TCR EDITORIAL – THE MOST VIOLATED COMMANDMENT, PART 2: Dr. Calvin H. Sydnor III The 20th Editor of The Christian Recorder This is Part 2 and the continuation of the editorial, “The Most Violated Commandment.” Part 1 ended with several rhetorical questions. I wondered how many bishops, presiding elders and pastors took real vacations this past summer. I wonder how many of the clergy members spend good quality time with their families. I wonder how many preachers have hobbies and am curious to know if they take the time to enjoy their hobbies for a couple of hours each week or maybe every day. I also expressed the opinion that in many churches, the worship service itself becomes work. I also mentioned the daily schedules of our connectional meetings and our annual conferences and the “hustle and bustle” of our meetings that gives us little time to breathe. And the “biggie” rhetorical question I asked concerned the number of pastors who end up in the hospital or in poor health because of their violation of the 4th Commandment. I wonder how many clergy families are negatively impacted or even destroyed because of the violation of the 4th Commandment. Our leaders in the pastoral ministry; bishops, presiding elders and seasoned pastors need to be leaders and models in the observance of the 4th Commandment’s Sabbath rest and the operative words are, “models in the observance...” The leadership of the AME Church needs to model the rest Commandment because the ministry is a stressful vocation and some of the statistics concerning the profession of ministry are troubling. It is estimated that 50% of pastors marriages will end in divorce. All of us who been in the ministry have seen the clergy marriages in disarray. Approximately 94% of pastors’ families feel the pressure of the ministry and some preachers’ children are not actively involved in the life of the church. For example from an anecdotal question, how many children, grandchildren and family members of retired and active bishops, presiding elders and pastors are active in the AME Church? How many family members of the AME Church leadership matriculate at one of our AME institutions of higher learning? What percentage of the students at our AME schools are “sons and daughters of the parsonage.” Pastors battle depression and the unfortunate aspect is that the AME Church and some other denominations have little or no mental health treatment strategies. Some parishioners place their pastor and his or her family on a pedestal and the result is clergy family isolation that discourages close friendship within the congregation. Some statistics report up to 78% of pastors say they have no close friends. Pastors’ salaries lag behind other professions that require a master’s degree and it’s no wonder that the pastoral ministry experiences a high attrition rate. Effective fulltime pastors work long hours and bivocational pastors work really long hours. Ninety percent of pastors report working 55-75 hours per week. Continuing education is a necessity in every profession and every pastor should avail him or herself the opportunity to attend continuing education programs at accredited institutions, but if a pastor is bivocational, serving a small congregation or if the continuing education programs are expensive, continuing education programs take a “back seat. It’s no wonder that many pastors feel unqualified or discouraged. And a sad and startling statistic says 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living. Statistics are discouraging, but there are some things pastors can do First, a pastor and his or her family, including school-age children need to sit down and have a heart to heart discussion about their family system, finances, strategies for creating “family time activities, including vacations, what are expected levels of church participation of the spouse and children. Those decisions are family decisions that should be decided upfront. Church members and tradition should not dictate the level of participation of the pastor’s family. “In the day,” a first lady (very few first gentlemen) was expected to be at the church whenever her husband was there. Times have changed and first ladies and first gentlemen have lives and careers of their own, and frankly some first families refuse to be coerced or put in roles they haven’t chosen. And, that’s the reason for clergy family strategy sessions. Clergy persons need to take care of themselves physically and mentally, which includes medical and dental examinations. In large cities with medical and dental schools, affordable medical and dental care and exams are available. The Veterans Affairs hospitals are available to persons who served in the military. All a veteran needs is his or her DD Form 214. The bottomline in terms of physical and mental care is that healthy caregivers are more effective caregivers. I am guilty of everything I have written and am writing Pastors need friends and here I am talking about close friends; friends where you can be yourself and “let your hair down.” It is okay for clergy and their families to have friends who are not clergy; as a matter of fact, it’s probably healthy to have friends who are not clergy. We don’t always have to be talking about the Bible and religious things. Preachers ought to exercise and have a regular regimen of exercise at facilities such as the YMCA/YWCA in organized sessions or do it on your own. If you don’t take care of you, no one else will. Physical training is a great stress reliever. If anyone needs to relieve stress, preachers need to do so! Preachers need a hobby. Preachers should do some of the things they want to do just because they want to do it. Several