We are grateful to an Omnipotent God who continues to bless! Daily we are able to see that which signifies His many Blessings, and it is because of His Goodness, Grace and Mercy that we give reflections on our stewardship for reporting year 2002.
In June of 97' we stated in our acceptance remarks upon election as the second president that we would attempt to build upon the organization's proud legacy, recognizing that God would not allow us to stand where His Armor would not be provided.
Five years and 6 months later and in this our second term of office, we continue to give witness to the fact that God's Armor has been provided as we have sought to carry out the promise, then made. Retrospectively, we can acknowledge modest gains and we are grateful. We do express profound thanks to the Bishops of the Church, the Chairman of the Social Action Commission; past and present, the Episcopal Supervisors, the Director of Social Action, the Founding President, a cadre of dedicated and committed officers and clergy family members.
We remain jubilant over the passage of the organization's legislation at General Conference 2000 and of its subsequent inclusion in the 2000 Book of Discipline and that our second report has been submitted through the Social Action Commission to the General Board of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. We took comfort in that we reached out reached out for inclusion of our P.K.'s and we rejoice over the Preacher's Kids Scholarship Awards presented in 1999, 2000 and the (2) awards presented in June 2002. We are proud as well that we have attempted to reach out to many of our W. widows and widowers. That through our Forums held at the site of the Bishop's Council, with Dr. Jerome V. Harris, Executive Director of Employee Securities as presenter that we are attempting to provide information to clergy families which will assist in the understanding of the requirements, processes and expectations relative to the AME Church Employee Benefit Program, that domestic transition, when it occurs, may be successfully coped with financially.
We are still deeply touched and honored when contacted by clergy family members who have lost love ones asking that we help them get the word across the church by sending an email announcement via "THE ONLINE CLERGY FAMILY CONNECTION".
Our "Online Clergy Family Connection" ministry involves the process of verification; a call to express condolence to the family followed by written communications on behalf of the organization. The ministry of outreach during bereavement is extended to members of the organization as well as non-members. Our MISSION: To minister to each other in times of need. "To Serve the Present Age, Our Calling to Fulfill. 0 may it all our power engage, TO DO OUR MASTER’S WILL."
We remain proud of our expansive INTERNET PRESENSE. CONN-M-SWAWO, Plus P.K.'s web page continues to be maintained by Faith Publishing Corporation, Grandview, Texas. We receive tremendous personal gratification from the positive feedback we receive concerning the web pages constructed and maintained from our HOME OFFICE, The Clergy Family Forum and the Membership 2002-2003 with their several connecting web links, which we are able to keep current. We have most recently obtained private domain for those web pages to eliminate unwanted advertisements that were prevalent on the FREE PAGES In addition to getting the WORD out on the Internet, we are attempting as well to wage a massive public relations campaign in our church media. We encourage your review of our pictorial account and video from the Clergy Family Breakfast held in Tampa, Florida featuring renowned orator and author, Attorney Patricia Russell-McCloud.
We are justly proud of all gains. However, in this: THE STATE OF CONN-MSWAWO, PLUS P.K.'s REPORT FOR 2002, the realization is ever before us that as a young organization in the life of our Great Church, WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO. We shall long remember and remain grateful to Mrs. Barbara J. Chappelle for the donation of a new COMPAC Presario notebook computer in January 99 while serving as the Episcopal Supervisor of the 8th Episcopal District. We praise God, that through our "FAITH WALK EFFORTS" we have been able to update and replace our needed office equipment. Only a few days ago, Dr. Sylvia Ross Talbot, Supervisor of the 13th Episcopal District generously donated a cell phone with 6 months airtime to aid our expansive communication efforts. It is such unexpected generosity that keeps us inspired. Truly, God IS GOOD, all the Time! We continue to remind ALL that ours is a FAITH WALK EFFORT".
We receive "No STEPENDS" from the General Budget allocation of the African 2Methodist Episcopal Church for general administration. We are operative from payment of annual dues and now from residual funds raised from the Annual 1st lady/1st Gentleman Patron Contest begun in 1999 to find the annual P.K. Scholarship award. Therefore, we continue to urge and encourage continued support of our programs and projects.
The STATE OF CONN-SWAWO PLUS P.K.S been shared. As we gather then as connectional, Episcopal district and conference officers and supporters may we be inspired to collectivize our talents and commitments to broaden the concepts and perspectives relative to the significance of our Clergy Family Organization throughout African Methodism. Please DO NOT Keep the existence of CONN-M-SWAWO, Plus P.K.'s AS ONE OF THE BEST KEPT SECRET in the Episcopal Districts. It is my hope, and prayer that while we sojourn here that each of us will become inspired and motivated to make ourselves a committee of one to go forward, promoting and propelling CONNM-SWAWO, Plus P.K.'s "FAITH WALK EFFORTS ONWARD To Victory!
FOR OUR MISSION CONTINUES:
1. To Encourage, Empower and Spiritually nurture the clergy families of our Zion.
2. To promote activities, which promote and enhance unity, togetherness and strength for the family as a vital unit of our church and society.
3 To provide a place of acceptance, compassion and involvement for widows and widowers of the servants of the church.
4 To provide a support ministry for the children of ministers, (P.K.'s).
Respectfully,
Ora L. Easley
The President’s Report | ||||
Judy McLarty | ||||
One major accomplishment that I am pleased to share with you is that May Sherrod from Enfield, North Carolina has accepted the Executive Committee invitation to serve as the first vice president. Please give May your prayers and suggestions for our meeting in 2003. She already has a lot of ideas and will begin work now on the program. In the coming months we will ask a National Altar Guild member to serve as her assistant, as this is a very large job. | ||||
=======================================================================