If you were given the assignment to write a paper on "The State of the Church(AME)", what would you write.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

Answers

I would write that our church is in dire need of writing our Doctrine and Discipline in "make sense" verbiage, not leaving "loopholes" to be subjectively interpreted to fit an unscrupulous persons situation. To clearly set forth what the duties and responsibilities are of the pastors, the boards, etc. To actually accomplish what is designated in the Discipline. This is an area that has me so frustrated at this time, that I am at a loss how to proceed. I would love to know why you ask the question?

-- Anonymous, March 19, 2001

I would like to offer unconditional support for Sis. Ransom's vision about the State of the AME Church. I respect the Doctrine & Discipline but unlike some I do not worship it as Canon literature. If the ambiguities which permeate this book are identified, purged and replaced with clarity in speech and interpretation we can go a long way as a denomination towards the work of redemptive service. Barbara, if you desire a co-author of the paper let me know :-) QED

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

Bill, thank you for your offer. I wouldn't even know how to begin to tackle this. It would have to be an "area by area" project. How about I co-author for you? It really is not clear on the intent of several topics, when you seek answers from the Discipline, you find words like, "should", "may", nothing definitive or that provides exact guidance.

-- Anonymous, March 20, 2001

I would write that the state of our church is in dire need of the spirit of the Lord. I was born and raised A.M.E. and the church as a whole is in my blood. As a lay person, it saddens me to see the path in which our church is going. I get so sick of the "Discipline" only being pulled off of a dusty shelf to make a point at a board meeting. Church services any more are cries and pleas for the almighty budget.I understand that I belong to a connectional church and budgets are necessary. I dont have a problem with that. But when money is more important than winning souls, our church's stae is in trouble. I a having a hard time right now dealing with some of the goings on within our church. I pray to God everyday for the A.M.E. Church. May God bestow His blessings on anyone who tries to figure it out.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 2001

Let me try a living parable to state my thoughts. The U.S. Senate is debating the issue of Election Finance Reform with the idea of eliminating so-called "soft money" because the presence of such money will influence office holders once the are elected, President for example. The person takes an oath of office that states how he/she will exercise the office. That oath frees the individual from all constraints imposed by the money used to get him/her elected. It is not in the LAW but the moral fibre of the individual. If I were to rewrite the AME Discipline, I'd try to boil it down to no more than 10 items. Blessings Pastor Al Paris

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001