2011 - time to forget what is past...

time to experience 'a new thing!'

“This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

 - Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

Happy New Year!

Some Important Web Links

• Upcoming Gala Event Celebrating Presidents' Legacies

Gala2011.com

• To register for One Church One School 14th Dream Keepers Workshop

www.onechurchoneschool.org

• Christian Education Resources

http://thecmechurchced.org/

• Online Christian Education Certificate

http://thecmechurchced.org/eStrRegistrations.aspx

• The CME Church Official Web Site

c-m-e.org

Updated Arrangements for Rev. Raymond L. Graves

Viewing/Service for the Community
Thursday, December 30, 2010  -  2 p.m.
Aenon Baptist Church, Rev. James Cherry, Pastor
175 Genesee Street
Rochester, NY  14611
(585) 436-6755

Final Home Going Service
Friday, December 31, 2010  - 11 a.m.
New Bethel C.M.E. Church, Rev. Weldon G. Thomas, Pastor
270 Scio Street
Rochester, NY  14605
(585) 232-3815

Funeral Home
Lattimore's Funeral Home
983 Plymouth Avenue
Rochester, NY  14608
(585) 528-2680

Condolences and other acts of kindness should be sent to: 
Mrs. Pauline H. Graves
55 Horse Shoe Ln. North
Henrietta, New York  14467
(585) 334-9043

Passing of Mr. James Tyiska

I regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. James Tyiska, the brother of Mrs. Belvia J. Strickland, Mrs.  Ora Smith, and Mrs. Demetrius Sims.

The funeral arrangements are as follows:
Thursday, December 30, 2010
11 AM Family Hour  and 12 Noon – Funeral Service
Quinn Chapel AME Church
2101 Lippincott Blvd
Flint, Michigan 48503

Funeral Home 
Lawrence E. Moon
906 W. Flint Park Blvd
Flint, Michigan 48505
Phone 810-789-6666
Fax 810-789-1988

Please keep in prayer his wife, Mrs. Alice Jean Tyiska, and the other family members.

Rejoice,

Dr. Elnora P. Hamb
Women's Missionary Council President

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4

Services for Rev. Raymond Graves
A community service to honor the late Rev. Raymond Graves is scheduled for Thursday, December 30th at Aenon Missionary Baptist Church, 175 Genesee Street, Rochester, NY.  The viewing will be held from 2-4 p.m., and a public program from 4-6 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 11 am on Friday, December 31st, at the New Bethel CME Church, 270 Scio Street, Rochester, NY.

Passing of Bro. Bryan Honeysucker

I have been informed that my nephew, Robert Bryan Honeysucker of Milwaukee, who suffered a massive stroke on Christmas Eve, passed away last night around 9:30 p.m.   He was 33 years old.  Please keep his parents, my brother Robert and his wife Gwen, and his sister Tamika, as well as the rest of my family, in your prayers.

IN HIS SERVICE,

Leela Pearl Honeysucker-Miller, Ed.D.

CME Christian Education Certification Now Available Online

December 23, 2010—The Department of Christian Education presents a new series of online courses aimed towards Christian Education Certification.  We have created this Online Christian Education Certification Program for Pastors, Christian Education Leaders, Teachers in the Church, Young Adult Leaders, and Children and Youth Leaders.  Upon completion of this certification program, the learner will be able to:
    * Define Christian Education
    * Develop a Lesson/Teaching Plan
    * Lead an evaluation of local church’s Christian Education Ministry
    * Understand basic learning styles

Our online courses are designed to provide Theory, Knowledge, and Skills.  The Classes will be offered January 2011 through August 2011 and the Certificate of Completion will be recognized at the Annual CME Convocation in September for those persons completing all six modules (CED101-CED106).   This six-session online courses will cover topics that are important to the design, process or evaluation of efforts to improve the quality of Christian Education in our local churches. The learning modules include:
    * CED101 - Christian Education in the African American Church
    * CED102 - Understanding C.M.E. History and Polity
    * CED103 - Providing Age-Appropriate Educational Ministry
    * CED104 - The "Graying" Church Through Educational Ministry
    * CED105 - Identifying Leadership Skills
    * CED106 - Creating Christian Education Project
Students will access the course information remotely, and will need access to a computer with 32 MB RAM and at least 28.8 kbps modem, an internet connection, and an email account.  The registration fee for the course is $50. There may be additional costs for text and materials. Register online from the Department of Christian Education eStore
http://thecmechurchced.org/eStrRegistrations.aspx

We must receive your registration prior to January 15, 2010, in order for your name to be included on the class roster for the first class CED101 which begins January 27th.  Upon successful completion of the course, students will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, General Secretary, CME Department of Christian Education at carmichael.crutchfield@thecmechurch.com.

