longer taken to be the concern of men only. Women have taken their rightful place in the struggle.

More important is that women play major roles in many aspects of society. Women are busy organising themselves in trade unions, civil society, and faith-based organisations. Women have formed groups to help each other deal with problems that women particularly face.

Those groups and organisations form part of the liberation movement.

Our Task To understand our task in the next few years, I want to ask a few questions.

Do you, as a worker, belong to a trade union?

Do you, as a woman, belong to a women’s organisation? Do you, as a member of these organisations to which you belong, look at their programmes and policies to see what they say about the role of women in the struggle for liberation?

Only if you can give satisfactory answers to these questions can you feel sure of your contribution to the liberation of people. The belief that men are by nature superior to women is probably a few thousand years old. We cannot wait that long to do away with this superstition. To ensure we do not have to wait that long, we have to begin our struggle today and thus continue the struggle begun by those who have gone before us.

I hope this paper acts as a catalyst to open discussions around the rights of women in our Society today, especially in our churches, from the Connectional to the local church. ❏ ❏ ❏

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Pearl Street AME Church Member Honored by National Judicial College The National Judicial College honored Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Leslie D. King of Greenville as one of its 60 Courageous Judges. He is a member of Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church in Jackson, Mississippi, and a past president of the 8th Episcopal District Lay Organization.

The National Judicial College in Reno announced the honorees on December 7 in a program that concluded the 60th anniversary celebration of the nation’s oldest education program for judges.

The Judicial College said in a recent statement, “We honor 60 judges, present and past, from courts in the United States and abroad, who have demonstrated courage in upholding the rule of law and providing justice for all.”

Justice King said, “I am very appreciative of and humbled by this recognition from the National Judicial College. In January of 1995, I took the oath as a judge. In that oath, I swore to ‘administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich and ...faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as a judge according to the best of my ability and understanding, agreeably to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of Mississippi.’ Each day, as I enter upon my judicial duties, I review that oath. As a judge, my objective has been and shall always be to embrace, honor, and fulfill the obligations of that oath.”

Justice King did not attend the ceremony.

Justice King is the longest appellate judge in Mississippi, having served on the Mississippi Supreme Court and the Mississippi Court of Appeals. He has 29 years of appellate judicial services. He was one of the original members of the Court of Appeals, taking the bench in January 1995 when the newly created court began hearing cases. He was the first African American to serve as chief judge of the Court of Appeals. He held the leadership position at the Court of Appeals for almost seven years. He was appointed to the Supreme Court on March 1, 2011.

Justice King served 15 years in the Mississippi House of Representatives, from 1980 through 1994. He served as vice chairman of the Ways and Means Committee (1988-1991) and vice chairman of the Conservation and Water Resources Committee (since 1992). Other committees on which he served included Judiciary, Insurance, Environmental Protection Council, Housing Finance Oversight, and Universities and Colleges. He was chairman of the Mississippi Black Legislative Caucus in 1988.

During his early legal career in Washington County, he served as Youth Court counselor, public defender, Youth Court prosecutor, and Municipal Court judge for the town of Metcalfe.

He has practiced law for more than 50 years, having been admitted to the Mississippi Bar on May 8, 1973.

He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1970 and the Texas Southern University School of Law in 1973. He also completed courses at the National Judicial College.

The National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, is the country’s oldest, largest, and most widely attended school for judges. Each year, the college educates appellate, trial, administrative law, limited jurisdiction, military, and tribal court judges from all 50 states. Honorees were selected from nominations by National Judicial College

alumni and staff.

Presiding Justice King was the only Mississippi judge selected, although others have Mississippi ties. Jackson native Judge William Alsup was among the honorees. He is a senior judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. He has served on the bench since 1999. He attended Provine High School and graduated with honors from Mississippi State University. He received his law degree, with honors, from Harvard University in 1971 and a master’s degree in public policy in 1972.

The ranks of 60 Courageous Judges included legends of the judiciary: The late Judge Constance Baker Motley of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York was a civil rights lawyer who litigated for integration of universities in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi and helped James Meredith gain enrollment at the University of Mississippi.

Oregon Supreme Court Justice James T. Brand served on the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal at the end of World War II. The late Minnesota District Court Judge Dennis Challeen, a longtime National Judicial College faculty member, is credited by NJC with inventing the concept of sentencing nonviolent offenders to community service rather than sending them to prison. He began using community service in 1972. ❏ ❏ ❏

Historic St. Paul AME Church to Build Affordable Housing in Traditionally Black Rogers-Eubanks Neighborhood Chase Pellegrini de Paur, Indy Week

Since the Civil War era, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church has stood proudly at the junction between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

The church has watched the towns around it grow and change. It saw the post-Reconstruction solidification of the white supremacist state, the Great Migration, and the Jim Crow era. In the past decade, the saga of gentrification played out in the Greenbridge condos, the foreclosed modern towers of straight lines and glass panes just across the street.

As the towns around it have grown and changed, so has the building of the church itself. The

original wooden structure has been renovated and expanded into a redbrick building with stained-glass windows and a steeple that watches over traffic flowing between Franklin and Main Streets.

Looking to the future, St. Paul has emphasized that the congregation isn’t going anywhere and has declined offers from developers who continue to eye its prime location between the two The St. Paul AME Church downtowns.

But it is time for the church to grow—just on a separate plot of land. This autumn, the members 7

Photo by Angelica Edwards

of the oldest black church in Chapel Hill gained the town council’s approval to ...continued on p8

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build an entire community anchored by 350 apartments.

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more comfortable with larger developments.

NIDA returned to the council this year with a new plan for 350 units.

That jump from 87 units was not just about making a larger impact in the community but also a matter of “fiscal viability,” says Hackney. Large developments are generally less expensive to finance on a per-unit basis.

“We attempted to develop a vision that would encompass not just the needs of the community but the church itself, and that would project as well into the future,” says Bernice Hackney, a board member of the St. Paul Neighborhood Improvement Development Association (NIDA), a nonprofit run by church members. In the 1960s, Hackney was one of the first black students to integrate Chapel Hill High School.

Right now, the site is a mostly empty field that used to be a small plantation—some descendants of slaves from that farm still live in Chapel Hill. But once construction ends, St. Paul Village hopes to be a “A Place for Everyone.”

Construction will begin on the St. Paul Village in the summer of 2024 and take around two years to complete. With around 90 affordable units and 100 for seniors, the village will be built on faith, ambition, and roughly 20 acres in the historically black Rogers-Eubanks neighborhood. The development will also include a recreation facility, a community center, space for retail, and a sanctuary for Sunday services and other events.

“It supports a diverse community, it has a walkable community, it is built with a pedestrian-oriented mixed-use, it focuses on small businesses, as well as maintaining the culture and well-being of the local community,” said Snipes to the council in September.

Back in October, the Chapel Hill Town Council approved the St. Paul Village in a process that looked different from the usual tense ordeal in the town hall. The developers associated with the church walked the precarious balance between the concerns of Chapel Hill’s pro-growth and slow-growth political factions. They gained unanimous support from commentators, the council, and candidates.

In 2012, NIDA had been waiting for water and sewage to be extended to the neighborhood. Some residents of the neighborhood had been waiting since the 1970s when the Orange County Landfill was built on Rogers Road with enough promises to fill a county dump truck: “Nearly 40 years ago, people living in the Rogers-Eubanks community agreed to allow the county to build a landfill in their neighborhood. They believed that in return, they would receive basic necessities such as water and sewer hookups, storm drains, curbs, gutters, streetlights, sidewalks, a recreation center, and green space,” the INDY reported in 2014.

That support was far from incidental—the church and individuals like Hackney banked the goodwill they had earned through a long history of service in Chapel Hill.

There was also a promise to turn the landfill into a park eventually. But in 2023, it’s still a landfill, with toxins leaking into the ground, water, and air.

Before St. Paul was founded in 1864, enslaved people “worshiped in segregated sections of Chapel of the Cross, University Baptist Church, and other churches run by white residents,” according to the website of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, a local nonprofit dedicated to preserving black neighborhoods and advocating for civil rights.

That history of broken promises was emphasized by members of Orange County Justice United (OCJU), an organization of faith groups, who showed up to the council meeting to push for approval.

“But black church-goers quickly moved to found their own congregations where they could worship independently as soon as possible,” the Jackson Center website states.

“The project is led by community members whose families are among those who have been historically affected, in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, by long-standing and entrenched discriminatory practices,” OCJU member Kathy Kauffmann told the council. “St. Paul Village is an important step in the right direction.”

In the early 2000s, St. Paul started seriously considering expansion of the existing church. But plans to build its existing building up or out wouldn’t have provided enough space for one of the biggest drives behind the project: Community service.

“This is God-sent,” added member Robert Campbell.

In October, several council members were embroiled in an election cycle full of local drama. The project, though, was unanimously approved.

Emails of support came from residents who are typically skeptical of large developments, including then candidates for council Breckany Eckhardt and David Adams, as well as CHALT (Chapel Hill Alliance for a Livable Town) cofounder Julie McClintock.

Looking beyond Franklin Street, the church bought several parcels of land on Rogers Road for around $900,000, including interest on loans. Around the time of the housing crisis and financial crash in 2008, St. Paul realized that affordable housing was one of the greatest needs for a community like Chapel Hill.

In 2012, NIDA gained council approval to develop 87 units with around 15 affordable. But the timing wasn’t quite right. The town hadn’t yet expanded water and sewage services to that area.

When the proposal was approved, most audience members applauded and hugged one another. Many older black residents had heard about the project for decades.

