Bishop Richard Allen Chappelle, Sr., General Board President

2006 General Board and Bishop's Council Meeting Highlights June 25-29, 2006 Charleston, SC

Bishop Preston Warren Williams II, Council of Bishops President

Bishop McKinley Young General Board President-Elect

Bishop McKinley Young, Presiding Bishop of the Eleventh Episcopal District, was elected President of the General Board.  Bishop Young appointed a Committee to work on the Restructuring and Scheduling of the General Board. The report will be made at the 2007 meeting.

Bishop Preston Warren Williams II, Presiding Bishop of the Seventh Episcopal District, was invested the President of the Council of Bishops.

State of the Church Address by Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams, Retired Editor of the A.M.E. Review, “Help Wanted.” Speaking on behalf of the Lobby Committee, the Silent majority, the silent minority, the concerned voices of lay and clergy, and the nothing-to-lose group (NTLG), Dr. Williams enumerated the needs of the Church and what is required to change our outmoded system.

Bishop Philip Robert Cousin, Sr.

General Board 50th Anniversary Observance, Bishop Philip R. Cousin Sr., Senior Bishop, Chairperson. 

Speakers: 

• Mrs. Valerie Gary Bell, “General Overview of the History of the General Board.” Recounted the Historical context out of which the General Board emerged, including the purpose for its creation. 
• Bishop John Hurst Adams, Retired, “Reflections:  General Board of Education.” Gave the background and responsibility of the General Board of Education; the innovations brought on by the Brotherhood; and a listing of key players in the movement that resulted in the General Board.
• Bishop Frederick Calhoun James, Retired, “Reflections:  Members of the First General Board.” Placed in context the General Budget Fund that replaced the system of collecting “dollar money.”  His reflections are replete with firsthand information and impressions of the sacrifices made by many to achieve this worthwhile end.

Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson Jr., Presiding Bishop of the Second Episcopal District, was the Preacher for the Council of Bishops Worship Service.  His sermon was entitled, “From Conflict to Reconciliation.”  Text Acts 6:1-4.  (Please see The A.M.E. Review for the full text.)

The Council of Bishops, in their Public Statement, expressed their grave concern for the need for justice for the plight of Darfur victims and issued a call for all decision makers who can stop the genocide in the Sudan.  A special offering was received during the Council Service to be donated to relief efforts.

The 35% reduction in the General Conference delegation mandated by the 2004 General Conference was affirmed by the Council of Bishops and will be adhered to.

Edward Waters College’s under the leadership of Bishop McKinley Young, Chairman of the Board, Dr. Oswald P. Brunson, President, and the Board of Trustees, had its accreditation reaffirmed, without sanctions, until 2014.

Bishop David R. Daniels Jr., Presiding Bishop of the 14th Episcopal District, reported $5,000 in General Budget Payment.  He also brought a check in the amount of $100,000 to begin an endowment fund for AME University!

Dr. Johnny Barbour Jr., Publisher, presented the new AME Chain Reference Bible Commentary in observance of the 125th Anniversary of the AME Sunday School Union, and declared August 2006-July 2007 as “The Year of the Bible.”  They may be purchased directly from the Sunday School Union at $75.00 each, with a complimentary Journal.

The new edition of the “Anvil:  Serving Well” is available for purchase.  Please see your Presiding Bishop for a copy.  The cover design and poster artwork are by Mrs. Beverly Thomas, former Supervisor.

Dr. O. H. Brown, one of the six surviving members of the Original General Board was present, gave expressions, and made a book of his life available.

The 30th Connectional Lay Biennial will be held July 11-15, 2007, in Washington, DC.

The WMS Quadrennial Convention will be held July 14-24, 2007, in Philadelphia, PA.

SALUTE:  Astronaut Stephanie Wilson, a member of Reedy Chapel AME Church, Galveston, TX, will journey with the Space Shuttle Discovery team on an eight day flight to the international space station.  We salute her and pray for her safe passage!

In Memoriam:  The General Board remembered the life and labors of Board Members who have died since the last meeting of the General Board:

• Bishop Harold Ben Senatle, Retired Bishop
• Dr. Joseph Columbus McKinney, Retired General Officer
• Dr. Henderson S. Davis, Retired General Officer

Council of Bishops Public Statement