The Christian Index - March 2020

The Christian Index The Official Organ of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church • March 2020

Members of Trinity CME with Bishop Thomas and Pastor Natalie Obie - p. 20

PST Alumni Executive Council - p. 29

THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

The Official Publication Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Copyright © 2020 Offices are Housed in The International Headquarters Memphis, Tennessee Contact the Editor at (901) 515-6510 E-mail: orespragin@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 Sylvester Williams, Sr. PUBLISHING BOARD Chairman Bishop Henry Williamson, Sr.

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, 4466 Elvis Presley Blvd., Suite 153, Memphis, Tennessee 38116. POSTMASTER: Send Address Changes to The CME Publishing House, P. O. Box 16035, Memphis, TN 38186. THE SUBSCRIPTION RATE IS $30 for one year.

Subscriptions should be sent to Office of the Publisher: The Christian Index, P. O. Box 16035, Memphis, TN 38186. 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.

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The Christian Index • March 2020

Inside The Christian Index "Getting Back to Basics As We Envision Our Way Forward in Taking Care of God's Business"

Volume 153, Number 3

March 2020

Connectional Interests

Dept. of Finance & Investments

CME Calendar of Events

Board of Personnel Services

Dept. of Evangelism and Missions

Dept. of Christian Education and Formation

Department of Lay Ministry

Department of Ministry to Men

Ministers' Spouses, Widows/Widowers Submissions

Life and Times of Sis. Mary Barber

Myrtle Ross, Beebe's Oldest Member

Trinity, Indianapolis Reminiscing 2019

Greenwood-Jackson/Lynch St. Christmas Party

Harvey, Lynch, and Gray Honored

Local Church Reaches Out to School

Happenings in the Philadelphia District

God, Money, and the CME Church: Part Two

Stewardship: A Commitment or Choice

PST Alumni Association 2020

Summertime for a Bible Geek

Patton Memorial Celebrates 60 Years Children/Youth Connectional Directory

4 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 23 28 29 30 32 33 39

Cover: Members of Trinity CME with Bishop Thomas and Pastor Natalie Obie. PST Alumni Executive Council.

Photographs: Photos are by contributors to The Christian Index and Index staff.

Submitted to the Publisher: February 12, 2020

Editorial

Passionate Worship (Editor's Notes on: Schnase, Robert. Five Practices: Passionate Worship (Abingdon Press: Nashville, 2008))

Passionate worship on Sundays is a response to the God who has been passionate towards us Sunday through Saturday. It is a desire to meet God in Christ through the place and practice (liturgy) of worship in order to declare your love for God and to receive the change or changes God wants to make in your life.

Passionate worship is not about me or you or any one individual. It is not about what I like, or you like. Passionate worship is about what draws us as a gathered congregation to God that we may be transformed. To be an audience member or a critic is to not be a worshipper. Worship requires participation that seeks to be informed and to be moved. The emphasis is not on what someone else did or did not do; the emphasis is on what you and I as individuals did or did not do to invite God’s presence, to receive God’s word, and to promote the body of Christ gathered in this place on this day. The focus is on God and his honor and praise. Anything else is a distraction and out of place.

We must therefore, as a body, offer to God and to each other the best worship experience that we can. This means evaluating what we offer on Sunday mornings or other times both in terms of liturgy and in terms of environment (buildings, grounds, aura, etc.).

It also means evaluating the various ministries of the church and their contributions to the worshipping body, both present and absent. Evaluation is not the same as fault-finding or criticizing. Offering our best is not just one person’s job; it is the job of the entire congregation.

This means that evaluation begins with self. Did you bring and give your best, or did you offer only the mediocre, that which is only good enough for "them,"

that which may even be sufficient but not your best?

Each of us must begin with self and then continue with the congregation as a whole.

Passionate worship is designed with the Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., goal in mind of making Editor outsiders comfortable and is strongly connected to radical hospitality. This passion includes making every member of the worshipping congregation comfortable, so that not only is there a place for every member – young and old, male and female, wealthy and impoverished, dressed up and dressed down, perfumed and grimy – but that every member feels free to worship, that they are wanted, and that they are missed when they are absent. Again, this is the job of the whole congregation.

Passionate worship is both public and private in nature, but it is never a performance or a show. It must be genuine, from the heart. Passionate worship invites and welcomes change – not just in building structure or interior design or liturgical format – but especially in oneself as a worshipping individual seeking relationship with the Almighty God. And it makes room for and welcomes this change in others. This kind of worship invites persons to participate in the acts of worship, particularly the offering of public prayers. In fact, all of worship must be bathed in prayer. It must be a vital part of every leader’s private devotional life and every organizational meeting, if worship is to be passionate.

This is because every leadership role and every organization exists to promote the worship of God.

Mission Statement of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church The mission of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is to be disciples of Jesus the Christ by serving individuals, communities and the world as the representative, loving presence of God and as witnesses to God’s salvation and grace.

Vision Statement of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church The vision of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is to be a transforming church for Jesus the Christ within a changing world.

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Department of Finance and Investments

Connectional Interests

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Department of Finance and Investments

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Connectional Interests

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Department of Finance and Investments

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Department of Finance and Investments

March 2020 • The Christian Index

March 2-3 - Zambia Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 5-6 - Kenya Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 6 - Alaska-Pacific Region Spring Convocation; Allen Temple CME, Portland OR, 10:00 a.m. opening.

March 6-7 - Spring Convocation (Alabama Regions); Miles College, Fairfield AL. March 7-8 - West Kenya Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 10-11 - Uganda Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 12-14 - First Episcopal District Spring Convocation; Mt. Olive Cathedral, 538 Dr. MLK Jr. Avenue, Memphis TN 38126. March 12, 7:00 p.m., P . Cheatham Memorial Concert w/Guest Artists; March 13, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Training and Reporting Day; 6:00 p.m. Service of Holy Communion; March 14, 10:30 p.m. CCCH $100 Plate Benefit Brunch Esplanade Banquet & Conference Ctr., 901 Cordova Station Avenue, Cordova TN 38018.

March 13 - Oklahoma Region Spring Convocation; Wilson Chapel CME, Coweta OK. 9:00 a.m. opening.

March 14-15 - Rwanda Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 16-17 - D.R. Congo Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 20 - Northern California Region Spring Convocation; Phillips Temple CME, Berkeley CA; 9:00 a.m. opening.

March 22-23 - Tanzania Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 25-28 - Sudan & South Sudan Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. March 27 - Southern California Region Spring Convocation - Amos Temple CME; Riverside CA; 9:00 a.m. opening.

March 27-28 - Carolina Region Spring Meeting/Leadership Training School; Parkwood Institutional CME Church, 802 Tom Hunter Rd., Charlotte NC 28213 March 27-28 - Florida Region Spring Convocation; Carter Tabernacle CME Church, Orlando FL. March 29-30 - Egypt Region Annual Conference, Details TBA. April 3-4 - Sixth Episcopal District Spring Gathering & One in the Spirit Banquet; Holsey Chapel Church & St. Luke United Methodist Church; Columbus GA. April 3-4 - Third Episcopal District Spring Convocation, Premier Best Western Hotel, Southfield MI.28770.

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Connectional Interests

Board of Personnel Services

“From Where I Sit …”

OneAmerica Rolled Out as New 403(b) Company!

January 2020 marked the rollout of OneAmerica as the NEW custodial company for the CME Church 403(b) Plan administered by the General Board of Personnel Services. The selection of this new company was based on reduced account cost and a more user-friendly website for participants. Presented at the Phillips School of Theology’s CME Pastors’ Conference, the new company was introduced during the Tuesday morning plenary session by Anna (Anita) Netolicka, OneAmerica Retirement Education Consultant from the Atlanta local office.

The 403(b) Plan is a companion to the 12% Retirement Plan and since its January re-introduction, participation in the $1.5M Plan has increased by 43% with others continuing to express interest. The 403(b) Plan allows participants to save additional monies for retirement, beyond the 12% limit of the CME Retirement Plan, by choosing a specific amount to be withheld from their payroll and forwarding those funds to the General Board of Personnel Services. Contributions to the 403(b) Plan may be submitted as either Pre-Tax or Roth Elective Deferrals. The maximum limit for contributions for 2020 is $19,500; however, for those participants 50 and over an additional “catch-up” limit (for 2020) of $6,500 is allowed. The Plan is also structured to receive, as rollovers, eligible funds from other qualified plans. Limits may change yearly.

Other benefits include self-direction of investments, loans (up to 50% of account balance), hardship distributions, and deemed service distributions. Participants are always fully vested in Elective Deferrals. Plan requirements of participants are as follows: 1) Participant must be active in the 12% Retirement Plan (with past year contributions).

2) Participant must be an employee (clergy or lay) of the CME Church who receives an annual W-2 tax form (required by IRS to track qualifying contributions).

3) Employing church must have capability to electronically transmit contributions monthly.

4) Participant must have online access to enroll, monitor and self-direct investments.

Naturally you may have several questions and we are prepared to provide the answers needed. Simply call (901) 345-4100 with any questions about enrollment or participation.

Questions regarding investments, allocations, rollovers, etc. should be directed to Stuart A. Weinstein at Wells Fargo Advisors (312) 648-5310.