“Anything we built was going to be dependent on a septic system, and that’s a huge cost,” says Dr. Rose Snipes, a NIDA board member who presented the plan to the council. Snipes and Hackney raised money to pay off the mortgage on the land by 2016. Like the rest of the project, says Snipes, “We never got any funding from anybody. This is all self-funded.”

“Thank you,” council member Paris Miller-Foushee said to representatives and supporters of the project. “Thank you for imagining, thank you for dreaming, thank you for being persistent.”

“Go forth and conquer, we’re so excited,” added Mayor Pam Hemminger.

Snipes and Hackney raised most of the money from the congregation itself.

“If only they could all end that way,” said one council member, off-mic.

The project had a few other small bumps after the 2012 plan was approved.

The architect and engineer both died before construction began. And then the world shut down in a pandemic. Suddenly, it had been a decade since the approval, and Chapel Hill had changed, with a council and a public

Reach Reporter Chase Pellegrini de Paur at chase@indyweek.com.

Comment on this story at backtalk@indyweek.com.

Reprinted with permission and edited.

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JOY – Continue The Flow Dr. John Wm. Roberts, ED.D., Contributing Writer

praise shall continually be in my mouth.” David

Cedar Falls, Iowa

did not say bless the Lord in good times but in

The Advent season has passed! Celebrating the birth of Christ was a joyous

all times. If our souls are anchored in God’s love,

time for all who believe. There was joy felt and expressed when family and

we have the joy of knowing God will always be

friends were gathered. The joy of Christ’s birth was expressed and shared

there for us, and our praise for God’s presence

during Advent services in churches and among congregations throughout

should be constant each day! Joy brings peace; peace brings love! These

the world. Is ‘Joy’ seasonal like Advent and Christmas? Kirk Franklin

are no seasonal emotions only everyday actions. These actions must be

wrote, “Joy, God’s great joy. Joy, down in my soul. Sweet, beautiful, soul-

spread among all of God’s children. R.H. McDaniel wrote, “Since Jesus

saving joy, Oh, joy in my soul.” When God’s joy is embedded deep within

came into my heart; Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll Since

our souls, this joy is to be spread continually, not just seasonally. Some

Jesus came into my heart.” Sea waves continually roll in and out from the

say, “I’m not joyful all the time. There are times when I feel abandoned

shore, which symbolizes God’s joy, which comes in waves. The waves are

and alone.” Each of us experiences these life valleys; however, God gives us

constant. God shares feelings of joy with us unconditionally. Should not

“Blessed Quietness.”

we do the same for God’s children?

R.C. Wood wrote, “When waves of affliction sweep over the soul, and

Thomas A. Dorsey wrote, “I’ll tell of the Savior, I’ll tell of his favor, I’ll

sunlight is hidden from view; If ever you’re tempted to fret or complain,

tell it wherever I go. I count every blessing I go on confessing; I’ll tell it

just think of his goodness to you. Just think of his goodness to you; Though

wherever I go. Though life is uncertain, I cannot understand, But thank

storms o’er thee sweep, he is able to keep; Just think of his goodness to you.”

him and trust him, and praise him while I can. I’ll just tell it, excel it, and

Knowing the storms we are experiencing will pass, there is peace and joy

let all voices swell it; I’ll tell it wherever I go.”

that comes from the knowledge that God will keep us in his perfect peace.

God’s joy is, and cannot be, seasonal. Yes, the past seasons of Advent and

This peace will bring joy to an overburdened soul.

Christmas are seasonal; however, they are only reminders of what must be

Knowing God’s joy comes from always experiencing God’s goodness in our

experienced and shared throughout the year – God’s love, and with God’s

lives. In Psalm 34:1, David declares, “I will bless the Lord at all times; his

love comes joy! ❏ ❏ ❏

Running On Empty Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, Columnist

Most cars have a feature that will let the driver know when fuel is running low. For some people, it is a sign to get gas immediately.

For the more mathematically astute, calculations can be made to figure out how many miles can be traveled before running out of gas. I remember my shock when driving to an appointment and not noticing my low-fuel indicator light was on. At this point, I could only focus on finding a gas station as I wondered, “How long have I been running on empty?”

I want to talk to people with responsibilities—not just personal, mind you, but you are responsible for other people’s well-being.

You are a tested leader, a symbol of strength with a desire, mission, and calling to come through for others, especially when things are tough. You go without sleep so others can sleep. You push yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually beyond exhaustion. You ignore old or new aches and pains; you take the late calls and early calls; if there are no calls, you will dial a number to do a wellness check. denying yourself rest when rest is called for. You may have convinced yourself out of a sense of duty or pressure that it is difficult to slow down, but know if you do not take proper care of yourself, you cannot take care of others, no matter how hard you try or how desperate the situation is.

COVID-19 has increased the pressure on already spent shot-callers. Today, parents are pushed to become expert remote learning instructors while staying up long into the night worrying about how to keep the lights on.

Having “me time” is a concept rooted in blissful yesterdays. The push to be in charge, answer questions, respond to incessant needs, or be on Zoom morning, noon, and night, and skipping dinner has you running on empty.

Let me take you back to when I discovered my low fuel indicator light was on and see if there are helpful tips. The first thing I did was look for a gas station. I then filled up the tank. I was mindful moving forward of how much gas I had in the tank before driving somewhere and not wait until the

fuel indicator light came on before refueling.

Beloved, if your body is running on empty, you will soon run out of fuel. If there was ever a time for self-care, refueling, or rebooting, the time is now. Let me say, leader to leader–please do not take pride in being able to run on fumes by

We are in unprecedented times marked by economic, political, social, community, and family upheaval. No one person will be able to solve the present and looming challenges on the horizon 9

no matter how late or long they stay up. With that said, parents, leaders, pastors, and decision-makers who have responsibility over the lives of others must make sure you first take responsibility for your own life. If you know you are running on fumes, the question is, will you pull over and fill up your mental, physical, and spiritual tank, or have you already calculated how far you still can go?

And I say, “O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. Psalm 55:6 ❏ ❏ ❏

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Should College Scholars Be Able to Receive the Same NIL Agreements as College Athletes?

James B. Ewers, Jr., Ed.D.

Earning an athletic scholarship to attend college back in the day was a big deal. I still think it is. It meant that you distinguished yourself as a high school athlete and receiving the scholarship was a reward for your accomplishments.

It also meant that families were relieved of paying for college expenses. We know the cost of college is increasing every year.

It was a proud moment in your community if you received a scholarship to play a sport in college. Humbly, I say that I was in that position many years ago.

As I reflect now, there was a high degree of humility from the studentathletes who received them. There were no press conferences and generally not a lot of publicity. Newspaper and television coverage was minimal.

Family members and friends knew and that was about it.

education has led me to this novel idea. The idea is why not have NIL agreements for academically talented college students?

Over time, reports would surface about the college student-athletes being paid to play sports. It is my opinion that in some cases that probably did happen. Some players that we know have publicly admitted that they received some financial considerations. However, that has largely been a non-issue with college athletes.

I suspect there would have to be some tweaks when it comes to financial commitments by companies and corporations. Students would have to be assured they would not lose any college credits or must stay in college longer.

Now, fast forward to July 2021. The NCAA approved a name, image, and likeness (NIL) concept that allowed college players to make money. However, federal and NCAA guidelines still need to be implemented. If this continues to go unchecked this could become a problem.

The number of student-athletes taking advantage of these NIL agreements continues to increase each year. Some athletes will get more deals than other athletes.

Will this cause some problems with on-field performance? There are different opinions on that question.

Some athletes, because of their potential, will get NIL agreements.

The opportunities are there for the taking. Name, image, likeness agreements, and the transfer portal are the two biggest constructs in college athletics.

College faculty have been able to receive prestigious awards and recognition for their work. For example, the MacArthur Fellowships are awarded for intellectual and artistic achievement.

Female athletes are also taking full advantage of these NIL agreements.

Louisiana State University basketball player Angel Reese is doing quite well from a NIL standpoint. She continues to increase her market value. Being a national champion certainly helps her case.

Critics of the NIL agreements might ask two questions. First, would a student be able to remain at the same school? The answer would be yes. It would be no different than what is currently happening with studentathletes. Second, how important is school loyalty? I suspect that students receiving NIL agreements would have to gauge that for themselves.

Maybe my background in higher

As we can see now, some studentathletes stay, and others leave for another college experience.

Monetary gain in higher education so far has been limited to coaches, players, and faculty members.

Academically talented students have not benefitted as much from companies. While study abroad programs and internships are available, NIL agreements would break new ground for deserving students.

Just as there was a ground swell of support for NIL agreements for student athletes, there can also be that same support for talented scholars. It is my hope that colleges will align themselves with businesses and begin discussions about ways to assist the next generation of leaders. There is a time and place for everything. Maybe it is the time for NIL agreements for the best and brightest students in our colleges and universities. ❏❏❏

The Truth Is the Light

Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., Retired, Itinerant Elder, Columnist

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 NRSV In our text, David recognizes Jesus as his rock and salvation. David recognized that Jesus was the provider of his security. David recognized that Jesus was the provider of his salvation. Our text challenges us to ponder and praise all the glorious works of God. Our text reminds us that we are to seek what God desires.

We who know that God is real– We who have learned by faith that God loves us– We who believe by faith know that God’s mercy is everlasting– We understand, beloved, that God does so much for us.

God is the strength that keeps us.

and death.

God is the solid, unmovable rock upon which we stand, recognizing through the trial of our faith that all other ground is sinking sand.

David is asking God to let my intellect, let all these things be acceptable in your sight, Lord.

God is the solid foundation, the rock and promise that undergirds our lives.

