18t h an nualo ctober 3 — 9, 2011
Transcription
18t h an nualo ctober 3 — 9, 2011
18TH ANNUAL NATIONAL HOLY CONVOCATION OCTOBER 3—9, 2011 WHAT WE BELIEVE GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS FOR EVERYONE! It is impossible to love each other without a sense of mutual (equal) worth and respect for each other. Romans 13:10 Love worketh no ill to a neighbor: Therefore Love is the fulfilling of the law. 1 John 4:20 It is impossible to Love God, whom we’ve never seen and hate our brothers and sisters whom we see every day. God is neither male nor female; God is spirit and spirit has no gender. Liberation Theology for all, a theology that frees the oppressed, therefore: - Not a male-dominated hierarchy - Not oppressive to women - Not just European in scope - Must relate to People of Color and their various cultures around the world - Not oppressive to Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual people - Allows us to think and discern through human reason and experience - Not oppressive to Native Americans or their spirituality or any other oppressive use of scripture. - We believe in the teachings of Jesus but we do not dismiss all other faiths as wrong or second to our way of believing. God is greater than any religion, denomination or school of thought. God is spirit, alive and at work in the Moslem Mosque, the Jewish Synagogue, the Christian Church and the Tribal Ritual. God is everywhere present. We believe the Bible and all great spiritual writings or guides must be read taking into consideration the time of their writing, the traditions practiced at that time and the fact that we have the right to question and examine all interpretation. A person’s belief system: - Must be supportive of healthy self-acceptance - Must support spiritual growth - Must encourage physical, psychic and mental health Enlightenment and revelation are continuous and did not stop with the Bible Writers CHURCH HISTORY UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT Unity Fellowship Church, Los Angeles (UFCLA) was founded in 1982 by Reverend Carl Bean for openly gay and lesbian African Americans. The first meetings were held in the private residence of Rev. Bean, on Cochran Avenue in Los Angeles. In 1984, a reorganization took place in the last residence of the late Archbishop William Morris O’Neill, located on South Burnside Avenue (also the ordination site of our founder). Weekly Bible studies then moved to the home of Deacon Christine Tripp. UFCLA received its nonprofit status in 1985. The first UFCLA public worship service was at the Cockatoo Inn on Hawthorne Blvd in Inglewood. It was then decided by the membership to move the worship service to a more central location, so that it would be more accessible to those on public transportation. The new location was the Ebony Showcase Theatre on Washington Boulevard , which was an integral part of the culture of the black community. Public worship continued at the Ebony Showcase Theater until 1988. It was then that Unity Fellowship Church purchased its first property, and moved to West Jefferson Boulevard. The Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM) was registered in 1990 as a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, headquartered at the Jefferson Boulevard site. Presently, the UFCM network is far reaching with various national departments, urban outreach ministries, the national mass choir, periodicals and constituency-based programs nationwide. Our Mission The primary work of the UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT (UFCM) is to proclaim the “SACREDNESS OF ALL LIFE”, thus focusing on empowering those who have been oppressed and made to feel shame. Through an emerging international network, the UFCM works to facilitate social change and improve the life chances for those who have been rejected by society’s institutions and systems. Although its pivotal work focuses on the urban weak and powerless, the scope of its work is inclusive and has significance for all people. WE 18TH ANNUAL NATIONAL HOLY CONVOCATION OCTOBER 3 - 9, 2011 HOST HOTEL DOUBLETREE BY HILTON LOS ANGELES WESTSIDE 6161 WEST CENTINELA AVENUE CULVER CITY, CA 90230 UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT NATIONAL DENOMINATION HEADQUARTERS 5147 W. JEFFERSON BOULEVARD LOS ANGELES, CA 90016 ARCHBISHOP CARL BEAN, D.MIN FOUNDER/PRESIDING PRELATE A H E A RT F E LT W E L C O M E - - UFC L OS A NG ELES THE MOTHER CHURCH FAMILY WELCOMES OUR NATIONAL DENOMINATION! FROM THE OFFICE OF ARCHBISHOP CARL BEAN,D.MIN, FOUNDER/PRESIDING PRELATE Dear Unity Family: Welcome! “WE” the Mother Church, Pastoral staff, Deacons, Trustees, Ushers, Choir, Musicians, Audio Visual and Membership...open our hearts and home to you ALL. “WE” need each other more than ever before! Not in a shallow, dismissive way, but earnestly available for one another. Hate crimes are on the rise, new homophobic legislation, economic loss, suicides, feelings of deep despair and loneliness…. Empty religious slogans won’t do!! “WE” must share whatever “WE” have with each other … time, talent, money, food, hugs, kind words, smiles, prayer, encouragement!! Yes… this year, wherever our eyes or thoughts fall… our hearts must register… “WE”. Eternal Love, Archbishop Carl Bean, D.Min Founder and Presiding Prelate Autographed Copies Available During Convocation UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT HOUSE OF BISHOPS ARCHBISHOP CARL BEAN,D.MIN WEST JURISDICTION LOS ANGELES, LONG BEACH, RIVERSIDE, SAN DIEGO SR. BISHOP ZACHARY G. JONES NORTH JURISDICTION NEW YORK,DETROIT, BUFFALO ROCHESTER, BISHOP JACQUELYN HOLLAND MID-ATLANTIC JURISDICTION NEWARK, NEW BRUNSWICK, BALTIMORE, PHILADELPHIA, COLUMBIA BISHOP TONYIA M. RAWLS SOUTH JURISDICTION ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE, CHARLESTON, WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT BOARD OF ELDERS REV. ELDER KEVIN E. TAYLOR UFC NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ MID-ATLANTIC JURISDICTION REV. ELDER HARRIS THOMAS UFC BALTIMORE, MD MID -ATLANTIC JURISDICTION REV. ELDER ANTONIO JONES ATLANTA, GA SOUTH JURISDICTION REV. ELDER BENITA RAMSEY RIVERSIDE, CA WEST JURISDICTION JURISDICTIONS OF UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT West Unity Fellowship Church Los Angeles Archbishop Carl Bean, D.Min , Founder/Pastor 5147 Jefferson Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 938-8322 | www.ufcclosangeles.org Unity Fellowship Church Riverside Rev. Elder Benita Ramsey, Pastor 2025 Chicago Ave., Suite A-20 Riverside, CA 92507 951-848-6070 | www.ufccriverside.org Unity Fellowship Church Long Beach Rev. Carol Jackson, Pastor 717 E. Pacific Coast Highway Long Beach, CA 90806 (562) 489-1017 Unity Fellowship Church San Diego Rev. Gerald Green, Pastor 4241 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92105 (619) 572-9485 JURISDICTIONS OF UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT North Unity Fellowship Church New York, NY Sr. Bishop Zachary G. Jones, Founder Rev. Valerie Holly, Senior Pastor 2578 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11207 718-385-2406 | www.ufcnyc.org Unity Fellowship Church Buffalo, NY Rev. Gerard Williams, Founder/Pastor Worship Services at The Fellowship Christian Center 1420 Main St Buffalo, NY 14209 347-238-9299 | www.unityfellowshipbuffalo.com Unity Fellowship Church Rochester, NY Rev. Alicia Heath-Toby, Pastor 125 Caroline Street (@Lutheran Church of Peace) Rochester, NY 14620 973-476-4061 | www.ufcrochester.org Unity Fellowship Church Detroit Rev. Azuka Milledge, Pastor 4458 Joy Road Detroit, Michigan 48207 (313) 526-1426 | www.ufc-detroit.org JURISDICTIONS OF UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT Mid-Atlantic Unity Fellowship Church Newark, NJ Bishop Jacquelyn Holland, Prelate Rev. Janyce L. Jackson, Pastor 11 Halsey Street Newark, NJ 07102 973-424-9555 | www.litufc.org Unity Fellowship Church New Brunswick, NJ Rev. Elder Kevin E. Taylor, Founder/Pastor 1250 Marigold St North Brunswick, NJ (732) 214-0390 | www.ufccnb.org Unity Fellowship Church Baltimore, MD Rev. Elder Harris Thomas, Founder/Pastor 4077 Old York Road Baltimore, MD 21218 (410) 244-0884 | www.ufcb.org Unity Fellowship Church Philadelphia, PA Rev. Jeff Haskins, Founder/Pastor Services Held at Arch St. United Methodist Church 55 North Broad St Philadelphia, PA 19107 215-222-3180 | www.ufccphiladelphia.org Unity Fellowship Church Columbia, MD Rev. Dorothy Harris, Founder/Pastor 8995 Lambskin Lane Columbia MD 21045 (301) 275—5310 | www.ufccolumbia.org JURISDICTIONS OF UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT South Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte, NC Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls, Founder/Pastor 127 Eastway Drive Charlotte, NC, 27805 704-567-5007 | www.ufccharlotteNC.org Unity Fellowship Church Atlanta, GA Rev. Elder Antonio Jones, Founder/Pastor 9 Gammon Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30315 (404-798-1725 | www.unityfellowshipchurchatl.org Unity Fellowship Church Washington, DC Rev. Abena McCray, Founder/Pastor 502 Rhode Island Ave. NW Washington , DC 20001 (202)238-9322 | www.ufcdc.com Unity Fellowship Church Charleston, SC Rev. Robert Arrington, Founder/Pastor 2810 Ashley Phosphate Rd, Ste B-10 North Charleston, SC 29418 843 767-2795 | www.unityfellowshipchurchcharlestonsc.org A D V E R T I S E M E N T S P E C I A L T H A N K S T O: Photography Credit : Mike Jones — UFCC Los Angeles Program Design/Layout: Anthony Batiste — UFCC Los Angeles Mother Church Support: Joy Ambeau, Rene Barnes, Rev. Russell Thornhill, Rev. Leslie Burke, Rev. Clarence Edwards Life In Color Design Studio—www.lifeincolordesign.com N O T E S N O T E S N O T E S N O T E S UNITY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH MOVEMENT C E L E B R AT I N G 3 0 Y E A R S SOCIAL JUSTICE MINISTRIES OF SEPTEMBER 30 — OCTOBER 7, 2012 RENAISSANCE LONG BEACH HOTEL 111 E. OCEAN BOULEVARD, LONG BEACH, CA 90802-4794 (562) 437-5900 (HOTEL REGISTRATION BEGINS NOVEMBER 4, 2011) ROOM RATE: $115 FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT US ONLINE AT: WWW.UNITYFELLOWSHIPCHURCHMOVEMENT.ORG