As we age, it becomes increasingly more important to prepare for the uncertainties of retirement. We can so prepare by, using the words of John Wesley, “[saving] as much as we can …” Or at least that’s the way it looks to me …

“From Where I Sit”

Tyrone T. Davis, D.Min, is the General Secretary of the Board of Personnel Services (Copies of earlier articles may be found on the Personnel Services Webpage of the CME Website at www.thecmechurch.org) March 2020 • The Christian Index

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Connectional Interests

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Department of Evangelism and Missions

Connectional Interests

Department of Christian Education and Formation

THE PRACTITIONER A Prayer for Christian Educators

Lord God, You alone created this world and all that is good in it.

1 * FALL 2018 * NUMBER You allowed usVOLUME our freedom, and entrusted us 2with great responsibility.

All of what we are, all of our concerns, and the unique ability we each have to help those around us come from You. We ask that You bless us as we strive to transform the earth through love, word, and deed.

Send the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and lives, guide our service, and grant us a spirit of purpose and joy.

We pray for grateful hearts in Jesus’ name. AMEN

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Connectional Interests

Department of Lay Ministry

THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF LAY MINISTRY CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Dr. Clifford L. Harris, General Secretary

“Reaching, Teaching, and Ministering to All Generations, Equipping Them for Greater Works and Service f

IN TAKING CARE OF GOD’S BUSINESS, OUR CHURCHES MUST ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED Two and one-half years ago, during the Sixth Annual CME Unity Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, I was privileged to provide a presentation entitled, Addressing the Needs of the Physically Challenged in Our Houses of Worship. I was and remain concerned about those who come regularly to events and worship experiences in our church buildings, who have physical challenges, some obvious and some that are not. As these challenges manifest themselves in the physical abilities and mental attitudes of individuals, their church attendance and participation can be affected.

So, what is the meaning of physically challenged? Answer: Anything that disables or puts one at a disadvantage. Thus, as churches, let us not be guilty of physical or spiritual exclusion related to barriers to church participation by the physically challenged. These barriers can come in many forms for individuals with physical challenges. Even though we may not want to admit it, more often than not, leaders (both lay and clergy) aren’t trained in how to address the needs of the physically challenged . . . This can lead to direct or indirect discouragement of individuals and/or families in being a part of regular worship or special programs and events.

“If we are to retain those who have labored through the years, along with their families, leaders and congregations must be aware of and be sensitive to worshippers and potential worshippers who have both seen and unseen physical challenges.”

Bethany McKinney Fox, who wrote her doctoral dissertation on faith, disability and healing, said, “Rejection is the result of disordered thinking. Christians may pray regularly for the sick, the weak and the mentally ill, but they rarely feel the same sense of urgency when it comes to altering worship services to make people with physical challenges or disabilities feel more welcome . . .”

Within the CME Church, the reality is that congregations across our Zion are becoming “gray,” as was the focus of the Pastor’s Conference in 2017 . . . The reality is that many individuals who have challenges are not at the point of using a cane or a walker or riding in a wheelchair, but walking on unsmooth surfaces, navigating stairs, and opening doors, has become a challenge. If we are to retain those who have labored through the years, along with their families, leaders and congregations must be aware of and be sensitive to worshippers and potential worshippers who have both seen and unseen physical challenges.

Dr. Clifford L. Harris - 15485 Prairie Bell Road - Okmulgee, OK 74447-8690 Email – mrcliffharris@yahoo.com - Telephone: Voice 918.519.4233 - Home 918.304.1999

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Connectional Interests

Department of Lay Ministry

So, what are some of the challenges and what are some ways our churches can focus on practical methods to help everyone feel included in all worship experiences and events? For this writing allow me to share four (4) things that we can do or consider: First, we must be aware of and respond to any challenges that members may encounter in accessing our worship facilities . . . Access includes navigating their way from their vehicle to the building entry; access also includes having door knobs/door handles that can be manipulated by those whose grip, hand strength or arm strength has become weak (long-handled door hardware, which is easier for everyone to use, can be installed). Further, entry doors can be equipped with beveled rubber or metal threshold ramps or plates.

Second, we must be responsive to those whose eyesight has decreased and as reasonable as possible be sure that signs, bulletins, other literature, and electronic visuals are printed and displayed in fonts and in a form that respond to sight challenges. Additionally, brightly colored, textured strips can be applied to the top of all stairs, which will alert individuals with limited vision that they are approaching stairs.

Third, there must be sensitivity to mobility issues. This involves the ability to move or be moved freely and easily, i.e. navigation around benches, furniture, and chairs. Thus, furniture & pew placement in our sanctuaries and table & chair placement during banquets and special events should all be given high consideration. Also consider non-architectural barriers to inclusion, such as lighting, attitudes, and communication.

Fourth, consider providing transportation to church for those who are elderly or without transportation. If there is a transportation ministry in place, such as a church van or individual ride sharing, we must foster an attitude and accommodating spirit that will encourage those who may now have problems driving, to seek assistance.

Allow me to conclude with this statement, “What I have shared should be fueled by efforts of the laity. Why? Because if we are not sensitive to retaining and meeting the changing needs and challenges of our fellow congregants, while still reaching out to those who are unchurched, attendance of individuals and families in our houses of worship will continue to decline!”

Thus, “In Taking Care Of God’s Business, Our Churches Must Address the Needs of the Physically Challenged!”

Dr. Clifford L. Harris - 15485 Prairie Bell Road - Okmulgee, OK 74447-8690 Email – mrcliffharris@yahoo.com - Telephone: Voice 918.519.4233 - Home 918.304.1999

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant."

--Omamo Samuel

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Connectional Interests

Department of Ministry to Men

God's Authority God told the Israelites, as described in Exodus 34:23, that three times a year all of their males were to appear together before Him to receive instructions from Him. Yet when God told them to appear, He specifically called them out before the "Lord God the god of Israel." He called them to submit themselves to His complete authority.

If the men submitted, they were told that they, and those connected to them will receive God's covering, protection, and provision. But they would receive this only if they positioned themselves under His absolute rule. So essential was this element of rulership that God used three of His name's as a reminder. The Israelites were told to appear before the: •Lord ('adown) •GOD (Jehova) •God of Israel (Elohim) God was in charge, to the third power. In using three different names for himself, God emphasized His supreme authority over the men of the nation and their accountability to Him. The same principle of God's rulership that applied to the Israelites is no different than God's rulership today. ~K.M. "Keep Moving Forward Always!"

Dr. Leo Pinkett, General Secretary, The Department of Ministry To Men (MTM)

Jesus Takes Care of Us Big brothers can make all the difference.

Need one? You aren't trying to make a basket, but you are trying to make a living or make a friend or make sense out of the bad breaks you've been getting. Could you use the help and protection of a strong sibling? Look to heaven.

"Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters" (Hebrews 2:11) Dr. Leo Pinkett General Secretary The Department of Ministry To Men The CME Church 14

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For questions or concerns regarding the content of The Christian Index, please contact the Editor.

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Connectional Interests

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Ministers' Spouses, Widows/Widowers

Connectional Interests

Ministers' Spouses, Widows/Widowers

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Submissions

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SIS. MARY BARBER Submitted by Sis. Orine S. Newton

The 1930’s represents a time when Nazism resulted in the Holocaust, rampant poverty was signaled by the Great Depression, and [saw] the start of the global economic and international architecture that still stands today. It was also the time during which one of the oldest living members of Carter Tabernacle was born.

Mrs. Mary Goss Barber, who is loved and revered by her girls as their matriarch, grew up during one of the most tumultuous times of this country’s history. She was raised about 55 miles outside of Atlanta in Milner, Georgia, by her mother and father, Lillie & Tommy Goss, who were respectable Christians in their community. Her father was Colored Methodist Episcopal, but her mother was a member of the Baptist Church. She was brought up to love and respect the church, attending one Sunday at the CME Church and one Sunday at the Baptist Church. Being from two different denominations, Mary’s parents decided not to force their children to choose one over the other. Serving God was more important. As a result, Mary and one of her siblings chose to worship in the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, while her other two siblings chose to join the Baptist Church.

Even though times were difficult in the country, Mary had the privilege of attending and graduating from Barnesville Industrial High School in Barnesville, Georgia. She wanted desperately to continue her education at Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia; [but] because economic conditions would not allow it, she was not able to attend her college of choice. That was Mary’s plan. However, God’s plan was for her to fall in love and marry Mr. Willie B. Barber in 1949. Soon after, Shirley was born, and Willie, needing to support his growing family, moved from Georgia to Orlando, Florida, which was a growing city that provided employment opportunities.

The young couple, with their toddler, moved to the colored area of downtown Orlando, known as “The Grove,” and took up residence with [one of Willie's first cousins], Mary Kate King, who had previously relocated to Orlando.

Two days after arriving in Orlando, Willie successfully found employment with Hubbard Construction Company, where he worked until he retired. With Hubbard Construction Company, Willie found an occupation as a heavy equipment operator 18

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that would not only allow him to build a brand-new home for himself and his family but one that provided a livelihood that would grow as his family grew.

During her youth, Mary did domestic work for the wives of Orlando City Commissioner Douglas Barnes and Interior Decorator Colin Lawton Staten.

She would later gain full-time employment with the State of Florida at Sunland Hospital & Training Center as a pharmacy technician. When the State of Florida decided to reorganize Sunland and relocate all patients to community home settings, she worked as the store manager for Osh Kosh B’Gosh, a job that she loved and [from which she] eventually retired.

Mary was extremely blessed with a husband who worked hard and brought all his money home.