David wanted his words and the thoughts of his heart to be acceptable to the Lord.

The Word of God reveals to us that God is the one who saved us from sin

During David’s time, when a worshipper brought an ...continued on p11

The psalmist is saying, let the very core of me.

Let all that is within me. David is pleading with God, let my thoughts, let my emotions.

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animal to the sanctuary to be sacrificed to the Lord, a priest would examine it to see if it was free of blemishes.

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It is Jesus, our living Lord, who keeps us safe. As our living Lord Jesus, we desire that Jesus keep us safe. It is our desire that since our words and our thinking are related, both should be pleasing to the Lord.

If a priest found a blemish, neither the animal nor the worshipper was accepted.

Prayer

Consider that analogy as it relates to Psalm 19:14. Our words should edify those who hear them.

Heavenly Father, may we, like David in humility of heart, sanctify the words of our mouth, the meditation of our heart, the thoughts of our minds, and our inner beings so that all we say and do will be pleasing and acceptable in the sight and our precious Lord and Savior.

The Bible encourages us to use speech that is gracious, seasoned with salt.

The Bible also directs us to speak the truth in love and address one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

Let us be filled with the knowledge of God’s will so we can do what pleases God.

Jesus taught that the heart is the source of our words, Jesus declared.

For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, so we can conclude then that it is important to fill our hearts with scripture.

Our mind must be filled with that which is pleasing to God so that our mouth and other body parts destined for action can also do what is pleasing to God.

In our text, David addresses the Lord as his rock and his redeemer.

As mentioned earlier David recognized that the Lord was the provider of his security and his salvation.

In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Charles R. Watkins, Jr., retired, itinerant elder, Summerville, South Carolina

By shedding his blood on the cross, Jesus is our redeemer.

I’ve Got A Secret Rev. Dr. Alfonso Wyatt, Columnist

Can you recall when you were young whispering a secret in a friend’s ear, and they had to pinky swear not to tell it to another living soul? Secrets back then were generally fun and could strengthen friendships by creating a sense of trust. Giving or sharing secrets could set you apart from friends outside of the I know something you do not know loop. As children grow up and become complex adults, their secrets also become more complex. At some point, everyone has held on to a secret. Some secrets are too embarrassing, too hurtful, too dark, too revealing—or too ridiculous to share.

We live in a time that feasts on secrets—the “juicier,” the better. In fact,

❖ A secretive person must always be on guard to keep their secrets secret

people on television, radio, and social media are paid to dig up and divulge

or risk releasing “sensitive” information to colleagues, spouses, friends,

the inside scoop on the lives of celebrities. In the early days of television,

or family members. This 24/7 secret scrutiny takes a toll.

there was a TV show called I’ve Got a Secret where celebrities would ask a

I have learned through study and practice that most families, regardless of

series of questions in an attempt to guess the secret of the panelists. This

race, class, creed, color, education, zip code, sexual orientation, religious

show’s basic format lasted off and on for over 50 years. Advertisers know

affiliation, or lack thereof, have secrets. Some family members, individually

that people have an insatiable need to know about celebrity secrets, hence

or collectively, have invested time and energy (hear pain) protecting secrets

the plethora of reality TV shows, gossip hosts, tabloid exposé reporters,

like domestic violence, sexual abuse, drug/alcohol use, mental illness,

paparazzi, trolls, and the like, all making a living dredging up secrets.

gambling, adultery, unwanted pregnancy, a painful divorce—or a cash windfall not commonly known to family members. When keeping a family

Some people live secretive lives, holding their “life” cards close to their

secret becomes more important than addressing the issue embedded in the

vest, as the saying goes. Any questions deemed too personal can be

secret, know there will never be growth or movement—that is the price

ignored or dismissed. Why is this so? Some possible reasons could be a

extracted by the secret.

past “secret betrayal” and the leaked information caused shame, pain, or Funerals are generally a time when family secrets are exposed. Beloved,

embarrassment. Another take is perhaps the secretive person’s personality

some secrets will go to the grave with a person. Other secrets will become

is wired in a manner where their personal business is just that—personal

known with time—and then some secrets should be shared to freshen the

at all costs. It is important to note that being secretive could be costly, as

air, open up understanding, create space, or replace not knowing with

the following insights illustrate:

heretofore unexplored options offered by knowledgeable people. It is one

❖ A secretive person may lock out well-intentioned people not interested

thing to be a child gleefully holding on to a secret—it is another thing to

in sharing their secrets or judging them—they may just want to be a

be an adult and stubbornly proclaim by thought, word, or deed. I have a

friend trying to help.

secret and vow to hold on to it to the end of my days. Is there something you wish to disclose?

❖ A secretive person may unwittingly cut off information that could be

Argue your case with your neighbor directly, and do not disclose another’s secret, 10 or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you, and your ill repute will have no end. Proverbs 25:9-10 9

helpful in situations ranging from sharing the secret ingredient of a recipe to identifying a potential life-changing/giving resource.

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Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Biographical Sketch of Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. Pastor, Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Amite, Louisiana Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. He was educated in Christian values by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman O. Kelly, Sr., and the public schools of Jacksonville.

Dr. Kelly later matriculated to Morehouse College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts. He continued his education at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, completing a Master of Education, and Boston University School of Theology, receiving his Master of Divinity. Pastor Kelly completed a Doctor of Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee. He continues to pursue further certificate studies with Payne Seminary.

In 1980, Herman O. Kelly, Jr. was licensed to preach in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Kelly’s ministerial journey began under the late Rev. M. L. Watts, and Dr. Donald L. Tucker mentored him. Under this mentorship, Herman O. Kelly, Jr. was ordained an itinerant deacon in 1983 at the hand of the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen Hildebrand. In 1985, he was ordained an itinerant elder at the hand of the Rt. Rev. Frank Curtis Cummings.

Pastor Kelly has served four churches: Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Newport, Rhode Island; St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Meridian, Mississippi; Friendship African Methodist Episcopal Church, Clarksdale, Mississippi; and Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In addition to pastoral ministry, Dr. Kelly served as a Protestant chaplain at Rhode Island College and an adjunct instructor at

Coahoma Community College and Meridian Community College. Presently, Dr. Kelly serves as adjunct faculty at Louisiana State University in the College of Education and African and African American Studies and River Parishes Community College in the Religious Studies Department. He serves on the Recruitment Committee for the African and African American Studies Program at Louisiana State University. He is also the chair of the Board of Examiners for the Eighth Episcopal District and treasurer for the Louisiana Annual Conference.

He writes for The Advocate in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for special events regarding faith and African American concerns. Dr. Kelly is a member of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference and Ecumenical Body of Clergy and Laity in the state of Louisiana. His publications include “Spiritual Formation for Youth as Young Laity in Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for the 21st Century”, “The Brave Project and the Black Church,” and “Tribute to Nelson Mandela”, The A.M.E. Review, October-December 2013. Dr. Kelly edited the Black Rhetorical Traditions in The Civil Rights Movement Volumes I and II 2018 and African American Religion 2018.

Dr. Kelly and the Bethel congregation organized the first HIV/AIDS Ministry in the African American community in East Baton Rouge Parish, and he is also responsible for organizing the Dr. James Haines Swimming Ministry at Bethel, named in honor of his former swimming coach at Morehouse College where he was a former “Tigershark” on the swim team.

Dr. Kelly was inducted into the Morehouse Board of Preacher’s King International Chapel in April 2012.

Upon graduation, he was also awarded the Franklin Forbes Prize at Morehouse, given to the athlete with the highest grade point average.

He was named a Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Scholar, and Mary McLeod Bethune Scholar at Boston University School of Theology.

He graduated from the inaugural class of Cops/Clergy Training, Baton Rouge Police Department/Baton Rouge Sheriff ’s Office.

He was appointed to The Brave Core Committee as a faith-based representative.

He has earned these additional certifications and awards: CPR/lifeguard training; State champion Senior Olympics 50 butterfly, 50 breaststroke, 100 individual medley; The Kumba award LSU African American Cultural Center 2018; Africana Service Award; African and African American Studies Program, LSU 20192020; The George Deer Distinguished Teaching Award, LSU 2023.

Additional work at Louisiana State University includes serving as the NAACP Chapter advisor, the African and African American Studies Department Launch Committee co-chair, and the African and African American Studies Department Profile Steering Committee.

Dr. Kelly is married to Spring Reshawn Weary from Hammond, Louisiana. They share a blended family of five children and eight grandchildren. Dr. Kelly is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Amite, Louisiana, New Assignment The Kelly’s welcome on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Kerry James, pastor, St. Paul Bogalusa, Louisiana and dean, Louisiana Conference Board of Examiners, Sis. Sandra Weary, Mrs. Spring Weary Kelly, Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr., pastor, the Rev. Gary Porter, director, Student Services School District, pastor of Union Chapel AME Church, Mrs. English, principal of Westside Magnet School, Amite, Louisiana, Mayor Daniels, city of Amite.

God Cares: Lament After the Loss of a Pastor Rev. Dr. Wanda C. Henry-Jenkins, Columnist

Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord’s command. 6 He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired, and his vigor had not abated. 8 The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended. Deuteronomy 34:5-8 5

Conference occurs when a bishop reads pastoral appointments. The assignment of a pastor often leaves a congregation struggling to cope with the loss of a minister and, at the same time, welcome the new pastor in the midst of sudden or expected change. However, when the change is the result of the pastor’s death, church members experience a grief they are rarely prepared to face.

The final highlight of every African Methodist Episcopal Annual 12

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In one of our Episcopal District annual conferences, a beloved pastor died prior to the end of the conference year. The presiding elder discerned that the church needed ministering to in the area of grief counseling.

