Lay Notebook - September, 2010

A PUBLICATION OF THE SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT LAY ORGANIZATION

Volume 16, Issue 3 September, 2010 ALLEN SEMIQUINCENTINNIAL EDITION # 3

ONLINE ADDITION # 2 - SIXTH DISTIRCT LAY BIENNIAL

LAY NOTEBOOKLAY NOTEBOOKLAY NOTEBOOKLAY NOTEBOOK

THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA

SIXTH DISTIRCT’S NINTH LAY BIENNIAL CONVENTION "A Legacy of Christian Leadership and Training"

Bishop Richard Allen February 14, 1760 - March 26 1831

President’s Message Page 3

Convention Schedule Page 3

Bios of Presenters Pages 4, 5, 6 & 7

Purpose & Objectives Pages 7 & 10

Lay Convention Scenes Page 8 & 9

HBCUs Pages 10 & 11

HBCU Graduates Pages 11 & 15

Bishop Edward Waters Pages 12 - 14

Retreat Highlights Page 14

Convocation Page 14

Necrology Page 15

Photos: We wish to thank all persons who contributed to the photo

display in this issue of LAY NOTEBOOKLAY NOTEBOOKLAY NOTEBOOKLAY NOTEBOOK. Thanks to Sisters Phyllis Gwenette Boyd and Sondra Barnes for pictures of the Lay Retreat.

Special Thanks is extended too Dr. Mark Kelly Tyler, Pastor of Mother Bethel for granting us permission to use the Richard Allen 250 Logo and his wife, Mrs. Leslie M .Tyler for sending us this logo.

LAY NOTEBOOK LAY NOTEBOOK LAY NOTEBOOK LAY NOTEBOOK is the Official publication of the Sixth District Lay Organization of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Article of interest to the Laity are welcome and should be submitted to that above e mail or mailing address one month prior to our scheduled meeting dates.

Inside This Issue

September, 2010

SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT

LAY ORGANIZATION OFFCERS

President Gloria T. Byrd

First Vice President Michael Brown

Second Vice President Henry Chavers

Third Vice President Dr. Verma Curtis

Recording Secretary Melanie Lucear Assistant

Recording Secretary Robbiestein Stone

Corresponding Secretary Sandra Barnes Treasurer

Maudie Anderson Financial Secretary Waynefield Leonard

Chaplain Ola Irvin

Historiographer Bettye Draper

Parliamentarian Geraldine Monroe

Director of Lay Activities Cheryl Robinson

Young Adult Representative Jason Ferguson

Transportation Chairperson L. Jean Swafford Director of

Public Relations Robert T. Matthews III PRESIDENTS EMERITUS Dr. Robert Williams Morris Hannah

CONNECTIONAL PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Dr. Katheryn Middleton Brown


CONFERENCE PRESIDENTS South - Joann Wilson Southwest - Anna Wynn Georgia - Joan Brown Augusta - Eunice Seigle Macon - Latrellis Dent

Atlanta-North Georgia - Annette Curry

PRESIDING BISHOP Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Sr.

EPISCOPAL DISTRICT SUPERVISOR Dr. Pam DeVeaux

PAGE 2 L A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O K VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3


CO�TACT US Mail: Robert T. Matthews 811 Sandy Creek Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30331 E mail: [email protected]

LEARNING ALONG WITH HAVING FUN!! This newsletter is dedicated to our

retreat and the up coming Episcopal Biennial Convention. I want to thank those of you who traveled quite a distance to George T. Bagby State Park for our retreat. Our First Vice President should appear on one of the reality food shows!! He prepared the best fish along with ribs, hotdogs, chicken and hamburgers for participants. We were fed with food and fun. The Macon Conference won first prize in the AME Jeopardy Game with Atlanta North coming in second. Our activity Director Mrs. Cheryl Robinson had prizes for the best fisherman, bid whisk player, and the winner of the "Name that Tune" game on Friday night.

A special thanks to Bishop and Dr. PAM for they atten-dance and support along with Presiding Elder & Mrs. Williamson and Presiding Elder John Bass.

As we approach September in Columbus, GA, we are planning a great time for all. We have some of the best presenters and for the first time our Young Adult Representative (YAR) will be participating on program. So please re-serve your rooms by August 28, 2010 and submit your Convention registration to your Confer-ence President by August 30, 2010. The Registra-tion fee is still $100. However, late registration and on site will be $130. We were moved by the owners of the Doubletree to their second prop-

erty, the Marriott, which is just across the street from the Columbus Trade Center. The room rates are still $109 per night. You will find the convention schedule in this edition. See you in Columbus!!!!!

Gloria T. Byrd,Gloria T. Byrd,Gloria T. Byrd,Gloria T. Byrd, Episcopal District Lay President Episcopal District Lay President Episcopal District Lay President Episcopal District Lay President

President’s Message


President

Gloria T. Byrd

TENTATIVE AGENDA AND SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER 16-18, 2010

September 16, 2010 1:00 - 5:00 pm ………………………Registration

7:00 pm …Worship Service at Saint James AMEC Bishop Deveaux delivering the Message

September 17, 2010 Columbus Trade Center- Columbus, GA

8:30 -9:00 …… Bible Study, Dr. Calvin Sydnor, III 9:00- 10:15…………….Christian Recorder

and AME Communications 10:30 11:15…National Historical Society

Presentation by Jeanne Cyriaque “How to List Our Churches in the

National Register of Historic Places.” 11:30-12:30…….Rev. Michael Brown, Ph. D. (AME) Professor at Candler Seminary/Emory

12:30 -2:00 pm Lunch 2:15-3:00…. Open Mike with YAR. Jason Ferguson

3:00-4:30 pm………………Panel Discussion

Dr. Cheryl Dozier Moderator Introduction: by Robert T. Matthews, III

with a Historical Perspective on AME Schools. What Method of Support is Needed for

AME Educational Institutions to Survive the 21st Century?

