Congratulatory Announcements
January - November 2023
*Thema S. Bryant, PhD, begins term as the 2023 President of the American Psychological Association
- Get to know APA’s 2023 President: Thema S. Bryant, PhD
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/01/thema-bryant
The biographical and work of APA Thema S. Bryant, PhD:
Thema S. Bryant, PhD, is a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Her clinical and research interests center on interpersonal trauma and the societal trauma of oppression. She has raised public awareness regarding mental health by extending the reach of psychology beyond the academy and private therapy office through community programming, organizational consultation, popular books, and media engagement.
Bryant is a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women and a past APA representative to the United Nations. She also served on the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Committee on Women in Psychology.
In 2013, APA honored Bryant for Distinguished Early Career Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest. The Institute of Violence, Abuse and Trauma presented her their media award for the film “Psychology of Human Trafficking” in 2016, and the Donald Fridley Memorial Award for excellence in mentoring in the field of trauma in 2018. The California Psychological Association recognized her for Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology in 2015. One of the foundational scholars on the topic of the trauma of racism, she gave an invited keynote address on the topic at APA2020. That year, APA’s International Division honored her for her International Contributions to the Study of Gender and Women for her work in Africa and the Diaspora.
Bryant—known popularly as Dr. Thema—is host of “Homecoming,” a mental health podcast, and director of the mental health ministry at First AME Church in South Los Angeles. She is author of the book Homecoming: Overcome Fear and Trauma to Reclaim Your Whole Authentic Self and co-author of The Antiracism Handbook: Practical Tools to Shift Your Mindset & Uproot Racism in Your Life and Community. She is editor or co-editor of the APA books Womanist and Mujerista Psychologies: Voices of Fire, Acts of Courage and Multicultural Feminist Therapy: Helping Adolescent Girls of Color To Thrive. Her presidential initiatives aim to enhance belonging and engagement within APA and use psychological science to address trauma, grief, and oppression nationally and internationally.
Bryant completed her doctorate in clinical psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she became the coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation.
Thema S. Bryant-Davis, PHD is the daughter of Bishop John Richard Bryant (Retired) and Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant, Supervisor Retired.
Congratulatory email can be sent to:
Bishopjohn4th@aol.com (Bishop John R. Bryant) and queenakosua@hotmail.com, (Rev. Dr. Cecelia Bryant).
*Congratulations to the Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield, Ph.D.
We extend congratulations to the Rev. W. Antoni Sinkfield, Ph.D., Pastor and Presiding Elder in the 13th Episcopal District and current Associate Dean at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, for being nominated and selected by the Tennessee Technological University Alumni Association Board of Directors as the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The Alumni Association annually presents awards to individuals who have demonstrated professional success or recognition such as to effect great pride among the faculty, students, and alumni of Tennessee Tech.
This is the second such honor granted to Dr. Sinkfield, having been granted the 2020 Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Vanderbilt University Divinity School. The honor to Dr. Sinkfield stated, “After reviewing the nomination materials, the Awards committee has selected you as the most deserving candidate for 2023. We would be honored to recognize you with this award at the Evening of Excellence Celebration that will be held in the Fall at Tennessee Tech University’s Homecoming Night Celebration 2023.
Dr. Sinkfield has served AME churches in the 2nd, 13th, 3rd, and 7th Episcopal Districts; presided over a district in the 13th Episcopal District; and held a Deanship and currently serves on a Board of Trustees in our AME Church Higher Education Institutions.
Congratulations messages can be shared at: wsinkfield@aol.com
*Bethel Cathedral African Methodist Episcopal Church Congratulates Pastor Dr. Carlos W. Perkins on new appointment
Dr. Carlos W. Perkins is the newly appointed Assistant Resource Scientist and Associate Director for Engagement in the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Late Institute of Faith and Giving, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana. Also, the Rev. Dr. Carlos Wesley Perkins, the anointed, visionary pastor of Bethel Cathedral AME Church, a native of Jamaica, West Indies has served as an Interim Principal with the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township in Indiana.
Before moving to Indianapolis, Dr. Perkins pastored St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church – St. Croix (2015-2018), served as an Associate Minister at the Greater Mt. Nebo African Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastoral leadership of The Rev. Dr. Jonathan L. Weaver, and as a Principal with the District of Columbia Public Schools (Washington Metropolitan High School). Rev. Perkins also served as the Chief Operations Officer at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Frank M. Reid, III.
