The Daily Index - Complete, 2018 General Conference, June 25-29, 2018

The Daily Index Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., Editor

2018 General Conference

June 25, 2018

Rambling Thoughts: “Making It on Broken Pieces” Saturday, June 23, 2018 9:00 A.M. Pastor Lisa Lewis-Balboa Second Episcopal District

Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr., Presiding Bishop of the Second Episcopal District, was the preacher for the Holy Communion Service. His message was from Acts 27:43-44. The subject of his sermon was “Making it on Broken Pieces”.

Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr. invited us to take a ride with Paul and to learn about Paul’s work as a missionary. Bishop Thomas reminded us that Acts 27 teaches us that Paul’s journey was not an easy sail, but that Paul was called to calm the people in the time of a storm.

In his message, Bishop Thomas stated that sometimes storms “come through no fault of our own, and that there will be shipwrecks. When shipwrecks come, we can make it on broken pieces.”

Bishop Thomas gave examples of some of the political storms that we are faced with today. These storms include the mistreatment of innocent children, prisons that are filled with African American males, and problems in our schools.

Bishop Thomas challenged the church to be a prophetic voice in times like these. “The church must have a word for those wondering how to make it during the brokenness of life.”

Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr. shared points on how to make it on broken pieces— (1) We must own up to our brokenness, (2) We must stop denying our brokenness, and (3) We must exercise our options.

Bishop Thomas reminded the congregation, “The

Church can’t continue to do JCPenny Ministry in an Amazon.com World.”

Bishop Thomas stated, “Now is not the time to stand still. It is a blessing to make it in on broken pieces,” adding that, “Each of us came to Birmingham with our own brokenness.” He closed the message by reminding the congregation that we should thank God that we made it! We are still here, and that with God — we can make it on broken pieces!

Birmingham City Councilor and fellow CME, Rev. Steven W. Hoyt, gave greetings to the General Conference Assembly as the communion service got underway. Hoyt, who is serving his fifth term as Councilor for District 8, is also Chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee for the city and is a member of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts and Public Safety Committees.

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Something New… Submitted by Pastor Kai Horn, MDiv Pastor of Hopewell Temple CME, Texarkana, Texas East Texas Regional Director of Christian Education

“Getting Back to Basics as We Envision Our Way Forward in Taking Care of God’s Business,” is the title of the Episcopal address delivered by Bishop Bobby R. Best. It was a good way of reflecting on this my third time as a delegate to the General Conference. The young adult, who is sitting next to me in the delegation, is here for her first time! Isn’t it exciting? It is exciting for her, an elected delegate; and it is exciting for me because I get to see the Conference through the lenses of someone who is eager to learn, to know and to grow in all facets of Christian Methodism. It is heart-warming. I remember being in that place. Her innocence and the novelty of this new experience reminds me of why I am here. I am proud to be CME. There is so much going on the in the world. There is so much going on in the universal church.

There is so much going on in the CME church. The words of Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas’ sermon, entitled “Making It on Broken Pieces,” resonate with me as reality. Admittedly, sometimes, life in the church does feel like a sinking ship. Most often I am not sure whether to jump into the water and swim to shore or to come up on the broken pieces. What I do know is that to take care of God’s business, especially amidst the storms of life, it is imperative that I own up to my brokenness, exercise my options and see the blessings in it. Thank you, Bishop Thomas.

Today, I chose to see the church through the lenses of unfamiliarity. Much to my surprise, our Senior Bishop sang a hymn that I did not know. It was a blessing. Together, my colleague and I explored the Discipline and the process of organizing the business session from temporary to permanent; and, the different committees that must be organized first. It was a blessing. We found it in the Book of Discipline and followed along. We voted as motions were moved and seconded. We even explored together motions, amendments to the motion, and the call for the previous question. Bishop Reddick understood that once the amended motion carried, then the delegation must vote on the original motion. Today, for the first time in many years, “I experienced something new.” What I discovered is that this newness began on the inside of me.

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Connectional Clinical Pastoral Education and Academy for Public Theology Graduation Ceremony Submitted by Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Hill — Central Texas Region

The heritage of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church stands on prayer and education. The eve of the official opening of the 38th Quadrennial Session and the 39th Convening of the General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church produced a highlight of this heritage. We were invited to join in celebrating with the twelve persons who were recognized as completing the Academy for Public Theology and the Connectional Clinical Pastoral Education programs.

The Academy for Public Theology is a distance learning program offered through the Fifth Episcopal District.

The APT Director is Presiding Elder Lawrence Jefferson-Snorton. The three persons who completed this program were Mrs. Carolyn Hassell, Mr. Millard Norman, and Rev. Demetrius Jifunza. There are class sessions opening soon, regardless to where you are located, if you are interested in increasing your theological grounding.

The Connectional Clinical Pastoral Education program is under the coordination of Bishop Teresa JeffersonSnorton. Bishop Jefferson-Snorton shared with those gathered how she prayed after her first experience of Continued on the next page

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Continued from the previous page

CPE that every preacher should be required to have one unit. Although it did not come overnight, the C.M.E. Church has reached a place where one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education is required for persons admitted on trial after 2014.

The persons completing the CPE program during this graduation ceremony were: Rev. James Story (1st Episcopal District); Rev. Terry Wheat (3rd Episcopal District); Mr. Donald H. Valliere, Sr. (4th Episcopal District); Rev. Theodoric Stephen (4th Episcopal District); Rev. Alveria Williams (6th Episcopal District); Rev. Monica Askew (6th Episcopal District); Rev. Margarita McDonald (8th Episcopal District); and Rev. Jacqueline Harris (9th Episcopal District). Reverend Dr. Brenda Wallace, who serves as Supervisor for the CCPE, recognized Rev. Johnnie Nelms of the 5th Episcopal District. Rev. Nelms was participating in the program and was unable to attend the final evaluations held in Birmingham after being in a car accident where he had been pronounced dead. When the CPE candidates and practitioners put their theory into practice, they received a telephone call from Rev. Nelms - and Dr. Wallace gave the commencement words that he who was dead is alive. Rev. Nelms received a half- credit of CPE for his participation in the program. Interested persons can enroll in the next session of the Clinical Pastoral Education program which is scheduled to begin in September. Spaces are limited, so be sure to enroll today!

