The College of Bishops and the Commission on Justice and Human Concerns Respond to the Arizona Immigration Law

The College of Bishops and the members of the Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church stand with the National Council of Churches on its denouncement of Arizona’s new immigration law.

On Monday, April 27, 2010, the National Council of Churches (NCC), an organization comprised of many faith groups including the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, released a public statement that “sharply criticized Arizona's new immigration law as fundamentally unjust, dangerous to citizens and non-citizens alike, and a rejection of centuries-old biblical precepts of justice and neighborliness.” The NCC also reported that the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC General Secretary, last week urged Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to veto the legislation, and reiterated the view of NCC member communions and Arizona religious leaders "that this legislation will not contribute to the reform of our nation's immigration system." The NCC release stated that "the new law may stimulate similar anti-immigrant legislation throughout the country." Governor Brewer signed the measure into law April 23.

Many civil rights groups and leaders, Americans and Christians are concerned that the new Arizona immigration law discriminates against immigrants, and will sharply increase the number of incidents attributed to racial profiling, bigotry and racism. As a result, the new law could set the stage for unlawful immigration reform and unfair treatment of illegal immigrants nationwide.

The new Arizona immigration law requires state and local law enforcement to check the immigration status of anyone they have a "reasonable suspicion" of being in the country illegally. This law requires legal immigrants to carry proof of their legal status at all times; failure to do so is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The law would also require employers to keep E-Verify records of employees’ eligibility, and allow law enforcement officials to arrest a person without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe the person has committed a public offense that makes him or her removable from the United States.

The new immigration law will require a massive amount of training for law enforcement officers, and skilled officers to act effectively and without prejudice. Additionally, the new law will press Arizona law officers to enforce federal immigration and perhaps divert them from tending to more pressing public safety issues. These concerns have not been adequately addressed by the state of Arizona.

There are a number of CME churches in Arizona, California, Texas, and other states with large populations of immigrants, and particularly Latinos. We should be concerned about the effect of the new law on immigrants and how it discriminates against them. As Christians, we must help our brothers and sisters and the less fortunate against social injustices which include unfair immigration reform laws. The United States of America became a great nation as the result of the significant contributions of immigrants and people of faith and conscience raising their voices for freedom and justice.

We urge you to contact your Congressional representative about the unfairness of the Arizona immigration bill, and to request that Congress seek fair and legal immigration reform laws that do not threaten the civil rights of immigrants. For a complete listing of your Congressional representatives, visit: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop William H. Graves and its College of Bishops, is a 139-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 800,000 members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are four CME related colleges: Lane College (Jackson, TN), Miles College (Birmingham, AL), Paine College (Augusta, GA) and Texas College (Tyler, TX); and a seminary, Phillips School of Theology, which is an affiliate member of the Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta, GA). For additional information about the CME Church, visit www.c-m-e.org

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

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

Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham

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

Bishop Kenneth W. Carter

Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr.

Bishop Marshall Gilmore

Bishop Nathaniel Linsey

Loss of the Aunt of Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, Sr.,

Mrs. Johnnie Lee Smith

Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt 5:4 NIV)

Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart lost his AUNT (Johnnie Lee Smith). Please pray and send an expression to Bishop & Mrs Paul A. G. Stewart and family.

Expressions should be sent to:

4332 Keevenshore Drive

St. Louis, MO 63034

The funeral services will be held on April 29th at 12 Noon:

Mt. Nebo CME Church

633 Cemetery Road

Baldwyn, MS 38824

Phone: 662-365.8714

The funeral home in charge of the arrangements:

Agnew & Son Funeral Home

111 Waters Street

Baldwyn, MS 38824

Phone: 662-365-554

Prayer Coordinator Offers Details

Leading to General Conference

Dear Connectional Members:

As we prepare for the General Conference I have asked around the Zion for individuals to offer Prayers for this Gathering. You know the significance of this Conference and urge all of us to be prayerfully optimistic as we prepare for Mobile.

