Eighth Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church
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Eighth Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church February 12-13, 2021 The Right Reverend Julius Harrison McAllister, Sr., Presiding Prelate Mother Joan Marla McAllister, Episcopal Supervisor Our Episcopal Leaders The Right Reverend Julius H. McAllister, Sr. Mother Joan M. McAllister God our Father Christ our Redeemer The Holy Spirit our Comforter Humankind our Family Founder’s Day Celebration Schedule Friday, February 12, 2021 1:00 P.M. Presiding Elders Meet with Bishop 7:00 P.M. Worship Celebration The Right Reverend Stafford J. N. WiCker, PreaChing Presiding Prelate, Eighteenth Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church Saturday, February 13, 2021 8:45 A.M. Devotion North Mississippi Conference 9:00 A.M. Greetings Bishop & Supervisor McAllister 9:10 A.M. – 10:10 A.M. Plenary Session I Moderator: Reverend Glenell Lee Pruitt, Ph.D. Topic: “Transition Points in AME ChurCh” Presenter: The Reverend Dennis C. Dickerson, Ph.D. Respondent: Reverend Earl Robinson 10:10 A.M. – 10:15 A. M. Break 10:15 A.M. – 11:15 A.M. Plenary Session II Moderator: Reverend Earl Robinson Topic: “History & Transition Platforms for the AME ChurCh Future” Presenter: The Reverend Dennis C. Dickerson, Ph.D. Respondent: Reverend Glenell Lee Pruitt, Ph.D. God our Father Christ our Redeemer The Holy Spirit our Comforter Humankind our Family 11:20 – 12:00 P.M. Plenary Session III Moderator: Reverend Glenell Lee Pruitt, Ph.D. Topic: “Staying Healthy in the Age of Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccine” Presenter: The Reverend Stephanie Taylor, MD Respondent: Reverend Earl Robinson 12:00 – 12:05 P.M. Offering 12:05 – 12:30 P.M. Commissioning Service Reading of Appointments Benediction God our Father Christ our Redeemer The Holy Spirit our Comforter Humankind our Family Founder’s Day Weekend Celebration The Opening Worship Celebration Friday, February 12, 2021 7:00 p.m. The Reverend MiChele R. Goodloe, Worship Leader The Doxology “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow” Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. The Call to Worship The Reverend Michele R. Goodloe Brother Melvin Davis The Worship through Music The Choir The Prayer of Invocation and Intercessory The Reverend Charles Cotton The Scripture Lessons: The Old Testament The Reverend William Hardiman, Jr. The Epistle The Reverend Bland Washington The Gospel The Reverend Richard Starks, Sr. The Worship Through Music The Choir The Founder’s Day Litany The Reverend Archie R. Smith Sister Brenda G. Hurst The Presentation of the Bishop The Reverend Ray Jackson The Presentation of the Preacher The Right Reverend Julius H. McAllister, Sr. The Worship Through Music The Choir God our Father Christ our Redeemer The Holy Spirit our Comforter Humankind our Family The Founder’s Day Message The Right Reverend Stafford J. N. Wicker Presiding Prelate, Eighteenth Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church The Invitation to Christian Discipleship The Reverend Otis S. Lewis, Sr. The Worship Through Music The Choir The Offering Appeal The Reverend Gwendolyn Snearl The Offering Prayer The Reverend Gwendolyn Snearl The Remarks/Announcements The Right Reverend Julius H. McAllister, Sr. The Closing Prayer & The Benediction The Reverend Dianne J. Banks God our Father Christ our Redeemer The Holy Spirit our Comforter Humankind our Family The Commissioning Service Bishop Julius H. McAllister, Sr. The Hymn, No. 242 “A Charge to Keep I Have” 1. A charge to keep I have, A God to glorify, A never dying soul to save and fit it for the sky. 2. To serve the present age, my calling to fulfill; O may it all my powers engage to do my Master’s will. The Prayer for Guidance The Reading of the Scripture Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3) Go you, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” The Hymn, No. 220 “Go, Preach My Gospel” 1. “Go, preach my gospel,” saith the Lord. “Bid the whole earth my grace Receive. Explain to them my sacred words; Bid them believe, obey and live. 2. “I’ll make my great commission known, and ye shall prove my gospel true. By all the works that I have done, and all the wonders ye shall do. 3. “Go, heal the sick, go, raise the dead; Go, cast out devils in My name; Nor let my prophets be afraid, Tho’ some reproach and some blaspheme 4. “While thus ye follow my commands, I’m with you till the world shall end; all power is trusted in my hand; I can destroy and can defend.” 