Let me begin my post by saying I literally walked in the door after returning from the Pacific Northwest conference. I will give you highlights and write a more detailed report later. I am officially an AME minister, I was ordained by Bishop John Bryant on August 11, 2001. My church is now officially called St. Paul Community A.M.E Church! I cannot begin to tell you how happy, overjoyed, thrilled, I am. (Plus crying, laughing and just plain hugging the Holy Spirit.) My conference is on fire for the lord. And Bishop Bryant and Rev. C our episcopal supervisor are awesome, incredible, ANNOINTED BY GOD! True servants, brilliant preachers, and treated everyone with love, compassion, respect and generosity. Bishop Bryant is truly a servant of God! There was such humility and gentleness from him and Rev. C. I first met him in the lobby of the hotel and did not know he was the Bishop! He was carrying his own baggage, welcomed me, knew who I was! I thank God that as a clergy person I will have the opportunity to work on the initiatives that Bishop Bryant and Rev. C are instituting. They are FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!Bishop Brookins preached the ordination sermon. Wow! It was like listening to one of God's hand picked prophets. I am so honored he preached. Our conference had two new churches come into the denomination. Mine and "Holy Trinity A.M.E church" in Portland, Oregon. Now there will be two AME churches in portland and 2 churches in the state of oregon. Montana now has 3 A.M.E churches. 5 women were licensed to preach in Alaska by the Bishop. In total 7 women (including myself) came into the conference. Bishop Bryant visited the A.M.E church in Alaska this year. Rev. Dr. Casson retired and was honored royally! The Bishop commented that he went out with a bang, bringing in new churches and preachers. He received numerous awards and adulation. Which he so richly deserved. Presiding elder Carolyn Guidry preached his farewell sermon, and "rocked the house!!!" Dr. Casson requested she preach. Rev. Dr. John Hunter of first AME is the temporary presiding elder until Oct. when the Bishop will appoint a permanent one. Conference was held at Allen A.M.E in Tacoma, Washington Rev. Nixon is the pastor. And that man can preach!! Let me tell you my conference knows about the holy spirit. There is much more to tell, but I was on a bus for 24 hours, (bus driver had a heartattack) God took care of him and all of us. I missed you all, love you all, we got work to do chillin's the A.M.E church is on fire for the lord.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Answers

Thank you. We needed that.

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

There is so much to tell, next years annual conference for the Pacific Northwest will be held at Bethel A.M.E church in Spokane, Washington. Rev. Lonnie Mitchell is the pastor and conference secretary. I did not mention that Rev. Dr. Casson was the Presiding Elder and is truly an incredible man. He is so loved in our conference. Allen A.M.E in tacoma gave him a special musical celebration on August 6th. Well over 700 attended. On August 9th, Rev. Nixon and Allen A.M.E held a "1000 men march" from one of Tacoma's parks to the sancutary. The Bishop marched, it was ecumenical and the emphasis was on "Saving Our Sons" raising up young men with pride, freedom from drugs etc. S.O.S is one of Bishop Bryants initiatives that he has asked all churches in the fifth district to implement and each church gave an oral report during roll call about their work. Rev. Dr. Cee gave a report about how our A.M.E churches are rising up again in Cuba. When pastors in Cuba were asked what they needed, they said bicycles to get to houses to teach the good news, over 3,000 dollars was collected to buy bikes for pastors in Cuba. Plus churches were encouraged to raise money for our cuban pastors. YPD night was incredible, the youth put on a very, very moving service, replete with dance and singing. The Bishop encouraged the youth to stay in school. The youth thanked Dr. Casson for all his work and love toward the youth and presented him with an award. He was very moved. Rev. Dr. Cee spoke to the youth about abstinence and told them that even if they were sexually active they could start over by committing themselves to God. She asked all the youth who wanted to join the abstinence initiative to come forward and sign pledge cards of abstinence until marriage. In addition to the youth pledging, 3 female single clergywomen came forward and signed cards. (And yes I am single and I signed the card!! Yahoo!!) My 24 yr. old daughter who was not at the service heard what I did and laughed herself silly. Needless to say the word got out quickly that the 49 year old single minister from Montana who signed the card. I wanted the youth to know that there were clergy with them in this effort. Several of the youth thanked me for joining them. The entire conference had the annointing of the Holy Spirit, there was a special luncheon to honor the Bishop for his 40 years of preaching. It was open to those who wanted to go and was not mandatory. It cost $40.00 and it was for the luncheon which was filet mignon and salmon!! The luncheon was hosted by Rev. Dr. Casson. The food at Allen church was delicious. My favorite was the fried catfish. There were "women in ministry workshops" an "Aids workshop" with a presenter from the "Balm in Gilead" in New York City. "health and many more workshops" I was so impressed with missionary night and laity night. We had clergy from across the district and Presiding Elder Forbes from Kansas was there. I felt so welcomed in my conference. And several of the Pastors have offered to come to Montana to preach, help and bring their choirs. There was a lot of support from the people at the conference. People from the conference have volunteered to come and teach membership classes and to help us set up our missionary unit. God called me to be A.M.E and he was specific which conference I was to be in. I am so grateful I answered his call. The Pacific Northwest Conference in a word is CLASSY ! And we are growing. I feel so called to rural ministry and I am excited about this mission field. The three churches in montana have already started planning ways we will work together. I have left so much out, it was a jammed packed week. PLEASE keep Bishop Bryant, and Rev. Dr. Cee in your prayers, they work so hard and do so much for this district, the Bishop attended EVERYTHING! He wanted to know what was going on and shared his support. He and Rev. Dr. Cee were magnamous in their praise for everyone's help. I have met other Bishops and worked with other Bishops, I tell you my sisters and brothers we in the A.M.E church are blessed to have the Bishops we have. Pray for all of our Bishops. And if you have not heard Bishop Bryant, preach. Run, walk, crawl, but get to him so you can hear him. You will be blessed!! And the same holds true for Bishop Brookins, not only can he preach, he brings wisdom, hope, honesty, and solutions to the Bishoporic. And to those who say, I am trying to make points with the Bishop. I simply say the only points that count to me is pleasing my God and Savior Jesus Christ. I am a foot soldier; that is my gift from God. I am called to be in the spiritual trenches, I have a passion for ministry in Montana. And my colleagues have let me know they are glad someone wants to be in Montana, because they do not want to go!!!(heehee) The only promotion I want is when I am dead and promoted to glory to be with God. On earth I want to extent his boundaries in rural areas. Bishop Bryant's theme was the Prayer of Jabez, he wants us to look at prosperity in different ways, spiritual, and economically. He wants us to stop saying what we do not have and to humble ourselves to God, pray the prayer of Jabez and we will have!