We will share other prayers and a 40 day Calendar leading up to the conference has been prepared by our Prayer Team and will be distributed.

The Prayer Coordinators of many of our churches will have 1st Friday Prayer Conference calls and other opportunities for us to unite in Prayer. We are asking throughout the Church to form Prayer groups to intercede for the success and blessings for this Conference. Please maximize all efforts to share hope, blessings and expectancy for this General Conference and all of the candidates and decisions to be made for the future of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

As we prepare for this General Conference please take prayer to another level in every area of your life. Begin to share in an expectant manner the blessings to come from this Conference. We will begin to seek God in uniformed prayer throughout the Church with 40 Days of preparation. The Prayer Team of individuals across the connection will continue to offer ways to express ourselves to God for his favor.

Visit us on Facebook to offer your Prayers (and view others) for the General Conference! Our FaceBook page is a place to offer before the Lord and encourage one another with words and prayers that make a difference. So aware that we have the ability to speak truth to power in all avenues that affect us on a local, district and connectional level, we come in expectancy and joy. We sincerely hope that the Facebook page will be an avenue to lift spirits and focus our thinking to what can be instead of what cannot be.

In His Service,

Dr. Jerome McNeil, Jr.

Denominational Prayer Coordinator

Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Prayers for General Conference

Dear Lord, I first want to thank you for allowing the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church to remain an active witness in the life of our world today. I understand that many have strayed away from the faith and still many others have given themselves over to a reprobate mind! For each of these individuals dear Lord, I ask your forgiveness and I pray for their spirits.

As we approach the season of Spring it reminds us how close we are to gathering yet again for the business of our beloved Zion. Dear lord there are forces from without and within who seek to undermine your authority, your power and your direction for this Church. I come against those forces in the name of Jesus who is our Christ! While I realize that they may marshall their forces to bring this Church down morally and spiritually I speak life and wholeness, I call on the righteous and the faithful to heed your call to pray and not faint! In the name of Jesus, I come against the powers of hell and darkness; I come against those forces of immorality and confusion and disunity; I come against every spirit that is not of YOU Dear Lord! I pray that you bring us as a people to our knees and bow before you in true repentance so that you can lift us to the place where you would have us to be! I pray that we seek to be like YOU, not like other churches, traditions or denominations, I pray that we seek your face in total repentance and submit to the authority you have over our church and our lives!

I pray for our episcopal leaders, our general officers, our pastors, our lay persons, the officers and members of our churches, our delegates and members and even our visitors; I pray their health and well being; I pray that they will allow your power and spirit to permeate their lives and give themselves to your will for their lives and the life and future of this beloved "Tender Plant" (Lakey). Dear Lord I humbly ask this in the name of Him who came, bled, died, was buried but rose again and will come again to receive those who confess and love Him, the very same; Jesus the Christ! Amen, Amen, Amen!

Dr. Paul Brown, Pastor of Miles Memorial CME, Washington, DC

THE COLLEGE OF BISHOPS

HONORS THE LIFE AND WITNESS OF

DR. BENJAMIN L. HOOKS AND DR. DOROTHY I. HEIGHT

April 22, 2010

Dear Connectional Members and Friends,

The College of Bishops and the members of the Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (C.M.E.) Church are deeply saddened by the recent passing of two African American civil right leaders and icons, Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks and Dr. Dorothy I. Height.

Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks, who passed away last week, was a pioneer judge, civil rights leader, Baptist preacher and social justice freedom fighter. In 1965 he was appointed the first black judge since Reconstruction to the state trial court, Tennessee Criminal Court. President Richard Nixon nominated Dr. Hooks to the Federal Communications Commission in 1972. In 1977, Dr. Hooks became the Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). During his tenure at the NAACP, membership grew to several hundred thousand and he used community radiothons to raise awareness of local NAACP branches' work and to boost membership. Dr. Hooks later was chairman of the board of directors of the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis and helped create The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis.

