The Christian Index - February 2024

The Christian Index The Official Organ of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church • February 2024

Hallelujah Night at MurchisonIsom/Jubilee Temple 24

THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

The Official Publication Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Copyright © 2024 Offices are Housed in The International Headquarters Memphis, Tennessee Contact the Editor at (901) 515-6510 E-mail: ChristianIndex@thecmechurch.org 1700 Whisperwood Street, Albany GA 31721 Contact Circulations/Subscriptions Office at (901) 396-5400 EDITOR Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr. PUBLISHER Dr. Roderick D. Lewis, Sr. EDITORIAL BOARD Chairman Bishop C. Kelby Heath PUBLISHING BOARD Chairman Bishop Kenneth W. Carter THE CHRISTIAN INDEX (0744-4060; USPS 0108320) is published monthly by The CME Publishing House.

Periodicals Postage is paid at Memphis, Tennessee, and at additional entry offices. Postal records are maintained at: The CME Department of Publications, Dr. Roderick D. Lewis, Sr. General Secretary, 4237 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, Tennessee 38116. POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to The CME Publishing House, 4237 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116. THE SUBSCRIPTION RATE IS $30 for one year. Subscriptions should be sent to Office of the Publisher: The Christian Index, 4237 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis, TN 38116. The Publisher’s telephone number is (901) 396-5400. ARTICLES FOR PUBLICATION should be sent to Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., Editor, THE CHRISTIAN INDEX, 1700 Whisperwood Street, Albany, GA 31721 or to: ChristianIndex@thecmechurch.org.

The Editor's office number is (901) 515-6510. COST FOR REPRODUCTION OF PICTURES is $20 per photo; payment (to Department of Publications) must accompany mailed article, and pictures will not be returned. Members and friends of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church are encouraged to submit articles for possible publication in THE CHRISTIAN INDEX, the Official Publication of the CME Church.

No compensation is made for articles published and no articles will be considered that have been submitted simultaneously to another publication or published by any other publication. Articles submitted will not be returned. Articles submitted and printed will become the property of THE CHRISTIAN INDEX with all rights assigned to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. THE CHRISTIAN INDEX was established in 1867 and has been in continuous publication since. It is the Official Organ of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, a member magazine of the Associated Church Press, and a subscriber to Religion News Service. Views expressed by the editor and/or other writers are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

2

The Christian Index • February 2024

Inside The Christian Index Quadrennial Theme: "Be Bold: Face Now, Embrace Next, See New"

Volume 157, Number 2

February 2024

Connectional Interests Episcopacy

Operation Vaccination 4

Report, Bishop K. Lawson Adjei 6 2024 CME Calendar of Events 11 Department of Finance/Investments 12 Dept. of Evangelism/Missions 14 Dept. of Christian Education/Formation 15 Department of Lay Ministry 16 Ministers' Spouses, Widows/Widowers 19 Concerns of Women In the Ministry 20 CME-Affiliated Schools

Students Follow Path of Alumna 21 Submissions A New Year Reflection 23 On the new year 23 Hallelujah Night 24 Authentically, Uniquely Methodist, Pt. II 26 Walker Chapel Promotes Cancer Awareness 27 My Take on the Episcopal Address 28 Gilbert Memorial Donates Baskets 29 Mobile District FIRST MTM Day 30 NW District Awareness/Engagement 31 Post Oak Celebrates 145 Years 32 The Law of Love 34 Children/Youth 35 Obituaries - Joining the Great Cloud 37 Connectional Directory 43

Cover: Hallelujah Night at Murchison-Isom/Jubilee Temple Photographs: Photos are by contributors to The Christian Index and Index staff.

Submitted to the Publisher: January 24, 2024

Editorial

We do not love without a cause Who do you love without a cause? Perhaps the child to whom you gave birth, your spouse, lover, other people? Even though, as I have said on previous occasions, "Love is a choice," we choose to love with cause.

