The Piedmont Annual
Conference
Seventh Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal
Church
103rd Session
October 8-12, 2013
Mount carmel African Methodist Episcopal Church 209 Mt.
Carmel Church Road * Gray Court, SC 29645
The Right Reverend
Richard Franklin Norris
President of the Conference & Presiding
Prelate
Mother Mary Ann Norris
Episcopal Supervisor
THE REV. JUDY M. RICHARDSON
Presiding Elder, Greenville District
THE REV. SAMUEL L. MCPHERSON
Presiding Elder, Abbeville-Greenwood District
The Rev. roland e. D.
Sigman
Host Pastor
-
THE
RESOLUTION -
Whereas,
150 years ago, Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne, following the Emancipation
Proclamation, sent out the preachers to reorganize the AME Church in South
Carolina and to organize the AME Church in the South. He assembled those
preachers in May, 1863 in Charleston, SC to organize the South Carolina Annual
Conference, the city of Bishop Payne’s birth. Years earlier this was the site
of an a near insurrection that caused the SC legislature to shut down all
assemblies of blacks in the state, including the church. The AME Church grew significantly in the
South after that organization. In two
years, each Southern state had its own Annual Conference. The AME Church moved to the Upcountry in the
latter part of that decade. The confines
now known as the Piedmont Conference was previously a part of the SC Conference
then the Columbia Conference, before ceding off in 1910 as the Piedmont
Conference. Today, the Piedmont boasts
of 65 churches, almost 10,000 members and many beautiful edifices. Today the Piedmont is holding its own and
doing well!
Whereas,
at the close of the 102st session of the Annual Conference, the
pastor, delegate and people of Mt. Carmel AME Church swung open wide the door
on welcome hinges to experience mountaintop entertainment to host the 103rd
session of the Annual Conference. Mt.
Carmel’s planning has been evident as we have been ascending upon the grounds
long before the week that the conference was called into session, to meet, to
rehearse, to review logistics and to prepare.
Whereas,
at the call of the 116th elected and consecrated Bishop of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rt. Rev. Richard Franklin Norris and
his constant companion, Mother Mary Ann Norris, our Episcopal Leaders
Extraordinaire, restructured the conference in an effort to be inclusive of all
the component ministries that constitute the Nation State of SC.
Whereas,
the first order of business for the pre-conference activities was that our
Youth Witness Morning, held October, 5, 2013. On that clear Saturday morning,
our YPD’ers assembled and challenged the conference through a skit comparing
the “old” church with the “new” church.
The YPD’ers suggested that there is room in the sanctuary for both
groups and together, we become one body.
The Allen Stars and the Youth Auxiliary did a superb job welcoming us
with their recitations and drill team presentation. We agree with the drill team, the Piedmont
YPD is the best and commend the YPD Leadership, Sis. Mary H. Wideman, Director
and Sis. Jalesa Weaver, President. We
must also recognize that although Sis. Weaver could not attend due to taking
the SAT, the Conference YPD 2nd Vice President, Bro. Mathew
Childress, did a masterful job presiding over the service.
Whereas,
on that same afternoon, the Conference Minister’s Spouses dined at Stella’s
Restaurant in Simpsonville, SC at the call of their president, Mrs. Erica
Sutton Dowling. They enjoyed food and fellowship as only spouses of those
called of God could share.
Whereas,
the pre-conference activities showcased 20 of the Piedmont’s finest young
ladies and gentlemen in the Debutante Master Commission Celebration on Sunday,
October 6. The 11 young men and 9 young
ladies represented the local churches with dignity and class. Thank God for the
Commissioner, Sis. Barbara A. Wells, and the Associate Commissioner, the Rev.
Gregory E. Singleton, who again did a marvelous job with the Ceremony.