Join us as we focus on the "FORMATION" element of the MISSION Formula:

Formation + Nurture + Leadership = MISSION  

"Our goal is to make disciples through "events that form and transform."

Passing of Rev. Raymond L. Graves

I greet you in the Precious Name of Jesus Christ!

It is with sadness in my heart that I inform you that one of our very dedicated pastors, Rev. Raymond L. Graves, passed away Thursday morning at Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY. He was the retired pastor of New Bethel CME Church in Rochester for over 40 years.  Rev. Graves was married to Mrs. Pauline Graves.

Homegoing Service arrangements have not be made at this time. When they are available everyone will be notified.

Pass this information on to others, and please pray tor the Graves family.

Prayerfully,

Emma Cox-Lovelace, President
NY/Washington Region Women's Missionary Society
68 Post Avenue
Rochester, NY  14619
(585) 436-1270 (Home)
(585) 4l1-2659 (Cell)

'Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.' - Luke 2:11-14

The Christian Index

and

The Christian Index Online

Wish Everyone a Happy, Merry Christmas

Arrangements for Bro. Gerard W. Herring
Services for Gerard W. Herring will be 11 AM, Thursday, December 23, 2010 at the Byrd's Funeral Home, 3409 West Main Street, Dothan, AL 36305. If you would like to express your condolences to the family, you may send it to 114 Sheridan Street, Gadsden, Alabama or call at 256-547-8130.

Gerard will never be forgotten by his daughter's, Sharla and Carmen Herring; stepson, Chad Bishop; his mother, Margaret H. Lightsey; sister, Rev. Sudealia Douthard, pastor of Mt. Carmel CME Church, Adamsville, AL; brothers, Douglas and Roderick Herring; and former wife, Claudette Herring.

Arrangements for Bro. LeRoy Kennedy

Dear Connectional Members and Friends,

It is with our deepest regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. LeRoy Kennedy on December 13, 2010.  Mr. Kennedy was the brother of Dr. Yvonne Kennedy, State of Alabama Representative.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Stewart Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church located at 1268 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36603.  The Rev. Dr. Anthony Alford, pastor. Telephone: 251-432-3791.

Arrangements have been entrusted to: Johnson-Allen Mortuary, 600 Chestnut Street, Mobile, AL 36603. Telephone: 251-433-2574.

Condolences may be sent to Dr. Kennedy and the family at 1205 Glennon Avenue, Mobile, AL 36603.

Please keep Dr. Kennedy and the Kennedy family in your prayers.


Jeanette Bouknight
Executive Secretary
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
"An Essential Church: Poised for 21st Century Ministry"

Dr. Elnora Hamb
President, Women's Missionary Council
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

Loss of Our Beloved 
Rev. Dr. Nehemiah Mitchum

Rev. Dr. Nehemiah Mitchum went home to be with the Lord on December 12th at his home.

Home Going Services:
Thursday, December 16, 2010, 10 AM
Mt. Olive Cathedral CME Church
538 Linden Avenue
Memphis, TN
(Body will lie in state from 9 AM until service)

Burial
West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery
4000 Forrest-Hill Irene Road
Memphis, TN

His Body has been entrusted to:
R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home
374 Vance Avenue
Memphis, TN
(901) 526-3264; Fax: (901) 526-3265

Please keep Mrs. Juanita Mitchum and the entire Mitchum family
in your prayers.

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. 

Releases 140th Anniversary Litany

The 8th Episcopal District is grateful to be able to share a litany of celebration titled, “Litany of Celebration—140^th Anniversary of the CME Church.”

