The Christian Index - March 2023

The Christian Index The Official Organ of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church • March 2023

Carter Temple, Chicago, Opens Mahalia Jackson Court Page 14

THE CHRISTIAN INDEX

The Official Publication Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Copyright © 2023 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.

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The Christian Index • March 2023

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

Volume 156, Number 3

March 2023

Connectional Interests Dept. of Christian Education/Formation 5 Department of CIT 6 Ministers' Spouses, Widows/Widowers 8 CME-Affiliated Schools

Miles/Wallace Sign MOU 9

Lane Partners with UT 9

Electronic Gaming at Texas College 10 2023 CME Calendar of Events 11 Submissions The Editor Reports 12 Carter Temple Opens Mahalia Jackson Court 14 Mrs. Catherine Davis Cottrell 19 Battered, Broken, Bruised: Her-Story 16 Celebrating 125 Years of JMT Ministry 18 Savannah Alexander Selected for Program 22 Children/Youth 23 Ecumenical News Congress Authorizes Global Food Security Act 25 Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables 26 Connectional Directory 31

Cover: Carter Temple, Chicago, Opens Mahalia Jackson Court Photographs: Photos are by contributors to The Christian Index and Index staff.

Submitted to the Publisher: February 23, 2023

Editorial

Women's History Month Women’s History Month was begun in 1980, when President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women's History Week. The observance of a Women's History Week during the month of March continued under the leadership of Congress and President Ronald Reagan, although the week was not always the same one. The entire month of month was designated Women's History Month in 1987 under the leadership of the National Women’s History Project. These presidential proclamations have continued since that time, designating the month as a time to honor and recognize the achievements and contributions women have made throughout American history.

In recognition of both Women's History Month and the invaluable contributions of the women who have served among us, here is a brief and selected history of the progress of women Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., Editor in the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church.

In 1909, Helena B. Cobb opened a school for girls in Barnesville, Georgia. Named the Helena B. Cobb Institute, it provided education primarily in the areas of religion, intellect or academics, and domestic skills. The Department for Superannuated Preachers, Widows and Orphans was introduced in 1918 by Thomas H. Copeland of Kentucky, with hopes of the church providing care for these persons who had been affected by the preaching ministry. Also in 1918, in spite of years of resistance from the College of Bishops, the Connectional Woman's Missionary Society (now the Women's Missionary Council) was finally established due to the persistent efforts and leadership of physician Dr. Mattie E. Coleman, who was subsequently elected its first president. Since its founding, the Council has been the most consistent and active arm of broad missionary work in the CME Church. Though the Council has its own constitution, it continues to operate under the authority of the General Conference through the presence of a patron bishop.

In 1922, a woman was elected a delegate to the general conference but was not seated. In 1926, the Constitution of the Church was changed to allow the election and seating of women delegates, and 18 women delegates were seated in 1930. There remains much opposition to women serving in leadership and pastoral roles in the Church, even though their leadership is vital to the operation and sustainability of local churches, annual conferences, and the Connection.

Thankfully, the presence of women in these places of service continues to increase, and their effectiveness is evident. In 1966, under the hand of Bishop B. Julian Smith in the North Arkansas Conference, Rev. Virgie Jackson Gant became the first woman ordained an elder in our church.

The Commission on the Concerns of Women in Ministry was established in 1998 to discuss and address some of the issues that women in the church face as they seek to answer their calling and execute their ministries among us. A member of that group, now Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, was elected the first female bishop of the CME Church in June 2010, and she was followed in June 2022 by now Bishop Denise Anders-Modest.

Thank God for the women who have served in the past and continue to serve with distinction in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and in the world.

References Spragin, Ore L. 2011. The History of the Christian Methodist Epist Episcopal Church (1870-2009): Faithful to the Vision.

Lima: Wyndham Hall Press. n.d. Women's History Month. Accessed February 17, 2023. https://womenshistorymonth.gov/about/.

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.

March 2023 • The Christian Index

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

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10. For all other concerns, you should contact the Publisher.

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The Christian Index • March 2023

Connectional Interests

Department of Christian Education/Formation

Coming Home

Written by Rev. Pat Winston, for "The Practitioner"

(a Fall 2022 publication of the General Department of Christian Education and Formation)

We are currently living in a time of information overload. We are inundated with non-stop television, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, crime and violence, viruses, political discord, war, racism, devastating fires, extreme weather, and a divided nation. There is an increase in mental illness, stress and stress related illnesses, sleep disorders and pandemic burnout. Mass shootings continue to plague our nation regardless of where you live, and Christianity and the Church are under attack. It is easy to see that sometimes people have thoughts of escaping all these traumatic events. It is however, also at these times that we must ask ourselves what God would want us to do. The answer I believe is simply remain faithful to Him trusting Him every step of the way as we seek strength from His Holy Word.

My reason for the title, ‘Coming Home’ is because this is exactly what I feel as we navigate these trials and tribulations. Coming home for me takes me back to my great grandfather, Rev. William Henry Columbus Mays. He was born in 1869 right after the end of the Civil War. I can only imagine the oral traditions that were shared with him from his father regarding surviving slavery. He would become a part of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and accept his call to preach. He became a circuit riding preacher. I used to love to hear my mother tell the stories of him going from church to church on his mighty horse.

He and my great-grandmother raised eleven children.

He lived through Post Civil War Reconstruction, Racism, The Depression, two World Wars with four sons in World War II. He persevered through The Korean War Yellow Fever epidemic, Spanish Flu epidemic, tuberculosis epidemic, Sharecropping, losing a daughter in childbirth and a son to brain injury from a mule; educating six of his children at Lane College, one who worked at Collins Chapel Hospital as a nurse. Through it all he endured and prevailed, and lived to the golden age of ninety-four.

Coming home to me is thinking of what a trail blazer for my generation he was and that he left us with the fortitude to stand in times of distress and reach deep within to connect with God and the place where strength and love come together to enable us to endure to the end.

When I think of ‘Coming Home,’ I remember when my great-grandfather came to live with us and dressed in his preacher suit every day. He would not eat until the children (which is what he called me my siblings) were fed first. I remember him patting us on the head. That was his way of blessing us as his heirs. He knew of the days that he had

survived and could only imagine what might be ahead for us. Toward the end he did suffer what we know today as dementia, but never forgot his love of the Lord, grace before meals and prayers throughout the day.

Coming Home for me is remembering and appreciating my great grandfather. While it is true, we are living in perilous times I often think that this great man’s blood flows through my veins and it gives me strength to keep going.

One of the challenges we face in the world today is the role and relevance of Christian Education to a world of short attention span people, digital world people and what is for me, thinking people. Christian Education is more important today than ever. It is part of the backbone of our faith because it allows us to read, study, pray be taught and listen for that still small voice of God in directing our lives.

This article is for Christian Educators who feel overwhelmed or discouraged because the pandemic has changed church. Well, one way to look at is that God may have wanted to change some things and change is not always bad. What may have worked before may not work today for this generation. It may require us to stretch and approach Christian Education in a new unique way.

A Christian Educator in our connection recently shared that since the youth and young adults did not return after re-opening, they started having Church School on Saturday evening. Many of them did return for this time on Saturday of a new way of the Church School experience.

This emphasizes that we must do a new thing and meet people where they are in life. Marvin Winan sings, “Who’s going to tell them Jesus loves them, who’s going to tell them there is a better way, who’s going to warn them of the things coming on so God can turn their night today.” Christian Educators we still must be that voice to tell them of the eternal significance of having Jesus the Christ in their lives.

Christian Educators we must tell them.

I encourage you to find your coming home place whether it was parent, grandparent, teacher, Sunday School teacher, pastor, neighbor or whoever instilled in you the Love of God. Come home again to the church of our ancestors, come home, and help us make it relevant to new generations and help us have open arms of acceptance without losing the message. Help us embrace our honored heritage while leaving no one behind whether it be children, youth, young adults, adults, or senior saints. We all know the messaging may change, but the message remains the same. Jesus Christ is Lord and let us make Him Lord of our lives.

