Missions and Evangelism

Throughout the week, a few Missions Projects took place throughout the city of New Orleans. Rev. Dwayne Golightly, General Secretary of the Department on Evangelism and Missions, as a component of his Summit class, “Teaching the Mission of the CME Church”, small groups of people took cars to bring food to persons who were in need. Leaving around lunchtime every day, these conference participants went to minister to the church congregation out in the New Orleans community.

The Young Adults also collected school supplies and monies for a project entitled, “Issac’s Closet”, to benefit the J D Meisler Middle School in New Orleans, LA. Coordinated by Armisha Walker-Harrison, Advisor to the Connectional Young Adult Ministry, Meisler students, many of whom lost their belongings in Hurricane Issac received over $2500 in supplies.

See pictures below of Missions in action.

Friday Morning Bible Study

“Getting Ready to Close, but I’m trying to find a place to land”

On Friday, September 28, 2012, Bishop James Walker concluded his bible study by focusing on the Temple and David’s relationship to it.  In addition to the Bible Study hand out from Thursday, these notes will give a full recounting of the class.

Chronicler is telling the importance of the land for the Temple. This is the first time it is mentioned about having a full-time priesthood.  The Levites were those who established the designated full ministry rolls in service.  The Chronicler has a consciousness of who God is and offers that we must be in some kind of intimate worship with God.  The Chronicler comes to us with an understanding of who God is – that God is a Holy God.  You need to have some clean hands  - we need to be a consecrated person in order to work with the Lord. 

You need those who can be ready to serve.  When Hezekiah came to Solomon’s Temple where there was over 200+ billion dollars, he finds a temple where the doors won’t even open.   In having full time and fully dedicated people, need to be sanctified, dedicated, and engaged, someone ought to be ready for full time service.

David established the Zadicite priesthood.  Establishes the Levites. David is more than a King.  Psychically and physically present. The ark is a very spiritual thing. The promises of King David were lived out in his generations.    It is an intentional teaching lesson for Israel to see a more complete picture of David.  If we only focus on the Psalms and other books, we do not have a full understanding of David.  Chronicles offers this. 

David must be much more than a King – David is both a Priest and a King.  He is a Temple planter.  David is a man of worship – a liturgical dancer, a prophet of the oracles of God, the Bishop of the Levites, organizes all the preachers of the day.  It is important that Israel understands David in the full contextual role. If you really know David, he was as much invested in the temple as he was into the Kingship.   If you really care about David, look to his communion with God.  Even though the throne is gone, the temple is still around – which means the spiritual is more important.

There is a distinct correlation to the New Testament – If it’s only about Kingship, then what does it look like today?  Jesus is the son of David. He is setting up a hope in God based on the link to the past. Here there is intentional Ideology – even though we have no Kingship, as long as we have a temple, we are God.  The presence of the temple validates David and the importance of the temple in spirituality.  It becomes a Legacy of Hope – how Jesus could become a son of David.

Scholars consider the Priest of David – or David as a priest.  We only see the David of worship in the Psalms.  Scholars raise the question of where does the image of David goes beyond the praiser. What is the identity of this King of Glory?  The Chronicler answered this in Samuel and Kings.  Nobody is sure of his identity, but he does a good job in allowing David to be a great king, the ideal warrior and the priest of praise.  The Chronicles shows worship that is exciting and life giving.  Worship with all your might.  Worshiping God with your whole heart – let the whole nation shout before the Lord.  The full-time priesthood includes but is not limited to, blessing food, clothing the naked and healing the sick.

Prayer of Jabez is a temptation to preach, but what the Chronicler finds compelling is not Jabez.  It’s not the man who requested it, but the God who answered it. Jabez was a common man who prayed, but the Lord answers his prayers.  When you talk to God, God will show up and God will show out.

Similarly in 2 Chronicles 33:10-20, Menassah prays to God.  God didn’t take him to the graveyard but the backyard.  He figured out God in the middle of a jail cell praying in a dungeon when he belonged. He wombed himself.  The Lord also heard an evil King who was somebody.

