1. A CALL TO MAKE AN IMPACT FOR CHRIST IN THE EBOLA CRISIS IN THE 14TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT: “And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’” - Matthew 25: 39 – 40 (NRSV) Many of you are well aware of the Ebola crisis in West Africa, which is affecting thousands of persons and, which has killed over 3000 persons to date. As AME sisters and brothers together, we are also well aware that the Ebola epidemic is having an affect on our churches in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ghana. To lessen the effects of the virus, many West African nations have quarantined persons to their homes, forbidding them even to attend church. Thus, the Ebola crisis is not only having an affect on their physical health, but on their emotional and spiritual health as well. While the news is devastating, I know that many of you are praying that God will intervene; but, there is something we can do. Because of the fear of the spread of the disease, each church in West Africa is being asked to supply sanitation for persons entering worship. We can help our sister AME churches in the area supply each member of their congregation with a sanitation kit, which can be used for both worship and to help sanitize their homes. The Connectional Women’s Missionary Society has agreed to spearhead a project to place at least 500 “sanitation kits” in the homes of the most at-risk families in West Africa to retard the spread of the deadly virus. Each kit contains: a plastic bucket with spout; a gallon of chlorine bleach; tablets for purification of drinking water; rubber gloves; and powered soap. Each sanitation kit is $42.00 per kit. Every Missionary is asked to secure at least one (1) sanitation kit. Funds can be sent to the 14th Episcopal District Office in Nashville, Tennessee. The 14th Episcopal District Office will then forward funds to the AME Relief Team in Liberia that will administer the project with assistance from HOPE, Inc., a non-governmental organization (NGO) sponsored by Empowerment Temple AME Church in Monrovia, Liberia. Payments of Checks, Money Orders, and online via PayPal are all ways to respond. Checks and Money Orders can be mailed to: 14th Episcopal District 512 8th Avenue South, Suite 103 Nashville, TN 37203 Telephone: (615) 744-6244 PayPal payments please use the following link: https://paypal/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JEM7CUW7QZDBW All monies will go directly to securing the sanitation kits. Not only will we be helping our AME sisters and brothers in West Africa, we will be providing a powerful witness for Christ. This is something we can and must do! Thank you in advance for your assistance, With Gods Love and Mine, /s/ Alexia B. Fugh 14th Episcopal District Supervisor 2. “WILL THE AME CHURCH SAVE WILBERFORCE?” - “YES, WE MUST!” *Jamye Coleman Williams, Ph.D The February 25, 2013, online issue of The Christian Recorder carried an article entitled “Will the AME Church Save Wilberforce?” by Dr. Ibram H. Rogers, Assistant Professor of African Studies at the State University of New York, Albany. Dr. Rogers, the son of the Rev. Larry Rogers, who served at one time under Dr. Floyd H. Flake at Greater Allen AME Cathedral in New York, grew up in the AME Church. Interestingly and regretfully, there came no response from anyone—no Bishop, no General Officer, no official, no pastor, no lay person, including me—for whom Wilberforce is my magnificent obsession. According to my husband of 70 years, for the last several years I have been a “shameless beggar,” using any and every occasion to solicit financial help, receiving contributions from 20 Bishops (four now deceased), 15 General and Connectional Officers, numerous alumni, many pastors and lay persons, and my family members. I will not comment about the author’s critique except to say that he recounted the history and legacy of the nation’s first private coeducational university to be owned and controlled by African Americans. Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne, on March 19, 1863, purchased Wilberforce from the Methodist Episcopal Church on faith for $10,000, and became the first black university president (1863-1876). Let me add that the AME Church’s venture in education can be aptly paraphrased in the words of the familiar hymn—“through many dangers, toils and snares she has already come.” From the beginning Wilberforce had its setbacks. On the night that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated—April 14, 1865—the main building—Shorter Hall—was set on fire by hoodlums and burned to the ground. The indomitable spirit of courage which has always characterized Wilberforce, which has never known defeat, enabled Shorter Hall to be rebuilt. Ironically a little over a century later Shorter Hall was reduced to ashes a second time, and again was rebuilt. In recent years the “split” of 1947 and the separation of the State unit again required a struggle to preserve its history, legacy, and most importantly its name—Wilberforce. Over the years Wilberforce University has survived against the odds. At this moment in history it has been served with Show Cause warnings by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Most critical about the citing is the necessity for Wilberforce University to demonstrate that it is financially sustainable. The National Alumni Association has pledged to raise $2 million, with $683,000 already contributed. It is now time for the AME Church, the mother of Wilberforce, to respond to this urgent plea for help. As we approach 2016 and the grand celebration of our 200 years as a major African American denomination, we cannot allow Wilberforce University, referred to as the Crown Jewel, to lose its accreditation and as a result cease to exist. How will we be able as we gather by the thousands in Philadelphia to sing our praises if we will have lost the oldest private coeducational black institution of higher learning? Through God’s grace and mercy we have come this far leaning on the Lord. It is too late for us to turn back. It is too late for us to compromise our proud heritage. The Higher Learning Commission indicated that one of the major needs to be addressed is that of deteriorating facilities. The dormitories need immediate attention in order for students to have acceptable living conditions. Deteriorating facilities and lack of preventive maintenance are some factors that threaten Wilberforce’s survival. A call, therefore, is being sent across the United States and across the oceans and to the isles of the sea-- wherever the flag of African Methodism waves--to come to the rescue on the first Sunday in November by giving a voluntary offering—each according to his/her own means. We do not limit the appeal to only individual members, but we urge you to seek help from your families, friends, co-workers, organizations. The following plan may be of help as you consider your gift: Save Our School Wilberforce University Fund Anticipated Income Number of Contributors Contributions Totals 50 $10,000 $ 500,000 50 $ 5,000 $ 250,000 1000 $ 1,000 $1,000,000 500 $ 1,856 $ 928,000 700 $ 1,856 $ 210,000 200 $ 200 $ 40,000 1000 $100-$10 $2,072,000 $5,000,000 Please send all contributions to Wilberforce University, Office of Development, 1055 N Bickett Rd., Wilberforce, OH 45354 *Jamye Coleman Williams, Ph.D is a retired General Officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 18:21:01 +0000