Howard’s leadership, community outreach increased through various programs including a charter school, a program for formerly incarcerated men, and even a community development corporation, Bethany Cares, Inc. A personal favorite of mine and a project close to the Reverend’s own heart is Jazz Vespers, now in its 15th year. On the first Saturday of each month between October and June, congregants and music fans alike can find worldrenowned jazz artists and local favorites praising God through the sounds of jazz. “I listened to jazz as a high school student in rhythm and blues country,” Howard explained. “I grew up in the church—I was the sexton ringing bells and tidying the building… But I was listening to Coltrane and Miles Davis… When I came to Bethany I already understood the spiritual dimensions of jazz music and had actually thought in my younger days that I would start a congregation that featured only jazz.” That never came to pass, but fortunately, upon Howard’s installation at Bethany they asked the pastor what he would like to have at his celebration and he requested that one evening be devoted to jazz vespers. “The deacons at Bethany were taken aback,” he chuckled; “most of them were quite confused. One of them asked, ‘Reverend, what on Earth does jazz have to do with the church?’ and I almost answered his question. Instead, I told him, ‘Don’t let me try to explain. Let’s you and I go over to St. Peter’s in New York City and experience jazz vespers…” Howard and several deacons piled into a church van accompanied by a second van, three touring buses, and a motorcade of private cars, in addition to those who went by train, making it the best attended jazz vespers in the history of jazz vespers at St. Peter’s. And 15 years later, Bethany’s own jazz vespers are attended by worshippers, fans, and artists from far and near. A Slower Pace After 15 years at Bethany Baptist, Howard has retired to spend time with his loving wife of more than 45 years, Barbara, and bask in the pride of what he considers to be his greatest accomplishment—his three adult children (two
Rev, Giward with Rev. James Forbes
sons and a daughter), and his beloved granddaughter. Visits and spirited discussions and debates with well-known friends such as Dr. Cornell West now occupy his time. But with a faith as strong as his and a heart sized to match, Howard still found time to preach the Easter service at Bethany and then offer me some spiritual guidance and reinforcement the following morning. “I want you to remember this and in critical moments share it with those who need it,” he advised. “You only meet God when you know for sure that you have nowhere else to turn. You may be pious, you may go through the motions, but you meet God when you know that it’s out of your hands—not that you are letting it go, but it is beyond your control . . . It is only when you know that you are not in charge, My Dear, that you meet God.” And with the warmth and wisdom of those words, Rev. Howard embodied exactly why I and so many others are so grateful to have met him.
“I want you to remember this and in critical moments share it with those who need it,” he advised. “You only meet God when you know for sure that you have nowhere else to turn. You may be pious, you may go through the motions, but you
Mrs. Barbara and Rev. M. William Howard
meet God when you know that it’s out of your hands . . .”—Rev. M. William Howard
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April 2016 The Positive Community
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