Walking Woke: The 28thConnectional Christian Education and Youth Congress
Over 500 persons from across the globe gathered at the Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, in the Sixth Episcopal District from June 28-30, 2018,for the 28thConnectional Christian Education and Youth Congress ofthe AMEChurch. The theme was “Walking Woke.”Under the leadership and guidance of BishopDavid R. Daniels, Jr.,chair of the Commission on Christian Education;Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, host bishop; the Rev. Garland F. Pierce, executive director of the Department of Christian Education; Dr. William D. Watley, host Episcopal District Board of Christian Education Chair; and the Rev. Jai Haithco, host Episcopal District Director of Christian Education, the Congress distinguished itself as a powerful learning experience for African Methodism.
There were plenaries that helped us go deeper into God’s word, leading us to a stronger witness for liberation, justice, and peace. On Thursday morning, the Rev. Dr. Obery Hendricks, the New Testament scholar and former Payne Theological Seminary president, helped the Congress look at the politically-radical, Jesus, in the current political climate. On Friday, the Rev. Dr. Michael Waters, the pastor of Joy Tabernacle AME Church in Dallas, Texas, accompanied by DJ Suave, as well as Mr. Tom Steyer of NextGen America explored the current justice themes, which call for our Christian response. The Rev. Dr. Jennifer S. Leath, professor of Social Justice at Iliff School of Theology and the pastor of Campbell Chapel AME Church in Denver, Colorado, and Mr. Joshua DuBois, CEO and founder of Values Partnership moderated the Friday Micah Mash Up plenary with Waters and Steyer.
There were learning labs for youth and adults on a variety of topics related to faith formation, the connectional themes of criminal and environmental justice, as well as gift discernment and the diversity of ministries, helping them to answer such questions as “What are my God-given gifts?” “What is God calling me to be and do?” and “How can I make a difference in the world?” There was also Christian Education Certification as well as learning labs sponsored by the AMEC Health Commission. The Office of the General Secretary/Chief Information Officer offered an introduction and training for AME Connect, the church’s new data management system. Google sponsored two Google-Connected Churches technology learning labs.
There were several content partners in addition to sponsors NextGen America, Google, the AMEC Publishing House, and those named earlier. They were the Children’s Defense Fund, Forum for Theological Exploration, and Prison Fellowship.
Worship and prayer undergirded each day of the Congress. The opening service included an introit, which paid homage to the struggle for justice of people of African descent and memorialized the Emanuel 9 and survivors. Senior Bishop McKinley Young was the preacher for the opening service. Friday’s noonday worship service preacher was the Rev. Katherine P. Brooks, the pastor of Bethel AME Church in Bristol, Pennsylvania. The closing and commissioning service on Saturday featured the Rev. Dr. Neichelle Guidry, the dean of Spelman College’s Sisters Chapel as the preacher. There was a prayer room with interactive prayer stations which allowed participants to explore and reflect on the connectional themes as well as gift discovery and vocational discernment.
The Music and Christian Arts Ministry provided leadership. They offered powerful music and creative expressions in the worship services as well as a Friday evening of music and the Christian Arts.
The Congress evenings were filled with enriching activities including the Dedication Service of the Connectional Christian Debutante-Master Commission, which celebrated several young women and men from across the church as they publically entered into Christian adulthood on Thursday. The Association of AME Scouts Awards Dinner was held on Friday as well as the Richard Allen Young Adult Council’s late night Vibes session of poetry, arts, and fun.
Congress 98 did not just talk about social justice, it demonstrated acts of justice and compassion as well. On opening day, participants wore black as part of the international movement, “Thursdays in Black Against Gender-Based Violence.” On the morning of the closing day, participants participated in a mini-CropWalk to End Hunger, an initiative to raise funds for Church World Service, an ecumenical humanitarian relief agency of which the AME Church is a member. The CropWalk was in partnership with the Department of Global Witness and Ministry and the Women’s Missionary Society. The CropWalk featured a short prayer service at Big Bethel AME Church.
The Christian Education Congress served as a hub of activity as the various ministries associated with the Department of Christian Education gathered to conduct their business sessions and elections. The ministries present were Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES), Christian Debutante-Master Commission (CDMC), Fellowship of Church Educators (FCE), Music and Christian Arts Ministry (MCAM), Richard Allen Young Adult Council (RAYAC), and the Sons of Allen. Following represent the election results:
Richard Allen Young Adult Council
Ms. Martinique Mix (6th) President
Rev. LeSean Tarkington (5th) Vice President
Mr. Timothy Dorsey (2nd) Parliamentarian
Mr. Matthew Lebone Seawright (9th) Editor
Mr. George M. Gordon II (6th) Historian
Ms. Angel Wilson (13th) Recording Secretary
Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES)
Mr. Clarence Crayton (2nd) Director of Boy Scouts (Appointed)
Mrs. Vivianne Frye-Perry (5th) Director of Girl Scout (Appointed)
Rev. Dr. Missiouri McPhee (11th) Secretary
Ms. Tammy Davis (9th) Assistant Secretary
Mr. Robert McRath (5th) Financial Secretary
Ms. Michelle Neal (4th) Treasurer
Dr. Jerry Brewster, Jr. (6th) Parliamentarian
Mr. Anthony Franklin, Sr.(4th) Historian
Rev. Linda Brown-Saffore (13th) Chaplain
Sons of Allen
Mr. Monroe Miller (7th) President
Rev. Ronald Davis (2nd) Vice-President
Rev. Randall Webster (13th) Recording Secretary
Rev. Abdue Knox (2nd) Corresponding Secretary
Mr. Robert Commander (7th) Treasurer
Fellowship of Christian Educators
Ms. Robin Porter Smith (2nd) Chair (Appointed)
Dr. Roberta Hill (13th) Vice Chair (Appointed)
Ms. Amanda Johnson (13th) Corresponding Secretary
Rev. Madonna Gray (3rd) Financial Secretary
Music and Christian Arts Ministry
Rev. Maurice Wright (9th) Connectional Director
Rev. Myron D. Hill (7th) Connectional Associate Director
Rev. Stephanie Butler Adams (5th) Director of Dance
Mr. David N. Mitchell (6th) Director of Drama
Mr. Wayne M. Singleton (7th) Director of Instruments
Ms. Yolanda B. Snyder (3rd) Corresponding Secretary
Ms. Florine Herron (8th) Worship Director
Mr. Karl Van Richards (11th) Historiographer
Christian Debutante-Masters Commission (incomplete results at the time of email)
Ms. Lyndajo Watson (12th) Administrator (2016-2020; Appointed)
Ms. Linda Sims (10th) 2nd Vice Commissioner
Ms. Audreye Eckles Hall (8th) Recording Secretary
Ms. Sherryl Whiting (9th) Assistant Recording Secretary
Ms. C. Ann Smith (12th) Treasurer
Mr. Alvin Richard White (2nd) Parliamentarian
The 28thConnectional Christian Education and Youth Congress wonderfully continued the tradition of the innovative teaching ministry of our Zion, highlighting the richness of our past while offering tools and perspectives relevant to the current challenges and opportunities before us. The next learning gathering of the Department of Christian Education will be the Christian Education Summit, which will be a pre-conference to the Global Development Council General Assembly to be held February 17-19, 2019, in Cape Town, Republic of South Africa. Register now at https://ameced.com/cesummit. The early registration offer as well as the hotel room discount ends on December 1, 2018. Please visit the website or call 615.242.1420 for more information on the 2019 Christian Education Summit. Given the spirit of the Connectional Congress, it is easy to believe that the Christian Education Summit will be just as nurturing and empowering.