He graduated with honors from the prestigious Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University with a Masters of Divinity; from the University of Maryland with a Masters of Education and Counseling; and from Ithaca College (New York) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and Sociology. Dr. Perkins graduated from the Payne Theological Seminary (Wilberforce, Ohio) with a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership and Community Engagement.
Called by God, Dr. Perkins works to empower others through the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. God has used him to powerfully minister to the needs of today’s generation by planning and implementing a number of cutting-edge ministry opportunities and activities. He has also been blessed to preach to and instruct youth and young adults in spiritual development and leadership around the United States, Caribbean and across the continent of Africa; he has been instrumental in planning spiritual conferences, college tours, mentoring programs, athletic events, and spiritual retreats. Dr. Carlos led missionary teams of youth, young adults, and youth ministers to Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Rwanda, and Ghana.
In addition to his work with youth and young adults, Dr. Perkins taught classes in Sociology, Psychology, and Human Development at a local community college. He is a certified Youth Development Specialist and holds certificates in Diversity Training and Designing and Implementing Diversity Initiatives. He is the published author of: Leadership Insights and Applications: African American Students—National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs, and Student Outcomes of Community Service: Assessing the Impact of Service-Learning on Student’s Awareness of and Acceptance of Social Responsibility—University of Maryland Department of Counseling and Personnel Services.
Dr. Perkins is married to Reverend Carla Sharon Perkins, and they have two children, Jebron Carlos and Jemila Carla. He has a profound love for his family and believes that "Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, neither entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that Love him.”
*The Rev. Dr. Steven L. Lyons has been elected the President of the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service
The Rev. Dr. Steven L. Lyons has been elected the President of the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service. Dr. Lyons was appointed to the Board by Gov. Roy Cooper and represents the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association. The purpose of the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service is to safeguard the public health, safety, and welfare of North Carolina citizens by ensuring that those individuals and entities licensed for the practice of funeral services in this state are duly qualified. A 1991 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service (AS), St. Augustine’s University (BS), Shaw University Divinity School (MDiv) and Hood Theological Seminary (DMin), Dr. Lyons has been a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer and has practiced in the state NC for over 30 years. He is the President and Manager of the Steven L. Lyons Funeral Home of Raleigh, NC. An ordained Itinerant Elder, Dr. Lyons is the Pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church, Hillsborough, NC where the Rev. Anita M. Thompson is the Presiding Elder (Eastern District WNCC) and Bishop James L. Davis is the Servant Leader (2nd Episcopal District).
Contact: Dr. Steven L. Lyons, sllyonsfuneralhome@gmail.com
* CONGRATULATIONS ATTORNEY RUTH L. TISDALE
Ruth L. Tisdale, Attorney at Law, joined the nation's largest employer, the Walmart Corporation in December 2022, as Senior Counsel for Walmart Health and Wellness Division. She will be working in the corporate office.
Ruth, a proud graduate of the Wake Forest Law School, began her legal career in the State of New York in 2014, as an Assistant District Attorney in the District Attorney's Office in the Bronx. In 2016, she transitioned into private practice where she represented physicians, hospitals, clinics, and other health-related entities in major litigation and transactional matters. in 2021, she accepted a new position as an Assistant Corporate Counsel with the Christiana Care Health System, the largest hospital system in Delaware, where she was primarily responsible for handling polices, contracts and other legal matters.
Ruth has been a servant of the Church for many years, serving as a Minister of Music. Although she served with many Churches in that capacity, her most recent service was with the St. James AME Church in Hightstown, New Jersey. She also gave back to the Church and the community, sharing her expertise on legal matters and providing a forum to assist the members and the community in constructing Wills, Living Wills, etc.
In addition to meeting the challenges of her current position, Ruth is continuing to pursue excellence in education as she is a candidate for a Master's Degree in Public Health (MPH) at Harvard University. She vows to continue to pursue education and to give back to the Church and the community the wisdom apprehended through the grace of God.