Her familiarity with my bereavement ministry caused her to reach out for my services. She had been supplying the church since the pastor’s death and invited me to provide bereavement care. The pastor had served this church his entire ministry. He had an intergenerational membership of both clergy and laity. Some of the members had known him since birth. Sitting pastors die, and the bereavement that follows is a topic that we must address.

Has your church ever experienced pastoral loss? If so, was the loss acknowledged, and did your church receive support? Initially, your congregation may have put aside their grief to focus on the pastor’s family, a natural response of compassion and condolence. With the passage of time and the apparent absence of the pastor, grief grows. Church does not feel like church for the congregation anymore!

This local church needed to lament freely; to acknowledge their loss, to experience their grief, to adjust without their pastor, to reconnect with

The Christian Recorder God, and to welcome a new pastor. Thankfully, with their presiding elder’s leadership and openness, this local church was ready to open its hearts to a new pastor. The elder and I agreed that providing biblical bereavement care was important to promote emotional and spiritual growth.

Deuteronomy 34 records the death of Moses and the process of Israel mourning his death.

It also provided the biblical resources I used to facilitate the three sessions. In the first session, each person shared their fondest memories of the pastor, what they missed most, and an area of spiritual growth learned under his ministry.

There were tears, laughter, and reflection. In the second session, we discussed the meaning of God’s compassion, comfort, and consolation.

Members were encouraged to embrace the lessons of love they gained from being in this ministry and take them into the next season of pastoral care. During the final session, I facilitated a discussion about the completion of Moses’ ministry, the season of mourning, and the appointment of Joshua’s ministry. The church experienced hope and healing, grew in its spiritual formation and connection with God, and was ready to move forward under new pastoral leadership. The church now has a new

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pastor who also, along with the presiding elder, approved the writing of this article.

Churches need bereavement care after the loss of a pastor. What made this successful? First, the spiritual leadership of the presiding elder.

Nothing would have taken place without her acknowledgment, leadership, and support.

Second, prayer, scripture, and the goals of biblical lament were essential elements in every session. Third, the congregation’s openness and active participation in their healing. Fourth, the congregation’s commitment to moving forward.

If your church has experienced the death of your pastor or a challenging change in pastoral assignment, take the steps this presiding elder did and ask for biblical bereavement care. There are those of us whose primary ministry is to provide hope and healing to the bereaved in the church. We can educate about healthy grief and mourning, encourage biblical lament, and enable spiritual growth among mourners.

As we look at Deuteronomy 34:8, mourning is not meant to be endless. There is a time to end mourning and move forward. The desert ministry of Moses was over, and the conquering ministry of Joshua was ready to begin! ❏ ❏ ❏

Feeding the Masses The First AME Church of Alexandria, Virginia has been blessed to provide food for 500 families each month. This distribution is possible through grants and the financial support of the members, other church partnerships, volunteers, and other donations.

and the struggle is just part of the process. God wants to give you something beyond what you think you want and need. Serving God is one way to learn what God wants to give you and how God will deliver it to you. Each one of us celebrates or goes through the holidays differently. Not all of us have big family get-togethers, and not all of us decide or seek to spend it in the traditional way. We all seek belonging, acceptance, love, and peace. May we be mindful of folks being alone, in mourning, feeling anxious, or find it difficult to feel thankful or hopeful this holiday season.”

This Thanksgiving, the church decided to host a Community Thanksgiving Dinner held at the local Knights of Columbus.

We invited the food distribution volunteers and the community to come celebrate a preThanksgiving dinner together on Sunday, November 19. Heritage Presbyterian Church in Alexandria participated through food donations and many of their church members volunteering their time.

Members of the church prepared the meals, desserts, and most importantly the love of Jesus! An estimated 100 people from the community were then fed a full Thanksgiving meal. Additionally, every household represented was given a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner.

The First AME of Alexandria family worshipped through song, reading of the scriptures, and a sermon titled “God Wants to Serve You,” by the pastor, the Rev. Andre Christian based on Mark 10:41-45 “…or even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Despite the church focusing on finding a new place to worship as a result of the church building being purchased by the Virginia Department of Transportation to begin expansion along the Route 1 Corridor, it was important that we hold this dinner in the community in times when people do not come to the church; the Holy Spirit moved us to take the church into the community this Thanksgiving as a commitment to our service to God in this particular community.

“This week, we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Families will traditionally gather in homes and be served by the host. The reality is that this isn’t everyone’s Thanksgiving Day story, history, or plan.

God won’t let you struggle and fight too long. We don’t have control over the things we struggle with and, sometimes, do not even know how to get what we want. The key is to serve God until you get it while you are in the struggle. Even when you displease God, God still has something for you that God wants to give you. If God has something for you, that means God has something to benefit you,

First AME Church of Alexandria is currently worshiping at 8653 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Virgnia (until March 31, 2024). For more information on our final location or to support our efforts, visit www.famealexandria. org. ❏ ❏ ❏ 13

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Transition REV. DR. JAMES ROBERT YOUNG, SR September 17, 1946-November 26, 2023

Dorene Wells. God blessed them with a son and a daughter.

He and his family moved to Epsom, New Hampshire, where he remained until his death.

The family, friends, and loved ones are mourning the death of the Rev. Dr. James R. Young, Sr. He was born in Jackson, Mississippi, the second son of the late Rev. Rufus King Young, Sr., and the late Essie Mae Adams Young. He and his family lived in Montgomery and Birmingham, Alabama, Hot Springs, and Little Rock, Arkansas, because of his father’s numerous pastorates and positions in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958.

Dr. Young had a distinguished teaching career at various colleges and universities throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In addition to his teaching career, he was the longtime pastor of New Rye Union Congregational Church.

Due to health issues, he retired from teaching in 2012 and from pastoral duties in 2022.

Dr. Young served the Lord in various capacities throughout his life. He tirelessly worked in community functions and church-related endeavors in the Epsom region with sincere joy and wholehearted commitment. He remained faithful to his home church, Bethel AME Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, by returning to preach there several times during his father’s 33-year tenure and beyond. He was a cherished son, a loving brother, a devoted husband, an adoring father, and a loyal friend. He was a true man of God, and because of God’s presence in his life, he was a treasure of immeasurable worth (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Dr. Young received his call into the ministry when he was 12, as did his father. He was ordained an elder in the AME Church by 17. He pastored Sand Hill AME Church while he was a senior in high school. He graduated from Scipio A. Jones High School in 1964 with a full scholarship to Texas Southern University in Houston. While in Houston, he was the youth minister at Wesley Chapel AME Church. After graduating from TSU in 1968 with a degree in history, he attended and completed his studies at the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, where he obtained a Master of Divinity in 1971.

His wife preceded him in death in 2018. He is survived by his children: James Robert Young, Jr., wife Cara, and daughter Aurora; daughter Alicia and her fiancé Jeff; sisters - Emley Norman, Ellen Fizer (Tyrone), and Allena Strong (Leodis), and a host of loving nieces, nephews, and friends.

Condolences and comforting words to the family may be posted on the funeral home website at roanfamilyfuneral.com. ❏ ❏ ❏

He continued pursuing his educational goals and theological training at Boston University School of Theology, where he earned a doctorate in the sociology of religion. While living in Boston, he was affiliated with Bethel AME Church in Lowell, Massachusetts. He also met his future wife,

ECUMENICAL NEWS

Christian Leaders Travel to Bethlehem for Christmas in Solidarity With Palestinians A delegation of Christian leaders from around the globe, including a cohort from South Africa, has arrived in Palestine to spend this Christmas in Bethlehem in a demonstration of solidarity with Palestinian Christians and all Palestinians in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories

by Israel, including the Gaza Strip. Kairos Southern Africa is organising this pilgrimage of solidarity in collaboration with Kairos Palestine.

The group travelled via Jordan, arrived in Amman on the 20th of December, and will be departing on the 26th of December. Kairos Palestine and SABEEL will host the delegation in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. During their trip, the group will spend some initial time in Jerusalem, among other things, meeting with released Palestinian prisoners, meeting with families of Israeli hostages, visiting the holy sites of the Abrahamic faiths, including the Al Aqsa Mosque, and meeting with church leaders, Christian and civil society organisations, and human rights groups. The group will then move to Bethlehem to meet Christian organisations and church leaders, attend various worship services, including a Christmas midnight mass, and participate in an annual peace march.

The international delegation consists of: ❖ The Rev. Frank Chikane, an emeritus pastor of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (AFM), a former general secretary and vice president of the South Africa Council of Churches (SACC), and former moderator of the Churches Commission on International Affairs (CCIA) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) ❖ Archbishop Thami Ngcana, general secretary of the Council of African Independent Churches ❖ Dean Michael Weeder, dean of the St. George’s Anglican Cathedral in Cape Town and currently on a fast for Gaza ❖ Ds. Riaan de Villiers, a dominee of the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk, Groote Kerk, Cape Town ❖ The Rev. Rene August, an Anglican priest and a veteran of the anti-apartheid movement, is a reconciliation trainer with The Warehouse, a worshipping community organisation in Cape Town, South Africa

❖ Ms. Goitsione Makuo, a lay member of the Cape Town Cathedral Council ❖ The Rev. Solomon Maans, minister of religion in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC), Johannesburg, South Africa ❖ Mr. Jimmy Matthews, a South African journalist ❖ Mr. Nkululeko Conco, an Anglican layperson and an attorney ❖ The Rev. Dr. Chris Ferguson, pastor of the United Church of Canada (UCC) ❖ Chancellor-Qonkuy, Platform of Protestant Universities in Iberoamerica, international prof. of the Universidad Reformada of Colombia, and former general secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches ❖ The Rev. Susan Wilder, Presbyterian Church, USA ❖ The Rev. David Wildman, Methodist Church, USA Others will join later.