From his earnings, he would take $10.00 to $15.00 per week for himself leaving the rest for Mary to manage for the care of the household. Without reservation, Mary is happy to proclaim how very blessed she has been for the love and strength of the relationship she and Willie had. “Since his passing, there has been no one that could ever take his place,” Mary states emphatically.

Because of the proximity of Mrs. King’s home and because they were both formerly CME members, [Willie and Mary] joined Carter Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the pastoral care of Reverend O.R. Jackson in 1951. Although Willie was not a staunch churchgoer, he insisted that his girls attend church. There was no excuse allowed for not going to church. “If they were too sick to go to church, they were too sick to go out with their friends after church,” states Mary. “Willie did not play that! The same headache that would keep them from church, was the same headache that would keep them at home from their friends later that day.” Mary and her girls, like many others of the church at that time, were able to walk to Sunday school and church every Sunday morning until they moved to their new home.

[Mary and Willie's] offspring - Shirley, Vivian, Linda, Katherine, Deloris, Gloria, Jacqueline and Valecia - are eight beautiful girls who are the pride of their parents. Mary admits that all eight girls have their own distinct personalities that have been nurtured and encouraged by both parents. “Some are a little more headstrong than others, but they are all filled with the same determined spirit to succeed as their father,” says Mary. Willie and Mary Barber worked hard to ensure that all their girls completed their high school education, and each girl was afforded the opportunity to attend college, as well.

Willie and Mary knew that education would be the key to their children’s success. Their children had the

Submissions influence of strong women of the church like Sis. Alice Croaker and Sis. Thelma Dudley, and many others who proved to be virtuous examples for the young girls to emulate and who encouraged the girls to grow to be strong, determined, passionate women of God. The girls matriculated at Miles College, Florida State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Troy State University, Florida Institute of Technology and Barry University.

During Mary Barber and her girls’ years at Carter Tabernacle, there have been several pastors: Reverend O.R. Jackson, Reverend John W. Powell, Reverend Milton H. Borens, Reverend George W. Wilson, Reverend Leonard O. Holt (who appointed Mary to the Stewardess Board), Reverend Roderick Zak, Reverend Gary C. Collins, Reverend Vanessee J. Burns, and our current pastor, Reverend James T. Morris, along with other pastors who led Carter Tabernacle on an interim basis.

While the church has gone through many changes, it is Mary’s philosophy to “get along with everybody in leadership in our church.” She states, “If something bothers me in the church, I don’t go out and talk about it with other people. I just go home and pray about it. Even if the pastor says something

that I may feel is inappropriate, I just go home and pray about it. God will handle it!”

“I love a good singing choir, I love the Mission, and I love being a Stewardess,” states Mary, whose children have and are still serving in a variety of capacities in the church. “I love my church, and I am not one who runs from church to church. Even though I loved Pastor Zak, when he left, I did not leave. Carter Tabernacle is my church and that is where I plan to stay until the Good Lord calls me home.

"Carter Tabernacle Christian Methodist Episcopal Church has given me, my children, and now my grandchildren the opportunity to know, love and serve God. Members there have helped my children develop strong leadership skills and taught them how to be faithful to an institution that helped them learn how to live right, and how to treat people. Overall, I consider myself extremely blessed to have found such a wonderful place to worship, raise my family, and to serve God and my community!”

Mary Barber is a living jewel in the crown of Carter Tabernacle in the Fifth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mrs. Myrtle Jackson Ross Beebe Tabernacle's Oldest Member Submitted by Tamara Oliver

Mrs. Myrtle Ross, a member of Beebe Tabernacle, Houston, Texas, was born May 11, 1929. She accepted Christ at an early age under the leadership of Rev. L.S. White in the Historical 4th Ward at 822 West Dallas in Houston, Texas. Her membership has surpassed more than 60 years during her childhood, youth, and adult years.

She attended Leadership School and served on the Usher Board, Trustee Board, and currently serves as President of her church Stewardess Board. She has also served as District Stewardess President, and as 1st and 2nd Vice-President of the Houston District Lay Department.

She has served as Precinct Judge 454 and helped elect many community leaders through her years. She worked at the United States Post Office over 25 years before retirement, and she still has a sharp mind to keep up with young people on Facebook.

Mrs. Ross continues to be a member of the Local, District, and Annual Conference Missionary Societies.

She has served over Women's Day and Homecoming activities and completed the Homecoming Souvenir Book.

Mrs. Ross is the mother of three girls, Sharon, Beverly and Mavis, and she has nine grandchildren, thirteen great -grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She loves the Lord her church and family. Her favorite scripture is Psalms 23.

Mrs. Ross is a pillar of her community and her church. She has received many recognitions for church work, trophies, plaques, and certificates from the work she has done from her former Union. She still gives orders to her beloved young stewardesses, teaching them all she knows and drilling [into them] the Liturgical Calendar.

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Submissions

Trinity, Indianapolis: Reminiscing 2019 Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas teaches on Discipleship Submitted by Shirley Hudson Reverend Dr. Natalie McClendon-Obie, Pastor

The year 2019 has culminated, a new year starts, and Trinity CME Church, Indianapolis, reminisces. [As we look back, we can see] how God’s hands orchestrated a great work in our lives and in the church today. We shall continue to look to the hills from whence cometh our help and praise God as we look to the future with anticipation, hope and gratitude.

First, as we reminisce, we are thankful for the leadership of Presiding Elder Tracy Jackson. When we were at our lowest and bereaving the loss of our pastor, he took the reins and gave us love, and a renewed faith in God. It was under his leadership that we were able to perceive and embrace the vision God had for Trinity.

Bishop Thomas teaching workshop on Discipleship.

Secondly, we witnessed innovative life in the church again. New leaders [and enthusiastic volunteers] came forward to serve, and new ministries and programs were initiated under his leadership. He invited preachers/ teachers who were influential leaders in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, such as: Reverend Dr. Natalie Obie, who taught us the importance of Building Leaders for the Kingdom of God, and Reverend Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., author of Pressing Reset, who reminded us whatever has come our way in the past doesn't have to keep us from the greatness that God has in store for us.

Lastly, the Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District, Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr., facilitated our last seminar, “Discipleship” (Reference book: Jesus Christ, Disciple Maker by Bill Hull).

Bishop Thomas was instrumental as he [first] instructed us on what is a disciple and how to become/make disciples for Christ, and then commissioned us to Go out to the community and other parts of the city and world to make disciples, as in Matthews 28:16-20.

Bishop presented many variations/breakout sessions that allowed us to work in small groups to accomplish the task at hand of becoming disciples of Christ.

As he ended, he reminded us that if we are to be a disciple (defined by our action and in our behavior), we must have a personal transformation in our lives as we teach and come alongside others, helping them become Christ’s disciples.

Members of Trinity CME gather with Bishop Thomas and Pastor Natalie Obie after morning service.

Paraphrasing, he said we should submit to a leader who teaches us to follow Jesus; [to follow] Jesus' instructions, “Teaching them to obey/observe everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20) He concluded by saying, “You can’t make disciples without accountability, and you can’t have accountability without structure.”

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Submissions We thank Bishop Thomas and Dr. Obie, as well as Dr. Hames, for their prophetic gift of teaching and preaching and their vision for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

As we venture into another year of blessings, allow me to thank God for our pastor and her family. Both Reverend Dr. Natalie McClendon-Obie and Minister Frank Obie are showing and teaching us how to Build God’s Kingdom by Building His people.

“Speak Lord for We are Listening.”

Bishop, it is our prayer that God continues to bless you and your family.

Elder Jackson, Pastor Obie, and Bishop Thomas after the workshop.

Greenwood-Jackson District and Lynch Street CME First Annual Christmas Party Submitted by Daisy Banks

Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Williams and First Lady Vernell Williams hosted the First Annual Christmas Party for the members of Greenwood-Jackson District and Lynch Street CME Church on Saturday, December 21, 2019. The party was held in the McLaurin Fellowship Hall [which was] festively decorated with Christmas Trees, poinsettias, wreaths and lights.

As party goers from Lynch Street, surrounding churches and across the district gathered, there was lots of greeting and fellowshipping with each other. Rev. Dr. Williams officially kicked off the festivities by extending a warm welcome to everyone in attendance.

There was a lot going on. Food, music for listening, karaoke and prizes. The prize for the oldest person in attendance went to ninety-four-year-old, Mrs. Susan B. Jefferson. She enjoyed every minute of the party. She laughed, kept beat with the music being played, and was one of the last to leave!

The game that generated the most excitement was “Guess the Number of Tootsie Rolls in the Jar” and win the jar and contents. Each guest interested in vying for the prize was given a few minutes to examine the jar and write down their guesstimate. Believe it or not, there was a tie between Mrs. Susan B. Jefferson and Mrs. Gloria Ann Scott. The contents were divided between the two.

Everyone in attendance at Christmas Party was amazed and excited because every person received a gift to take home. Some of the gifts given out were tins of popcorns, tumbler sets, socks, jewelry and much more.

Everyone wore their red, green, white and silver colors to the party. Partygoers had also been encouraged to wear their ugly sweater to the festivities.

The Christmas Spirit continued Sunday Morning. There was a beautiful Christmas Program prepared by Board of Christian Education Director, Julia Harris-Brown, with support from Mrs. Linda Jenkins Russell, Mrs. Shauna Aguilar, Mrs. Margie Miller and Ms. Whitley Phillips. Although the children and youth were the main participants, members of all ages took part in the production. It was a grand affair as the wise men, shepherds and angels, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus in the person of Jerry and Rokietha Landingham, passed out gifts to the children and congregation. It was such a joyous occasion.

Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Williams and Mrs. Vernell Williams also received Christmas gifts from the congregation, Stewardesses, children, youth, individual members and the Women’s Missionary Society.

Two days of celebration of the reason for the season ended with remarks by Rev. Dr. Williams and Mrs. Vernell Williams. Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Williams gave the closing benediction.

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Greater Phillips Chapel Honors Mattie Estelle Harvey, Imogene Lynch, and Doris Gray Submitted by Pastor Thomas Louis Benjamin Jr., Greater Phillips Chapel CME Church, Compton, California

The members of Greater Phillips Chapel CME Church, under the leadership of Pastor Thomas L. Benjamin, Jr., would like to honor our eldest members of the church, Sis. Mattie Estelle Harvey (95), Sis. Doris Gray (91) and Sis. Imogene Lynch (90). Moreover, each of these great women of God has served the congregation as ushers, and we feel it's time to honor them for their many years of service and devotion. (i.e., "Give them their flowers while they are living.")

Sis. Harvey (center) was born in Arkansas April 16, 1924. At the age of 11, she was baptized in a lake in her home state and has been serving the Lord ever since. In 1966, Sis. Harvey moved to California and joined Greater Gethsemane Baptist Church, which occupied this same building now known as Greater Phillips Chapel CME Church. Sis. Harvey remained in this building of worship in [the] position of President of the Usher Board, from 1970 until 2012. She is still an active member of Greater Phillips Chapel at 95 years young and has been a most appropriate and encouraging example of Psalm 84:10, "I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of the Lord, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Sis. Doris Gray (left) was born in Washington, Texas, April 22, 1928. She was married to Cleofus Gray (deceased) for 49 years, who was also a dedicated member and Steward.

Sis. Gray is a kind, gentle, and loving person.

She is somewhat quiet and loves to work behind the scenes. However, she is definitely a take charge type of person. She is always willing to do what is necessary for a task.

She is humble in all that she does. She loves her Pastor and church family. She is known, affectionately, as "Momma Gray" and is loved by all. She endearingly treats everyone the same, which is why everyone wants to be a part of her extended family. Today at 91 years young, she stills serves as Usher, when needed, while serving on the Stewardess Board.

Sis. Imogene Lynch (right) was born September 29, 1928, in San Augustine, Texas. She was married at a young age to the love of her life, George Lynch (deceased), for 72 years. Sis. Lynch has four children, ten grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She served on the Usher Board at Greater Phillips Chapel CME Church for over 10 years. She is the mother of the church who is eager and compassionate for calling and praying for those that are sick and shut in. Now at 90 years young, one of her most prevalent statements may be, "I hate to miss church." It is indeed a rare occasion that you don't see her appear with her devoted family following close behind as she independently scoots in with her walker. Having been another one of our great and long-term ushers, always conscious of her appropriate and reverent duties, she would want to wait until the present doorkeepers let her in, but then lights up like an angel when the Pastor insists on pausing to be sure she can enter and be seated promptly. Sis. Lynch appears to wear a permanent smile on her sweet, angelic face.

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Local Church Reaches Out to Neighborhood School Submitted by Pastor Thomas B. Slater

St. Paul CME Church in Athens, Georgia, (Georgia North Region, 6th Episcopal District) has entered into a partnership with Howard B. Stroud Elementary School, a school in the Clarke County School District. St. Paul and Stroud serve the same community in east Athens.

“We have three educators on our official board and they initially made the suggestion for us to partner with Stroud Elementary about three years ago. We all thought it was a good idea and a wonderful way for us to engage the community around us,” says Rev. Dr. Thomas Slater, St. Paul’s pastor.

St. Paul made contributions to the school on two separate occasions [during the] calendar year. In (l-r): Mrs. Lacy Johnson, Mrs. Gloria Cisrow, Mrs. Barbara January 2019, St. Paul contributed school supplies to Ellington (all of St. Paul); Mr. Cedric Payne, Asst. Principal, the school when the congregation learned that some children lacked some basic supplies. In October 2019, and Dr. Stacie Carson, Principal of Stroud Elementary School. the congregation gave a financial contribution to enable some students to obtain school uniforms. While Stroud is a public school, students wear uniforms. In order to raise funds for this second project, members made pledges over and above their tithes and offerings. In both instances, the principal of Stroud decided who would receive assistance.

Dr. Stacie Carson, principal of Stroud Elementary, wrote, “Thank you for your generous monetary donation to Howard B. Stroud Elementary. We cannot thank you enough for the ability to replenish our uniform closet. Our Stroud Scholars are able to do their best when they feel their best! We truly appreciate your support of our students and their future.”

“We are very happy that we were about to touch the lives of our children in these ways and we look forward to doing more. Dr. Carson and her staff are working hard for our children and we want very much to support them. This shall be an ongoing relationship with Stroud Elementary,” says Pastor Slater. In the future, St. Paul shall give special invitations to Stroud students to its annual fall festival and members shall make regular visits to events at the school as well.

St. Paul has been at its present location for over seventy years and has served its neighborhood for over 125 years. It is in the Elberton-Gainesville District of the Georgia North Region.

Subscribe to The Christian Index Only $30.00 per Year Call Rev. Dr. Roderick Lewis, Sr., Publisher, at 901-396-5400 March 2020 • The Christian Index

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Submissions

Happenings in the Philadelphia District Submitted by Bro. Bruce Benson, Lay Leader

Rev. Agee conducting the District Planning Meeting and receiving reports; Revs. Parker & Dickey leading the devotions; and members of the congregation giving a joyous reception.

Since the last time we distributed our newsletter, the District held it’s Planning Meeting hosted by Hoyt Memorial CME Church in Claymont, Delaware; Rev. Dale Dennis, Host Pastor. The meeting was conducted in decency and order by our newly appointed Presiding Elder, Rev. Kevin Agee. Rev. Alfred S. Parker, Pastor of Mt. Zion CME Church, and Rev. Dr. Queen Dickey, Pastor of St. John CME Church, led the meeting with prayer and song. The day was filled with information that will lead our District to new heights as we “Get back to basics as we envision our way forward in taking care of God’s business.”

One of the highlights of the Planning Meeting was the Hospitality Luncheon sponsored by the District Board of Evangelism and Missions under the direction of District Leader Bro. Michael Dixon. The following members of the Philadlephia District were recipients of the awards given by the Board of Evangelism and Missions: Rev. Alfred Parker, Mt. Zion; Sis. Virsey A. Bass, St. Paul, Egg Harbor; Sis. Wanda Glass, Calvary; Sis. G. Bernice Richardson, St. Paul, Chester; Sis. Miranda King-Lane, St. Matthew; Rev. Marshall J. Jenifer, Phillips Metropolitan; and Dr. Denise Clay (former First Lady of the Philadelphia District and worskshop presenter).

Does Your Local Church, Presiding Elder's District, Region, or Episcopal District Produce an Electronic Newsletter?

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Submissions

God, Money and the CME Church: A Historical Analysis and a Theological Examination: Part Two Submitted by Rev. Dr. Darvin A. Adams I, PhD in Theology and Ethics Pastor, Lane Tabernacle CME Church, Hopkinsville, Kentucky Theologian in Residence: 2nd Episcopal District Elected Hopkinsville City Councilman: Ward 1

As one who is both super competitive and attracted to winning and/or superior achievement in all forms of human endeavor (the cultural motto of my fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated), I have always considered the paying of general funds and conference claims for the operational support of the connectional church in general and the episcopal district in particular as more of a spiritual challenge than a church obligation. However, within the context of having pastoral responsibilities in 8 different churches in the states of Kentucky and Ohio, therein lies a theological narrative that, out of love for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, embraces and critiques the current financial structure of our great Zion. In this particular pocket of thinking, I must confess that I have been optimistically complicit in the very structure that I feel needs financial reform. As a local preacher and community activist, I participated in helping my home church, Freeman Chapel CME, pay over $25,000 in conference claims and general funds. During my first pastoral appointment at the Thomas Chapel CME Church in Hickman, Kentucky, with the help of God, I led the church in paying their $4,000 conference assessment in 6 total weeks. In my second pastoral charge, Pleasant Green CME Church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, I led the local church in paying over $7,000 to the Kentucky Region Conference in both years of church operation. The challenging part about this particular church ministry is that we only raised about $18,000 across the board in total church monies. The sad truth is that this rural, family-run church was economically poor and spiritually disenfranchised in their own religious ideology; but in the midst of deprivation and suffering, we still paid our conference claims and general funds.

Unsurprisingly, God still blessed the local church during my pastoral tenure.

My next pastorate was the longest charge of my young ministry. Over a five-year time period, God financially blessed my third pastorate to the point [that] the church went from paying an average of $4,100 in claims and general funds during the previous 3 years to paying over $14,000 in each of the next five years. It was there at the Saint James CME Church of Southside Paducah, Kentucky, that I was pastorally present for their historic 150th Founders Day celebration in 2009. In addition to pastoring Saint James, I simultaneously pastored the Miles Memorial CME Church in Central Paducah.

Inheriting a dwindling membership of 5 active worshipers, God blessed us to do the very best we could to pay a percentage of the $5,000 assessment.

During the first year of pastoring the Phillips Temple CME Church in Toledo, Ohio, God blessed the local church to grow exponentially and pay almost $33,000 in conference claims and general funds.