God did not love us without first cause. How might this be seen? First, God chose to create sentient beings who could recognize God's love and goodness and could reciprocate according to their God-given ability. Human freewill is an Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., expression of God's love. Second, God prepared the world, creation, before our Editor human existence because God loved us, that we would not be lacking in any needed or good thing. Third, Christ was prepared for our redemption because in God's pre-eminent foreknowledge, God saw us as the sinners we would become and planned for our redemption. This was made manifest even in the punishment decreed/delivered in the Garden - a punishment mitigated by a love to be expressed in the distant future. As well, time for punishment (awareness and acknowledgement of sin), reformation (opportunities and power for character change), and restoration (forgiveness and relationship repair) are indicators of love, and almost all can be accepted or rejected at will. God's cause for love is God's choice to create and to redeem.

We human beings also do not love without cause. Adam and Eve recognized the goodness of God and chose to love God. This is seen in their reception and appreciation of the good of God towards them in created nature and provision for their wellbeing, in their apparent worship of God as evidenced through their conversations with God and through the worship acts of Cain and Abel, and in their shame after having sinned against God. Shame cannot be produced within a relationship where respect in love does not exist for the other.

Parents, and mothers in particular, love their babies because of the joy they have received and anticipate in bringing new life into the world. This love is also a result of the normally instinctive and concomitant responsibility of caring for the life that one has produced. We also do not love our spouses without cause. There is something attractive about them. Adam said that Eve was "bone of [his] bones, and flesh of [his] flesh."

(Genesis 2:23, KJV) This was after God had made humankind after God's "image" and "likeness," (Genesis 1:26, KJV) also a kind of generation and related to God's cause to love us. Friends, too, you grow to love because of some endearing characteristics or traits. Further, as it relates to your loving other people, there is an affinity that may exist, and for the Christian, there is the commandment of Christ to love. For the non-Christian, the source of love may include the desire for the common good and advancement of society as a whole. We love with cause.

In this Valentine's Day month, let us not take love for granted, neither those who love us. We are loved for cause, with reason. And we love with cause, or reason, in return. As believers, we love God because God first loved us, and we love others because we are commanded to love. What is more, we are taught to love when we choose to love, though we stumble along. And we do not find the command to love to be a weight or a burden, but rather a delight because of the joy we find and anticipate both in giving and receiving love, just as Christ loved us so greatly because of the joy received and anticipated both in the present and in the future. So let us love one another as Christ has loved us.

February 2024 • The Christian Index

3

Connectional Interests

Submitted by Bishop K. Lawson Adjei 2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCES IN RETROSPECT

Episcopacy

belief is that whenever there is rainfall immediately or after an occasion, it signifies blessings from God. BISHOP'S MISSIONARY VISITS IN GOMA

The Presiding Prelate of the 11th Episcopal District, Bishop K. Lawson Adjei, on Thursday, October 27th, 2023, resolved to do missions by visiting the hospital of the CME Church in Goma, DR Congo. It's a small hospital that serves the community where it is located and also serves thousands of refugees displaced by the ongoing activities of rebels in the country. Indeed, I saw some admitted government soldiers who were wounded by rebels at the hospital treatment.

DR CONGO REGION ANNUAL With the shortage of drugs at the hospital, Bishop CONFERENCE REPORT Adjei, together with Mission Supervisor Mugongo, Bishop K. Lawson Adjei determined to finish the 2023 Honorable Philemon who is the Lay Council President, Hospital Administrator, and the Pharmacist annual conferences of the 11th Episcopal District, went to the market to purchase medical drugs worth setting the DR Congo Region Annual Conference $1,000.00 and presented them to the hospital to from October 27th - 29th 2023. DR Congo has four augment treatment of patients who could not afford to annual conferences but the bishop had to combine pay for neither buy drugs prescribed by the doctors. the four conferences into one because of the activities I am told these medicines will save thousands of of rebels and the state of instability in the country. lives. Thanks to the CME Church, especially the 8th Therefore, all the conferences for DR Congo were held in Goma. This brought together delegates from all Episcopal District, for her financial support to the the conferences to Goma for the conference to be held. work of missions in the 11th Episcopal District.

In retrospect, Bishop has successfully held the Kenya Region Annual Conference, Rwanda Region Annual Conference, Burundi Region Annual Conference, Uganda Region Annual Conference, Tanzania Region Annual Conference and the next is Democratic Republic of Congo.

