October 19-22, 2017 St. John AME Church 1822 Formosa St, Nashville, Tennessee 37208 Jeffrey N. Leath Presiding Bishop Susan J. Leath, MD Supervisor, Women s Missionary Society The Reverend Troy Merritt Host Presiding Elder, Nashville District The Reverend Dr. Darryl Ingram Associate Presiding Elder, North Nashville District The Reverend Sidney Bryant Associate Presiding Elder, South Nashville District The Reverend Dr. Ralph Johnson Host Pastor
19 October 2017 Host Presiding Elder and Mrs. Merritt, Presiding Elder and Mrs. Ingram, Presiding Elder and Mrs. Bryant, Host Pastor and Mrs. Johnson, Clergy, Laity and Friends of the 150th Session of the Tennessee Annual Conference, We greet you with the Grace and Peace of Jesus, who sends us to preach justice in the land! Praise God for the loyal clergy and laity who labor daily for the mission of Christ and the work of the church. For over 150 years God has blessed African Methodism to be a light of dignity and hope. Thanks to St John, Payne Chapel, Greater Bethel, and Lee Chapel for your hospitality. We appreciate your preparations to accommodate this session. Special thanks to Pastor Ralph Johnson as he leads and encourages the flock of Christ. This year our theme is Pursuing Criminal Justice. It is often easy to accuse and convict, without compassion, those who hurt and offend. Without law and order our society will not be conducive to life, liberty and happiness. The cry for criminal justice is an appeal for fairness in the administration of justice and commitment to help restore broken lives as they emerge from institutions of correction. It is also an opportunity to pray for healing and hope for those whose lives have been disrupted by evil and violence. Give us, TODAY, Lord, our daily provision! Tennessee has some great partners who advocate for criminal justice. It is time for more of us to join with them. Let us display our faith in a God who provides. Our discipleship should reflect confidence in God who avenges injustice and delivers hope and peace. Justice is our calling because faith is our foundation. WE trust God! Dr. Susan joins me in prayer for a wonderful annual conference. Be refreshed in the Holy Spirit. Be empowered by faith to serve the cause of justice with love. Faithfully, Jeffrey N. Leath
ANNUAL CONFERENCE AGENDA 150th SESSION of THE TENNESSEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE Thursday Day One 8:00 am - 5:00 pm WMS Annual Day (St. John 1822 Formosa) 7:30 pm OPENING WORSHIP (Payne Chapel, 212 Neill Ave) Roll Call to follow Worship Friday Day Two (Lee Chapel, 1200 Dr. D. B. Todd) 8:45 am Devotions 9:00 am BUSINESS SESSION I Organization Board of Examiners PE Report Pastor Reports 11:15 am MEMORIAL SERVICE 11:30 am MIDDAY DEVOTION 12:00 pm LUNCH (Meeting for MSWAWO & WIM) 2:00 pm BUSINESS SESSION II Pastor Reports Chaplain Reports 2:45 pm BUSINESS SESSION III Committee Reports 13th District Budget 13th District Audit Conference Trustees Treasurer s Report Missions, Circuits and Stations Pastor & Charge Classification Budget Committee PE Support 4:15 pm BUSINESS SESSION IV Christian Stewardship Social Action CDMC Christian Education Church School M-SWAWO Evangelism Lay MCAM (Music) RAYAC Sons of Allen 2
WIM WMS YPD 5:30 pm DINNER/BREAK 7:00 pm RETIREMENT SERVICE (Greater Bethel, 1300 South St.) 7:30 pm ORDINATION/COMMUNION Bishop Clement W. Fugh, Preaching (Greater Bethel, 1300 South St.) Saturday Day Three (Lee Chapel, 1200 Dr. D. B. Todd) 8:30 am Devotions & Church School Lesson 9:00 am YPD/RAYAC PRESENTATION 10:10 am BUSINESS SESSION V Minutes Ministerial Efficiency 10:30 am Health & Wellness Committee 10:45 am Literary Committee Reports State of the Country State of the Church 11:30 am BUSINESS SESSION VI District Reports Camp Primm Simmons Believe Report & Presentation 1:00 pm Lunch Summaries & New Organization Finance Committee Elect Conference Trustees Appoint District Trustees Believe Board Reps Statistician s Report Ministerial Efficiency Ministerial Training Disciplinary Questions 3:00 pm 150 th ANNIVERSARY SERVICE (St. John, 1822 Formosa) Dr. Jayme Coleman Williams, Speaker 5:30 pm BUSINESS SESSION VII (if needed) Sunday Closing Day (Greater Bethel, 1300 South St.) 11:00 am RESOLUTION CLOSING WORSHIP SERVICE Appointments 3
TENNESSEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PASTORS & DELEGATES NASHVILLE DISTRICT Church Pastors (The Reverend) Delegates Payne Chapel, Nashville W. Antoni Sinkfield James Floyd St. John, Nashville Dr. Ralph Johnson Margaret Jarrett Kairos Community, Nashville Garrett Copeland Gloria Reese Scotts Chapel, Hermitage Frederick L. Jenkins, Sr. Reginald Sadler St. Matthew, Nashville Reginald Brock Linda Bailey St. Luke, Gallatin Anthony Thomas Shirley Timberlake Smith Chapel, Bethpage Fred Beasley William Fuqua St. Luke, Nashville Dr. Barbara Crawford Keith Pitts St. Paul, Nashville Andre Washington Shirley Wylie New Salem, Nashville Anica Howard JoAnn Millon St. Phillip, Nashville Joe T. Southall Carolyn Snorton Ebenezer, Nashville Wanda Payne Josephine Jackson St. Peter, Nashville Nathan Frey William Posey St. James, Nashville Omaràn D. Lee Esther Gardner Green Chapel, Hartsville Marlan Crawford Grace Moreland Winters Chapel, Lebanon Sonya Brown DeLoatch Audrey Rhodes Howard Chapel, Hartsville Albert Strawther Jr. Beverly McCadden Mt. Olive, Lebanon Barry Cox Cynthia Herron Turner Chapel, Carthage Albert Strawther Jr. James King NORTH NASHVILLE DISTRICT Church Pastors (The Reverend) Delegates Lee Chapel, Nashville Harold M. Love, Jr. Tracey Bradford St. Peter, Clarksville Lisa Hammonds Capri Griffey-Elliott Greater Ebenezer, Clarksville Alexander Gatson Faye Perkins Burks Chapel, Paducah, KY Babydoll Kennedy Linda Bell St. Paul, Oakwood Jeffery Norfleet Sr. Melissa Eldridge Martin Chapel, Clarksville Sherri Cowley Scott Geraldine Keesee Salter's Chapel, Waverly Everett Hobson Kris Pearson St. John, Paducah James Bolen Candy Morris St. John, Springfield Donald Williams Tenille Chatman St. James, Dickson Vivian Canty Donna Holt-Pollard First AME, Pegram Linda Brown-Saffore Michelle Gordon St. James, Mayfield Rita Story Laurie Runnells St. Luke, Erin Cedric Bailey Linda Owens McGavock Chapel, Charlotte Benessa Perkins Sweat Joel Wicks Sulphur Spring, Cunningham Anthony Lyle Sr. Sherry Washington Mt. Zion, Charlotte Frankie Witt, Sr. Effie Haynes St. James, Pryorsburg Donna Lorhorn Wanda Morris St. Matthew, Clarksville Deshnell Cobbin Darlene Page St. Paul, Ashland City Verissa Williams James Taylor Moore's Chapel, Clinton Raymond Corbin Cindy Schrag 4
TENNESSEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PASTORS & DELEGATES SOUTH NASHVILLE DISTRICT Church Pastors (The Reverend) Delegates Greater Bethel, Nashville Walter W. Reid, Jr. Linda Faye Bentley St. Paul, Columbia Dennis D. Lawson I Tammy Robinson Allen Chapel, Murfreesboro Jimmie L. Plummer Phil Sanders Wayman Chapel, Columbia Victor Goodman James Caruthers Woodfolk Chapel, Shelbyville Randall L. Webster Bonita Stewart Bethel AMEC, Columbia Trent Ogilvie Stephanie Baxter Webb Grove, Murfreesboro LaVan Strickland Marie Butler Shorter Chapel, Franklin Dr. Kenneth H. Hill Carol Greenlee Mullin Chapel, Shelbyville Chris Grizzard Allie DaShields Jones Chapel, Mt. Pleasant Sharon Ogilvie Fannie Wells Canaan, Columbia Dr. James McKissack Allen-Bethel, Lewisburg James Scruggs Phillip Hightower Claiborn Chapel, Williamsport Linda Hopkins Jeff Cathey St. Matthew, Cornersville Ashley Cox Will Marsh Hopewell, Columbia Patti Hardimon Inez Beasley Robert's Chapel, Linden Veronica Dailey Luther Jones New Bethel, Murfreesboro Kenneth Odom Cleo Martin Mt. Zion, Centerville Talvin Barner Frankye Ward 5
TENNESSEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEES PUBLIC WORSHIP Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath, Presiding Elders Troy Merritt, Jr., Sidney F. Bryant, and Dr. Daryl B. Ingram, the Reverend Dr. Ralph Johnson MEMORIAL The Reverends Anthony Lyle, Sr., Vivian Canty, Deshnell Cobbin, Ashley Cox, Sharon Ogilvie, Raymond Corbin, Frankie Witt, Sr., and Rita Story, Sisters Esther Gardner, Cynthia Herron, Cleo Martin, and Linda Bell, Brothers Jeff Cathey, James Floyd, and Luther Jones MEDIA/PUBLIC RELATIONS The Reverends Dr. Ralph Johnson, Benessa Perkins Sweat, Harold Love, Jr., Trent Ogilvie, and Andre Washington, Sisters Capri Griffey-Elliott, Donna Holt Pollard, Fanny Wells, Tammy Robinson, Margaret Jarrett, and Laurie Runnells, Brother Will Marsh MISSIONS, CIRCUITS AND STATIONS The Reverends LaVan Strickland, Fred Beasley, Donald Williams, Linda Brown-Saffore, James Scruggs, Anthony