Whereas,
the women in white, otherwise known as the Conference Branch Women’s Missionary
Society, conducted its Annual Meeting and election of officers on Monday
morning, October 7. The president, Sis. Bessie E. Williams, and her corps of
officers, held a successful meeting. The
meeting was followed by a delicious lunch celebrating the new Sarah Allen torch
lighters, Mrs. Emma Goodwin and Mrs. Mary Aiken. Later that evening, at 6 PM sharp, once again,
the angels in white encamped upon Mt. Carmel to worship for the WMS Night in White
Service. A former Conference WMS
officer, a current pastor’s spouse and a pastor in her own right, the Rev.
Beatrice Ophelia Smith Coleman, pastor of Mt. Pleasant AME Church, Ninety Six,
SC, challenged the WMS. Our own Supervisor,
Mother Mary Ann Norris also sang “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus” to the glory
of God!
Whereas,
on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013, at 8 AM sharp, the President of the Annual
Conference, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, called the conference to order with
the roll call of every pastor, delegate and conference officers and member
(ministerial candidates) of the conference.
As the clock struck 10 AM, our Bishop gave the exhortation for the
Opening Worship Convocation. The
preacher of the Annual Sermon was the Rev. James E. Speed, Sr., pastor of the
Allen Temple AME Church, Greenville, SC.
Rev. Speed admonished the conference to “Thank God for the Church” taken
from Philippians 1. With power and
great conviction, the conference was moved by the preaching of the gospel as
Rev. Speed told the conference of a litany of reasons to be thankful for the
church. The choirs of Mt. Carmel and
Allen Temple rendered melodious music during the worship experience. We were also graced with the presence of
Retired Bishops Frederick Calhoun James and Zedekiah Lazette Grady Retired
Episcopal Supervisor, Mother Carrie R. Grady, General Officer and Mrs. George
and Phoenicia Flowers, Presiding Elders, Pastors and Lay persons from across
the Seventh Episcopal District. After
lunch, Bishop Norris heard and received the reports of the labors of the
Presiding Elder and Pastors of the entire Greenville District.
Whereas,
Tuesday night was reserved for the men of the conference to lead in
worship. The conference Sons of Allen,
under the leadership of Brother Solomon Hampton, presented a spiritual worship
service which featured the Conference SOA Choir and the preaching of the Rev.
George H. Oliver, pastor of the Zion Chapel AME Church, McCormick, SC. Rev. Oliver preached from the subject “Step
it up Man- Be God Ready”. Rev. Oliver’s
preaching was sound and his singing was melodious. The SOA were graced with the
presence of the Connectional SOA President, Bro. George Brown.
Whereas,
The Rev. Dr. Allen W. Parrott, SED Director of Christian Education guided the
Conference Institute. The conference
listened to a meaningful and melodious music workshop by The Rev. Randolph
Miller, pastor of Nichols Chapel AME Church, Charleston, SC, a meaningful and
marvelous ministries presentation by the Rev. Jarrett Washington, Pastor of St.
James AME Church, Johns Island and a delightfully divine discipleship presentation by the Rev. William
Miller, Pastor of St. Johns AME Church, Cottageville, SC
Whereas,
at high noon, the Conference Women in Ministry, led by the Rev. Lebbie L.
Ligon, Conference Coordinator observed their inaugural Wednesday Noon Hour of
Power. The Spirit of the most high God shined in and through the Rev. Sandra
Smith as she preached to us a stellar message from Genesis 37- “What If … But
God” After lunch, Bishop Norris received
the reports of the Abbeville-Greenwood District from the Presiding Elder,
Pastor and People and enthusiastically thanked the District for the work during
the past conference year.
Whereas,
the visionary leadership and Godly wisdom of Bishop Norris gifted this body a
collaborative worship effort of the Young Adult Ministries and Clergy of this
conference. The Rev. Reginald C. Morton, a son of this conference and Pastor of
Mt. Hebron AME Church, Prosperity, SC strangely warmed our hearts from Isaiah’s
6th Chapter and the thematic emphasis “Lord, Can You Hear Me Now?”
