The Loss of Dr. Patricia Willis

Dear CME Members, Missionaries and Friends,

We are saddened by the passing of Dr. Patricia Willis, past president of the Louisiana Region Missionary Society.

Funeral arrangements for Dr. Patricia Willis are as follows:

Quiet Hour - Monday, November 29, 2010 - 6-7 PM
Evening Star CME Church, Cullen, LA  - Rev. Shirley Duty, pastor
1103 Henrietta White Blvd., Cullen, LA  71021
Telephone:  318-994-3172

Home Going Services - Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - 11 AM
William Memorial CME Church, Shreveport, LA - Rev. Larry Anders, Pastor
1501 Peabody Street - Shreveport, LA  71103
Telephone: 318-424-0843

Burial will be in Springhill, LA under the auspices of Memorial Funeral Home.

Condolences may be sent in care of Gwendolyn Frazier, Memorial Funeral Home, 40343 Hwy 79, Homer, LA 71040. Telephone: 318-927-5241.

Please remember to keep the family of Dr. Patricia Willis in your prayers.


In His Service,

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

Mrs. Marilyn Thomas Continues Progress
To all of you expressing concern for Marilyn Thomas:

What a great day of Thanksgiving on yesterday! The kids and I joined Marilyn with a "home cooked" thanksgiving dinner in the hospital. She's making a miraculous recovery, thanks to the Master Healer, your prayers, and the hospital staff including her personal physician. We're continuing to offer much praise to God for the great things God is doing to restore Marilyn to wholeness!  Keep the prayers flowing and thank you all so much! things God is doing for Marilyn. Don't stop the prayers... Again, Thanks!

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18,  "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  We're doing just that!



Please pass this praise report on...Thanks!

Weldon G. Thomas
New Bethel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
270 Scio Street, Rochester, NY 14605
585-232-3815

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, 

continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, 

strengthened in the faith as you were taught, 

and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

Happy Thanksgiving 

from The Christian Index

Loss of Mrs. Elaine P. Williams

Dear Connectional Members and Friends,

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs. Elaine P. Williams, the wife of Rev. Dr. W. Clyde Williams, longtime C.M.E. pastor, former Executive Secretary for the C.M.E. Church, and former president of Miles College.  

The Homegoing Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, November 27, 2010, 11:00 a.m., at West Mitchell Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, 560 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.W., Atlanta, Georgia, 30314.  The Rev. Frederick L. Braddock, Sr., Pastor.  Telephone: 404-525-2337.  Fax: 404-525-1575.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Murray Brothers Mortuary, 1199 Utoy Spring Road Southwest, Atlanta, GA  30331. Telephone: 404-349-3000.

Condolences may be sent to Dr. W. Clyde Williams at 2805 Shoreland Drive SW, Atlanta, GA, 30331. 

Please keep Dr. W. Clyde Williams, Rev. Gregory Williams, Rev. Randy Williams, and the family in your prayers.  


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

The Passing of Mrs. Mary Paige 
Please be advised of the arrangements for Mrs. Mary Paige, the mother of Rev. James Mitchell Paige, presiding elder of the Columbus-Meridian District, Mississippi South Region.

Mrs. Paige's body has been entrusted to:

Chapel of Angels Funeral Home
823 Dr. Martin Luther King Avenue
Laurel, Mississippi 39440
(601) 428-2011


Family Hour:  
Thursday, November 18, 2010, 6  to 7 p.m.
Chapel of Angels Funeral Home
(See address above)

Home Going Services:
Friday, November 19, 2010,  2 p.m.
Christian Valley Baptist Church
810 South Walters Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 428-7837

Please keep Rev. and Mrs. James Paige and family in your prayers.  Rev. Paige can be reached at 601-527-4237; email: jampaige@comcast.net. Condolences can be sent to Chapel of Angels or Rev. Paige at 6200 11th Avenue, Meridian, MS 39305.

Submitted by Pene' Woods

Services for Bro. Henry Boyd, Sr.

Mr. Henry Boyd, Sr., brother of Editor of The Christian Index Dr. Kenneth E. Jones and Dr. Margarie Stovall, pastor of Haynes Chapel CME, Pelahatchie, MS, will be remembered in a home going service at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 14, 2010, at the Adolphus Chapel CME Church, Holly Springs, MS. Arrangements are being handled by Brittenum Funeral Home, 125 N Memphis St., Holly Springs, MS 38635-2210; (662) 252-2341.