Dr. Hooks created an initiative that gave more employment opportunities to blacks in Major League Baseball and launched a program in which corporations supported development projects in black communities. President George W. Bush in 2007 presented Dr. Hooks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the country's highest civilian honors.

Dr. Dorothy I. Height, the leading female voice of the 1960s civil rights movement who dreamed "freedom in a colorless society," passed away on Tuesday, April 20. President Barack Obama hailed Dr. Dorothy Height as the "the godmother of the Civil Rights Movement and a hero to so many Americans.” It was while serving as assistant executive director of the YWCA in Harlem that Dr. Height came to the attention of Dr. Mary McCleod Bethune, the founder of the National Council for Negro Women and then president. Dr. Bethune wanted Dr. Height to volunteer with the organization and join forces in demanding equitable education, employment and pay.

Inspired by Dr. Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Height joined the National Council of Negro Women in 1937 and began dedicating her time and efforts to helping improve equality among women and African Americans. Dr. Height drew inspiration from Dr. Bethune and served as the president of the National Council of Negro Women from 1957 to 1997, eventually becoming chair and president emerita. Dr. Height also chaired the executive committee of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and was an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., where she served as president from 1946 to 1957. She was seated on the platform with Martin Luther King Jr. when he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech" at the Lincoln Memorial. Dr. Height wanted equal civil and human rights for everyone and she dedicated her life to fighting injustice. In Washington, when Dr. Dorothy Height spoke, U.S. presidents, civil rights leaders, and America's captains of industry listened as they knew she was a soft-spoken and yet powerful leader! In 1994, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton.

Dr. Benjamin Hooks and Dr. Dorothy Height were friends of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and helped to strengthen our affiliate partnerships with the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women. Current and past members of the College of Bishops, including Senior Bishop William H. Graves and Bishop E. Lynn Brown, worked directly with Dr. Benjamin Hooks and the NAACP in many causes for freedom and social justice. The Women’s Missionary Council leaders, including our current president, Dr. Elnora P. Hamb, and the Council's immediate past presidents Dr. Judith E. Grant and Dr. Sylvia Faulk, worked closely with Dr. Dorothy Height and the National Council of Negro Women.

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church honors the life and witness of Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks and Dr. Dorothy I. Height for their important roles in the civil rights movement and their inspiration to fight against social injustices. Let us remember these two leaders and trailblazers as transformers of African American history in the United States. Hopefully, their legacy will continue!

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop William H. Graves and its College of Bishops, is a 139-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 800,000 members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For additional information about the CME Church, visit www.c-m-e.org .

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 Lawrence 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 Dotcy I. Isom, Jr.

Bishop Marshall Gilmore

Bishop Nathaniel Linsey

A Call for General Conference Intercessory

Dear Saints,

As we prepare for the General Conference I have asked around the Zion for individuals to offer Prayers for this Gathering. You know the significance of this Conference and urge all of us to be prayerfully optimistic as we prepare for Mobile. In the weeks to come we will share other prayers and a 40 day Calendar leading up to the conference has been prepared by our Prayer Team and will be distributed. The Prayer Coordinators of many of our churches will have 1st Friday Prayer Conference calls and other opportunities for us to unite in Prayer. We are asking throughout the Church to form Prayer groups to intercede for the success and blessings for this Conference. Please maximize all efforts to share hope, blessings and expectancy for this General Conference and all of the candidates and decisions to be made for the future of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

In His Service,

Dr. Jerome McNeil, Jr.

Denominational Prayer Coordinator

... and an Intercessory Prayer

Loving and Compassionate God,

We pray that every person present in attendance at the 2010 General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will experience the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same. We acknowledge O God that it is in you that we live and move and have our very being. May your spirit of peace and abide within us and throughout the atmosphere as delegates and leaders deliberate and legislate resolutions and practices which will strengthen our Zion. Give those who have been delegated the responsibility of electing leaders of our Church discernment, conviction and guidance as they cast their vote for those who share the enthusiasm and commitment to strengthen, empower and equip the Church to fulfill your mission in the Universe. In the name of the One who created us, sustains us and redeems us. Amen!