God’s Shekinah Glory reigned and ruled in this place to such a degree that the
YAM ministry team was lead to rededicate themselves collectively and another
Young Adult rededicated himself individually.
Whereas,
on Thursday, October 10, Dr. Parrott resumed the Conference Institute. Mt. Carmel welcomed back a former Pastor in
the personage of Rev. Dr. Gregory Grooms, the Pastor of the St. Phillip AME
Church of Eastover, SC. Dr. Grooms made history relevant and entertaining as he
regaled us with the life, work and witness of Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne in
observance of the sesquicentennial of the organization of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church in the South.
Whereas,
more than 143 years ago, in the Cokesbury Community of Greenwood, SC, Bishop
John Miflin Brown founded the Payne Institute, as a way to educate the nearly
freed slaves of the state of South Carolina on the secondary and collegiate
level. Having since moved to Columbia, SC and renamed after the founder of the
AME Church, Allen University is now 600 students strong and its future is
brighter than ever. To further solidify
that future, the chairman of the board, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris has continued
the tradition of making Thursday Allen University Support Day in each Annual
Conference. This year, the conference
was introduced to Dr. Lady June Cole, the interim President of the University. Dr. Cole informed the conference of Allen’s
progress and promise. The school boasts
of 600 students! Dr. Peter L. Felder, II and the Allen University Choir to
represent the school. During the Thursday noonday service, Allen’s choir sang
to the glory of God sweet spirituals in our hearing. The conference gave to
Allen University $61,440 in support of Allen.
After lunch, the order of the day was the Report of the conference board
of examiners. Bishop carefully examined
each candidate. The conference voted to
elect and ordain one Itinerant Deacon and two Itinerant Elders. Bishop commended the board for its hard work.
Whereas,
the Conference Lay Organization held its Annual Lay Witness Night on Thursday
night, October 10. The Conference was mesmerized by the President of the Sumter
District Organization, Bro. Dale D. Wilson. He told the conference to “Loose
Him and Let Him Go”. Our conference Lay
President, Sis. Brenda L. Holland was proud of those joining the conference Lay
Organization upon invitation from the Bishop (some of whom were from her local
church) and that so many visitors from across the state of SC came to witness
this great service.
Whereas,
the Conference Institutes continued on Friday a technology presentation by the
Rev. Sterling Dowling, a discipleship presentation by a former pastor in the
conference, the Rev. Robert E. Kennedy, and a gentleman who represented the
Affordable Care Act.
Whereas,
at the noon day hour, the conference honored the pastoral services of our
retiree, the Rev. Carrie B. Samuel, who in 23 years of pastoring only pastored
two churches. The noon day message was
preached by the Rev. Clifford Jackson, pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church,
McCormick, SC who preached, “God is in the Storm.” Using the story of Jesus and his disciples in
a boat on rough seas, Rev. Jackson allowed God to use him and bless us!
Whereas,
the Service of Ordination was a true Celebration of the labors of those being
ordained. Our bishop engaged the current
pastor of the site of the very first Piedmont Annual Conference 103 years ago,
the Rev. Furman M. Miller, Jr., who is also one of the members of the Piedmont
Conference Board of Examiners. Rev.
Miller’s sermon, “Now What?” was taken from 1 Timothy 4. He instructed the sisters regarding who to
handle their ministry post ordination, but also bless the conference with the
message. We were also blessed with the music ministry of the Greenville
District.
Whereas,
The Church School was called to order at 10 AM by the Conference Church School
Superintendent, the Rev. Wayman Coleman, III on Saturday, October 12. The conference engaged in a meaningful
discussion of the lesson, taught by Bro. Duane F. Cooper of Jefferson Chapel
AME Church Anderson, SC
Whereas,
Bishop Norris completed the business of the by asking the Discplinary
Questions. The Conference voted to
accept the invitation of the Rev. Dr. Julius M. Johnson and the good people of
the Long Cane AME Church, Abbeville, SC for the next session of the conference,
to meet at the call of the bishop.
