I would like to know if the AME denomination has any national programs or strategic plans focused on solutions to problems that we African-Americans have in this country. It seems to me that we African-Americans have a lot of institutions and organizations but they are not organized and united in their efforts to address our problems. It is frustrating to me that we don't even have an organization of organizations. This organization could consist of the national leaders or his representative of the most influential institutions in the African-American community which include the following:

National leaders of the Religious Denominations(AME,COGIC, National Baptist Convention,Nation of Islam, etc.)

The presidents of the 120 plus African-American colleges and universities or his representative

The presidents of all our social organizations such as the fraternities, masons, The Links, etc.

The editors or his representative of our African-American newspapers, magazines, radio stations, etc.

The CEO's or his representative of our African-American Enterprises

The members of the Congressional Black Caucus

Any African-American who has national influence,

It would be so exciting to have an organization consisting of representatives from these organizations who met yearly at a school like Hampton University or Howard University to map a strategic plan for solving the problems that we African-Americans are confronted with daily. I know that the AME denomination is well organized but we African-Americans need to duplicate your model of leadership.

Sincerely,

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

Answers

Run with it. You have the ball.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2000

Thank you very much for responding to my letter Mr. Paris. However, I first attempted to run with this idea back in 1986 when I was a poor graduate student at Hampton University. I spent $50.00 of my much needed money at the time in sending the content of my previous post to over 80 some national African-American organizations. I received no response to my inquiry. Some two years after, I saw a news article that the NAACP was attempting to start an organization of African-American organizations. However, this African-American council did not materialize. At this point, my thoughts are that only a national organization such as the NAACP or a great denomination like the A.M.E. church which has for some 200 years been the impetus behind social improvement amongst us African-Americans accomplish such a task. Mr. Paris I would still like to know the answer to my previous question. Thank you very much for your time.

Sincerely,

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, November 06, 2000

Forgive me for my flip answer. This may be the start of something big. Since you have access to the Internet, please provide me the Name, Address, Web Site Address, Leadership, etc. and a brief summary of what that organization is about and I will publish this document on the Internet on my web site, http://www.faithpbs.com. That's a beginning. God Bless. Pasto Paris

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2000

Thank you again Mr. Paris for responding to my post. However I am unable to give you the information you requested because the organization of organizations or African-American council that I proposed does not exist as far as I know. However, I assume that you are a member of the A.M.E. denomination and I still want to know about any national programs that this great denomination has that address the social problems that we African-Americans face. Are there any national scholarships for A.M.E. members? Are there any national christian education programs for the spiritual edification of the members. I know that the A.M.E. denomination has about 18 colleges, universities, and seminaries. This is a most impressive accomplishment in itself. Is there a national credit union? Are there issues or resolutions made at your national conventions which members are encouraged or expected to focus their attention. Is there a national bookstore of A.M.E. literature? I was fortunate to read a book called Blacks in the Old Testament by an A.M.E. bishop named Alfred Dunston.

Sincerely, JazzMan

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2000

However, I assume that you are a member of the A.M.E. denomination and I still want to know about any national programs that this great denomination has that address the social problems that we African-Americans face. Over the years the Connectional Church has had a number of initiatives. Some are national, some are international. The one that comes to mind at that level is SADA. for more information, check with Rev. Jonathan Weaver, pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo in Maryland. Other activities include our connectional missionary program, our connectional social action commisssion. For more information on these, check with the denominational web-site: http://www.amecnet.org/

Are there any national scholarships for A.M.E. members? Not to my knowledge, but many of our schools do offer scholarships, and some schools offer free or lowered tuition to AME members. To reasearch the schools, please refer to the amalgamated list, found at http://www.ghg.net/jlpayne/schools.html .

Are there any national christian education programs for the spiritual edification of the members. The Connectional Christian Education Congress meets either annually or biannually. Rev. kenneth Hill is in charge of that. In addition, each district offers a Christian Education Congress/Convocation, usually occurring in the summer months. Check with the bishop of your district for details.

Is there a national credit union? To the best of my knowledge, no. Some of the larger churches (FAME, Los Angeles; Allen, Jamaica NY; Ebemnezer, Ft. Washington MD; Wesley Chapel, Houston TX) have their own Credit Unions. Perhaps a connectional one would be an excellent idea, but credit union regulations are a little different from the banking regulations that have over the last 20 years permitted the consolidation we are seeing in the banking industry.

Are there issues or resolutions made at your national conventions which members are encouraged or expected to focus their attention. Yes! See the minutes of the General Conference, or summary articles here at AME Today.

Is there a national bookstore of A.M.E. literature? Yes. there is a link out there to the AME Church Sunday School Union, which also sells our books. I believe the Sunday School Union can be accessed from the denominational site given above.

I was fortunate to read a book called Blacks in the Old Testament by an A.M.E. bishop named Alfred Dunston. If this is a web-based read, I would appreciate the URL so I can add it to my AME History site - http://www.ghg.net/jlpayne/bishops.html. Hope these resources help.

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2000

Thank you very much Jerryl for responding to my question. I find your answers to be most encouraging. The book that I mentioned was a fortunate discovery on my part in one of the African- American bookstores. I would imagine that AMAZON.COM would have this title. Once again think you very much for your answers.

Sincerely,

JazzMan

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2000