Black Methodists celebrate unity at Africana dinner
The Africa University traveling choir performs during the Africana dinner and worship event hosted April 27 by Black Methodists for Church Renewal in Fort Worth, Texas, site of the 2008 United Methodist General Conference. UMNS photos by Mike DuBose.
By Ciona D. Rouse*
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—Black Methodists for Church Renewal celebrated unity at its first Africana dinner and worship event April 27 at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel.
The caucus, which represents black congregations in The United Methodist Church, hopes to expand its celebrations of “Ebony bishops"—traditionally African-American bishops—by creating a more global table, according to caucus president Cheryl Walker.
“We are now in the position and ready to go global,” Walker said.
The nearly 500 attendees were from the United States and Africa. Honored guests included bishops, delegates, observers and monitors from Africa. The 2008 assembly boasts the largest General Conference attendance from Africa, with 192 delegates from the continent.
Iowa Area Bishop Gregory V. Palmer gave the homily, calling the attendees to embrace unity in the midst of seeming racial, political, ideological and theological divisions. He especially encouraged delegates of the African Diaspora to remain united, even though “during this General Conference we can see attempts to divide.”
Palmer also warned delegates from operating out of a “theology of scarcity.”
“The God that we serve has more than enough mercy, justice, compassion for us to live our lives in radical ways,” Palmer said
To further emphasize unity, the leadership of the event included Bishop John G. Innis, chairman of the Africa College of Bishops, and students from Africa University reading Scripture and offering prayer.
The 16-member Africa University traveling choir provided worship music at the beginning of dinner. Diners joined the choir, dancing and singing around the ballroom during the Zulu hymn “Siyahamba.”
FORT WORTH, Texas (UMNS)—Black Methodists for Church Renewal celebrated unity at its first Africana dinner and worship event April 27 at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel.
The caucus, which represents black congregations in The United Methodist Church, hopes to expand its celebrations of “Ebony bishops"—traditionally African-American bishops—by creating a more global table, according to caucus president Cheryl Walker.
“We are now in the position and ready to go global,” Walker said.
The nearly 500 attendees were from the United States and Africa. Honored guests included bishops, delegates, observers and monitors from Africa. The 2008 assembly boasts the largest General Conference attendance from Africa, with 192 delegates from the continent.
Iowa Area Bishop Gregory V. Palmer gave the homily, calling the attendees to embrace unity in the midst of seeming racial, political, ideological and theological divisions. He especially encouraged delegates of the African Diaspora to remain united, even though “during this General Conference we can see attempts to divide.”
Palmer also warned delegates from operating out of a “theology of scarcity.”
“The God that we serve has more than enough mercy, justice, compassion for us to live our lives in radical ways,” Palmer said
To further emphasize unity, the leadership of the event included Bishop John G. Innis, chairman of the Africa College of Bishops, and students from Africa University reading Scripture and offering prayer.
The 16-member Africa University traveling choir provided worship music at the beginning of dinner. Diners joined the choir, dancing and singing around the ballroom during the Zulu hymn “Siyahamba.”
Bishop Violet Fisher (right) is honored, along with Bishop Beverly Shamana, in a presentation by Bishop James SwansonThe event also honored four retiring African and African-American bishops: Violet L. Fisher of the New York West Area, Joseph C. Humper of the Sierra Leone Area, João Somane Machado of the Mozambique Area, and Beverly J. Shamana of the California-Nevada Area. The bishops received $500 gift certificates to contribute to a ministry of their choice.
The caucus also recognized and honored James Salley, Africa University’s associate vice chancellor for institutional advancement, who will receive an honorary doctorate from Gammon Theological Seminary May 3.
The group also honored retired Bishop Felton E. May's request to allow lay delegate Ronald Akila Bulus Mangey of Nigeria to ask for prayer for the families of late Kefas K. Mavula and Done Peter Dabale, who have died since the last General Conference.
*Rouse is a freelance writer in Nashville, Tenn.
posted by TN Conference UMC @ 11:21 AM
<< Home