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Connectional Interests

Communication and Information Technology

The CME Church Technology Survey Key Findings and Trends of Local Churches and Memberships

By Dr. Theresa Duhart General Secretary/Chief Information Officer

Background: The Department of Communication and Information Technology (CIT) launched the CME Church Technology Survey on November 1, 2022 to evaluate technology resources used and needed within the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, with a two-fold emphasis for local churches and members. This article provides an executive summary that includes the background of the CME Church Technology Survey, methodology and response rates, key findings and survey method, and key trends of churches and memberships. I am extremely grateful to our CME members for responding to the survey. Please note that this summary is condensed for publication in The Christian Index. The link to the online report will be provided at the end of the article.

Purpose: The overall goals and objectives for the CME Church Technology Survey were to help the CME Church learn from its membership about different perceptions and opinions regarding technology usage in our churches and members’ homes, identify needs and resources of local churches and members, and gather insights on software tools, Internet services and members’ technical skill sets.

More specifically, the survey evaluated the following of churches and members. ● Technology used by local CME churches and members including technology platforms, tools and resources, Internet and Wi-Fi services for worship, online giving and staying connected and engaged. ● Churches and members’ challenges using technology. ● Technology resources needed by churches and skill sets needed by our members. ● Technology needed and skills that needed to be learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. ● Technology trends in churches’ online worship including live streaming and usage of social media due to the pandemic. ● Online resources and training needed by churches and members. ● Assistive technology needed to assist members who have difficulty speaking, typing, writing, memory issues, pointing, seeing, hearing, learning, walking, and many other issues. ● Churches and members knowledge of resources provided by the CIT Department.

Findings: The CME Church Technology Survey identified the challenges faced by our connectional churches and members and the resources that were needed especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Internet and technology shaped our members' experiences amid the pandemic. The findings are particularly relevant and helpful as the COVID-19 pandemic exposed a bold new way forward for the CME Church to use technology, reach and communicate with its members, while exposing persistent digital divides within the connectional church and individual members. The information gathered will assist the Department of Communication and Information Technology with further defining communication and information technology strategies for our connectional church.

Methodology and Response Rates: The CME Technology Survey was made available online from November 1, 2022 to January 13, 2023. A total of 1,509 CME members responded to the Technology Survey from the 11 Episcopal Districts representing major cities (the online report provides detailed information). The Department of Communication and Information Technology collected demographic information from the survey respondents to gain a sense of the way local churches and members in the Episcopal Districts engage with technology. While statistical data is helpful and the response rate adds to the validity of the data, individual comments often provide insight into how our members feel about, perceive and use technology.

Key Findings/Survey Method: All members of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church were invited to fill out the online survey and a variety of membership types were represented including clergy, laity, missionaries, young adults, youth, youth, General and Connectional Officers. The churches represented ministries of every size across the connectional church.

Technology Trends - Churches Church Memberships: The majority of the respondents attended church in urban areas, followed by members attending church in suburban and rural areas. Churches located in urban areas dominated all membership size categories, a higher frequency of weekly Sunday worship services, and offering hybrid worship services. Membership sizes well represented in the survey were churches with under 50 members (49%) in urban, suburban and rural areas.

Worship Services: The pandemic brought on many changes in how churches offer worship and the majority of respondents indicated that their church was conducting live worship services via Zoom, Facebook, YouTube or other streaming platforms.

The majority of church members indicated that their church offered Sunday worship services on a weekly basis, while 80 churches offered bi-weekly worship services. and 21 churches held services on a monthly basis.

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The Christian Index • March 2023

Connectional Interests

Communication and Information Technology

820 (54%) respondents indicated that their churches were conducting worship service live and live streaming to Facebook, YouTube or other streaming service platforms.

465 (30%) respondents indicated that their churches were conducting worship service live and via Zoom, not streaming live.

321 (21%) respondents indicated that their churches were conducting live worship service only.

52 (3%) respondents indicated that their churches were conducting worship service via Zoom; 46 (3%) respondents indicated that their worship service is conducted by telephone.

Wi-Fi: The survey indicated that 77% or three-fourths of the churches represented had Wi-Fi installed. Churches in urban areas led with having Wi-Fi, followed by churches in rural and suburban areas. There were 234 churches in rural areas having Wi-Fi services, and 221 churches not having the service. Churches in rural areas identified not having Wi-Fi due to issues such as limited or no Internet availability in their area, unaffordable costs, and a lack of interest in the services. Additional commentary on why Wi-Fi was not installed included churches needing financial grant assistance and having poor Internet connections.

TeleConference/Video Platforms: 1,148 (76%) of our members indicated that Zoom was the number one video conference platform used by churches. 848 (56%) persons indicated that FreeConferenceCall was the top teleconferencing platform used by churches.

Online Giving: At the beginning of the pandemic, our churches had to create engaging connections with members and provide an online giving platform. 1,325 (89%) members indicated that online giving was offered by their local churches. The most popular online giving platform used in our churches is Givelify, followed by CashApp and PayPal. Computer Hardware Needs for Churches: 922 (61%) respondents indicated that their church had a need for computer hardware. Church locations were in urban, suburban and rural areas. Computer hardware needs included PCs, Macs, tablets, monitors and printers.

Technology Trends - Membership Technology or Skills that Church Members Needed to Learn Over the Past 12-18 Months: The Internet and use of technology shaped our members' experience amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic unfolding in March 2020, many Americans, CME members and world citizens saw their lives swiftly changed by stay-at-home orders, school closures and the onset of remote work. As a result, many persons became isolated from family, celebrated holidays by video calls, and reduced their travel plans. And technology was needed and depended upon by billions of persons around the world, including our CME members!

The top technology or skills that our church members needed to learn during the pandemic included how to: • Use Zoom (1,430 / 95%) • Livestream to Facebook (960 / 64%) • Livestream to YouTube (404 / 27%) • Livestream to Facebook and You/tube Simultaneously (329 / 22%) • Improve Sound (478 / 32%) • Improve lighting for live streaming (304 / 20%) Internet /Wi-Fi Access at Home: The majority of respondents (1,213 / 80%) indicated they have access to technology and equipment needed to connect to the Internet, cable television and streaming services. 1,488 (99%) respondents had access to the Internet and Wi-Fi at home; 21 respondents (1%) indicated that they did not have access. The majority of our member respondents indicated that they do use the Internet for a number of reasons - personal use and social contact, and go online to pay their bills and schedule medical appointments.

Online Training Interests: An overwhelming majority of our members identified their online training needs and interest in the following topics, and training for live streaming and using A/V equipment.

• Cybersecurity • Setting up a Facebook page • How to include music in online and YouTube channel for the worship, online resources and • Engaging delivery in video and church how to handle copyright live streaming • Using Zoom as a worship • Microsoft productivity • Engaging interactively with delivery tool and to connect to software (Microsoft Word, persons watching online via Facebook Excel, PowerPoint) Facebook, YouTube or • Using Zoom with Restream • Canva Graphic Design Instagram and StreamYard • Software for video editing • Creating an attractive Web site As stated earlier, this summary is condensed for publication in The Christian Index. For additional information and to view the full report on the CME Church Technology Survey, please visit: https://thecmechurch.org/technology-survey2023.

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Connectional Interests

Ministers' Spouses, Widows/Widowers

Finding Peace in Our Secret Storms Did you know that you are living your life for something you’re going to leave? How would you affect the lives of others if you left today? Are you leaving memories and moments? Or are you letting things build your relationship with others? We all have gone through trials and tribulations in our life and some of those things build our relationships, while others leave a hole that can never be filled. Some memories live forever, while others simply fade away. But moments live longer than things, moments outlive things. What do you do when you’re in a storm and God doesn’t respond? Sometimes he doesn’t respond to draw you closer. Jesus said in John 14:27 - I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I give. It isn’t like the peace that this world can give, so don’t be worried or afraid.

