Lucy Craft Laney - National Black Presbyterian Caucus

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NATIONAL BLACK PRESBYTERIAN CAUCUS
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------June 2014
Number 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------www.nationalnbpc.org
Lucy Craft Laney
Portrait in Georgia State Capitol Building
While attending another meeting across the street from the State Capitol Building of Georgia, Bettie J. Durrah
rushed over to view the portrait of Lucy Craft Laney, March 21, 2014. This portrait has been hanging in this
location for over four decades. It presently overlooks the Legislative Hall of the Georgia House of
Representatives on the second floor. Lucy Craft Laney, a member of Christ Presbyterian Church, Augusta,
Georgia, founded the Haines Institute in 1883, in the basement of the church where she was a member.
“I want to wear out, not rust out.”
“God made me out of black dirt, and it was good dirt.”
--Lucy Craft Laney
LUCY CRAFT LANEY (1854-1933)
Highlights:
1873 – Graduates from Atlanta University
1883 – Opens first school for black boys and girls in Augusta, Georgia
1885 – Travels to Minneapolis in search of funding for school
1886 – Charters Haines Normal and Industrial Institute
1888 – First class graduates from Haines School
1889 – Land purchased and first building constructed for Haines School
1890 – Establishes first kindergarten in Southeast for black children
1892 – Establishes nurse training program for black women
1896 – Helps establish Lamar Hospital in Augusta
1905 – Establishes first athletic teams for black children in secondary schools
1912 – Founds Women’s Federated Clubs
1919 – Co-founds Augusta NAACP branch
1949 – Lucy C. Laney High School opens in Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
SAVE THE DATE
 Monday Evening, June 16, 2014, Dinner, National Black Presbyterian Caucus, Marriott
Hotel, General Assembly Meeting, Detroit, Michigan. BE SURE THE SIGN UP FOR
THE DINNER WHEN YOU REGISTER FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Ticket --$60.00

The Michigan Black Presbyterian Caucus is hosting an event on Tuesday, June 17,
2014; 3:30-6:30pm at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Cost
for the event: $20. The event is co-sponsored with the Presbytery of Detroit, National
Organization for Women and the Museum. Diplomats from the Republic of Botswana
will be one of the guests, and the evening will be filled with entertainment by Detroit's
finest musicians. TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED THRROUGH THE GA ONLINE
SYSTEM.
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2014 Youth Leadership Development Conference
July 16-19, 2014
Alabama A & M University
Huntsville, Alabama
Theme: Equipping Youth to Serve the Present Age:
Empowerment, Education, and Social Justice
Ages: 10 - Adult Registration: $275.00 per person
Deadline: June 15, 2014
Late Registration $300 (All registrations received after
June 15, 2014) Deadline July 1, 2014
Hosted by the Huntsville Area Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus
Contact: Dr. Thomas McAlpine – President of The Huntsville Area Chapter of the NBPC 256-6830983 [email protected]
Mrs. Johnnie McAlpine- 256-837-5384 [email protected]
Ms. Natalie Toombs 901-221-8042 / 901-849-0354 [email protected]
PRESIDENT’S REPORT– May 2014
The Board of Directors of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus met in Los Angeles,
California on April 24-26, 2014. The meeting was hosted by the Southern California Chapter of
NBPC.
We gathered to have an interactive and “meaty” face- to- face board meeting that would assist
the Board in working more effectively to address the mission and purpose of the National Black
Presbyterian Caucus. Dr. Cynthia L. Jackson, Facilitator and Observer, challenged the Board
to examine its relevance in these times and our role and service to our constituency. If we are
not relevant, she warned us, we will not be effective.
Much of our time was spent discussing our bylaws. Dr. Jackson pointed out that some of our
problems stem from the intermingling of bylaws and policies and procedures. Further, she
stated, “there is a distinct difference between bylaws and policies and procedures. She noted
that in reviewing both, we have changed our bylaws at every Convention and bylaws should not
be changed that often.
We also spent time discussing the need to reach out to other black groups. But, “first,” she
noted, “we must decide what we mean by black.” The need is clearly a goal for NBPC and we
have to figure out how we can best reach this constituency.
It was a productive meeting and the Board will be making some major changes. Dr. Jackson
warned us not to pass our dysfunction on to the next leadership but to begin working together to
catch the new vision God is giving us. She reminded the Board members that each of us is part
of the vision and that we should listen for the vision God is giving each one of us.
We are well aware that there is much work to do. We must find ways to reach out to our youth
and invite them to take an active role in the Caucus. We must reach out to our Clergywomen and
invite them to be more active in the Caucus. Having left the meeting with much to think about
and much that still needs to be done, we returned excited and anxious to move forward.
Our monthly conference calls will continue for now, but will focus on only one topic per meeting
so that we can make some progress rather than have so many irons in the fire at once. Board
members agreed to get more involved. We are planning a brain storming session in which we
begin laying out our plan for a new agenda for NBPC.
We are making progress, but it is slow. We are addressing issues, but there are many more than
we have people to handle them so we are doing the best we can as volunteers. Thanks to Rev.
Dr. Leon Fanniel, we now have a new proposed covenant of understanding regarding the role
and relationship of Racial Ethnic caucuses with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). We now await
the Office of the General Assembly and the Presbyterian Mission Agency to clear the proposed
covenant with their Boards. We have already begun steps to live into the proposed covenant.
Our next step will be to have a session with all of the Caucus leaders to discuss how we relate as
Caucuses to one another.
Our membership drive has been slower this year, but is finally picking up speed and we hope to
increase the number of members over last year, by the end of 2014. We are looking forward to
our dinner at the General Assembly and the opportunity to gather with old friends and to make
some new friends.
I am pleased to report that all of our Board members traveled to Los Angeles for the meeting at
their own expense. Thanks be to God for their sacrifice and faithfulness.
Respectively submitted,
The Reverend Dr. Arlene W. Gordon
President
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Huntsville, Alabama
CELEBRATIONS…