Bethlehem,

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236 injured, and 38 arrested. One hundred ninety-two journalists have been killed; 80 are injured, and three are missing. Palestinians are deliberately starved by blockading supplies of food, and patients are left to die because of a lack of medical supplies which are also blocked.

birthplace of Jesus, is, of course, deeply significant at this time. Of similar significance are the parallels between the time of Jesus’ birth and now, which are hard to ignore. Then, the land was under occupation by the Roman Empire. Now, the occupier is the state of Israel. Then, King Herod carried out a genocide of boys under the age of two. Now, Israel is carrying out a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, which is now spilling over to the West Bank, and more than 8,000 children have been killed.

The genocide, which Palestinians see as a continuation of the Nakba (catastrophe) that started in 1947, has been happening on the watch of the international community without lifting a finger to stop it. By yesterday, the official death toll in Gaza reached about 19,000 Palestinians killed over just more than two months. Of these, more than 8,000 are children, more than 6,200 are women, and 678 are elderly. Over the same period, more than 51,000 have been injured, at least 7,780 are missing, and more than 8,000 are thought to be buried under the rubble of bombed buildings and structures. More than 1,930,000 (85% of all Gazans) have been displaced. One thousand six hundred eighty families have been bombed, and 63,000 (61%) residential units destroyed.

Hospitals, schools, churches, mosques, United Nations (UN) facilities, sewage pump stations, water wells, agricultural land, bakeries, government buildings, and public facilities have been bombed. What is worse is that even ambulances are being bombed. One hundred thirty-five UN staff have been killed and 26 injured; 300 medical personnel have been killed,

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force where no international law applies. Even the UN has been neutralised by the veto by the United States of America (USA) at the UN Security Council, which supports Israeli’s genocide, including $US 3.8 billion per year in military assistance. The USA has given Israel more military assistance than any other country since World War II, amounting to US $124 billion.

Thus, while Christmas is typically a time of joy and celebration, Kairos SA and Kairos Palestine note that, “This year, joy and good news are being replaced with increased settler violence and the implementation of a new Nakba.” For this reason, Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem in the West Bank have decided to cancel festivities and public Christmas celebrations this year.

These acts of the Israelis are not just acts of terrorism but crimes against humanity in terms of international law, and those who are responsible, including those who support this genocide, must be brought to book through the International Criminal Court (ICC).

In the illegally occupied areas in the West Bank, since 7 October 2023, 298 Palestinians have been killed, and 65 of these are children; more than 3,365 have been injured; 4,528 have been arrested, 65 of them school children. There are19,533 Israeli violations and assaults, 641 Israeli settler assaults, 2,921 incursions, and 1,643 Palestinian homes stormed.

In total, 7,800 Palestinian are in detention, with 3,730 detained since after 7 October 2023.

From these reports, it is clear that Palestinians are left at the mercy of the brutal occupying

On the invitation of these Palestinian Christians and in solidarity with their lament and struggle, the delegation of church leaders will join them in Bethlehem for Christmas as one Body of Christ and deliver a clear message: “When THEY suffer, WE suffer. We join them, to stand where Jesus stood with those who are suffering, to pray with them, to encourage them, to mourn with them, to say no to genocide, and yes to a ceasefire and negotiations to end the ‘occupation.’

From the West Bank, the delegation will head for the Rafah Gate via Cairo to try to reach out to the victims of genocide in Gaza. It is our prayer that the relevant authorities will allow the delegation to be able to carry out their pastoral responsibilities and be there for the victims of the genocide as part of our ministry of presence and service to God’s people. ❏ ❏ ❏

Scholarships Available for Methodist Students Attending Select HBCUs Nashville, TN – The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) offers scholarships to support Methodist students attending select HBCUs. Students who are members of the United Methodist Church, the American Methodist Episcopal Church, the AME Zion Church, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and are planning to attend a UM-related college, university, or seminary may apply. Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are open January 1 – March 1, 2024.

UM-related HBCUs include Bennett College, Bethune Cookman University, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Dillard University, Gammon Theological Seminary, Huston-Tillotson University, Paine College, Philander Smith University, Rust College, and Wiley College. Awards range from $500 to $5,000.

UMHEF’s two main programs are General Named Endowed (GNE) scholarships and the United Methodist Dollars for Scholars (UMDFS) program. The GNE application is a typical competitive scholarship that considers leadership, GPA, and financial need. With this one application, students will be considered for over 130 different endowments (additional requirements may apply), including awards designated for HBCU students.

The UMDFS program begins with a $1,000 scholarship sent to UMHEF from a student’s home church (more than one church may combine funds). This scholarship is matched

by UMHEF to total $2,000. Participating UM-related schools and, for students who are members of the UMC, United Methodist conference foundations may also each match the initial scholarship. The total award amount may reach up to $4,000.

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More information on eligibility criteria, the application process for each award, and FAQs can be found at www.umhef.org/scholarships.

The grand vision of UMHEF is that it be financially possible for qualified students to attend a United Methodist-related institution of higher education. Annually, the foundation provides nearly 1,000 students with scholarships totaling more than $2 million.

Learn more at https://www.umhef.org/.

Public relations contact: Teresa Tysinger, ttysinger@umhef.org / (615) 649-3975.

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The Gifts of an Alive Pan-African Faith in Nigeria and in Women’s Leadership Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith

Did you know Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and the sixth in the world? Did you know that the World Population Prospects predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world? Did you know that Nigeria is predominantly Christian and Muslim? Did you know Nigerian leadership, socio-political and religious, had the foresight to build a National Islamic Mosque and National Christian Center next to each other in the federation capitol of Abuja to show unity in Nigeria? More than this, the faith of Nigerian people is alive, resilient, and vibrant despite the challenges of environmental decline and climate change, hunger, poverty, and conflict in this region of Africa.

I witnessed this recently when I was honored to sojourn to Nigeria, where partners of Bread for the World gathered for historic moments together: The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC-CETA) on the occasion of its 60th anniversary and 12th Assembly— and the historic visit of the World Council of Churches during its 75th year. I was invited to give the message of the related service at the First Baptist Church hosted by the Nigerian Baptist Church Convention and a host of other national churches and the councils of churches.

The invitation also included hosting a breadrelated side event at the AACC on Pan Africanism and Faith, featuring issues related to a Pan African lens on hunger, poverty, women,

and climate justice. The side event included a follow-up to the joint work with our Faithful Voice on Hunger and Climate Justice coalition statement, adopted last year at the AACC headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, in preparation for COP 28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Bread’s partnership on hunger and climate, as well as with Pan African Women of Faith/Pan African Women’s Ecumenical Empowerment Network (PAWEEN), was also featured.

Last month, PAW/PAWEEN held its annual conference in Washington, D.C., and online.

The women made their voices known on Capitol Hill concerning Bread’s advocacy agenda that featured support for the Farm Bill from their lens.

Both the conference and AACC 60th featured the launch of my new book, Ahead of Her Time: Pan African Women of Faith and the Vision of Christian Unity, Mission, and Justice published

by WCC. The book launch also included the “Ahead of Her Time” Lifetime Awards to the women featured in the book. The book shares the untold stories of several pan-African women of faith from Africa, North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe who provided local, national, and global ecumenical leadership in the history of the churches during formative periods of the modern-day ecumenical movement. The book can also be ordered in print or on Kindle at Amazon.com.

Angelique Walker-Smith is a senior associate for Pan-African and Orthodox Church Engagement at Bread for the World.

CONNECTIONAL NEWS

Williams for Bishop To all of you who attended the luncheon at the Convocation in Columbus, Ohio, I am extremely thankful. It was special because of you!

The food, the atmosphere, the décor was planned with you in mind, and I hope it gave you a little insight of the kind of service we want to render as a bishop and supervisor. We solicit your prayers and support!

May God bless you!

A Reflection From CONVO XI

Dr. Brandon A. A. J. Davis, Columnist, 37th Senior Pastor, Ebenezer AME Church, Aliquippa, PA

December 13-14, 2023, Columbus, Ohio

articulated not just the supremacy of the name Jesus Christ but what that name means to the people of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and beyond. With energy and homiletical fervor, the Rev. Roderick Reed opened CONVO XI by invoking the name Jesus Christ as we deliberated the church’s and ministry’s work.

Attending CONVO XI was an experience and privilege I’ve yet to enjoy before. It was a new learning experience to see the Connectional work preparing the laity and clergy for the pending and forthcoming legislation to be presented at the General Conference in August 2024. CONVO XI was called to order with a devotion period led by Presiding Elder LaCretta Rutledge Clark, Ph.D., presiding elder of the Cleveland District (North Ohio Annual Conference), and several pastors. The devotional message was preached by the Rev. Roderic K. Reed (Lee Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, Cleveland, Ohio). His message, “Put Some Respect on That Name,” sparked the people’s interest and responses as he

Following a rousing devotion, Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell (12th ED) and Bishop Elizabeth Anne Henning Byfield (13th ED) gave felicitations and welcome on behalf of the council, established protocol, and Bishop Byfield called the roll of members of the Connectional

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church that were present for CONVO XI. Following Bishop Byfield, we were further greeted and welcomed by the host bishop of the Third Episcopal District, Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr., along with the pastors and laity of the 3rd District who were excited to have the Connectional church present in “The Arch City.”

stricter enforcement of celebrated and notarized financial protocols as instituted in various corporate entities. Bishop James Levert Davis (2nd ED) stirred the crowd as she fervently admonished the church that you cannot legislate integrity, to which Bishop Jackson echoed, “You get what you elect.”

