Beneath the Surface By Rev. Sheri Smith Clayborn  Recently, there was a leak on the second floor of our house. We could not immediately determine the origin of the leak on our own, so we called a professional. He came to the house and fixed the leak. Later, I began to smell mildew. Initially, the smell was faint, but it became increasingly worse. We discovered the leak had continued after the initial repair. The wetness created the mildew smell and eventually molded in an adjacent area. A repairman cut out the mold that could be seen. I asked why he had not removed a larger part of the wall to make sure there was no mold in other areas. He said he was fairly sure he had gotten it all, knowing that water runs until it reaches something that can hold it or stop it. I told him that I instructed him to check beneath the surface where he had done the work, and there was mold all over the backside of the wall. Had the surface not been removed, we would be living with mold.
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When the Word Become Incarnate: The Power of the Voice
By J. Jioni Palmer, Contributing Writer, The Christian Recorder
 Black. Lives. Matter.
Three. Simple. Words.
Alone they are inanimate. Just words on the page. Without context, definition, relevance, or meaning. Kind of like—White. Deaths. Unimportant. Three. Simple. Words. Black Lives Matter. Together they come alive. Together they have power. Together they demand action. Black Lives Matter. Whoever writes or speaks those words as an affirmation invokes an empowering love for self and others. However, it is more than a declaration or a call to action when proclaimed in this way. It is an action in and of itself. The words have become incarnate.
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The Gift of Black Theological Education and The Black Seminary Collaborative
By Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr.
I was fortunate to complete continuing education unit (CEU) hours from The Gift of Black Theological Education and The Black Seminary Collaborative sponsored by Payne Seminary from January to June 2021. When Dr. John Thomas approached me, I was excited because I could be a student. I tell my students at Louisiana State University, “a good teacher must always learn to be a good student.” The program consisted of twelve one-hour learning modules, and due to COVID-19, these learning modules were presented through technology. This virtual platform added to my learning curve and allowed me to enhance my technology skills.
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The 157th Session of the AME Church’s California Annual Conference: Not Just Business as Usual
By Rev. Dominic L. Holland 
The month of September drew to a close on Thursday, and it seemed to be business as usual throughout the city of San Francisco. The bright lights of the night gave way to the bustle of the big city. Meanwhile, for the 157th time in history, the African Methodist Episcopal Church in California (now comprised of churches and ministries based in Northern California to Central California as well as Reno & Sparks, Nevada) met to report at the call of their bishop. The Right Reverend Clement W. Fugh called the meeting, which for the first time was held both online and in-person from Bethel AME Church of San Francisco. The renowned Presiding Elders, the Rev. Dr. Harold R. Mayberry, and the Rev. Dr. Vernon S. Burroughs, middle managers of this portion of Bishop Fugh’s charge shared the accounts of their respective districts via prerecorded videos at the meeting hosted by churches of the Sacramento Valley. Read More Here |
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Annual/Quarterly Conference Reporting Observations
By Cynthia Gordon-Floyd, CPA, Contributing Writer
In the Disciplinary Questions posed at each Quarterly Conference, the pastor is asked the following questions: - What is the present indebtedness? (For Stewards, Trustees, and the Stewardship Commission, respectively.)
- How much money has been collected for the General Budget Fund?
I would suggest that it is time to change this language to more closely reflect how we should report on the financial activities of our churches.
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Wayman Temple AME Church, Jacksonville, Florida Pays Mortgage  After an unsuccessful run to become the next Executive Director of Retirement Services for the AME church, one may wonder what Pastor Mark L. Griffin would do next. The answer is simple—continue to provide leadership to Wayman Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church and the broader Jacksonville, Florida community. And he came back from the 51st General Conference, continuing to build where he left off. Throughout his campaign, he never slacked on his duties and responsibilities as the senior pastor of one of the most dynamic, up-and-coming churches in our Zion.