Our peace has been shaken with all kinds of things going on around us, but you can still find God’s peace even in the midst of confusing times. Peace sits on the other side of storms. Jesus made a promise to give us peace. You recognize God in your anointing, but can you recognize him in your storms? Sometimes the greatest manifestation of God in your life is through your storms. You hide secrets that sometimes turn into storms. The thing or things in your life that have gone unspoken, those things that you have kept a secret which have nearly destroyed your peaceful life.

Nothing just happens in your life without the permission of God. Moments in your life that you can’t explain, these memories have robbed you from having true peace, because you don’t quite understand it. Why do bad things happen to good people, is a question I used to ask God. His response to me was, “Why Not?” For us, when we open up and discuss things with others, they begin to judge, when you are afraid to share, it begins to eat at you. You appear to be calm on the outside, but on the inside your world is in a state of chaos. So, we begin to hide things. Hide means to put or keep out of sight; conceal from the view or notice of others. Hide things from ourselves as well as hide things from others. We feel ashamed, feeling inferior or unworthy. We become unwilling to do something, because of shame and embarrassment. People that live with shame can sometimes be impossible to love, because they are not used to receiving love without a price tag. But God has given us His Holy Spirit to be our comforter or helper in this life. Families are being torn apart when peace does not abide.

So where do we find peace in our troubled lives. First, we must learn to free ourselves of inner conflicts and remain undisturbed in troubling times by understanding our own emotional, mental and physical needs. Things are hard, but we can do hard. Christ’s peace is not the same as the world’s peace. The average person thinks calmness will come with an outward change in their circumstances, but Christ offers a relationship with the Father that fills our hearts with satisfied contentment no matter what the external conditions may be. Sometimes you may think that God doesn’t hear you, or you might want to hurry God, but know that God knows how you feel.

If we want peace, what must we do? We must let go and let God. Something that I say to myself is, “I’m strong because I know my weaknesses; I’m alive because I’m a fighter; I’m wise because I’ve been foolish; I laugh because I’ve known sadness; and I have peace because I claim it.”

Article by: Carolyn Hendricks, 3rd Episcopal District MSWWD Executive Board Vice President

"Never be too busy for those who are never too busy for you!!"

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The Christian Index • March 2023

--Letha Goodman

Connectional Interests

CME-Affiliated Schools

From: https://www.miles.edu/news/miles-college-signs-mou-wallacecommunity-college. Accessed 2-14-2023.

Miles College Signs MOU with Wallace Community College Written by Mya Jolly Published February 3, 2023

Wallace Community College and Miles College have partnered to create scholarship opportunities and pathways to earning a bachelorʼs degree. The institutionsʼ leaders signed an articulation agreement during a Thursday, February 2 ceremony at Wallace Community College Selma Campus (3000 Earl Goodwin Pkwy, Selma, AL 36703). The agreement has four components, including a collaborative and seamless transfer process, scholarship eligibility, reverse transfer credit, and student services. “This initiative makes it easier for our students to progress and become successful. Initiatives as such help tear down the silos in education,” said Dr. James M. Mitchell, President of Wallace Community College.

Wallace Community College students will be considered for admission to Miles College after earning an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science with up to a maximum of 64 semester hours transferring. Additionally, Wallace Community College students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. The new partnership will provide reciprocal privileges for using Miles Collegeʼs Library Resource Center, College, and Career Center and admission to athletic events. There are also opportunities for advising from both Wallace Community College and Miles College. “We have to reimagine education; we have to meet students where they are and allow them opportunities to prepare them for that Global society. We should be building our enrollment at every institution in the state because we have to ensure we are preparing our students for this society and equipping them to propel our state forward. We are very excited to sign this memorandum of understanding with Wallace Community College and look forward to the partnership ahead,” said Bobbie Knight, J.D., President of Miles College.

From: https://www.lanecollege.edu/news/lane-college-partners-with-ut-toexpand-nursing-opportunities. Accessed 2-14-2023.

Lane College Partners with UT to Expand Nursing Opportunities Written by Sarah Best for the Jackson Sun Published Jan 31, 2023

In collaboration with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Lane College students will now have a direct pathway to continue their education in nursing once receiving their associate’s degree from Lane, a partnership that was announced on January 18.

At a press conference on Lane’s campus, Lane students and administrators as well as faculty from UTHSC met in Bray Hall to discuss the launch of the program. One benefit of the program is the newly amended biology major’s track for pre-nursing which allows students to take all courses needed for a degree in nursing from the biology department.

Melanie Van Stry, Lane College Chair of the Division of Natural and Physical Sciences and professor of Biology, spoke to the importance of this partnership between the two institutions. “I’m really super excited because we have so many students that are interested in a career in nursing and before we didn’t have a direct admission process so we would have to try to find programs they would fit in,” Van Stry said. “This is going to be great because they will have opportunities at Lane, and also to meet and work with UT Health Science Center faculty before they get there so they’ll have an easier transition.”

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Connectional Interests

CME-Affiliated Schools

Continued from previous page UT has similar existing program partnerships with other colleges and reached out to Lane with plans to expand and include them in their direct pathways initiative.

President of Lane College Logan Hampton expressed gratitude for scholars to now have the “opportunity to pursue additional career pathways.”

Additionally, Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at UT Health Science Center Charleen McNeill explained the various routes available within the pathway partnership, each varying in length and rigor depending on the academic needs of a student.

“The first pathway is the accelerated pathway, the accelerated baccalaureate degree in nursing. It’s one year, it’s pretty intensive as you can imagine, and it’s for students who already have a degree,” McNeill said. “The other is the traditional BSN, which is the same degree, it’s just at a little bit slower pace, so it takes two years to complete that degree.”

Edited from: https://user-jq5ypqx.cld.bz/The-INSIDER-Fall-2022. Accessed 1-19-2023.

ELECTRONIC GAMING STRATEGIES ENHANCE STUDENT LEARNING Last fall, Texas College piloted courses that utilized gamification in e-learning. This allows learners to engage, participate, and learn in a fun and interesting environment to achieve learning objectives with substantial learner engagement. The courses focused on creating niche blended learning experiences with e-learning, training methods, and gamification.

The unique set of e-learning games are developed and inculcate a competitive edge by stimulating active participation in course work. Proven benefits of gamification courses are: (1) highly customized to suit a learner’s needs, (2) give a personalized touch, and (3) increase knowledge and retention. Additionally, the courses are designed to make acclimation effective and powerful with micro-learning courses integrated with gamification for impactful learning.

The four courses introduced for the Fall 2022 semester are E-Sports Introduction, E-Sports Coaching, How to be an Active Listener, and E-Sports Critical Thinking. The courses are accessed by students through a course portal managed

by Aperion Global Institute (AGI). AGI is well known for their unique digital educational model of network affiliates that have a direct focus on “Erasing the Digital Divide in Education.” Their goals are accomplished by ensuring that the art of learning is accessible and integrated into a flexible and reliable cloud-based all-inclusive ‘technological multiplatform’ language e-learning system. AGI’s educational subject matter experts refer to the program as “Global Education Ambassador,” which has adopted a philosophy of commitment to driving transformation in education, self-improvement, communication, technology, and cooperation through a continuous learning mindset, delivering a first-class experience.

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."