Dr. Willa Ross

Missionary Task Force Feeding Homeless

at Metropolitan CME in Birmingham, AL

At Metropolitan CME Church in Birmingham, Alabama, Pastor Rev. Jacob G. Colbert, Jr. has organized a "Task Force," within the Missionary Society to expedite ministries that serve the community. When Pastor Colbert suggested that the church start a "Feeding Program," there were many negative stories and issues about the church's attempt to feed the homeless in the past. Among them were, "How are we going to pay for the food?" "What church auxiliaries will be responsible to feed and when?" "The last time, they broke into the church and stole all of the leftover food." Pastor Colbert's testimony is that he continued to pray for direction, and in a dream he saw himself and some younger men handing out lunches. So that next Sunday morning, he said that the Lord led him to three young men who had not been too active in the church in the past. They ware Reggie Stevenson (counsels drug addicts), Jerome Parks (drives big-rig trucks), and Larry Bishop (grew up attending Metropolitan CME, left, and recently returned). All three gentlemen are the age of Young Adult Fellowship and are active on Hospitality Committe at the church.

Pastor Colbert organized the men as a Task Force under the umbrella of the Missionary Society. The Missionary Society's president, Sis. Gearldene Odem, agreed with the idea. Over the past four months the Pastor's Missionary Task Force has fed 200 homeless and otherwise hungry people each month. To get around all of the negative issues, they have arranged for volunteers to make 100 sandwiches and pack 100 lunches, including a sandwich, two cookies, a bag of chips and a bottle of water. The volunteers prepare brown bag lunches every other Wednesday after Bible Study. The Task Force then meets at the church, loads the lunches into their vehicles, following prayer. Then they go into the local community areas that are known to have homeless perpsons sleeping in abandoned houses and cars. On one particular night, a homeless woman asked Pastor Colbert for adollar to buy a "tampon." When Pastor Colbert informed Sis. Odem, she immediately directed the Missionary Society to prepare special bags containing items of need for females.

The Task Force goes out twice a month, and even foul weather, low temperatures, rain or snow, has not stopped the Pastor's Missionary Task Force from serving the needy. Photo shows Pastor Jacob Colbert (center) and the Missionary Task Force.

Writers, Salespersons Needed for

The Daily Index at the General Conference

If you are a good writer or sales person, not a delegate, and already attending the 2010 General Conference in Mobile, AL, we need you. The Daily Index needs volunteers for its editorial/writing staff and to help sell the newsletter each day at the General Conference. Writers will receive a nominal writer's fee for their work over the 9-day period. Salespersons will receive a percentage of their sales. A skilled person in layout using Adobe Indesign would be a real plus! Warning. It's not much money, and the work is pretty intense, but there's a great sense of pride, accomplishment and value that comes with being right at the forefront of this historical event. If you are interested in working for The Daily Index, please e-mail Dr. Kenneth E. Jones at Goodoc@aol.com. Please indicate "Daily Index" in the subject line. Thank you.

Notice to Candidates For Bishop

in the CME Church

All persons offering themselves for the office of Bishop in the CME Church at the 2010 General Conference are requested to submit to Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr. the following by May 1, 2010.

(1) Name as you wish it to appear on the ballot

(2) Your address, telephone number, and email address

(3) Your annual conference (region).

This information should be sent to:

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.

Chair, Committee on Elections

5417 Robinson Road Extension

Jackson, MS 39204

Arrangements for Mrs. Zelda Griffin,

Grandmother of Rev. Raphael Terry

Rev. Raphael Terry, pastor of Eden CME Church, McCarley, MS lost his grandmother, Mrs. Zelda Mae Griffin.

Funeral Services:

Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 2:00 p.m.

Union Grove United Methodist Church

Central Grove Road

Nettleton, MS 38821

Her body has been entrusted to:

Darden and Sons Funeral Home

1075 "F" Avenue

Amory, MS 38221

662-256-8311

Condolences can be sent to Rev. Raphael Terry, 20 Camellia Cove, Madison, MS 39110-8351.