The full and complete Bible Study is available for purchase via CMETv.

Women's Missionary Council

September 24-29, 2012, the Women’s Missionary Council of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church held their annual meeting as apart of the CME Unity Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana.  In a beautiful ballroom with window overlooking the Mississippi Riverbend, the ladies of blue and white attended to their business of reports from the various Boards.  Exploring the theme of "Reach...Teach...Train...Send", the delegates recognized the progress of their support of schools in South Africa and Haiti, and presented on various subjects including “Dancing with Him” by Sis. Connie Jenkins of Porter St. Paul CME Church in Northport, Alabama, relating dance to the private nature of our relationship with God.

Missionary President Princess Pegues presided over the
Women's Missionary Council Meeting during the Unity Summit.

One of their duties included recognizing the presence of the Host Bishop and the first lady by honoring them with custom embroidered stolls.

Missionary Lunch "Here am I, Lord": Celebrating Women Touching the World

On Thursday, September 27, 2012, the Women's Missionary Society hosted their Annual Luncheon at the 1st CME Unity Summit in New Orleans, Louisana.  The highlights of the program included Dr. Louise Brown's recounting the history of past Missionary Presidents, the Women's Missionary Choir, raising $10,000 for Miles College and an address by Mrs. Cynthia M A Butler-McIntyre, National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc as the guest speaker.

Mrs. Butler-McIntyre's message from John 2:1-5 looked at the lessons one could learn from Jesus at the wedding of Cana.  Under the title of "Just Do It", Butler-McIntyre point out that to receive from God you must: 1) Ask for it - we are "Heirs of Salvation" so ask in the name of Jesus for it to work; 2) Wait for an Answer - until we have a divine instructions; 3) Act on it - don't be disobedient, for it scars.

See some of the pictures below:

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Bible Study

Bishop James Walker presented the second part of the Bible Study for the CME Unity Summit on Wednesday, September 27, 2012 @ 8:00am on the Book of Chronicles. This morning, the specific focus was on King David.  Below are notes that supplement the Bible Study worksheet passed out during the session:

 - We are Euros, we are Westerns – a west orientation to things.  Most of the world is not.  Genealogy is important to everyone else.  It is a value  - think of African griots.  Faith Comes by Hearing - The Faith project – translating the Bible for every one.  John 3:16 is important to us, but others are interested in Luke 3:16 – the genealolgy. They like to see how Jesus is hooked up – who he is, not just what he said.  Started asking about fact because it didn’t seem to match, but they didn’t realized that we are asking the wrong questions.  We can not interpret it through our own eyes.

- We expand and contract the genealogy – contract since family will have children outside of marriage; it will be expanded when those secrets come out.

Consider the Kennites – the Africans connected to Jethro (included because they traveled with them). Based on the Kennite hypothesis – that Jethro helped Moses to see God.

- This morning, we're discussing the David of the Chronicles.   It is the Primary source about David.  Outside of the Bible, it’s like he never lived. Only in the Jewish literary tradition.

Joseph Telushkin discusses this in the Jewish literacy tradition.  David is described more familiarly than any other person.

- David He is presented as the youngest of Jesse’s.  Why does Jesse not even present the 8^th son?  Because he was the youngest.  This was a winner take the inheritance society.  The oldest takes it all; if he was the youngest of three, it would make a different.  David lives on the “Southside of Chicago” – lives in a time of Philistines, Giants and Israel.  He had no hopes of getting an inheritance.  He was born under challenging circumstances. 

The first words you hear out of the mouth of David is, "Tell me again, what happens to the brother who kills Goliath?" Not a shock because David stands to inherit nothing.  God uses the circumstances – the disadvantage to become an advantage for the rest of his life.  “If you are born with a disadvantage, it can be turned to an advantage for the rest of your life.  For there is nothing impossible for God.”