5. He spake, and light shone round His head, on a bright cloud to heaven He rose. They to the farthest nation spread the grace of their ascended God. The Reading of Appointments The Benediction The Right Reverend Julius H. McAllister, Sr. About Our Preacher … The Rt. Reverend Dr. Stafford J.N. Wicker The Right Reverend Stafford Joe Nathan Wicker is the 137th elected and consecrated Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bishop Wicker’s was assigned to the 18th Episcopal District which consists of the following countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Swaziland at the 50th Q uadrennial Session of the General Conference. He is an advocate for social justice, economic empowerment and professional development. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio. After graduation in 1982 from Wilberforce University, he received his first pastoral appointment from Bishop Donald George Kenneth Ming where a new church was constructed at Turner Chapel AME Church in Roseland, LA. He earned the Masters of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry from Turner Theological Seminary. His doctoral dissertation was on “How the Local A.M.E. Church Congregations Can Engage Community with HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention”. In 1987, he was appointed to the Toomsboro Circuit in the Augusta Annual Conference by Bishop Frederick Hilborn Talbot. In 1988, he served as Pastor of the Mt. Zion AME Church in Mansfield, GA. During his tenure there, the debt was liquidated and a bank relationship was set for new renovations. The congregation for the first time in its history began to worship every Sunday instead of two Sundays a month. In 1990, he was appointed by Bishop John Hurst Adams to the Mt. Carmel AME Church in Atlanta, GA. The membership was 80 upon arrival with annual giving of $65,000. Upon departure, the membership was 135 with annual giving of $103,000. We set in motion and completed installation of a new 50-car parking lot. The HVAC systems were installed throughout the church. In 1992, Bishop Wicker was moved to the Antioch AME Church in Decatur, GA. There were 155 members with an $84,000 operational budget and a 1.8 acre lot where there was a beautiful church building. In 1995, the late Bishop Ming led the way to accomplish the largest AME church acquisition in the amount of $1.1 million at the time of purchase. Today, the operating budget stands at $1.6 million with a membership of 2200 and 84 acres of landholdings. In 1998, the Antioch Community Development Corporation was developed for the purpose of economic and community development in the state of Georgia. In year 2000, 32 acres was purchased for this vision. In 2005, the Antioch Manor Estates was developed at a cost of $14.3 million. In 2010, the Antioch Gardens and Villas were developed at a cost of $13.7 million. The Antioch Summits is being developed at a cost of $16 million. In 2007 a third church campus was acquired in Conyers, GA. giving Antioch the distinction of owning and controlling 84 acres of land. This project has a total value of $48 million. Bishop Stafford Wicker and Episcopal Supervisor, the Rev. Dr. Constance Wicker are the proud parents of two daughters, Valencia M. Wicker and Lauren M. Wicker. About Our Presenter … REVEREND DENNIS C. DICKERSON, Ph.D. is a Retired General Officer in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is the Reverend James M. Lawson Chair in History at Vanderbilt University. He is a native of Duquesne, Pennsylvania where he was nurtured at Payne Chapel AME Church. He is the fourth and youngest son of Carl and Oswanna Dickerson, both deceased. He earned the B. A. from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, the M.A. and Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, and the M.Div. from Vanderbilt University. Also, he studied at Hartford Seminary and Memphis Theological Seminary. Previously, he taught as Stanfield Professor of History at Williams College, First Tennessee Professor of History at Rhodes College, and as a Visiting Professor both at Yale Divinity School and at Payne Theological Seminary. In Spring 2014 he was a Siemens Fellow at the American Academy in Berlin. He was ordained an itinerant elder in the New York Annual Conference and served as pastor to three congregations including Second Congregational Church in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (on loan from the AME Church), Payne AME Church in Chatham, New York, and St. Mark AME Church in Munford, Tennessee. He was elected and reelected as a General Officer between 1988 and 2012 serving as Historiographer/Executive Director of the Department of Research & Scholarship and Editor of the AME CHURCH REVIEW.