L-R: Bro. Anthony Farley, Bro. William B. Sims, Rev. John D. Johnson, Bro. Herbert Titus, Bro. Jim Johnson, Bro. Terrence Lowe, Ms. Ann Woods, Bro. Bruce Livingston, Bro. Ralph Davis, Ms. Geneva Reese, Ms. Doss Tyson, Rev. Pansy Washington, and Ms. Wanda Thomas.

Connectional Lay Day 

At Lewis Metropolitan CME

           Los Angeles, CA—On October 10, 2010, under the leadership of Bishop James B. Walker, the presiding prelate of the 9th Episcopal District, the Southern California Region observed Connectional Lay Day at Lewis Metropolitan CME. The theme for the event was "Building a Bridge of Unity Between Laity and Clergy: Poised for 21st Century Ministry." Ms. Anna Woods was the worship leader for the event. Rev. Wendell Oldham, the host pastor and presiding elder of the LA District, conducted the installation of officers for the local and District churches. Rev. Pansy Washington, Ms. Geneva Reese, and the Calvery CME choir, under the direction of Alicia Lawerence, provided the music. Rev. Napoleon Goshay, presiding elder of the Los Angeles/San Diego District, introduced the speaker, Reverend Harlon K. Jones, the pastor of Phillips Temple CME Church, Los Angeles. Mr. Donald Bruce Livingston, president of the Southern California Region Lay, praised the clergy and laypersons attending this historic event. Submitted by Warren Bryant

L-R: Presiding Elder Rev. Wendell Oldham, Rev. Brian Smith, Rev. Nolan Jones, Bro. Elliott White, Bro. Bruce Livingston, Sis. Dessie Tyson, Rev. William Smart, Rev. Thembeckarla Smart, and Presiding Elder Napoleon Goshay.

From the College of Bishops:
REMEMBER TO VOTE IN 
MID-TERM ELECTIONS

The Commission on Social Justice and Human Concerns of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church addresses the importance of voting in the upcoming Mid-Term Election being held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010.

We join with the College of Bishops and request that every Pastor, Missionary, and Lay Leader accept the responsibility for giving leadership to a “Get Out the Vote” effort in their respective communities; encourage others to vote next Tuesday; and transport persons to and from election poll sites.

The ability to vote is our constitutional right which many persons fought, marched and died for over the decades. We encourage every member to exercise their voting right,  participate in the upcoming congressional, state and local elections, and to take advantage of early voting processes.  Please vote on Tuesday!

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, under the leadership of Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. and its College of Bishops, is a 139-year old historically African American Christian denomination with more than 1.2 million members across the United States, and has missions and sister churches in Haiti, Jamaica, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan/Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Rwanda and Burundi.  For additional information about the CME Church, visit www.c-m-e.org .


Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., CEO
Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.
Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III
Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr.,
Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr.
Bishop Kenneth W. Carter
Bishop James B. Walker
Bishop W.E. Lockett
Bishop Sylvester Williams
Bishop Teresa Snorton
Bishop Godwin T. Umoette
Bishop William H. Graves, Retired
Bishop Othal H. Lakey, Retired
Bishop Edward Lynn Brown, Retired
Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham, Retired
Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr., Retired
Bishop Marshall Gilmore, Retired
Bishop Nathaniel Linsey, Retired

New theme song is a Ministers' Spouses,

Widows and Widowers' Department first

The CME Ministers' Spouses, Widows and Widowers' Department, founded in 1995, has been blessed with its own theme song. During the administration of Rev. Maggie Banks, who served as president of this department from 2005 to 2009, it was brought to the Executive Board's attention that Dr. Edith Farrar, of the 3rd Episcopal District, had written a song that would serve as a theme song for this department.

Dr. Farrar, born in Durham, NC, has been a minister's spouse for over 40 years and has been a minister's widow for nearly five years. She is the mother of four children, three daughters and one son; six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She graduated from Aspen Christian College and Seminary in Lackland, CO, with a PhD in Music. She is a member of St. Paul CME Church in Mexico, MO, where her pastor is her daughter, Rev. Dr. Rinalda Farrar.

Dr. Edith Farrar shares that the inspiration for this song came to her one day while she sat in her husband's truck. Her husband, Rev. Dr. Joe Louis Farrar, who pastored Israel CME Church in Gary, IN at the time, had gotten out of the truck to go into a store. While sitting in his truck she was inspired to write the lyrics to the "Minister's Wives" song. She later showed it to their organist, Ms. Louise Lee. As Dr. Farrar was being inspired with the words, she did not have anything to write with or write on. She looked in the glove compartment of the truck and found an envelope and pencil and began to write the words. She knew that this inspiration came from God. The words came as an overwhelming flood resulting in her writing as quickly as possible. When her husband returned, she told him what had taken place and showed him what she had written. Every word was given to her, even the music. The first tune given was "O' Rapturous Scenes." However, when the song was presented during the 2008 National Meeting of the Ministers' Spouses, Widows and Widowers' held during the 22nd CME Convocation in Knoxville, TN, we were advised by our, then, Patron Bishop Ronald Cunningham that it would not be appropriate to use the music of "O Rapturous Scenes" because of the legacy of our late Bishop Lucius H. Holsey who wrote the words to this great hymn of the CME Church and the sacredness attached to this hymn. Also, the word "Wives" had to be changed to "Spouses" because of the many male spouses that are present within the CME church.