Ruth is the youngest daughter of The Reverend Julius W. Tisdale, Pastor of St. Phillips AME Church in Monticello, FL, and The Rev. Sylvia E. Tisdale. She is the niece of The Rev. Glannie E. Tisdale, Pastor of New Mt Carmel AME Church; Hemingway, S. C.
Congratulatory email can be sent to: ruth.tisdale@yahoo.com (Ruth L. Tisdale) or jwtallen@aol.com (Rev. J. W. Tisdale).
*Sandra Stevens daughter of Reverend Patrea Wilson received Bachelor of Arts Degree and selected as Graduate Assistant to study abroad in Ecuador this summer
Congratulations to Rev. Patrea Wilson, former Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church in Skipperville, Alabama, on the graduation of her daughter, Sandra Stevens, at the commencement ceremony held on December 10, 2022. Sandra graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology with a Minor in Philosophy. She was also selected to be a Graduate Assistant for Student Life and will continue Graduate Studies at Valdosta State University. Sandra desires to become an Archeologist. Please keep Sandra in your prayers as she prepares to study abroad in Ecuador this summer. Rev. Patrea Wilson has recently relocated the 11th Episcopal District, Central Florida Conference and is serving on the Ministerial Staff at Ward Chapel AME, Winter Park, Florida.
Congratulatory email can be sent to: Patreaw@outlook.com.
*Congratulations to Master Jacob Cuthbert III son of Connectional Boy Scouts Director Dr. Missiouri McPhee for successfully completing the Eagle Board of Review
On Thursday, February 23, 2023, Master Jacob Cuthbert III successfully completed his Eagle Board of Review, elevating him to the Rank of Eagle with the cBoy Souts of America. Jacob's Eagle Scout Project was completed in the Historic Page Jackson Cemetery, Sanford, FL on behalf of the Goldsboro Museum. Page-Jackson Cemetery is land that was donated to the Black people in Sanford, FL by a white philanthropist to bury their dead in 1830. The State of Florida confiscated the land from the Blacks in 1917 by authority granted under the Jim Crow Laws (1877-1960s) .... Blacks could not own land. The State of Florida kept the land for over 100 years. In that century, the land went unkept. A small portion of the land sits in the City of Sanford and is landscaped. The rest of it is overgrown with vegetation and trees so much so that headstones were not visible, and it was unsafe to visit loved ones buried there. It is approximated that over 3,000 (no one knows the exact number) are buried there including former slaves, African-American Civil War, WWI & WWII veterans, founders of the towns of Eatonville and Goldsboro, relatives of Zora Neal Hurston's, and Ebony photographer, Willie Brown.
Jacob, with the guidance of Mr. Harold Goshe of Red Earth Corporation, led a crew over the course of 4 weekends to buildout an outdoor information center as well as to clean and clear a portion of the cemetery. Jacob has brokered a partnership between the Presiding Elders of the Central Annual Conference (the Revs. Henry L. Postell II, Milton Broomfield & Lorenzo Laws) and the Goldsboro Museum to complete quarterly cleanups in the cemetery until July 2024. Jacob's efforts to retore dignity to this sacred ground has been highlighted by The Sanford Herald (Nov. 20, 2022).
Jacob is the first Black scout from Scouts BSA Troop 263 (Markham Woods Presbyterian Church, Lake Mary, FL) to attain the rank of Eagle. His Eagle Scout Court of Honor is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, 2023 @ 11:00 AM at the Frist United Methodist Church, Sanford, FL. Jacob is the son of Connectional Boy Scouts Director, Dr. Missiouri McPhee. He is a member of Saint Mark AME Church, Orlando.
Congratulatory expressions can be sent to:
Jacob Cuthbert III
c/o PO Box 169
Sanford FL 32772
Email: missiouri.mcphee@gmail.com
*Congratulations to Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. Pastor of Bethel AMEC Baton Rouge who has qualified for third Senior Games and will represent the State of Louisiana in Pittsburgh
Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has qualified for his third Senior Games and will represent the State of Louisiana in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Swimming. Dr. Kelly is a nine-time State Champion in the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and 100 IM. Presently, he ranked 14 and 15 in the nation in his age group.