David understood that as a shephard he had to have many different professions:

•        was a singer (got a gig with the King – Luther Vandross of is time; made rhymn)
•        was a fighter (Muhammad Ali) was an expert as using the slingshot. (Goliath was a meal ticket, inheritance, can marry up – had nothing to lose; was winning battles against lions and bears)
•         Gang banger (not doing drugs, but they work with the whomever will take care of them) 1 Chronicles 11:10 - 47 - the mighty Men of David.  oOe of David’s boys, Joshabeam, killed 300 men by himself. Others were just as "accomplished".  They sang a song in 1 Samuel 18:7 comparing Saul and David.   If you were coming to fight David, do not bring your lunch.

David does not have the good fortune of going to seminary.  But God has given him gifts and graces.  David feels he has to be loyal to the royal in him.  “How can I bring out of me, what God has put in me?”  The Pasture should your University, your college, so that when you get a Goliath opportunity, your slingshot will be ready. It’s what we do for ourselves. 

This is the man that God uses in a special way.   Even though David has the might, God has the design.  God was watching over David while he was in the pasture.  Not one step of your life was not ordered by God.  God placed you here by Divine providence.  Sometimes he reverted back to what he knew.

Led one kind of life, but was given a second chance.  Doesn’t go into the negativity.

Seven last words of David (see handout) 

Where 1 Kings 4 paints a negative picture, Chronicles shows David’s interests in building a temple. God holds David back on a technicality – David was a man of war. God wouldn’t let him build the temple.  If I can’t be on the board, let me help the board.  Setting up the stage for the temple. Provide over 600 lbs of gold.  Chronicles shows how he moves from being King David to being Rev. Dr. David.

Installation of Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr.

The Installation of Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr. as Chair of the College of Bishops of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church took place at the Annual CME Unity Summit on Wednesday, September 26, 2012 following the Connectional Board Meeting.  Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Sr, served as the liturgist.

The participants sang the hymn, "My Hope is Built", and the Affirmation of Faith was lead by Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham.  The prayer was offered by Bishop James B. Walker and the Scripture, Romans 8:31-39, was read by Bishop Godwin T. Umoette.  Special presentations were then presented by Presiding Elder Delmetria Cayson-Combs and members from the 2nd Episcopal District regional auxilaries.  Mrs. Sharon McDuffie, with help from a sample of the CYAM Choir, sang "Encourage Yourself" (see video below) followed by The Charge and Investiture was given by Senior Bishop Hoyt, who has chaired the committee twice.  He offered Bishop Williams, "I charge you to seek to be faithful, seek to be fruitful, seek to have a shepherd's heart, and seek to hear to recognize everyone as equal and that everyone has a comment to make."

The Prayer of Induction was made by Bishop Teresa E. Snorton, after which Bishop Williams accepted his selection as the Chair of the College of Bishops with sermonic reflections on Numbers 13:30-33, offering "A Message of Encouragement".  He offered three points: 1) Stop thinking about how small you are; understand what God can do with the little; 2) When you're about to get discouraged, you should look at who you're listening to; and 3) When you find yourself getting discouraged, look back at how far you come.

Bishop Marshall Gilmore prayed The Prayer for the Church and after the Hymn "O Rapturous Scenes", Bishop Othal H. Lakey pronounced the Benediction.

Quotable Quotes

"When we stop learning, we stop teaching." Elder Jane Thomas, Dialogue between Ministers and Lay

Quotable Quotes

"Don't talk tithing, teach tithing. Don't talk giving, teach people how to give."
~ Rosemary Hill

Lunch in Clusters

On Wednesday, September 26, 2012, the time designated for lunch as turned into fellowship between groups - Presiding Elders, Young Adults, old friends and new ventured out to explore New Orleans through food. The Presiding Elders had a luncheon, YAs fellowship at a local restaurant and other took the opportunity to just take in the city for a moment. Here's a pic from the luncheon.

Quotable Quotes

Are we teaching a crossless Gospel? Are we leaving [Jesus] out of the story?
Rev. Denise Anders Modest, Teaching Jesus

Quotable Quotes

"What do we want them to receive when they come in? We should want them to leave with a message of God." Dwayne Golightly, The Mission of the CME Church

Summit Session Rooms

For those who did not receive the insert, see the photo below.