years ago, I decided that I wanted to play the guitar, and I took lessons to learn how to do so. I have had a ball and today, I can play any song on the guitar that I want to play. It is so relaxing. We are never too old to learn something new. I have since learned to play the baritone ukulele. The point I am trying to make is that preachers need to broaden their perspectives. Clergy need to read books other than the Bible and religious periodicals. Sometimes preachers just need to have a “long brisk sit and relax.” Sometimes we need to put away the smartphones, but having said that, some preachers need to pick up a smartphone and learn how to use it. Preachers who are attached to technology need to take a break and put down the smartphone, turn off the computer, take your eyes off your watch, turn off the television and the radio and learn to relax and enjoy silence. Preachers need more than church. Preachers ought to take the time to explore some of the free cultural events. Every community has cultural events that are free and so often minorities do not avail themselves of the available opportunities. When preachers become aware of these opportunities they are then able to pass this information on to their congregants and encourage them to participate, as well. Think what a service that would be to the members! We need to go to symposiums, lectures, workshops and get on mailing lists of area universities, hospitals, chambers of commerce, etc.). Preachers need to have a date time with his or her spouse and there is nothing wrong with single clergy going out on dates. The AME Church does not require its clergy to be celibate, so single clergy can also “explore the field” in hopes of finding a life-partner, however, single clergy need to be very careful when theyre on the dating scene. A “biggie” for me is vacation time – time away from the flock and away from the desk, away from the job, away from the routine day to day activities. The body and the mind need a rest – A Sabbath rest! Vacations can be economical. For instance, Union Theological Seminary in New York City has guest rooms. I have stayed there and the room was economical. Roman Catholic and other religious facilities are available – one just has to look for them. Retired military retirees can reserve rooms on military installations at reasonable rates. As I have said time and again, “God provides food for the birds, but God does not drop the food in the nests.” The bottomline: Clergy families need to take a couple of vacations every year. If lodging is not affordable go and visit relatives and close friends. However you do it, take a vacation! The list can go on and on, but one more thing Preachers must find time for personal prayer and Bible study. Seems strange to have to say it, but it is not easy. It takes discipline, discipline and more discipline. Take my word for it, finding time for regularly scheduled personal devotions is difficult. Let me end by saying preachers have got to take the time for prayer, Bible study, personal reflection, exercise, physical and mental self-care, engaging in things you want to do and having a hobby, reading, rest and relaxation. All work, and no play, makes Jack / Jackie a dull boy / girl. Find time for YOU. Your life and ministry depend upon it. The violation of the 4th Commandment of rest can be just as destructive as Commandments 1 -3 and 5-10. And, one more thing “Don’t sweat the small stuff!” 2. TCR OP-ED - LIBERIA EBOLA UPDATE AND REPORT FROM 14TH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Submitted by the Rev. Alvin Attah & Dr. Katurah York Cooper Bishop Clement W. Fugh, Presiding Prelate of the 14th Episcopal District has provided the report appended below for immediate release to let the Connectional AME Church to let the members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church know how the 14th District Office is mobilizing its limited resources to meet the challenge of Ebola in Liberia. Information about how to make contributions is listed at the end of this article. Introduction: Bishop C. Garnett Henning Sr., who served the 14th District during wartime, petitioned the General Conference to allow for the creation of a Board of Directors who would oversee the work in the District when American Bishops had limited or no access to the region. The General Conference approved. When I returned to the States from Liberia on August 2, 2014, I left in place in each of the seven Annual Conferences a properly constituted Board of Directors, complete with a President, who presides over the Board with my authority. The Notes that follow is a demonstration of how the system works. Minutes - September 16, 2014 The meeting of the Board of Directors was held as scheduled on Friday, September 12, 2014 at 4 p.m. It was well-attended by a majority of members of the Board of Directors of both conferences. The meeting was Chaired by the Rev. Dr. Katurah Cooper and co-chaired by the Rev. Alvin Attah. The Secretaries of both conferences took the minutes and they will work together to have them compiled. However, this is just a report of what we discussed: The Situation across the Districts: -- The Timbo District – Presiding Elder Othaniel Vah One member has lost his son as a result of infection with Ebola. Some parts of Rivercess County are quarantined which has affected some members of the church. They have access to their farms and as such locally grown food is available for them, however because markets are shut there is no economic activities are going on around there. Church services are going on regularly but monetary intake is low. -- The Central District – Presiding Elder Bryant Kporyor There have been no