From the General Connectional Board
Memphis, TN (May 5, 2009)—Hello fellow CMEs. As part of my ministry of information sharing, I will attempt to keep you somewhat abreast of what’s going on here as we begin the 2009 version of the CME General Connectional Board. As you know, the General Board is mandated by the Church to come together at this time each year to hear reports on the connectional departmental ministries. The General Board consists of representatives from each Episcopal District who are assigned to an individual departmental board convening at this meeting. As editor of The Christian Index, and one of 10 general officers, I am making my eleventh report to the General Board, and while so far each report has been well received, I never really relax until this meeting is over.
As I write this entry mid-morning on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, it’s still somewhat quiet around the Holiday Inn Select Hotel. Because I was on travel yesterday from Washington, DC to preach at my former church, Russell Temple CME, Alexandria, VA, I missed the General Officers’ Council meeting Monday morning. I heard that all went well.
As the newest member to the CME Convocation Committee, I sat in on its meeting this morning at 7 AM in the hotel restaurant. It was a very interesting meeting. Chaired by Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, Sr., and including Bishops Brown and Brown, and Bishop Hoyt and Williamson, Sr., the committee is not lacking in good Episcopal leadership. Also on the committee are several other general officers, including Dr. Tyrone T. Davis, director of the Convocation; and Doris Herring, Convocation registrar.
The harkening message of this morning’s meeting was how each CME leader must do more to promote the CME Convocation. Several strategies were put on the table. In fact, one of the reasons the Committee invited this editor to be present was to help strengthen promotion through the use of the Index and the Missionary Messenger. We will be working closely with the committee to strike a consistent, uniform message to all CMEs on how they cannot afford to miss the “Ships” that will be sailing “From Good to Great” when we come together in St. Louis in September.
The 2009 General Board formally kicks off this afternoon at 2 PM, with Senior Bishop William H. Graves, Sr., presiding. We then will go into individual departmental meetings after 4 PM. I’ll let you know what happened. Peace.