Whereas,
for the Closing Worship Convocation, we were blessed with the leading of
worship by conference pastors, and the preaching of the gospel by the Presiding
Elder of the Mount Pleasant District, the Rev. Juenarrl Keith who took us to
the mountaintop, proclaiming a dynamic message from Luke’s 8th chapter
entitled “Sink or Swim”
Therefore,
be it resolved that this 103rd session go down in history as the greatest in
the life of this conference.
Be
it further resolved that we offer thanks and high commendations to the first
family, The Rev. Roland E. D. (Rev. Gee) Sigman, and the good people of Mt.
Carmel African Methodist Episcopal Church, for making us so welcome during our
stay here. Pastor’s Sigman’s and Mt.
Carmel’s hosting was second to none. The
free water, the snacks, the hot fish, and other tasty delights during the week
were just what the conference needed and desired. The smiles on the faces of our hosts, the
obvious work of the hosts and the way they carried out the hosting was evident
and much appreciated.
Be
it further resolved that we thank the presiding elders and pastors and
ministers of this conference for every sermon preached, every prayer prayed,
every ministry developed, every hospital visit, every encouraging word and even
every rebuke. Your service has been
uplifting, edifying, and just what we needed for our spiritual development.
Be
it further resolved that we thank the President of the 103rd Session
of this Annual Conference, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin Norris and Mrs.
Mary Ann Norris for their continued leadership during this conference. We praise God for our singing, sensational,
and sweet Episcopal Supervisor. We all
love her quick wit, respect her straight forwardness, and appreciate her
gestures of good cheer. We will “B-E-E-E” sweet because epitomizes
sweetness. We praise God for our
Presiding Prelate, who is all that a chief pastor should be—compassionate,
caring and Christ-centered. Our bishop is a thinker and a doer, a mover and a
shaker, a gentleman and a scholar. Our
bishop’s reverberant voice is smooth as silk but is sure as gold. The structure of our annual conference now is
all inclusive. Everyone is championed at
the conference: Youth, Spouses, DMC, WMS, SOA, Young Preachers, YAM, Lay and
Clergy. Only our bishop, the Right
Reverend Richard Franklin Norris can mastermind such a week. The Piedmont Conference and the Seventh
Episcopal District are honored to have this dynamic duo at the helm of our
state.
Be
it finally resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be placed in the annuls
of the conference records as so directed by the President of the Annual
Conference, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris.
Respectfully
Submitted
The
Piedmont Conference Resolution Committee 2013
The Rev. Myron D. Hill, Chair
The Rev. Sterling J. Dowling
The Rev. Harold Chapman
The Rev. Billy Cleveland
Mrs. Margaret Wilson
Mr. Carnell Crawford
Ms. Valerie Houston
Ms. Victoria Anderson
Mrs. Barbara F. Ramey
Mrs. Mary H. Wideman
Ms. Audrea Klugh
Mrs. Annie V. Williams
~ A SUPPLEMENTAL RESOLUTION ~
Whereas,
the Piedmont South Carolina Annual Conference has met in session October 8-12,
2013 at the call of our Presiding Bishop, the Right Reverend Richard Franklin
Norris, the 116th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church and our Episcopal Supervisor, Mother Mary Ann Norris
at Mt. Carmel AME Church, Gray Court, SC with the Rev. Roland E. D. Sigman
serving as Host Pastor, the Rev. Judy M. Richardson serving as Host Presiding
Elder, and Rev. Samuel L. McPherson serving as Co-Host Presiding Elder.
Whereas,
this conference chooses to support the President of the United States, The
Honorable Barack Hussein Obama, who has made it the centerpiece of his campaign
and presidency to allow all Americans Affordable Health Care. This law was
passed by both chambers of the federal legislative government in 2010. This platform got his elected in 2008 and
re-elected in 2012. This platform is
rooted in scripture, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least
of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Mathew 25:40.
