Bishop Charles Lee Helton Service at Noon, Wednesday, April 4, 2007. The 49th bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Charles Lee Helton, passed away on Thursday afternoon, March 29, 2007, in Charlotte, NC. Formerly the presiding prelate of the 7th Episcopal District, Bishop Helton and his wife Willie Ann Helton, gave tremendous leadership to one of the largest Episcopal Districts of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, comprising the New York-Washington Region and the Carolina Region. Bishop Helton also served four years as the presiding prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, including churches in Africa and the Caribbeans. Bishop Helton retired from active ministry during the 2006 General Conference of the CME Church in Memphis, TN.

Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at the Parkwood Institutional CME Church, 802 Tom Hunter Road, Charlotte, NC 28213-1021. Rev. Roderick D. Lewis is pastor.

COGIC Leader Patterson's Funeral Service Set. The International Homegoing Service for Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson, leader of the Church of God In Christ, will be Saturday, March 31, 2007, at 10 AM. The service will be able to be viewed by webcast for those unable to attend in Memphis, TN. The webcast of the International Homegoing Service, powered by VM Direct/Helloworld, will begin at 10:00 a.m Central Daylight Time. The webcast can be viewed at http://www.cogiclive.org/. Also, there are churches in most states that will have viewing available. If you plan to view from your desktop or laptop, you might want to go to the site prior to the beginning of the service to check your system for any additional downloads that may be needed in order for your computer to run properly.

Submitted by Pene' Long-Woods, Jackson, MS

6th District Enjoys One in the Spirit Banquet at Spring Convocation.

Meeting in its annual Spring Convocation, the 6th Episcopal District held its “One in the Spirit” Banquet Friday, March 23, 2007, at the Columbus Iron Works & Convention Center, Columbus, GA. It was a gala affair, hosted by the presiding prelate of the 6th Episcopal District, Bishop Othal Hawthorne Lakey. The banquet is held in support of 6th Episcopal District Expansion. The theme for the banquet was, “From Good to Great—In Faith and Faithfulness.” The speaker for this year’s One in the Spirit Banquet was Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III, presiding prelate of the 5th Episcopal District, who spoke from the subject, “Expansion Begins in the Mind.” Accompanying Bishop Reddick at the affair was Mrs. Wendy Jones Reddick, and adorning the dais along with the 6th District prelate, Bishop Lakey, was Dr. Elfreda Lakey, 6th District director of Music.
The Master of Ceremonies and Mistress of Ceremonies were Rev. Frederick L. Braddock, Sr., pastor of West Mitchell CME Church, Atlanta, GA; and Dr. Kim Ezekiel. But there were several other program participants, including Mrs. Catherine Swint, director of Social Concerns for the Macon-Barnesville District; Rev. William Banks, pastor of Clifford Temple CME, Thomasville, GA; Rev. Allen Page III, pastor of Holsey Chapel CME, Columbus, GA; Rev. Albert Lee III, presiding Elder, Elberton-Gainesville District; Rev. Cleavon Mabon, Mrs. Shonda Barnes, assistant secretary, West Georgia Region; Rev. Thurmond D. Brown, presiding elder, South Columbus-Cordele District; Mr. Leo Pinkett, General Secretary, Department of Ministry to Men; Mrs. Cheryl Averett Johnson, chair, Program Committee; and Rev. Lovett Thornton, Pastor, Carter Monumental CME, Columbus, GA. Guests attending the banquet included Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, General Secretary of Christian Education; Atty. Ouida Brown, General Counsel for the CME Church; Presiding Elder and Mrs. Leo Douglas, Phenix City/Opelika/ Montgomery District (Alabama); and Dr. Kenneth Elvis Jones, Editor of The Christian Index.

Update on Arrangements for Rev. William E. Stone. Rev. William E. Stone, 66, pastor of Carter Metropolitan CME Church of Dallas and former presiding elder, traded earth for glory on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at his residence surrounded by his family.

The Arrangements are:
Friday, March 23, 2007 7-8PM
Memorial Wake at Carter Metropolitan CME, Fort Worth

Saturday, March 24, 2007 12 Noon
Celebration of Life Services at Carter Metropolitan CME
4601 Wichita Street, Fort Worth, Texas
Host Pastor: Rev. Jerome Price
Eulogist: Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart

Sunday, March 25, 2007 4PM
Shiloh CME Church, Fulton, MS
Burial in Shiloh Cemetary

Please keep his wife, Hattie Durden Stone and Children (Shantilata, William II, Phillip and John) in your prayers.

