wfn.org | National Convocation recognizes three with Liberation

["Wilma Shuffitt"<wshuffit@oc.disciples.org>]

Awards  
Date: August 21, 1998 
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the Web: http://www.disciples.org

98b-50

     LEXINGTON, Ky. (DNS) -- A Chicago laywoman and two retired
Disciples ministers were recognized during the National Convocation 
for
their commitment to African American ministries in the Christian 
Church
(Disciples of Christ). Approximately 800 persons attended the 15th
biennial session, held Aug. 7-11, here. 

     Liberation Awards were presented Aug. 9 to Sybel Thomas of
Chicago, and the Revs. William W. Hannah, Indianapolis, and K. David
Cole, Kansas City, Mo. Thomas is a former president of the fellowship 
for
African American Disciples. Hannah is a former associate general 
minister
and administrative secretary of the National Convocation.

     A member of Park Manor Christian Church, Thomas was cited as
an "effective enabler of Disciples women." She is a past officer with 
the
World and International Christian Women's Fellowships and served on 
the
executive committee of Church Women United. Thomas was second vice
moderator of the General Assembly in 1969. She currently is a trustee 
of
the Disciples Divinity House, University of Chicago, and serves on 
the
Division of Overseas Ministries board of directors and the General
Nominating Committee.  

     Hannah is the retired senior minister of Faith United Christian
Church, Indianapolis. He was celebrated as an "effective black 
liberation
advocate" in the denomination. The West Virginia native formerly 
served as
evangelism executive with the Division of Homeland Ministries. Prior 
to
that, he was the founder and pastor of Fifth Christian Church, 
Cleveland,
Ohio.

     Cole recently retired as senior minister of Swope Parkway 
United
Christian Church in Kansas City. Attendees honored him as an 
"advocate
for diversity and reconciliation" in the Disciples of Christ. The 
longtime
pastor also has served churches in Kentucky, North Carolina, 
Oklahoma
and Texas. He was moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of 
Christ)
from 1989 to 1991.

     In other business, the group installed new leaders for 
1998-2000
and refined its strategic plan. Eldredge Williams, a Memphis, Tenn.,
layperson and member of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, was
elected president. The Rev. LaTaunya Bynum, pastor of Broad Street
Christian Church, Columbus, Ohio, was elected vice president. Other
officers include the Rev. Eric Cole, Cary, N.C., secretary, and 
Constance
Nealey, Birmingham, Ala., treasurer.

                      
     The biennial session discussed 10 critical issues related to 
its
Vision for Vital Mission and Ministry plan, adopted in 1996. Small 
groups
offered suggestions addressing spiritual disciplines, racism and 
racial
diversity, Christian education, ministry to families, youth and young 
adults,
evangelism, ministerial recruitment and ethics, and women in 
ministry. 

     "Racism is a structural problem," said General Minister and
President Richard L. Hamm. As a means of eradicating racism from 
church
structures, the various expressions are beginning "anti-racism, 
pro-diversity
training," he added.

     He believes this process will help the Disciples of Christ 
embody
"deep Christian spirituality, true community and a passion for 
justice."

     During the meeting, African American Disciples gave $2,628.83 
to
support Reconciliation, the denomination's ministry to combat 
racism.
Those contributions will help "bring racism to a complete stop!" 
according
to the Rev. L. Wayne Stewart, administrative director.

     In a "State of the Black Church" address, the Rev. John R. 
Foulkes
said the vision plan will help the denomination see that "we are 
gifts of
God, not mere recipients of this culture's generosity," He reminded 
the
listeners that they are members of a church which gathers at one
"manifestational table." 

     The administrative secretary of the National Convocation
challenged them to remember they are members of one church, "not a
federation of constituents" and to "own decisions made at the 
table."

     Karen Baker-Fletcher, Bible lecturer for the event, called for
attendees to live in the present. "We're called to live in this 
life," said the
associate professor at Claremont (Calif.) School of Theology. "We're 
not
called to live a living death."

     For Baker-Fletcher, successfully living in the present means 
taking
care of our bodies and the earth. "We are people of dust and spirit," 
she
said, urging the audience "to respect our bodies and the creation as
belonging to God."  

     The Rev. Alvin Jackson encouraged church members to live with
integrity. "What's your story?" he asked during the Aug. 9 
Convocation
banquet. "This is a time for introspection and personal examination," 
said
the senior minister of National City Christian Church, Washington, 
D.C.

     In an address that was part confessional, Jackson spoke of his 
own
experience heading the 8,000-member Mississippi Boulevard Christian
Church, Memphis. He said there were areas of ministry he could have
improved upon during a successful pastorate there.  

     Nevertheless, he urged the congregation to "own the bad 
chapters
you've already written," while putting the past behind. "I'm trying 
to move
beyond success to significance," he said.

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