December 6-7, 2016 The Chicago Marriott Hotel Naperville, Illinois COMBINED MINUTES The Reverend Dr. Jeffery B. Cooper, CIO/General Secretary Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, President Marriott Hotel Naperville, Illinois PRE-GENERAL BOARD ACTIVITIES MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2016 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. General Board Orientation Ballroom 4 & 5 New and Returning members 8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Nominating Committee ConFerence Room A GENERAL BOARD AGENDA TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. General Board Opening Plenary Session Grand Ballroom Call to Order Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie President Devotion Roll Call Rev. Dr. Jeffery B. Cooper General Secretary/CIO Felicitations Bishop McKinley Young Senior Bishop Bishop John Franklin White President, Council of Bishops and Host Bishop Acknowledgments Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram 1stVice President, General Board 2016-2020 The General Board Agenda GENERAL BOARD MEETING (continued) Approval of Agenda Minutes July 13, 2016, Philadelphia, PA Report of the Nominating Committee Logistics Ms. Anita Rankin Meeting Planner 11:30 – 12:30. Commission Meetings – Session I Ministry and Recruitment Naper 3 Department of Retirement Services Bailey/Hobson Global Development Conference Room C Health Ballroom 6 Commission on Chaplains Conference Room F 12:30 – 2:00 General Board Luncheon Naper 1&2 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Commission Meetings -- Session II Publications Ballroom 6 Global Witness & Ministry Conference Room F Women in Ministry Conference Room C Christian Education Bailey/Hobson Economic Development Naper 3 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. Commission Meetings – Session III Seminaries, Universities, Colleges and Schools Bailey/Hobson Church Growth and Development Ballroom 6 Lay Organization Naper 3 Strategic Planning Committee Conference Room C Social Action Conference Room F 4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Commission Meetings -- Session IV Statistics and Finance Naper 3 7:00 Council of Bishops Service of Worship & Investiture Worship Service Bishop John Franklin White President, Council of Bishops — C — The General Board Agenda 2016-2020 GENERAL BOARD MEETING (continued) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2016 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. AME Board of Trustees Breakfast Conference Room A 9:00 – 12:00 p.m. General Board Plenary Grand Ballroom Call to Order Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie President Devotion Institutional Development Commission Reports Ministry and Recruitment Department of Retirement Services Global Development Health Publications Global Witness and Ministry Women in Ministry (WIM) Christian Education Seminaries, Universities, Colleges & Schools Church Growth and Development Lay Organization Social Action Economic Development Statistics and Finance Other Business Louisiana Flood Report General Conference 2016 AWards Adjournment 12:00 Noon – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon Naper Ballroom 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. General Conference Commission Executive Board Conference Room A 7:00 p.m. Council of Bishops Dinner and Meeting Naper 1 & 2 Council of Bishops Public Statement THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016 8:00 a.m. Council of Bishops Public Statement (if necessary) — D — AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH GENERAL BOARD December 6, 2016 The Chicago Marriott Hotel Naperville, Illinois Minutes Opening Plenary Session Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding CALL TO ORDER Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, President of the General Board, called the session to order at 9:03 a.m. calling on members of the Tenth District to lead devotion. DEVOTION Presiding Elder Mittie Muse, Sr. (10) led, calling on the Reverend Pam Rivira (10) to lead the song “Every Praise”. Prayer was offered by the Reverend Tyronda Burgess (10). The scripture, Mark 11:15-17 by Brother Larry Holley (10). The Reverend Pam Rivira (10) led in singing “Blessed Assurance”. The meditation was brought by the Reverend Roderick Dawson (10). His text was Mark 11:15-17; his title was “Fruitless Worship”. Bishop McKenzie led the body in singing “O Come Let Us Adore Him”. ROLL CALL Bishop McKenzie called on the General Secretary, Dr. Jeffery Cooper, to call the roll (see the roll). Bishop Wilfred Jacobus Messiah noted the presence of Bro. Moses Achola (17) and the absence of Bishop Stafford J.N. Wicker on the African continent. Bishop Samuel Lawrence Green noted Dr. Earnest McNealey is the Interim President of Allen University but will not be present as he is to testify at trial in Charleston, South Carolina. Bishop Daniels stated that Willem Hanse is requesting to be excused to represent his country. Dr. Garland Pierce noted that Mrs. Lyndajo Jones Watson is the new administrator of the Christian Debutante-Master. FELICITATIONS Bishop McKenzie presented Bishop McKinley Young, Senior Bishop, to share words of welcome. She then presented Bishop John Franklin White, President of the Council of Bishops to present the welcome on behalf of the Council of Bishops and the Fourth Episcopal District. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Bishop McKenzie presented Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, First Vice President of the General Board to give acknowledgments. MINUTES Bishop McKenzie presented Dr. Cooper to present the minutes, who moved the July 3, 2016 minutes be approved with any necessary adjustments, seconded by the Reverend Larry M. Banks (12). The motion carried. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Dr Cooper moved for approval of the agenda as presented with any necessary adjustments. Properly seconded, the motion carried. STATEMENT Bishop McKenzie read a statement (see the statement). She requested the church adopt a Public Relations strategy to tell our own story. She presented a video featuring a depiction of the Honorable Nelson Mandela after he assumed the presidency of South Africa, pointing out that all in the room are qualified to do the work needed. There was also a slide presentation (see the slides). Bishop McKenzie proposed the General Board do a self-study. She called for the creation of an Ad-hoc Committee to do the work beginning at this meeting and continuing at all sessions of the General Board during the Quadrennial. The Reverend Henry Allen Belin (at large) moved the General Board engage in a self-study during this Quadrennial composed of appointees of the bishops and General Officers, to meet during the times the General Board meets. Unreadiness: The Reverend Larry Banks (12) asked the financial implications? Bishop McKenzie stated none as the committee meets when the General Board meets. Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield noted that the video was in a language other than American English and offered commendations. Bishop David Rwhynica Daniels Jr. also offered commendations on the presentation. Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram additionally called for a study on the lack of growth of the AME Church. NOMINATING COMMITTEE The Reverend J Edgar Boyd (5) with opening remarks presented Mrs. Valarie Gary Bell (2) to present the report (see the report). During the report, Bishop E. Earl McCloud Jr. explained on behalf of the Fourteenth District he understood that members of the General Board had to be elected delegates to the General Conference by their Districts, so he made changes to reflect that thought. After discussion, Bishop Jeffrey Nathaniel Leath moved the matter of the members of the Fourteenth District be referred to the Executive Committee of the General Board, along with the Nominating Committee and the Bishop of the Fourteenth District to be reported on in tomorrow’s session. Unreadiness: Bishop Daniels noted his remarks were not directed at the bishop of the Fourteenth District. Point of Information: Mrs. Valarie Bell (2) wanted to confirm that the Executive Committee not yet voted on will be the one to meet. Bishop Leath responded there is a protocol in place to change names in the case of death that can be used. Bishop McKenzie ruled the motion and the second is for the Fourteenth District exclusively. After additional statements by Bishop Daniels the motion carried. At the naming of the Lay Commission Mr. Willie Glover, Connectional Lay President, noted the lack of ministers on the Lay Commission. Mrs Bell (2) stated the addition of the Reverend Henry Allen Belin, (At Large), and that there will be a supplemental report. At the naming of the Economic Development Commission the Reverend Natalie Mitchem (Executive Director, Health Commission) noted that at the last General Board meeting the Board, at the request of Bishop Messiah, assigned Bishop Messiah to Economic Development and Bishop Harry Seawright to the Health Commission. Bishop McKenzie referred to the Bishops who will report. The Reverend Boyd (5) requested permission for the Nominating Committee to return later with a supplemental report on the Health Commission and Economic Development Commission assignments, the matter of the Fourteenth District and the clergy for the Lay Commission. Mr. Reginald B. McGill (11) moved the acceptance of the report except for the three items presented, seconded by Ms. Stephanie Burks (8). The motion carried. LOGISTICS Bishop McKenzie noted a resolution for a call for prayer has been received by the chair to be presented at the next plenary session. Ms Anita Rankin (meeting planner) gave the logistics. ANNOUNCEMENTS Bishop Frank Madison Reid III stated that at 2:00 pm the bishops are to meet on a conference call with Senator Feinstein to ascertain thoughts relative to her congressional committee. Bishop Young presented the President of Wilberforce University to greet the body who noted Wilberforce is one of 23 schools to receive a million-dollar grant from the United Negro College Fund. Ms Anita Rankin added Christian Education will meet 2:15-3:15 pm in Bailey-Hobson. Bishop White stated worship will be at the St John AME Church in Aurora, Illinois. Transportation will be provided. Bishop McKenzie announced the Sixth District will meet in the corner stage right. The Eleventh District will meet in the back stage left. The First District will meet stage right. The Nominating Committee will meet at the front. She offered prayer for various bishops, clergy and laity.