601-605-2980.

Please keep the Terry and Griffin families in your prayers, especially Rev. Terry, as he has the

task of doing his grandmother's eulogy.

Submitted by Pene' Woods.

He is Risen! He is Risen!

1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again' "(Luke 24:1-7).

CMEs in Haiti Need You…

Can We Count on You?

Your Mission Dollars at Work

Dear Friends,

As you may know, the devastation in Haiti has called for an entire rebuilding of a nation where the governmental, residential and spiritual structures have been destroyed. All of our CME churches and people reside in the rural areas outside of media and relief efforts of Port Au Prince. In our assessment, we have implemented the following Phase I Missions Effort to Rebuild the CME Churches and Homes in Haiti.

We need weekly mission teams to go with us to lend a hand on the following dates.

APRIL 12-17

APRIL 26- MAY 1

MAY 10- 15

MAY 24-29

Q&A:

Q: What can I do, if I cannot volunteer?

A: Sponsor an Airfare or Donate Frequent Flyer Miles for someone to be your on-site hands and feet.

Follow the link below to view how effective your support can be in Refortifying the CMEs in Haiti:

http://cmetenth.org/HaitiReliefVid.htm

Can we count on you?

Contact Rev. Mary McKinney, CME Missions Coordinator, for more information:

afuah@juno.com or (904) 619-8342

Your servant,

Kenneth W. Carter

Prelate of the 10th Episcopal District

The College of Bishops Congratulates

President Barack Obama and the Congress

On Passing the Health Care Reform Bill

The College of Bishops and the Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church extend our congratulations to President Barack Obama and the United States Congress for passing the health care reform bill on Sunday, March 21, 2010.

The passing of the health care reform bill is a great historic event in the history of the United States! Significant health care reform has been needed for over 40 years. The long-debated health care reform bill reached the goal line last night as the House of Representatives voted 219-212 in favor of passing legislation that will insure 32 million Americans. Even though some of the new provisions are not scheduled to be implemented for a few more years, there are some major changes that took place when President Obama signed the bill into law.

One area that will see an immediate impact is health coverage for children. The bill will force health insurers to cover children with pre-existing health problems, as well as permit parents to keep children on their own insurance plans through age 26. The insurers will also be banned from dropping coverage due to severe illness and from limiting lifetime or annual benefits. Additionally, consumer protection rules such as the denial of pre-existing conditions, not only for children but for adults as well will be expanded to all health insurance plans.

We applaud the CME College of Bishops for supporting health care reform. At the 2009 Annual CME Convocation held in St. Louis, Missouri, the College of Bishops delivered a press release that addressed health care reform and the need for every citizen of our nation to receive adequate and affordable health care. We urged CMEs to write their Congressional leader to provide health care reform to protect our children, our elders, our sick and all who need immediate attention for their health care needs.

Although the passing of the health care reform bill is vital to the citizens of the United States, we call for Congress to continue addressing jobs, education, and the stopping of foreclosures on homes and churches around the nations by banks. There are millions of persons, including CMEs, who have lost their jobs and homes over the past two years. CMEs understand the value of education and we request for Congress to address education reform to help our youth and provide resources for young adults to attend college.

Just as the passing of health care reform was vital to our nation, we urge all CMEs to participate in Census 2010 which is vital to our communities. When you fill out a census form, you’re making a statement about what resources your community needs going forward. The information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services. Census information affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives. People from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, and locate pools of skilled workers and more. Please take the time to fill out the form and return it in a timely manner to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop William H. Graves and its College of Bishops, is a 139-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 800,000 members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. For additional information about the CME Church, visit www.c-m-e.org .

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 Lawrence 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 Dotcy I. Isom, Jr.

Bishop Marshall Gilmore

Bishop Nathaniel Linsey

Christ is Crucified

45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (Matthew 27:45-51)