A significant component of the program was noted to be embracing the celebration of those who engaged in the year-long journey through the Connectional Clinical Pastoral Education training. These graduates received one unit of CPE after meeting in sessions at the CME Unity Summit, Pastor’s Conference, and prior to the General Conference. These candidates also engaged in clinical pastoral training in various placements and correspondence work while at home.

I So Move…

Humbly submitted by Pastor Delmetria Cayson-Combs Staff Writer

After much deliberation on the new queue process that will be used by the General Conference to expedite deliberations, Senior Bishop Reddick was called to the podium to begin the Quadrennial Report of Bishops for the day.

Senior Bishop Reddick began his report by celebrating those in attendance from the 8th Episcopal District. It was a sight to behold when I turned around to witness the sea of purple shirts in support of Senior Bishop Reddick’s Report. All delegates and visitors from the 8th Episcopal District were adorned with purple shirts. The 8th Episcopal District is comprised of Texas and Jamaica.

I appreciated each report as they included expressions of gratitude for the teams that have helped each bishop during the quadrennium. Persons thanked included spouses, children, families, presiding elders, retired bishops, leaders and members of the regions. It was humbling to hear each bishop share as they reflected on how the last 4 years have impacted and affected their lives and ministries.

Each Bishop verbally shared a portion of their report. The highlights of the quadrennial were shared via video presentation for all to see. Each report was followed the proper Motion made by members of the respective delegation. Creativity and excitement accompanied each Motion and Second as members of each delegation cheered with exuberance. I am grateful for the chance to witness such an exciting time in the life of the church.

Mr. Editor, I move that this excerpt be shared with the Daily Index after review of the Editor.

Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., Editor

2018 General Conference

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Getting Back to Basics The Episcopal Address by Bishop Bobby R. Best Submitted by Ore L. Spragin, Jr. Editor, The Christian Index

The Episcopal Address given by Bishop Bobby R. Best was titled “Getting Back to Basics as We Envision Our Way Forward in Taking Care of God’s Business”. The stated goal was to “clearly express our concerns and issues and to articulate a clear vision that will move the CME Church toward a brighter future”. Following is some of the content of the 38-page report and challenge.

No Chief Pastor has left us since 2014, but we do mourn the loss of Sis. Willie Ann Helton, the widow of Bishop Charles L. Helton. She is small in stature but a giant to her family and friends.

“The state of the CME Church is GOOD,” but this does not mean we do not have challenges. First, the Church is good because of God’s grace and God’s unconditional love. Second, the state of the Church is good “because we are improving services to humanity in both our U.S. and non-U.S. work, through our churches, colleges and schools, hospital, seminary and Bible colleges and all programs put into place for the well-being of our world”. Third, the state of the Church is good because of the pioneering spirit bequeathed to us by our 41 founders. Post-slavery conditions were grueling to blacks who lived during the early days of our Church, but they triumphed through perseverance through the strength of Christ. We recognize the value our Church has always placed on education. Our four current CMEaffiliated colleges and our seminary consume about 24% of our CME Connectional budget. Fourth, the state of the Church is good because of our most valuable resource – our members: clergy and laity. Your value is recognized in your needed, faithful, generous, and great giving to our Connectional institutions, and national affiliations and needs.

But what challenges must we confront and overcome?

First, we must confront declining membership in most of our U.S. churches (Episcopal Districts 1-9), especially that of men, young, adults, and children. This is opposite of what is seen in our foreign Districts (10 and 11). It is imperative that actively recruit men and give young adults the opportunities to exercise their talents, gifts, and abilities to help grow our church.

Second, we have many aged and much-decaying facilities, and not enough funds to make repairs or improvements. The third challenge is the high apportionment among our SMALLER, SHRINKING, STRUGGLING local churches. The concern is for the very small, struggling church, NOT EVERY CHURCH. The final challenge is to be confronted is the need to “enhance our discipleship and leadership development training for our preachers and laypersons”.

To meet these challenges, we must get back to the basics. The theological underpinning of this approach comes from Matthew 28:18-20 and Luke 2:41-50, and Christian education is the methodology. We must make disciples in ALL nations. Spreading the word is not enough; we must make disciples. We must do a better job. Are you up for the challenge?

We must stay connected with God, and we must reconnect with Jesus if we have lost our connection.

We must commit to God’s plan for our lives if we are to fulfill his purpose. Staying connected helps us to Continued on next page 1

2018 General Conference

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Continued from previous page prepare for a life-long journey of learning. We must constantly develop our faith with intentionality, and then mentor others. Additionally, sexual abuses and misconduct allegations must be addressed. It is not okay. It is NEVER okay … not in Hollywood, in the media, in politics, and especially in the church!!

Six proposals were given to help us get back to the basics. (1) Prayer/Evangelism/Church Planting/Outreach – We must not overlook ANYONE in the communities surrounding our churches. The General Officers are asked to lead in this effort. (2) Project Restoration – “one church in each Episcopal district per year for the next four years will be selected to receive a one-time gift, between $25,000.00 and $50,000.00 to assist in [much-needed] repairs and renovations.” Second, each church that does not have a fund for such repairs should start a restoration fund and give regular opportunities for contributing to it. (3) Stewardship Training – Pastors should teach on stewardship. “Stewardship is about more than just giving monetary contributions, but the giving of one’s whole life in service to God.” (4) Adjusting apportionments to reflect our present reality for smaller churches – Presiding Elders and Finance Committees are challenged to relieve the SMALLER, STRUGGLING churches.

(5) Discipleship Training and Leadership Development – Five books were proposed “as part of our curriculum for discipleship training and leadership development. (6) Energize and Revitalize Worship – “Our corporate worship can be so much more, if only we get away from our cookie cutter mentality.”

Finally, we have to envision what we want to see. “We can see it as a College of Bishops, but we need you to see it with us. Can you see it? Can you see it? Can you see it?”

When Jesus Interrupts Your Morning Fishermen, Failure, Dirty Nets, Grace . . . an electrifying message from Bishop Kenneth Wayne Carter at the Sunday Morning Worship Service.