Additional greetings came from the 53rd mayor of the city of Columbus, Mayor Andrew Ginther, who was eloquently presented by Judge Derek H. Anderson, secretary of the Judicial Council of the AME Church and the assistant director of Equitable Contracting and Engagement for the city of Columbus, Ohio. Mayor Ginther praised the African Methodist Episcopal Church for its centuries-old commitment to serving and meeting the needs of people and not just the members of our church. He thanked the AME Church for choosing the 12th largest city in the United States to hold its 52nd Quadrennial Session of the General Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Following Mayor Ginther, Senior Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr. (10th ED) delivered a profound and timely message to the Connectional church. He reminded the people of our response to God in times of difficulty and uncertainty and how, above all else, we were to remain a people of hope.

Ministry and Order were moderated by Senior Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Bishop Julius Harrison McAllister (1st ED), and Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell. The respondents were Dr. Toni Belin-Ingram (presiding elder, North Augusta District, Augusta, Georgia) and Dr. Keith Mayes (Vernon AMEC, Tulsa, Oklahoma). Their conversation centered on matters of change for the instruction of ministers, educational requirements for persons seeking ordination, professional counseling services for pastors, getting rid of the Ministerial Efficiency Committee, and the prohibition for pastors to be allowed to marry same-sex couples in the AME Church without penalty of loss of ordination and license to preach.

The closing and final day was opened with a devotion led by Dr. James Henderson Harris, Sr., presiding elder of the Southwestern Pennsylvania District (Pittsburgh-West Virginia Annual Conference), and I preached the devotional message. Philippians 3:8 reminds you and me of the worth of choosing Jesus and what we gain when we abandon everything else. As I preached “What’s in a Choice?” I reminded the Connectional church that while choosing what makes sense to you is your prerogative, allow others the same grace to choose what works for them.

While various sessions took place throughout the Hilton Convention Center, I was privy to two sessions: Oversight and Accountability and Ministry and Order. Oversight and Accountability moderators were Bishop Reginald Thomas Jackson (6th ED) and Bishop Ronnie Elijah Brailsford (19th ED). The respondents were Dr. Alphonse Allen, Jr. (Allen Temple AMEC, Cincinnati, Ohio), Sis. Cynthia Gordon-Floyd (CPA, CFE, Willing Steward Ministries, LLC), and General Officer Marcus Henderson (CFO, AME Church).

Ultimately, as the AME Church continues to choose Jesus, we essentially choose peace. As we prepare for the General Conference next summer, I hope we will choose to love each other, supervise the much-needed work of the AME Church, and choose peace instead of chaos and social and spiritual violence. After all, in the words of the senior bishop, Bishop Adam Richardson, “I still have my hope.” Amen. ❏ ❏ ❏

Much of the commentary centered around the need for severe measures to be enacted regarding oversight of the process and procedures of the church, the need for a general inspector for the denomination, and for

Report From CONVO XI John Thomas III, Ph.D., Editor, The Christian Recorder

From December 13-15, 2023, hundreds of AME’s gathered at the Hilton Hotel in Columbus, Ohio to deliberate proposed legislation for the 2024 General Conference for CONVO XI. The theme for this gathering was “Let’s Talk and Act” (Isaiah 1:18). The CONVOs for the 2021-2024 period have been chaired by Bishop Michael L. Mitchell. This assembly was a continuation of the deliberations begun at CONVO X this June at the seat of the General Board in New Orleans, Louisiana.

CPA; Dr. Alphonse Allen, Dr. Marcus T. Henderson ❖ Organization and Structure: Moderators— Bishop Clement W. Fugh and Bishop David R. Daniels; Respondents—the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Augustine, Presiding Elder Sheriolyn Curry Hodge, Dr. John Thomas III

The meeting was opened by Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield. The Third Episcopal District coordinated the Opening Devotions with the Rev. Roderic Reid sharing a meditation, “Put Some Respect on That Name” (Philippians 2:1). Greetings were shared from Bishop Mitchell and Senior Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr. Bishop Byfield provided notes on the theme and reminded the assembly that CONVO is not the end of all that the church does. She acknowledged the sacrifices of the persons who were unable to be present—particularly young adults and members from districts 14-20. Senior Bishop Richardson provided a keynote text, “From Despair to Hope” (2 Kings 7:3-4).

❖ Church Development, Expansion, Social Action: Moderators— Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield and Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II; Respondents—the Rev. Matthew Watley, Dr. Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Presiding Elder Anica Howard, Dr. Marcellus Norris ❖ Worship and Sacrament: Moderator—Bishop Samuel L. Green and Bishop Harry L. Seawright; Respondents–Presiding Elder Troy Thomas, the Rev. Garland Pierce, the Rev. Dr. Roderick Belin ❖ Ministry and Order: Moderators—Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr., Bishop Julius McAllister, Sr., and Bishop Michael L. Mitchell; Respondents—Dr. Keith Mayes, Presiding Elder Toni Belin Ingram

Following the message, Judicial Council Member Dr. Derek Anderson presented Mayor Andrew Ginther who shared greetings and his appreciation to the AME Church in anticipation of the 2024 General Conference.

After the dinner session, the assembly met en masse for the evening plenary session to prepare on the summary report and to address the legislation that had been submitted. This session was moderated by Bishop Jeffrey Leath, Bishop Reginald Jackson, and Bishop Clement Fugh.

The bills presented to the general secretary were split into various breakout groups aligned on the following themes:

The next morning, December 14, the assembly was called to order by Bishop Michael L. Mitchell who presented the 3rd Episcopal District for devotionals. Dr. Brandon A. A. J. Davis gave the morning

❖ Oversight and Accountability: Moderators—Bishop Reginald Jackson and Bishop Ronnie Brailsford; Respondents—Cynthia Gordon-Floyd,

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the bills were debated, it became increasingly clear that while much of what it desired is already the positive law of the AME Church, certain legislative corrections would make the existing provisions easier to implement and more difficult to avoid. The issue of LGBTQ+ inclusion also was hotly debated, yet the consensus was that debates are premature until the report from the Sexual Ethics Committee chaired by Dr. Fry Brown has been given.

Fred Wright then took the chair and presided over the various breakout group reports. A full summary of the minutes and comments on the 45 bills presented is available from the general secretary/CIO. After the summary reports and announcements, Bishop Wilfred Messiah delivered the benediction and the meeting was adjourned.

While legislation is still being submitted for review to the General Conference, CONVO XI provided a barometer for where the discussions of the church are. The situation with ministerial annuities has prompted calls throughout the Connectional church for fiscal accountability. As

The AME Church clearly came to talk. The actions of the 2024 General Conference will show if the discussions bore fruit. ❏ ❏ ❏

New Partnership Resources for Climate Justice-AME + ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow Program hope is that these numbers will be higher next year, bolstered by the new tools and resources of the AME + ecoAmerica Blessed Tomorrow partnership.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church and ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow program have enjoyed nearly a decade of partnership. A recently renewed collaboration will support AME’s visible national climate leadership and further support and activate congregations, clergy, and lay leaders to act and advocate for just and equitable climate solutions.

Meighen Speiser of ecoAmerica joined the 20th Quadrennial of AME Women’s Missionary Society on August 1, 2023, in Orlando to share information on the new partnership and early findings from a study on AME climate attitudes and motivations.

The most promising finding is this: Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) AME’s reported that their congregation should be doing more to address climate change, including nearly half of AME’s who said they strongly agree with this sentiment.

The renewed partnership will deepen support for AME climate action and advocacy to bring promising climate attitudes and motivations to bear on climate justice. This includes a new climate action section on the AME Church website, the Social Action Commission website, and the Christian Education website, a new climate ambassador training, additional research, a series of action sheets that can be used as handouts in church services and events in local neighborhoods, guides on climate communication and to care for creation in church, webinars, and events to inspire, support and connect customizable communications, and congregational support, including a national campaign and access to financial awards.

The full survey will be available soon; however, early findings show that the AMEC is ready to elevate visible climate leadership and action on climate justice.

Findings from a survey fielded in July show much higher concern, prioritization, action, and motivation for action on climate change among AME’s versus a nationally representative sample of Americans.

Ninety-four percent of AME’s are personally concerned about climate change, including two-thirds who are VERY concerned. That is much higher than the national average, which is already high at 72%. But, only 16% of AME’s think other people around them are very concerned about climate when in fact so many more people are actually concerned. When people think that no one around them is concerned about climate change, it tends to make them quiet about it. And this leads to people doing nothing to solve it. The antidote is visible, vocal, and personally relevant action on climate, which is where ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow programs help and AME action on climate comes in.

The AME Climate Ambassador Training is available now, providing knowledge, hands-on experience, and resources to feel comfortable talking about climate change and confident acting on climate justice and solutions. It’s a self-paced, 4-hour virtual training offered for free, as are all offerings through the program. The training is informative, inspirational, rooted in faith, and customized for AME’s. It includes six modules including: 1. Welcome from AME Church and the moral case for action.

Next, AME’s were asked which should be the top priorities for the United States. Among many issues, a majority surveyed, 61%, chose climate change as a top priority. This sentiment is much higher than the national average of 37%. This includes 64% of AME women who said climate change should be a top priority and 52% of AME men.

2. How climate impacts people and faith, and how climate change exacerbates a wide variety of injustices.

3. Climate solutions from national to local to congregational and the home and neighborhood. How faith communities are already leading, and what it looks like to work toward climate justice in a way that is intersectional and supportive of other justice work.

