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About The voice. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1946-195? | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1951)
■ LAYlllrS "» i 17 i Kukie W. Shak«*p+are, Managing Editor A Heads A.M.E. Laymen PRESIDENT JONES George (Farmer) Jones of Oskaloosa, Kas., is making plans for the meeting of 5th (Episco pal) district laymen of the AME church to be held February 20 in Los Angeles. This is one day before the gathering of the Bish ops Council in that same city. Mr. Jones stated that church legislation will be one of the main topics at the bishops ses sions. D. Ormonde Walker is presiding bishop of the 5th dis trict which covers 14 states. Jones also pointed out that Bishop Walker “works in full cooperation with the laymen’s organisation. Scjiedule of Lay Activities Fifth Episcopal District Laymen’s Convention, George Jones, Oskaloosa, Kansas, President. July 5th, 6th & 7th, 1951 A.MJE. Connectional Laymen’s Convention, Denver, Colorado, August, 1951. Attorney Herbert L. Dudley, President. Ministers Organize A group of ministers met Fri day night at the home of the Rev. J. B. Brooks to organize the Lincoln Ministerial Fellow ship Association. Officers elected were: tlie Rev. Melvin L. Shake speare, president; the Rev. Trago McWilliams, jar., secretary; the Rev. H. A. Simmons, treasurer and the Rev. R. E. Edwards, chaplain. * Let Brotherly Love Continue Los Angeles, Calif. The Executive Board of the Laymen’s League of the South ern California conferencj closed a successful years work. We have over forty churches in dur district, since we wer * organized we have visited all but four. Evangelizing is the church's first need and everything else will be added. We hope to do more, in 1951 with the expansion program of Bishop Walker in helping the smaller churches. The finance committee is due much credit under the chairmanship of brother Ben jamin Inghram, of San Bernadino, California. Brother Inghram was Master of Ceremonies. Rev. A. K. Quinn, presiding elder of Pasa dena, San Diego district, Rev. Conquest, Rev. Cryer of Ocean Side, gave encouraging remarks. Several visitors faicluding Mrs. Katie Johns, from St. Stephens A.M.E. church of Chicago, Illinois were present. All presidents of the leagues be ginning with the host, Mr. M. E. Webb, spoke on their accomplish ments during 1950. Then the pres ident, Mr. Coley W. Stafford and Mrs. Stafford were presented and praised for their Christian and conscientious leadership. Mr. Stafford expressed his gratitude for loyality of the Board during the Bishops. Council, February 19th through the 23rd. Since this marks one hundredth year of African Methodism on the Pacific Coast, he said’.” We are determined to revive the dynamic, burning spirit of African Methodism blaz ing the trail for the advancement of the Negro in America both spiritually, culturally, economi cally and socially. We are looking forward for other outstanding Laymen along with our district, President George Jocies of Kansas City, Kansas and our National President, Attorney H. L. Dudley of Detroit, Michigan. We expect to add another page of history, to our church when we close this great event. The Lay-Organization's Status In AME Church Program By: J. Louis Ransom, M.D. 2251 Topeka Ave. Topeka, Kansas Pvm. U;-Or|ub>ttM Ku. Confrrticc The question of what should be the status of the Lay-Organ ization in the African Methodist Episcopal Church has already provoked some constructive crit icism and should be answered in such a way as to make definite and certain the purpose and in tent of the lay movement and its ultimate &>al. BISHOP FRANK M. REID in an article appearing in the Jan uary 13th issue of the Southern Christian Recorder under the title of “A Friendly Chat” quoted a ruling by the Judicial Council of the Methodist Church (mother church of all Methodism). Quote “Methodist Court Affirms Ruling of Bishop Oxnam,” Columbus, Ohio, January 4, 1951—A.P. “The Judicial Council of the Methodist Church—The Supreme Court” for Methodist Church law—yes terday affirmed two (2) rulings of Bishop G. Bradley Oxnam of New York. Ruling to-wit:—The Judicial Council decided that the Bishop was right in declaring as illegal business meetings com posed of entirely laymen at the annual conference. The “Judicial Council” held that meetings are iH#gaV whether the conference is in session or recess. The writer (Dr. J. L. Ransom, M.D.) is omit ting the other ruling as it con cerned the elergy and certain annuity rights. NOW IT SHOULD BE KNOWN FIRST of all that the Judicial Council of the Methodist church is composed of both lay men and elders elected by the general conference. This ruling, coming from the Mother church, sets a standard for all Methodism throughout the world. Therefore, it is manda tory that the million members who constitute the laity of the AME church realize that the en tire lay-program must clear through the constituted author ity of our church. It is not our (the laity) prerogative to insti tut* any lay-program or activi ties independent oi the sanction of our episcopacy and the gen eral conference. Let us consider the scriptural authority regarding the lay-leadership in the devel opment of the early church. THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF THIS LAY-MOVEMENT and its guiding spirit is clearly ex pressed in the Book of Acts in the Holy Bible. I call your at tention to the sixth chapter in which the twelve apostles state in Act 6-2, 3, 4. “It is not lit that wo should forsake the word of God and serve table. Look ye out therefore brothern from among you seven men of Good report full of the spirit and of wisdom whom we may appoint over this business and we will continue stedfast in prayer and the ministry of the word.” Now in the verses five and six is the statement apostles prayed and laid hands upon the lay-leaders selected and consecrated them for Christian service. Thus we see the established relationship be tween the clergy and lay-lead ers of the church. It is stated that “God’s word increased and many were converted aiid the priesthood were