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The Christian Index • March 2023

--Marvella Ivery

March 2-5, 2023 - Katanga/Lubumbashi Region Annual Conference, D.R Congo March 3-4 - Florida Region Spring Convocation March 10-11 - Alabama Regions Spring Convocation March 10-12, 2023 - Tanzania Annual Conference March 12, 2023 - Connectional Christian Ministry Sunday March 17-19, 2023 - Kenya Annual Conference March 24-26, 2023 - Rwanda Annual Conference March 25, 2023 - Seventh Episcopal District Spring Convocation March 31 - April 2, 2023 - Uganda Annual Conference April 7-9, 2023 - Burundi Annual Conference April 14-15 - Second Episcopal District Spring Meeting; Brown Memorial CME Church, 809 W. Chestnut St., Louisville KY 40203 April 22, 2023 - Sixth Episcopal District One in the Spirit Banquet / Spring Gathering April 30, 2023 - Missionary Emphasis Day May 2023 - Missions Beyond the U.S.A. Sunday - Observed any Sunday in May June 4, 2023 - Connectional Stewardess Day June 11, 2023 - Connectional Children’s Day/Mentorship Sunday June 7-9, 2023 - Alaska Pacific Region June 14-16, 2023 - Arizona New Mexico Region June 24-30, 2023 Women’s Missionary Council’s 20th Quadrennial Assembly, Jacksonville, FL June 30 - July 2, 2023 - South Africa Annual Conference July 6-8, 2023 - Birmingham Region Annual Conference July 7-9, 2023 - Zambia Annual Conference March 2023 • The Christian Index

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Submissions

The Editor Reports Submitted by Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr. Editor, The Christian Index

The CNBC 2022 National Consultation The Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) held their National Consultation December 13-15, 2022, in Orlando Florida. The Consultation met under the theme, “Making Crooked Places Straight: Confronting the Impact of COVID-19 & the Broader Pandemic of Racism.” Held as a hybrid event, an official overview stated, “The funding generated through this effort will support the implementation of our programmatic work as we focus on COVID-19 and variants, general vaccine education, voter education, social justice and gun violence. CNBC continues to confront the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on our communities, the continuing and very real damage of systemic racism and the fear that our community has of facing our mental health crisis.” (https://www.thecnbc.net/2022consultation, Accessed 12-13-2022) CNBC President Jacqueline Burton remarked that after two years of virtual conferences it was good to see each other again. She then recognized the presence and support of many church leaders and corporate partners as she announced that member denominations, churches, and partners have distributed at least a half million vaccines across the country in response to COVID-19. Scholars present from the various denominational seminaries and institutions of higher learning were also recognized.

Chairman of the host committee, Rev. Terrence R. Gray I, Senior Pastor of the Sr. Mark AME Church in Orlando, welcomed everyone by saying that this body promotes the idea of laying aside egos, denominational weights, polity, and sacrament in order to understand the commonality of our plight and of our faith in the Jesus of Nazareth who is our Savior, and to enjoy fellowship with one another as we share in fun and in conversation to work to discover and promote solutions to the challenges of the day. The Chairman of CNBC, Dr. W. Franklin Richardson, added that the premature report that the Black church and its God are dead is not true. The Black church is alive and relevant, as evidenced by the many persons present for the conference and by the work in the communities served 12

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by the 31,000 member churches. The Black church is engaged in strategies and plans to make the kingdom a reality in the world.

Speaking during the conference, the Honorable James E. Clyburn, Majority Whip, U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina, stated that throughout its pages, the Bible teaches us to be concerned about the conditions in which our fellow human beings live, so they not only live but they thrive: so they can be and become the best persons they can be. Much legislation has been introduced and passed that help persons to have opportunities to better themselves, but persons have to know it exists and then avail themselves of it. Consider, for examples, the Infrastructure Bill that allows for access to the internet for every house and business in America, and the so-called Rescue Act; the CHIPS and Science Act; the Inflation Reduction Plan; the PACT ACT for veterans; and the Safer Communities Act. There are no guarantees, but you can make the effort to make some crooked roads straight. These acts, and others that have to do with medical insurance deductions, are designed in such a way that churches and their subsidiaries can get the monies they need, and that individuals are able to have some relief from the high cost of healthcare and medicines.

A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Timothy T. Bodie, shared the CNBC’s response to the COVID pandemic during the last two years, particularly mobilizing the black church to overcome vaccine hesitancy. The CME Church’s own Bishop Charley Hames (Ninth Episcopal District) served as one of the panelists. The organization has distributed more than 500,000 vaccines; trained almost 5,500 faith leaders to be vaccine advocates; funded more than 150 churches nationwide to serve as vaccine sites, “to the tune of more than 1.1 million dollars;” and produced and distributed more than 12,000 pieces of vaccine literature; and has partnered with other organizations to expand the number of COVID vaccination sites. Bishop Hames told how he used his leverage as a trusted voice in the community to counter misinformation and to encourage vaccinations. Others panel members shared how they used or allowed others to use their facilities as vaccination sites.

Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton served on a panel discussing race, racism, and ecumenism. Though a CME, she spoke as a member of the National Council of Churches (NCC) concerning the work of the council since 2018. The NCC began this work with an event

Submissions labeled “ACT Now to End Racism,” a meeting on the Washington Mall on April 4, 2018, aiming to bring attention to racial irreconciliation. Afterward, the group determined to look inwardly and work to address and end racism within the organization itself, and within its member organizations. Policies, procedures, and practices are now continually examined for systemic bias, and this self-scrutiny has led to some real changes within individual members of the governing board and within the member organizations. Others on the panel included Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the ELCA, Dr. Judith Roberts, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the ELCA, and Jennifer De Leon, Director of Racial Justice in the ELCA. Another panel was composed of six presidents of HBCUs, among whom was our own Dr. Logan Hampton, President of Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. The college aims to develop the whole student, marrying the Christian faith to education in three areas: salvation, education, and liberation. As a Christian faith-based institution, the institution can help to develop a student’s faith and practice, or speak to the lack of it, and bring this to bear on their behavior and attitude in order to help them to be the best person they can be. Interestingly, each president could tell a story of students who desire to know Christ in a real and practical way, and each remarked that this is how we must present Christ to them: as flesh-and-blood people who have a lively faith that is practiced in a real world. Finally, they all agreed that all our HBCUs are in desperate need of students AND of financial support from the black community. Encourage your students to apply for scholarships, but also send your money to support scholarship efforts and to promote institutional viability.

In a session devoted to hearing younger voices, Dr. Brianna Parker of the Black Millennial Cafe said, “It is really difficult for us right now to build [the church] right now because we’re talking to people who we assume are with us and they’re not. And we’re ignoring people who we’ve assumed are our enemies, and they are not.” Moderator Dr. Jamal Hicks Bryant said that we have reached a time in America when no one is speaking to today’s events on behalf of the church. “It is a place of puberty for the black church because Black Lives Matter is the very first time in the course of human history in the struggle of African Americans that the movement was not birthed out of the church, and the leader is not a faith leader.

So, the message that is now going out to the younger

generation is the black church doesn’t know how to support what it doesn’t lead. If we don’t have the mic, then we are not present and we’re not vocal.”

Finally, Attorney Ben Crump, spoke about some of the recent cases he has handled, including that of Breanna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. Although formally labeled a civil rights layer, Crump says that what that really says is that he is a constitutional lawyer, “because civil rights is just about making America respect the Constitutional rights of every citizen … we make these promises that are written on walls and declarations. When they say equality and justice for all, well, we’re talking about us too. When they say, “We hold these truths to be self-evident … we have to remind America over and over and over again that means Black people too, no matter who they are.”

Three things he cited as going on in this crisis were related to the Supreme Court, “largely constructed

by Republican Presidents” and now comprised of “six conservative justices, and there are only three Democratic justices.” (1) The Court is contemplating getting rid of affirmative action. The percentage of black lawyers, black doctors, and black engineers, and all other manner of professional degrees went down ninety-five percent. (2) The Supreme Court is trying to put it into the hands of the States to determine the outcomes of elections by allowing State legislatures to determine whose votes count and whose votes don’t matter. (3) “Not only are they trying to strike down affirmative action and voting rights, they are also trying to strike down the true history of America … promoting this critical race theory … We have to find other means to be able to tell the true history to our children.”

One other area of concern he covered was the federal government denial of debt relief for black farmers. For this cause, Attorney Crump said his office is currently suing the U.S. government for five billion dollars.

During the conference, CNBC was responsible for 100 prostate screenings and an untold number of COVID tests. Other CNBC offerings during the week dealt with prostate cancer; information on and proposed solutions for inequities in COVID and other vaccinations, particularly through Medicare and Medicaid; pastoral burnout, and mental and emotional health, for both pastors and the community, as adjuncts to faith in times of crisis and trauma; and an informative presentation from the American Lung Association.