Dr. Claudette H. Williams of SACS, Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams & Dr. Stanley Pritchett 8:00pm…Recognition Banquet (Convention Center)

Mistress of Ceremony - Zeneta Lowe Note: The Banquet will have a surprise guest. For $50 banquet tickets may be purchased separately and will include dinner and special guest.

September 18, 2010 - Doubletree Hotel 10:00 ………………… Devotion

10:15 -11:00 am………….Business session 11:00-1:00…………………...Auction

and Ball Room Dancing demonstration Circle Count and Adjournment

THE SIXTH EXPISCOPAL

DISTRICT LAY ORGANIZATION QUARTERLY GATHERING

Ninth Biennial Lay Convention September 16-18, 2010

Marriott Hotel & Trade Center - Columbus, Georgia

Bishop William P. DeVeaux Dr. Pam DeVeaux

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3


Listed below by last name, in alphabetical order, is a brief biographical sketch of the Sixth District Lay Biennial Con-vention Workshop Presenters and other special guest participants. Dr. Michael Joseph Brown is Associate Professor of

New Testament and Christian Origins at the Candler School of Theology and the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies and Classics from Vanderbilt University. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago and has

done addition study on the culture of Roman Egypt at New York’s Columbia University. Dr. Brown was born in Clarksburg, WV, and spent his formative years in Cincinnati, OH. His late father was an A.M.E. Minister. In1990, Dr. Brown also was ordained as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He then went on to serve as pastor of a number of Churches which include: Greater Bethel AME (Nashville, TN), First AME (Gary, IN), Greater Institu-tional AME (Chicago, IL), Ebenezer AME (Evanston, IL), Allen Chapel AME (Indianapolis, IN), Bethel AME (Lafayette, IN), St. John AME (Atlanta, GA), and New Be-thel AME (Lithonia, GA). Presently he spends his time as a widely published lecturer in addition to his work at Emory. Jeanne Cyriaque coordinates African American pro-grams in Georgia’s Historic Preservation Division in the

Department of Natural Resources. She is the staff liaison to the Georgia African American Historic Preservation Network steering committee and is the editor of Reflections, the quarterly pub-lication that features the preservation of African-American historic resources

and cultural heritage in Georgia. Saving Georgia’s African-American churches is one of the preservation initiatives that she advocates. She provides technical assistance to churches that are eligible or listed in the National Register of Historic Places. She has hosted conferences in Augusta and Brunswick at African-American churches and frequently gives presentations on the importance of preserving these community landmark buildings. Jeanne Cyriaque is a founding member of the Rosenwald Schools Initiative of the National Trust for Historic Pres-ervation. She was elected to the Board of Advisors of

the National Trust and represents Georgia. Jeanne Cyriaque was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to serve as a commissioner of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, a National Heritage Area that includes the barrier islands and coastal regions in Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina. She re-cently completed her two-year term as the commission’s first secretary. She is a member of the selection committees for the Georgia Historical Society historic marker program and Georgia Women of Achievement. Jeanne completed her bachelor’s degree at Bradley University and holds a mas-ter of arts from the University of Illinois, both in sociol-ogy. Veda Howard was born with humor surging through her veins. Initially clueless to this gift, she would often

wonder why people were laughing at her when she was merely trying to communicate basic information. When a coworker approached her revealing she dreamed that Veda was on stage at a comedy club and the entire audi-ence was laughing, she realized it was over her head. The coworker was unaware but, a few months prior, Veda was actually on stage for the first

time at the exact comedy club mentioned in the dream. She embraced the inevitable, it was time to grab the mic and spread some joy. Since stepping to the microphone, she has been seen on Comcast Local Comedy On Demand and on "L.O.L.", the online video comedy feature of Atlanta's premier newspaper, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She has performed on stage at The Punch-line Comedy Club, The Funny Farm comedy Club, Atlanta’s historic Dogwood Festival, the One Love Gos-pel Cruise and various other events. Veda can currently be seen on HAHAlujah!, an online comedy feature for Atlanta's Inspiration Station, Praise 102.5- mypraiseatl.com. In addition to her love of laughter, Veda is also a gifted vocalist. She performed on the Oprah Winfrey’s 2007 “My Favorite Things” episode with a gospel choir singing background for Warner Bros. recording artist, Josh Gro-ban. Veda’s voice can be heard on jingles and voice over work. She has worked in the music industry for over 15 years and has enjoyed producing events nationally and internationally featuring such artists as Stevie Wonder, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Natalie Cole, Brian McKnight, Yolanda Adams, the O’Jays, Take 6, Shirley Caesar, Usher

(Continued on page 5)