Bishop's Arrival In DR Congo The Presiding Prelate of the 11th Episcopal District, Bishop K. Lawson Adjei, arrived in Goma with 1st Lady Mercy Adjei on October 25th, 2023, to hold the annual conference of the regions. I was met on arrival by the Missions Supervisor, Rev. Dr. Dieudonne Mugongo and Honorable Philemon, who is a member of Parliament.

Bishop and his wife were taken through protocol immigration formalities. Soon after the Bishop's arrival, while waiting at the executive lounge of the airport, there was a heavy downpour which according to Mission Supervisor Mugongo, is a signal of blessings the bishop has brought to DR Congo. Their cultural 6

The Christian Index • February 2024

Bishop's next stop was a school complex under construction [through a grant] of $250,000.00 from the government of DR Congo to the church. The land on which the school is being built is yet to be purchased by the church. However, the short-lease gives them the go-ahead to continue with the construction. The appeal in this regard is to support the purchasing of the land for our children to continue with their education.

Annual Conference Communion Service Bishop K. Lawson Adjei will always want to prepare for his conference with a special service of prayers.

This will serve as a special impetus for successful

Connectional Interests conference. Indeed, it has worked and therefore will continue unabated.

Friday, October 28th, 2023, delegates who were arriving from far and near for the conference converged at Bethlehem CME Church in Goma for communion service. Hence an evening communion service held attracted members of the host church and the delegates. Mission Supervisor Dieudonne Mugongo preached the sermon from John 6:52-60.

Bishop Adjei led the prayer of consecration of the communion elements. The youths were in church to render songs with the church choir. Prayers were said for the church , College of Bishops, the 11th District and the entire nation of DR Congo. Indeed, the church was now set for the opening of the conference the next day [...] Saturday, October 29th.

Bishop Opens His 1st Sessional Annual Conference of DR Congo The 68th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop K. Lawson Adjei, opened his 1st Sessional Annual Conference of the DR Congo on October 28th, 2023, at Bethlehem CME Church in Goma. As already stated, the four Annual Conferences were combined for security reasons. Delegates were drawn from far and near. Some of them when coming were hijacked by rebels, but after some negotiations they were released. It took some of the delegates 2 days to arrive in Goma.

The conference opened with a devotion led by Rev. Bahati Jean. Bishop's opening statement was about the CME Polity on how annual conferences operate and how to become a preacher in the CME Church.

Reports were received from Mission Supervisor Dieudonne Mugongo, Women's Missionary Society, Youth and Young Adult Council, Lay Council, Christian Education, Director of Medical Services, Elders, Pastors, etc. Significantly, 137 churches were reported with total membership of 156,238; one medical hospital, and 171 schools.

Special guest of honor to the conference was the Speaker of Parliament of North Kivu Provinces, Rt. Honorable Seninga Robert. He commended the church for playing advocacy roles, educating future leaders of

Episcopacy the country, offering medical services to the citizens and above all giving the spiritual food to the citizens.

Prayers were said for him and the government. He highly commended the bishop for coming to lift up the image of CME Church in DR Congo.

First Lady Mercy [Adjei] preached the ordination sermon. She encouraged the ordinands to put their houses in order. 29 pastors were ordained to the order of Deacon and 11 ordained to the order of Elder.

Bishop presented 4 sowing machines to the Bishop Snorton Vocational School to augment women's empowerment by learning skills to become selfsufficient and self-reliant. Furthermore, Bishop presented a motorcycle to one of the Assistant Mission Supervisors in DR Congo who works at a very deprived, remote area with acute poverty and little means of transportation. Hence, to keep him working effectively to grow our churches, Bishop Adjei had to perform this gesture. Indeed, the people were blessed with the presence of the bishop. I can say that the Lord has used me to fortify the gains made by my predecessors.

Bishop Adjourned DR Congo Conferences The Presiding Prelate of the 11th Episcopal District, Bishop K. Lawson Adjei, closed the DR Congo Regional Conferences with an explosive worship service at Bethlehem CME Church in Goma on October 29th, 2023. Ironically, delegates were still arriving as rebels kept chasing them to collect their monies on their way to the conference. A presiding Elder arrived today without any money on him.