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Submissions

Carter Temple, Chicago, Opens Mahalia Jackson Court: A Public Outdoor Plaza Rev. Dr. Joseph B. Gordon, Pastor In September of 2022, Carter Temple CME Church, in partnership with Greater Chatham Initiative, opened Mahalia Jackson Court, a public outdoor plaza. The plaza was made possible through a $500,000 grant from the city of Chicago.

The site, located on land owned by Carter Temple, is named after Mahalia Jackson, whom many consider to be the greatest gospel singer of all time. Jackson was also a prominent civil rights activist, businesswoman, close friend of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and resident of Chatham, the neighborhood where the church and site are located.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot was the keynote speaker. The ribbon-cutting was also attended by hundreds of guests, including Congressman Bobby Rush, State Representative Nick Smith, Alderman David Moore, and State Senator Elgie Sims, also a member of Carter Temple. Mayor Lightfoot noted that this partnership between church and community was tremendous for the south side. “This is another effort to help revitalize this incredible neighborhood,” said Lightfoot.

Rev. Dr. Joseph B. Gordon, pastor of Carter Temple CME Church, said that it was a great day for the City of Chicago, 79th Street, and the Chatham neighborhood. At the ribbon-cutting, Pastor Gordon said, “Until Gateway 79 comes to fruition, we were blessed with this opportunity to not only celebrate the great Mahalia Jackson, the same Mahalia whose voice honored God and lifted the broken and even encouraged Martin to speak about his dream, but we also had the now-realized opportunity to give children and families a gathering space, a place of respite and a place to belong.”

The site serves as a temporary placemaking amenity for the community. It will remain for up to two years, until Gateway 79, a mixed-used affordable housing and retail development, breaks ground. In the fall of 2021, Carter Temple was selected as an Equitable Transit-Oriented 14

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Pastor Joseph B. Gordon and Chicago Mayor, Lori Lightfoot

Submissions Development (ETOD) pilot program site by the city of Chicago. As noted in a previous article, the ETOD program elevates and prioritizes investments that close the socioeconomic gaps so prevalent in urban communities.

The ETOD pilot program, the first of its kind in the city, also provides the church and our community development corporation, Carter Temple CDC, with priority status and technical assistance to navigate the Gateway 79 project. Gateway 79 will revitalize the largest transit hub on Chicago’s Southside and address housing affordability concerns in the community. Mahalia Jackson Court is Phase 1 of the project. The church’s empty lot has now been transformed Community leaders and guests, including (l-r): State Senator Elgie Sims, State into a bright and welcoming public Representative Nick Smith, Nedra Fears - Executive Director of Greater Chatham open space in the Chatham community. Initiative, Pastor Joseph B. Gordon, Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Frantzie Bordeau Griffin, This temporary, flexible space is and Gerald Griffin. Holding the ribbon are Angel (last name unknown) on the left and being used for public art, community Gerald Griffin on the right. concerts, sports, and other communitybased activities. The plaza is being operated by Greater Chatham Initiative and is open 7a.m.-7p.m., Monday-Friday; Saturdays, 9a.m.-5p.m.; and Sundays, 12-5p.m. For more information, visit www.mahaliajacksoncourt.com.

Women's History Month Mrs. Catherine Davis Cottrell Submitted by Jessie Edwards Mrs. Catherine Davis Cottrell, the 1st wife of the 7th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Elias Cottrell, was born in 1860 in Memphis, Tennessee. Catherine Hall, the original women's dormitory on the campus of Mississippi Industrial College, was named in her honor. She was supportive in Bishop Cottrell's establishing the college and in entertaining dignitaries and supporters, including Booker T. Washington. She died in 1912 at the age of 51 and is buried in the family plot, Cottrell Memorial Garden in Holly Springs.

"You don't need Everyone to be for you - You just need the Right One!

And if God be for you......"

--Lavisha Williams March 2023 • The Christian Index

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Submissions

The Battered, The Broken, and The Bruised: Her-Story Submitted by Rev. Aaron Moss

"When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.

While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once, the man was cured; He picked up his mat and walked."

--John 5:6-8 (NIV)

"The Battered, The Broken, and The Bruised: Her-Story" is a partnership with the CME Church that started at the onset of the publishing of author, director and playwright Rev. Audre’L Davis-Jones, an ordained CME preacher (Associate Pastor) serving at the Gray’s Temple CME Church, West Palm Beach, who authored her first book entitled, “Battle Scars of Emotions ~ Divine Healing from the Scars of Life.” This is when, in 2008, Senior Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick III, then presiding prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District, penned the forward of the author’s first book. Quoting John 5:6-8, Bishop Reddick wrote: “It was impossible for me to read the story of Audre’L. Davis-Jones without being inspired. The truth is that, once I started, I could not put the manuscript down. Perhaps it is because her story is so easy to identify with. It is also because she tells the story very well.

"The incident recorded in the quote above is about a man lying at a pool for a long time – an invalid for thirty-eight years. It is also the story of his healing – a healing that occurred without him ever touching the miraculous pool of water that he thought would deliver him. Instead, he was himself touched by the One who is the “well of water, springing up into everlasting life,” (John 4:14, KJV). That one is Jesus.

"More than once you will see Davis-Jones quote these words, “You made your bed hard; now you have to lie in it.” So true! We often make our beds hard. We often have to lie in the hard beds we have made. Ah! But what a difference we discover when we come to know the One who gives us a new lease on life, a new vitality, a new vision, and then simply commands us, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (John 5:8, KJV). How blessed we are to hear in this story the experiences of a woman who has taken up her bed, and is walking!”

Lawrence L. Reddick III Presiding Bishop, Fifth Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The partnership and support continued on Saturday, September 24, 2011, when Grays Temple CME Church’s Drama Ministry, The Praise Players, presented, “I Need a Touch From The Master’s Hand,” a dinner theater production created by playwright and director Rev. Audre’L Davis-Jones under the leadership of Rev. Jeffrey J. Whitmore, Pastor; Rev. Dr. Lionel G. Walker, Presiding Elder; and Bishop Teresa Snorton (now Jefferson-Snorton), Presiding Prelate. The following year this same production was presented during the annual conference of the Fabulous Flourishing Fifth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Orlando, Florida.

Years later, after a revised version of her published book and yet again on the onset of her second pending work (TBA), “Battle Scars of Emotions Book of Meditations, Personal Reflections, Prayers, Scriptures, Daily Journaling and Gratitudes,” the support continued with the Fifth Episcopal District Presiding Prelate, Teresa Jefferson-Snorton who penned the forward for this new project. Bishop Jefferson-Snorton wrote: 16

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Submissions “Liberation and healing from the pain of our past hurts, scars and tragedies begin with telling ourselves the truth. Without truth, these wounds continue to fester and hinder our ability to fully be who God created us to be. The author, Rev. Audre’L Davis-Jones, understands this fact intimately.

"It takes courage to name the pain and ugliness of things that have happened to us, particularly as women. From childhood, we are taught to “dress up” and “play make believe” and wait until our “knight in shining armor carries us off to Happily Ever After”! Rev. Jones dispels this narrative with a courageous exposition of meditations and personal reflections that model how one gets to wholeness.

"The reader is also invited to see prayer and scripture as a source and resource for this deep, spiritual excavation of the past. By directing us to the biblical text, the author reminds us that our problems – while our own unique experience – transcend time and space through the sacred Word and reconnect us to the source of all healing.

"Finally, the author recognizes that one’s past story is constantly being rewritten by current experiences and events. She encourages the use of journaling as a means of re-telling our own story, over and over again, and hopefully with greater and deeper insight into the reality that God is with us.

"Thank you, reader, for being willing to start your journey to spiritual healing and well-being!

Thank you, Rev. Davis-Jones for serving as our guide!”

Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton Presiding Bishop, Fifth Episcopal District The Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church

Fast forward. Rev. Audre’L Davis-Jones was ordained a local elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church [in a session of] the Florida Region Annual Conference by Presiding Prelate, Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton. Her most recent artistic project, "The Battered, The Broken and The Bruised Live Stage Play Production," is a partnership and support that continues with Rev. Aaron L. Moss, Sr., Pastor of Grays Temple CME Church, who has also displayed interest in collaborations with Battle Scars Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit 501c3 organization founded by Rev. Davis-Jones, in breaking the silence and the cycle of domestic violence, one victim at a time!

The Battered, The Broken, and The Bruised Live Stage Play Production drew the audience in emotionally. It made one look deeper at who they are, within their various relationships. It immediately forced those who were in need of personal healing and growth to search deeper within themselves. The purpose of this live stage play production was to make individuals aware of the damages and the aftermath of domestic violence and the importance of speaking out and breaking the silence and the secrets of domestic violence and abuse. It is the silence of victims that gives power to their perpetrators.

Domestic violence and abuse are the main causes of the devastation and damage of family values within our communities. Domestic violence has caused so much destruction in the lives of individuals and families within the societies we live in that expands way beyond race, social spectrum, nationality, economics, education, sexual orientation and, or age levels.

This play is about “Pain and Suffering in silence alone.” It is about “Healing, Self-reflection and Redemption.” It is also about “Surviving and becoming Victorious,” along with finding personal “Growth, Resolve and Divine Spiritual Restoration within oneself.” Abuse of any kind is no laughing matter; however, this play made one laugh, cry, become emotionally invested, and rejoice all at the same time. As well, this production is unlike any other play. It is informative and enlightening as it boldly speaks from the voices and the minds of the victims, survivors and abusers alike, throughout that very important and powerful rap session!

This much needed production is about the various encounters of domestic violence and abuse, and one that the Church should consider embracing to help bring awareness to this epidemic that is destroying families and communities in which we are located. Please support this endeavor not just during the month of October because every month throughout the year someone is killed by the hands of their partners.

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Submissions Continued from previous page Battle Scars Ministries, Inc. is a 501c3 Nonprofit Charity Organization that is intentional in breaking the silence and the cycle of domestic violence and abuse one victim at a time. It is the vision of BSMI to “Strengthen the Battered, To Mend the Broken and to Heal the Bruised…” by Educating; Empowering; Encouraging; Elevating; Inspiring and Advocating for Victims who are and have been caught up in the many battles of domestic violence and abuse.” These initiatives will take place through The BSMI Thrift Store and Resource Center which is the Central Hub of Battle Scars Ministries, Inc. Kindly visit our website at: www.thebsmi.foundation for more information on how we can be of service to you or your loved one and how you can get involved! Remember, the life you may save could very well be that of one you love!

Celebratory Message Regarding 125 Years of JMT Ministry Submitted by Johnathon Higgins Good Evening Jamison Memorial Temple Family, I regret I am not able to be there with you all to celebrate 125 years of service and work that this phenomenal church has given the Kansas City area. I am honored to be a part of this family and still stand and awe of the house of God that currently sits on the corner of Benton and Linwood Blvd. As I compose this message I reflect on 125 years of service, to place that in context our church was established in 1897, three years from the turn of the century. In total to date, we have sustained 22 presidents not to mention historical presidential moments, such as the 1st Elected African American Presidents, 1st Elected African American Vice President, and certainly last but not less the 1st Elected Female Vice President. We’ve seen giants and trail blazers of the CME church grace the pulpit and the pews, we’ve evolved, we’ve hurt, we’ve endured, we’ve prospered.

So, as we celebrate tonight 125 years, we theme this service, “Reaping from the Past, Sowing in the Present, and Harvesting in the Future.”

I want to speak briefly on this theme in its 3 parts: 1st, Reaping from the Past - A lot has come from 125 years in the city of our churches birth. Things worth celebrating such as first African American Mayor of the city in 1991 or perhaps what was the Dallas Texans moving to KC to become the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963. In that same breath there was (l-r): Donald Maxwell, keynote speaker at the JMT 125th much the church had to survive, and if we are honest surviving and healing aren’t always the same. Celebration; Rev. Dr. Faith A. Allen, daughter and Pastor of Jamison Memorial Temple CME Church; and Jewell Maxwell.

Reaping in usually is defined asking us to gather, however, another definition of reaping also can ask us to cut and past defined is to have gone by in time and no longer existing, so part of our theme my ask us to cut away from old things that no longer exist in the space of relevancy for advancing the kingdom of God. 18

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Submissions

Members, friends, and family enjoying the JMT 125 Year Anniversary Celebration held at Disabled American Veterans Center. On the front row are (l-r): Greg and Cynthia Beverly, along with Ms. Louise Ferguson.

Finally, Harvesting in the Future - The nice thing about the harvest is we can look around the room and know that the harvest at Jamison is ripe. We know that the harvest is healthy and that the harvest can carry on. Generational CME seeps through the walls of this body of Christ each understanding and willing to move and take its responsibility in ensuring that the body moves forward. Harvesting asked that we actively pick and collect that crop. As I sit on this definition harvesting doesn’t require consumption, some harvest must be preserved in order to sustain uncharted spaces that we may not have determined the need to get through the process.

2nd, Sowing in the Present - As we prepare for what’s next, we must be honest with our reality 1st we may not be here to see the 250-year anniversary of the church. 2nd if Jamison is to see that mark of another 125 years, then we as the current tenants that God has allowed to lease his residents on 3115 E Linwood Blvd, must be intentional, innovative, and resilient in what we leave. We are obligated by God to be mindful with the seeds that we are given and ensure that we place them in good soil now so that when time comes the roots are strong to sustain, the fruit are nutritious to the soul, and the new seeds of the work can spread.

Enjoying the festivities are some of the future we are currently sowing into at JMT. (l-r): Joel Jones, Miracle Mason, and Jeremiah Jones.

Jamison family, I pray that during this celebration we will reflect on our time here and not only rejoice about what Jamison has meant to us over our lives, and how impactful it has been to us now, but also that we give praise for what is in store for this house of the Lord that sits on the corner of Linwood and Benton. I love you all, and I pray continued peace and prosperity for you and all that you love.

Attendees at the celebration included (l-r): Rev. Michael Taylor, son of JMT and pastor of Stepping Out on Faith Church; Rev. Gayle Mack-Mason, daughter of JMT and pastor of Russell Chapel in Columbia, Missouri; Rev. Tracy Jackson, son of JMT and Presiding Elder of Northeast District of the West Tennessee Conference; Rev. Cheryl Hawkins, daughter and local deacon at JMT; and Shamai Fletcher, member of JMT.

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March 2023 • The Christian Index

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Submissions

Savannah Alexander Selected for Youth Program Submitted by Jennell Alexander Congratulations to Miss. Savannah Grace Alexander on being selected as a delegate for the 61st Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). Savannah will join Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton in representing the District of Columbia during the 61st annual USSYP Washington Week to be held March 4-11, 2023.

Savannah Alexander was selected from among the District’s top student leaders to be part of the 104th national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study from The Hearst Foundation for continued studies in government, history and public affairs.

Every year, outstanding high school students – two each from every state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity – are chosen for this extremely competitive merit-based program, which includes an intensive week-long study of the federal government. The overall mission of the program is to help instill within each class of USSYP student delegates a more profound knowledge of the American political process and a lifelong commitment to public service.

During the week of the program, student delegates will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, and leaders of cabinet agencies, among others.

Savannah is a 2023 graduating senior at School Without Walls High School in Washington, D.C. and the daughter of Christopher and Jennell Alexander. Savannah is a member of St. John CME Church in the Seventh Episcopal District, New York/Washington Region, Rev. Michele F. Parker, Pastor.

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Children/Youth

Puzzle for March (Women's History Month)

BARNESVILLE B JULIAN SMITH COMMISSION CONCERNS CONSTITUTION COPELAND COUNCIL DELEGATE

DENISE MODEST HELENA COBB HISTORY INSTITUTE JACQUELINE SCOTT JIMMY CARTER MATTIE COLEMAN MINISTRY

MISSIONARY PENE' WOODS PHYSICIAN RONALD REAGAN TERESA SNORTON THERESA DUHART VIRGIE GANT WOMEN

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Children/Youth Answers to Puzzle

Directors of Children and Youth Work YOU ARE ENCOURAGED to submit articles from your Children and Youth to The Christian Index.