CONVENTION WORKSHOP PRESENTERS & OTHER GUEST PARTICIPANTS

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3 PAGE 5 L A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O K VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3

and others. Raised in southern New Jersey, Veda Howard is a graduate of Hampton University and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Zaneta Lowe is a native of Birmingham, AL and a University of Alabama graduate. She presently serves and a newsroom anchor at WVTV (Channel 9) in Colum-bus, GA—a role which she as-sumed with Chuck Leonard and Meteorologist Bruce Lee on News Leader 9 Mornings in January 2010. Her interest in

newsroom/anchor coverage goes back to the time when she was 18 years old and served as an intern at CBS 42, in Birmingham. While in college at the University of Alabama, she worked as an Anchor/Reporter for Alabama Public Radio and even spent a summer working for National Public Radio's All Things Consid-ered. After her start in public radio, Zaneta soon ventured back into television working as an intern and weekend associate producer for Birmingham's Fox 6 News. Upon graduation, Zaneta was hired as a week-end anchor/reporter for NewsChannel 49 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (now WVUA). Shortly thereafter, Zaneta's dream of working as a re-porter in her hometown came true when she joined the staff of NBC 13. For nearly four years, Zaneta served as NBC 13's West Ala-bama Bureau Chief covering stories such as the 2001 convictions of 16th Street Baptist Church bombers Bobby Frank Cherry and Thomas Blanton. After spending some time in the field of public relations, Zaneta has returned to her roots in the newsroom. She joined the WTVM News Team in September 2006 as the Consumer-Watch Reporter. In May of 2007 Zaneta took on additional duties as the 5:30 pm anchor for News Leader 9. Zaneta and her husband, Woodrow are the

proud parents of two sons; Woodrow (Trey), III (6) and Kyle (2). She loves spending time with her family and capturing lots of photos of them.

Dr. Stanley Jerome Pritchett, Sr. President, Morris Brown College

Stanley J. Pritchett, Sr., is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Upon graduating from Atlanta Public Schools, he received a football scholarship to attend Albany State College and, for four years, was active in athletics, and numerous other student activities and organizations. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physi-cal Education from Albany State. He later attended Georgia State Univer-sity, where he earned his Master of Science degree, then his Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership. In 2000, he completed his Doctoral degree at Clark Atlanta Univer-sity, receiving his Ed. D. in Educational Leadership. A career educator, Dr. Pritchett has been a teacher and athletic coach and held various administrative positions, from assistant principal to Deputy Superintendent of Administration and Business affairs. Retiring after 35 years in public education, Dr. Pritchett continued as an educational leader and in July 2008, was named Acting President of Morris Brown College, The Board of Trustees named him as the 18th permanent President of Morris Brown on March 18, 2010. As a career educator, Dr. Pritchett brought with him to Morris Brown a wealth of leadership experience organizational effectiveness, with the purpose of provid-ing direction to restore the College to its previous posi-tion of respect as one of our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. A diligent administrator, he works with a dedicated, committed staff, and together, they are determined that Morris Brown College will re-cover fully and reflect the legacy of which “Brownites” are so proud. A few of the accomplishments under his leadership at the College are the following:

• Financial audits completed through 2009;

• Successful defense and settlement of 5 of 6 lawsuits which were being litigated;

• Completion of the initial planning process for accreditation, with documentation of meeting 10 of 11 core requirements needed to apply for SACS accreditation candidacy;

• Clear articulation of the College’s financial issues;

• Receipt of a $1.56 million grant to fund US Depart-

(Continued from page 4)



ment of Education’s Talent Search Program;

• Recruitment, enrolling, and retaining of at least 250 students during the 2008-2009 year;

• Improvement of the academic program, student out-comes, and assessment goals;

• Authorization to provide HOPE Scholarship and Tuition Equalization Grants for students; and Initia-tion of an online program in Organizational Manage-ment and Leadership (the first HBCU to have an exclusive online program for an entire curriculum).

As Dr. Pritchett often says, “Morris Brown College is still alive!” Always active in the education community, Dr. Pritchett has earned significant recognition and numerous awards and honors for his outstanding leadership skills and his dedication and commitment to education. Among them are his being selected Principal of the Year, having one of his schools recognized as a National Drug-Free School, then having that school recognized as a Georgia School of Excellence. Most recently, he was honored by the Atlanta Business League, being recognized as a member of the “Men of Influence.” Dr. Pritchett holds member-ships in several professional and service organizations, including the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, White House Initiative on Histori-cally Black Colleges and Universities, the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development and serves on the Board for the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. Dr. Pritchett is also active outside of education. From his youth, he has been an active member of Big Bethel A.M.E. Church in Atlanta, where he currently serves as chairman pro tempore of the Steward Board. He has conducted several leadership workshops for churches and districts in the A.M.E. church. He is also a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and most recently, served as a mem-ber of the Kappa Alpha Psi Grand Board of Directors (a national board). Dr. Pritchett is married to the former Sharon Lewis, and they have four adult sons and seven grandchildren. Dr. Pritchett’s active involvement in life reflects his per-sonal philosophy. He has never been satisfied to rest on his laurels; rather, he always seeks to make a difference—and to do that, he finds opportunities to give of himself. Calvin H. Sydnor, III, D. Min., is the Editor of The Christian Recorder, the official newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was elected to that po-sition at the 47th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference that was held in Indianapolis, Indiana in July