Thomas, Barry Cox, Omaràn Lee, Wanda Payne, Albert Strawther, Rita Story, and James Bolen, Sisters Inez Beasley, Josephine Jackson, Carolyn Snorton, Frankye Ward, and Kris Pearson, Brothers William Posey, Phil Sanders, and Joel Wicks CLASSIFICATION OF PASTORS AND CHARGES The Reverends Anica Howard, Nathan Frey, Linda Hopkins, Jeffery Norfleet, Sr., and Sharon Ogilvie, Sisters Stephanie Baxter, Effie Haynes, Beverly McCadden, Gracie Moreland, Marie Butler, Sherry Washington and Tennille Chatman, Brothers William Posey and Keith Pitts BUDGET The Reverends W. Antoni Sinkfield, Everett Hobson, Chris Grizzard, Frederick Jenkins, Dr. Ralph Johnson, Jimmie Plummer, Donna Lorhorn, and Marlon Crawford, Sisters Tracey Bradford, Candy Morris, Cindy Schrag, and Dr. Gloria Reese, Brothers James Floyd, and Phillip Hightower PRESIDING ELDERS SUPPORT The Reverends Walter Reid, Jr., Reginald Brock, Alexander Gatson, Dennis Lawson, I, W. Antoni Sinkfield, Babydoll Kennedy, and Randall Webster, Sisters Donna Holt-Pollard, Sister Melissa Eldridge, and Linda Faye Bentley, Brother Reginald Sadler 6
SOCIAL ACTION The Reverends Harold Love, Jr., Linda Brown-Saffore, Omaràn Lee, and Trent Ogilvie, Sisters Stephanie Baxter, Carol Greenlee, Shirley Timberlake, Faye Perkins, and Dr. Gloria Reese, Brothers James King, Keith Pitts, William Fuqua, and James Caruthers COMMITTEE ON STEWARDSHIP AND TITHING The Reverends Anthony Thomas, Vivian Canty, Frederick Jenkins, and Anthony Lyle, Sr., Sisters Beverly McCadden, Carol Greenlee, JoAnn Millon, Margaret Jarrett, Linda Bailey, Linda Faye Bentley, Geraldine Keesee, Wanda Morris, Allie DaShields, and Bonita Stewart RESOLUTIONS The Reverends Ashley Cox, Sherri Cowley Scott, Frankie Witt, Sr., Cedric Bailey, Sonja DeLoatch, and Talvin Barner, Sisters Carolyn Snorton, and Darlene Page, Brother James Taylor STATE OF THE CHURCH The Reverends Babydoll Kennedy, Barry Cox, Dr. Kenneth Hill, Chris Grizzard, Garrett Copeland, Kenneth Odom, Deshnell Cobbin, Joe Southall, Audrey Rhodes, Shirley Wylie, Josephine Jackson, and Michelle Gordon STATE OF THE COUNTRY The Reverends Randall Webster, Fred Beasley, Victor Goodman, Veronica Dailey, Albert Strawther, Linda Brown-Saffore, Dr. James McKissack, LaVan Strickland, and Verissa Williams, Sisters Esther Gardner, Marie Butler, Darlene Page, and Linda Owens 7
TENNESSEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE PREACHERS & SPEAKER Bishop Clement W. Fugh 131st Elected & Consecrated Bishop of the AME Church Presiding Prelate, 5th Episcopal District AME Church Ordination/Communion Preacher Bishop Clement W. Fugh, is the Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District of the AME Church. He earned degrees at Memphis State University (BBA in Economics and Finance), Boston University School of Theology (ThM in Pastoral Care), with additional studies at Atlanta University, Payne Theological Seminary, Memphis Theological Seminary, and United Theological Seminary (DMin as an H. Beecher Hicks Scholar ). Bishop Fugh, an ordained elder, has served as pastor of congregations in Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio. He led Greater Bethel AME Church, Nashville, TN, in the erection of a state of the art multipurpose worship and service center, fulfilling a thirty year dream of that congregation. At the 46th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference of the AME Church, held in July 2000, he was elected as its 5th General Secretary and Chief Information Officer. At the 49th General Conference, held in 2012, he was elected and consecrated the 131st Bishop of the AME Church. He was assigned general superintendent of the 14th Episcopal District, comprised of seven West African countries. In 2016 he was assigned presiding bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District covering fourteen states from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Among his significant accomplishments are: Secretary, Commission on Worship and Liturgy for the AME Church, which was responsible for producing and publishing the Bicentennial Hymnal and The AME Church Book of Worship; Secretary, Compilation Committee, The Doctrine and Discipline of the AME Church, 1988; Member, Core Strategic Planning Committee for the AME Church; Member, Editing and Correcting Committee, The Doctrine and Discipline of the AME Church, editions 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012; Secretary, Board of Trustees, Payne Theological Seminary; Contributor to Liberation and Unity, a COCU sponsored devotional; African American Devotional Bible; and The Pastor s Manual for the Twenty-First Century. 8
Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams Retired General Officer 150th Anniversary Celebration Preacher Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams, a retired General Officer, is a daughter of the 13th Episcopal District. Williams grew up in Kentucky and earned her BA with honors in English from Wilberforce University in 1938. The following year, she received an MA in English from Fisk University. Over the next twenty years, Williams taught at four AME colleges-edward Waters College, Shorter College, Morris Brown College and Wilberforce University. In 1959, she completed her PhD in speech communication at the Ohio State University and that fall joined the faculty of Tennessee State University. She became a full professor of communications and in 1973 took over as head of the department, serving in that capacity until her retirement in 1987. At the same time that her academic career took off, Williams began to ascend the leadership ranks of the AME Church. She served as a delegate to the AME General Conference in 1964 and became a board member of the National Council of Churches in 1968. From 1976 to 1984, she was an alternate member of the AME Church's Judicial Council. In addition Williams served as President of the 13th District Lay Organization from 1977 until 1985. At the 1984 General Conference, Williams was named editor of The AME Church Review, the oldest African American literary journal. She was the first woman named a General Officer where she held that post for eight years. Williams also has paved the way for others in the AME, helping Vashti McKenzie win election as the first female AME Bishop. During her forty-five years in Nashville, Williams was active in her community, serving on several interdenominational organizations, community groups and civic committees. She worked as a member of the NAACP's Executive Committee and in 1999 received the organization's Presidential Award. 9
The Reverend W. Antoni Sinkfield Payne Chapel AME Church, Nashville, Tennessee Opening Worship Service Preacher The Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield is a native of the city of Nashville, Tennessee. After graduating from high school, Rev. Sinkfield continued his studies at the Tennessee Technological University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Business Marketing. He later earned the Masters of Divinity Degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School. He has continued his Doctoral studies at United Seminary; Oral Roberts University; Asbury Seminary as a Beeson Pastor Scholar; and Union University as a PhD. Candidate. Rev. Sinkfield has served on the ministerial staffs of Bethel AME Church in Hampton, VA and Payne Chapel AME Church in Nashville, TN. He has also served as the pastor of Mount Olive AME Church in Lebanon, TN, St. James AME Church in Dickson, TN, United AME Church in Xenia, OH, Bishops Memorial AME Church in Columbia, SC, and St. John AME Church and Greater Bethel AME Churches in Nashville, TN. From 2012 2014, Rev. Sinkfield served as the Presiding Elder of the North Nashville District (exercising jurisdictional super-intendency over 27 congregations in the Northern Middle Tennessee area). He has also served as the Dean of Students for Allen University. Rev. Sinkfield is currently serving as the very proud and productive Pastor of Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashville, TN. He works diligently in the arena of community development and empowerment serving on many boards and committees throughout the city of Nashville. Rev. Sinkfield has been privileged to preach and teach throughout the world. He travels extensively and conducts scores of crusades and revivals in churches across the country and internationally. He is also sought as a lecturer and panel participant on many college campuses and community organizations to address the pertinent and imperative issues of our day. He has had articles and sermons published in the A.M.E. Review and The Secret Chamber of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, as well as in the Seedbed Preaching Collective. 10