He is a member of Crawfish Aquatics Swim Team. A former high school swimmer and a former member of The Legendary Morehouse Tigersharks, the water called him back into competition due to health concerns and by the encouragement of his family. In addition to training for competition Pastor Kelly teaches private swimming lessons to underserved youth in the community. He also organized The James Haines Swimming Ministry of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where over 70 youth have been served. He is also an Adjunct Instructor in African and African American Studies at LSU and in The Arts and Human Sciences. He a certified American Red Cross lifeguard and CPR/ADA recipient. Dr. Kelly’s first Senior Games was in 2019 Albuquerque, New Mexico he finished 22 and 18 in the Nation. In 2022 he competed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and finished 14 and 15 in two events.
Congratulatory messages can be emailed to: spidermh7@yahoo.com
*Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Lorenzo and April Neal who were united in holy matrimony
Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Lorenzo and April Neal who were united in holy matrimony in March 11, 2023 at New Bethel AME Church in Jackson, MS. Dr. Neal is the pastor of New Bethel and April is the YPD Director for the North Mississippi Conference of the 8th Episcopal District.
*The Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin Award from the Tennessee Tribune “Pastor of the Year”
(Read below or click on Tennessee Tribune Article above)
NASHVILLE, TN — Roderick Dwayne Belin is President/Publisher of the AME Sunday School Union, the publishing house for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is an anointed preacher and teacher with a prophetic voice and a global mission to empower God’s people to reach their full potential and fulfill their divine purposes.
In over 35 years of Christian ministry, Rev. Belin has traveled across the United States, and to Jamaica, West Indies, Trinidad, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, Israel, England, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Turkey, and the Republic of South Africa where he preached, counseled, facilitated workshops, and ministered in song. He is highly respected within national and international circles, leading people of different faiths into needful dialogue and healing.
A graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Rev. Belin earned the Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York as a “Union Scholar,” and the Doctor of Ministry Degree in Adaptive Leadership from Payne Theological Seminary. In 2014, Rev. Belin was one of the inductees into the highly revered Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College.
A third generation minister in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, Rev. Belin has served as Executive Minister/ Assistant Pastor of the Greater Allen AME Cathedral, Jamaica, NY under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Floyd H. Flake. He served as the pastor of Williams Chapel AME Church in Orangeburg, South Carolina which experienced exponential growth before returning to his native Nashville, Tennessee in 2004 to plant Kairos Community AME Church. Rev. Belin served as Presiding Elder of the South Nashville District before being appointed as Pastor of historic Lee Chapel AME Church in North Nashville. Within two years of this appointment, he led the planning and construction of a 15,550 square foot building with sanctuary seating for 500-plus persons at a cost of $3,500,000.00. This new building was dedicated in August 2015.
As Publisher, Rev. Dr. Belin published the 2016 Book of Discipline in Spanish for the first time in the church’s history; updated the Book of Worship to make the language inclusive; and, made essential books and resources available digitally including the Book of Worship, Church School Quarterlies, and the new “We Lift Our Voices” a word hymnal. Under Rev. Dr. Belin’s leadership, a new 38,000 square foot award winning edifice was erected at a cost of $10,866,000.00. The new AMEC Publishing House also houses the General Departments of the AME Church.
Most notably, during the pandemic Rev. Dr. Belin deftly pivoted to meet the emergent needs of the church and community by offering AME Church School classes and other enrichment offerings weekly on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube. Discerning participants’ need for more spiritual enrichment, Rev. Dr. Belin currently leads, “INSIGHT: Life in the Spirit,” a daily prayer service which takes place Monday through Saturday at 12 noon eastern on Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube.
A gourmand, Rev. Belin is passionate about the imperative of true Christian hospitality and acted upon this through gatherings at his table for good food and transformative conversation. He continues this practice through the use of technology, encouraging his guests to open their hearts to the other. Rev. Belin continues to bring new ideas and approaches to make positive differences in the lives of others. He is committed to using technology and social media to spread the Gospel and share information through this expanded means of interaction. Rev. Belin believes, “telling the story gives faith a way to travel from one heart to another.”
He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated and is a part of a family of Christian ministers. He is the son of Bishop Henry A. Belin, Jr. and Mrs. Lucinda Crawford Belin, and brother of the Reverend Dr. Henry Allen Belin, III and the Reverend Dr. Toni Belin Ingram.
