Re:
Rev. Carter opened devotion with hymn #191, ‘Glory to His Name’ and read
scripture from Numbers chapter 17:1-10. 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 with a reflection on
Genesis chapter 38.
The minutes of the March 21st conference were prepared and
read by Dr. Linda Beal. The body
accepted the minutes with proper correction(s).
Professor
Verona Miles, Professor Homiletics,
Dr. Eversley
invited the conference to participate in a local Think Tank to study the
question, ‘Why do drugs continue to be a problem in the communities of
Eversley read
a report of findings for Ms. Mary Gore’s wrongful termination complaint with
Southwest Airlines. Eversley offered a
letter of support for Ms. Gore who protested an unfair termination by Southwest
Airlines and the body voted to endorse Ms. Gore’s complaint.
Chris Bauman,
Organizer CHANGE, reported the city council voted to fund the Youth Summer Jobs
program with a $100M matching grant arrangement. The Urban League is leading the $30M
community matching effort; the Public Education Forum was a success with much
information being shared with the community about education in WS.
Rev. Sanders
reported the new target number of church teams for the MLK Golf Scholarship
Fundraiser is 30 and invited other conference members to enter a team.
Rev. Bass
announced the March 30th 2½ day Anti-Racism training will be held at
EBC. Conference members are invited to
participate in this training event.
Sick Report
Community
Presentation(s)
Jocelyn
Johnson, City Councilwoman reported the Summer Youth Science Institute for 8th
graders will hold a kick-off event on April 3rd at Union Chapel
Baptist Church at 3:3opm. The conference
membership is invited to refer youth from local churches.
Brother Johnny
Ray reported he is recovering from colon treatment and stated the episode has
motivated him to tell others about the importance of the getting regular
colonoscopy.
Announcement(s):
Rev. Gilliam
announced the Second Harvest Food Bank open house on Wednesday, March 29th
from 8-10am and 4-6pm.
Rev
Professor Miles presented Christian education in the context of the black church, and lifted scriptures from Exodus 3:7-8. Miles stated the black church and ex-slaves whom presented a response to oppression and slavery answered the question of real religion best. While the early church in Virginia tried to justify slavery through legislation finding no guilt in the inhumane practice—by using several biblical verses to support the position for slavery. However, it was the Christian slaves who begun to think critically about God and the scriptures that helped the black church become a provocative voice for liberty.
Miles says, findings indicate learning is not information, alone. In other words, to be learning—information must include internalizing information. Carter G. Woodson proclaimed, ex-slaves had to be taught how ‘not to be slaves.’ This took place at the Hush-harbors—the midnight meetings in the woods—where the strategic plans for liberation begun during the institution slavery.
The invisible institution of liberation—a place to resist and reflect on the state of an unfair and oppressive world—a place of hopeful possibility—was imagined in the minds of shackled bodies. The slave’s religious mind started to evolve here—when the culture demanded oppression—invisible resistance said no!
The slave Christian named not only their new world but their oppressors as well. However, Hagar in the Old Testament could not name where she was going even though she knew where she came from. One must be able to name the evils, the oppressions and injustices in order to learn and overcome the things that keep us in bondage—poverty, sickness, lack of identity, etc. in order be free their destructive power.
Church education must build up and affect change toward a life of salvation. The gospel should be a message of transformation for the hearer to become a change being—a partner with God and humanity—this is the good news of God’s grace, mercy and love to those who receive it.
Professor Miles concludes the church is to work for justice and healing in the world—not the accumulation of stuff. The gospel is like many good and holy things! We as ministers and spiritual leaders are encouraged to think about the possibilities of proper Christian education—education that requires Christians to be dialogical in order for learning to take place and change to transform ones life.
Attendance – 20 persons
Offering - $00.00
Membership
– 20.00 (Rev. Sherwood Davis was introduced by Dr. Churn and accepted as a new
member of the conference).
Adjournment (Prayer and Benediction)
Having no further business the conference adjourned with prayer and
benediction.