It was during that 2008 meeting that President Maggie Banks instructed the worship leader at the time, Mrs. Debora C. Gant, of the 1st Episcopal District, to develop another tune that would be appropriate for our theme song and make this presentation at our next connectional meeting that was to be held in St. Louis, MO. In order to be inclusive and involve all the spouses that would be present, Mrs. Gant wrote three different tunes. She prepared ballots indicating the three different instrumentations and made the individual musical presentations at the MSWW's connectional meeting held during the 23rd Convocation in St. Louis, MO. Assisting Mrs. Gant in making this presentation was Mrs. Janice Mitchell, current vice president of the MSWW's Department, representing the 2nd Episcopal District; and Mrs. Gail Anders of the 4th Episcopal District. They joined Mrs. Gant in singing the three different tunes, at various tempos. The body voted and the majority decided which tune would accompany the words that Dr. Farrar had given as a gift to this department. Bishop Cunningham humorously stated that he liked "all three versions" but he knew we were to decide on only one.

Under the new administration of President Linda Whitlock, 3rd Episcopal District, a CD with words and instrumentation was presented to the Bishops' spouses and the Executive Board of the Connectional Ministers' Spouses' Department, at the recent connectional meeting that was held during the 24th Convocation in Louisville, KY. Each Executive Board member, which is also the representative for their episcopal districts, will be responsible for sharing the CD with their Region presidents who will in turn, share it with the district presidents within their regions. It is the hope that eventually the song will permeate the entire CME Church for all ministers' spouses, widows and widowers to use during their various programs and events and during the connectional meetings by the current worship leader, Mrs. Linda Wilson of the 4th Episcopal District, and those who follow.

Mrs. Debora C. Gant is currently the Financial Secretary serving on the Executive Board of the Minister's Spouses' Widows and Widowers' Department. She is a member of the 1st Episcopal District, where she resides with her husband, Rev. William C. Gant in the Arkansas Region in Searcy, AR at St. Mary CME Church.

We thank God for Dr. Farrar's gift to this department.

Ministers' Spouses' Theme Song

(Adopted September 2009)

Words: Mrs. Edith J. Farrar, PhD,

3rd Episcopal District

Tune: Mrs. Debora C. Gant, 1st Episcopal District

1. We are Ministers' Spouses of the CME Church

We are striving to do our best.

With God on our side, we shall run this race,

To enter the Golden Gate.

2. We are Ministers' Spouses of the CME Church

We long to make Heaven our home.

Through many hard trials, we must overcome,

With Jesus our Lord by our side.

3. We are Minister's Spouses of the CME Church

With the love of God in our hearts.

We work so patiently day after day,

With spouses whom God has supplied.

Chorus:

The CME Church, the CME Church

May God ever be by our side.

The CME Church, the CME Church

May God ever be by our side.

Mrs. Debora Gant is the former worship leader for the Connectional Spouses. Photo above shows Patron Bishop Godwin Umoette with Spouses at their departmental meeting at the 24th CME Convocation in Louisville, KY.

One Church One School Conference Events

The Hilton Jackson Hotel, Jackson MS

October 21-22, 2010

OCOS Student Empowerment Seminar

Thursday, October 21, 10:00 a.m.

Keynote Presenter: Professor Lance Williams

Assistant Director

Northeastern Illinois University’s Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Thursday, October 21, 7:00 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: Bishop Thomas L. Brown

Presiding Prelate of the Fourth Episcopal District of the CME Church

Lifetime Achievement Awardees:

Dr. Leslie Burl McLemore, Mrs. W. Jean Moore, Mr. Jewell Wagner

Opening Plenary Session

Friday, October 22, 9:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker: Bishop James B. Walker

Presiding Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District of the CME Church

Los Angeles, California

Awards Recognition Luncheon

Friday, October 22, Noon

Guest Speaker: Dr. Beverly Wade-Hogan

President of Tougaloo College

Tougaloo, MS

Workshops: Partnership Workshop: Thursday, October 21, 2:00 p.m.

Educational Workshops: Friday, October 22, 10:30 a.m.

