Soar Christian Education Congress—16thEpiscopal District
By Rev. Troy Parris, 16thEpiscopal District
Christian Education Congress is a viable and productive tool for Episcopal districts to foster training, unity, and growth. The 16thEpiscopal District’s “SOAR” Christian Education Conference met that expectation and more. It was held July 23-27, 2018, at the Holiday Inn All Inclusive Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It will certainly remain indelibly written in the memories of all who attended.
Under the visionary forward-thinking of our Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, multiple activities and sessions were held with tools which facilitated and empowered us to SOAR individually and as a district. Present at the CEC were representation from each of the seven annual conferences within the 16thEpiscopal District with the adult registration exceeding 80 members. With children and youth, we were well over 100 attendees. In addition, the dates of the CEC were uniquely changed so as to accommodate children and youth participation.
The program was comprised of dynamic presentations by presenters and stirring sermons by the preachers from the 16thDistrict and the United States. They included the Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, Historiographer/Executive Director of the Department of Research and Scholarship and Bandy Professor of Preaching Candler School of Theology. Herpreaching and teaching were phenomenal. She was exhilarating with the delivery of her sermon entitled, “It’s Time to Move from Lodebar.”
Attorney and Professor Kristin N. Henning; Agnes N. Williams, Research Professor and Professor of Law at Georgetown University; and the Rev. Andra P. Henning, staff minister at Faith AME Church in Laurel, Maryland, and Director of Inpatient Therapy Services at Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital were sensational in their presentations. The Rev. Carlton Worthen, the pastor of St. John AME Church in Eufaula, Alabama, provided useful information as he presented on small church growth.
The Rev. Maurice Wright was superb and held the attention of the gathering with his teaching and preaching. The Rev. Myles Clarke presented on financial empowerment. Presiding Elder Abraham Rodriquez Jones, Southern District, Dominican Republic Annual Conference; Presiding Elder Carlene Sobers, Barbados District, Windward Islands Annual Conference; and Brother Demar Dennis, YPD President, Jamaica Annual Conference delivered spirit-filled sermons. The dynamic sermons and lectures on church growth and development, social injustices, and financial innovative ministry in many respects left the attendees on a spiritual high with practical tools for implementation at the local levels.
Mrs. Valarie Gary Bell, the president of the Connectional Lay Organization and Ms. Ametta Lorene Reeves, Connectional Director of Lay Activities, stirred and captivated the members of the Congress with a thorough understanding of the Lay Organization and the role of clergy and lay. Dr. Isabel Medina, the president of the 16thDistrict Lay Organization was invigorated and those present—clergy and laity—left with a renewed inspiration and insight.
Acting Supervisor Yvonne Henning-Parks led the Connectional WMS/YPD in preparing for the Quadrennial. She was ably assisted by Episcopal WMS President Sister Liz Ann De Bourg. It was reported that it was the first time in many years that the YPD had met within a district event in many years. The WMS and YPDs visited the Children’s Home in Montego Bay and distributed gifts.
Every morning we were blessed by Sister Joan Bennett with morning movement. The component reports, especially the YPDs, truly attested to the desire to build and enhance the work ethics and spiritualism in the 16thDistrict.
The 16thDistrict displayed their diverse cultures with spiritually uplifting songs, dance, and poetry uniquely displayed in a kaleidoscope of colors so effervescent of the Caribbean! We tip our hats to Bishop Henning Byfield and her team, including the chair, the Rev. Florance M. McElroy and Christian Education Director, the Rev. Gail Meridin, for ensuring that now is the time to “SOAR” and that “We are in Position!”