Submitted by Rev. Dr. Earl J. Griffin, Sr. Presiding Elder, Monroe District, LA Region 4th Episcopal District, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

The Sheraton Hotel East Ballroom was full; the atmosphere was charged with expectation; and prayer was being offered for a Word from the Lord. It is Day 2 of the 2018 Christian Methodist Episcopal Church General Conference, and word has gone out that the Presiding Bishop of the Sixth Episcopal District has been fasting, praying and seeking the Lord for a fresh Word for all those in waiting. The choir sang "Total Praise" and spontaneous worship erupted. Then just before the Bishop stood to proclaim the gospel, the choir charged the atmosphere with “God Is!” The Holy Spirit hovered over the chaos in our lives as Bishop Carter read Luke 5:1-5. Anticipation heightened because we knew that Word would bless our souls.

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2018 General Conference

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Vividly, and with the aid of Visual Arts crafted by Rev. Amina McIntyre, President, Connectional Young Adult Ministry, Bishop Carter set the stage with a profound illustration concerning a man who had given his all, only to have life deal him a cup of failure. Alone on boat with only two instruments, a pen and a gun, he pondered his next move. And as we anxiously awaited the choice he would make; the Bishop turned the tables toward every hearer.

a

Have you ever tried to do what was right, yet success escaped you at every turn? Are you frustrated because no matter how hard you try, life keeps serving you up a plate of failure after failure? Have you plunged into ministry and found yourself tired and weary because your efforts were fruitless? Well, Bishop Carter said God’s grace is offered at every turn and when you fail, get back up and try again because your victory is assured.

So, don’t quit, give in, or throw in the towel. Even when your failures leave you in the gutter, remember who you are because “All Failure is not Final,” Bishop Carter insisted. “Everybody has a bad night,” he proclaimed.

But, when the bad night comes, just know that morning is coming. Each of us will experience failure although we do our very best to fight the good fight of faith. The struggles of life sometimes result in our failure, but we serve a God who comes in the morning.

As Bishop illuminated how Jesus was a morning person, he caught us by surprise when he brought to our attention that the disciples had not finished washing their nets when Jesus told them to launch out into the deep, which suggests to us that the nets were still dirty or partially clean. “Jesus uses dirty nets,” Bishop Carter exclaimed, and led us to see that each of us are simply dirty nets God uses for God’s glory. At best, the power we exude as believers does not come from us but comes through us. All of us are works in process, partially clean with struggles in this life that sometimes causes us to fail and sometimes even puts us in gutter situations. But even in the gutter we should remember that we are God’s children and not adjust to the gutter but speak to the gutter about our God and who we are in our God. This message gave insight into what it meant when Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas told us at the Saturday morning Holy Communion Service “we could make it safely to shore on broken pieces.” Failure may leave us in pieces, so hold on to those pieces and use them to reach the shore safely. God knows that we are broken.

Yet, God uses us to display his glory, his grace, and his power. Praise God that failure is not always final.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy comes in the morning.” Truly Jesus interrupted our morning and we will never be quite the same.

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

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2018 General Conference

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Repor ng of the Stewardship of the General Officers: General Secretary of Publica ons, Editor, The Chris an Index and the General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions Submitted by Rev. Valencia Edner

On Sunday evening, June 24th, the Reports of the General Officers of the CME Church commenced at the Birmingham Jefferson County Conven on Center. While all the reports are not completed, the reports of Dr. Roderick Lewis, General Secretary of Publica ons; Dr. Ore Spragin, Editor, The Chris an Index; and Dr. Faith Allen, General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions were presented to the 39th General Conference and 38th Quadrennial Session of the Chris an Methodist Episcopal Church.

Each of these General Officers gave highlights of their stewardship and the work of their respec ve offices for the years 2014-2018.

Dr. Lewis thanked all who had been instrumental in assis ng him over the four years. He then explained the capaci es and difficul es, both prac cally and fiscally, for the progress from prin ng press to digital publica ons. While he expressed some updates had been made, s ll others were necessary to affect the overwhelming cost of publishing, including The Chris an Index. Dr. Lewis reported that the Miles Bookstore is fully opera onal online, and all books are compe vely priced. He also stressed the importance of fiscal responsibility on the part of the churches to remit funds for Sunday School materials in a mely manner. The Hymnal is on hold awai ng further direc on and finances. His recommenda ons, though pending confirma on from commi ee, included increased funds to ensure forward progress in acquiring equipment updates, the self-sufficiency of The Chris an Index, and placing late fees on accounts that are delinquent.

The mo on for acceptance of Dr. Lewis’ report was carried with commenda on for a job well done.

As Dr. Spragin began his report, he asked for prayers for his family in light of recent deaths. He then went on to thank those who were suppor ve throughout the quadrennial. His report slide presenta on, with his voice as guide, highlighted much of the work he had done over the last four years. He reported the many places that he had 4

visited to capture ministries at work and historic milestones in the CME Church. He also indicated the progressive work of the Index in the social media arena, including a Facebook and Twi er presence, as well as an expansion of the Index to include a Children’s Corner, the “More” sec on, and an increase in ar cles from a diversity of people. His recommenda ons, though wai ng confirma on included most notably, the desire to pursue adver sement for The Chris an Index to offset the cost of publica on, and the desire to have greater representa on in the Index from CME-affiliated ins tu ons of higher learning and from the interna onal community of CME’s.

His report was accepted by the conference with commenda ons as well.

The power of the scripture introduced the report of Dr. Faith Allen, and she followed with gracious thanks to God and all those who have been suppor ve. Her report highlighted the places she traveled, the training sessions conducted throughout the connec on, and preaching opportuni es given. She also indicated the importance of her work in ecumenism, connec ng with others across denomina onal lines.

Dr. Allen emphasized her introduc on throughout the four years of the SWAG ini a ve for faith sharing. SWAG is an acronym for Sharing Witnessing About God. The forward progression of SWAG shaped her recommenda ons, though they await confirma on. The implementa on of SWAG in each district would include rela onships strengthened, a strong media presence, more training, and church plan ng. She ended with a story that illustrated that despite the threat of flatlining, the church’s life prognosis is improved. The report was accepted by the conference unanimously.

The reports will con nue tomorrow and will be summarized here in the Daily Index.

Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., Editor

2018 General Conference

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Bishop Walker Reports Advances Submitted by Rev. Cassandry Keys Presiding Elder, Winston-Salem-Greenville District Pastor, Bunton CME Church

Bishop James B. Walker, Presiding Prelate of the 7th Episcopal District, delivered his Quadrennial Report outlining how the district transitioned from a state of financial challenge to a state of winning. Bishop Walker Bishop James B. Walker (stock photo) stated that the winning not only had to do with finances; it also affected winning souls.