Senior Bishop Hoyt Calls for

2nd Rally at Atlantic Beach, SC

TO: Pastors and Members

Winston-Salem/Greenville District

And to other Concerned CME's

FROM: Dr. James E. Russell, Jr., Presiding Elder

SUBJECT: Atlantic Beach March/Rally

DATE: Saturday, October 30, 2010

TIME: 10:00 am

In August of 2010, during the praise and worship service at Atlantic Beach CME Church, members of the Atlantic Beach police department entered the church and ended the worship service. The pastor and her husband were handcuffed and taken away while the remaining members were forced to leave the premises. This was done under the pretense that the building had been condemned. This has sense been proved not to be true.

In September of 2010, Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyts, Jr. and others traveled to Atlantic Beach where we met and talked with the Town Manager and Police Chief. We expressed our concern about their action and requested that the light be turned on and the pastor and members be allowed to re-enter their church for worship.

To this day, the lights in the Atlantic Beach CME Church have not been turned on. The pastor’s husband has been arrested on two occasions and remains in jail even as I write this note to you. Senior Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. has expressed his concern for the church and safety of some of its members.

ABOUT ATLANTIC BEACH

Atlantic Beach, S.C. is a small municipality composed of approximately 500 people on about .2 SQ miles. The town is nestled between two of the largest resort municipalities (Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle) in the United States. It is governed and managed by an all-black town council. Bishop Senior Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. feels strongly that the Town Council of Atlantic Beach has the responsibility to uphold the constitution of the United States of America and protect and respect the right of all of its citizens.

The fact that the town of Atlantic Beach is incorporated for the purpose of self government means that it has the responsibility and the duty to protect and respect the constitutional rights of all of its citizens regardless of race, creed, or religion. For the past few years this has not been the case where the Atlantic Beach CME Church is concerned. A disturbing and distinct pattern and practice of abuse of power towards the church, it members, it pastor and her family by the town have been clearly evident.

These abuses include but are not limited to threats, false arrest and unconstitutional incarceration. It is sad when in 2010 in the United States of America that an all-black town council has chosen to openly abuse and hinder a black congregation from expressing their rights to worship without abusive re-action from the government which has been elected to protect them.

THIS IS WHY SENIOR BISHOP HOYT IS CALLING FOR A MASS RALLY AND MARCH IN THE TOWN OF ATLANTIC BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE IS ASKING EACH PASTOR TO MAKE PLANS TO BE PRESENT AND TO ENCOURAGE AS MANY MEMBERS AS WILL TO JOIN WITH US IN ATLANTIC BEACH AT 10:00 AM ON OCTOBER 30, 2010. WE ARE HOPEFUL OF HAVING AT LEAST 500 MEMBERS PRESENT.

Loss of James Irvin Herring

James Irvin Herring, 300 Peach Tree Street, Buffalo, New York, departed this earth on Sunday, October 10, 2010. He is the son of Margaret Lightsey and the late Frank Herring, and brother of Rev. Sudealia Douthard, pastor of Mt. Carmel CME, Adamsville, AL.

Funeral Arrangements

Saturday, October 16, 2010, Shiloh Baptist Church, 15 Pine Street Buffalo, New York 14209.

The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to noon. Service begins at noon.

Anigone Funeral Home

1132 Delaware Avenue

Buffalo, New York 14209

Trailblazing Mississippi Judge Curtis Austin Passes

Municipal Court Judge Curtis Austin, a giant of the community who was one of the first African Americans to serve on the Columbus City Council and as a lawyer and judge in Columbus, Mississippi, died yesterday morning in Birmingham, Al. He was 60. Austin died of an undisclosed illness at about 5:30 a.m. October 6th after almost two weeks at UAB Hospital.

City Councilman Kabir Karriem called Austin a "trailblazer" who was a staple of local politics.

"(He) was one of those giants in our community whose shoulders we stand on," Karriem said.

The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member was the second African American on the City Council, which paved the way for better race relations in the community, said Councilman Gene Taylor.

"To have another black person on the board as an attorney and as a judge at the time was a tremendous boost, not only to the black community but to the city as a whole," Taylor said.

Austin practiced as an attorney for about 30 years in Mississippi before becoming a Municipal Court judge in January 1994. He received a degree from George Washington School of Law and was a graduate of Jackson State University. He was a member of the Sanders Chapel CME Church in Columbus.

Those Austin worked with also praised him for his candor and community service.

"He was a very good person—always approachable, always helpful," said Police Chief Joseph St. John. "We're going to miss him, and that's not just a nice line." Although he was reserved and generally quiet, Austin had a "great sense of humor," said Lowndes County Supervisor Leroy Brooks.