2004 and unanimously reelected at the 48th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference that was held in St. Louis in July 2008. He attended Wilberforce University and received his baccalaureate degree from Cheyney University (Pennsylvania). He received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees at Lexington Theological Seminary and is a

graduate of the basic and advanced U.S. Army Chaplain School. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Com-mand and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. Dr. Sydnor served as the Director of the online Bachelor of Arts Degree Program in Religious Studies at Hampton University from 1999 until 2004. He also served as an Assistant Professor of Ethics and Religion. He is cur-rently an adjunct professor of religion and ethics for Hampton University and teaches online courses for the Hampton University Religious Studies Program. Dr. Sydnor served as a United States Army Chaplain for twenty-eight years and provided pastoral care in support of soldiers and their families. He was awarded numerous military honors and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Parachutist Badge. He served in numerous locations in the United States, in Germany and was the Command Chaplain for the VII (U.S.) Corps and was assigned to that unit during deploy-ment to Southwest Asia for Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990. During his last military assignment, Dr. Sydnor served as the Command Chaplain for United States Army Training and Doctrine Command where he provided pastoral leadership and technical supervision to the senior chaplains at the seventeen military installations located throughout the United States. He is an experienced trainer of clergy in pastoral leader-ship, biblical theology, administration and organizational effectiveness. Prior to entering the United States Army, he served as the Dean of the Joint Pastors' Institute at Lane College providing theological education for minis-ters in the African Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion and Christian Methodist Episcopal Churches in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkan-sas. He is the author of the booklet; "Some thoughts on being an Effective Chaplain" published by the U.S. Army Train-ing and Doctrine Command and “Understanding Islam"



CONVENTION WORKSHOP PRESENTERS & OTHER GUEST PARTICIPANTS (Continued


an individual study project, which is used as a supplemen-tal text for Islam and World Religion classes at Hampton University. He has published many articles in denomina-tional periodicals and conducts marriage, values clarifica-tion, and ministers' retreats. Dr. Sydnor serves on the Board of Trustees at Lexington Theological Seminary and serves on the Board of Directors of the Sloan-Consortium. Dr. Sydnor is married to the Reverend Charlotte Ann (Blake) Sydnor, pastor of Shorter Chapel AME Church in Franklin, Tennessee. They have been married 48 years and are the parents of three children, Gloria, Calvin IV, and Christopher. They are the proud grandparents of twelve grandchildren. Dr. Claudette Williams is a native of Jamaica and

received her Baccalaureate Degree from the University of the West Indies. She then continued her education and received a Masters and a Doctorate in Educational Ad-ministration and Supervision from Clark Atlanta Univer-sity.

Dr. Williams has been an advocate for educational reform and accountability from her formative years as a professional in the classroom. She has served for more than three decades as a professor and college administra-tor, which include not only Executive Vice President of Benedict College in Greensboro, NC but she also chaired the Department of Educational Leadership at CAU. In June, 2007, Dr. Williams became the 28th President of Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, FL, the only women ever to serve in the history of Edward Waters in this capacity. On May 15, 2010, Dr. Williams resigned as President of Edward Waters College to assume her present position as Vice President of the Southern Asso-ciation of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams was born in Louisville,

KY, the daughter of a Religious Writer and an A.M.E. Minister. In 1938 she earned her B.A. with honors in English from Wilberforce University. The following year, she received a M.A. in English from Fisk Uni-versity. Over the next twenty years, Dr. Williams taught at

four A.M.E. colleges–Edward Waters College, Shorter College, Morris Brown College and Wilberforce Univer-sity. In 1959, she completed her Ph.D. in Speech Commu-

nication at Ohio State University and that fall joined the faculty of Tennessee State University. She became a full professor of communications and in 1973 took over as head of the department, serving in that capacity until her retirement in 1987. Dr. Williams has served as delegate to several General Conferences. She has also served on the Board of the National Council of Churches, as alternate delegate of the Judicial Council and as the 13th Episcopal District Lay Organization’s President. In 1984, Dr. Williams became the Editor of the AME Church Review, a position which she held for eight years. Dr. William has been an active member of a number of community and civic organizations including the Executive Committee of the NAACP from which she was awarded the organization's Presidential Award in 1999. She is mar-ried to Dr. McDonald Williams, and they are the proud parents of one daughter, one grandson, and two great-granddaughters. She and her family presently reside in Atlanta, GA and attend Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE LAY ORGANIZATION OF THE

AFICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

THE PURPOSE of this organization shall be to organ-ize and train the laity of the African Methodist Episcopal Church so that each lay person may utilize to the maxi-mum the abilities and skills granted by God, in assisting with the improvement and extension of God’s kingdom, and creating happiness, peace, and harmony among its members. OBJECTIVES – To accomplish this purpose, the follow-ing objectives are adopted. a. To instill in the membership of the church a love for, and an appreciation of, the history, traditions, principles and development of African Methodism by encouraging, motivating, and educating all lay persons.

b. To keep forever alive the sacred memory of Richard Allen, our illustrious founder.

c. To advocate respect and loyalty at all times to constituted authority and leadership.

d. To encourage the laity to support the total pro-gram of the church in the local congregation, in the community, and throughout the Connection.

e. To foster a systematic and regular study of The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Epis-copal Church and of parliamentary procedure, to the end that greater knowledge and information may be disseminated among the laity, and with the



VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3


SCENES FROM THE LAY RETREAT


MORE SCENES FROM THE LAY RETREAT

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3


further purpose of encouraging lay members to participate more largely in the general functioning and supervision of the African Methodist Episco-pal Church.

f. To foster, influence, and support all constructive and progressive legislation for the church that promotes the teachings of Jesus Christ.

g. To encourage development, recognition, and utili-zation of the most appropriate operational prac-tices and modern technology in conducting the activities of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

h. To promote the spread of personal evangelism through activities designed to prepare lay mem-bers for appropriately conveying God’s Word.

i. To provide training in Christian stewardship, which causes lay members to recognize that the connotation of stewardship addresses more than giving money.

j. To increase the circulation of church papers. k. To provide for the orderly and systematic training of lay persons, especially officers, in order that they might more effectively perform their service assignments.

l. To promote activities which will result in harmo-nious fellowship for lay persons throughout the Connection.

m.To help in the support of the AME educational institutions.

n. To give financial assistance to the Connectional Lay Economic Development Corporation (CLEDC) in support of Connectional programs.


PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES (Continued)

HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITES BY STATE

Presently there are 105 HBCUs. They are in Alabama, Arkan-sas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Geor-gia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. North Carolina, with a total of 11, has the greatest number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities followed by Geor-gia, Alabama and South Carolina. Morris Brown College is the only one founded by and continually operated by blacks in the state of Georgia.

ALABAMA Alabama A&M University Alabama State University Concordia College Selma

Miles College Oakwood College Stillman College Talladega College Tuskegee University ARKANSAS

Arkansas Baptist College Philander Smith College

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff CALIFORNIA

Charles Drew University of Medicine & Science DELAWARE

Delaware State University DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA/WASHINGTON, DC

Howard University University of the District of Columbia

FLORIDA Bethune-Cookman University

Edward Waters College Florida A&M University Florida Memorial University

GEORGIA Albany State University Clark Atlanta University Fort Valley State University

Interdenominational Theological Center Morehouse College

Morehouse School of Medicine Morris Brown College

Paine College Savannah State University

Spelman College KENTUCKY

Kentucky State University Simmons College of Kentucky

LOUISIANA Dillard University

Grambling State University Southern University and A&M College

Xavier University of Louisiana MARYLAND

Bowie State University Coppin State University Morgan State University

University of Maryland, Eastern Shore MISSISSIPPI

Alcorn State University Jackson State University


VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3 PAGE 11 L A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O K VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3

Mississippi Valley State University Rust College Tougaloo College MISSOURI

Harris-Stowe State University Lincoln University of Missouri NORTH CAROLINA Barber-Scotia College Bennett College

Elizabeth City State University Fayetteville State University Johnson C. Smith University

Livingstone College North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina Central University

St. Augustine's College Shaw University

Winston Salem State University OHIO

Central State University Wilberforce University OKLAHOMA Langston University PENNSYLVANIA

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Lincoln University

SOUTH CAROLINA Allen University Benedict College

Claflin University Clinton Junior College

Denmark Technical College Morris College

South Carolina State University Voorhees College TENNESSEE Fisk University Knoxville College Lane College

LeMoyne-Owen College Meharry Medical College Tennessee State University

TEXAS Huston-Tillotson University Jarvis Christian College Paul Quinn College

Prairie View A&M University Texas College

Texas Southern University Wiley College VIRGINIA

Hampton University Norfolk State University Saint Paul's College

Virginia State University Virginia Union University WEST VIRGINIA

Bluefield State College West Virginia State University


“Haven for all hungry souls, Feeding them shall be Thy goal.”

~Morris Brown College Alma Mater~

EXPERTS IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD

♦ Over half of all African American professionals are graduates of HBCUs.

♦ Nine of the top ten colleges that graduate the most African Americans who go on to earn Ph.D.s are HBCUs.

♦ More than 50% of the nation’s African American public school teachers and 70% of African American dentists earned de-grees at HBCUs.

♦ UNCF members Spelman Col-lege and Bennett College pro-

duce over half of the nation’s African American female doctor-ates in all science fields.

WHO’S WHO IN AMERICA ♦ Ed Bradley, award winning 60 M i n u t e s c o r r e s p o n d e n t (Cheyney State)

♦ Keith Clinkscales, former CEO of Vanguard Media (Florida A&M University)

♦ Alvin J. Boutte-founder and CEO of Indecorp, the largest Black-owned financial institution in the U.S. (Xavier)

♦ Althea Gibson, first African American woman to win Wim-bledon, U.S. Open and the French Open (Florida A&M Uni-versity)

♦ Booker T. Washington, noted educator (Hampton)

♦ The Honorable Barbara Jordan, legislator (Texas Southern)

♦ The Hono r a b l e Kwame Kilpatrick- youngest mayor of Detroit (Florida A&M University)

♦ Pam Oliver- trailblazing female sportscaster (Florida A&M Uni-versity)

♦ Reuben Studdard- American Idol winner (Alabama A&M)

♦ Sean “P.Diddy” Combs- founder and CEO of Bad Boy Entertain-ment (Howard)

♦ Common-actor, hip hop artist (Florida A&M University)

♦ Rosa Parks-civil rights icon (Alabama State)

♦ Alex Haley- author (Alcorn State)

♦ Steve McNair- NFL quarterback



The Recently held Sixth Episcopal District’s Leadership Training Congress and the West Atlanta District Sunday School Convention used as their focus the theme: “A.M. E. I Am! In keeping with this theme, the following is a reprint of an article prepared by Robert T. Matthews, III for the Connectional Lay Organization’s E Blast which was published by Eileen Warner, the Corresponding Sec-retary of the Connectional Lay Organization of the A.M.E. Church. This article was also, graciously publish by Dr. Calvin Sydor, III in the Christian Recorder Online.