Bible Study

On Wednesday, September 25, 2012 at the CME Unity Summit in New Orleans, LA, Bishop James B. Walker presented Bible Study, looking at The Book of Chronicles for the Week.   This morning was an introduction to the Old Testament book, which Bishop Walker refers to as "... a book not the be read, but... to be studied". The text from the handout is available at www.c-m-e.org/biblestudy.pdf, but here are a few highlights not listed.

Walker expounds on the history of Chronicles by presents the transitional phase from the old the new.  The Chronicler takes a turn from what was presented before him - it is a book that in fact ends with a word from Cyrus, previously the oppressor, who says there is a word from God.  When you teach intentionally, you cater to the needs and make it relevant to the current times, referring to Bishop Snorton's keynote from the night before (see Grow Up, Graduate and Get a Job). Walker talks about the Hebrew Bible, the TaNaK, or TNK, and the importance of Chronicles in the Jewish tradition.  He encourages us to look at Sarah Japhet as a reference, author of the commentary on 1 and 2 Chronicles.

"There is a revolution of the spiritual that is taking place today", Bishop Walker muses, discussing how  people want to understand the Quran and the Bible, want to not have to go to church to be Christian - all things that come up in the Book of Chronicles.   But this is not new, for, as Walker addresses, how not to be a church is listed in the reading of 1 and 2 Kings, and 1 and 2 Samuel.  He specifically talks about 2 Samuel 13:1 - 2 Samuel 16:6 on the lineage of David, the rape of Tamar, the death of Amnon and the King and his people have to leave, walking with his head down.

In some churches, when people join the church, the first thing they do it tell all the gossip, but we need to see how we can look forward.  David looks past his children's wrongs and finds hope in Solomon.  "Yes, there is bad stuff to talk about," said Bishop Walker, "but you have to teach hope and you have to teach hope intentionally."

Walker invites participants to read the first 9 chapters, which are about genealogy.  He refers to them as Black book (The Bible) and Red book issues (The Discipline) when the Chronicler stops in the middle to bring in facts about the land.  Walker encourages read the reading of the laws so that we can govern our lands.   He goes on to encourage the understanding of the importance of genealogy by seeing what would happen if either the stories out of your Family Reunion are omitted or taking down the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC?   The Chronicler was using the genealogy to inspire.  Walker ends by mentioning that, "[The first nine books of Chronicles] is where Israel puts her hand on her true identity.

Keeping Up with the Full Story

There are so many overlapping meetings and events that no one avenue can capture it all!  For persons on site, be sure to purchase The Daily Index with the full highlights of the day's events.  Also, feel free to also purchase CDs and DVDs through CMETv.

Keynote Assembly

The Keynote Assembly of the CMEUnity Summit of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Chuch took place on Tuesday,September 25, 2012 at 7:00pm at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.  This evening’s service was the firstofficial gathering of the Summit and opened the conference. Rev. Dr. CarmichaelCrutchfield served as the Worship Leader, moving the service through the Callto Worship, The Hymn of Praise “The Church’s One Foundation”, The Affirmationof Faith (see The Modern Affirmation).   The prayer was offered by newly elected CYAM PresidentRev. Keenan Kline Winters and the Scripture, Acts 2:42-47, read by Mr. LeoPinkett, Director of Ministry to Men.

The Welcome was given by BishopThomas L. Brown, Sr., the Host Bishop, who greeted the conference attendees withthe inspiration of  The music forthe evening was provided by The Voices of the Fourth Episcopal District.  Although the program listed the Announcementsto be done by Jeannette Bouknight, the Introduction of the Speaker by SeniorBishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. and the Hymn of Preparation “Spirit of God DescendUpon My Heart”, the spirit moved through the room and caused a redirection of the program.  Bishop Teresa Snorton preached immediatelyfollowing the choir from the text Hebrews 5:12-14 with reference to Matthew7:24-28 and the subject of “Graduate, Grow Up and Get a Job” (see “Graduate,Grow Up and Get a Job”).