The father of four and grandfather of two will be sorely missed, Brooks said.

On the city website, Austin listed reading, gardening and cooking as his hobbies.

Carter's Funeral Services is handling funeral arrangements, which had not been completed Wednesday morning.

Submitted by Pene' Woods

2011 CME Pastors' Conference Announced

Loss of Selwyn Langdon,

Son of Sister Edna Barksdale Langdon

I am sorry to report to you that around 2 a.m., Thursday morning, September 30th, Brother Selwyn Langdon was killed in an auto accident on Interstate 20, near Jackson, MS. He was the son of Mrs. Edna Barksdale Langdon, nephew of the late Elder Dorothy Claybon and Mrs. Marjorie Culver. Arrangements are pending, but will be handled by Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home.

You may reach the Claybon family at 662.701.9247. Please be in prayer for the family during this very difficult period.

Pene' Woods

Funeral Arrangements for

Mrs. Georgiana Williams,

Mother of Bishop Sylvester Williams

The funeral service for Mrs. Georgiana Williams will be held on Monday, October 4, 2010, at noon at the Bass Tabernacle CME Church, 22890 County Road 32, Akron, Alabama, ph. 205-372-0769.

Arrangements are being handled by Rollins Mortuary, 2701 Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, ph. 205-759-4202.

Condolences may be sent to Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr., 8044 Montgomery Rd., Suite 700, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bishop Williams and the Williams family.

Funeral arrangements for

Dr. Fredrick Sebastian Phillips

Dear CME's:

Dr. Phillips is the son of our dear sister, Virgie Phillips, a member of the By Laws and Constitution Committee of the Women's Missionary Council and the Arkansas Region Vice President. Please let us share our love and support at this time of sorrow.

Rejoice,

Dr. Elnora P. Hamb

Women's Missionary Council President

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

Philippians 4:4

Services to be held on Friday, October 1, 2010

New Haven Church

404 West Street

West Helena, AR 72390

Wake will be held on Thursday, September 30, 2010

Pettis Memorial C.M.E. Church

121 South Coanza Street

West Helena, AR 72390

phone: 870-572-5046

Funeral Home in charge:

Jackson & Highley Funeral Home

126 Panama Road

West Helena, AR 72390

phone: 870-572-2111

Parents are Leon, Jr. and Virgie G. Phillips

14818 Highway 44

Helena, AR 72342

Phone: 870-827-3449 (home)

870-817-1651 (cell)

College of Bishops Delays Considering

Any Action in Response to Carter Suit

The College of Bishops will, for the time being, take no action in response to a recent decision of a jury in judicial proceedings of the 48th District Civil Court of Tarrant County, Texas, in which Bishop Kenneth Wayne Carter, presiding prelate of the 6th Episcopal District, was found to be liable in a monetary judgment for Negligence and Assault. In a statement read at the opening of the 24th CME Convocation in Louisville, KY, by Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, III, Secretary of the College of Bishops, on behalf of the College, ..."[I]n the absence of a formal charge filed within the Church, there is no action to take against Bishop Carter."

Earlier in the statement, Bishop Reddick read, "The College of Bishops recognizes the rights of all persons involved in this matter but above all realizes that the church is of God and not of human beings. While the church exists in a civil society and is subject to the laws of that society, it has its own laws and procedures which in this society are given due deference when followed. For this reason, until a final judgment has been entered regarding the...finding, the College of Bishops asks members of the CME Church to refrain from rash and partially informed judgments or actions."

The judgment rendered by the Civil Court on August 27, 2010, found the CME Church to be 25% or one-quarter responsible for the judgment amount, according to the statement. But the CME Church, through its legal representative, has filed a motion for a Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict "which asks that the judgment against the church be reduced and/or set aside." The Bishops' statement suggested that a final judgment is expected in the next six weeks.

In the statement, the College of Bishops said that with respect to "issues and questions of theology and [CME] doctrine raised by this case...[the College] will present a report to the General Connectional Board suggesting steps for the church to take in order to define and clarify the church's position on" those issues related to the civil suit against Bishop Carter. The statement made clear that the suit against the Bishop was in fact "civil" and not "criminal." Finally, the statement again made clear that once a final judgment by the judge is rendered, the College of Bishops will "...determine any appropriate follow-up action."

Bishop Reddick asked that any CME members with questions should direct them to each members respective Episcopal leader.

The Christian Index Has A New Number

For all questions that relate to the submission of articles and photos to The Christian Index, please call 205-504-6120. For questions pertaining to subscriptions and circulation, please continue to call 901-345-4120. Thank you.