J. Herbert Nelson, , Office of Public Witness Director,, published an editorial,
Discrimination in the Name of Jesus: How “religious liberty” is becoming
Discrimination by Another Name, that he co-authored with the Reverend James C.
Perkins, President-elect of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

Bridgett Green is acquisitions editor for Bible, Westminster John Knox Press,
Louisville, KY.
 Jerrod Lowry is shown at the state capitol building in Utah advocating with the Bishop
of the Episcopal Diocese in Utah to expand Medicaid.
Gregory Bentley, spouse and other members of Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Huntsville,
Alabama
 Jerrod Lowry and sons

Clergy couple, J. Herbert Nelson and Gail Porter Nelson, with daughter

Lawrence Willis (Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church, Newport News, VA) and
Barbara Lockhart Willis,-spouse, are making plans to travel to India.

Howard Bryant was honored as “Citizen of the Year” by the Community Access
Unlimited, April 16, 2014, at the L’Affaire Fine Catering, Mountainside, New Jersey.

Casper and Vernilla Glenn celebrated their 69th Wedding Anniversary, March 27, 2014.

As part of The Moderator's Colloquium at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA
in March, Chinetta Goodjoin and Charles Marks were among the respondents.
According to Melva Costen, who presented a paper, - - “they were terrifically on
target!!” The attendance was great!! Clergy and laity in addition to Presbyterians were
in attendance, largely from the Fuller faculty and student body. The African American
female professor of preaching at Fuller actually picked up from my lecture during her
sermon Tuesday morning. . . What an honor!! and she is awesome!!!
Moderator Presa invited Melva Costen to preside with him during the closing
Communion service. Thursday!
 Marvella Lambright. Secretary of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, offered
reflections on the Millennial Development Goal, along with a number of other persons, as
part of a panel, March 13, 2014, as part of the programing related to the United Nations
Commission on Women, New York. In a later panel that same day, Rhashell Hunter
and Linda Valentine and others were part of a panel.
 Alika Galloway (Kwanza a Community Church, Minneapolis, MN), was one of the
preachers at the NEXT Church Conference., Minneapolis, March 31, 2014. “We are
connected heart to heart, breast to breast,” she said as she talked about the
individualism prevalent today. J. Herbert Nelson was also one of the speakers. In his
message, he said that he was “… struggling with the rhetoric of doom surrounding the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”
 Kelle Brown, pastor, Woodville Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia,
March 30, 2014, preaching on “The Color Purple”
Faye Lowry and Melvin G. Lowry, SE Regional President, NBPC
The Good Friday Worship Service at Elmwood United Presbyterian Church included “The
Seven Last Words of Christ,” by seven seminarians from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Jimmie Hawkins, along with others on Moral Monday, Eden, North Carolina, March 31,
2014 AND 2014 Church World Service Crop Walk, Durham, NC

J. Herbert Nelson, Joelle Susan David and Rosemary Mitchell, Presbytery of Geneva,
Geneva, NY. Nelson and Mitchell are representing the Office of Public Witness,
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Robina Winbush started a half hour prayer session for African American clergywomen
during Lent.

Veronica Cannon has been appointed to serve as vice moderator of the General
Assembly Committee on Congregational Vitality.

Arlene Gordon attended the Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, DC, March 2124, 2014. Other NBPC members there were Jesse Swanigan, Sheila Louder and
Marella Lambight. Herbert Nelson opened the session with his welcome and a sermon,
“Drop Your Rock.” Marsha Jones Shoushtari (sister of Mark Jones) and member of
Westminster Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, CA, shared the story of her pain
following the death of her 18 year old son, Bijan. She has started a community-wide
campaign, “Stop the Violence—Save Lives.” (Arlene Gordon, reporter).

Elenora Giddings Ivory wrote a book review of The Forbidden Word by James Henry
Harris. The review was published in The Presbyterian Outlook, March 31, 2014.
 Natalie Toombs is coordinating the Youth Gathering this summer at Alabama A &M
University, Huntsville, Alabama
 Arlene Gordon and CeCe Armstrong attended the meeting of the
Executive Committee of the National Association of Presbyterian
Clergywomen in April. Phyllis Bryd also attended this meeting.