These may be thoughts on their Christian journey, reports on church or school trips, and even book reports or original poems and essays.

Email to: ChristianIndex@thecmechurch.org 24

The Christian Index • March 2023

Ecumenical News From: https://www.bread.org/article/congress-has-reauthorized-the-global-foodsecurity-act/. Accessed 2-1-2023.

Congress Has Reauthorized the Global Food Security Act Written by Abiola Afolayan

Bread for the World’s principles of ending hunger through long-term investment in nutrition, equity, and sustainability were reflected in the Global Food Security Reauthorization Act (GFSA) of 2022.

The legislation, passed by Congress with strong bipartisan support, was signed into law by President Biden last month.

Bread members have championed GFSA since efforts to secure its initial passage in 2016. The law seeks to reduce global hunger, malnutrition, and food and nutrition insecurity through long-term investments in agricultural development and infrastructure. It does so primarily by authorizing and funding Feed the Future, the U.S. flagship global food security program.

Feed the Future focuses on longer-term development goals and enabling people to free themselves from poverty through improved agricultural production, market access, business development, private sector competitiveness, and nutrition interventions.

Feed the Future is expanding to work in 20 countries where it will continue to build food security infrastructure through agricultural productivity, food and nutrition security efforts, resilience building and empowerment of local economies.

In 2022, Bread members were active in advancing needed improvements to the GFSA as the House and Senate considered reauthorization. These efforts, particularly at the Advocacy Summit and through regional organizing events, helped get the legislation across the finish line.

The reauthorized GFSA will be in effect until 2028, working to build on previous achievements. Feed the Future’s progress reports identify many of these: 23.4 million more people living above the poverty line; 5.2 million more families no longer suffering from hunger; 3.4 million more children living free from stunting; $15.3 billion earned by farmers in new agricultural sales; $4 billion unlocked in loans for smallholder farmers; and $2.2 billion leveraged in private-sector investment. The GFSA requirements of a whole-of-government strategy and annual reporting to Congress are important tools to coordinate the various U.S. agencies, led by USAID, that are charged with making Feed the Future a success.

Bread has long encouraged USAID to develop, initiate, and implement broad food security and nutrition strategies for all its offices and programs. Bread has also urged other agencies to work with USAID to develop whole-of-government food security and nutrition strategies. Coordinated plans enable program implementers to see additional potential opportunities to work together and gain deeper understanding of the factors that promoted success and posed barriers in previous initiatives.

The plan now in place is the U.S. Global Food Security Strategy (2022-2026). In keeping with current needs and previous work, its three main objectives are inclusive, sustainable agriculture-led economic growth, stronger resilience among people and systems, and well-nourished people, particularly women and children. As Bread has previously emphasized, investments in the agricultural sector have proven to be by far the most effective in reducing poverty quickly.

Climate change demands not only research into entirely new scientific questions, but research results that can quickly be translated into action plans. An important part of the 2022-2026 food security strategy is its Global Food Security Research Strategy. The research strategy emphasizes collaboration among U.S. government agencies and partnerships with universities, international agricultural research centers, and research and extension services in countries most immediately impacted by climate change.

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Ecumenical News Continued from previous page The strategy is designed to strengthen medium- to long-term sustainable food systems through work in essential areas such as climate-smart agriculture, affordable nutritious foods, and improved, more resilient crops. It builds on the successes of previous collaborations, such as making available drought-tolerant maize seeds sufficient for 17 million acres in eastern and southern Africa. USAID reports that this has improved the food security of 7 million farm families who are facing hunger caused by climate impacts.

Abiola Afolayan is senior international policy advisor with Bread for the World.

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THE WOMEN’S MISSIONARY COUNCIL CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH PAULINE B. GRANT STATUS OF WOMEN

Crystal D. Lewis, WMC Secretary Pauline B. Grant Status of Women Dept. pbgstatusofwomen@yahoo.com

Greetings and Prayers for a Happy and Prosperous 2023 New Year!

The Pauline B. Grant Status of Women Committee requests your submissions and financial support in the publication of our Pauline B. Grant Status of Women Quadrennial Journal as per our Women’s Missionary Council Constitution and Bylaws. The department is required to create a publication every 8 years, the last one was created in 2015. The Pauline B. Grant Status of Women Department strives to motivate, promote, recognize, educate, and empower all women. With the upcoming of our Quadrennial year, please help us to make this journal a success! We are soliciting four categories: ♦ CME First Responders/Essential Workers “Unsung Sheroes” – We are calling on all CMEs that fall in this category. This includes all members that fall under the categories of Healthcare & Public Health; Law Enforcement, Public Safety and First Responders; Food and Agriculture; Energy; Water and Wastewater; Transportation and Logistics; Public Works; Communication and Information Technology; and Other Community-based essential functions and government operations.

Listing with Name, Episcopal District, and Church $10 Brief Biography and picture $25 ♦ Missionary Spotlights – Please submit submissions of local, district, region and council missionaries that have contributed to the ministry with a picture and biography.

Brief Biography and picture $25 ♦ Female Entrepreneurs Directory/Black-Owned Businesses – Calling upon all black female owned business to submit an ad and be listed on our website.

Brief description and picture $25 ♦ Missionary Memorial Tributes – Requesting the submissions of any missionaries that have gone to glory with no timeframe limitation. Please honor your mother, sister, mother of the church, or faithful missionary with a picture and brief biography.

Brief Biography and picture $25 You can support online via the WMC website by uploading your pictures and biographies at www.cmewmc.org/pbg-status-of-women. You can make donations and submissions by April 30, 2023 via the website by utilizing the link above.

Blessings,

Crystal D. Lewis

Crystal D. Lewis, Secretary WMC Pauline B. Grant Status of Women

March 2023 • The Christian Index

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The Christian Index • March 2023

CME Connectional Directory - updated February 13, 2023 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 Thomas L. Brown, Sr. - 6th Episcopal District, 2028 Wesley Chapel Road, Decatur GA 30035-2395; 404-963-6652 (office); 404-963-6656 (fax); 6thdistrictcme@gmail.com

OR 6thdistrict@thecmechurch.org Bishop Kenneth Wayne Carter - 4th Episcopal District - 5417 Robinson Road Extension, Jackson MS 39204; 769-251-0531 (office); 769-251-0758 (fax); 817-938-3747; KWCarter8@gmail.com Bishop James B. Walker - 7th Episcopal District, 6524 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20012; 301-270-7136; 301-270-7139 (fax) Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr. - 3rd Episcopal District, Post Office Box 211237, Normandy MO 63121; 314-381-3111 (office); 314-381-2060 (fax); sw58cme@aol.com Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton - Ecumenical Representative and Development Officer, P.O. Box 5069, Sun City Center FL 33571; 404-307-2911; bishopjeffersonsnorton@thecmechurch.org Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas - 1st Episcopal District, Suite 222, 4466 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis TN 38116; 901-345-4114 (office) and 901-345-4115 (fax) Bishop C. Kelby Heath - 5th Episcopal District CME Church, P.O. Box 13383, Birmingham AL 35202-3383; 205-202-6504; cmec35203@yahoo.com; Web site: www.cmefifthdistrict.org;

office located at 2615 12th Avenue N, Birmingham Al. 35234 (do not send mail to the office address) Bishop Denise Anders-Modest - 2nd Episcopal District, P.O. Box 36455, Cincinnati OH 45236; 318-348-8982; bishopandersmodest@thecmechurch.org; 2ndEpiscopaldistrictcme.org Bishop Charley Hames, Jr. - 9th Episcopal District, PO Box 481306, Los Angeles CA 90048; 323-294-3830; bishophames@thecmechurch.org Bishop Ricky D. Helton - 10th Episcopal District, 1703 Tamarack Street NW, Washington DC 20012; 202-726-5103; bishoprdhelton@thecmechurch.org Bishop Kwame Lawson Adjei - 11th Episcopal District, P. O. Box AN 7639, Accra, Ghana, West Africa; 011-233-244-630267; rev.adjei@hotmail.com.