obedient to the faith.” In this scripture it is made clear to us the dual re sponsibility and authority of both lay-leaders and the Christian ministry. IT HAS BEEN THE CONTEN TIONS OF THIS WRITER that our lay organizations and the lay-leadership were to be ap proved by the Christian ministry. I have never endorsed the spirit of establishing any organization in the church that went beyond the rights granted by the disci pline of the A.M.E. churh. I am frank to admit that many lay members do not know when they go beyond constituted ’ church authority. This authority is the mandates of our General Conference and the Godly judg ment of the Episcopacy and the presiding elders who act as their agents in various annual confer ences. IT IS IN VIEW OF THIS FACT that I contend that quali fied leadership should spearhead the program. Qualified leader ship does not mean exclusively the social, political or fraternal leaders of a community but it means Christian men and women in the church who are qualified spiritually and men tally as well as being loyal to church government. I believe this type of leadership working with their pastors can put over a worthwhile program. SOMETIMES YOU FIND PASTORS who have no pro gram of their own and who do not possess vision or the quali ties of leadership. In this case qualified lay-leaders in the church should contact their pre siding elder and bishop, when necessary, to adjust conditions so that church programs will not suffer. IN AS MUCH AS THE LAWS of the Methodist church do not recognize as legal any actions or committments made by an ex clusive lay-group meeting we should purge the lay-organiza tions status at the General Con ference 1952. I suggest a Board of Lay Activities to be estab Host-Pastor DR. JORDAN lished by our general conference using as a guide the lay set-up I in the Methodist chruch. If we change the complexion of the lay-program I am certain, the clergy will support an organiza tion’s program in the future in stead of being reluctant and ap prehensive in cooperating as in the past. We can also eliminate the designing politicians who have infiltrated our membership and have the effrontery to victimize the church program by their ruthless exploitation of church group meetings and pro grams with their secular politi cal efforts. OU1 LA Y-ORGANIZATIOTS MUST NOT BE ABUSED by lay men or preachers as a Pressure political group in the church. Our program, to the contrary, is to en tergrate laymen into a more ac tive service in the church indoc trinate them in African Meth odism and to properly train them to “Serve the Tables” which sym bolizes the temporal and secular projects that are a part of church administration. The church has many duties in various fields in this present age that requires the services of a trained laity. For example, public health, child wel fare, mental hygiene, social prob lems in the community, recrea tional and leisure time activities, missionary work, religious educa tion, personal evangalism, Chris tian fellowship, Christian stew ardship and such other duties that may arise in a rapidly changing social order. Under the existing program of our church there is no agency, sanctioned by the Gen eral Conference to meet these needs. All these projects are classified as “The Serving of Tables” which in keeping with the sixth chapter of Acts is not the duties of our clergy who are admonished by the scripture to give their time exclusively to spiritual guidance and preaching the word. THERE IS A MUCH NEEDED PLACE in our church program for an organized lay-group, however such a group must clear through constituted authority. Special training schools should be estab lished to prepare lay-leaders for teir new responsibility in the church. A WELL TRAINED LAITY in the African Methodist Episcopal church will immune our church from the inroads of various cults and “independent church move ments” as sponsored by displeased AME church pastors and bishops. The laity has been victimized and exploited to often by the after math of pastorial and episcopal Host Bishop BISHOP WALKER The Winter Session of the council of Bishops of the Afri can Methodist Episcopal church will convene in Ward A.M.E. church, 25th and Magnolia ' Streets, Los Angeles, California, | February 22-24. Bishop D. Or man de Walker is host bishop. The council sermon will be i delivered by Bishop M. H. Davis. I The host pastor is Dr. Frederick D. Jordan, candidate for Episco pal honor in 1952. Bishop J. A. Gregg is president of the coun cil of bishops. The General Officers of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in association with the Bishops of the Church are honor ing Dr. A. S. Jackson of Wash ington, D. C., and Waco, Texas, Financial Secretary of the A.M.E. Church, with a testimonial in recognition of 60 years of official connections! service. The celebration will be ob served in connection with the Mid-winter session of the Bish ops’ Council, February, 1951, at Ward A.MJSi Church, Los An geles, California. Clergy and laity of all African Methodism are cordially invited to be present and participate. What I Think Laymen Should Knott CnftDrade Conference By James A. Atkins Denver, Colo. The mission of Methodism in 18th century — England and America. Why the A.M.E. Church was born. The present status of the A.M.E. Church—its urgent problems. Such information will add im petus to our drive for scholarship among our people. Southern California Conference Laymen’s League, AJME Church COLEY W. STAFFORD, Pres. Greetings! To the Bishops, General Offi cers, Ministers and Laymen. We welcome you to the Great State of California and to the sun shiny City of Angels. Camilla Leftridge, Reporter. ^ outbreaks in our annual confer ences. A Lay program raised to this status in our church will be con ductive to young men and women being awaken spiritually to the call of Christian service. If the Methodist church is to be used as a criterion in its laws, then why not emulate them in their lay-program. Let the clergy and Christian laity oi our church co-operate to develope such a program for <b« lay-organisation of the AME church.