BISHOP EDWARD WATERS By Robert Thomas Matthews, III

Director of Public Relations – Six Episcopal District Lay Organization, AMEC Historiographer of the West Atlanta District Lay Organization, AMEC

Bishop Edward Waters was born, a slave, on March 15, 1780 at West River, MD. At an early age He came to

Baltimore and joined the A. M. E. Church. He was subsequently or-dained Deacon and Elder after which he served in the Baltimore area. Waters was elected and con-secrated as the Third Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on May 8, 1836 during the Fifth Quadrennial Session of the General Conference--not including the Orga-

nizing Convention of 1816, which was also held in Phila-

delphia, PA. However, among the unusual historical biographic annals and documents, we find a most unusual entry concerning Bishop Edward Waters, the Third, elected and conse-crated Bishop of African Methodist Episcopal Church. Although our school of higher education in Florida bears his name, Bishop Water’s legacy and history following his election and consecration to the bishopric, as reported by Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne (6th Bishop), bears this

note: “The same year of his election, Bishop Brown took him with him, to all the Conferences except the Western Conference, thus giving him some idea of the field of labor. After this tour, he never left the regions of Baltimore, only to attend the Phila-delphia and New York Conferences, which was once a year. He never presided in an Annual Conference, only as a silent looker-on, assistant of Bishop Brown, and though he sat in the Episcopal chair from 1836 to 1844, he never ordained a sin-gle minister, not even a deacon. The second year after his election, he requested the Baltimore Annual Conference to locate him. Indeed, ever after his ordination he held the charge of Ellicott Mills Circuit, and sometimes of Bethel, in Baltimore. In the eighth year of his episcopate he resigned his

episcopal authority, although he was able to travel as a Bishop, and returned to the ranks of the effective elders until his death." (Payne: Chapter XIII, page 112, History of the A.

M. E. Church). While historians usually find it most beneficial to use pri-mary sources of history for the proof of what they re-cord, these sources sometime prove to be somewhat ineffective because of the information which they failed to note. A prime example of this is what we are told con-cerning Organizing Convention of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the election of Bishops during this Convention, which was held in Philadelphia on April 9-11, 1816. Based on words of Rev. David Smith of Baltimore, we are told that on the morning of April 9, the Reverend Daniel Coker, who led the delegation to this convention from Baltimore, was the first elected Bishop of the AME Church. But due to the objections of the people over his complexion, he was never consecrated to the office of the bishopric. So a new election was held with Richard Allen replacing him. (Payne: Chapter VII, page 33-34,

Biography of Rev. David Smith). 194 years later, many of us have believed this report and repeated it as true. However, a much closer look at the facts would perhaps shed new light on this belief. Con-sidering that no written record of the proceeding of this Convention has ever been found, we might consider that what we have heard or believed about the election might not be completely true or accurate, since the only facts

we can truly claim to know are these: ♦ The Convention was initiated by Richard Allen and held in Philadelphia from April 9-11, 1816.

♦ The Sixteen Delegates who attended this Con-vention were the following: FROM BALTIMORE:--Rev. Daniel Coker, Rev. Richard Williams, Rev. Henry Harden, Mr. Edward Williamson, Mr. Stephen Hill and Mr.

Nicholas Gilliard. FROM PHILADELPHIA:--Rev. Richard Allen, Rev. Clayton Durham, Rev. Jacob Tapsico, Rev.

James Champion, and Mr. Thomas Webster. FROM WILMINGTON, DEL.:--Rev. Peter Spen-

cer. FROM ATTLEBOROUGH, PA.:--Rev. Jacob Marsh, Rev. William Anderson, and Rev. Edward

Jackson.

FROM SALEM, N. J.:--Reuben Cuff. ♦ Two other known attendees, who witnessed


A.M.E. I Am! - A Brief Look at Our History


this Convention, but who where not delegates were:Brother Jonathan Tudas and the young William Paul Quinn, who later became Bishop Morris Brown’s Assistant and the Fourth elected and consecrated Bishop of the A.M.E. Church.

♦ Richard Allen, Jr. ,who was not a delegate, also recorded the minutes for this event.

It is largely due to the recollections of Bishop Quinn, Jonathan Tudas and the fathers of the Church who were still alive in 1850 that we have any record of this Con-vention or the list of those attending it, since no written record of the proceeding of this convention to date have ever been found. (Payne Chapter II, page 7; Chapter IV,

Page 13, History of the A. M. E. Church). Since Bishop Payne recorded David Smith’s Biography and agreed with Smith’s account of the election, one might be persuaded that what Smith said was true were if not for the fact that Smith, by his own confession, was not a delegate to this Convention nor did he witness it, that Rev. David Smith simply repeated what he was told or heard, and like Allen’s biography, in which Allen could sometimes not recall dates or names, Smith’s biography might have in some places shown signs of memory loss, as is apparent in this statement from his biography, “I do not know the date or how old I was when I married my first

wife.” (Payne: Page 133, Biography of Rev. David Smith). Although many historians site Payne’s Biography of David Smith, once we have considered these facts, along with what we have heard or have been told, there is some latitude for a version of this election which is slightly dif-ferent. Therefore, a few researchers and historians look to Bishop Quinn to fill in the gaps, since Bishop Quinn, who was a youth at the time, outlived many of the par-

ticipants and no written record has been found. Dr. Charles H. Wesley recorded two reports concern-ing the election of bishops based on different recollec-tions concerning it. The first was what we have said above, that Coker alone was elected on April 9 and de-clared the Bishop Elect, but later resigned and a new election was held in which Allen became the Bishop Elect, as stated in the Biography of David Smith. Wesley states that although Bishop Payne repeats this assertion in his Recollections of Seventy Years, Smith’s Biography has several well know errors and that this, along with the assertion that Coker’s resignation was precipitated by his complexion, might well be one of them. Thus, Wesley also sought another source to discover a differ-ent version of this story, which might be closer to the truth. Wesley found his new source in Bishop Jabez P.