Betty Griffin (First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Vernon, NY) was featured in an article,
“ ‘Here I Am Lord, Send Me’” in the April 2014, issue of Presbyterians Today. As she
attended a Racial Ethnic Leadership Institute, it led to a new ministry at her present
church. Her picture was also included.
J. Herbert Nelson and mother, Johnalee Nelson
Vanessa Hawkins was one of the presenters at this Womanist Reflections, May10, 2014, San
Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, CA.
Marsha Snulligan Haney and Carolyn McCrary, Interdenominational
Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Michael Livingston, J. Herbert Nelson, and unidentified partner in ministry

Byron Wade shared information with Bryce Gunnar McAteer, Duke University,
Young Adult Advisory Delegate from Southern California (Presbytery of Los Ranchos),
regarding the Mid Council Commission II and other General Assembly issues.
 Bryon A. Wade (Davie Street Presbyterian Church, Raleigh) was the preacher for
“Hot Dish and Hope “worship service at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh,
NC, April 13, 2014. His message was entitled, “Love Your Neighbor.”

Thelma Davidson Adair will be the keynote speaker for the 2014 Northeast Regional
Assembly of Church Women United, June 13-15, 2014, Stony Point Retreat Center,
Stony Point, NY. A nonagenarian, Dr. Adair was president of this national body, 19801984. She was also recently honored by Lutheran Social Services in New York as she
received the President’s Award. Pictures of this event, including an article, were found in
the April 2014, issue of ChurchWoman News.
 J. Herbert Nelson and Gail Porter Nelson at the 15th Anniversary of
Liberation Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN, April 13, 2014

Mark Lomax and Jin S. Kim were presenters at a symposium on “Race and Cultural
Diversity in the Church, at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA, April 6, 2014.

Katie Geneva Cannon drafted the response essay that celebrates the 40th Anniversary as
African-American Clergywomen of Word and Sacraments in the Presbyterian Church
(USA). Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty wrote the lead essay for the spring, 2014 edition of @
This Point: Theological Investigations in Church and Culture. Cannon was invited to join
two others in writing responses to Hinson-Hasty's interesting set of snapshots of the PC
(USA) with some good historical and social ethics analysis behind it. The entire text is
forthcoming on the following website at Columbia Theological Seminary: @ This Point:
Theological Investigations in Church and Culture. (See additional article in this
newsletter.)


Dr. (Richard) Moriba Kelsey, former member of Bethel Presbyterian Church,
Columbus. Ohio, has relocated back to Atlanta with his spouse, Dr. Barbara Kelsey, and
he has written a book about his old Atlanta community, Pittsburgh: A Sense of
Community-Phase III Families: The Foundation of an Atlanta Neighborhood.
John Herndon was one of the seven preachers during the Good Friday Worship
Celebration at Fellowship Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, Alabama, where Gregory
Bentley is the pastor.
 Byron Wade participated in the Raleigh Capitol Square Easter Sunrise, April 20, 201

Alice Ridgill and the Faith Presbyterian Family, Greenwood, South Carolina, went as a
church family to see the movie, “Heaven Is for Real.” See picture on left.
New Faith Presbyterian Church, a worshiping community in Greenwood, South Carolina
(Trinity Presbytery), is on track to become a chartered congregation in the PC(USA) in 2016.
This congregation will receive a am and Helen R. Walton Award of $50,000. /New Faith has
been challenged by a lack of adequate space that does not allow it to accommodate more than
150 in weekly worship. The Walton Award will be used to purchase five acres of land where the
congregation plans to build a new facility
Launched in 2010, New Faith Presbyterian baptized two adults and 11 children last year. More
than 250 people visited New Faith for the first time in 2013, including a woman we’ll call
Melissa, who was one of the new believers baptized, along with her 10-year-old daughter. 71year-old James Wharton was the other adult baptized, alongside his two granddaughters.
Wharton — who had never been actively involved or interested in church — had been invited to
worship by his wife.
 . J. Herbert Nelson II, director of the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness,
recently received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from Louisville Presbyterian
Theological Seminary.
Dianna Wright celebrated her birthday, April 23, 2014.

Billy Honor, pastor, New Life Presbyterian Church, College Park, Georgia, was the
featured preacher on Day 1, during the second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2014. His
sermon was “How to Handle a Scandal.” ”To read or hear the sermon, go to Day 1.org.

The Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations
recently put out a packet in which a timeline of the church’s involvement in social
witness was included. The timeline included the following:
--July 3, 1963. In response to a call by W. Eugene Houston, pastor of
Randall Memorial Church and Director of the newly-formed Commission on Race and
Religion, Presbytery of New York, 700 Presbyterians demonstrated in support of
President Kennedy’s pending civil rights legislature.
—August, 28, 1963. March on Washington with Martin l. King’s “I Have a Dream”
speech, Eugene Carson Blake, who is shown in the picture with King, was one of the
speakers at the march.