Congratulatory messages can be sent to:
Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin
President / Publisher AME Sunday School Union
900 13th Avenue South
Suite 300
Nashville, TN 37212
615-256-5882
belin@amecpublishing.com
*Amid larger push toward diversity, College of Charleston quietly makes key hire - John Thomas III, Ph.D., Editor, The Christian Recorder
As does the city in which it resides, the College of Charleston has a long, complex and troubled history.
Given the city of Charleston’s prominent role in the international slave trade and the magnitude of which enslaved labor shaped and influenced nearly every facet and institution in the Holy City, it is no surprise that slavery also helped form the city’s 250-year-old institution, an uncomfortable truth the college has increasingly recognized.
The school’s ongoing struggle over racial tensions bubbled up over the years, noticeably in 2014 amid the hiring of former Lt. Gov. Glenn McConnell as the school’s president. Many opposed the hiring, mainly because of McConnell’s support for the Confederate flag.
Yet, it appears now that the school is pushing toward reckoning with its past, some ways in which are more obvious and direct. In 2020, President Andrew Hsu announced a 10-year strategic plan that included requiring, among other things, mandatory diversity education for staff and a commitment to recruit more minority students.
This month, the college is celebrating Black History Month with a wide range of programs and events focusing on the accomplishments and struggles of African Americans. The programs include a film screening of “If These Walls Could Talk,” which brings attention to the labor and ingenuity of enslaved Africans who were tasked with building the first municipal college in the United States.
And then there’s continued success of the school’s Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, which just landed a $2 million grant to increase staff, enhance collection archives, create a fellowship program and more.
But even amid the school’s more noticeable strides toward a more inclusive future, the hiring of the Department of Political Science’s first African American male, tenure-track professor is the latest, lesser-known display of the school’s strides toward diversity.
Without much fanfare or a major announcement, the school last semester hired John Thomas, whose research interests include comparative race politics, social movements, democratic consolidation, minority rights and public policy with a regional focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.
Thomas, whose dissertation at the University of Chicago examined the evolution of the social movements of Black activists in Peru and Ecuador from 1980 to 2016, also has religious affiliation. He serves as the editor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s Christian Recorder, an in-house publication serving a denomination that has been among the most influential institutions in the lives of Blacks in Charleston.
Several AME clergy and college staff celebrated the new hire by conducting on Jan. 31 a ceremonial blessing of Thomas’ new office, decorated by books about Latin American social movements and Black political thought, alongside numerous artifacts and mementos that honor Black and Brown cultures.
The Rev. Norvell Goff, presiding elder of the AME Church’s Edisto District, during the ceremony appeared pleasantly surprised by the college’s push toward inclusion. Goff said he was unaware of the school’s seriousness about hiring minority professors and urged the school to keep at it.
“I can be a real witness to the fact that the College of Charleston is moving in the right direction,” Goff said.
Thomas, 41, said he wouldn’t have come to the school if he didn’t feel it was making a genuine effort to change. The Nashville, Tenn., native said he wanted to invite faith leaders to the school Jan. 31 so they could see the progress being made at the college.
“What I can say about the school is I have felt supported, encouraged, and I felt like I belong here,” Thomas said.
Thomas’ arrival is significant because it’s important to professors for students to learn about political systems and events happening in different parts of the world, said Gibbs Knotts, dean of the school of humanities and social sciences.
Hiring a more diverse staff was discussed as a top concern when the college, along with many other institutions across the nation, had a “racial reckoning” following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, said Hollis France, chair of the political science department.
The college has also discussed the need to diversify course offerings, Hollis said. Thomas’ studies in Afro-Latino social movements help address that need, she said.
College of Charleston barbershop looks to grow community for students of color
*Best Lawyer in America List 2022-23 - Attorney Derek E. Bruce is on the list
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Before the cusp of the New Year 2023, Attorney Derek E. Bruce, Managerial Shareholder, GunsterLaw Firm, Orlando Office was cited and named on the Best Lawyers in America List for the last six (6) years; 2018 - 2023.