Campbell’s article entitled, Our Episcopacy, which was published in Volume 6, no.1, pages 2-3, July 1833 Edition of A.M.E. Review and also published in Bishop Benjamin William Arnett’s (17th Bishop) Centennial Budget, 1887,

pages 290-291). Bishop Jabez Pitts Campbell (8th Bishop) was born Febru-ary 5, 1815 and according to Wesley he was considered, in the late Nineteenth Century, to be the best link be-tween the Founding Father and the present day. Thus, Wesley recorded that Bishop Campbell stated in Our Episcopacy, that while Richard Allen was away on business on April 9, both he (Allen) and Daniel Coker were elected to the bishopric. When the minutes were read the next morning, Allen thanked the body for the honor, but stated that he was of the opinion that the newly Organized Church only needed one bishop and therefore he would resign. Wesley further stated that Campbell said this caused some consternation among the group, some of whom favored both Allen and Payne. So the election was reconsidered and a new one of held in which Allen became the new and only Bishop Elect. However, no minutes or confirmation of either report has ever been found. (Wesley. Chapter 7, pages 152-153, Richard Allen, Apostle of Freedom). Based on the writing of Bishop B. W. Arnett, this later version of the Conven-tion’s proceedings and the election of two bishops was also written in the Autobiography of Bishop Isaac Lane of the C.M.E. Church. (Lane: Chapter VI, pages 44-45,

Autobiography of Bishop Isaac Lane). Thus, considering that no written document or eye-witness of these reports have ever been found and that Bishop Campbell’s account of what happened is probably more accurate than that of David Smith, yet Campbell’s did not say which of the two was first elected on April 9, the best answer to the question of who was the first elected Bishop of the A.M.E. Church is that, when we considerer all the evidence we have been given, we sim-ply DO NOT KNOW. We simply know the final out-

come of it. This then brings us back to Bishop Edward Waters and his unusual position as a Junior/Assistant Bishop of the then Senior Bishop, Morris Brown. While the facts which Bishop Payne reported above in this article are accurate, as we have pointed out concerning what we know of the General Convention of 1816, the weight of this matter lies more heavily on the side of what Bishop Payne did not report, rather than on the side of what he did re-port. Therefore, we must look to another source for

additional information and clarity. A review of the literature brings us to the writings of



VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3

PAGE 14 VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3 L A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O KL A Y N O T E B O O K

Bishop James Anderson Handy (22nd Bishop), who also realized that there was more to of this story than what he had read in the History of the A.M. E. Church by Bishop Daniel Alexan-der Payne. So, in Scraps of African Methodist Episcopal History, after dis-covering a more appropriate ending to Bishop Water’s story, Bishop

Handy wrote the following: “It is true that Bishop Waters was elected Bishop and never presided over a Conference and there was a reason for it. It will be remembered that a Bishop was paid $25.00 for every An-nual Conference he held; hence Bishop Brown made it convenient to open and preside over all the Annual Conferences meeting during the life of Bishop Wa-ters. As he was present, and presided

and drew the pay, there was nothing for Bishop Waters to do, but as described by Bishop Payne. The same would be true today, if there were only three or four Conferences and the Bishop's sal-ary depended on the Conferences he held, there would be a few Bishops who would be like Edward Waters, be elected to the office and only be figure-heads.” (Handy: Chapter XII, page 121, Scraps of African Methodist Epis-

copal History). So we find as Bishop Richard Allen had stated in 1816, the work of the church was much too small to sup-port more than one bishop even at the time that Bishop Edward Waters became its Third Bishop during the General Conference in 1836. The number of Annual Conferences, the frequency with which they were

held, and the pay derived from hold-ing them made a second person elected to the office of the bishopric a mere figure-head. Thus, Bishop Edward Waters found it more pro-ductive and more profitable to serve in the office of Elder rather than in

the office of the bishopric. In the spring of 1847, as Bishop Wa-ters was on his way to an appoint-ment, some “wicked, rude, reckless white men” (Payne/Handy) overran him with their horse and carriage as he stepped from the curb, knocking him to the ground and severely in-juring him. Although he survived this incident, he never fully recovered from these injuries and died from them on June 5, 1847 at the home of

his daughter, Mrs. Margaret Steward.

(Bishop Edward Waters Continued from page 13)

MACON CONFERENCE WINS CONTEST By Brother Alphonso B. Varner

The Macon Georgia Conference Lay Organization of the Sixth Episcopal District, AME Church won the Jeopardy Contest at the Sixth Episcopal District Lay Retreat, June 18-19, 2010. This biennial retreat was held at the spacious and beauti-ful George T. Bagby State Park located near Fort Gaines, Georgia.

There are six conferences in the Sixth Episcopal District (SED) comprising the State of Georgia. Plenty of scrump-tious food (fish, Barbecue meats) were enjoyed by a sizable group of clergy and laity. Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Dr. PAM DeVeaux and their grandchildren were in attendance. Bishop DeVeaux is the Presiding Prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District. Gloria T. Byrd is President of the SED Lay Organization, Latrellis O. Dent, President of the Macon Conference Lay Organiza-tion.

Many indoor games were played, however the highlight contest game of the weekend was Jeopardy. The Macon Conference Lay Organization simply won over the other conferences by an overwhelming margin. Ashley Ballard of St. Peter A.M.E. Church, Fort Valley is Lay Activity Director of the Macon Conference Lay Organization.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SIXTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT LAY RETREAT

Front row L-R Clara Causey, Maggie L. Walker-Varner, Bessie McDaniel, Janie Grayer, Sara Dent, Ashley Ballard. Second row left, Alphonso Varner, Andrew McDaniel, Phyllis Boyd and James Grayer, Jr.