While my second year of pastoral leadership at the Phillips Temple CME Church in Toledo, Ohio, was quite different in nature, the ministerial matriculation from my home church in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, to the Cleveland-Pittsburgh District of the OhioCentral Indiana Region was telling and exhausting.

Theologically, I knew something was not quite right with the financial situation of the local churches to which I was assigned. In my heart I felt that our loving and sovereign God was not pleased. As a developing theologian, I needed to know more about the history of the CME Church, especially where the economic structures and financial doctrines of the church were concerned.

As a young pastor in my mid-20s, the abiding, yet unspoken question within my subconscious spirit was: Has money become the CME Church's top priority? While I was not willing to commit my Continued on next page March 2020 • The Christian Index

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Submissions Continued from previous page thoughts either way in terms of answering yes or no to this pertinent question, I was definitely curious.

Whereas the most important words in the previous question are money, Church and priority, notice that I did not use the words God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit. As a Trinitarian thinker, I quickly turned to my good friend, Dr. Luke. Luke 16:13 teaches us that money does in fact have the power to take God's place in our lives. Here, the love and worship of money can become our master. As one who researches the collaborative and historical relationships between theology and economics amongst people of African and African-American descent, the word slave passes through my exploratory mind in a myriad of psychocultural ways. Native Africans were brought to the United States of America to be slaves where they later became African-Americans. These same slaves were forced to attend church services on the plantation where the slave masters and white preachers attempted to biblically justify the practicing institution of slavery. The majority of the slaves knew that the love of God did not match up with the cruel and inhumane treatment of their slave masters. Yet, because slaves of African-American descent had their own unique relationship with God, there was a spiritual need for them to have their own religious experience within their own church structures. Lest we forget, the Black Church of the United States began in slavery.

After the Methodist church split in 1844, exslaves in the South continued to attend church with the white Methodists (M.E. Church, South) who were no longer in favor of institutional slavery. Around the year 1866, these same white, southern Methodists came to a reasonable understanding that the ex-slaves, many of which were Colored Methodist, needed their

own church structure for the purpose of addressing and fulfilling their own cultural and religious needs. At the request of these ex-slaves, the M.E. Church, South, permitted and walked our former slave preachers, delegates and leaders through the establishment of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. While Bishop Lane and others did not allow the white Methodist officials to tell the ex-slaves what to do with our new church, the representatives of the M.E. Church, South, indeed, showed us the Methodist way to birthing the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. It was there in the strategic setting of Jackson, Tennessee, in the basement of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, that the CME Church came into existence.

Whether the M.E. Church, South officials considered the Black churchgoers as slaves or not, there were still hierarchical remnants of an oppressor-oppressed context at work in the beginnings of what fellow CME Randall Albert Carter calls "God's tender plant" (Psalm 80).

My Ph.D. adviser and systematic theologian, Dr. Stephen G. Ray, Jr., says that the only thing oppression does is teach people how to oppress others.

In this line of thinking, my questions are: Financially and economically speaking, what did the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church inherit from and/or learn from the M.E. Church, South? Were there any financial concessions made to the M.E. Church, South, on behalf of the CME Church? Did our former slave masters attempt to teach us what it meant to be slaves to money over against being servants of the one and true God? The answer to these questions could be found in the Word of God. The biblical scholars of the Life Application Study Bible build upon Luke 16:13 as a way of discussing what it means to be a slave to money. These scholars use such words as think, worry,

"It's okay if you thought you were over it, but it hits you all over again. It's okay to fall apart even if you thought you had it under control. You're not weak. Healing is messy. And there's no timeline for healing."

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-- Cassandry Redmond Keys

Submissions frequently, priority, time, possessions, selfishness, stinginess and debt as a way of introducing a line of questions around the teaching points of Jesus' telling the parable of the shrewd manager (Luke 16:1-18).

If we were truly honest with ourselves, I am sure we would all agree that money tests our integrity (Mark 10:23). But where the biblical mission of the Christian church is concerned; the ways and means which money turns God's people into oppressors or slave masters as the result of being oppressed (slaves), represents a perplexing paradox of important conversations for the contemporary religious context.

I can recall attending Bishop Sylvester Williams' first Kentucky Region Conference in July 2010. It was there in Evansville, Indiana, that my theological eyes were truly opened to what it meant to put together and pass the region conference's operating/financial budget. As a member of the Budget Committee, I participated in every single closeddoor meeting. While I was not considered a "1st or 2nd church pastor," I was certainly doing church ministry at a high level in terms of church growth, financial accountability, educational excellence and intellectual currency. I had paid conference claims at every church I was appointed to and I was looking to move geographically closer to Chicago, where I was working on my Ph.D. in Theology. Budgetarily speaking, not only was I displeased at the overall percentage increase from the previous quadrennium, but I struggled to understand the philosophy behind assessing the local church a certain amount of conference claims knowing that they do not have the financial means and economic resources to fulfill the claims note.

My first thought was one of psychology. I thought about the psychological harm that is done to many of our local churches when their spirituality and/ or faith in God is placed up against the ecclesial reality of being assessed an absurd amount of money; in their knowing that they cannot and will not be able to pay that particular amount of money. In other words, if being CME means paying conference claims and general funds for the operation of church entities in addition to financing the local church, then I can see how a few of our local churches lose interest in being CME. In addition to an unwise financial decision, which I viewed as an unjust percentage increase, the

Kentucky Region Conference Budget Committee decided to leave the $6000 assessed to Mayes Chapel CME Church in Cadiz, Kentucky. The only problem was that Mayes Chapel had shut its doors for good in 2009 and sold the building and church property.

In other words, we assessed conference claims to a church that was no longer in existence, and left that $6000 in the quadrennial budget. Sadly, this particular way of doing church business puts unnecessary burdens of financial pressure on the remaining local churches and their assigned pastors.

I distinctly remember newly-elected Bishop Teresa Snorton being in attendance there in Evansville when the Kentucky Region Conference's quadrennial budget was passed. Witnessing the obvious dismay on my face, she asked me what was wrong. I explained to Bishop Snorton that the budget was set way too high for the financial, economic and psychological context of the region conference. She then asked me, "Reverend, you don't think you can raise the conference claims at your church?" I started laughing and answered, "It is not me I am worried about. It is them (pointing to the audience), the other pastors and church leaders, that I am worried sick over. What are they going to do now?" Theologically, I knew that something was wrong. Within this particular frame of thought, I again went to the Word of God. Israel’s history of apostasy and reform as located in 2nd Chronicles comes to mind. Here, the actions of King Amaziah of Judah are considered for theological reflection. In 2nd Chronicles 25:9-10, King Amaziah made a financial agreement with Israelite soldiers offering to pay them to fight for him (25:6). But before the troops could go to battle, Amaziah sent them home with their pay because of the prophet's warning that even if they fought courageously, God's power would overthrow them before their enemy (2 Chronicles 25:8). Yet, in realizing that the Lord was not with Israel nor with the people of Ephraim, King Amaziah understood that the money he paid the soldiers was not worth the ruin the alliance could cause. The teaching point is that money must never stand in the way of the Church making right decisions. The Lord's favor is invaluable, worth more than any amount of money (2 Chronicles 9-10). Put another way, the true blessings of God await those who choose God over money (Numbers 24:11).

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Submissions Continued from previous page

And so with post-conference claims and operating account balances of anywhere between $96.00 and $919.00, I pastored CME Churches in the states of Kentucky and Ohio with excellence and pride. As the appointed pastor, I made it a point to place the conference claims check into the anxious hands of the Presiding Elder under which I was being supervised. All 11 of the Presiding Elders I served under received money from the churches I was appointed to. Some of the churches remained poor in spirit, financially broke and still uncertain of where their monies were going. Others grew in number and were strengthened in their awareness of God in Christ and their spiritual resolve. But again, the churches I pastored always found a way to raise funds and pay their assessed amount of conference claims and general funds in full. And never with any monies to pay the Pastor's (12%) Pension nor send the pastor to the upcoming region annual conference, the churches I pastored scraped their pockets and pocketbooks to give a modest Pastor's Appreciation gift. This particular gift usually helped to finance a small part of the upcoming trip to the region conference. I have been extremely proud to serve at every single church I was appointed to.

Coming back to my home district, the Evansville-Hopkinsville District of the Kentucky Region Conference to serve three different congregations (Thomas Chapel CME in Hickman,

Bells Chapel CME in Fulton, and now the Lane Tabernacle CME Church in Hopkinsville) over the last four years has been theologically rewarding. With the help of God, we have been able to remain consistent in growing into well-rounded churches who understand the importance of taking care of their financial obligations to the general church and the episcopal district.

In 2017, I experienced the miraculous power of God as I was blessed to lead two CME churches in paying their conference claims in full ... during the same conference year. Subsequently, a huge part of the reward, theologically and otherwise, is found in serving under the visionary, episcopal leadership of Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr. Bishop Thomas is an excellent Bishop of the Black Church. He holistically understands what it means to do grassroots theology and effective ministry from the ground up.

Bishop Thomas is on the cutting edge of becoming the preeminent voice of Black Religion in both Christian Methodism and the greater community of faith. The truth is that doing good ministry in the Church and being an effective administrator of the Church does not always guarantee that we will meet our financial goals. Either way, God is better than good because God is greater than money. The history of our great Zion has shown us this fact. As we steadfastly approach 150 years of denominational excellence, let us keep our minds on the power of God in Jesus Christ by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit.

