CME Communication Network

Phillips School of Theology Founders Day Observance & Pastors Conference January 6 – 9, 2003. For additional details and registration form visit http://www.forministry.com/USGACMEPCCCNCC/Phillips.dsp

Computer Classes Highly Successful

Excerpts from Fall 2002 Edition of The Connector

The computer classes offered by the Communications, Information and technology Committee *CIT) at the 16^th Convocation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin ere jammed packed! The Department of Lay Ministries, under the leadership of General Secretary, Dr. Victor Taylor, underwrites the classes.

The five classes offered were: Introduction to the Computer and Internet and Introduction to PowerPoint, taught by Michael Morgan, Second Episcopal District; Introduction to Microsoft Publisher taught by Toni Jackson-Williams, Ninth Episcopal District; Introduction to Microsoft Excel taught by Theresa Duhart, Ninth Episcopal District; and Introduction to Word 2000 taught by Princess Pegues, Fourth Episcopal District.

The computer classes are offered at most of the Connectional Meetings to help fulfill its mission of equipping, teaching and promoting the use of communication and information technology for the purpose of advancing the Connectional Church.

Princess Pegues, Secretary

CME Communications and Information Technology Committee

A Connectional Prayer

Dear Lord,

We pray for our churches, our leadership, locally and connectionally. Dear Lord, grant peace to our hearts as we concentrate on pleasing You. Lord, we ask you to help us rekindle our desire to pray. Help us, Oh Lord, to magnify you in all things.

We ask that we may become cheerful givers, Stretch our faith that we can declare that nothing is impossible, if we are willing to pray. Commit us, dear Lord to pray for our Church, Bishops, Pastors, Officers, Members, Families, Youth, and our future.

We thank you for hearing us speak to you in hope and not despair, in victory and not defeat. May you expand our vision to see beyond that which we see. Open our eyes that we may see your favor and unlimited blessings of our Church.

Heal hurts, restore the joy, and transform us for service. Ignite the fires of holiness in our lives. Create a bond of unity across the lives of our people. Touch Lay and Clergy in cooperative coalitions of conviction and commissions. Bestow upon all of our congregations a desire to not just be great, but grateful to you.

Enable us to submit to your will. Allow your grace and glory to inhabit our churches, rural and urban. Meet our needs, create a hunger for more of you and less of us. We declare this prayer in Your Name and thank you for answering.

In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

Rev. Jerome McNeal, Jr.

Director, Connection Prayer Ministry

CME Colleges and Universities

Miles Fund-raiser tops $11 million

Miles College's "Determining Our Destiny" campaign has raised more than the $10 million it had been expected to collect by 2004, school officials announced Wednesday. Officials said the campaign's success is a major step in the school's drive to enroll 2,000 students by 2004. "It's the largest capital campaign in our history, and it's the first successful capital campaign in our history," said George T. French Jr., the college's director of development and planning. "We're just ecstatic, we're excited because we were told by the nay Sayers that we could not do it," said Miles President Albert Sloan. French said the Fairfield school had raised or received pledges for more than $11.4 million. In 1999, the Miles board of trustees authorized a five-year capital campaign to raise $10 million. The trustees set the higher amount after an Atlanta consulting firm suggested that Miles try raising $2 millions in three years. "The board of trustees was just outraged by that and felt that it might not be as large an amount that we wanted," Sloan said.

The Destiny money will be put to various used, the largest involving $3.5 million to build a 200-student dorm. The 96-year-old historically black college opened a new dorm last year but could use new dorm space now, French said. "We have a waiting list for students that we can't even accommodate," said French, who said this semester's enrollment exceeds 1,600.

Other uses for the funds include $2 million to help renovate the campus' two oldest buildings, Brown and Williams halls; $1.8 million for a new classroom building; $1.2 million for the college's endowment; $800,000 to pay for the completed expansion of Alumni Stadium, which can hold 6,000 spectators; $613,000 to fund scholarships for honors students; $500,000 to endow additional scholarships, and $500,000 to help pay for the already completed renovation of Taggart Science Building. "We had outstanding campaign leadership," said French, who said the school has $7.1 million on hand from the campaign. "The corporate community got on board like they have not done in 30 years," he said. "We had all the players come to the table."