* “Embracing History: Juneteenth Celebration,” UCF Downtown, panelist, June 15, 2022. * “The Intersection of Law & Politics: Navigating an Unpredictable Environment,” CLE Lunch & Learn, presenter, Association of Corporate Counsel Central Florida, June 9, 2022. * PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS and MEMBERSHIPS * Florida Prepaid College Foundation, Board of Directors- 2020-present. * The National Black Lawyers – Top 100. * Orlando Economic Partnership, Alliance for Regional Transportation (ART) workgroup, 2019-present. * BusinessForce, board member and past chair. * Leadership Florida, past board member. * Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors-past member. * Florida Chamber of Commerce, East Central Florida Regional Leadership Council, past chair. * CIVIC and COMMUNITY SERVICE * Victim Service Center of Central Florida, board member. * Randy Roberts Foundation, board member. * Frederick Leadership Initiative, board member emeritus. * Orlando Marine Institute, past board member.
* Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida, past president. * Seminole State College of Florida Foundation. * Lastly, Attorney Bruce made a presentation with the Orlando Business Journal on an “Executive Insight on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.” The link is given below. Continued prayers and comments are welcomed as Attorney Derek E. Bruce honors God in doing his best as a Legal Leader and Counsel. EXECUTIVE INSIGHTS - DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION - Atty. Derek Bruce (Click Link Below.)
*Congratulations to Rev. LeSean Tarkington, Pastor of Allen St John AME Church Kansas City, Missouri (Bishop Clement Fugh Prelate) and Chairman of Evangelism of the Connectional RAYAC for his recent appointment to the Chairman's Staff and Coordinator of the Collegiate Night of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. Fun Fact: The Gospel Music Workshop of America was founded by the Late Rev James Cleveland and is the largest Gospel Music Convention in the country. *AME Church Treasurer/CFO Receives Honorary Doctorate from Payne Theological Seminary
At the May 12, 2023, Commencement of Payne Theological Seminary, AME Church Treasurer/CFO Marcus T. Henderson was bestowed the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the institution.
*Congratulations to Marvin Frank Curtis Zanders, Esquire, for earning the taxation LL.M Congratulations to Marvin Frank Cutis Zanders, Esquire for earning the taxation LL.M from New York University School of Law on Thursday May 18, 2023. Attorney Zanders is the first FAMU Law Graduate to earn the LL.M in taxation from N.Y.U. Law School. He has completed the Florida Bar and will begin his law career with the Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP law firm. He is the son of Bishop Marvin C. and Supervisor Winifred H. Zanders of the 16th Episcopal District AMEC.
*Augustine Speaks for University's 2023 Baccalaureate and Honor Cord Ceremony The Reverend Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine, senior pastor of St. Joseph AME Church (Durham, NC) and member of the AME Church's Judicial Council, delivered the sermon as part of St. Augustine's University 2023 Baccalaureate and Honor Cord Ceremony. The service was held at St. Augustine's historic campus chapel, on the university's main campus in Raleigh, NC, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. Information from the university can be seen here: https://www.st-aug.edu/event/baccalaureate-and-honor-cord-ceremony/. Founded in 1867, St. Augustine's University is an HBCU administered by the Episcopal Church. The Rev. Jonathan C. Augustine, JD, DMin
*Claire B. Crawford received the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from the University of Southern California Congratulations to Claire B. Crawford, who received the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science from the University of Southern California on May 11, 2023. Dr. Crawford is the daughter of the Rev. Marvin L. Crawford, M.D., M.Div., Pastor of First Saint Paul AMEC, Lithonia, Georgia, and Dr. Sherell Vicks-Crawford (former Connectional YPD Director).