STEWARDSHIP: “A Commitment or Choice” Submitted by JoJean Coleman, Editor CHANDLERS TEMPLE C.M.E. CHURCH, December 2019 Newsletter

One day a man looks at a new car. The salesman says, “10% down and low, low payments for 48 months. The man asks, “Where do I sign?” The next day, the same man looks at a refrigerator. The salesman says, “Nothing down, no interest for 12 months.” Again the man says “Where do I sign.” The third day, same man…this time looking at a new home. The salesman says, 10% down and 30 years to pay.” For the third time the man asks, “Where do I sign?” Fourth day, same man… this time talking to his pastor. The pastor says, “Would you please sign this commitment card to give God 10% for the next year?” The man in horror replies, “What?” Tie myself down for 52 weeks. No sir, the future is too insecure, I won’t make a commitment I may not be able to keep!

Editor Coleman's Note: All I can say is WOW, not willing to invest in your eternal life but willing to enjoy your right now; which will most definitely pass away.

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Phillips School of Theology Alumni Association Pastor’s Conference of 2020 Submitted by Clarence Kelby Heath clarenceheath68@yahoo.com

The Association is privileged to come together each year at the Pastor’s Conference to focus on its support for Phillips School of Theology.

PST Alumni Executive Council During the past decade, the alumni association has provided over a dozen scholarships to Phillips’ seminarians. Typically, scholarships are in the amount of $1000 per student and awarded to both men and women in the name of “Phillips School of Theology Alumni Scholarship Award.” The scholarships are provided at the alumni worship service on Wednesday evening. These funds are possible because of annual dues from association members.

The PST Alumni Luncheon was added several years ago to strengthen our fellowship. The luncheon has also focused on presentations with a practical focus for ministry. The past two years have been a unique focus on the history of Phillips.

Last year, Dr. Skip Mason provided a historical perspective that revisited the early debates and significance of a theological education in the CME Church. This was part of our 75th anniversary celebration (2019). This year, Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart provided living history highlights that focused upon the early days of Phillips' transition from Lane College of Jackson, Tennessee, to the Interdenominational Theological Center of Atlanta, Georgia.

The Unity Summit is a time for our annual breakfast fellowship. The past years Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart have included "informationals" such as planning for retirement as a minister, voice training and vocal therapy, insight on hospice chaplaincy, and mental self care for clergy. Time is allotted to hear any updates from the president-dean and/or chair of the PST board. We also take the time to highlight book authors and other educational accomplishments of alumni members. There are times when we remember those that served among us and have died since our last coming together.

Our fellowship is a healthy balance of men and women from the connection spanning decades of ministry experiences.

This past year we have added Campaign 2020 and the Phillips School of Theology Alumni Association Community Service Award. The campaign is our collective effort to raise $20,000 for Phillips’ renovation, which is in process. The asking is $500 per person. It may be paid in full or in increments. The Community Service Award is the Executive Council’s way of recognizing a person, per year, that has been an integral and inspirational part in the life of Phillips. Rev. Dr. L. H. Whelchel, Jr. was its first recipient at this year’s luncheon. We are grateful to Rev. Dr. Kai Horn and Rev. Lindsey Napier, Sr. serving as Late Night preachers and Rev. Omar Dykes bringing a word at the alumni service. I “thank you” for your continued support to the Phillips School of Theology Alumni Association.

Dr. L.H. Whelchel speaking to the assembly.

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Summertime for a Bible Geek Submitted by Rev. Cassandra Perry

Early in my seminary career, I often referred to members of SBL (the Society of Biblical Literature) as “Bible geeks.” After few months in a Ph.D. program, I’d not only become one of those “Bible geeks,” but found myself attending SBL’s International Conferences.

The Society of Biblical Literature’s mission is simple: it exists to foster Biblical scholarship. “Founded in 1880, the Society of Biblical Literature is the oldest and largest learned society devoted to the critical investigation of the Bible from a variety of academic disciplines.”1 In keeping with its mission and vision, the Society hosts an annual meeting outside the United States. I was privileged to attend the 2018 Annual Meeting in Helsinki, Finland, and the 2019 Annual Meeting in Rome, Italy. The 2019 meeting was held from July 1-5 at the Pontifical Gregorian University, a successor to the School of Grammar and Christian Doctrine founded in 1551 by St. Ignatius of Loyola. This School of Grammar and Christian Doctrine became the Roman College, and in 1556 the Roman College became a degree-granting institution. The Pontifical Gregorian University is a successor of that institution. In addition to a greeting from the Pope’s Secretary of State, attendees at the Rome Conference were afforded the opportunity to participate in several tours. I elected the Ancient Rome, the Vatican, and the Peter and Paul in Rome tours. I elected the Ancient Rome and Peter and Paul in Rome tours purely because of academic interest; at the time I had no way of knowing they would provide important context to an early Church History course, nor that I would be appointed Professor of that course.

The tour of Ancient Rome began with many of the familiar sites: the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus; Trajan’s Column, Forum, and Market; the Palatine Hill; the Forum of Augustus; the Pantheon; Capitoline Hill; and the Campidoglio.

1

The history was fascinating, but to touch and enter places that have been standing for millenia was indescribable. The same was true of the Peter and Paul in Rome tour, which included the Church of St. Paul outside the Walls, the Tre Fontane Church, and the Quo Vadis Church, the rarely-publicly-seen Jewish catacombs and the Catacombs of San Callixto, plus a walk along the Appian Way. For me, Rome was a site of continual historical and gastronomic exploration.

For instance, the Tre Fontane (Three Fountains) Church is so named because it is said to be the site on which Paul was beheaded. According to the stories, Paul, as a Roman citizen, was killed by beheading rather than the crucifixion reserved for non-Romans.

When he was beheaded, his head bounced three times, and a fountain sprang up from each place where his head bounced. Similarly, the church of Quo Vadis is supposedly at the site where Peter, fleeing Roman persecution, ran into Jesus. Peter said, “Lord, where are you going?” to which Jesus replied, “to Rome to be crucified again.” (Quo Vadis is Latin for “where are you going?).

But a few tours do not constitute an expansive experience of Rome, and words cannot adequately describe even those few tours (it is intentional that I am not even attempting to describe the Vatican tour nor the numerous gastronomic delights); one must see and experience Rome for oneself. Experiencing a bit of Rome was a pleasant byproduct of the trip, but not the main reason for it. The reason for the trip was the opportunity to share and exchange ideas with other Biblical scholars. While there were no papers on Tertullian, my topic of study, one of my colleagues presented a paper entitled “Are Jude’s Opponents Magicians? A Rereading of Michael’s Engagement with Satan,” while others presided over sessions of Bible and Empire, or presented papers on “Race and Economics: The Biblical Justifications and Resistances to Empire.” In a trend which perhaps hints at the future of the discipline, a session on Digital Humanities in Biblical, Early Jewish, and Christian Studies focused on Working with Biblical Manuscripts through a focused reading of Hamidovic et al’s “Ancient Manuscripts in Digital Culture: Visualisation, Data Mining, Communication” (Brill, 2019). Working

From the SBL description, found at https://www.sbl-site.org/.

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Submissions with Biblical Manuscripts was a hot topic; nearly half a dozen sessions were devoted to some form of Textual Criticism. Meetings are arranged by area of academic interest, and the Working with Biblical Manuscripts group had areas of overlap with the Textual Criticism: Manuscripts and Methods; Gospel of Mark; and Septuagint Studies Groups. This was an academic and ecumenical meeting at a Catholic university, but it certainly exemplified John Wesley’s understanding of Christian Conferencing as a Means of Grace: the entire Conference, and each small group into which it was divided, existed to help people increase their Biblical scholarship which, in turn should help them to walk in the Spirit, seek the Face of God, and deal with one another in love.

I noted there were no Tertullian sessions at Rome SBL. This could perhaps be because from August 19-24, 2019, the 18th International Conference on Patristic Studies took place at the University of Oxford. Oxford Patristics, as it is known, is a quadrennial conference, first held in 1951, and includes approximately 1,000 Patristics scholars from around the globe. People often think of Patristics as relating to European Fathers of the Church, but that is not entirely correct.

As noted above, my area of interest is Tertullian, who was North African. My research explores whether/how much his African identity might have impacted his pneumatological understanding and his subsequent theological articulation (Tertullian is the person first credited with introducing the term trinitas or “Trinity” into Latin to explain the relationship of the Godhead). As I’ve studied the Bible and the history of the people who’ve put it to paper, I’ve always been struck at how much what was recorded reflected those doing the recording. The logical question for my research then is, “How much of Tertullian’s African identity was reflected in his use of the term trinitas?” As Tertullian is a Father of the Church, Patristics is an academic discipline in which such a question can be explored.

As we study Patristics, historical exploration reveals that Antioch and Alexandria, the two main centers of pre-Nicene Biblical study, were both in the Middle East: Antioch is in present day Syria, while Alexandria is in present day Egypt. Because Biblical

interpretation and exegesis have largely been forced through a Western European mold, my research seeks to parse out how questions of identity may have influenced the ideas and concepts with which the Church Fathers wrestled, ideas and concepts which would subsequently define much of what we today call Christianity. I am aware of how few people of color study this field – a woman came up to me at Oxford expressing relief at seeing another face with color in it, and at NAPS (the North American Patristics Society), three of us women of color, seeing each other, simply engaged in a spontaneous hug. Yes, the air is a bit rarified in Patristics study (perhaps because it presupposes a fairly intimate relationship with Latin and/or Greek), but the African influence upon this discipline cannot be denied; my work seeks to highlight that influence.