Kirkwood Balton, a Miles graduate who is chairman and CEO of Booker T. Washington Insurance, chaired the fund drive. French said a grant from New York's Teagle Foundation helped underwrite the campaign and that about 45 percent of the contributions came from corporate sources. About 30 percent came from foundations and the rest came from individuals. Gifts of $400,00 came from the estate of the late Birmingham businessman A.G. Gaston and from the estate of the late Willie Henderson, a Californian whose executor was a Miles graduate, Sloan said.

Third Annual Masked Ball Friday, February 7, 2003 at the Radison Riverfront Hotel, Augusta, GA. 7:30 p.m. Reception. 8:00 p.m. Dinner and Ball. Donation $60.00. For ticket information, please contact the Business Office at 706-821-8217. Proceeds to benefit Paine College/UNCF Campaign. Black tie and mask required.

The Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center (JITC), published biannually, is dedicated to the advancement of theological education with a special emphasis on the African-American perspective. This reflects an objective of the ITC mission statement, namely, "to provide a critique of Euro-American, theological education which is informed by the perspectives and contributions of African-American and other global interpretations." Published articles are written by ITC faculty and students as well as scholars from national and international theological schools and universities.

Texas College's commitment to fulfilling its role as a stakeholder in the Tyler Community is reflected in the number and variety of programs originating from the Center for Excellence in Community Services. Programs such as the Computer Learning Centers; preventive health care services; ESL training; conversational Spanish; fair housing and homeownership seminars; e-commerce classes, and consolidated planning hearings are intended to address the revitalization needs of neighborhoods surrounding the campus, as well as, reflect the priorities of residents of North Tyler.

By September 15, 2000, the HUD/HBCU Program Manager at Texas College will coordinate the dedication of Computer Learning Centers at three locations - the Texas College Garden Apartments, Liberty Arms Apartments and the Hispanic Service Center. With funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), computer literacy training and instruction in the use of the Internet is available free of charge at each location. Class registration forms are available from the manager's office at each location. For more information call (903) 593 - 8311, Ext. 209 or visit our website at the link provided above.

December 6 – 7, 2002 8^th Episcopal District Fall Reporting Meeting, Hosted by St. James CME Church, Tyler, TX. 408 N. Border Avenue Tyler 75702 Phone: 903-592-7553

December 6 – 7, 2002 Bishop Winter Council, Hosted by Warner Robins CME Church, Warner Robins, GA. Rev. Stevie McKinney, Host Pastor.

December 6 – 7, 2002 South LA & LA Conferences Fall Meeting. Hosted by Reeves Temple CME Church, Lake Charles, LA

December 13 – 14, 2002 Mississippi South & North East Conferences Fall Meeting. Hosted by Lynch Street CME Church, Jackson, MS.

Miss Jessica Edwards, daughter of Dr. Jessie and Mrs. Rosetta Edwards, was the winner of the Episcopal Higher Education competition from the Fourth Episcopal District and will compete at the Women’s Missionary Quadrennial Assembly in July, 2003 for one of the four (4) $4,000 scholarships given by the Women’s Missionary Council. Miss Edwards is from the North-East Mississippi Region and is a member of Bates Chapel CME Church.

Miss Rhonda Wilson, daughter of Rev. C. J. Wilson and Mrs. Linda V. Wilson was the second place winner. Miss Wilson is from the Mississippi-South Region and is a member of Blue Ridge CME Church.