Robina Winbush, in her position as Associate for Ecumenical Relations and President
of Churches Uniting in Christ, signed a statement released during the Easter Season,
along with a coalition of Christian leaders, in which there was a call for the end of war
on drugs and mass incarnation.
Allan Boesak will be the luncheon speaker for the New Baptist Covenant, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
(CBF)., on June 26, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Atlanta, Georgia, during the meeting of the 2014
National General Assembly of the CBF. Boesak is the Desmond Tutu Chair of Peace and Global Justice
and Reconciliation Studies at Butler University and Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Additional Scenes from the April NBPC Board Meeting, Los Angeles, California
The June activities related to NBPC at the General Assembly

Bishop Teresa Snorton, the 59th Bishop and the first female Bishop in the Christian
Methodist Episcopal Church since its founding in 1870 and chair of the College of
Bishops, delivered the address during the 2014 Graduation Exercise for the
Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) , May 10, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. on the campus
of Morehouse College in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Chapel. Her sermon, “Take off
Your Shoes” (Exodus 3) she focused on the deep reverence that occurs when you take
off your shoes. God shows up in ordinary ways – even at the edge of the wilderness with
Moses and the burning bush. “In ordinary acts,” she said, “space is made for the
presence of God.” Nine individuals graduated from Johnson C. Smith Theological
Seminary, ITC. Among the graduates are Gloria Mencer (CLP, Knoxville, TN) and
Karey L. Poinsette (Charleston, SC), both of whom are seen in the picture below. Melva
Costen, Professor Emerita, as a show of support for ITC, was recognized as she joined
the processional march with the faculty. As the Chair of the ITC Board convoked the
Fifty-Fifth Commencement; he called the names of many persons from ITC history,
including Frank Wilson, James Costen, Thelma Adair, and others from the various
denominations.

Kasey Jones, moderator- elect of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will become the
moderator during the national assembly when it meets in Atlanta, June 23-27, 2014. She
is the senior pastor of the National Memorial Baptist Church, Washington, DC, and she is
the first woman and the first African American to serve in this pastorate

Dawn Karungari Gikandi (pictured above), a 31-year-old Kenyan, has been ordained
as a minister by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), a member church of the
World Council of Churches (WCC). Gikandi is among only a few people who are both
women theologians and persons with physical disability who serve the church as an
ordained pastor. Gikandi was a steward at the WCC 9th Assembly in Brazil, 2006, and
participant at the World YWCA Young Women's Summit in Ethiopia, in January
2013.Gikandi has worked as a volunteer with her home church and community to
highlight issues of faith, poverty, HIV and AIDS and concerns especially related to
youth. She has served as chairperson of the youth fellowship of the PCEA congregation
in Membley and parishes in Ruiru and Kamiti.

Stephanny Graham, minister, Peekskill Presbyterian Church, Peekskill, New York
 In celebratory mood related to the 40th Anniversary of the Ordination of Katie G.
Cannon, Belinda Curry related that on June 1, 1997, the records state that she became
the first Mississippi woman of color ordained to the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament
in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Jerrod Lowry attended the Peacemaking Conference, Mosaic of Peace in
Israel/Palestine April 28-May 10, 2014. See the next set of six pictures.
C
Christmas Evangelical Lutheran House, Bethlehem (With Danish Friends)
-Juanita Eldridge, Dianna Wright and Connie Weaver participated in a Women's Event,
Presbytery of Salem, First Presbyterian Church, Asheboro, NC, April 2014..
Ollie Mahabir, teaching elder, Church of the Master Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia, has
been elected to serve on the Faith and Order Commission of the National Council of Churches,
representing the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Her sermon, April 27, 2014, “The Proof Is in the
Pudding,” offered a new look at “Doubting Thomas” (John 20: 19-31). According to Mahabir,
she wanted to “rescue Thomas from his notoriety” and focus on his declaration of faith, not the
initial doubting. We are to be “resurrection agents,” filled with new life and new hope and
work on behalf of one another, she emphasized.
Olive Mahabir with JCSTS Graduating Senior, Karey L. Poinsette.
Many faces of CeCe Armstrong
 Warren Dennis, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
 The Women’s Leadership Institute and Young Women’s Leadership Development
Event, taking place during the 221st General Assembly this summer, seeks to empower
and guide women in their spiritual and leadership growth. The worship leader will be the
Reverend Desiree Ann Lawson, pastor of Trinity United Presbyterian Church, a
multicultural church in Flint, Michigan. The vent is coordinated by Jewel McRae.