The Superlative 7th District, which includes the Carolina and New York/Washington Regions, put an emphasis on ministries and projects which impacted our continued growth. With Bishop Walker’s influence and guidance, members of this great region learned how working together and embracing change would enable us to multiply disciples and strengthen us as an Episcopal district.

As a first-time delegate to the General Conference, I listened with pride as our Presiding Prelate listed the numerous accomplishments of our district. Through a collaborative effort of the conferences, the mortgage for the Helton Royal Plaza Center, a long-time indebtedness, was paid in full. Church planting became a focus, along with increased evangelistic efforts in the communities. Technological initiatives helped reach a broader audience and expose them to the meeting of the church in conference. New ministries were formed that addressed the needs of the homeless. Churches partnered with communities to improve the education of our children. Expanded mission programs increased our opportunity for discipleship.

The 7th District is richer in many ways for having Bishop Walker as our Presiding Prelate these past four years. “The enemy did not have the last word.” We are winning!

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2018 General Conference

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

“Unc on for the Func on” Submitted by Rev. Kai Horn, MDiv Pastor, Mary Stewart CME Church Eighth Episcopal District

The sun arose. The morning swelled with excitement in an cipa on of the “Interna onal Ministries Worship Service.” Commi ee responsibili es delayed an on- me arrival. I entered the room only to hear one of my favorite hymns: “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace!”

Several ministers from the African delega on - Rev. Lawson Adjei, Dr. Victor Udo, Rev. Samson Fianko, Rev. Chris an Keller, and Rev. Koko Daniel - par cipated in worship with praise and worship. The tone was set when the minister who prayed asked God to give to the worship the unc on for func on. God did just that! God gave to the worship leader and worshippers the guiding power of the Holy Spirit and ushered in a presence and power towards worship that cannot be denied.

The General Conference Choir began singing, ensuring us that God would turn things around. God showed up again. Rev. Koko Daniel begin to lead worship, and the African, Jamaican, and Hai an delega ons went to where the choir was standing and began to sing un l the power of the Lord came down.

Bishop Godwin T. Umoe e preached “Be Encouraged”. He began singing a few songs from African tradi on. He then began telling us to be encouraged because our Redeemer lives. Bishop Umoe e said, “God makes a way out of no way and opens doors that no one can close and no one can stop.” He reminded us from the story of Paul and Silas in a Roman jail cell that with prayer, knowledge of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit everything would be alright. “If you are bap zed by the Holy Ghost, you will be ready for everything in life.

God would not let us down. Just look to the hills. Would you allow Jesus to be your God?” “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come and dine with them. [Revela on 3:20] I am not sure what was touched on the inside; but John Wesley said it like this, 'My heart was strangely warmed. I wept.’”

Lastly, he reflected on the book by Marshall Gilmore “From Bastard to Bishop”. He compared his life of poverty with that of Bishop Gilmore’s life. He declared to us that he did not believe that God brought us this far to leave us. We picked up the mantle and began to sing the song.

The worship serviced ended with a powerful prayer for the church by Rev. Enobong Umanah. Our Senior Bishop, Lawrence L. Reddick, III, impressed and challenged us with a closing hymn, “Glory be to God the Father”. The words are: Ukpono enyene Ete, Ukpono enyene Enyen, Ukpono enyene Spirit; Abasi ita ke kiet. Ukpono, Akwa ukpono Odudu ke Nsinsi.

Glory be to God the Father, Glory be to God the Son, Glory be to the God the Sprit; Great Jehovah three in one. Glory, glory, glory, while eternal ages run!

"And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

--Isaiah 6:3 (KJV) 2

2018 General Conference

A Brief Summary on Several General Officer Reports Submitted by Clarence Kelby Heath Eighth Episcopal District

On Sunday evening, June 24th, the General Conference began receiving reports from several General Officers. All reports were completed during the Monday morning business session. I have the privilege of providing a summary report that will provide general information and highlight a few resolutions.

Finance Dr. Victor Taylor provided his report during the Sunday evening session. He introduced that net assets grew by about $1.7 million dollars to about $6.7 million dollars. He took the time to appreciate the staff of both the Department of Finance and CMETV. These persons included his wife Wanda, and CheRhonda Greenlee and her family. Other staff members also were recognized for their service. Dr. Taylor made the following recommendations: (1) To dramatically increase the reserve fund allocation and set the general church on course to begin to reduce general church budget assessments and ultimately to eliminate general church assessments; (2) To provide a narrative and a budget to this General Conference that sets the church on a course of financial fidelity for the mutual benefit of all the church.

Christian Education Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield provided a verbal report and video presentation. He commended his staff and a cadre of persons that work to make Christian Education a success. The work of Christian Education was categorized as Administrative, Connectional Ministry and Relations, Development of Resources, Ecumenical Work and Community Involvement, Higher Education, Leadership Training, and General Secretary Personal Development. A few recommendations for the Department of Christian Education were as follows: (1) CHANGE THE NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ALL LEVELS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND FORMATION; (2) That age level ministries be changed accordingly with a focus on leadership,

Wednesday, June 27, 2018 spiritual, and faith formation at each level, to be described as: Children (ages 0-11), Youth (ages 12-17), Emerging Adults (ages 18-25), Young Adults (ages 26-40), Middle Adults (ages 41-64), and Senior Adults (ages 65 and older).

Personnel Services Dr. Tyrone T. Davis presented a video report.

He announced the website to be used to access information. He expounded upon the CME Retirement Plan & Trust, the CME 403(b) Plan, the CME Fire & Casualty Insurance Plan, the CME Gift Fund, Specialized Insurance Coverage, and Zion Christian Cemetery. His staff was acknowledged and appreciated along with his wife, Janice. Questions related to the following Disciplinary sections were offered for consideration: (1) Paragraph 226, section 50(d) - How many of the churches have paid the 12% of the pastor’s salary to the annual conference for the CME Retirement Plan? (2) Paragraph 226, section 50(e) - How many of the pastors have completed enrollment in the CME Retirement Plan? (3) Regarding retirement: Paragraph 255, section 10(a) - Has the church paid through the Presiding Elder the 12% of the pastor’s salary to the annual conference for the CME Retirement Plan? (4) Paragraph 255, section 10 (b) - Has the pastor completed enrollment in the CME Retirement Plan?

