The Feature Story

“18^th CME Convocation in Birmingham, AL: ‘Refocusing on our Wesleyan Heritage’”

Birmingham, AL- The 18^th CME Convocation was attended by approximately 1,545 registered CMEs who gathered at the Sheraton Hotel Birmingham, AL, from September 25 through October 1, 2004. The Convocation hosts were the 5^th Episcopal District, Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick III, presiding prelate; and members of the Birmingham Region and Birmingham District. The theme was “Refocusing on our Wesleyan Heritage.” This year’s Convocation was designed to connect twenty-first century CME worshipers and leaders to the Church’s Methodist roots in order to recapture the fervor and spirit that ignited the Methodist movement in 17^th Century Europe and America. General Secretary of Personnel Services Dr. Tyrone Davis, Bishop Othal Lakey, the presiding of the 6^th Episcopal District, serving as chairman pro tempore in the absence of Bishop E. Lynn Brown who did not attend the meeting due to illness, directed the Convocation. The Convocation was blessed when Presiding Elder Grover Mitchell of the 2^nd Episcopal District delivered one of the pre-Convocation sermons in place of Bishop Brown at Southside CME Church in Birmingham, during Brown’s absence on Sunday, September 26, 2004, where the Reverend Ricky Jones is pastor. Ms. Pam Lewis, assistant to Bishop Brown, and Mrs. Betty Hill Davis, the Hospitality director of the 2^nd District, gave a daily report of the condition of Bishop Brown. 

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Prior to the official opening of the Convocation, early attendees were privileged to attend several events taking place in Birmingham during the week of the Convocation. On Saturday, the early attendees were entertained by Bishop and Mrs. Reddick III. Mrs. Dianne Chambliss, member of Thirgood CME, was responsible for setting up the VIP guest list at the Summit House. Those in attendance were entertained by husband and wife team of musicians, Rev. AL and Pashlon Lewis, rendering songs of praise, including “I Just want to Praise You” and “Total Praise.” The couple currently has several albums, which were available for purchase during the Convocation.

Sunday, September 26, 2004

On Sunday, September 26, 2004, the early arrivals attended three services of their choice in the Birmingham area: Southside CME Church with the sermon given by Presiding Elder Grover Mitchell; St. Mark CME Church, where Bishop Henry Williamson, Sr., presiding prelate of the 9^th Episcopal District, delivered the sermon and the Rev. Troy D. Johnson is the pastor; and Thirgood Memorial CME Church, where Senior Bishop Marshall Gilmore delivered the sermon and the Rev. Clarence Kelby Heath is pastor. All services were spirit filled. In on particular service where Bishop Williamson preached, Mr. Jordan Rainey, the son to Mr. And Rev. Rainey joined the CME Church. It indeed was a wonderful moment for the Rainey family and gave Jordan an opportunity to be personally blessed by Bishop Williamson. After the sermon, Bishop and Mrs. Reddick III entertained the guest at a luncheon, along with Dr. and Mrs. Albert J. H. Sloan, president and first lady of Miles College.  Present were Miss Miles College and her court. The luncheon came before the Steel City Classic football game between Miles College and Stillman College at Legion Field Stadium. Bishop Reddick III and Dr. Sloan introduced the queen and her court to the Convocation guests: Ms. Senyona Moses is Miss Miles College escorted by Mr. Joseph King; the 2^nd attendant was Miss Tiffney Nicole Peterson, escorted by Mr. Marcellus Rice. The SGA President, Danielle Gloster, was escorted by 2^nd vice president Mr. Barry Atkins, and the adviser Mrs. Glenda Brown-Wade was in attendance. Prior to attending the game that evening, a tour of Miles College was organized by Bishop Reddick III and Dr. Sloan. Bishops and their wives, general officers and early arrivals, were given an opportunity to see the newly constructed buildings on campus and the football field.

That evening Dr. Sloan and the alumni hosted the early arrivals to the game and provided food and soft drinks during the game. Although Miles College lost the game by three points, 17 to 14, the real highlight of the evening was watching the team and band perform. The team had new uniforms and the band was dressed in gold and purple with new instruments.

Monday, September 27, 2004

On Monday, the Prayer room was open for 24 hours. Several meetings, including Bishop’s  meetings, Steward’s meeting and Evangelism meetings, were held throughout the convention center. For the bishops and their wives, general officers, conference staff personnel and guests, the hotel held a fellowship dimmer that evening. The dinner was outstanding. Bishop Othal Lakey presided at the dimmer with Bishop Lawrence Reddick III, Dr. Joseph Neal and Dr. Tyrone Davis introducing the attendees.

Tuesday,  September 27, 2004

On Tuesday, September 28, 2004, the Convocation began with a Prayer room set up throughout the conference from periods 11:59 AM to noon. During this period you had the opportunity to visit as often as you like many times with bishops or other clergy also attending the Prayer room. At 9 AM, the registration, directed by Ms. Doris Herring, who works with Personnel Services at the Memphis headquarter, was conducted. From 10 AM to various workshops were conducted in the Convention center. The bishops, presiding elders, general officers, stewards, laymen all held various meeting during this period in the convention center. In particular, the presiding elders, annual in-service training; the ministers spouses, and Laymen’s Council were held from periods 1 PM  to 5PM. The CIT, led by Mrs. Lauran W. James and Ms. Teresa Duhart, held various sessions in training the Convocation attendees on procedures and methods using the computer.