*The Rev. Sharrice L. Autry received her Master of Divinity from Emory / Candler School of Theology I am proud to announce that on May 6, 2023, my daughter, the Rev. Sharrice L. Autry received her Master of Divinity from Emory / Candler School of Theology. The Rev. Sharrice Autry is a fifth-generation preacher and we are both so very grateful to God for all His divine benefits. Many thanks to all her supporting cast who prayed her through. Please help me congratulate her on the completion of her Masters program. To God be the glory! Congratulations can be sent to: sharrice.autry@gmail.com Rev. Minnie Autry, Retired Pastor Michigan Conference *Congratulations to Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, J.D., D. Min., Pastor, Adams Inspirational AMEC Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, J.D., D. Min., Pastor, Adams Inspirational AMEC Washington Annual Conference 2nd Episcopal District received the honor of National Alumni award in Law and Politics from Clark Atlanta University National Alumni Association “CAU” on May 27, 2023 at the May weekend celebration. This was her 45th reunion as she graduated from Clark College in 1978. Dr. Holness is honored to be honored by her fellow alumnae. Additionally, on Saturday May 20, 2023, Dr. Holness was unanimously elected Chairperson for the Ward One DC Democrats, one of the largest and most diverse Ward in the District. Congratulatory messages can be sent to: Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness, J.D., D.Min. egailandersonholness@gmail.com
*Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Mittie Muse Jr. who received the degree of Doctor of Ministry from Payne Theological Seminary Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Mittie Muse Jr. who received the degree of Doctor of Ministry, from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, OH on May 12, 2023. His dissertation was “Church Revitalization: Church Members as Returning Citizens to the Kingdom of God.” Rev. Dr. Mittie Muse Jr. is the pastor of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in the Tyler District of the North Texas Annual Conference. He is the proud husband of Lady DeMetruss, the father of Madison, Mittie III, McKenzie and Curtis, and the son of Presiding Elder Mittie Sr. and Lady Mavis Muse. To God be the glory! Congratulatory notes may be sent to: Rev. Dr. Mittie Muse Jr.
*Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Paul A. Cox who received the degree of Doctor of Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Paul A. Cox who received the degree of Doctor of Ministry with a ministry emphasis in General Ministry Leadership; Ministry Leadership, from Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas on May 13, 2023. His dissertation was “An Evaluation of the Bible Study Series No More Excuses as a Tool for Facilitating Men to Develop Intentional, Biblical, Transformational Living.” Rev. Dr. Paul A. Cox is an Associate Minister at Payne Chapel A.M.E. Church in the North Houston District of the Texas Annual Conference. He is employed as an Engineering Technician with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston, Texas. To God be the glory! Congratulatory notes may be sent to: Paul A. Cox, ThM., DMin.
*The Rev. Dr. Stephanie M. Raglin, President of the 13th District WIM receives Doctor of Ministry Degree Congratulations to Rev. Dr. Stephanie M. Raglin who received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY on May 20, 2023. Her dissertation is entitled “Bridging The Gap To God's Call: Breaking Through The Barriers of Advancement In The AME Church”. She also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Asbury Theological Seminary; and is the owner of Serenitee At Its Best Counseling Center, with a focus on those who have Substance Use Disorders, Co-Occurring Disorders, and other life issues. Dr. Raglin is the current pastor of Embry Chapel AME Church, Elizabethtown Ky and is the President of 13th District WIM.
*Dr. Thema Bryant Davis selected as one of the Black Activists Who Changed The Mental Health Industry Dr. Thema Bryant, a leading psychologist and activist, is the 2023 president of the American Psychological Association,, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology with more than 120,000 members. Under her coordinator role at Princeton University, she created the historic SHARE program, an initiative that brought awareness to sexual assault and harassment through intervention and prevention resources. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Her clinical and research interests center on interpersonal trauma and the societal trauma of oppression. She is a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women and a past APA representative to the United Nations. Dr. Thema also served on the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Committee on Women in Psychology. Dr. Thema was honored with a media award in 2016 for her work on the film Psychology of Human Trafficking. The emotional project dove deep into the psychology and understanding of human trafficking and modern-day slavery. She was also a recipient of the 2018 Donald Fridley Memorial Award for her excellence in trauma mentoring.
*Congratulations to Judicial Council Member Augustine, on Political Activism Award
*Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. selected to be featured in the Boston University Alumni magazine regarding life career iti Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. former Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana has been selected to be featured in the Boston University Alumni (class of 83) magazine “The Bostonia” - regarding life career activities as an Alum, as it relates to his swimming career as a Master Swimmer after age 50 and State Champion and National Olympic participant. Belated Congratulations to The Reverend Henry Postell II, Presiding Elder, North Orlando District and Consultant Beverly Postell - Servant Leaders Appreciation THE NURTURING NORTH DISTRICT HOST SERVANT LEADER'S APPRECIATION SERVICE (Click below to watch service recorded live.) Recorded live: Appreciation Service.
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On behalf of Social Action Commission Chair, Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield and Dr. Jacquelyn DuPont-Walker, Director, Social Action Commission, we extend congratulations as you praise God for the Joy of these significant milestones reached.