Ministry to Men Dr. Leo Pinkett spoke about various areas of his ministry that make him excited about the work.

One item that excited him more was the increased participation of young Black men. He stated that he looked forward to continuing his work in the US and to going abroad to Africa. Some of his recommendations for the Ministry to Men were as follows: (1) We want to applaud all the bishops and Episcopal districts that have had retreats for men in our churches. (2) Each Episcopal District should develop a Department of Ministry to Men and partner with The Black Male Project. (3) Ministry to Men should partner with Save Our Sons (a program of the CME Church Women's Missionary Society) to increase or initiate male mentoring programs in every local CME Church and to provide scholarship aid for the Save Our Sons Programs.

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2018 General Conference

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Observa ons and Notes from Sunday, June 24, 2018 Submitted by Dr. Barbara Campbell Member, Shy Temple CME Church Sixth Episcopal District

Sunday, June 24, 2018 was filled with the spirit of the Lord. The Fi h Episcopal District Choir did a rendi on of the song "Total Praise" that had members standing on their feet, hands li ed in praise, and words of adora on filled the room. It looked like the church, and it felt like the church.

Bishop Henry Williamson, Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, was presiding over the session at the me, and he admonished the congrega on that God was worthy of all the praise we could li up! The response, again, was simply total praise to the Lord.

Bishop Thomas Brown introduced his classmate, Bishop Kenneth W. Carter, who was the preacher for morning worship. The scripture background was Luke 5:1-5.

He began the sermon by sharing a story about a man on a boat who had a pen, a note pad, and a gun. He was going through a hard me because he was out of work and needed a job. He wrote on the pad, the le er "J", so he went to Job Corps, and they told him he was too old. He went to the Employment Office and he was told he was over qualified. He went to the Social Security Department, and he was told he was too young. He then went to United Way and he was told they were out of funds. He went to the Salva on Army, and he was told there was no room.

Returning to the scripture background, the fishermen that Jesus encountered had fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus sent them back out to the same place they had been fishing and told them to let down their dirty nets. The moral of the story is that failure is not fatal and being obedient to God can change your circumstances.

When the man on the boat reviewed what he had wri en down, he realized that the first le er of each 4

word, when taken together, spelled JESUS, and Jesus is the answer for all of our problems.

During the closing of the session, the following announcements were made: Sign up for CME text messages: Text your name and episcopal district to: 253-460-1527 Visit the CME table for audio cards of the Episcopal Address!

Bishop Othal H. Lakey presented a copy of his book: Miles to King (The Bishops of Chris an Methodism 1870-2014) to the Senior Bishop and to all of the wives and widows, and that it is available for purchase for $14.95.

Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., Editor

2018 General Conference

Thursday, June 28, 2018

A Welcome From The Motherland Submitted by Dr. Tyrone Davis General Secretary, Board of Personnel Services

Day four of the 2018 General Conference opened with Bishop Sylvester Williams, the 58th elected Bishop and the Presiding Bishop of the Third Episcopal District, serving as the worship leader for the International Ministries Service.

The center point of the service was the preached word from the 60th elected Bishop and Presiding Bishop of the 10th Episcopal District, Bishop Godwin T. Umoette, who challenged the leaders and conference attendees with a message entitled “Be Encouraged”. In his message, Bishop Umoette urged the waiting body to “Be encouraged” with the knowledge that “your redeemer liveth” and to, “Hold on to [the hand of] God with unchanging faith.” Due to the pressing burden of a heavy time schedule, he concluded his message by singing, “I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.”

The overall service was truly a worship experience as the conference participated in song, prayer, scripture, and praise. It was moving to watch our brothers and sisters from the Motherland as they led in each aspect of the worship experience. The cadence of their voices, the rhythm of their movement and their dance, and the beauty of their native language touched every observing attendee as an invisible bond was felt that stretched between the two continents.

Photo by Hill House Media Company

Technology at the General Conference Submitted by Sis. Rita Washingtom Eighth Episcopal District

New technology, entitled QSpeak, was introduced at the General Conference. QSpeak is an easy queueing system that gives presiding officers and attendees the tools needed to conduct a fair and orderly debate. Attendees use an OT1 tablet to signal a request to speak. The software provides the presiding officer with a display of requests organized by name and type.

The attendee signals a request to speak on the tablet. The delegate selects the type of request he/she wants to make ad then presses "submit my request to

speak". Delegate has the option to speak for or against a motion, to seek a point of information, or make a procedural motion.

The delegate request is stored and organized by parliamentary rules and preference by an onsite OT1 specialist. The presiding officer recognizes the speaker,and as the speaker begins, a timer starts and the name of the speaker is displayed on the screen.

Most of the delegates were able to queue their information into the screen, and the presiding officer used that information to facilitate the flow of discussion.

Clickers were used to elect General Officer positions and Judicial Council members. There were a few hiccups but system worked overall and elections were done in a timely manner.

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2018 General Conference

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Elec on of Judicial Council Members Submi ed by Clarence Kelby Heath clarenceheath68@yahoo.com

Bishop Godwin T. Umo ee lead the morning session on Wednesday, July 27. The elec on for Judicial Council members proceeded immediately following the elec on of General Officers. The following individuals were clergy candidates: Lawson Adjei, Kevin Agee, Russell Fuller, Bruce Gibson, Yohanna Jarry, James Morris, Karen Walker-McClure, Darryl Wesley, and Jerry D. Woodfork. The body was directed to elect three individuals—348 votes required to be elected.

The result of the first ballot: Adjei-443, Agee-83, Fuller-260, Gibson-185, Jarry-26, Morris-109, WalkerMcClure-77, Wesley-191, and Woodfork-475. Two individuals were elected on the first ballot.

The elec on chair, Bishop James B. Walker, with the assistance of Theresa Duhart, prepared the body for the second ballot. The results were: Agee-40, Fuller-263, Gibson-103, Jarry-2, Morris-68, Walker-McClure-23, and Wesley-139. While Fuller had the most votes, the chair ruled that 348 votes or more were needed to be elected. A third ballot was cast yielding the following: Fuller-366, Gibson-83, Jarry-3, Morris-26, WalkerMcClure-9, and Wesley-112. Fuller was elected. Bishop Umo ee declared Woodfork, Adjei, and Fuller elected.