Miss LaQuisha C. Small, the daughter of Minister Calvin Gladney and Nechelle Moore was the third place winner. Miss Small is a member of Bracks Chapel CME Church in Elm Grove, LA

KANSAS-MISSOURI REGION - WINTER COUNCIL
DECEMBER 6-7, 2002
Hosted by the Rosser-Simpson CME Church, Kansas City, MO
Rev. Ronnie Carter, Host Pastor

MICHIGAN-INDIANA REGION - WINTER COUNCIL
DECEMBER 13-14, 2002
Hosted by the Laymen Chapel CME Church, South Bend, IN
Rev. Joseph Colquitt, Host Pastor

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, ILLINOIS & WISCONSIN REGION - WINTER COUNCIL
DECEMBER 20-21, 2002
Hosted by the Murchison-Isom Temple CME Church, Chicago, IL
Rev. Dr. Essie DeAnn Clark-George, Host Pastor

Annual Conference REGIONAL News

Christmas Luncheon December 7, 2002 11:00 A.M. Woodfield Golf and Country Club
Theme " Women in the Ministry"
Sister Wanda Logan, Local Host President
Rev. Isaiah Scipio, Jr. - Host Pastor

Presiding Elder Rev. Jerry D. Woodfork is reminding all pastors in the Atlanta/Rome Region of the reporting meeting Saturday, November 23, 2002 at Pleasant Hill CME Church, Conyers, GA beginning at 9:00 a.m. For additional information, please contact Rev. Woodfork at 404-629-0055 or jerrywoodfork@hotmail.com

The following Annual Conference Regional News articles were featured in the September 2002 edition of the Christian Index:

We welcome Annual Conference news from across the Connection. Send us the activities of your conference, including your Conference calendar! Please include the CME Communication Network on your distribution list, including www.c-m-e.org, www.cmesonline.org, www.flashlyt.com and The Christian Index. Email news to info@flashlyt.com preferably in a Word document.

Publish your local church news online. Email news and announcements to mailto:info@flashyt.com

Local Church Newsletters

We are always seeking news stories from across the Connection. If your local, annual conference or Episcopal District publishes a newsletter, we would love to publish it online!

The following churches have developed websites since November 1, 2002. We applaud and congratulate your efforts and encourage you and members of your congregation and community to visit and support our CME churches.

Visit other Sixth Episcopal District church websites on http://www.flashlyt.com/Sixth%20Web%20Sites.htm. Let us help direct online users to your church website. Register your church website by sending an email link to mailto:info@flashlyt.com . We will include your website link on the CME Communication Network. If you would like information on website development for your church or ministry, please visit http://www.flashlyt.com/2003_Web_Dev.htm for additional information.

Are you a subscriber to The Christian Index? For the low, low price of $20.00 per year, you will receive 12 issues of the official publication of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. To subscribe online, visit Miles Bookstore at http://www.cmepublishinghouse.com The Christian Index offices are located in the International Headquarters, Memphis, Tennessee and Miles College, Birmingham, Alabama. 205-929-1410 or 205-929-1609

Rev. Dr. William E. George, General Secretary of Publication Services and the staff of the CME Publishing House invites you to browse our store. If you see anything you want or need, please, feel free to order on our secure server with Visa Card and Master Card.. The Miles Book Store has served the general public since 1907.

This month we are featuring Church Administration Resource Books which may be purchased online http://cmepublishinghouse.com

Visit the CME News Page on http://www.flashlyt.com for links to Christian Resources. Highlighted this month is:

These pages are the fruit of Baker Book House's long-standing commitment to publish resources that guide, inform, and inspire leaders in Christian ministry. Our publications will help you prepare sermons, study Scripture, deliver children's messages, counsel the hurting, plan and lead worship, hone your leadership skills, and resolve conflicts, among other things that are part of your vocation as a Christian leader.

The founder of our company, my grandfather Herman Baker, once said that "We love to sell a good book . . . in books we have the richest treasures on earth, the output of the best minds of the ages." In this age of fast-paced and sometimes frightening change, you can count on us to continue offering you the "treasures" that will help you serve God through the important work you do for him every day.

Dedurie Kirk, one of our very own, who now resides in Austin, Texas was the center of attention at the Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas. Dedurie donated a blood sample 6 years ago to be added to the Central Texas Marrow Donor Registry. Most donors stay on the registry for years; however, Dedurie was on it just 6 months when she was told she was a match for an anonymous 6 month old infant. That infant is Zulieka Rojas now 6 years old. Never forgetting Dedurie's generosity, Zulieka's parents brought her to Austin to say thank you to Dedurie. According to doctors; without Dedurie's giving spirit and blood that matched Zulieka's closely enough; Zulieka would surely have not survived the fatal metabolic disease.