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

WOW!!! What a fabulous report! I'm blessed just by the reading of it. What an awsome time it must have been.

Glad you're back home safe and sound. And now on to the work my sister!!! Peace and Joy. Carolyn (CeeJae1000@aol.com)

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Carolyn thank you for your kind words. And yes there is work waiting for me. I had two calls on my machine from two of my ministerial staff saying "we missed you and welcome home, we had a hospitalization, four deaths in the nursing home I am the chaplain of. Attempted suicide, eviction, rape and someone needs intensive counseling. This is rural ministry. So tomorrow with God by my side and Bible in hand I continue the work God called me to do. Rural ministry means new challenges, great distance, soliticing trust in small towns. And the hand of God! I am grateful he trusts me to such an awesome task. Carolyn for me this is pretty much a typical week, throw in some Red Cross board meetings, youth group, and a Basketball challenge that I am having with the men of my church this weekend. You get an idea. I am looking forward to the basketball challenge for it will be a community event at our local mall, 3 on 3. And if I beat this one person he will head our men's fellowship group. The congregation is coming and everyone is laughing. His wife, is coaching me. See rural ministry is never boring. Karl Malone look out here I come!

-- Anonymous, August 14, 2001

Oops!! I did not mention, 3 deacons were ordained, and 2 elders were ordained. Actually one of the deacons was reobligated from the Church In God of Christ. And many new ministerial students. I left out some things, but suffice it to say the Pacific Northwest Conference is growing, and our Bishop and Episcopal Supervisor and working hard on the mission field in the fifth district. And the congregation says AMEN!!

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

Reverend Rogers, I noticed that you named Reverend John Hunter as a temporary presiding elder. Whom did he replace and on what district? What district does Presiding Elder Carolyn Guidry serve and was she reassigned?

Thanks,

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001

Rev. Dr. John Hunter is the temporary Presiding Elder for the Pacific Northwest Conference. He is the Pastor of first A.M.E in Seattle. Rev. Dr. Ellis Casson was our Presiding Elder but he retired at annual conference after 48 years of ministry. Bishop Bryant announced that he will appoint a permanent Presiding Elder to the Pacific Northwest Conference at his planning meeting, Oct. 30, 2001. He also said he will move 3 ministers also at the Planning meeting. Presiding Elder Carolyn Guidry came to visit our annual conference as did other Presiding Elders. She is not being reassigned as far as I know. She presides in the Southern California district. She is an incredible woman!!!

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2001