The evening session was chaired by Bishop Bobby Best. The elec on for Judicial Council members con nued with lay candidates: Linda Brown-Wright, Shirley Byers, Michelle Jackson, Vernon Johnson, Eric. L. Jones, Ber na Lampkin, Harrie Mendinghall, Barbara Nichols, J. Richet Pearson, and Bernard Snell. The delega on was directed to vote for five persons.

The first ballot was cast and results were: Wright-387, Byers-518, Jackson-154, Johnson-254, Jones-230, Lampkin-355, Mendinghall-77, Nichols-348, Pearson-278, and Snell-426. Chair Best declared Byers, Nell, Wright, Lampkin, and Nichols elected.

The ballot was then cast for alternates--three for lay and three for clergy. Clergy candidates were Kevin Agee, Bruce Gibson, Yohanna Jarry, James Morris, Karen Walker-McClure, and Darryl Wesley. The first three with the most votes would be elected clergy alternates. Having the following result: Agee-346, Gibson-375, Jarry-93, Morris-274, Walker-McClure-359, and Wesley-332, the chair declared Gibson, Walker-McClure, and Agee elected.

The candidates for lay alternates were: Michelle Jackson, Vernon Johnson, Eric L. Jones, Harrie Mendinghall, and J. Richet Pearson. The first ballot was cast: Jackon-328, Johnson-415, Jones-462, Mendinghall-167, and Pearson-391. The chair declared Jones, Johnson, and Pearson elected.

The elec on for the Judicial Council concluded at 8:05 p.m. Conference Secretary Rev. Jermaine Marshall was directed by the chair to call the names of all persons elected to the Judicial Council.

Corrections: Two corrections are made to yesterday's edition of The Daily Index. First, the author of the article "Bishop Walker Reports Advances" on page 1 is Dr. Debra Lowe; it was submitted for her by Rev. Cassandry Keys. Second, Rev. Kai Horn, the author of "Unction to Function" on page 2, serves as pastor of Hopewell Temple CME Church, not Mary Stewart CME Church.

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2018 General Conference

The General Officer Reports From Monday, June 25, 2018 Submitted by Sis. Rita Washington Eighth Episcopal District

The General Officers Reports that were given on Monday were very informa ve and exci ng. Each officer had a video presenta on of his/her ministry efforts and highlights for the past quadrennium.

General Secretary of Lay Ministry, Dr. Clifford Harris, began his report with words of gra tude and thanksgiving to his wife Johne a, the Connec onal Ministry Presidents, and to lay leaders, pastors, Presiding Elders, and Episcopal Leaders who provided opportuni es for him to share with God’s people. He expressed thanks to Dr. Ore Spragin for providing space in The Chris an Index for his monthly column and to Theresa Duhart for assis ng him with his online newsle er, “From the Pen of the General Secretary”.

Addi onally, he explained the Bluejeans program which provides face-to-face interac on in both individual and group se ngs. This mee ng pla orm appeals to the young adult laity as well as seasoned lay persons and is used for workshops and group interac on through audio and video presenta ons and conferencing that can be accessed from one’s personal computer or another electronic device. Mr. Rickey Fontenot, the 8th Episcopal District Lay Ministry Vice President, was recognized for traveling with him as well as a ending every annual conference in the Eighth Episcopal District.

Other highlights included the 2017 Connec onal Lay Ministry Ins tute held in Atlanta, Georgia, and the William L. Graham/Roscoe C. Webb/Yvonne Kennedy Scholarship Fund, which has awarded 36 yearly scholarships to gradua ng seniors from the nine episcopal districts within the Con nental United States. The recommenda ons of the General Secretary of Lay Ministry were submi ed to the Connec onal Ministries Standing Commi ee for their considera on and affirma on.

The President of the Women’s Missionary Council, Dr. Princess Rogers Pegues, began her final report to the General Conference with thanks to the Lord for all the blessings she has received and for allowing the Council to be of service to the Chris an Methodist Episcopal Church and to others for 100 years. She gave details of the Council’s 100Year Anniversary that was held in Kingsport, Tennessee, in February 2018 at the Centennial Execu ve Board.

Dr. Pegues expressed her gra tude to all who have supported and par cipated in the many ac vi es of

Thursday, June 28, 2018 the missionaries from the local level to the Council level.

The amazing work done by the Department Secretaries, Commi ee and Commission Chairs of being about God’s business of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked is a tes mony to the work of God’s people. The Council donates $20,180.00 annually to supplement teachers’ salaries in Jamaica and more than $105,000 to support the work being done overseas.

Educa on has always been one of the Council’s major priori es. Through the Helena B. Cobb and P. Ann Pegues Save Our Sons annual scholarship funds, the Council has provided scholarships and grants to help our young people get the best educa on possible.

Furthermore, the Council supports our CME Colleges annually through financial dona ons. Dr. Pegues made an appeal for us to par cipate in the My Brother’s Keeper program which is an ini a ve begun under the administra on of U.S. President Barack Obama. It is designed to help our boys and young men of color from slipping through the cracks in our society. The President ended her report with her usual closing, “I’ll Keep Drinking from My Saucer ‘because My Cup Has Overflowed!”

Dr. Jeane e Bouknight, the Execu ve Secretary of the CME Church, stated that her work has been extensive.

She began by informing us that the occupancy rate of the Connec onal Headquarters Building is 98%, and many improvements have been made to enhance the appearance of the building.

Dr. Bouknight is the designated Mee ng Planner for the CME Church. Contracts have been nego ated for the upcoming 2020 Connec onal Youth and Young Adult Conference and the 2022 General Conference. She has also a ended site visits for the 2019 CME Unity Summit in Phoenix, Arizona, the 2020 Unity Summit in Dallas, Texas, and the 2021 CME Unity Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana. This is the first me that connec onal mee ngs dates have been set for the next four years.

Her ecumenical involvement included a endance at many of the Commission on Pan Methodist Coopera on and Union mee ngs, mee ngs with the Na onal Council of Churches, Churches Uni ng in Christ, and the Pan-African Women’s Empowerment Network.

Finally, she dedicated this report to the loving memory of her mother, Mrs. Dorothy Elizabeth CountsBouknight, and her brother, Rev. Joseph Bouknight, Jr. She expressed gra tude for the love, guidance and affec on that has been given by her family members; her department chair, Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick; the College of Bishops; and her unpaid staff.