Whereas,
the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law. The announcement of
this upholding was made at the 49th Session of the AME General
Conference held last year in Nashville, TN.
Whereas,
the US Senate has done an admirable job of defending the law of the land. The US Senate has
fulfilled its constitutional duty of “promoting the general welfare” of the
constituents they were sent to serve.
Furthermore, they have exercised their good godly conscience to this
matter.
Whereas,
the US House of Representatives have grossly failed to exhibit such
demeanor. They have repeatedly disrespected
the president, ignored the will of the people, and consequently justified their
wrong doing by their own jaded conscience. They have shut down the government,
abandoned military families, federal employees, seniors and children. Their jaded conscience, while having a Tea
Party, may even cause the government to default on its debt obligations.
Whereas,
the overwhelming majority of the Piedmont Annual Conference is located in the 3rd
and 4th Congressional Districts of SC, both represented by US
Congressmen who vehemently oppose the President of the US and are part and
parcel of the shutdown and disrespect.
Be
it resolved that the Piedmont Annual Conference will go on record to support
the disciplinary mandate to follow the newly published AME Discipline, pg. 18,
the 23rd Article of Religion, which in essence says for AMEs to
follow the rulers of the United States of America. Our current commander in chief is the
Honorable Barack Hussein Obama, who is championing this call for Affordable
Health Care.
Be
it further resolved that the Piedmont Annual Conference will declare Sunday,
October 13, 2013 as Justice Sunday. Each
newly appointed pastor in the conference will remind their congregations of
their social and civic responsibilities to the cause of all of God’s
children. Subsequent to the passing of
this resolution, each pastor will be sent an email with an attachment for
his/her congregation whereby they may reproduce the names, email addresses and
telephone numbers of these Congressmen.
On Monday, October 14, 2013, all members of the Piedmont Annual
Conference will email and/or call their Congressmen in support of the
Affordable Health Care.
Be
it further resolved that a copy of the resolution by sent to every newspapers with
the confines of the conference registering our support for the Affordable
Health Care Act.
Be
it further resolved that a copy of the resolution by sent to the AME Christian
Recorder Online to immediate release.
Be
it finally resolved that the Conference continue to be on guard, watch as well
as pray, and mobilize all voters for the common good.
Resolutions
Committee
The
Rev. Myron D. Hill, Chair
The
Rev. Sterling J. Dowling
The
Rev. Harold Chapman
The
Rev. Billy Cleveland
Mrs.
Margaret Wilson
Mr.
Carnell Crawford
Ms.
Valerie Houston
Ms.
Victoria Anderson
Mrs.
Barbara F. Ramey
Mrs.
Mary H. Wideman
Mrs.
Audrea Klugh
Ms.
Annie V. Williams
APPENDIX
Congressional Representation of Piedmont
Conference
The Honorable Jeff Duncan
3rd Congressional District
Anderson, Laurens, Abbeville and Greenwood
Counties
116
Cannon HOB
Washington,
DC 20515
Phone:
(202) 225-5301
Fax:
(202) 225-3216
303
West Beltline Blvd
Anderson,
SC 29625
Phone:
(864) 224-7401
Fax:
(864) 225-7049
200
Courthouse Public Square (PO Box 471)
Laurens,
SC 29360
Phone:
(864) 681-1028
Fax:
(864) 681-1030
The
Honorable Trey Gowdy
Greenville
and Spartanburg Counties
Washington, DC
1404 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515
Phone (202) 225-6030
Fax (202) 226-1177
Greenville
104 South Main St. Greenville, SC 29601 Phone: (864) 241-0175 Fax: (864) 241-0982
Spartanburg
101 West St. John St.
Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: (864) 583-3264 Fax: (864) 583-3926 Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM |
