Parks Chapel, Oakland, Turns 101 Years Old
By Paulette Wallace, Alice Davis, and Marsha Luster, 5th Episcopal District
Once again, the Lord has proven Himself to be a covenant-keeping God. God promised Haggai that the latter glory would be greater than the former glory. This same word was prophesied to the mighty men and women of Parks Chapel AME Church in Oakland.
In November 2019, the process of restoring the glory began as Bishop Clement W. Fugh, the presiding prelate of the 5th Episcopal District, in his infinite wisdom assigned the Rev. Dr. Rosalynn Brookins to serve as the newly-appointed senior pastor. Upon her arrival, Dr. Brookins immediately sought to restore a spirit of unity within the walls of our great Zion. She preached, offered workshops, and developed Bible studies based upon the theme of “Kingdom Building.” This theme was presented by our Episcopal team, Bishop & Supervisor Fugh, during their planning meeting encompassing 15 states.
However, we would not see the magnitude of the miraculous work that had occurred within the hearts of the members until the beginning of January 2020. The week immediately following Christmas, after having sponsored the Angel Tree project, a Christmas Extravaganza, and hosting a birthday party for a local women’s shelter, Pastor Brookins announced the church would be celebrating its 101st Anniversary in January. She then made a very daring request for the church to host a two-day celebration.
Hosting this event would require a great deal of planning or so we thought. Not so! We had only three weeks. It’s amazing to see how God works. He would use this grand celebration to reunite a once very fragmented church.
People who had not spoken to one another in quite some time were working, laughing, and talking like old friends again. Our youth were employed to serve as greeters. There was a sweetness in the souls of all who participated. The church looked as though it was a five-star hotel. It was eloquently decorated in colors of green, gold, and white. Each table was adorned with gold and white-trimmed china and white roses were centerpieces. Jazz musical selections helped set the tone for this spectacular occasion. This wasn’t just a celebration of a church anniversary, it was the process for which the latter glory could manifest.
On Saturday, January 11, 2020, over 112 guests entered the red-carpeted entrance and were greeted with warm smiles by the members of the New Parks Chapel. Special dignitaries from around the Fifth Episcopal District included Bishop Fugh; the Rev. Dr. Harold Mayberry and Mrs. Mary Mayo Mayberry from First AME Church in Oakland and the chair of the Episcopal Committee, who served as the Master and Mistress of Ceremony; the Rev. Dr. Vernon Burroughs from Brookins AME Church in Oakland, who delivered the keynote address; Dr. Sandra Blair, the former Connectional WIM President; Presiding Elder Cedric and First Lady Veronica Alexander; the Rev. Dr. Carieta Grizzelle, the California Conference President for WIM; the Rev. Tony Hughes, the dean of the Board of Examiners; the Rev. Gayle Jones Lockhart, the California Conference Ministerial Alliance President; and pastors who represented 28 churches from Oakland, San Joaquin, San Francisco, and Sacramento. The Rev. Robert Shaw from Bethel AME Church in San Francisco was accompanied by the Rev. Dr. William Wately, from St. Phillip AME Church in Atlanta.
As part of this grand celebration, Presiding Elder Booker T. Guyton and First Lady Mary Guyon were honorees for their distinguished service. Elder Guyton, of the Oakland/San Joaquin District, served as the senior pastor of Parks Chapel for more than 10 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for rebuilding the sanctuary following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
The culmination of this celebration took place on January 12 with morning and afternoon worship services. As the Rev. Brookins led the processional for both services, it was evident that God was present. The atmosphere was charged with great anticipation that God was about to release the latter glory within the house. The guest preacher for the morning was Bishop Clement W. Fugh, who preached a powerful sermon using the theme: “When the Church Follows God.” The afternoon guest preacher was Allen Temple Baptist Church of Oakland’s first elected female pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson. Her subject was “It’s a Win-Win.”
Proclamations were received from Mayor Libby Schaaf of Oakland; Keith Carson, the supervisor of District 5-Alameda County; and City Councilmember (District 3) Lynette Gibson McElhaney. Surely, the latter glory is greater than the former glory! We thank God for being a covenant-keeping God.
