General Board: Let the Work Begin

Memphis, TN—The 2009 General Connectional Board meeting formally opened Tuesday afternoon, May 5th, at the Holiday Inn Select Hotel. Senior Bishop Wiliam H. Graves presided. The meditation speaker was Dr. Martha Granger, presiding elder of the

 Evansville/Hopkinsville District, Kentucky Region, with the title, “Wash Day” (John 9). Other than the excitement of the spoken Word, the opening plenary of the General Board was without a lot of fanfare. Following the calling of the roll of Board members, Executive Secretary of the CME Church Atty. Juanita Bryant read her yearly report. The report was approved by the General Board. When Senior Bishop Graves 

excused himself due to an emergency, Vice Chairman of the General Board Bishop Othal Hawthorne Lakey assumed leadership of the session. Little discussion or business ensued, except for the assigning of orderlies from each Episcopal District. The assembly was then released to go to departmental meetings. Most meetings met around a meal.

The meeting of the Editorial Board of The Christian Index was held at 5 p.m. in room 7 of the hotel, chaired by Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr. In addition to Board members, several guests were present: Dr. Louise Baker Brown, Bishop and Mrs. L.L. Reddick, III, Mrs. Frances W. Jones, Connectional Spouses’ President Mrs. Maggie C. Banks, Dr. Wardell Bonner, pastor, St. John CME, Washington, DC, and others. I gave the editor’s report, which received the approval of the Board, with high commendations. Following the meeting, I hosted a very nice supper for the Board members, if I must say so myself. We dined on ribs, baked chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, bread, and a wide assortment of desserts. After the meal, Secretary of the Editorial Board Kenneth McMillian and I worked on the Editorial Board’s report, which will be presented in today’s open session at Greenwood CME.
The evening ended with a praise and worship program, sponsored by the Ministers’ and Laymen’s Council, Dr. Eddie Jumper, president.
Today will be the busiest day of the General Board. I’ll let you know what happened.