At 7:30 PM was the Keynote Assembly. Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr., presiding prelate of the 3^rd Episcopal District, delivered the keynote address. Bishop Stewart opened the 18^th CME Convocation by urging the Church to return to the teachings of John Wesley. Bishop Othal Lakey gave the occasion of the evening, noting that, although the CME Church changed its name in 1954, it is still very much the “colored” church of its forefathers and foremothers. The night was filled with excellence as Atty. Juanita Bryant, the worship leader, opened the service. The music was provided by the 5^th Episcopal District Mass Choir, under the direction of Dr. Bernard Williams, the choral director at Miles College, and Mrs. Jackie Minnefield, music ministry at Southside CME Church. As the evening progressed, the welcome was provided by Birmingham Mayor Dr. Bernard Kincaid, a Miles College graduate and a member of Metropolitan CME Church (Ensley). Mayor Kincaid read a proclamation from the city on the occasion of the 18^th Convocation and presented each of the ten Bishops with a gift. In addition, several general officers participated in the service, including General Officers Counsel President Dr. Joseph C. Neal, who led the offering. Dr. Neal introduced Rev. Jesse Douglass who rendered a song.

Bishop Stewart’s keynote address focused on the theme, “Refocusing on Our Wesleyan Heritage.” Bishop Stewart said that although our beloved CME Church has made tremendous strides in a number of areas of ministry and structure, we are still out of focus. First, we must be reminded that in the seminal developments of Methodism, John Wesley placed emphasis on God’s Grace. With this thinking we understand that it is God’s grace that goes before us in everything we do. Under Wesley’s teaching, we recognize that our good deeds cannot save us, but we are saved by faith in the saving grace of God. Second, Bishop Stewart said that as we refocus on our Wesleyan Heritage, we need to give new emphasis on the primary use of scripture. We must be the student of many books. But like Wesley, we also must be a Church of One Book, the Bible. Third, Bishop Stewart said that we must return to our Wesleyan Heritage in that we stop de-emphasizing and playing down the importance of tradition.  The Bishop further commented that our calling is not to favor the antiquated vision of the past, but heed God’s speaking to us through our tradition. God is calling us to hear His Word through the lives of others, through history.

In essence, Bishop Stewart’s address is what the Convocation was all about, to refocus on our Wesleyan Heritage. We need to act, reassert the role of reason. We live in times when people-CMEs -are captured by false prophets, especially from television evangelists. For Wesley, reasoning is a tool for processing data. Reason gives us knowledge to live and work efficiently. Reason is significant for knowledge, nurturing and training. Bishop Stewart said that God is able to make us exciting Christians and still be reasonable. A church that praises the Lord can still be reasonable.

As we refocus on our Wesleyan Heritage we need to be a Church that emphasizes the role of experience. Wesley recognizes the role of experience. Wesley recognizes experience in his doctrinal claims. We must discover God’s love for us before we can love others. On May 24, 1738, John Wesley’s greatest religious fervor came from experience as his heart was “strangely warm.” It was after Wesley’s heart became strangely warm that he became an “open air” preacher, traveling over 220,000 miles on horseback to carry the gospel to others, preached over 92,000 sermons, wrote 223 books, and led many to God. God is calling for churches to stop talking about what we used to be, and say, like Isaiah, “Here am I, I’ll Go.” After the service, the Convocation attendees were treated to a reception put on by the 5^th Episcopal District.  The reception was fit for kings and queens.

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

The Convocation began as “T” Shirt Day with Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., the instructor for Bible study, who spoke from the Book of Romans. Several classes commenced, including computer classes: “What About the Poor Among Us,” instructor Rev. Dwayne Walker: Sunday School Evangelism, instructor Connie Jenkins: “Saved, Sanctified, and Full of the Holy Spirit vs. Blessed and Highly Favored,” instructor Rev. Steve McKinney; “Suffer Little Children,” instructor, Mrs. Juanita Payne; “Worshipping in the 21^st Century, “instructor, Dr. Charley Hames; “Cheap Grace Won’t Work,” instructor Dr. Raymond Williams: “Evangelism; Now and Then,” instructor Dr. Willie Champion; and “Living Faith of the Dead or Dead Faith of the Living,” instructor Dr. Paul Brown. The classes are only few that were offered during the Convocation.

The mid-day service speaker of the hour was Rev. Bernard Johnson who literally brought the convention house down with his powerful message. Rev. Johnson affirmed that by preaching the “Principle Thing” we consolidate our faith in God through Christ. Rev. Johnson, a dynamic young preacher, who pastors at Stewart Memorial in Mobile, AL, is quickly becoming one of the most outstanding preachers in the CME Church. Some of the highlights of Rev. Johnson’s sermon were we must have proper priorities: be pure, and God must have our whole heart. Johnson said we must be permanent, passionate and experience a spiritual freedom. We must be prepared for a transformation. God wants us to be serious about our ministry, and finally, we must practice what we believe in a public arena. Preaching is important. In the face of much social and moral decline in our world, we must preach. And to each vocation, we must preach the principal thing.