Rev. Dr. Tyrone Davis offered the Invitation and the congregation sang "Spirit of the Living God". Rev. Chris Hale took up the microphone afterwards and continued the song and praise broke out again in the room, delaying the announcements again.  Sis. Bouknight finally did get the announcements, with some others from Bishop Thomas Brown.  The Assembly ended with two Benedictions - one from Ephesians 1:17-19 and the other with the full congregation standing and declaring "Glory, Glory, surely the Lord was in this place."

            Seea snippet of the worship service below. Full services are available throughCMETv.

Grow Up, Graduate and Get a Job

“Protocol has been established and the Holy Spirit hasdeclared that it’s Preaching time,” Bishop Teresa Snorton, Presiding Prelate ofthe 5th Episcopal District of the CME Church. "And although this is a Keynote address, we will allow theSpirit to move in this place.”  Addressing the 1st CME Unity Summit in New Orleans on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, after the anointing moved through the songs of Voices of the Fourth (rearranging the program), she expounded on a  Hebrews 5: 12-14, with reference to Matthew 7:24-28.  The following are notes and summaries of the address.

Snorton began with describing sociological, physical, psychological and physiological map of maturation society have grown to adopt.  Children are taught to grow up, graduate and get a job following their schooling. More often then not now, the first two occur, but not the latter.  In the text, Snorton explains, that Hebrews is an Epistle written by not one of Jesus' immediate disciples, but one converted over.  The Hebrews, or Jews who were believers that Jesus was the Messiah, were not new converts.  The writer expected that they would be more mature in the faith than they were - still at an elementary level when it comes to the faith.  Somehow the Hebrews had failed to move past the role as mature Christians.

The problem with kingdom building was that the laborers were few, so the writers was disappointed because the numbers weren't able to grow.  Snorton asks, "Would our parents be proud of our roles in the kingdom building process or are we still babes?"

Snorton shared, that in a recent survey, the Protestants ranked behind Agnostics and Atheist in being able to name the four gospel books in the bible.  Moreover, in 2003, the Bonner group randomly selected a group of adults who indicated their spiritual allegiance and only 14% said they were spiritually satisfied, 40% said somewhat satisfied, and most did not identify as spiritually mature.  Snorton likened it to the participants room saying that the majority of the people would say there were not spiritually satisfied. Many are not satisfied because of the church itself.  Snorton declared, "The church should never be a hindrance to those persons to grow up, graduate and get a job."

She then mentioned a memory of "accidentally on purpose", a phrase developed by her younger sister after committing a household faux pas.  And while it became a catch phrase for the siblings, the weight of the consequences did not feel as heavy, though the actions were greater.  Snorton challenged conference participants to wonder if they were teaching with intention.  Intentional, Snorton defined as "on purpose, with intent, and not by accident".   Intentional teaching, instead of teaching accidentally on purpose, inspires those to maximize the affects of teaching on the students.

The Hebrew writer did not give up on them not because they were good students in the past, he was invested in them. Snorton goes on to discuss that there are 245 references in the bible that contain "teach", "teacher" or "teaching", including 1 Corinthians 13:1, Exodus 18:20, Deuteronomy 6:7, Proverbs 9:9, Luke 11:1 and Matthew 28:19-20.   The Hebrews writer made disciples, baptized them, but the teaching had not been successful.

How should we teach successfully by intentional teaching in the church?  Matthew 7:24-28, Snorton used, to explain that you do so by 1) teaching done with authority, but not dogmatic, distant, demanding demeanor, and that 2) Intentional teaching is great teaching that inspires.  The people were astonished by Jesus' teaching.  Great teaching inspires to the point of transformation, enhancing what is known, believed and our actions.  "We should be so inspired that we are unable to stop using what we've learned," Snorton stated.

Snorton then considered the two tools: 1) Methodology, or basic processes by which we teach and 2) Curriculum, which defines the content of what we are teaching.  An intentional teacher knows how to  teach old facts to a new generation.  Jesus, Snorton explains, was a genius of methodology - he was able to captivate large audiences without technology - he used story to convey his truths.  He was in total command of the language he used to express his thoughts. He was able to get people to transform those facts into things that could change their lives.  Each contains an intentional lesson about what it means to be a good Christian.  methodology and depths of teaching.

