With the decline in AME membership over the past fifty or so years, it appears to me that the AME Church is top-heavy. Whould you support a measure to reduce the bench of bishops and all other general officers to a level consistent with the ratio of general officer to laity that existed fifty years ago. I would suggest we reduce the number of active bishops to ten by not electing bishops for the next two general conferences and combining the Episcopal Districts to reduce to the same level. For example, the whole Africa and Britian would be covered by one bishop. The general officers could be reduced by combining related functions into one office. The Editor of the Recorder could be placed within the Sunday School Union. Since the churches are forced to live within a budget with declining membership--should not the general officer staff do the same?

-- Anonymous, July 04, 1998

Answers

I disagree. If anything, the Bishop's bench should be increased. Smaller and more evenly distributed districts would provide the benefit of greater accessibility to a bishop by the pastors, churches and members of an episcopal district. It would also change the nature of the ministry of a bishop and provide greater opportunities for a bishop to minister in more personal and and effective ways. Reducing the number of bishops would increase the power and responsibilities of the remaining bishops. That may serve to move the bishops even further away from the pastors and churches and some of the duties and responsibilites they are called by God to perform. The duties and the numbers of general officers however, is a completely different matter. Those decisions require different criteria for consideration and those issues just might not be--might not be--as spiritually significant as those involving the biblical office of bishop.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 1998

I totally disagree with decreasing the number of active bishop in the AME Church. I can explain my feelings using evidence that I've seen. If I am not mistaken the 2nd Episcopal District includes Baltimore, Washington DC, Virginia, and North Carolina. Bishop Anderson probably has a hard enough time making it to every church in his district once a year. Now imagine if you cut out one or two Bishops and had to add Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Alabama, that would be horrendous. Imagine the work a Bishop would have to make it to conference, ordination,and preaching engagements in all the churches in that district. Membership in the AME church may decrease, but the amount of AME churches might not decrease. The Bishop has enough work as it is instead of increasing their work, try to lighten their load a bit. Bishops are humans too.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 1999

 

On Sun, 9 May 1999 21:00:46, "Tom Benjamin" <b enjamin@prcn.org> wrote:   > The trends in four separate studies (Triaxys, Yardeni, Weiss and Statscan) > released in the past two weeks all contain consistent information: >  > 1) Budgets are increasing. > 2) Expenditures lag budgets by shockingly large numbers. > 3) An appallingly small number of firms are now ready.   Add to this,   a) The few large shops that did do the remediation were enough to increase the demand for COBOL programmers.  Even though in 1995/6, there was a glut of such programmers, their rates and job want-ads increased in 1997 and 1998.  We'll see how 1999 plays out.   b) Places like Colorado Springs and the DeeCee city government apprear to be starting just now.   c) Other places, did I say the FAA?  Seem to be going backwards, 99%, 95% 90+%, etc.   Sure, this is anecdotal evidence, the DeeCee city government might be in fine shape and the Feds gave them fifty million dollars for the fun of it.  Maybe every other city is done.  Maybe the hospital I know in Maryland that lost two MIS directors in the last few years, maybe they'll do OK.   The DeeCee geekvine matches Tom Benjamin's position.   To be fair to the pollys, I know of one DC area organization that is in fine shape.  I cannot reveal their identity but they are a household name.  Knowing how hard their staff worked to bring them to their present state, I am very doubtful of other organizations.   In a few years, when the story of the Y2K disaster is written, that's assuming that there are people who still know how to read and write, it will be interesting to write my memoirs.   If enough of us manage to walk away from the crash landing, I've got the makings of a techno-best-seller in the non-fiction column.   cory hamasaki http://www.kiyoinc.co m/current.html

-- Anonymous, May 10, 1999

Subject:	Re: America's Largest Companies Among Y2K Laggards
Date:	1999/05/10
Author:	cory hamasaki <kiyoinc@ib m.XOUT.net>
	Posting History

 