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Second Episcopal District Holds Joint Ordination
Rev. Jazmine Brooks, News Editor 
In 2019, The Rt. Rev. James L. Davis, Presiding Prelate of the 2nd Episcopal District, cast the vision for a district-wide ordination service to take place in May of 2020. The three-day event would be complete with renowned musical artists, bishops from across the African Methodist Episcopal Church Connection, and some of the 2ndEpiscopal District’s best preaching. The affair was set to occur at Ebenezer AME Church, and each conference was asked to commit to sending hundreds of people to participate in what would certainly be a “Legacy Celebration.” Read More Here |
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“Those Who Don’t Learn From History…”: Lesson from the 1898 Wilmington Insurrection
By Antjuan Seawright 
We like to think and talk about history, particularly American history; we do so in romantic and idyllic terms as if our past was painted by Norman Rockwell or directed by Frank Capra. But, of course, this view, while tempting, is not true.
The reality is that much of history is distasteful, disgraceful, or outright abhorrent. I’m not saying we should be ashamed of it, but we should recognize it for what it is...and we should learn from it.
Instead, when it comes to certain parts of history, we either mash the ignore button, skip it like some internet ad, or resort to the delete button, hoping to erase it forever. Read More Here |
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Join us our TCR Dialogues next week!
Sunday November 14 at 4 PM EDT with Bishop and Supervisor Wright of the 20th Episcopal District
Monday, November 15 at 4PM EDT with Rev. Jennifer Bailey, CEO of Faith Matters and author of "To My Beloveds" |
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 | | Watch the replay of our dialogue with Bishop Brookins and Episcopal Supervisor Burnett |
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Investiture Information for Bishop Anne Henning Byfield |
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Chaplain, Colonel (select) Regina O. Samuel
We are proud to announce that Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Regina O. Samuel was selected for promotion to Colonel on the Air Force CY21B-621B Chaplain Colonel Board. Pending Senate confirmation, Chaplain Samuel will be the first woman Chaplain Colonel in the Air Force Chaplain Corps endorsed by the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Chaplain Samuel is currently assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, Virginia. She is a member of the Northeast Annual Conference. Her home church is Mt. Zion AME Church, Florence, South Carolina.
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Why Me?
By Cameron Seawright, Connectional YPD Affiliated Groups Chairperson
 During my elementary and middle school years, growing up different and set apart from my peers brought a lot of isolation, bullying, and anxiety. I often asked God and myself a question, “Why me? Why do I have to be the one who is bullied, treated less than, and, most importantly, left out of some things that came with school and social activities?”A few weeks ago, I was privileged to be a panelist on 16th Episcopal District’s webinar. Bishop Marvin Zanders, the Presiding Prelate of the 16th Episcopal District, entitled discussion “Why Me?”
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Updates on AMEC International Health Commission Partnerships with Alzheimer's Association and Farm and Garden Initiative
 The African Methodist Episcopal Church International Health Commission (AME IHC) has moved into the new quadrennium with the expansion of and the development of new activities, events, programs, and planning at all levels of the Connection. Based on recommendations from our most globally attended Quadrennial Training and Meeting (June 2021), we have moved our monthly meetings to the fourth Saturday and have included a time for ongoing training at the opening of each meeting.
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AME University Dean of Bryant College of Theology– Monrovia, Liberia
The African Methodist Episcopal University in fostering its mission is looking for an innovative, vibrant, and progressive “personnel” with the vision, to work with the Bryant Theological Seminary in leading the institution as it continues to accelerate in becoming a premier tertiary institution in Liberia. Applications will be accepted until November 18, 2021.
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Haiti, hunger, and World Food Day
By Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith
 “I just want to be able to put food on the table and feed my family.”These are the words of a young Haitian father who recently found refuge with his young family in Del Rio, Texas. He was one of almost 15,000 Haitian migrants camped in Texas after crossing from Mexico. The young father was responding to a reporter who asked him why he had come to the United States from Haiti. The young father explained that their journey was a response to the environmental and political instability in his beloved home country. Read More Here |
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The 32nd Annual NGO Conference - Virtual
Shawn M. Ross, WMS-AMEC NGO Commissioner and UN Representative
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The News Digest contains selected articles from the newspaper. Click below to get full access! |
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