For example, in the book New Wines in Old Wineskins, by R. Stephen Warner warns that the Civil Rights Discourse has little relevance to the Young Adult born after the 1970s.  To reach generations X, Y and millenia, teaching history, but make it relevant.  Perhaps, Bishop Snorton challenged, the dialogue could relate Noah's Ark to building a homeless shelter in the backyard.  Understanding that Sunday School was an actual school because the only day they had off, or Christmas time because it was the only time people had off may not be as relevant now.  Snorton also raises that Friday night might be a better time to have Christian Education since people do not work on the weekend.

Snorton also mentions that Jesus went to where people were to do His teachings instead of waiting for others to come to him. HE provides an example then provides a biblical meaning, then raises questions to peak the student's curiosity. This is how people are ready to say one day he saved my soul, one day he was my light and my salvation.  This method helps us move beyond what we were taught, to what we have learned and what we have lived.

In Jesus' curriculum was more remarkable that what we knew. The crowd was astonished because he spoke with authority, meaning he gave fresh insight to well known truth.  Snorton expounds that Jesus did not just rehash and repackage, but gave a new living and relationship understanding that God was not far off, but very present.  The Bible and The Discipline are standard texts, "but where does the sacred word engage with Science, Technology, Mathematics and Hip Hop"?  God does not just resonate within the Bible - to make that limitation would make God finite.

There's always a fresh word from the Lord about our societies. We are called to search for the truth - a truth that Jesus would recognize that is embedded in love and not in the things that dissolve the church.  Snorton mentions that like Carter G. Woodson declared there was a "Miseducation of the Negro" there is also a "Miseducation of the Christian".  To make intentional teaching, there must be an insurance that the curriculum matches the Word of God.

What have you learned lately that would qualify you to graduate?  We often walk around like we know everything but all the answers may be wrong. Or we're answering the wrong questions. Or we're ignoring the questions.  We often fight like babies over the remote control when there are 3 other tvs in the house.  Snorton says, "It's time for us to grow up and graduate so that we can do the job they are calling us to do."

Snorton also mentioned that the teacher is always the student.  "None of us know everything and we must never forget that we are just the messenger."   The final graduation is the one when Jesus calls us home, we have to reflect on the first graduation.  The time is now for intentional teaching, time to grow up and put away childish things.  Time to no longer do our own will but do away with what God has done for us.  "May we invite the Holy Spirit to fall Fresh on us to open our minds, ears and heart," Snorton declared ending the Keynote.

The Modern Affirmation

During the Keynote Assembly the CME Unity Summit on Monday, September 25, 2012, for the Affirmation of Faith as not the traditional Apostle's Creed.  In honor of seeing something different, here is the text for future use.  Stay tuned for full accounts of the Assembly and the Address.

Leader: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is one true Church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare:

All: We believe in God the Father, infinite wisdom, power and love, whose mercy is over all His work, and whose will is ever directed to His children’s good.

We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father's unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.

We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need.

We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen.

Quotable Quotes

"If my life depended on what I was doing, what would I do different?  I'd tell them my life does depend on it, because what I'm doing is about salvation" Bishop Thomas Brown, address in the Board of Christian Education

Registration at the Unity Summit

It's conference time! Registration is on the 3rd floor and is divided by districts. Registrants receive a bag, souvenir booklet, name badge and a Certificate of Participation!

Embracing God

"When peace like a river attendeth my way...."

This morning, before getting ready for the day, take a little time to allow the fabulousness of God to inundate you. Go to the nearest Riverbend facing window and see the Ferries traverse the sparkling waters. Be overwhelmed by the diligent rising sun, strong and bold, ready to commence the work day. See the lush green grass of Woldenberg Park providing a standing place for those who need a quiet moment. Before the week is out, plan to meet the river face to face; be renewed and refreshed by the wonderful things God shows us through the hands of nature.