Knoxville College, Knoxville, TN, the top winning school among the Historical Black
Colleges and Universities, received a $50,000 Tier ! Grant, under “The RETOOL YOUR
SCHOOL program sponsored by The Home Depot. The funds will be used to remodel
the lower atrium of the Alumni Library by updating the floors, restrooms, doors and
landscaping in front of the building.
Prayer Walk, New Hope Presbyterian Church
Reggie Goodjoin supporting his spouse’s ministry
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ONE OF THE 1,001 WORSHIPPING COMMUNITIES
Rize Community Church, Atlanta, Georgia
Maisha Handy, Ph.D. , organizing pastor
Rize
Rize is a creative and dynamic Africentric Christian community, engaging in spiritual principles
and practices that Empower, Liberate, and Call people to journey toward healing and the
transformation of the world! As a diverse community we carry out our collective vision through
music and worship arts, spoken word ministry, preaching, and other creative worship
experiences.
211 Boykin Street
Atlanta, GA 30315
Look on the PC(USA) website to obtain more information.
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“COLORS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY”
As part of Women’s Day activities at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia, the choreopoem, “Colors of
the Human Family,” written by Bettie J. Durrah, was presented, April 26, 2014. It was first presented in the
Hall of Music at Purdue University by the Third World Women’s Coordinating Committee during the Churchwide
Gathering of Presbyterian Women (formerly United Presbyterian Women) in 1982. It was published in Concern
Magazine,----1983, and it was subsequently presented at many venues, including the 1983 General Assembly in
Atlanta. It was also presented in South Africa by Bettie Durrah and her traveling colleagues in 1984.
The choreopoem was updated, and slightly revised with the addition of a Middle Eastern voice by members of the
Churchwide Coordinating Team, for presentation at the Churchwide Gathering of Presbyterian Women in 2012, in
Orlando. This version was published in Horizons, September-October 2012.
When “Colors of the Human Family” was first presented by the Third World Women’s Coordinating Committee,
the committee was staffed by Mildred M. Brown (mother-in-law of Joan Brown Cunningham, (third from the
left). This committee, along with the Committee of Racial Ethnic Women (PCUS), became the Committee of
Women of Color at the point of reunion.
The participants included the following persons:
Asian American—Irene Wong, North Avenue Presbyterian Church
African American—Joan Brown Cunningham, member of Radcliffe Presbyterian Church
European American—Mary Martin, member St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church
Hispanic American—Sandra Diaz—member, Cristo Para Las Naciones
Middle Eastern American—Fahed Abu-Akel, Moderator of 214th General Assembly, Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.)
Native American— Bettie J. Durrah, member, Radcliffe Presbyterian Church
Adei-Mai Morningstar Greenpastures, clergy, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was unable to
participate at the last minute. Bettie J. Durrah, who has played many roles, stepped up to take her place
A “REAL MAN OF GALILEE” COMES TO ATLANTA
His Eminence Archbishop Attalla Hannna of Sebastia, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of
Jerusalem, Palestine, was the keynote speaker for “A Taste of Jerusalem,” Sunday, March 30,
2014, with a reception and dinner at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, Atlanta, Georgia.
The event was coordinated by Fahed Abu-Akel, with an over flowering crowd of over 250
Christians, Jews and Muslims. Tributes were first paid to Rachael Corrie (23-year old
American peace activist, crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer March 16, 2003) and Land
Day (Deir Yassin Remembered, April 9, 1948).
The speaker was introduced by a pastor emeritus from the host church, the Very Reverend
Father George Makhlouf, who said that the speaker was “a real man of Galilee.” as he
recounted some of his experiences in Jerusalem with the speaker.
Speaking in Arabic, His Eminence, talked about the situation in Palestine, saying, “We will not give an inch. Justice
comes first, peace comes after. We have time to wait. We are ready to die, but we are willing to wait to see an
independent Palestine.” “I am a Palestinian,” he said. “It is the cause of every free person in the world.”
As one of the writers of the Kairos Palestine document (all dinner guests received a copy), he then began to talk
about some of the principles found in the declaration. They included the following:
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Ask free people to stand with us.
Ask all religions to collaborate with us.
Right to resist occupation through peaceful means.
We belong to the Arab world—always bringing a message of peace.
Prefer open dialogue to bring us together and not tear us apart.
Fahed Abu-Akel moderated the question and answers session and translated his answers. Another Arabic speaker
translated the message, but many in the gathered community understood Arabic inasmuch as they shared their
emotions often before the English translation had been heard.
The community was welcomed by a professor of Islam at Georgia State University, Abbas Berzagar, Ph.D., who
gave a stirring talk about “ liberating scripture” and “60 decades of falsified history,” including racism in this
country.
Bettie J. Durrah attended this gathering.
Fahed Abu-Akel and Ibrahim Jamal Awad,
an engineer of Muslim faith-30-year
friendship
CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF WITNESS AND SERVICE
A Celebration of 80 Years was held for Otis Artis Smith, March 22, 2014, at the Holiday Inn and Suites,
Stockbridge, Georgia, March 22, 2014. With a welcome by mate, Earline F. Smith, the celebration began with
dinner.
Reflections came from the Webb, Farmer, Taylor, and Smith families, the military, college, church, neighborhood
families, and friends. Introduction of the guest of honor was given by Mia C. Smith, daughter, and remarks were
then made by CH (Ret.) Otis Artis Smith. The program was filled with pictures from college, U.S. Airforce,
Vietnam, Europe. Aruba, and a news article from Fort Gordon, Georgia, dated August 29, 1967, in which Otis
Smith, a visiting Army chaplain was able to talk a despondent solider off a 170-foot water tower.
Contributions were accepted for a project in Malawi that the Smiths are supporting through the African
Connection, of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus. The project includes funding for the following: Tuition
and School Supplies, Widows of the Kafita Church, Crisis Nursery at Mzuzu, and HIV/AIDS Monitoring
Contributions are still being accepted.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TRAVELING EXHIBITS—Presbyterian Historical Society-Philadelphia
Emancipation to Enterprise
Highlights Presbyterian schools and colleges serving African-Americans from 1867 to 1963.
CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING:
Website of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus—www.nationalnbpc.org
The Provisional Covenant of Understanding –Racial Ethnic Caucuses,
General Assembly, Office of the General Assembly, the Presbyterian Mission
Agency and the Mid-Councils
Facebook: Johnson C. Smith Future Discussion Group
New pictures on the website.
Read back issues of the NBPC newsletters.
40TH YEAR OF ORDINATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN
CLERGY; CELEBRATING WITH KATIE GENEVA CANNON
April 23, 1974
“Having earned my bachelor's degree from Barber-Scotia -College and being certified by the state of NC as an
elementary educator and enrolling at J C Smith at the ITC in order to become a trained Christian Educator was
the expected norm in the world as we knew it 40 plus years ago. The opportunity for African American women to
enroll in seminary in order to be ordained as Ministers of Word and Sacrament in the United Presbyterian
Church, USA was finding ourselves in a landmark less situation. Therefore, I will be forever grateful that Dr.
Jim Costen said it was time and made it possible for the yeses to line up for a number of trained women educators
to become African American clergywomen in the present-day Presbyterian Church (USA).”
To: "Katie Cannon: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 11:18:09 AM
Subject: Re: 40th Ordination Anniversary of African American Presbyterian Clergywomen on April
23rd
I want to thank you and make a point of joining you in the recognition and celebration of the 40th anniversary of the ordination of
women to the Office of Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church. I read your recent note to the Circle of
Elders with a feeling disbelief and astonishment that as late as 1974 well over half of the members of our church were considered
unfit to perform the office of celebrant in Holy Communion because--of all things--their gender!. Amazing! And even more so,
the fact that you are still with us and leading our march to liberation in all areas of life and work--you--the first African American
female and woman of color to be ordained to this basic and essential ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)..
Let the Circle of Elders and all other members of this church take note of these two historical events that have wonderfully
shaped the context and direction of this Protestant communion over the last half century. It is difficult to imagine what the church
would look like today if it had not ordained women to the pastoral ministry. Those of us who have been particularly observant of
the African American constituency and its struggle for freedom and recognition within the Presbyterian and other Protestant
bodies are sure that the ongoing effort for racial justice and ethnic equality would have been practically absent in this
denomination had it not been for the ministry of Elenora Ivory, Diana Givens-Moffett, Delores Williams, Belinda Curry, Clarice
Martin, and so many other Black women clergy who have labored with and for us in the years since your history-making
ordination by the Synod of Catawba in 1974.
We used to say "the women are coming!" No more! The women are here, and they have brought gifts to all Christian churches,
but particularly to Black churches --rural, urban, judicatories, the overseas mission, and the theological academy-- where their
participation and leadership, despite continued gender discrimination and neglect, are so sorely needed today.
We celebrate this 40th Anniversary with you, Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, and all women of the church-particularly those who see the urgency and heed the call to action that John Gloucester felt for a radical urban
ministry in the ghetto of Philadelphia in 1807. Continue, please, to give us your leadership in the more complex and
challenging years of this 21st century!
Gay Wilmore
Washington, DC
SECOND CLERGYWOMAN TO HEAD A TAIWANESE CHURCH
The Installation Service for Annie Kakun Tsai as pastor, The Atlanta Taiwanese Presbyterian
Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia, was held Sunday, March 30, 2014, she is the second female
Taiwanese installed as pastor in a church. The sermon was delivered
by
Mei-Hui
Lai,
Associate, Asian Congregational Support, Louisville, KY, who once had been first female pastor
of a Taiwanese Church in Chicago some twenty years ago. In her message to the congregation,
she pulled from Doug Pagitt’s book, One Size Doesn’t Fit All, in order to encourage the
congregation to team up with the pastor, to try new ways of thinking, and to use its creativity to
share the message for a changing landscape. Charles Easley was part of the presbytery
commission.
Bettie J. Durrah attended the service.
SECOND AFRICAN IMMIGRANT WOMAN ORDAINED IN PC (USA)
Jane Kagia was ordained as a teaching elder as part of the regular 11:00 a.m. worship service at
North Avenue Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia, March 16, 2014. Her call is that of a
chaplain, Care and Counseling Service of Georgia.
A former member of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, Dr. Kagia is a graduate of Johnson
C. Smith Theological Seminary. Many members of the Atlanta Kenyan family were present to
participate in the worship service, in which the second African immigrant clergywoman was to
be ordained in the PC (USA). The first woman teaching elder, Jemimah Ngatia, Presbytery of
Elijah Parish Lovejoy, St. Louis, MO was also present. Sam Atenio, staff, African Immigrant
Ministries, Louisville, KY, brought greetings. The entire service was telecast simultaneously via
Skype back home in Kenya. Of particular note was the ability to see and talk to Jane’s family in
Kenya, especially her mother.
Scott Weiner, Sr. Pastor, North Avenue Church, preached the sermon on “When Families Are
Broken,” from his Lenten Series. Using the promise that came to Nicodemus (John3: 1-17, 21),
the message was that through brokenness, God can heal an individual. “Offer the brokenness
back to God and receive the gift,” he said. When we recognize our brokenness, we receive a gift
from God that changes us. He linked the brokenness with the struggles Jane Kagia had received
in her journey towards ordination. Margaret Aymer (ITC professor) gave the charge to the new
minister, suggesting that the gifts of song and Sankofa should be used often in her new ministry.
Among the other participants were Sheila Louder, Paul Roberts, and Samuel Mwaniki,
Theologian-in Residence, North Avenue, and former head of the Presbyterian Church of East
Africa.
Bettie J. Durrah attended the service.
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Maisha I. Handy, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs/Academic Dean and
Associate Professor of Christian Education, Interdenominational Theological Center, was the