Nearly 65% of AMEs discuss climate change with friends and family and one-fifth discuss the topic at church. These numbers are higher than the national average, which are 45% and 9%, respectively. Nineteen percent of AME’s have discussed climate at work with colleagues, 12% have contacted elected officials about the importance of doing something about climate change, and 6% have spoken on the topic at a public gathering. The

4. How to communicate on climate and faith in a way that is effective and personalized for the speaker and with whomever they are speaking.

5. Ways to engage in climate action and advocacy, and; 18

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support AME leadership.

Blessed Tomorrow.

Values we will center in this partnership:

An exciting opportunity for visible national leadership went public on October 4th. One Home One Future is a new national campaign to increase visibility on climate action, strengthen congregations’ vitality, and engage local people of faith across generations, particularly supporting youth and clergy, for climate justice. It is a multi-faith campaign, with several denominations of faith, including AME, already part of the coalition effort that designed and will launch it! It is a moment to stand together across faiths to recognize that we go farther and faster. It is a moment to recognize that we have seven years to make a real difference in climate action and that the number seven is sacred and perfect. One Home One Future embraces, in spirit, tone, and manner, that it is magnificent to be alive in a time that matters so much. Participating in the campaign means that clergy and congregations will do what they can when they can to act on climate over the next seven years. Signing up gives the congregation a FREE congregational kit, including a banner to hang out in front of their church and a getting started toolkit. The One Home One Future website will include a breadth of resources, including sermon starters, Sunday school and Bible study resources, and more. It will offer several pathways for action so clergy, congregations, and youth can take action on climate justice, no matter if they are just getting started, because it is designed to meet people where they are.

Climate change is a moral and a justice issue.

The vulnerable are most at risk.

Climate solutions help everyone.

The transition must be just.

Solutions require investment.

We can make a difference.

You can lead.

Strategy and planning will be done in collaboration with the church and Dr. Jackie Dupont-Walker of the Social Action Commission. Every component of the AME Church is invited to access and engage; however, the Women’s Missionary Society was introduced to it first under the brilliant leadership of Dr. Deborah Taylor King. Christian Education will help to offer the AME Climate Ambassador training thanks to Dr. Garland F. Pierce. It is a pleasure to report that ecoAmerica supports a new AME Climate Justice coordinator named Robin Porter Smith, who can be reached at climatejustice@ameced.com. The AME Climate Justice coordinator and a few AMEs across the Connectional church participated in the Ecumenical Ambassador Training held on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Additional information regarding the work of the AMEC on climate justice will be provided in future editions of The Christian Recorder. ❏ ❏ ❏

The partnership between AME Church and ecoAmerica’s Blessed Tomorrow program will continue to find new things to do together to

Know Your Church and Its History 1. He was elected treasurer of the AME Church at the General Conference held in Dallas, TX. Name this outstanding layman who also authored several lay handbooks.

9. Who was the AME Church layman and former treasurer of the denomination whose biography is entitled Black Titan? He was an African American businessman who established several businesses in Birmingham, AL and who played a significant role in the movement to remove legal barriers to school integration in Birmingham.

2. He is the music co-chair for the Connectional Lay Organization, chaplain of the Washington Conference Lay Organization, and president of the C. B. Neal Lay Organization at his home church in Washington, D.C. He is also the newly elected ANC Board member of his neighborhood and serves as its parliamentarian. Name this young adult educator and musician.

3. What is the name of the current elected treasurer/chief financial officer of the AME Church?

10. Who is the AME Church laywoman who was appointed judge president (chief judge) in the 19th Episcopal District (RSA)?

4. He served as the historian for the AME Church and published a book in 1980 entitled History of the AME Church (The Black Church in Action).

What is his name?

11. He was elected financial secretary of the CLO at the 2013 Biennial and elected its treasurer in 2017. Who was this distinguished layman?

12. He served as an outstanding layman of the 7th Episcopal District and served as an advisor to several CLO presidents. He was also noted for his dedication and devotion to his church in South Carolina and served as a Lay Organization president at the conference level. Name this faithful servant of God and dedicated layman.

5. At the General Conference in 1848, the office of AME historiographer was created. Name the first AME Church historian.

6. Who was the AME Church laywoman and engineer who became a NASA astronaut in 1996? She was the second African American woman to travel in space and subsequently flew three shuttle missions.

13. She was elected president of the Connectional Lay Organization (CLO) in 2017. She passed away while in service. A Second District office building located in Pennsylvania in Forestville, MD, will be named in her honor. She was one of the founding members of First AME Church in Manassas, VA. Name this former CLO president and a distinguished laywoman.

7. Who was the native Texan and AME Church layman who migrated to Los Angeles, CA in 1927 and became the first African American mayor of a predominantly white city? He served an unprecedented five terms as mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993.

8. Who was the AME Church laywoman and civil rights activist who was the state president of the Arkansas NAACP in 1952? She was an author, journalist, publisher, and owner of the Arkansas State Press. She was a chief strategist in desegregating Central High School in Little Rock and was the mentor of the Little Rock Nine. Four of the Little Rock Nine and this laywoman were members of Bethel AME Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.

14. Where was the first AME Publishing House owned and operated by Negroes located, and who established it?

15. She was the first woman graduate of the now University of North Carolina, Wilmington. She was also an actor in the Willis Richardson Players and served as president of the troupe for nearly two decades.

This active AME Church woman was a member of St. ...continued on p20 19

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Stephens, Wilmington. She was the recipient of the Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater Award. The award was later named in her honor. Who was this great thespian?

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the last General Conference held in Ohio?

18. He served as the first black judge on the highest court in the District of Columbia. This outstanding layman was elevated to chief judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals in 1976. He was also greatly involved in the life of Metropolitan AME Church in DC. Additionally, he served on the Steward Board and as a member of the Robert Kelly Lay Organization. What was the name of this senior judge who was the son of an AME minister?

16. He served as the first president of the 20th Episcopal District after the AMEC General Conference approved the formation of the 20th Episcopal District (RSA). The Episcopal District comprises Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. The president was born in Zimbabwe. He worked hard and paved the way for the growth/expansion of the District Lay Organization. What is the name of this pioneer president?

19. He hailed from Liberia (RSA) and served on the AME Church General Board Commission from the years 2000 to 2004. Name this distinguished gentleman.

17. The General Conference is the supreme body of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It meets every four years (quadrennially). In the year 2024, Columbus, Ohio, will serve as the host city of the General Conference. It will be held from August 21 to August 28. What year was

20. She represented the 16th district numerous times on the AME General Board, serving on a number of commissions. Name this outstanding Episcopal district representative and laywoman.

Answers to Know Your Church and Its History 1. Dr. Joseph Columbus McKinney - (2nd Episcopal District)

14. Philadelphia, PA - Richard Allen - (1st Episcopal District)

2. Brian Glover - (2nd Episcopal District)

15. Nela Mae Pierce Thompson - (2nd Episcopal District)

3. M. Marcus Henderson – (13th Episcopal District)

16. Phillip Nhekairo - (20th Episcopal District)

4. Howard D. Gregg, Ph.D. - (4th Episcopal District)

17. 2000 - (the year the AME Church made history by electing its first female bishop) - (3rd Episcopal District)

5. Rev. Daniel A. Payne - (later elevated as the 6th bishop in the denomination. He purchased Wilberforce University for the AME Church) - (3rd Episcopal District)

18. Theodore R. Newman, Jr. - (2nd Episcopal District)

6. Stephanie Diana Wilson - (1st Episcopal District)

20. Elvira Douglas - (16th Episcopal District)

19. Justice M. William Wright - (14th Episcopal District)

7. Thomas J. “Tom” Bradley - (10th Episcopal District)

You are encouraged, and please encourage others, to use the CLO website to purchase “The CLO Historical Journal.” The journal will assist you in getting correct answers to the puzzles and series 1, 2, 3, and 4 Q & A’s. I look forward to seeing you at the CLO biennial June 26-30, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois.

8. Daisy Lee Gaston Bates - (12th Episcopal District) 9. A. G. (Arthur George) Gaston - (9th Episcopal District) 10. Judge President Monica Leeuw - (19th Episcopal District) 11. Richard Bowden - (9th Episcopal District)

Mr. Matikane A. Makiti, CLO President Mr. William “Bill” Ayers, CLO Historiographer ❏ ❏ ❏

12. Norman L. Deas - (7th Episcopal District) 13. Valarie Faith Gary Bell - (2nd Episcopal District)

Be Proactive, Not Reactive The Rev. Dr. Marcellus A. Norris, Executive Director, AME Department of Church Growth and Development

January 2024 AME Church Growth Corner We should not wait for problems to come and then try to fix them, but we should think ahead. Based on our positive vision, we inspire, teach, and train. We teach ministerial ethics before there is a major problem. It is important to develop a culture of development, discipleship, training, and education.

Being proactive rather than reactive in the context of church growth is essential for fostering a thriving and purposeful community of believers.

Proactivity involves anticipating and initiating positive change rather than simply responding to circumstances as they arise. In the context of church growth, this means actively seeking out opportunities to expand the congregation, deepen spiritual connections, and engage with the surrounding community in meaningful ways.

Furthermore, a proactive mindset encourages church leaders to continuously seek feedback from members, assess the effectiveness of existing programs, and identify areas for improvement. By staying attuned to the evolving needs and preferences of the community, church leaders can more effectively tailor their efforts to promote growth and vitality.