Because of my social media posts, some people think I spent the summer galavanting around Europe, and others think I’m some sort of esoteric scholar of nearly useless historical errata. And just like I did some tours in Rome, while at Oxford not only did I stay at Christchurch, the college where John and Charles Wesley entered Oxford, but I took a day trip into London to worship at Wesley’s Chapel, which he built, and to tour his house. The reality is that I like international conferences because they appease a natural inclination towards travel, but as an historical theologian, historical and theological exploration must always result in a practical application that edifies the Body of Christ. In my secular work, I provide housing and supportive services in the South Bronx (which, in the last Census, was in the middle of the poorest Congressional District in the country).

Among our programs is a summer program with youth, part of an alternatives to incarceration effort.

This work with young people who’ve had encounters with the criminal justice system leaves me struck by two things: 1) the way that Muslims can engage and recruit young people not just with knowledge of holy Scriptures but through a disciplined lifestyle that honors and adheres to their sacred writings; and 2) the persistent lie that “Christianity is the white man’s religion.” Regarding that second point, nothing could be further from the truth, and my research highlights the fact that Christianity is actually a religion built Continued on next page March 2020 • The Christian Index

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Submissions Continued from previous page on the shoulders of black and other people of color. The first point is why I focus on teaching and training. Preaching, platitudes, and performance are no longer sufficient to hold the attention of young people. Many are thirsty for the Living Word, but have grown discouraged at what they see as a disconnect between what Christians say and how we live. My research explores the myriad influences that people of color have had upon our great faith; my service as a seminary professor (prayerfully) helps equip the next generation of preachers to live out St. Francis of Assisi’s mandate to “preach the Gospel always. If necessary, use words.”

What we know of who we are and the grounding of our faith can determine how we walk in this world; increasingly, how we walk (not how we talk, preach, pray, or sing, but how we walk) in this world bears witness to the Christ Who Lives within each of us, and our walk may be our most powerful and effective witness. Whether we’re Bible geeks, traveling preachers, professors of theology, disciples of Christ, social justice warriors – whatever we are, we continually bear witness to the presence of Christ in our lives. I’m no longer limiting myself to a category (or, for that matter, even to a geographic region of the world): I’m just trying to bear the best witness I can, and am overjoyed that God has afforded me so many opportunities to do that. I’ve been privileged to share the Gospel in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Next up is SBL’s 2020 International Conference, scheduled to take place in Adelaide, Australia. I’ve been invited to submit a paper for a session on “Composing Communities: The Hermeneutics of

Christian Identity.” I’m grateful and excited at the possibility of going Down Under and sharing about how Christian Identity is formed in the intersections of race/ethnicity, religion, and culture.

As I write this, my excitement is rekindled. I wish time and space allowed me to share in more detail, but instead, I close with a note of encouragement. To all those who are called “geeks” or “God-Squadders,” to all those who are othered or different because you dare march to the beat of a different drummer: STAY THE COURSE. BE ENCOURAGED!! What God has for you is yours and cannot be denied, so don’t worry about the folk sitting on the sidelines. You go ahead and claim ALL that God has for you. As you walk in God’s purpose for you, following the leading of God’s Spirit, seeking the very Face of God, you will have no choice but to deal with the others –the sideliners, the naysayers, and even those whose intentions towards you are not pure. As you surrender your will to God’s Will, you will have no choice but to continue sharing God’s Love which is reflected in you. I’m a witness that when you trust God, keeping your Faith and Hope in God, aligning your will with the Will of God, you’ll have no choice but to love everyone around you. No matter what storms may come or winds may blow around you, stay focused on God, Who will blow your mind and exceed your wildest dreams!!

Cassandra Perry is an Ordained Itinerant Elder in the CME Church, currently serving as the Associate Pastor of the Williams Institutional CME Church in Harlem, NYC. Additionally, Rev. Perry is the Executive Director of the 163rd Street Improvement Council, a nonprofit in Bronx, NY. An Adjunct Professor at New York Theological Seminary, Rev. Perry is also a Ph.D. student in dissertation phase at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA.

Patton Memorial Celebrates 60 Years Submitted by Louvenia Martin, Lay Department

Patton Memorial CME Church celebrated 60 years with family and friends who came from far and near on October 27, 2019, during the 11:00 a.m. morning worship hour. The new, proud pastor, Rev. Dr. Lydia Evelyn Spragin, delivered the wonderful message, "The Church's One Foundation." The Old Testament passage was Proverbs 17:17, and the New Testament passage was 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. Lots of pictures were taken, many gifts were given, and dinner was served. There was loads of love in the house. We will continue to praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow.

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Children/Youth

Wordsearch Puzzle for March Matthew 13:1-9 (Parable of the Sower)

JESUS HOUSE SEA MULTITUDES GATHERED SHIP SAT WHOLE STOOD SHORE SPAKE PARABLES

BEHOLD SOWER SEEDS FELL FOWLS DEVOURED STONY EARTH SPRUNG DEEPNESS SCORCHED ROOT

WITHERED THORNS CHOKED GOOD GROUND BROUGHT FRUIT HUNDREDFOLD SIXTYFOLD THIRTYFOLD EARS HEAR

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Children/Youth Answers to Puzzle

Contact Info for The Christian Index Submissions and payments that are not processed by email should be sent to the following address:

Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr. Editor, The Christian Index 1700 Whisperwood Street Albany GA 31721

DO NOT use this address for subscription information or subscription payments.

Our Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/TheChristianIndex.

The Twitter handle for the periodical is: @TheCMEIndex.

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Plan Now! Attend The Connectional Youth and Young Adult Conference (CYYAC20) June 28-July 3, 2020

CYYAC20 will be held at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons Hotel located at 3121 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27407. The theme is P.R.E.S.S. (Passionate Relevant Essential Sincere Service).

The discounted registration fee for CYYAC20 is $150 now through December 31, 2019. The registration fee includes the Concert! The online registration portal is open to single and group reservations for up to 50 persons by credit/debit card and check! For additional information and to register, visit here. Upon completion of your payment, you will receive a registration confirmation notice and the link to reserve your hotel room.

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The Christian Index • March 2020

Senior Bishop and Mrs. Lawrence Reddick and the Eighth Episcopal District will host the Eighth Annual CME Unity Summit and the 150th Anniversary of the CME Church Celebration along with the General Connectional Board Meeting, scheduled August 31-September 4, 2020 at the Sheraton Dallas located at 400 Olive Street in Dallas, TX. The theme for this year's Unity Summit is, "Christian Methodism Beyond OneHundred Fifty Years: Trending Forward Propelled by the Great Commission."

The Unity Summit is scheduled for Monday, August 31, 2020 through Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

The General Connectional Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2020 through Friday, September 4, 2020.

Register online at https://thecmechurch.org/unity-summit/. The group room rate at the Sheraton Dallas is $129 plus 15.26% tax ($148.69) per night. The deadline date to reserve a hotel room is August 10, 2020.

Please plan to register and reserve your room early!

A Commemorative Souvenir Journal is being prepared in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church during the Eighth CME Unity Summit. We invite individuals, local churches and ministries to submit an ad to appear in the Commemorative Historical Journal. For this Commemorative Journal, we prefer your ad (s) to specifically be about how individual(s) within the CME Church have impacted you as a member, leader, etc. Your ad may promote your business, ministry, share a tribute or honor the memory of a loved one.

Sponsors will receive a complimentary Program and Souvenir Journal and their ads featured in digital formats throughout and after the event.

The deadline date to submit an ad is June 1, 2020. Submit your ad at https://thecmechurch.org/unitysummit/.

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The Christian Index • March 2020

CME Connectional Directory THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS

Senior Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick - 8th Episcopal District - 1616 E. Illinois Ave., Dallas TX 75216; 214-372-9073 (office); email: llreddick3@yahoo.com

Bishop Godwin Umoette - 10th Episcopal District, P.O. Box 4312, UYO, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria; email: godwin.umoette@yahoo.com; phone: 08024086495

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. - 1st Episcopal District, Suite 222, 4466 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis TN 38116; 901-345-4114 (office) and 901-345-4115 (fax)

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr. - 6th Episcopal District, 680 Beckwith Street SW, Atlanta GA 30314; 404-963-6652 (office); 404-963-6656 (fax); 6thDistrictCME@gmail.com.

Bishop Kenneth Wayne Carter - 11th Episcopal District, P.O. Box 174084, Arlington TX 76003-4084; 678-500-3301 (office); 678-385-6501(fax); KWCarter8@hotmail.com.

Bishop James B. Walker - 7th Episcopal District, Post Office Box 6095, Waldorf MD 20603; seventhhq@yahoo.com

Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr. - 3rd Episcopal District, Post Office Box 211237, Normandy MO 63121; 314-381-3111 (office); 314-381-2060 (fax); email: sw58cme@aol.com

Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton - 5th Episcopal District CME Church, P.O. Box 13383, Birmingham AL 35202; office: 205-929-1145 (office); 205-929-1190 (fax); email: cmec35203@yahoo.com; Web site: www.cmefifthdistrict.org; office located at 4901 Lloyd Nolan Parkway, Fairfield Al. 35064 (do not send mail to the office address)

Bishop Bobby R. Best - 9th Episcopal District, 3844 W. Slauson Ave., Suite 1, Los Angeles CA 90043; 323-294-3830; email: ninthhq@SBCglobal.net; Website: ninthdistrictcme.org

Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas - 2nd Episcopal District, P. O. Box 36455, Cincinnati OH 45236; 513-827-6651(office) Bishop C. James King - 4th Episcopal District - 5417 Robinson Road Extension, Jackson MS 39204; 769-251-0531 (office); 769-251-0758 (fax); 502-494-5366 (cell); email: kingcmep1@aol.com.

Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, Retired - 8145 Summerwood Circle, Olive Branch MS 38654-7060 Bishop E. Lynn Brown, Retired (DECEASED) - 4250 Thunderstone Circle, W., Memphis TN 38125; 901-729-7476 Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham, Retired - 200 Big Bend Drive, Desoto TX 75115; Cell 901-337-7138 Bishop Othal H. Lakey, Retired - 4441 Magnolia Path Pl., Buford GA 30518; 678-482-7066 (h) Bishop William H. Graves, Sr., Retired (DECEASED) - 1089 Oakridge Dr., Memphis TN 38111; ph. 901-452-3399 Bishop Marshall Gilmore, Retired - 683 Beacontree Court, Concord NC 28027; 704-786-3226

THE GENERAL OFFICERS

Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield - General Secretary, Department of Christian Education & Formation - Suite 300, 4466 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis TN 38116-7100; 901345-4109 (office); 901-261-3289 (fax); basiz1@aol.com; also 1119 Linksview Lane West, Cordova TN 38018.

Dr. Tyrone T. Davis - General Secretary, General Board of Personnel Services - P.O. Box 74 - Memphis TN 38101-0074; 901-345-4100; FAX 901-345-4107; email: tyrone.t.davis@comcast.net

Dr. Leo Pinkett - General Secretary, Ministry to Men, 2850 Shoreland Dr., S.W., Atlanta GA 30331; 404-349-1722; email: lpinkettace@yahoo.com

Dr. Clifford Harris - General Secretary of Lay Ministry, 15485 Prairie Bell Rd., Okmulgee OK 74447-8690; 918-519-4233 (c);918-304-1999 (h);

MrCliffHarris@yahoo.com

Dr. Roderick D. Lewis, Sr. - General Secretary, Department of Publications, P.O. Box 161212, Memphis TN 38186-1212; 901-396-5400; rdlsr@aol.com

Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr. - Editor, The Christian Index, 1700 Whisperwood Street, Albany GA 31721; 901-515-6510 (office); email: ChristianIndex@thecmechurch.org

Dr. Victor Taylor - General Secretary of Finance & CFO, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church - Dept. of Finance and Investments, 1101 Davis St. - Suite 5224, Evanston IL 60204; 847274-0182 (main); 312-648-5232 (work); 240-359-6272 (fax); finance@thecmechurch.org; https://www.hightail.com/u/cmefinance (securely upload confidential documents here)

Dr. Pene' G. Woods - Executive Secretary, Post Office Box 1536, Cordova TN 38088; Email: cmeexecutivesecretary4@gmail.com; Nationwide Mobile Office: (901) 489-9253.

Rev. Leon C. Moore, Jr. - General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions, 50 Sunset Ave NW, Unit # 92763, Atlanta GA 30314; 678-362-7549.

Ms. Jacqueline I. Scott - President, Women's Missionary Council, 7255 Richmond Road, Memphis, TN 38125; 901-737-7675; scottjacqueline210@yahoo.com

Dr. Joseph C. Neal, Jr. - General Secretary, Emeritus, Dept. of Finance, P.O. Box 75085, Los Angeles CA 90075; 323-233-5050, Fax: 323-233-2797.

Dr. William George - General Secretary, Emeritus, Dept. of Publications, 535 Harwood Dr., Memphis TN 38120; 901-683-7833; email;weg38@aol.com.

Dr. N. Charles Thomas (DECEASED) - General Secretary, Emeritus, Dept. of Personnel Services, 308 Henry Street, Hot Springs AR 71901-6364; 501-318-6991.

Dr. Jeanette Bouknight - Executive Secretary, Retired, P.O. Box 27408, Detroit MI 48227-0408; 313-433-7207; email: cmeexecutivesecretary3@yahoo.com.

THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL

Rev. Dr. Jerry D. Woodfork, Sr., President (Class of 2018), 1315 Heatherland Drive SW, Atlanta GA 30331; 404-629-0055; jerrywoodfork@comcast.net.

Judge Bertina Lampkin, Vice President (Class of 2018), 3200 N. Lake Shore Drive, Unit 2308, Chicago IL 60657; 773-750-7203; lampkin506@aol.com, Attorney Bernard Snell, Clerk (Class of 2018), 136 Myrick Drive, Macon GA 31220; 478-731-1897; 478-935-3188; bernard.xsnell@usdoj.gov.

Mrs. Barbara Nichols, Immediate Past President (Class of 2018), 1937 Fawn Drive, Glenside PA 19038; 215-572-5516;frebargroup@aol.com.

Rev. Roland Johnson Jr., Member (Class of 2014), 4945 Bradfield Run, Memphis TN 38125; 901-497-9588; revrjohns@aol.com.

Rev. Kwame Lawson Adjei, Member (Class of 2018), P. O. Box AN 7639, Accra, Ghana, West Africa; 011-233-244-630267; rev.adjei@hotmail.com.

Attorney Shirley C. Byers, Member (Class of 2018), P. O. Box 5008, Holly Springs MS 38634; 662-252-6530 or 662-820-2763; scbjudge@gmail.com.

Dr. Lynda Brown-Wright, Member (Class of 2018), 3157 Dale Hollow Drive, Lexington KY 40515; 859-433-3396; Lynda.brownwright@gmail.com.

Rev. Russell Fuller, Member (Class of 2018), 647 Shadyway, Dallas TX 75232; 214-793-1945; fwdistrict@yahoo.com.

Rev. James Smith - Coordinator, Chaplain Services; 493 Robin Song Ct., Blythewood SC 29016; 803-800-9788; SmithJEJR@aol.com Atty. Ouida Brown - General Counsel - P.O. Box 587, Tuscombia AL 35674; 256-383-9620; fax: 256-383-9933 Mrs. Claudette Nichols Branch - President, CME Historical Society; 1511 Brownwood Avenue, Memphis TN 38116-4403 Bro. Willie J. Robinson - President of the Ministers' and Laymen's Council - 701 Pebble Court, El Sobrante, CA 94803-1810; 415-722-9167 Mrs. Carolyn Hassell - President, Connectional Ministers' Spouses, Widows and Widowers, 1030 N Park Avenue, Brownsville TN 38012; 901-907-9427;

carolynhassell68@gmail.com; website: www.cme-spouses.org Rev. Carole E. Richardson - President, Connectional Christian Educators’ Council - 822 Marietta Pl., N.W. - Washington, DC 20011; 202-291-8566

OTHER CONNECTIONAL OFFICERS

Ms. Barbara Christian Campbell - President, Connectional Lay Council - 4819 Eagles Ridge Loop, Lithonia GA 30038; or 2012 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta GA 30317; dstbc@bellsouth.net; 404-587-8311 or 678-641-9745

Rev. Amina McIntyre - President, Connectional Young Adult Ministry; email: aminacyam@gmail.com Rev. Dr. Earl J. Griffin, Sr. - President, Presiding Elders’ Council; P.O. Box 612, Grambling LA 71245; 318-245-2743; email: earlgrffn2@gmail.com

Ms. Jolinda Dugger - President, Connectional Stewardesses, 110 Montclair Dr., Jackson TN 38301; 731-736-0961 (h); 731-394-7504 (cell); email: Jmdugger810@aol.com

Rev. Dr. Denise Anders-Modest - Coordinator, Commission on the Concerns of Women in the Ministry, 19 Scattered Oaks Drive, Byhalia MS 38611; 318-348-8982; email: dmodest1990@yahoo.com Mr. Freddie McKnight - President, Connectional Stewards, 24 Canton Street; West Haven CT 06516; 203-933-7230 (h); 203-500-6377 (cell) Ms. Diana Winton - President of Connectional Ushers, 729 West 155 Street; Gardena CA 90247; 310-415-4336; email: ladydicme@aol.com Dr. Theresa Duhart - President, CIT Connectional Dept., 1907 Willow Lane West, University Place WA 98466, 253-376-6361 (cell); 253-830-9512 (fax); email: theresaduhart@thecmechurch.org Rev. Jermaine Marshall, PhD - General Conference Secretary; 2239 Adam Clayton Powell Jr.Blvd., New York NY 10027; 904-422-1627; jermmar25@gmail.com

HEADS OF CONNECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Rev. Dr. William E. George - Administrator, Collins Chapel Health Center, 409 Ayers St., Memphis TN 38105; 901-683-7883; email: weg38@aol.com Dr. Paul Brown - President and Dean, Phillips School of Theology, Atlanta GA; 404-527-7768 Dr. Logan C. Hampton - President, Lane College, 545 Lane Ave., Jackson TN 38301; 731-426-7595 (office); 731-427-3987 (fax) Ms. Bobbie Knight - President, Miles College, P. O. Box 39800, Birmingham AL 35208; 205-929-1428; 205-929-1448; 205-929-1429; 205-929-1426 (fax) Dr. Dwight Fennell - President, Texas College, 2404 N. Grand Ave., Tyler TX 75702; 903-593-8311; 903-593-0588 (fax) Dr. Cheryl Evans Jones - Office of the President, Paine College, 1235 Fifteenth St., Augusta GA 30901-3182; 706-821-8230 (office); 706-821-8320 (Admissions)

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