The Reverend Sherri Cowley Scott Martin Chapel AME Church, Clarksville, Tennessee Spiritual Renewal Preacher The Reverend Sherri Cowley Scott is the pastor of Martin Chapel AME Church in Clarksville. She is a 2010 graduate of Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio, where she received her Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Presently, she is on hold at Asbury Theological Seminary, pursuing her Doctor of Ministry (DMin) in Preaching & Leading: Shaping Prophetic Communities. An Itinerant Elder, Rev. Sherri accepted the Call to the ministry in April 2002; has pastored St. Paul AME Church, Woodburn, KY; St. Matthews Chapel AME Church, Clarksville, TN; Hills Chapel AME and St. John AME Churches, in Paducah, KY, prior to pastoring at Martin Chapel. She is former Dean of the West Kentucky Annual Conference Board of Examiners, Coordinator of the WKY Women in Ministry, Annual Conference Engrossing Secretary, and member of the Judicial Committee. She currently serves as Coordinator for the Tennessee Annual Conference Women in Ministry and is the 2017 Outstanding Pastor of the Year, representing the TN Conference Lay Organization. Rev. Sherri is the Founder and CEO of The POWER of One, a survivor empowerment ministry for those impacted by sexual abuse and/or domestic violence; in addition to her secular job as D&E Administrative Coordinator at the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. Rev. Sherri is a servant leader. For years, she and her family sponsored an Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Clarksville cooking, serving and delivering meals for hundreds of residents raising money to help offset electric bills of single mothers, scholarships for high school graduates, and purchasing hymnals for her home church, Greater Ebenezer. She helped coordinate efforts for a Women/Girls HIV-AIDS Awareness Seminar, with free HIV/AIDS testing, speakers and educators; as well as coordinating the Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS. While all these accolades and accomplishments are notable and sound significant, what Rev. Sherri would REALLY like you to know about her is she is a Child of the King. She has a heart for God s people and desires to be of assistance; to encourage and advocate wherever there is a bowed-down head; a lonely spirit or someone feeling vulnerable, invisible, and unloved. 11
Nashville District Payne Chapel, Nashville St. John, Nashville Kairos Community, Nashville Scotts Chapel, Hermitage St. Matthew, Nashville St. Luke, Gallatin Smith Chapel, Bethpage St. Luke, Nashville St. Paul, Nashville New Salem, Nashville St. Phillip, Nashville Ebenezer, Nashville St. Peter, Nashville St. James, Nashville Green Chapel, Hartsville Winters Chapel, Lebanon Howard Chapel, Hartsville Mt. Olive, Lebanon Turner Chapel, Carthage PASTOR APPOINTMENTS North Nashville District Lee Chapel, Nashville St. Peter, Clarksville Greater Ebenezer, Clarksville Burks Chapel, Paducah St. Paul, Oakwood Martin Chapel, Clarksville Salter's Chapel, Waverly St. John, Paducah St. John, Springfield St. James, Dickson First AME, Pegram St. James, Mayfield St. Luke, Erin McGavock Chapel, Charlotte Sulphur Spring, Cunningham Mt. Zion, Charlotte St. James, Pryorsburg St. Matthew, Clarksville St. Paul, Ashland City Moore s Chapel, Clinton 12
PASTOR APPOINTMENTS South Nashville District Greater Bethel, Nashville St. Paul, Columbia Allen Chapel, Murfreesboro Wayman Chapel, Columbia Woodfolk Chapel, Shelbyville Bethel, Columbia Webb Grove, Murfreesboro Shorter Chapel, Franklin Mullin Chapel, Shelbyville Jones Chapel, Mt. Pleasant Canaan, Columbia Allen-Bethel, Lewisburg Claiborn Chapel, Williamsport St. Matthew, Cornersville Hopewell, Columbia Robert's Chapel, Linden New Bethel, Murfreesboro Mt. Zion, Centerville 13
Co-Host Churches & Pastors Payne Chapel AME Church The Reverend W. Antoni Sinkfield Lee Chapel AME Church The Reverend Harold M. Love, Jr. Greater Bethel AME Church The Reverend Walter W. Reid, Jr. 13th Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church 500 8th Ave South Nashville, TN 37203 615-242-6814 office@ame13.org www.ame13.org