preacher for the Women’s Day Worship Service at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church, Atlanta,
Georgia, May 4, 2014. In her message, “Draw the Line,” (Numbers 27: 1-8), the preacher used
the example of the Five Daughters of Zelophehad, who used their “passive disentrancement to
draw the line together,” and to go to Moses and ask for their inheritance. “If we are going to
move forward,” the preacher said, “God empowers us to draw the line.” As women, she
began by saying that we often forget how to serve ourselves, but God has given us the ability to
“draw the line.”
Thus , Dr. Handy has stepped out and started a new church, Rize
Community Church, registered as one of the 1,001 Worshipping Communities. See article in
this newsletter.
“TRUTH AND JUSTICE GO TOGETHER”
“Truth and justice go together. Justice is permanent; injustice is short-lived,” began Salman
Abu-Sitta, a Palestinian researcher who writes about Palestinian refugees and the Palestinian
right of return to their homeland. This presentation was made during an informal luncheon,
coordinated by Fahed Abu-Akel, April 8, 2014, at Clairmont Presbyterian Church, Decatur.
“Every military hand cannot last very long.” Anyone who knows the facts about Palestine will
be on the side of justice, he said, as he began to talk to over 30 persons from diverse
communities. Over fifty years, Abu Sitta has “collected historical maps, documents, eyewitness
accounts, hard data, in order to categorically disprove much of Israel's claims to Palestine.
Tapping into his knowledge of engineering, Abu Sitta has also outlined a plan for the
Palestinian population to – legally and physically – return to the homes they were expelled
from since 1948.” In fact, he said that he does not count the occupation of his homeland in
1948 by 66 years. By his calculation, it has been 24,064 nights since he could not sleep in his
home. Dr. Salman Abu-Sitta had been making presentations in several states before he came to
Atlanta at the invitation of Fahed Abu-Akel who also carried him to the Carter Center and the
King Center before his overnight flight back to London.
The Palestine occupation is different from other colonial projects, he said because those
colonizers took control of the places, and subsequently left them. The Zionists took over the
land, erased the Palestinian history, and pretended that the people never existed.. In fact, he said
that they “destroyed a treasure of humanity,” and that was not by “divine providence.” They
took the “tool of the great whip of interpretation” to say that there were “no Palestinians” in
the land. The refugees left of their own volition. This information, he said, has become “a staple
of the Zionism narrative to the west.”
“Divine providence cannot support evil; divine providence supports justice,” he maintained.
Dr. Abu-Sitta then related historical facts, using maps and figures, to depict his message, from
the depopulation in al Nakba of 1948, the claiming of land by the French and British, the UN
Partition of Palestine that gave settlers from Europe more than 50% of the land, “forced labor
camps,” refugee camps, to the present day roadblocks. In a map provided by him, he pointed out
how Israelis are allowed to drive unhindered from Tel-Aviv at sea to Jordan River through
Palestinian area, and Palestinians have to go through many roadblocks that take a much longer
period of time.
The challenge, he stated, is “how to reverse the war crime of perpetual ethnic cleansing.” The
two crimes are expulsion of the people, and the denial of the right to return. Much of Israel today
is “empty.” The United States gives 220 billion aid to Israel, and less than 5% of that aid
could be given by the United States to assist the people in returning to their homeland,
according to a plan that he supports.
“Any act of injustice cannot last,” he reiterated as he brought his lecture to a close. “Justice
must prevail. Return is inevitable.
His book, The Return Journey, written in Arabic, English and Hebrew documents much of this
information. Much of the information he shared, Dr. Atta-Sitta reminded the group could be
found on the website of the London-based organization with which he works—Palestinian Land
Society---www.plands.org.
A question and answer session followed. Floyd Rhodes and Bettie J. Durrah were among the
Presbyterians in attendance.
NEWS FROM THE CHAPTERS
SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER
On Sunday,February 23, 2014, the South. Florida chapter of the National Black Presbyterian
Caucus and the black congregations of South Florida gathered at Ascension Peace Presbyterian
Church to celebrate Black History Month. The liturgist for the service was Elder Lillian
Marchel from Ascension. After the opening prayer, we began with the familiar hymn "We've
Come This Far by Faith. One of the highlights of the program was a violin duet by Victoria and
Alexandra Uwechue (see picture above)) entitled "Ode to Joy" that brought everyone to their
feet for a standing ovation.
The remainder of the program was AWESOME with music, poems and special selections by
various members of the caucus and churches and included special selections by the Reverend.
Dr. Raymond Anglin, the Reverend Dr. Arlene Gordon, the Reverend Cecelia Armstrong,
Elder John McDowell, the Instrumental Ensemble by the Ascension Peace Men, Mrs.
Daphne Waiters, and the Ascension Peace Choir. Congregations represented were: Myrtle
Grove, Ascension Peace, New Covenant, All Nations and Grace, Lantana, Florida. A Black
History focus was presented by Miss Asfaneh Taylor, Lillian Marchel and Mrs. Diane
McDowell.
South Florida Chapter President, Elder Janice Henry posed with the National NBPC President,
Arlene Gordon for a photo following the event.(see picture above). –Arlene Gordon
SOUTHEAST REGIONAL MEETING
The Southeast Regional Meeting will be held July 11-13, 2014, Jacksonville, Florida. Registration closes
June 1, 2014. The theme is “Mapping the Route to the Promised Land Using GPS (God Providing
Strength)” Leaders include the following: Ella Busby Oday Mickel, Erica Rembert Smith, Franklin
Colclough, Richard Dozier, and Faye Rivers. A pre-conference dialogue/discussion workshop will be
led by Danny Murphy, Donnie R. Woods, and Melvin Lowry.
Southeast Regional News, continued
Friday night’s worship will be held at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church with Erica Rembert Smith as the
preacher, and Joe Rigsby will serve as the worship leader.
Melva Costen will be the keynote speaker for the Lawrence Bottoms Award Banquet on Saturday
evening, and Ricky Porter will preside.
Registration--$150.00 (Late Registration after June 1, 2014--$160.00)
Youth Member--$100.00
Seminarian Member--$100.00
There are other prices for nonmembers.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CHECK OUT THE REGISTRATION AT the following
address: www.nationalnbpc.org.
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MEMORIAL TRIBUTE…



