Re: March 6, 2006 Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity
Rev. Carter opened devotion with hymn #329, ‘I Am Thine O Lord’ and read
scripture from Luke’s gospel chapter 16:1-9. Devotion was closed with hymn
#164, ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’ and prayer.
Rev. Moses Edwards called the conference to order and welcomed the body
to this week’s conference and business session.
Dr. Sid Kelly stood in for Rev. Dr. Churn and provided the morning
inspiration with a reflection on the Parable of “the Prodigal Son.” Kelly says this parable’s immediate focus is
on the father and the father’s love for his sons. The younger son’s request, however, is not an
unusual request based on Jewish history, there were instances where a son
received his inheritance while the father was living.
Kelly says, after
spending all that he had the repentant son goes back to his father seeking
mercy because the son knows he acted irresponsibly and predicts his own
judgment. However, the father does not
execute the judgment and instead embraces his newly found son.
Kelly concludes parables are usually allegories
that we use to place ourselves in the story as one of the character or
sinners. But, is the “inheritance”
allegory the best way to view the kingdom of God that Jesus professed—does it
allow real sharing of earthly wealth among all God’s humanity or does it
maintain a system of “haves and have nots?”
The minutes of the February 28th conference were read and
accepted with the following correction: The correct name for the Darryl Hunt
initiative is the Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice.
Bishop Todd Fulton,
Pastor Mount Moriah Outreach Center was order of the day last week. Rev. Chris Stackhouse is today’s Seminarian
Order of the Day. Rev.
Linda McRae is
the next week’s Women’s Preaching Order of the Day.
Dr. Eversley reminded
the body to support the Griffith Alternative Education Character building
initiative every Friday at 9am and 1:30pm.
Chris Bauman,
Organizer CHANGE, reported the upcoming events: the Public Education Forum
scheduled on March 23rd at 6pm Knollwood Baptist Church and 25th
at 9am at GSC; and the CHANGE Community Economic Development Plan includes your
church’s economic developments plan—is still being completed.
Edwards
reported a federal bill is being drafted that taxes senior citizens and church
contributions if they receive MEDICAID.
We must stay in touch with this important legislation.
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
Rev Beatrice
Murray reported the death of Dr. Sam Stevenson’s mother. Funeral services were held on Saturday, March
10, 2006 in Washington, DC.
Community
Presentation(s)
Ms. Deltra
Bonner, WSFC Workforce Development Program Coordinator announced the annual
Employment Fair 2006. More than 100
Piedmont Triad employers are expected to be available for scheduling interviews
for jobs.
Also, the Piedmont Triad Research Park
is sponsoring its Summer Sci-Tech learning experience for 8th
graders. The purpose of the program is
to introduce youth to the world of science and research. The date for the opening event is March 17,
2006 at 1pm at One Technology Place.
Contact Ms. Bonner for more imformation.
Bishop
Todd Fulton, Pastor Mt Moriah Outreach Center was introduced as the order of
the day followed by hymn “This Little Light of Mine.”
Bishop
Fulton lifted up scripture from John’s gospel chapter 8:3-11 and spoke from the
subject “Judgment, Justice, and Jesus.”
Fulton says even when we let our light shine we fail our flock as their
pastor. We must realize that we are not
Jesus! The conviction of a young black
woman is such a time when she needed justice we as ministers witness justice
denied—and it is also not a time for judgment—but a time for moral courage.
Fulton says Jesus did not pass
judgment but showed mercy in the case of the adulterous woman because he knew
it took two to complete this accusation but where was the man. Jesus offered an example of justice that even
humbled himself—he stooped when he was the only who could stay.
Jesus stooped down for all of us—he
stooped down for each of us. We are all
daylight and darkness—dust and divinity in need of a Savior. Jesus could have written in the sand the sins
of the woman’s accusers as some scholars says but instead Fulton says he wrote
down our sins—such as pride and self-righteousness.
Fulton says it has been the church
that has misrepresented judgment and justice in our country. Where would we be without a forgiving Savior,
Jesus Christ!
The body rose and gave Bishop Todd Fulton arousing
vote of thanks for his encouraging and thought provoking message.
Attendance – 26 persons
Offering - $57.00
Membership – $
20.00 (Dr. Veronica Miles, Professor Homiletics WFU Div. School was accepted as
a new member).
Adjournment (Prayer and Benediction)
Having no further business the conference adjourned with prayer and
benediction.