African American Clergy and Laity Summit
Puts Focus on Leadership Development
Princess Anne, Maryland, June 10, 2010—The 2010 African American Clergy and Laity Summit of the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference celebrated the witness of the black church today and pressed on toward an even stronger future.
An emphasis on leadership development reflected one of four current priorities of The United Methodist Church. The theme was “Equipping the Saints for Ministry: Rethink Church.”
The summit has been sponsored for 18 years by Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) on the two days immediately before the annual conference, which opened this year on June 10.
Enthusiastic praise of God included sermons by the Rev. Lester N. Justice, senior pastor of Simpson United Methodist Church, Wilmington, and Mr. Ronald Bell, Jr., Director for the Conferences’ Strengthening the Black Church and Congregational Development programs.
Workshops and lectures explored the spiritual gifts and practice skills required for effective pastoral ministry and mission in the 21st century. The theme scripture was Ephesians 4:11-15, a passage about equipping Christians to be, and to build, the church as the body of Christ in the world.
Instructors included the Rev. Dr. Terry Thomas, a Baptist pastor, author and teacher, and mentor at United Theological Seminary Dayton, Ohio, and The Rev. Dr. Delores Carpenter of Howard University Divinity School, Washington, DC.
In introducing the summit theme, the Rev. Elaine B. Ayres, chair of the Peninsula-Delaware BMCR, said, that “while it is appropriate to be proud and celebrate past endeavors, we must recognize that the church exists in a world that is different from the church of our ancestors.” Rev. Ayres is on loan from the Peninsula-Delaware conference to serve as pastor of Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, a part of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
The summit ended on the night of June 9 with a solemn but joyful service of Holy Communion led by Bishop Peggy A. Johnson. The elements were consecrated around a cross-shaped table aglow with dozens of candles. A procession of dancers and gift-bearers, some waving flags and others palm branches, brought the bread and wine to the table.
Dr. Thomas spoke twice, serving as preacher for the service of communion, and examining the characteristics of effective leaders in an earlier presentation. He said an effective leader is purposeful and powerful, intentional, beneficial, and “allows God’s glory to be revealed.” His sermon, based on verses from Acts, 27, painted a picture of how God’s grace in Jesus Christ sustains individuals and the church when storms—physical, emotional, spiritual—rage.
Dr. Carpenter, a professor of religious education at Howard and for 25 years a local pastor of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), took a close look at the Ephesians’ theme scripture and its language, including the words “equip,” “gifts,” and “saints.” She also raised question about understandings of image of the church as the body of Christ.In terms of self-understanding as church leaders, she challenged the summit participants to ask themselves the question, “Who does God say I am?”
New officers of the Peninsula-Delaware BMCR were installed during the summit. They are:
Andrewetta Shaw, chair; the Rev. Vanessa Stephens Lee, vice chair; Denise Coates, treasurer; the Rev. George B. Moody, secretary, and Leonard Palmer, assistant secretary.