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 3


(Alcorn State) ♦ Michael Clark Duncan-actor (Alcorn State)

♦ A. Phillip Randolph-civil rights activist (Bethune Cookman Col-lege)

♦ Mary McLeod Bethune-educator, college founder and presidential advisor (Barbara Scotia College)

♦ James Weldon Johnson- writer of the Negro National Anthem “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” (Clark Atlanta)

♦ Nikki Giovanni-poet (Fisk) ♦ Matthew Knowles-music industry executive (Fisk)

♦ Rob Hardy and William Packer- movie producers (Florida A&M University)

♦ Erykah Badu- singer (Grambling) ♦ Wan d a S y k e s - c om e d i a n (Hampton)

♦ Ananda Lewis-talk show host (Howard)

♦ Andrew Young-U.N. ambassa-dor, Atlanta mayor (Howard)

♦ David Dinkins-New York mayor (Howard)

♦ Debbie Allen-choreographer, di-rector (Howard)

♦ Ossie Davis-actor (Howard) ♦ Lynn Whitfield-actress (Howard) ♦ Phylicia Rashad-actress (Howard) ♦ Sharon Pratt Kelly - DC mayor (Howard)

♦ Shirley Franklin - Atlanta mayor (Howard)

♦ Toni Morrison- Nobel Prize win-ning author (Howard)

♦ Vernon Jordan- former head of UNCF and Urban League (Howard)

♦ The Honorable Roderick Paige- U.S. Secretary of Education

(Jackson State) ♦ Walter Payton-Hall of Fame NFL player (Jackson State)

♦ Whitney Young-former Urban League head (Kentucky State)

♦ George Curry-former editor, Emerge Magazine (Knoxville Col-lege)

♦ Bessie Coleman-first female Af-rican American pilot (Langston College)

♦ Benjamin Hooks-NAACP head (LeMoyne-Owen College)

♦ Marion Barry-Washington, DC mayor (LeMoyne-Owen College)

♦ Langston Hughes-writer (Lincoln) ♦ Thurgood Marshall-Supreme Court Justice (Lincoln)

♦ Jerry Rice-NFL player (Mississippi Valley State)

♦ Esther Rolle- actress (Spelman) ♦ Oprah Winfrey- talk show host, philanthropist (Tennessee State)

♦ Ron Brown-Democratic Party head, Secretary of Commerce (Tennessee State)

♦ Wilma Rudolph-Olympic athlete (Tennessee State)

♦ Y o l a n d a A d a m s - s i n g e r (Tennessee State)

♦ Betty Shabazz- (Tuskegee) ♦ Keenan Ivory Wayan (Tuskegee) ♦ Ralph Ellison- author of “The In-visible Man” (Tuskegee)

♦ Reginald Lewis-late CEO of TLC/ Beatrice (Virginia State)

♦ Tony Brown-journalist (West Virginia State)

♦ James Farmer- civil rights activist (Wiley College)

♦ Martin Luther King, Jr. – civil right leader (Morehouse College)

♦ Mrs. Albert King-mother of MLK, Jr. (Morris Brown College) US House of Representatives

♦ U.S. Rep. Frank Balance Jr. (D-NC)- North Carolina Central University

♦ U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA)- Morehouse College

♦ U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL)- Florida A&M University

♦ U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC)- South Carolina State University

♦ U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD)- Howard University

♦ U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)- Fisk University, Howard Univer-sity and Florida A&M University

♦ U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)- North Carolina A&T Uni-versity

♦ U.S. Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)- Southern University

♦ U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)- Fisk University

♦ U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D-FL)- Florida A&M University

♦ U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY)- Howard University

♦ U.S. Rep. Major Owens (D-NY)- Morehouse College, Atlanta Uni-versity

♦ U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-GA)- Florida A&M University

♦ U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS)- Tougaloo College, Jack-son State University

♦ U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)- North Carolina A&T University

(Who’s Who - Continued from page 11)

NECROLOGY

We are deeply saddened by the passing of the following : Sister Mollie Banks (90), the mother of Reverend Leroy Banks and Aunt of Phyllis Gwenette Boyd on June 18 2010. Her funeral was held at Saint Paul AMEC IN Litho-nia on June 26, 2010 The Reverend George R. LaSure, D. Min. (66) on July 30, 2010. His funeral was held at Turner Monumental on August 2, 2010.

We also share the sorrow of Rev. & Mrs., Stephen B. Smith of Butler Creek AMEC who lost their daughter, Ms. Tammaria Smith, age 23 on August 4, 2010 and of Dr. Jeffery and Joanne Williams-Cooper, who lost her mother Mrs. Lucille T. Williams on August 13, 2010. Mr. Jeremiah Cummings, the brother of Bishop Frank Curtis Cummings on August 21, 2010. His funeral will be held at Mount Olive AME Church in Orlando, FL on August 28, 2010.



THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA - SIXTH DISTRICT

LEARNING WITH FUN - SIXTH DISTRICT LAY RETREAT

Atlanta-North Georgia Conference AME Jeopardy 2nd Place

Macon Georgia Conference AME Jeopardy 1stPlace

Southwest Georgia Conference Winners

Atlanta-North Georgia Conference Michael Brown, “The Cook”

Lay Notebook - September, 2010

Documents