Bishop C. James King, Retired - 311 Magnolia Dr., Thomson GA 30824; 502-494-5366; kingcmep1@aol.com OR constance3088@gmail.com Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Retired - 3576 Golf Walk Circle E, Memphis TN 38125; 310-902-8193; hwillia531@aol.com Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, Retired - 8145 Summerwood Circle, Olive Branch MS 38654-7060; phone: 662-890-0021; bishoppstewart@aol.com Bishop Othal H. Lakey, Retired - 4441 Magnolia Path Pl., Buford GA 30518; 678-482-7066 Bishop Marshall Gilmore, Retired - 683 Beacontree Court, Concord NC 28027; 704-786-3226; mgilmore1@windstream.net THE GENERAL OFFICERS Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield - General Secretary, Department of Christian Education & Formation - Suite 300, 4466 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis TN 38116-7100; 901-345 4109 (office); 901-261-3289 (fax); basiz1@aol.com; also 1119 Linksview Lane West, Cordova TN 38018 Dr. Roderick D. Lewis, Sr. - General Secretary, Department of Publications, 4237 Elvis Presley Blvd., Memphis TN 38116; 901-396-5400; cmepublishing@bellsouth.net; rdlsr@aol.com Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr. - Editor, The Christian Index, 1700 Whisperwood Street, Albany GA 31721; 901-515-6510; ChristianIndex@thecmechurch.org Dr. Victor Taylor - General Secretary & CFO, Dept. of Finance and Investments, 1101 Davis St. - Suite 5224, Evanston IL 60204; 847-274-0182 (main); 312-648-5232 (work); 240-359-6272 (fax);

finance@thecmechurch.org; https://www.hightail.com/u/cmefinance (securely upload confidential documents here) Rev. Dr. Leon C. Moore, Jr. - General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions, 2893 Hwy 178 West, Holly Springs MS 38635; 678-362-7549; cmegdem@gmail.com Dr. Jacqueline I. Scott - President, Women's Missionary Council, 7255 Richmond Road, Memphis, TN 38125; 901-737-7675; scottjacqueline210@yahoo.com Rev. Reginald G. Barnes - Gen. Sect. General Bd. of Personnel Services, P.O. Box 74 - Memphis TN 38101-0074; 901-345-4100; FAX 901-345-4107 Mr. Anthony J. Smoaks, Sr. - Gen. Sect., Ministry to Men, PO Box 3, Egg Harbor NJ 08215; 201-892-3942; CMEM2M@gmail.com.

Mr. Shannon L. Faulk - Gen. Sect. Dept. of Lay Ministries, 400 Corporate Pointe, Ste. 300, Culver City CA 90230; 310-902-6836 (cell); 310-590-4522 (office); slfaulk3@aol.com Dr. Theresa Duhart - Gen. Sect. and CIO, Dept. of Communications & Information Technology; 1907 Willow Lane West, University Place WA 98466, cio@thecmechurch.org; 253-376-6361 Dr. William George - General Secretary, Emeritus, Dept. of Publications, 535 Harwood Cove, Memphis TN 38120; 901-683-7833; email;weg38@aol.com.

Dr. Jeanette Bouknight - Executive Secretary, Emeritus, 11928 Steven Drive, Sterling Heights MI 48312; 313-433-7207; cmeexecutivesecretary3@yahoo.com.

Dr. Tyrone T. Davis - General Secretary, Emeritus, General Board of Personnel Services, Retired; 809 Sapphire Ave., Memphis TN 38109-6421; 901-218-0091; Tyrone.T.Davis@comcast.net Dr. Leo Pinkett - General Secretary, Ministry to Men, Retired - 2850 Shoreland Dr., S.W., Atlanta GA 30331; 404-349-1722; email: lpinkettace@yahoo.com Dr. Clifford Harris - Gen. Sect. of Lay Ministry, Retired - 15485 Prairie Bell Rd., Okmulgee OK 74447-8690; 918-519-4233 (c);918-304-1999 (h); MrCliffHarris@yahoo.com THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL Atty. Bernard Snell, President - P.O. Box 27333, Macon GA 31221 or 5801 Zebulon Rd., Unit #446, Macon GA 31220; 478-731-1897; bernard.snell@usdoj.gov Rev. Russell Fuller, Sr., Vice President - 647 Shadyway, Dallas TX 75232; 214-793-1945; fwdistrict@yahoo.com.

Atty. Shirley C. Byers, Clerk - P. O. Box 5008, Holly Springs MS 38634 or 125 East Van Dorn Ave., Holly Springs MS 38635; 662-820-2763 (c) or 662-252-2188 (h); scbjudge@gmail.com Dr. Lynda Brown-Wright - 3157 Dale Hollow Dr., Lexington KY 40515; 859-433-3396; Lynda.brownwright@gmail.com Rev. Dr. James T. Morris - 12832 Holdenbury Ln., Windermere FL 34786; cfdcmec.elder.morris@gmail.com Rev. Roland Johnson - 4945 Bradfield Run, Memphis TN 38125; 901-497-9588; revrjohns@aol.com.

Atty. J. Richet Pearson - P.O. Box 11135, Birmingham AL 35202; 205-252-8961; jrichetpearson@gmail.com Dr. Terri D. Dyer - 1259 Date Palm Dr., Carson CA 90746; 626-372-2026; Terridyer1@aol.com Presiding Elder Kevin J. Agee - P.O. Box 55834, Washington, D.C. 20040; 201-736-9107 (c) or 301-638-7124 (h); revkjagee@hotmail.com Rev. Dr. Jerry D. Woodfork, Sr., Immediate Past President (Class of 2018), 1315 Heatherland Drive SW, Atlanta GA 30331; 404-629-0055; jerrywoodfork@comcast.net.

OTHER CONNECTIONAL OFFICERS Dr. Pene' G. Woods - Executive Secretary, 517 Forest Hill Irene Rd. South, Cordova TN 38018-4829; Email: cao@thecmechurch.org; 901-489-9253 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 Rev. Cassandry Keys - President of the Ministers' and Laymen's Council - P.O. Box 170703, Spartanburg SC 29301; 251-689-7969; email: cassandry@att.net Mrs. Felicia Johnson - President, Connectional Ministers' Spouses, Widows and Widowers Department Rev. Carole E. Richardson - President, Connectional Christian Educators’ Council - 822 Marietta Pl., N.W. - Washington, DC 20011; 202-291-8566 Ms. Barbara Christian Campbell - President, Connectional Lay Council - 4819 Eagles Ridge Loop, Lithonia GA 30038; or 2012 Memorial Drive SE, Atlanta GA 30317; loviebarbara1@gmail.com; 404-587-8311 or 678-641-9745 Ms. Tiffanie Thompson - President, Connectional Young Adult Ministry; email: cyampresident@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. Lisa Lewis Balboa - Coordinator, Commission on the Concerns of Women in the Ministry; 47 Angela Drive, Trenton KY 42286; 270-305-6204 (cell); Lbalboa67@yahoo.com Mr. Freddie McKnight - President, Connectional Stewards, 24 Canton Street; West Haven CT 06516; 203-933-7230 (h); 203-500-6377 (cell) Ms. Dorruth Boyd - President of Connectional Ushers, 5135 Menefee Drive, Dallas TX 75227; 214-533-7553; email: dorruthboyd@att.net Rev. Jermaine Marshall, PhD - General Conference Secretary; 2239 Adam Clayton Powell Jr.Blvd., New York NY 10027; 904-422-1627; jermmar25@gmail.com Rev. Valencia Edner - Coordinator, Connectional Music and Arts Ministry - 17206 Atascocita Bend Dr., Humble TX 77396; 936-465-7284;Pastorvee522@yahoo.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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