A MIRACLE is what Zulieka's doctors are calling this match. Because Dedurie is African-American and Zulieka is part Hispanic and part European; they said the odds of such a match were greater than one in a million.

My name is Gary Hogan, Some of you receiving this email know me, some do not. I work for First Union Bank in Charlotte, NC. My wife, Cindy, is 32 years old and was just diagnosed 3 days ago with stage 4 cervical cancer and her chances for survival are very slim. She was pregnant with our second child and had miscarried at 5 months and now we know why. The more people that pray for her to be healed, the better.

Please pray and ask everyone you know to pray for the HEALING of Cindy, removal of all cancer in her body so she may enjoy all that life has to offer, and to continue to be the wonderful mother to our 5 year old son, Michael.

The power of Prayer is unsurpassed, unsurpassed. I want the whole world to have her in their prayers the next few weeks. God will hear our cry. Please do not be offended by my plea. This is only a request for your help.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this and helping with our request for healing. No words can express how much power we have when we do a little extra to come together.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6

With the ongoing surge of materialistic values in this society, we tend to put our trust in everything but the Lord. We place trust in our homes, cars, jobs, family members, and even church members. All of these for one reason or another can and will let us down. Though some sincerely do try their very best, it is not within the nature of these things or persons to deliver you. This is why we must put all of our trust in the Lord. He has the power to deliver. And he knows our thoughts even before we think them, so it is with sincerity that we must place this trust. (with all thine heart). Next, we see that our understanding is limited. In other words, reasoning can only take you so far. But there is an understanding and knowledge beyond human reasoning. So we should, "lean not to our own understanding." "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isaiah 55:8. But in all our ways we should acknowledge God. "In all thy ways" means in everything. So when we wake in the morning, before we get the first cup of coffee or take a shower, we should be in prayer, acknowledging the Lord. If nothing else, simply thanking Him for another beautiful day. It doesn't matter if there's sunshine or rain. Every day is still beautiful. Beautiful because we have the activity of our limbs. Beautiful because the blood still runs warm in our veins. Beautiful because we woke up in our right minds. "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24. So we should acknowledge Him in our homes, on our jobs, and in all aspects of our daily lives. To acknowledge God means we recognize God for who He is and for what He has already done for us. (John 3:16).

Now here is the reason for celebrating. When we do these things, the scripture states, "and he shall direct thy paths." Truly we need direction today. We need guidance and purpose. We need to know that our day is planned in such a way that our paths are clear. Notice here that "paths" is plural, meaning that we have many paths in life. But regardless of how many paths you may have, you can be assured that the Lord will direct them all. For His Holy Presence is in that path. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105. With this in mind, we now have direction in the paths, and light in the paths. Therefore as King David said, we can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. For we have a directive and we have light, prerequisites for vision. Well what exactly is the directive? The directive is to lean not to thine own understanding. If you are busy trying to figure things out, you are the director. But if you put it all in the hands of the Lord, He is the director. When God directs, all things are subjected under his authority.

This is the essence of Christ. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." John 1:1-5. You can have vision in the midst of darkness. Vision, in the midst of confusion. Vision, in the midst of trials and tribulations. Simply walk victoriously in your paths. And as the civil rights marchers use to sing, "don't let nobody turn you around." You have direction and you have light. And always remember that Jesus has already led the way. "--- I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man commeth unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6. Now the question is, are you going to follow?

If you are a pastor and would like to share your Pastor’s Message in an upcoming issue of the CME News Flash, please email your text to mailto:info@flashlyt.com or fax to 770-319-9083.

Take the lead in promoting the activities and ministries of your church via online technology!

Easily post news and announcement on the CME Communication Network with the newly designed Event Form! Complete and fax or email your event for posting online and for inclusion in the monthly News Flash. Feel free to make as many copies as you like for distribution to members in your church, board or auxiliary. http://www.flashlyt.com/cme_communication_network_event_.htm

Please print this email and make it available to members of your congregation

CME Communication Network

November 2002 News Flash

Connectional News

Miles Fund-raiser tops $11 million

Annual Conference REGIONAL News

Local Church Newsletters