Re:
Rev. Carter opened devotion with hymn #329, ‘I Am Thine O Lord’ and read
scripture from Job chapter 3:1-9. Devotion was closed with hymn #164, ‘I Have
Decided to Follow Jesus’ and prayer.
Rev. Dr. Linda Beal called the conference to order
and welcomed the body to this week’s conference and business session. Dr. Sid Kelly provided the morning
inspiration and read scripture from Roman 8:38.
In recognition of Valentine’s Day Kelly said women have an important
place in our lives. Kelly restates the
problem with not addressing sin and forgiveness as the church today. Because, forgiveness is rooted in the
bleeding side of Christ as it is expressed in the hymn ‘I Am Thine, O
Lord.’ Recounting the misperceptions
about sinlessness by the man who finds no fault in himself, Kelly acknowledges
this way of thinking as fundamentally flawed—because it supports a mentality of
rouged individualism.
However, there is another
way Paul describes the world in terms of powers ruling over us—rulers of darken
but even these can not separate us from the love of God.’ Our real sins are the things we take for
granted—acceptance of poverty—acceptance of privilege and the acceptance of
environmental decay. These are the
acceptance norms today and it is Satan who has apart in convincing us these
behaviors are ok. But, this kind of
thinking takes our focus off the larger social problems preachers prophetically
to speak today.
Kelly concludes, we as
the church must establish a new norm that addresses the great disparities
between the rich and the poor—the have and the have nots. CHANGE, a community broad-based organizing
initiative brings such a new way of thinking—engaging the overall community to
speak prophetically about the most pressing issues of our communities.
The minutes of the February 7th conference were read and
accepted with proper correction.
Rev. Beatrice
Murray, Associate Minister EBC is the Women’s Preaching order of the day and
Rev. Nathan Parrish,
Rev. Edwards
reported the Church Rezoning issue has been postponed until community dialogues
are completed. This issue is of utmost
importance to the all churches—conference members must stay connected with this
matter.
Edwards
reported the “Afro-Semitic: A Plea for Peace” Jazz Experience is
Chris Bauman,
CHANGE Organizer, reported the
City Council Retreats will be held
Rev. Edwards
spoke briefly about the MLK Golf fundraiser and asked committee members to join
Rev. Sanders at his home today to continue planning this event scheduled
Community
Presentation(s)
Dr Anne Johnson, Asst. Professor Occupational Therapy, WSSU announced a faith
community program for Breast Cancer Screening for women and invited conference
churches to support these health screening seminars by holding one in our
individual churches homes.
Rep. Larry
Womble, NC Democratic Representation announced a campaign to rename East End
Boulevard in honor of Coach Big House Gains.
Also, Womble asked the conference to support Ms. Clara Wallace a current
employee of the board as the choice of the African American search committee to
replace retiring Board of Elections Director Ms. Cooper. The conference can help by call the board of
elections and/or writing letters expressing a desire a have an African American
director for the Forsyth Board of Elections.
Brother Philip
Martin, Seminarian Hood Theological Seminary and Associate Pastor Mt Carmel
Baptist Church served as the Order of the Day.
Martin lifted scripture from Matthew 8:14-17 and chose as a subject,
“What is it About Jesus’ Touch?” Martin says searching the scriptures it is
evident God uses the five (5) senses to help God’s people understand God in the
world. Martin says there are many
stories expressing actions by the use of touching in the bible.
Jesus
uses his touch to show feeling and even heal those he touched. Those Jesus touched did not need a period of
recovery—they got right up and began to serve just as the woman lying ill in
the home of Peter. However, there are
persons who sometimes say they will do something if they are healed and don’t
follow through but this woman got right up and begun to serve.
When
you are touched by Jesus you don’t need a special time or even a special person
to go to God receive God’s blessing—God’s healing—God’s touch is available to
each of us. There is something about the
hands with a healing touch—it was these hands that down through the centuries
that reached down and took dirt and made humanity—these same hands were nailed
to the cross to save all of humankind.
Martin
concludes it is these hands that possess power—power to heal and power to
comfort. There is something about the
hands and touch of Jesus because through the hands of Jesus there is
reconciliation and Love…it is about the touch of Jesus’ hands—our hands as
ministers of the gospel!
The
body rose to give Brother Martin arousing vote of thanks for his encouraging
and uplifting message.
Attendance – 16 persons
Offering - $77.00
Membership –
$40.00 (Rev. James Lewis and Dr. Carlton Eversley).
Contribution –
62.00 to the seminarian order of the day.
Adjournment (Prayer and Benediction)
Having no further business the conference adjourned with prayer and
benediction.