Songs were rendered from all the musical groups that were present. 1st Lady Mercy was presented with a piece of cloth from the Women's Missionary Council.

Bishop received a financial donation of $500.00 from the Speaker of Parliament for his return ticket. Bishop gave the money to the Women's Missionary Council to support the micro finance project that is ongoing. The Speaker of Parliament also blessed the church with 100 bags of cement for any church project. Passing of character was done, after which certificates of appointment were presented.

Continued on next page February 2024 • The Christian Index

7

Submissions

Mobile District Observes FIRST MTM Day Submitted by Dr. Archie Rowe

On October 21, 2023, the Mobile District Ministry to Men Department of the South East Alabama Region observed their First Annual Ministry to Men Day at Williams Temple CME Church in Thomasville, Alabama, Rev. James Campbell, pastor.

The event was well attended by boys and men of the District.

The men chose a powerful theme, “Am I My Brother’s Keeper,” which was also the title of the message given by speaker, Bro. Jerome McReynolds of Wesley Chapel CME Church. Bro. McReynolds message was truly appropriate, inspiring and soul-stirring to all in attendance.

Rev. John Johnson, Regional Director of Ministry to Men, presented two plaques in recognition of outstanding work to Wesley Chapel CME Church, York, Alabama; and Fairfield CME Church, Halsell, Alabama. Presiding Elder Rev. Curtis Russell assisted with the presentations.

Following the program, the men provided a very enjoyable and plentiful, free lunch for the attendees with the option of dine-in or to-go.

District Director Bro. Willie Bryant showed tremendous enthusiasm in making this day and all Ministry to Men events successful. Bro. Bryant and Rev. Johnson are in consistent contact to keep this ministry relevant and effective for the needs of men.

30

The Christian Index • February 2024

Submissions

Northwest District Training for Awareness and Engagement Submitted by Rev. Dr. Linda R. Barnett

Presiding Elder Northwest District, Eighth Episcopal District Eighth Episcopal District Director of Christian Education and Formation

The Northwest District recently participated in training to increase awareness and community engagement during Clergy Appreciation Month. What strengths have you identified in your church’s community? What are at least three opportunities for ministry your church can address? What partnerships have you established in your church’s community?

These are a few of the questions I pose to pastors and leaders on the Northwest District as Presiding Elder. During the month of October, pastors in the Northwest District engaged in a workshop for Clergy Appreciation Month. We discussed strategic planning for ministry, financial accountability, building partnerships in the community, and exploring spaces for meditation.

Rev. Kenneth and Rev. Tanesha Hollingshed blessed the pastors with intimate conversation and strategies to maintain healthy boundaries in ministry.

Domestic Violence Awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness were addressed during the District Council meeting with churches providing blessing bags for persons at Noah Project in Abilene which houses persons and families experiencing domestic violence. The presenter heightened our awareness of human trafficking in the African American community with the U.S. Department of Justice reporting African American women and girls are 40% of all victims and survivors of sex trafficking. The district was specifically encouraged to be more attentive to changes in behavior among youth and children who could possibly be victims of human trafficking and exploitation. Traffickers typically prey on persons whose vulnerabilities include poverty, unlawful immigration status, non-English

speaking, and limited economic and educational opportunities.

According to www.breastcancer.org, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. Each year, about 30% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women are breast cancer. In the United States, less than 1% of all breast cancers occur in men. African American women are being diagnosed at younger ages and early detection is best. Hendricks Medical Center’s representative informed the district of routine breast exams and mobile mammography options for churches to inform the community. As a result of these presentations, churches gained insight on ways to provide resources and ministry to victims of domestic violence and increase breast cancer awareness.

Prayerfully we will hear the voice of God giving us opportunities to continue to not only inform our congregations and communities but also consistently serve the communities near our churches and utilize resources that are readily available.

"DON'T BE A WOMAN THAT NEEDS A MAN ... BE A WOMAN A MAN NEEDS"

--Idy Ekwo

"If a person wants to be a part of your life, they will make an obvious effort to do so. Think twice before reserving a space in your heart for people who do not make an effort to stay."

--Larry Brown

February 2024 • The Christian Index

31