College of Bishops' Announcement on

"Great Gathering"

January 27, 2010

The College of Bishops of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop William H. Graves, Sr., is encouraging connectional members to attend the “Great Gathering” in Columbia, South Carolina, March 1-3, 2010.

On March 1, 2010, a historic event in the modern-day annals of American religion will take place. For the first time in more than 45 years, the three major Methodist denominations within the African American community will meet collectively in Columbia, South Carolina. Over a three-day period (March 1-3, 2010), congregations from the African Methodist Episcopal (AME), African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) and Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Churches will convene in Columbia to discuss and address some of the major issues currently plaguing our nation.

There will be many events for our leaders, clergy, lay and missionaries to participate in at the "Great Gathering." We will have powerful preaching, Biblical teaching, intercessory prayer sessions, and mass choirs along with workshops and seminars. One of the major issues to be addressed is the plight of African American Males.

Registration for this event is online and $21. For more information and online registration, please visit the Web site: http://greatgathering.org/

We are encouraging our connectional members to make arrangements for lodging at the Radisson Hotel Columbia, the site of the Women’s Missionary Council (WMC) Executive Board meeting which will convene March 3-6 under the leadership of Dr. Elnora P. Hamb. The hotel is located at 2100 Bush River Road in Columbia. The telephone number is 803-731-0300. For additional information about the WMC Executive Board Meeting and to register online, please visit www.womensmissionarycouncilcme.org

We sincerely hope that you will gather with us in Columbia, South Carolina for these two worthwhile events! Please pass this information on to fellow CME's.

In His Service,

Senior Bishop William H. Graves, Sr., CEO

Bishop Othal H. Lakey

Bishop Edward Lynn Brown

Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.

Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.

Bishop L. L. Reddick, III, Secretary, College of Bishops

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., Chairman of Social Justice & Human Concerns

Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr., Chairman, College of Bishops

Bishop Kenneth W. Carter

Bishop Marshall Gilmore

Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr.

Bishop Nathaniel Linsey