Bishop Reddick Keynotes Vegas Convocation
By Rev. Amariah McIntosh, 2nd Episcopal District
Las Vegas, NV—As over 2,000 CMEs gathered in the ballroom of the Riviera Hotel for the official opening of the 21st CME Convocation, the 9th Episcopal District’s Praise Team prepared everyone for an evening of worship and thanksgiving. General Officers led by Editor of The Christian Index Rev. Dr. Kenneth E. Jones as worship leader, were in charge of this opening assembly.
As Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., the host bishop, welcomed attendees, he informed them that for the first time the Convocation events were being broadcast live on the Internet, thanks to a partnership of CME TV and StreamingFaith.com.
Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr., presiding bishop of the 4th Episcopal District read a statement from the College of Bishops regarding the “Jena 6” case in Jena, LA. On behalf of the Church, the College of Bishops said that it is appalled and pained at the crisis in Jena and enraged at the racial injustice being perpetrated. The College moved to join the thousands of brothers and sisters across the nation who are demanding justice for the six black students, and disturbed that the town’s judicial system selected an all-white jury to decide their fate. In addition, the College of Bishops is calling for equal treatment of the black students —namely Michael Bell—receiving the same standard of justice as the white students involved, moving the trials of the remaining students to neutral locations, joining with the rest of the nation in wearing black on September 20 as a show of solidarity, and calling for the diverse religious community of Jena to work toward much needed reconciliation.
Senior Bishop William Graves introduced the keynote speaker, Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick III, presiding prelate of the 5th Episcopal District, who spoke on the subject, “Discipleship in the Context of the Ecclesia (or the Church family).” Bishop Reddick spoke about his brother-in-law, Frank, whom he first heard use the phrase, “It takes generations to build a family.” Bishop Reddick said he was impressed as he watched his sister and brother-in-law develop this thought, especially as they themselves became parents. He invited the audience to see this saying in a spiritual context – to see how God builds the church, as it is not yet fully grown. God, said Bishop Reddick, has been building the church, generation after generation, until even now.Bishop Reddick said the address’s purpose was to focus on leadership as modeled by Jesus Christ and how it can fit today’s ministries. After placing the scripture reading (Matthew 20:25-28, the Convocation scripture reference) in its proper context as it tells the story of the mother of the sons of Zebedee seeking a special place for her sons, and the other disciples reaction to the request, Bishop Reddick said Jesus was building his team even until his latest time. He said discipleship is the call to be participating partners in building God’s church.
Bishop Redding asked and answered three questions regarding the necessity of participation of disciples. First, why is it important to participate with God? As we look at the events all around us while we are here in Las Vegas, Bishop Reddick said, families and their situations from being in military service to incarceration to various forms of abuse are in need of words of hope. Our mission, he said, includes allowing God to build us while we build families and communities. It’s important for us to participate with God so the world can understand that Jesus can speak to us and understand us.
Second, what gets in the way of our participation? Like the disciples, said Bishop Reddick, we succumb to the temptation of jockeying for positions, trying to protect our turf from intruders, and not being sensitive to others’ needs. He said discipleship is not a “personal my God and I affair, but a relational one with other disciples and non-disciples.” He continued, “...the needs of all of us are equally important before God.” Bishop Reddick also said that we need processes and rules to guide us. The problems occur when the people in proper authority (not just bishops) fail to abide by the processes. He asked the question, “When was the last time you voted no on a preacher in a Quarterly Conference? If you won’t vote no, why do you think the Bishop should?” He said discipleship means to go deeper, but we sometimes get so busy we miss what God is trying to say to us.
Finally, how is God calling us? We must make up our minds where we will be. No matter what else you’ve heard, discipleship comes with sacrifice. Bishop Reddick said the mother of the sons of Zebedee (and the sons themselves) should have asked, “Must Jesus bear the cross alone and all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone and there’s a cross for me.”
He summed up his address by saying, “You may not know all the good you do, but keep doing good anyway.”