"And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes." (Ezekiel 47:9 NKJV)

Surely the Lord is in this Place

On Monday, September 24, 2012, during the Pre-Summit activities, Bishop Lawrence Reddick, Presiding Prelate of the 1st Episcopal District, delivered the message, "Surely the Lord is in this Place". The scripture was Genesis 28:10-18 and focused on the story of Jacob and his encounter with God.   He  first relayed his excitement of having the invitation, then challenged the congregation by asking "Have You Lost Your Excitement".  Bishop Reddick discussed his own experiences coming into spiritual awareness particularly within the CME Church and had 4 main points based on Jacob's:

1) Bethel was already a holy place.

2) It’s not sacrosanct to a place.  

3) Jacob’s Bethel must be experienced in the first person not the third.

4) A Holy Place can lose its holiness.

Bishop Reddick made these points and many more.  Hear the entire sermon below:

Working to Make our Church a Better Place of Worship

The Ministers and Laymen’s Council presented a service for those meeting pre-Unity Summit on Friday, September 24, 2012 at 7:00pm in the Sheraton Hotel.  The theme for the evening was “Clergy and Lay Leaders, Working to Make Our Church a Better Place of Worship” with the scripture of emphasis as Romans 12:1-2.

The Worship Leader for the evening was Rev. Versie P. Easter who presented the Call to Worship, the Congregational Hymn of “What A Fellowship” and the Prayer. The Affirmation of Faith was given by Sister Gilda A. Walker.  The Old Testament Scripture, read by Dr. Clifford Harris, was Genesis 28:10-19 and the New Testament Scripture, read by Rev. Cassandry Keys, was 1 Corinthians 16:5, 8-9.  The Calvary Tabernacle CME Choir offered several songs (see one of their selections below).  Sis. Barbara Campbell gave Greetings, encouraging us to remember that it indeed is “A Wonderful World”, quoting the song by New Orleans native Louis Armstrong, to be in the house of the Lord.  The Statement or Purpose was given by Brother Willie Robinson and the Offering by Rev. Dr. Eddie Jumper.  During the offering, we witnessed the Curry Temple Ushers doing their youtube famous stroll to the choir’s song, “Thank you Jesus for Blessing Me”.

After the Introduction of the Speaker with Brother Willie Robinson, Sister Jeanette Bouknight, Connectional Executive Secretary sang "I Don't Know About Tomorrow" for the Song of Preparation. Bishop Reddick brought the preached word from the Old Testament Lesson scripture under the subject, “Surely the Lord is in this Place”, challenging the Lay and Clergy to be aware and enlighted by the presence of God during this time (see article “Surely the Lord is in This Place").

Afterwards, Rev. Duane A. Hill extended The Invitation and Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt gave the Benediction.

The Blue Dog will greet you...

Once arriving in NO, it'll be easy to spot the Riverbend, the Superdome, and the Fleur-de-lys almost everywhere you turn. It's absolutely beautiful but can be overwhelming, especially of its your first time here. And with registration and check-in lines a little longer than normal, you may find yourself checking your watch often. Don't give into that feeling - instead turn your attention to something you may have already noticed.

If you're staying in the Sheraton, when checking in, the first thing you'll see is a room full of enormous cobalt blue dogs. It is actually one dog, just in multiple prints and poses. George Rodrigue, a native of New Iberia, LA used his dog, Tiffany, as his muse for this installation on loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art. Tiffany has many outfits though you may not notice because it's her eyes that will captivate you, or spook you. Whatever your reaction, it is nonetheless a very different welcome to the city.

Stay tuned for information on Registration and a recap of the Clergy and Lay Worship Service featuring Bishop Lawrence Reddick.

Welcome to the Unity Summit, CMEs!

The First CME Unity Summit Starts Tuesday!

It's here!  The CME Unity Summit 2012 has almost arrived.  This is the site for coverage of the speakers, workshops, sights and sounds.  Feel free to comment and share with friends.

Welcome to New Orleans!

Welcome to the 2012 CME Unity Summit!