Maternal grandmother of Jerrod Lowry, Lottie Belton, South Carolina. Mother-in-law
of Melvin Lowry, Mother of Faye Lowry, Jerrod Lowry delivered the eulogy, March
20, 2014.
Sylvia Turner, spouse of Gene Turner, Fayetteville, New York, April 13, 2014
A Memorial Service was held Sunday May 18, 2014, Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church,
Dewitt, New York..
Geraldine Murdock, treasurer, Greater Atlanta Chapter, NBPC, Atlanta, April 15, 2014;
Elder, Westhills Presbyterian Church, Atlanta
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GET WELL WISHES
Dorothy Seabrooks, Detroit, MI, Michigan NBPC Chapter
DATES TO REMEMBER
221st General Assembly, PC (USA), Detroit, MI
Global Consultation-African and African Diasporan
Women in Religion and Theology, Legon, Ghana
Southeast Regional Meeting, NBPC, Jacksonville, FL
Summer Youth Institute, Pittsburgh Theological
Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA
2014 Youth Leadership Development Conference,
Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama
Churchwide Gathering, Presbyterian Women,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
222nd General Assembly, PC (USA), Portland, Oregon
June 14-21, 2014
July 6-12, 2014
July 11-13, 2014
July 12-26, 2014
July 16-19, 2014
July18-21, 2015
June 18-25, 2016
NEWS, NEWS, NEWS
Are you missing any news? Did you share any news to be placed in this issue of the
newspaper?.
The deadline for the August 2014 issue is July 1, 2014. Send your information to the editor,
Bettie J. Durrah, at the following address: [email protected].
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR EACH ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER
www.nationalnbpc.org
7
Arlene Gordon, President, NBPC
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE FOR EACH ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER
www.nationalnbpc.org
Send your NBPC membership in to the following address:
National Black Presbyterian Caucus
PO Box 190006
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33319
[email protected]
Arlene Gordon, President
CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.nationalnbpc.org