On Sun, 9 May 1999 21:00:46, "Tom Benjamin" <b enjamin@prcn.org> wrote:   > The trends in four separate studies (Triaxys, Yardeni, Weiss and Statscan) > released in the past two weeks all contain consistent information: >  > 1) Budgets are increasing. > 2) Expenditures lag budgets by shockingly large numbers. > 3) An appallingly small number of firms are now ready.   Add to this,   a) The few large shops that did do the remediation were enough to increase the demand for COBOL programmers.  Even though in 1995/6, there was a glut of such programmers, their rates and job want-ads increased in 1997 and 1998.  We'll see how 1999 plays out.   b) Places like Colorado Springs and the DeeCee city government apprear to be starting just now.   c) Other places, did I say the FAA?  Seem to be going backwards, 99%, 95% 90+%, etc.   Sure, this is anecdotal evidence, the DeeCee city government might be in fine shape and the Feds gave them fifty million dollars for the fun of it.  Maybe every other city is done.  Maybe the hospital I know in Maryland that lost two MIS directors in the last few years, maybe they'll do OK.   The DeeCee geekvine matches Tom Benjamin's position.   To be fair to the pollys, I know of one DC area organization that is in fine shape.  I cannot reveal their identity but they are a household name.  Knowing how hard their staff worked to bring them to their present state, I am very doubtful of other organizations.   In a few years, when the story of the Y2K disaster is written, that's assuming that there are people who still know how to read and write, it will be interesting to write my memoirs.   If enough of us manage to walk away from the crash landing, I've got the makings of a techno-best-seller in the non-fiction column.   cory hamasaki http://www.kiyoinc.co m/current.html

-- Anonymous, May 10, 1999

Yes we need to decrease the bench of Bishops...We are going to retire 2 Bishops, in 2000 pay them retirement and travel (around $80K totally) then elect 2, then in 2004 we will retire 9 (around 400k a year) then elect 9...lets be real the total funds for the church hasn't increased to that tune...We have everything in the church coporate america has, except...Jesus & benefits... What does all the Bishops, Presiding Elders and General/Connectional officers do except get rich? Why should any AME church be AME? What are the benefits of this faith other than Fellowship? Our Church Ext. department is a joke...How does any AME Church benefit from being AME?

-- Anonymous, May 11, 1999

Act 1. Flint

Flint: Banks are fine. You people are doomers.

a: Are you going to remove all your money from the bank?

Flint: uh , yes.

Act 2. RMS

RMS: Hodel doesn't know anything about NERC.

Sysman: RMS, Hodel is a former NERC Chairman!

Act 3. Stephen Poole

If it were not for the fact that it falls on the millennium, Y2K would be relinquished to the realm of the Mystical Dawn.

Act 4. Pat

Anybody that knew their company was failing and trying to cover it up would be screaming it from the highest hill tops.

Act 5. Hoff

Intel CIO: Imported data may be a big problem.

Hoff: Naw.

Gartner Group: Imported Data may be a big problem.

Hoff: Noper.

FED: Imported data may be a big problem.

Hoff: ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzz

US Senate: Imported data may be a big problem.

Hoff: Flint, did you say mostly 10s and 20s?

-- Anonymous, May 12, 1999

A reduction in the number of Bishops in the AME Church would be a start. The AME church needs to lighten the load at the top if they plan on making it very far into the next millenium. At the present rate the AMEC is going, it will cease to exist in the near future. The AMEC has become "ALL ABOUT MONEY". The young people in the AMEC are leaving to other denominations in droves. Let's get real, the young people are the future of the AMEC. The present example of AMEC leadership does not appear to be too concerned about the future of The AME CHURCH!

-- Anonymous, May 16, 1999

I'm not certain that is really a good way to go. I agree that some of the roles and responsiblities of some of our bishops make us wonder what they really do sometime. I think the church would be better served by having a reorganization of departments and also redistricting based on the population of our churches in an area. we need to empower our bishops to do more in terms of ministry that will foster growth in our churches especially smaller congregations under 150 members. We also need to be more inclusive as a church and realize that the gospel message is for all people regardless of race. Its time for our church to focus on reaching out to all people and not just black people only. Remember Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the whole world!

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000