That evening, Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham preached the Communion Sermon, saying as CME’s we must remember the Sacrifices of Christ. The director of the 2004 CME Convocation Dr. Tyrone T. Davis had projected that Wednesday night’s Communion service would be the largest event of the week’s activities. He was correct on his foresight that more than 1,800 attended the service in the hotel ballroom. The music was rendered by the Miles College Choir, which provided the electricity that charged the hall and created an atmosphere of high praise and excitement. Senior Bishop Marshall Gilmore was the Chief Celebrant and was assisted by Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Jr., the 4^th Episcopal District; Bishop William H. Graves Sr., 1^st  Episcopal District; and Bishop Henry Williamson, Sr., 9^th Episcopal District. A special presentation was made by Dr. Bernard Williams, the director of choirs at Miles College, who, along with the College choir, rendered a special arrangement of Wesleyan hymns. Dr. Williams marked the occasion with a commemorative plague presented to Bishop Lawrence Reddick, III and Dr. Albert J. H. Sloan, president of Miles College.

Speaking from Luke 22:19-22 and I Corinthians 11:20-23, Bishop Cunningham used the subject, “What Should We Remember About Christ in the Holy Communion?” Bishop Cunningham said that in order to better understand the issue of remembrance, we must look at the context in which the bread/body and blood/wine were shared. The context was Passover, and as such, Jesus was passing down an experience that included the deliverance of God’s people out of bondage. The “remembrance” as dispensed by Christ was a reconnection to that event in which God demonstrated compassion upon His people. It was a lesson for the Disciples of Christ. Bishop Cunningham said that we need some of the same lessons, how God brought us out of our own very real bondages, that is , slavery. We must engage in lessons of faith. Bishop Cunningham said that ultimately the “remembrance” translates into “forgiveness” which comes through the blood of Christ. He said that when he thinks of remembrance of Jesus, it is that Jesus has already paid a debt that he (or we) could never repay. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and everyday. So Bishop Cunningham said, “when I drink of the juice and eat the bread, I remember that Jesus is my (all and all) and Jesus is (everything). When we drink of the juice and eat of the bread, remember that He died for us. Remember He rose from the dead.

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Thursday, September 30, 2004, the Convocation departmental meetings were held from 9 AM until noon. The Prayer services were prior to the meetings and gave the attendees an opportunity to either go to Bible study or visit the various exhibits located in the Convention center. The luncheon was scheduled for 12:30 PM through 2 PM, at which time, Dr. Bernard Kincaid , the Mayor of Birmingham, AL, gave the keynote address at the luncheon as a substitute for U. S. Congressman Arthur Davis (D-AL). From 2 PM through 7 PM, various meetings were held between department heads and some free time for Convocation attendees to see sights of Birmingham.

The musical, under the direction of Rev. Kevan B. Beam, the director of Music at Phillips Temple Dayton, OH, where the Rev. Jimmy Washington is pastor, did a superb job of directing the Convocation Choir. The songs included “Holy, Holy,” “The Lord is Blessing Me Right Now,” “There is Power in the Name,” “Why Did He Do It?,” and “Lord I Love You.” The host of the program was Rev. W. C. Champion, General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions. Before the intermission, Rev. Beam was presented a certificate of Appreciation from the Convocation Choir, which was presented by Director Maltida Martin and James Scott. The offering was conducted by Rev. John Deron Johnson, pastor of Phillips Temple CME Los Angeles, CA..  During the intermission, the Ministers Spouses, under the direction of Bishop Charles Helton, 7^th Episcopal District, and Mrs. Deborah Harris, the Connectional Spouses’ president, presented scholarships and recognition to outstanding students of each Episcopal District. Following the presentation, Senior Bishop Marshall Gilmore of the 8^th Episcopal District and Bishop Paul Stewart, the 3^rd Episcopal District, Bishop Henry Williamson, Sr. the 9^th Episcopal District presented a plague for his outstanding work as chaplain at the Convocation. That evening, the attendees were treated to late-night preaching by Rev. Donald Robertson, the pastor of People Community CME Church, Dayton, OH, who preached a powerful sermon that kept everyone wide awake.

Friday, October 1, 2004

The day began with Prayer service from midnight to 11 AM. Several meetings were held, including the Executive Convocation Staff meeting and Bible Study, conducted by Bishop Thomas Hoyt, Jr. General Secretary of Christian Education Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield gave a presentation on “Our Wesleyan Heritage in Practice” as to where do we go from here? Finally, Senior Bishop Marshall Gilmore preached the commissioning and Convenanting Service. By this time, many of the attendees were preparing for their journeys home. The 19^th Annual Convocation will be in Louisville, KY at the Galt House Hotel. It would be nice to plan to attend; if you missed this one, you were missed, but not forgotten. We look forward to seeing you the next time. Now is the time to begin to prepare for next year.

By Warren Bryant, 9^th District Correspondent, and
Dr. Kenneth E. Jones, Editor