Ultimately, a proactive approach to church growth empowers leaders and members alike to be intentional in their efforts to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and spiritually enriching community. By embracing a proactive mindset, churches can position themselves to respond to their members’ needs and actively shape their congregation’s future, ensuring that it continues to thrive and make a positive impact in the lives of those it serves. In this way, we can positively address the most important matters, and in doing so, we will deal with many issues and problems before they arise. ❏ ❏ ❏

A proactive approach to church growth involves strategic planning, intentional outreach, and a willingness to adapt to the evolving needs of both current and potential members. Rather than waiting for attendance to dwindle or for challenges to arise, proactive leaders actively seek ways to foster growth, whether through innovative programming, targeted outreach efforts, or the development of new ministries that address the diverse needs of the congregation.

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NECROLOGY LISTINGS

DECEMBER 2023

*Purple font connotes Episcopal Family; Red font, General Officers; and Blue font, Connectional Officers.

The Reverend Dr. Philip A. Blair, the beloved conference statistical secretary, former conference Christian Education director, and the pastor of the Mt. Olive AME Church, Wilmington, NC, North Carolina Annual Conference, Second Episcopal District The Reverend Clinton Stancil, the pastor of Wayman AME Church in St. Louis, MO, St. Louis–Columbia District, Fifth Episcopal District Miss Shatquantell (Peaches) Denise Steffin, the daughter of the Reverend Angellette Warfield, pastor of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ashland, Tennessee, and Juergen Steffin, Sr. of the North District, Tennessee Annual Conference, Thirteenth Episcopal District The Reverend Charles Marie Davis, (retired) a faithful member who served as the office administrator, and was on the ministerial staff at St. John AME Church, downtown Birmingham in the Northwest Alabama Annual Conference of the Ninth Episcopal District

Wayman AMEC, Dayton, Ohio, and member

daughter of the Reverends Carroll D. and

of the General Board (the Reverend Dr.

Emma Willis, Twelfth Episcopal District

Mila P. Cooper, spouse, and president of the Third Episcopal District Women in Ministry) and the Reverend Kevin J. Cooper, Sr., pastor of United AMEC in Xenia, Ohio, and other siblings are Jonathan Cooper

Attorney Stanley Myers, age 46, the youngest son of Mrs. Louise Myers, Bishop Harry L. Seawright’s (Episcopal Supervisor), Ninth Episcopal District,

and Priscilla Cooper-Price

sister

Sister Marilyn Morris, the mother of

The Reverend Hezekiah D. Stewart,

the Reverend Dr. Marlene Mitchell, pastor of Falls Road, AME Church, and dean of

Jr., a loving husband, father, grandfather, dedicated pastor, and revered community

the Washington Conference Board of

leader, Twelfth Episcopal District

Examiners, Second Episcopal District

Mrs. Martha Jewel Gainer Sykes,

Dr. Cora A. “Toney” Coulter Bolden,

the widow of deceased the Reverend

an AME Church chaplain, the sister of the Reverend Dr. Marla Coulter-McDonald,

Louis Henry Sykes, former pastor of Wayman Chapel AME Church, Columbia,

itinerant elder of the AME Church serving

TN,

in the Indiana Conference of the Fourth

Thirteenth Episcopal District

Episcopal District

Tennessee

Annual

Conference,

Mrs. Bettie P. White, the mother of Mr.

Mr. Howard M. Jenkins, Sr., the father

Nicholas White, director of Accounting

of the Reverend Howard M. Jenkins,

for the African Methodist Episcopal

Jr., the pastor of Bethel AME Church,

Church Finance Department

Providence, Rhode Island of the New England

Conference

of

the

First

Episcopal District of the AME Church Sister Sylvia McCray, the sister of the

Mr. Leroy Alexander Bluing, Jr., the last sibling, the brother, of Mrs. Karen Bluing-Osborne, executive assistant to Dr. Richard Allen Lewis, retired, CFO and

Mr. Ronald T. Cash, the son of the Reverend Gloria Cash-Sam, pastor of Wesley Chapel AMEC, Clute, TX in the South Houston District, Texas Conference, Tenth Episcopal District

Reverend Dr. Lionel Jackson, pastor

The Reverend Hezekiah D. Stewart, Jr., a loving husband, father, grandfather, dedicated pastor, and revered community leader, in the Twelfth Episcopal District

the local Lay Organization, among many

the Washington Conference Board of

other church and community positions,

Examiners, Second Episcopal District

The Reverend Linda Marie Willis,

Reverend Larry Lucas, pastor of Turner

Mrs. Lillie Mae Cooper, the mother of the Reverend Gerald A. Cooper, Esq., pastor of

a superannuated minister in the East

Chapel

Arkansas Annual Conference, was the

Eighth Episcopal District

of

Gaines

Chapel

AME

Church

in

Natchitoches, LA, age 90, member of St. James AME Church in Hammond, LA, life member of the WMS, president of

and a retired educator

treasurer of the AME Church Sister Marilyn Morris, the mother of the Reverend Dr. Marlene Mitchell, pastor of Falls Road, AME Church, and dean of

Brother Wilbert Lucas, brother of the AME

Church-Roseland,

LA,

Condolences to the bereaved are expressed on behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., president/ publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) the Reverend Dr. Roderick D. Belin, and editor of The Christian Recorder, Dr. John Thomas III.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NRSV) To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center. Mrs. Ora L. Easley, administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Office) • amecfic.org • facebook.com/AMECFIC 24

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Who said Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees?

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EDITORIAL

Biden, the Black Church, and Mother Emanuel John Thomas III, Ph.D., Editor, The Christian Recorder

“At Church, Biden Denounces Poison of Supremacy” “Gaza Protest Erupted During Biden Speech at Mother Emanuel” “Biden’s Appeal to Black Voters Needs an Overhaul” One could be forgiven for wondering exactly what happened at Mother Emanuel on Monday when U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. visited in his first campaign swing of the 2024 presidential cycle. As an affiliate member of Mother Emanuel, a journalist, and a collegiate political science professor, I confess that I needed a few days to sit with the variety of emotions and perspectives that I felt after Monday’s program.

Dr. John Thomas, Jr., III

We know that the Black Church as an institution is more to the African American community than a religious place.

21st Editor of The Christian Recorder

It is a vital institutional pillar that has undergirded our existence. From providing physical places to gather and shelter to opportunities for leadership and training to incubators for economic development, the Black Church is a singular institution whose influence sets African Americans apart from different parts of the Diaspora in the western hemisphere.

We AME’s take pride in navigating the world of United States politics, including presidents in our midst. William McKinley visited Quinn Chapel AME Church in Chicago in one of his last speeches before his assassination in 1901. John F. Kennedy invited the entire Council of Bishops to the White House to recognize Daniel Payne’s role in signing the Emancipation Proclamation. And, of course, presidential candidates routinely attend our general conferences.

So, when people question the appropriateness of the sitting United States

changing. Likewise, African American voting patterns are shifting, and the

president to show up to an AME Church, our history shows that he is

arguments and appeals to black voters must shift.

just the latest in a long line of persons who have come to our doors.

Bishop Samuel Green, presiding prelate of the 7th Episcopal District,

Furthermore, President Biden has a special relationship with the AME

reminded those assembled in his remarks that while Ella Baker,

Church. He was a frequent visitor at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington,

Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other luminaries

Delaware, when he represented that state in the United States Senate. He

of the African American freedom struggle might have had issues with

also personally visited the families of the Mother Emanuel victims and

American Democracy if there was a choice between President Biden or

the survivors of the 2015 massacre days after the tragedy in a show of

former President Trump, we know they adamantly would have backed the

solidarity—even though his own son, Beau, had died of cancer days before.

incumbent. This stark reminder of the situation of American democracy,

As Congressman James Clyburn (and AME Church member) said in his

where white nationalist demagogues and insurrectionists have seemingly

introduction of the president, “We know Joe.” With this context, the visit

hijacked one party, speaks to the peril that the country is in. Yet, for a

of President Biden to an AME Church makes sense.

generation that has seen the ladder to opportunity kicked down, George

But we know contexts change. The Black Church is not what it once was,

Floyd’s life crushed out of him, and the U.S. Capitol bathed in tear gas, the

and American democracy is not what it once was. When the protestors

entire electoral process and its benefits are questionable.

stood up in Mother Emanuel during the president’s speech, I immediately

As I walked out of Mother Emanuel

visit our church and what it means

and back to my office, I saw the

for Israel to flout humanitarian

snappy punditry beginning to

norms in the Gaza Strip. We must

digest the president’s visit. Some

ask ourselves how best to use our

ethnic divide in American opinion on the conflict in Gaza, and many

things, however, take time to sit

resources to serve the communities

of the people were more concerned that they were “disrespecting the

and think through. We do ourselves

we minister to in this troubling

president” than their actual viewpoint about genocide. The largely 60-plus

a disservice with snap judgments

time for American democracy.

crowd in the room was a friendly audience to the president. And we know

for a microwave news cycle.

There are no easy answers, but we

that the Black Church as an institution is losing inroads among younger

Members of the AME Church must

know that our faith in Christ will

generations. Faith will always be important to African Americans—but

think about what it means for the

guide us, and we must be obedient

how that faith is practiced and what institutions shape it is evolving and

president of the United States to

enough to follow and act upon it.

noticed they were the youngest people in the sanctuary. Given that they couldn’t bring in signs, I appreciated their boldness and that, when asked to leave, they respectfully did so and honored the fact that it was a house of worship and sacred ground. We know that there is a generational and

John Thomas III, Ph.D. is the editor of The Christian Recorder, the official newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is the president of the Associated Church Press and an executive committee member of the World Association of Christian Communicators-North America Section. A native of Nashville, Tennessee, he has recently relocated tobCharleston, South Carolina where he is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the College of Charleston.

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