Note: If you'd like to share photos of events in the Episcopal Districts and Presiding Elder's District or connectional activities for the Weekend Digest, CME Web site and social media outlets, please email them tocio@thecmechurch.orgalong with a caption.
The Christian Methodist Episcopal ChurchCommunity Development Corporation andMiles College partnered to sponsor a Children's Defense Fund Freedom School site June 21-July 21, serving students in grades K-12. Registration is open now, and spaces are limited. If you are searching for a safe environment designed to reduce summer learning loss and increase love for literacy, fun activities, free breakfast and lunch, field trips, and parent empowerment, register your child now!
I am sure all of you have heard that the NAACP has released an announcement through the news media asking all African Americans not to travel to the state of Florida. We selected the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida over a year ago. If we cancel the Twentieth Quadrennial Assembly we must pay the hotel a large sum of money.
I do advise that you do not spend any money or make any visitations while we are in attendance at the meeting. Please visit our vendors, they have many beautiful items that you may select from.
The Women’s Missionary Council is planning an exciting and enthusiastic week of worship, teaching and learning during this meeting. I know that each of you will enjoy every moment while you are in attendance.
I am looking forward to seeing each and every one of you at our meeting.
“May the Blessings of God be upon each of us!”
Sincerely,
Dr. Jacqueline I. Scott
Dear CME Members and Friends,
Bishop and Mrs. Kenneth W. Carter and the Fourth Episcopal District will host theEleventh Annual CME Unity Summitand theGeneral Connectional Board Meeting,August 20-25, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located at 501 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme for this year's Unity Summit is,"Making Bold Moves"(Acts 1:8).
The Unity Summit is scheduled for Sunday, August 20, 2023 through Wednesday, August 23, 2023. The General Connectional Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 24, 2023 through Friday, August 25, 2023.
This message will provide you with general information about registration and reserving your room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Plan now to attend the Unity Summit's powerful training and vibrant worship sessions!
Online Registration
The registration fee for the Unity Summit is $150. Members of the General Connectional Board are expected to register.
You may registeronlineathttps://thecmechurch.org/unity-summit/and thereafter reserve your hotel room. A receipt and hotel confirmation notice will be e-mailed to you. Please check your Junk or Spam mailbox if you do not receive a registration confirmation notice by e-mail. To request a receipt and hotel confirmation notice, e-mail unitysummit@thecmechurch.org.
Mail-in Registration
You may download a registration form and mail it in with your registration fee. Download a registration formhereat theofficial CME Web site.
After your mailed in registration form is processed, you will receive a receipt and hotel reservation form via postal mail. If your e-mail address is indicated on the registration form, a receipt and hotel reservation link will be e-mailed to you. Please check your Junk or Spam mailbox if you do not receive a registration confirmation notice by e-mail.To request a receipt and hotel confirmation notice, e-mail unitysummit@thecmechurch.org.
Hyatt Regency New Orleans
The group room rate at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans is $149 per room / $176.14 per night (includes taxes of $27.14). Please plan to register and reserve your room early!
Transportation Form
If you plan to attend the Unity Summit and need transportation to and from the Hyatt Regency New Orleans hotel, please fill out the transportation formhereto assist the Fourth Episcopal District Planning Committee with transportation needs for the Unity Summit.
Additional information about the 2023 Annual CME Unity Summit and General Connectional Board will be forthcoming and posted at theofficial CME Web site, and our CME social media platforms -Facebook page,Twitter,Instagram,and e-mailed to connectional members and friends viaCME Church Communications. Please pray for the success of these events.
In the Service of the Lord,
Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr., Chair
Bishop Denise Anders-Modest, Program Chair
Bishop C.K. Heath, Finance Chair
Bishop Kenneth W. Carter, Host Bishop
Senior Bishop Lawrence Reddick
ANNOUNCEMENT
THE 2023 GENERAL CONNECTIONAL BOARD
Of
THE CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
August 24-25, 2023
PURSUANT TO Paragraph 1000.6 of The Book of Discipline, Revised 2018, the General Connectional Board of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will meet Thursday and Friday, August 24-25, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans Hotel, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113. The opening session is scheduled to begin at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, August 24.
This meeting will be in person. Persons in attendance shall be required to observe COVID protocols, including masks and the request to be vaccinated and boosted.
Join the Department of Christian Education and Formation as we celebrate and encourage our children. This year, we have prepared a packet that can help guide and support our local churches in celebrating our children.
Be sure to download this free resource to assist you in celebrating Children's Day this year!