reports of Ebola infection in any of the churches, although families are being affected one way or the other. Deaths to community members in the Mt. Barclay area have occurred within the vicinity of the AME Church in that community. The Pastor is Rev. Paul Geddeh and efforts will be made to establish contact with him. It is feared that members of the church who live nearby might be at high risk. Empowerment had two of her members to lose relatives to Ebola. The Conference Branch YPD has given out some donations in Central District and plans to reach out to other youths in the Bassa and Timbo Districts. Empowerment Temple through its NGO (HOPE) has reached 245 families in Monrovia with Awareness training and Sanitation materials. -- The Bassa District – Presiding Elder Kaiuway Moore (represented by Rev. Bindu Taylor) Sensitization is relatively low in the District. Denial and inadequate information is posing a threat to the members. Although there are no reports in any member being directly hit, it is feared that with low sensitization, the district might be hit at any time. -- The Cape Palmas District – Presiding Elder Samuel A. Toe (No one could come from the district due to travel restriction in that part of the country. However, we will try to connect with them for a telephone meeting). However, the Ministry of Health has so far reported no deaths from Ebola in Maryland County. -- The Gbarnga District – Presiding Elder Beatrice A. Menlor The district is currently within the quarantined area of Nimba County. Locally grown food is available but no markets are open, hence no commerce. The churches are open and experiencing huge turnouts but income is low as economic activities are seriously affected in the area. The cost of the Ebola Bucket Sanitation Kit is preventing most of the churches from adhering to sanitary rules. The Presiding Elder has been trained to do community awareness and is affiliating with a local NGO and doing some sensitization within the area. Hospitals and medical centers remain closed. -- The Monrovia District – The Rev. David A.B. Parker Presiding Elder Parker is involved in leadership of his Community Task Force. Some members of the District have been affected. Sister Juah Clark from Clark Gbarvea has lost her son to Ebola. Sister Martha Doyen from Eliza Turner AME Church has died along with her daughter and grand-daughter (all from Ebola). Other members of her household are being quarantined at home and supported with food and other necessities by the local Church. Eliza Turner has made donations to the Ministry of Health and its host community. The Way Forward Bishop, the members of the both boards discussed and agreed on the following: 1) That all Presiding Elders will instruct all their Pastors to ensure that every church must have the basic sanitary materials for washing hands before the first Sunday of October. It costs not more than LD 1,000 and ordinary soap or ashes could be used with water. 2) That an AME Church Ebola Response Office be established within a week. We suggest (if you approve) the use of one of the rooms in the Episcopal Building for this purpose. We have rooms in the basement. 3) That Rev. David A.B. Parker be appointed as the Coordinator of the AME Church Ebola Response Office. He has been trained by Ministry of Health and is an active member of his Community Ebola Task Force. 4) That before the end of next week, if the Office is established, we will get an accreditation from the Ministry of Health and communicate that with all the County Health Teams. This accreditation will position us to be a credible partner in the national level work and help us get to some relief/aid/medical supplies for our congregations across the nation. 5) That each Presiding Elder will set up a Presiding Elder District Response Team and begin organizing training workshops in their district. There is a vital need for community level sensitization and support. To reduce transportation costs and limit movement, the County Health Teams (in their area) will be invited by the District Response Team to conduct the Workshop. The District Response Team should consist of 5 persons (a Pastor, a WMS sister, a youth, one other lay person, and the Presiding Elder). Of course, other volunteers can join in. These trainees will then serve as trainers in their locality and churches. All workshops should be completed by the end of September 2014. 6) That the AME Church Ebola Response Office will be notified of the dates of each workshop and we will try to make representation and donations if possible. 7) From the month of October, the Presiding Elders will report to the AME Church Ebola Response Office of happenings in their districts twice a month, which will be forwarded to our Episcopal leaders. Information will be disseminated across the 6 P.E. Districts so as to share good practices and make suggestions for improvement. 8) The $150 = LD 12,750 given to each Presiding Elder will assist them in the organization of the workshop and provide immediate relief where necessary. The body unanimously accepted this plan of action; pending your comments, adjustments and/or approval. *Submitted by the Rev. Alvin Attah & Dr. Katurah York Cooper ***Donations in support of the 14th Episcopal Districts efforts to support for AME Churches/members dealing with the Ebola outbreak can be sent directly to: The 14th District Office 512 8th Ave, South Nashville, TN, 37203-4181 Make checks payable to: 14th Episcopal District AME Church When funds are received, Bishop Fugh will wire the funds to his Office in Monrovia.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 22:34:59 +0000
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