The remaining seven General Officer reports were given the following day.

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2018 General Conference

Thursday, June 28, 2018

KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE MIDST OF A GENERAL CONFERENCE Submitted by Dr. Clifford L. Harris

During a CME Church General Conference, sometimes things go as planned and sometimes they don’t; sometimes individuals or groups are happy with the outcome of a vote and sometimes they aren’t; and there are times when someone says they are with you and they really aren’t.

Staying calm is, perhaps, one of the most difficult challenges a person can face, and keeping one’s composure is often easier said than done.

So, what is my point? Amid all the uncertainty of a General Conference, one must always try to address an issue or issues in a way that effectively communicates his/her position or stance.

Additionally, getting emotionally caught up with who is supporting or not supporting a matter, rather than what effect the content of a resolution or recommendation will have on the life and witness of our Zion, can be counterproductive.

It is incumbent on each delegate, in expressing his/her position, to try and do it with a clear mind and a level head. Failure to do so can cause unnecessary tension and misdirected energy which may lead to a lost opportunity or an unfavorable outcome.

Thus, always look to “Keep Your Head in the Midst of a General Conference.”

Amazon.com Submitted by Rev. Kai Horn Pastor, Hopewell Temple CME Church Eighth Episcopal District

Committee members converge to make decisions regarding resolutions. Voting delegates find that the ideas, words, and phrases that they think are important issues to guide the church and the community in a new direction, seem not to receive fair consideration. Why? Change for the most part is difficult for people. This is a very common observation. Along with change, comes the economy of commitment which begs the question, “How much do we want to invest in what this new rule of conduct or action is asking us to do?” Most often, the answer is nothing at all.

As I watched the resolution process on today (June 26, 2018), there were some that received recommendations of nonconcurrence that I wished had received more consideration. What occurs when more of the power is shifted to the Lay? What would it look like for Ministry to require a Masters’ degree? Could we be equally as satisfied and productive if we received the Masters’ for acquired knowledge, understanding that we are giving to the church the very best that we have to give?

These models require more inclusive leadership. These models are more progressive ministry. Inclusive leadership coupled with progressive ministry says that we care enough about the institution of the church and the people to make a conscientious commitment to be the best that we can be. Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas mentioned it in his message, “Will we be a JC Penny church in an Amazon.com world?” I resolve. Amazon. com. Concurrent. Nonconcurrent. Concurrent with Changes. You choose.

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

--Romans 8:6 (KJV) 4

Rev. Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr., Editor

2018 General Conference

Friday, June 28, 2018

Good News from an Iffy Situation Submitted by Dr. Clarence Kelby Heath

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr., newly appointed presiding prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District, provided the morning meditation on Thursday, June 28th. The selected text Mark 4.35-39. Bishop Brown spoke about what it meant “to be between times” – just having served the Fourth Episcopal District for twelve years, and recently, being appointed to the Sixth Episcopal District. He is between times. He entitled his message “Good News from an Iffy Situation.

Bishop Brown's initial address reminded us that “the church cannot ever be faithful unless it gets the Jesus question right.” When the church doesn’t know who Jesus is, it cannot get the question right.” There are times when the church is anemic. There is not enough hemoglobin or oxygen, and the church becomes exhausted, powerless, and weak.

Mark writes about two places: the banks of Galilee and the other side. Jesus commanded that the disciples would go to the other side. He had been around crowds all day and had to leave them behind. There are some things in life that need to be left behind. Bishop Brown used the context of General Conference to bring the text to life by speaking of the scriptures in the form of a resolution: “whereas ... be it therefore resolved”, as it related to going to the other side.

But, what does the other side promise us? “I don’t know.” There arose a wind storm. He mentioned Leonard Sweet, author of “Church of the Perfect Storm.” There are times when the storms of life are raging. There are also times when people commit suicide not only physically, but in various other ways to destroy life. There are times when God seems absent, but someone needs to go and wake Jesus up. Someone needs to ask, “Do you see our plight?” I suggest that we have enough on board when it comes to God. He is Son of God and Son of Man.

Delegates and attendees of the 2018 General Conference of the CME Church 1

2018 General Conference

Friday, June 28, 2018

General Conference 2018 Elec on of General Officers Submitted by Rev. Valencia E. Edner 8th Episcopal District

On Wednesday, June 27th, 2018, the 39th General Conference and 38th Quadrennial Session held the elec on of General Officers in the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. Once all the preliminaries and calibra ng of the “clickers” were successfully completed, the unopposed officers were elected by acclama on. Following this group elec on, the contest for the office of Execu ve Secretary commenced. The candidates were incumbent Jeane e Bouknight and Dr. Pene' Woods. The first ballot proved to be successful and Dr. Pene' G. Woods emerged as the new Execu ve Secretary.

Next was the elec on of the General Secretary of Chris an Educa on. The candidates were Dr. Lisa Allen McLaurin and Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield. The winner of this elec on was the incumbent, Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, who will serve another four-year term.

A er these two elec ons, the contested General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions was next on the horizon. The incumbent, Dr. Faith Allen; Presiding Elder Trever Barne ; Presiding Elder Leon Moore; and Dr. Phillip Nelson were in the running. A er two ballots, both Presiding Elder Barne and Dr. Phillip Nelson withdrew from the race. The requirement of a majority vote for elec on caused there to be two more ballots, with Presiding Elder Leon Moore emerging as the new leader.

The Elec on of General Officers proved to be even ul even in a non-Episcopal elec on year. The process has spoken, and may God bless the work that will be accomplished by these who have been chosen. Bishop Godwin T. Umoe e presided over the elec on process and reminded the new officers that they were not official un l their installa on on Thursday evening.

GENERAL OFFICERS and judicial council members installed

Dr. Ore L. Spragin, Jr. - The Christian Index Dr. Victor Taylor - CFO, Department of Finance

Submitted by Editor Ore L. Spragin, Jr.

Elected during the 2018 General Conference were:

The installation service for all officers was held during the conference on June 28, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. The 38th Quadrennial Session and 39th General Conference saw the re-election of eight of the General Officers who served during the previous quadrennial. They are listed here, in order of election, along with the General Departments they administer.

