Re: May 9, 2006 Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem & Vicinity
Devotion was opened with hymn #162, ‘Pass Me Not’ and reading of
scripture from 23rd Psalm. Devotion was closed with prayer.
Rev. Dr. Moses Edwards called the conference to order and welcomed the
body to this week’s conference and business session.
The minutes of the May 2nd conference were read and accepted
with proper correction(s).
Rev. Willa
Reid, Minister Hannah Ministries, is the Women’s Preaching Order of the
Day. Next week is Adventism Theological
Reflection Day.
MLK Golf
Scholarship Fundraiser is this Friday, May 19, 2006 at Reynolds Park Golf Club.
Tie times are between 8:00 and 8:30am.
Dr. Edwards
reported the changes to asset transfer rules for Medicaid eligibility included
in the Budget Reconciliation bill (S.1932) apply to those seniors whose assets
are valued greater than $500,000, etc.
The rules close a loophole that historically allowed those who could
afford other options to apply for government assistance that is designed for
those with the greatest need.
Rev. Bass
reported that he had started the Crossroads Ministry national Core
Organizer/Trainer Apprentices (COTA) process and his selection to their board
of directors. The conference voted and
endorsed Rev. Bass’ work with Crossroads Ministry as an Anti-Racist
organizer/trainer.
Sick Report
Community
Presentation(s)
Ernestine
Horne reported the arrest of Ms. Millicent Ahmed on murder and assault
charges. Ms. Ahmed requests assistance
from the conference regarding her case through her family that came as a show
of support for her innocence. The matter
was referred to the Public Affairs Committee for investigation and
recommendation.
Ms. Marjorie
Rorie, Rep for Truliant Federal Credit Union announced a mini grant program for
non-profit organizations that impact: community or faith-based health and human
service. Programs must target people of
modest means, youth, affordable housing, or economic development. Grant amount vary to $1000 per
applicant. Applications will be
available at grant workshops being held at local Truliant Member Financial
Centers during the period from May 15, 2006 to July 15, 2006
(800-822-0382x2054).
Edward
O’Connor, Chairman of the Commission on Church and Society, distributed copies
and reported the unanimous approval of Resolution #24 – Racial Reconciliation
at the Southern Province Synod of the Moravian Church in America on April 22,
2006. The Statement and Public Apology
for Slavery are steps in the process of changing the Moravian church’s identity
to one of being more inclusive. Also
reported is the Moravian Church involvement with the Institute for Dismantling
Racism (IDR) by forming an Anti-Racist team to become an Anti-Racist faith
community. The conference voted to
endorse the Moravian Church’s racial reconciliation program and become a faith
community partner with the Southern Province of the Moravian Church.
Councilwoman
Jocelyn Johnson, announced applications are now available for the SciTech
Summer Technology Institute for rising 8th graders interested in a
career in the science and technology field.
The program is scheduled with day activities from June 19 to June 30,
2006 at Union Chapel Baptist Church (Teresa Robbins at 716-4856). A request for a $300.00 contribution to the
program was referred to the finance committee.
Announcement(s):
Rev. Dr. Moses
Edwards introduced Rev. Prince Rivers, Pastor United Metropolitan Baptist
Church as the order of the Day. DR.
Fulwood led hymn ‘The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow.’ Rev. Rivers lifted up scripture from Romans
5:10 and chose as a subject, “Rejoicing in the Rough Times of Life.”
Rivers says Paul through his own
conversion life experience was now filled with the joy of Christ—he had
graduated from the university of grace [God’s grace that is]. The question for us today is, ‘How do we [as
ministers] rejoice when the rough times out number the not so rough?”
Rivers states, it is between verses
two and three of this text that Paul finds the ability to rejoice—not about the
suffering but in the suffering. The
reason we can [and should] rejoice in suffering is because it is in the
suffering that we find the strength to go on.
Suffering not only makes us stronger it also builds character. When we learns to how to find joy in suffering
which build character through suffering—we now finding “Hope.”
Rivers
concludes, when things don’t appear to be going right—when the government
spends more times outside the country than in the country there is still
hope—they can take away everything [all the resources needed to make America a
better place for everyone] but there still is hope!
The
body voted to give Rev Prince Rivers a rousing vote thanks for his inspiring
and encouraging message.
Attendance – 21 persons
Offering - $96.00
MLK - $300.00
Membership
– 0.00
Adjournment (Prayer and Benediction)
Having no further business the conference adjourned with prayer and
benediction.