IN HONOR OF WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH, WE SALUTE
SOJOURNER TRUTH
Issue 4
Born Isabella "Belle" Baumfree (c. 1797 – November 26, 1883)
Abolitionist Women’s Rights Activist Human Rights Crusader “The rich rob the poor, and the poor rob one another.”
A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FOR THE MT. PLEASANT COMMUNITY AND BEYOND
BUILT ON THE WORD, CONNECTED TO CHRIST, COMMITTED TO SERVANT-LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY
THE NAACP AND THE CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH LAUNCH THE BISHOP WILLIAM H. GRAVES, SR. MEMORIAL MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN1 The 42nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop William H. Graves, Sr. (June 19, 1936 - November 30, 2019) is the eighth child born to Johnnie and Leatha Graves. He was born in Brownsville, Tennessee, and grew up picking cotton alongside his parents and siblings, who worked as sharecroppers for a white landowner at a time of segregation and lynching. At an early age he migrated with his family to Detroit where he spent the majority of his childhood and youth. His public-school education began in Tennessee and was completed in Michigan. Upon receiving the BA degree from Lane College, he matriculated at Phillips School of Theology of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. He pursued his Doctor of Ministry degree from the Claremont School of Theology. After being licensed to preach, Bishop Graves served as the Assistant Pastor of his home church, the St. John's CME Church of Detroit, under the pastorate of Walter H. Amos, (who later became the 32nd Bishop of the church). Prior to Graves’ election, he served pastorates in Georgia, Indiana, and Wisconsin. He rose to prominence in the church during an outstanding pastorate of the Phillips Temple CME Church of Los Angeles, CA, where he led that historic congregation to a renovation/restoration project of its worship facility. While there, he earned a reputation as an unusual leader in stewardship motivation of local congregations. The role of William H. Graves as a representative of Christian Methodism began early in his ministry. He was elected the President of the National Youth Conference and represented the denomination in the World Council of Churches in India; and in the World Methodist Conference on several occasions London, England; Dublin, Ireland; and Honolulu, Hawaii. For two General Conferences he served as the Chair of the Committee on Episcopacy of the CME Church. Throughout his ministry he has been actively involved in the social and political issues of the community. Bishop Graves presided over the First Episcopal District. As bishop, Graves made history when he appointed the first woman presiding elder in the CME church. In 2006 Bishop William H. Graves was elevated to the position of Senior Bishop and CEO of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. At the 2010 General Conference held in Mobile, Alabama, Bishop Graves was honorably retired. Bishop Graves served as vice-chair of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP, chairman of the board of Lane College, the first African American and Memphian to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors and member of many other national and local leadership roles, including being a member of President Barack Obama’s National Clergy Working Group. Bishop Graves is the Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors of the National Congress of Black Churches. The NAACP Bishop William H. Graves, Sr. Memorial Membership Campaign will launch Feb. 12 and last until May 31. The new membership campaign is the “brain-child” of Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr., Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and a member of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP. NAACP national board member Gloria Sweet-Love is excited about the establishment and the significance of a membership campaign in honor of Graves. “The campaign will be an opportunity for reflection on the legacy of Bishop Graves,” said Sweet- Love during a campaign committee meeting. “It will provide an opportunity for increased membership and commitment by new members to the work of the Association.” TO BECOME AN NAACP MEMBER, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP, OR MAKE AN INSTALLMENT PAYMENT ON YOUR LIFE MEMBERSHIP - https://thecmechurch.org/become-naacp-member/; TO GIFT A MEMBERSHIP - https://thecmechurch.org/gift-naacpmembership/ Thank you in advance for your support! 1
This story is based upon 'A mountainous man," Graves remembered as national leader, father figure (commercialappeal.com) and NAACP William H. Graves Memorial Membership Campaign (thecmechurch.org) and The College of Bishops (thecmechurch.org).
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