The May 2023 issue of The Christian Index is available for purchase for online viewing here.
Announcement RE Appeal for Articles
The Christian Index would like to receive articles from you regarding your local CME church, your ministry, and your spiritual thoughts, experiences, and growth.
Is your church operating a Vacation Bible or Freedom School, or offering other special activities this summer?
Do you have a sermon you want to share?
Have you completed an essay, paper, or dissertation and can share it or a short summary of your work?
Have you gone on an interesting trip?
Have you received an honor or award?
Do you have other news that might be of interest to the wider church?
The General Department of Communication and Information Technology (CIT) has established vendor partnerships with Adobe, Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Mobile Beacon and Zoom. All CMEs including our local churches, members, Presiding Elder’s Districts, Episcopal Districts, Bishops, General Officers, and other Connectional leaders can save from5%-50%on technology products from top vendors! Spread the word about these discounts to members in your local church!Shop at theTechnology Portal.
Presiding Bishop Charley Hames, Jr.of the 9th Episcopal District convened the Alaska-Pacific Region Annual Conference and hosted by Miles Memorial CME Church in Tacoma, WA (Pastor Christopher Ruff).Presiding Elder Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes, Jr.(Alaska and Oregon-Washington District)officially retired at this Annual Conference. Dr. Haynes was celebrated at the Annual Conference and a plaque was provided to him by Bishop Hames for his 40 years of service in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Presiding Elder Haynes was appointed again as the Presiding Elder of the Alaska and Oregon-Washington Districts and Pastor of Allen Temple CME Church.Photos courtesy of Rev. Lealon Gordon, Sr.
Scenes from the Service of Holy Communion Service (guest speaker, Rev. Willie Hoey of the 4th Episcopal District) and the Ordination Service with the newly ordained deacons (Chaplain Jacqueline Harris and Rev. Lionel Lampkin) and ministers admitted into Full Connection (Rev. Cathy Adams and Rev. DeLeesa Meashintubby).
Bishop Hames is with 101 1/2 year-old Mrs. Ada Milligan who participated in the Lena Jones Rice March. Mrs. Milligan is active at her church, Miles Memorial CME!
Presiding Bishop Lawson K. Adjeiof the 11th Episcopal District visited churches outside of capital, Bujumbura. Rugeregere CME Church is located in a typical country side of Burundi where he was hosted on the field where they have purchased a plot of land to construct new church building to accommodate the growing local church. The Pastor in charge, Pastor Baranyizigiye, spouse & members were weeding & uprooting trees within the land to start their new church. Bishop Adjei commended them for their bold step initiative to build the house of God. Above all, the spread of CMEs and faith of our Lord Jesus Christ is paramount. Bishop Adjei promised that together they would all build the church. Second church visited was Muyange CME Church also in countryside who lost a member and still kept some of the members from going to burial in order to welcome the Bishop. They have also located a place on top of a mountain where members were breaking stones in order to get ready for building of their new church. Climbing was a bit tough but had to exercise to get there. Bishop assured them of building the church together. Bishop Adjei was then taken to a tri-border post with Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo. Near the border was a pool whose water is always hot because the water that erupts from the ground is within a volcanic vicinity. Bishop Adjei together with his entourage returned to Bujumbura for an evening worship service to prepare the grounds for opening of our conference on June 10th. Pictures above shows some of the events narrated in his news bulletin. To God be the glory. Photos and caption by Bishop Lawson K. Adjei.
First Edition of the Official Newsletter of the Eleventh Episcopal District Bishop’s Journal—“The Parrot”
Bishop Adjei begun his first-round of 2023 annual conferences in the 11th Episcopal District and here is the summary report of the conferences held in the first half of the year. Click the linkto see the full report.
The Episcopal Address by Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton from the 2022 General Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church is available for viewing and downloading here.
Supported by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. - Additional information ishere.
#BlackChurches4BroadbandEncourages Families to Sign up for Emergency Broadband (Internet) Benefit
Our hero, the late Congressman John Lewis, said that internet access is “the civil rights issue of the 21st Century.” A high-speed home broadband (internet) connection is vital for full enfranchisement in today’s world. It opens the door to educational and economic opportunities, connects family and church communities, allows access to remote health care services, and empowers greater civic engagement and activism.
Congress recently created an Emergency Broadband Benefit giving eligible families up to $50 per month to pay for home broadband service.You may be eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit if your household has experienced a sudden loss of income during the pandemic, or is currently receiving federal benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance, Veterans and Survivors Pension Benefit, Lifeline, Pell Grants, or free and reduced-price school lunches.