(click below to expand)

Arrangements for 
Mrs. Barba E. Stewart-Merriweather

The Memorial Service for Mrs. Barba E. Stewart-Merriweather of Rehobath Beach, DE, the sister of Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr., presiding prelate of the 3rd Episcopal District, will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2010 at 1 PM, at the Mount Nebo CME Church, Baldwyn, MS, Rev. Carl Z. Jones, pastor.   Phone: (662) 365-8714. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are to be made payable to The Bessie Agnew Stewart Scholarship Trust.

Donations and condolences may be sent to Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.,  at 5925 West Florissant Avenue, St. Louis,  MO  63136.

Please keep Bishop and Mrs. Stewart and the entire family in your prayers.

Passing of Madam Nko Sunday Okuidem, 
Mother of Rev. Emmanuel Okuidem

To the College of Bishops, General Officers, Missionaries and Connectional Members:


It is with deep regret to inform you that, Madam Nko Sunday Okuidem, the Sweet Mother of Rev. Emmanuel Okuidem, now Regional Coordinator of CME Church, Lagos and Northern Regions of Nigeria, has passed away at a ripe age of 85 years.

Funeral arrangements and services for Madam Nko S. Okuidem were held:

Saturday, December 4, 2010
Wake:  10:00 a.m.-Noon
Funeral services: Noon

Venue: Okuidem’s Compound
Ata Idung, Minya
Southern Region Annual Conference Nigeria
Mkpat Enin LGA
Akwa Ibom State
R.S.V.P.
Rev. Emmanuel Okuidem
+ 234-803-354-4431
Email: okuidem@yahoo.com


Please keep Rev. Okuidem and his family in your prayers.  Donations in lieu of cards, and condolences may be sent to Rev. Emmanuel Okuidem via Western Union Money Transfer, Abuja, Nigeria.

New Association of Black Methodist 

General Officers Charts Its Future

          When the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church assembled in Columbia, SC last spring for their historic “Great Gathering,” creating formal alliances was not on the agenda. Yet, in a meeting of general officers representing the three communions where there was intense dialogue on issues of the day, and answers, a new partnership was formed.
The Association of Black Methodist General Officers (ABMGO) consists of duly elected officials of each of the three churches, representing some of the greatest talent, gifts, and graces ever in the history of Methodism. While an official mission statement is currently a work in progress, the spirit of the agenda of the Great Gathering remains an important focus of the ABMGO, and making a positive impact on the lives of Black Methodists throughout the world is paramount.
Since that first dinner meeting in Columbia last March, the ABMGO has had several meetings by phone. Led by President Dr. Mary A. Love, Editor of the Department of Church School Literature, of the AMEZ Church, the ABMGO is taking all of the necessary steps to grow into an effective, competent group, with a strong organizational structure. Several committees have been established, including committees on Program, By-Laws, Courtesy/Amenities, Ad Hoc/Missions, Finance, Public Relations Committee and a committee on Nominations. Extensive efforts have been made to emphasize and take advantage of the “parallel relationships” among the Black Methodist General Officers. In this vein, there is a concerted effort to maximize the skills of those general officers that are in related, or similar, ministries to the benefit of Black Methodists around the world.
The Association of Black Methodist General Officers is looking forward to the first of what is expected to be an annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 19, 2011, as the Consultation of Methodist Bishops will hold their annual meeting at that time. The meeting in Atlanta ostensibly will be the first anniversary of the seminal work that took place at the Great Gathering last year, with heightened prospects for moving the Association forward.
Current members of the ABMGO are:
AME Church
Richard Lewis, Clement Fugh, John C. Wade, Jerome V. Harris, Daryl Ingram (Secretary), Calvin H. Sydnor, III, Johnny Barbour, Dennis Dickerson, George F. Flowers

AME Zion
W. Robert Johnson, III, Otis McMillan, Raymon E. Hunt
Shirley Welch, Kermit DeGraffenreidt, Mike Lisby
David Miller, James David Armstrong, George E. McKain
Bernard Sullivan, Terrance Jones, Mary A. Love (President)

CME Church
Tyrone T. Davis, Joseph Neal, Elnora P. Hamb, Leo Pinkett, Jeanette Bouknight, Dewayne Golightly, Clifford Harris, Carmichael Crutchfield (Treasurer),
Kenneth E. Jones, Roderick D. Lewis
Submitted by Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, Editor of The Christian Index

Lilly Endowment Announces
2011 Clergy Renewal Grant
(For details click on widget below)