Title: National Convocation recognizes three with Liberation Awards
Date: August 20, 1998
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: news@cm.disciples.org
98b-50
LEXINGTON, Ky. (DNS) -- A Chicago laywoman and two retired Disciples ministers were recognized during the National Convocation for their commitment to African American ministries in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Approximately 800 persons attended the 15th biennial session, held Aug. 7-11, here.
Liberation Awards were presented Aug. 9 to Sybel Thomas of Chicago, and the Revs. William W. Hannah, Indianapolis, and K. David Cole, Kansas City, Mo. Thomas is a former president of the fellowship for African American Disciples. Hannah is a former associate general minister and administrative secretary of the National Convocation.
A member of Park Manor Christian Church, Thomas was cited as an "effective enabler of Disciples women." She is a past officer with the World and International Christian Women's Fellowships and served on the executive committee of Church Women United. Thomas was second vice moderator of the General Assembly in 1969. She currently is a trustee of the Disciples Divinity House, University of Chicago, and serves on the Division of Overseas Ministries board of directors and the General Nominating Committee.
Hannah is the retired senior minister of Faith United Christian Church, Indianapolis. He was celebrated as an "effective black liberation advocate" in the denomination. The West Virginia native formerly served as evangelism executive with the Division of Homeland Ministries. Prior to that, he was the founder and pastor of Fifth Christian Church, Cleveland, Ohio.
Cole recently retired as senior minister of Swope Parkway United Christian Church in Kansas City. Attendees honored him as an "advocate for diversity and reconciliation" in the Disciples of Christ. The longtime pastor also has served churches in Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas. He was moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from 1989 to 1991.
In other business, the group installed new leaders for 1998-2000 and refined its strategic plan. Eldredge Williams, a Memphis, Tenn., layperson and member of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, was elected president. The Rev. LaTaunya Bynum, pastor of Broad Street Christian Church, Columbus, Ohio, was elected vice president. Other officers include the Rev. Eric Cole, Cary, N.C., secretary, and Constance Nealey, Birmingham, Ala., treasurer.
The biennial session discussed 10 critical issues related to its Vision for Vital Mission and Ministry plan, adopted in 1996. Small groups offered suggestions addressing spiritual disciplines, racism and racial diversity, Christian education, ministry to families, youth and young adults, evangelism, ministerial recruitment and ethics, and women in ministry.
"Racism is a structural problem," said General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm. As a means of eradicating racism from church structures, the various expressions are beginning "anti-racism, pro-diversity training," he added.
He believes this process will help the Disciples of Christ embody "deep Christian spirituality, true community and a passion for justice."
During the meeting, African American Disciples gave $2,628.83 to support Reconciliation, the denomination's ministry to combat racism. Those contributions will help "bring racism to a complete stop!" according to the Rev. L. Wayne Stewart, administrative director.
In a "State of the Black Church" address, the Rev. John R. Foulkes said the vision plan will help the denomination see that "we are gifts of God, not mere recipients of this culture's generosity," He reminded the listeners that they are members of a church which gathers at one "manifestational table."
The administrative secretary of the National Convocation challenged them to remember they are members of one church, "not a federation of constituents" and to "own decisions made at the table."
Karen Baker-Fletcher, Bible lecturer for the event, called for attendees to live in the present. "We're called to live in this life," said the associate professor at Claremont (Calif.) School of Theology. "We're not called to live a living death."
For Baker-Fletcher, successfully living in the present means taking care of our bodies and the earth. "We are people of dust and spirit," she said, urging the audience "to respect our bodies and the creation as belonging to God."
The Rev. Alvin Jackson encouraged church members to live with integrity. "What's your story?" he asked during the Aug. 9 Convocation banquet. "This is a time for introspection and personal examination," said the senior minister of National City Christian Church, Washington, D.C.
In an address that was part confessional, Jackson spoke of his own experience heading the 8,000-member Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, Memphis. He said there were areas of ministry he could have improved upon during a successful pastorate there.
Nevertheless, he urged the congregation to "own the bad chapters you've already written," while putting the past behind. "I'm trying to move beyond success to significance," he said.
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