Submitted by Pene' Long-Woods, Jackson, MS

Arrangements for the late Dr. Mance Jackson. Condolences for the loss of Dr. Mance Jackson can be sent to his wife, Mrs. Joy A. Jackson at 1007 South Candler Road, Decatur, Georgia 30030-4465.

Funeral Services have been set for Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 11:00a.m. at West Mitchell C.M.E. Church, 560 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA. His body has been entrusted to the Grissom-Eastlake Funeral Home, 227 E. Lake Drive, S.E., Atlanta, GA 30317. Phone: 404-373-3191.

Atlanta CMEs Host Pan-Methodist Bishops' Consultation. Atlanta, GA (March 11, 2007)—For certain, this particular Sunday was one evening when God was not a respector of race, gender, or denominational persuasion as leaders representating all of Methodism in the United States assembled at the West Mitchell CME Church for "A Methodist Gathering: A Service of Renewal and Commitment." This Celebration of Holy Communion served as the beginning of the Consultation of Methodist Bishops, the Commission of Pan-Methodist Cooperation and Union. The service was an exercise in liturgical splendor with as many as 30 or more bishops in attendance from the various brands of Methodism, including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the African Union Methodist Protestant Church, the Union American Methodist Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, and hosts the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Additionally, Methodists and others from throughout the Atlanta area filled the spacious West Mitchell sanctuary to drink in all the bishops had to offer in observance of the auspicious occasion.
Calling the congregation to worship was the Senior Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop William H. Graves, 1st Episocpal District. Others playing important roles in the service were Bishop George W.C. Walker, Sr., AMEZC; scripture by Bishop G. Linsey Davis, United Methodist Church; prayer by Bishop Philip R. Cousin AMEC; Mrs. Harriet McCable, introduction of the Pan-Methodist Commission; and Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Moments of Remembrance. Greetings were brought by the pastor of West Mitchell CME, Rev. Frederick L. Braddock, Sr. and the invitation and commitment was led by Bishop Gregory Palmer. Music was rendered by the Voices of the Sixth, comprising members of the 6th Episcopal District. The offering was designated for the Pan-Methodist Campaign on Children and Poverty. It was reported that over $2,500 was raised in the offering.
Senior Bishop Graves introduced the speaker for the evening, Bishop Othal Hawthorne Lakey, presiding bishop of the 6th Episcopal District and host. Speaking from I Corinthians 1:10-18, Bishop Lakey used as a title, "The 'In Between' Church." Bishop Lakey said that while the first church of the Christian faith, as depicted in the Book of Acts, may be the church of our dreams, and the church of the Book of Revelations (the eschatalogical church) might be the church of our vision, there is yet a church in the middle—an "in between church" if you will—the church of the here and now. He suggested that this "in between" church is full of all of the flaws and imperfections of the world. And the "in between" church brings much that "not yet" has been fulfilled. Nevertheless, looking forward to the "not yet," even the church of our vision (the future church), we still have hope.
Joining Bishops Cousin, Walker, Sr., Graves, Palmer and Davis as Celebrants for the Celebration of Holy Communion was United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer. AMEZ Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett gave closing remarks, followed by the Benediction by Bishop Lakey.
As hosts of the Gathering, CMEs helped fill the church. Among those present were Bishops Paul A.G. Stewart, Sr. (3rd Episcopal District); Bishop L.L. Reddick III (5th Episcopal District); Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham (8th Epispcopal District); and Bishop Nathaniel Linsey (retired). General Officers present were Mr. Leo Pinkett, General Secretary of Ministry to Men and Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, Editor of The Christian Index. Also present were Miles College President Dr. George T. French, Jr. and Mrs. Joyce French. Several bishops' wives were present.

Passing of Chief Dr. I Carlton Faulk, General Secretary, Emeritus, Department of Lay Ministry. Funeral services for Chief Dr. I Carlton Faulk, General Secretary, Emeritus, Department of Lay Ministry will be held on Friday, March 16, 2007, 11:00 a.m., at Beebe Memorial Cathedral CME Church, 3900 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609. The Rev. Dr. Charley Hames is the pastor. Telephone: 510-655-6114. Fax: 510-655-6170 E-mail: thecathedral@sbcglobal.net