Dr. Pene' Woods Long - Executive Secretary Rev. Leon Moore - Evangelism and Missions

Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield - Christian Education Dr. Tyrone T. Davis - Board of Personnel Services Dr. Leo Pinkett - Ministry to Men Dr. Clifford Harris - Lay Ministry Dr. Roderick D. Lewis, Sr. - Publication Services Dr. Princess R. Pegues - Women's Missionary Council 2

Though the Women's Missionary Council elects their own president, by Discipline, that person is a General Officer.

The Judicial Council members were named in yesterday's issue of The Daily Index.

Former Executive Secretary Jeanette Bouknight retired during this session of the General Conference. Dr. Faith Allen, who was not re-elected, served as General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions. The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is grateful to God and to them for their faithful service in ministry.

2018 General Conference

Non-Concurrence Submitted by Rev. Kai Horn, MDiv Pastor, Hopewell Temple CME Church East Texas Region, 8th Episcopal District

360° Leader, by John Maxwell, encourages leaders to lead up, lead out and lead down. This book is one of my favorite reads as a Methodist Pastor because of our levels of leadership. I remember the first me that I read it thinking this works because suppor ng the Episcopacy and Presiding Elders is leading up, encouraging congregants to support District and Regional ac vi es. Modeling the best of what we can give to ministry for my peers is leading out.

Leading down is when we are encouraging the members in the church to “grow one step.” In se ng a higher standard for myself as a leader, I encourage them to set high standards for themselves.

There were some great resolu ons presented this General Conference. Some resolu ons should have been legislated; and, there were others that were be er served as ini a ves, both leading to church growth. There were health ini a ve resolu ons voted non-concurrence.

I witnessed a resolu on presented for reconsidera on three mes before the General Conference considered that specialized i nerant ministry can be just as significant as those who are preachers-in-charge. We almost le out our brothers and sisters of Africa because of our own lack of understanding about schools and Nigerian accredita on.

It appears to me that while we do the business of the conference, strongly related to the resolu ons presented should be the ques on, “How do these amendments, addi ons, revisions and enhancements contribute to the forward movement of the church?” Perhaps we should also ask ourselves, “What of these ini a ves or ministries are the broken pieces that assure our safe passage to shore?”

There was a lot of debate over the resolu ons that examined changing the educa onal requirements for ministers. Proposed legisla on required pursuing a Bachelor’s degree for Deacons and pursuing a Master’s degree for Elders. The resolu on was voted nonconcurrent. I concur that our pay and benefits are not commensurate with some other denomina ons, which was one of the reasons that it was voted down. How do we challenge congrega ons to move to the next level when we as leaders are unwilling to move?

Bishop James B. Walker spoke Thursday night on “The Challenge of Godly Leadership.” He posits that “leaders learn how to make good use of a crisis”. We are in a crisis. What are we to do? I think that I should ask a different ques on. It is not what are we going to do? It is what are we prepared to do?

Friday, June 28, 2018

A GOOD DAY at the GENERAL CONFERENCE Observa ons from Tuesday, June 26, 2018 Submitted by Dr. Clifford L. Harris General Secretary, Department of Lay Ministry

Today's General Conference session began with an interna onal service. The Worship Leader and Presiding Officer was Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr., and the morning message was delivered by Bishop Godwin Thompson Umoe e, Presiding Prelate of the 10th Episcopal District.

A er the morning worship service concluded, the highlight, I feel, was the giving of reports by Rev. Dr. Paul L. Brown, Sr., President-Dean of our CME-affiliated seminary, Phillips School of Theology; and by the presidents of our CME-affiliated colleges: Rev. Dr. George T. French, Jr., Miles College; Dr. Dwight J. Fennel, Sr., Texas College; Dr. Logan C. Hampton, Lane College; and Dr. Jerry L. Hardee, Paine College. I found it very refreshing to hear the strides that had and are s ll being made at each of the ins tu ons. The presidents, students and facul es are to be commended for the wonderful accomplishments that have taken place.

A er a roll call for resolu ons, reports of the standing commi ees began. The delegates heard the resolu ons and recommenda ons, and, in some cases, there was much discussion before the recommenda on by the Standing Commi ee was resolved.

During the a ernoon and evening sessions, Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton was the presiding officer. More debate seemed to take place than during the morning session.

Maybe it was because the Finance Commi ee gave their report. Several mes the debate was intense; however, the atmosphere remained very orderly.

It was recommended by the Commi ee on Episcopacy, that the character of all the ac ve and re red Bishops be passed.

A er Mrs. Johana Hayes, former Na onal Teacher of the Year who hails from Connec cut, addressed the delegates about her candidacy for the U.S. Legislature, each Episcopal District met in their caucus. It was a good day!

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2018 General Conference

Friday, June 28, 2018

Observations From A Delegate's Perspective Submitted by Adrienne C. Speas

1. Overall, the delegation appeared to be knowledgeable and responsive to the resolutions brought to the floor.

2. Parliamentary Procedures should be reviewed by those who preside.

3. The use of the clickers was inconsistent due to the application of parliamentary procedure.

4. Ministers did not have any options regarding how their retirement plans were set up or diversified.

5. Some resolutions could have been avoided if additional research had taken place in the sub-committees.

6. Camera shots should be on the speakers when addressing their concerns, rather than on the person presiding.

7. Microphone adjustments need to be made after each session; for example, the sound on mic 5 was muffled.

8. Even after repeated instruction, some delegates were unclear on how to operate the clickers.

The Editor wishes to thank the contributors to the content of The Daily Index. Articles and photos were submitted by Rev. Lisa Lewis-Balboa; Pastor Kai Horn; Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Hill; Pastor Delmetria CaysonCombs; Rev. Dr. Earl J. Griffin, Sr.; Rev. Valencia E. Edner; Rev. Cassandry Keys; Dr. Debra Lowe; Rev. Dr. Clarence Kelby Heath; Dr. Barbara Campbell; Dr.Clifford L. Harris; Rev. Dr. Tyrone Davis; Sis. Rita Washington; and Sis. Adrienne C. Speas. Thanks to Hill House Media Company and associates for some photos, and CMETV for their support. Special thanks is given to my sister, Rev. Lydia E. Spragin, for assistance in sales. Very special thanks to my wife, Sis. Phyliss M. Spragin, for her love and commitment to this ministry and to me.

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