Re: February 27, 2007 Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity
Rev. Carter, opened devotion with the hymn #329, ‘I Am Thine O Lord’ and
the reading of Luke 22:22-27. Devotion
was closed with hymn #164, ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus and prayer.
Rev. Dr. Linda Beal opened the conference with the
call to order and welcoming the body to this week’s conference and business
session. The conference lifted the family of the W-S officer killed in the line
of duty up in prayer.
Dr.
Sid Kelly provided the morning inspiration reflecting on his classroom
experiences. He read from his memoirs where he had listed some things he’d
learned from the New Testament for the first time. He tells of some information
that was a challenge for him. Examples like: the theme concerning the kingdom,
some scholars’ claims about Jesus, and what the Gospel is. “What confusion!”
Kelly exclaimed. He says that his professors should have just told what the
Gospel was and is; that would have clarified a lot of confusion. “Why didn’t
they just tell me?” Kelly questioned.
Kelly realized that the Gospel, truth, and law
where not objective realties as taken by most people. Kelly says he wanted the
Gospel to be made meaningful and plausible for him. He says that they were
teaching seminarians they must do this for their congregations but Kelly
wanted to understand it now. He says that it would have been an embarrassment
for him to ask out loud but he made up in his mind that he would ask. Kelly
raised the question, “What is the Gospel?” He says many people just don’t have
the courage to ask what it is.
The February 20th conference were read and accepted with
proper corrections.
April 20, 2007
at 8am the 2nd Annual Golf Tournament will occur. Letters will go
out this month.
The body was
reminded of the obligation at Griffith School.
Sick Report
J T Walker is home from the hospital after having surgery.
Rev. Crawford is out with the flu.
Community
Presentation(s)
Stephen Hairston and Virginia Neweld from the NAACP presented NAACP
membership drive campaign information. They are asking each church to get at
least 100 members.
Announcement(s):
Dr. Fullwood announced that the WSSU campus ministry funds should be given before June 2007 and the last gift in December 2007. ($300.00 total)
Dr. Eversley announced that there was to be a meeting this past Sunday but they didn’t show. He says he’s still holding to this name shift issue. He also informed that Darryl Hunt is grateful to the minister’s conference for the support. We are celebrating Hunt’s settlement of 1.6 million dollars.
The
preaching order of the day was Dr. Serenus Churn. Dr. Churn is the pastor of
Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC.
Dr.
Churn focused on election. Election deals with the question of: who
can be saved. Churn says that many wonder how, if they are elected, is it
that they have a say in the matter? It presents itself as a thorny problem
because of the existence of man’s free will. Various questions arise. Do I need
to put forth any effort? Are some folks doomed to hell? Nonetheless, Churn says
that man has never been totally free. Our genetics, environment, and
culture predetermine certain things about us.
Churn believes that all are elected. He says that
when you were born a human with mentality, you were elected. However, your
election doesn’t automatically guarantee you a seat in the Kingdom of God. For
it is not that God doesn’t give the opportunity or extend the invitation, man
just has to make a decision on whether or not to accept it. Churn says man is
responsible to respond to the election. If you’re elected, you’re obligated to
respond.
The
body rose to give Dr. Churn a rousing vote of thanks for his message.
Attendance – 23 persons
Offering - $52.80
Membership
– 40.00
Adjournment (Prayer and Benediction)
Having no further business the conference adjourned with prayer and
benediction.