Can anyone direct me where to go to get a documented,verifiable number of AME members, worldwide? Blessings Barbara Ransom

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

Answers

Dear Sis. Ransom

A suggestion would be to try the Office of Statics and Finance in Washington at 202-371-8700. They may be able to assist you. If not the office of the Information Officer of the Church Rev. Dr. Clement Fugh. (I do not have his number off-hand).

Good Luck and God Bless You

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

Dear Sis. The number for Rev. Dr. Clement Fugh (in Nashville) is (615)254-0911 Blessings to you

-- Anonymous, October 08, 2001

I think this information is somewhat restricted either by tradition or law. I'm sure it is only given to those with a "need to know". I don't disgree with that position. The potential for missuse is great. King David was disciplined by God for "numbering" the people. Would that have anything to do with the percieved position?

blessings,

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2001

Sister Ransom,

You will NEVER get a "documented, verifiable number of AME members" worldwide, in the United States or even in any one episcopal district, because so many pastors and presiding elders lie to keep the numbers up in order to justify the budgets they collect.

Pastors try to reduce membership sizes and they are encouraged to keep them high so they won't have to adjust the budgets. Bishops and presiding elders tell them the numbers may change over the year so don't change anything.

My church reported 466 members for decades, even though members were dying by the 10's each year with no increase in membership.

The only way for the general church to assess its members is to require each episcopal district to require a name listing of its churches' members with date and place of birth and to update that information annually. (I won't suggest Social Security numbers because that could lead to other problems if they fall into the wrong hands.)

There is so much ignorance and backward thinking in some of the churches that pastors and presiding elders often yeild to the members who believe the church is being too invasive when they ask for specific information in order not to rock the boat. These kinds of recommendations are then defeated in our voting elections.

Some people in higher positions don't want to know exactly how many members we have in the church because they want to hold onto inflated numbers in order to save face in the public's eyes.

Personally, I believe the church would BENEFIT from having an accurate record of its members. We can do more with what we have in a quality fashion than to keep fooling ourselves and suffering the arguments and curses of the people in the pews across the country who do not want to keep paying for DEAD PEOPLE.

Cheerio,

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

Rev. Stocker:

You are absolutely correct about the need for accuracy in our membership base. If the US government can engage in a decennial census shouldn't the AMEC do the same thing? I would propose that a census be conducted at least one year prior to the General Conference. I would furthermore put the responsibility for organizing the AME census in the hands of a competent third-party agent. This would ensure that no chicannery in the "numbers" will take place. The 4th book of the Pentatuch provides the rationale for why a census is needed. QED

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001

There is no doubt that an accurate count would benefit our church. The total budget could then be allocated on the basis of actual members. I suspect that is the very reason that we cannot get an actual count. This may be "Urban Legend" but it seems that I have heard of a General Conference ruling that "fixed" the membership to be reported at the Annual Conference.

I report my actual members and actual growth/loss. I have never been challenged to report more or less. Some pastors report record-setting Conversions and Accessions while retaining the same membership. I can't judge them. I am reluctant to believe that most of our pastors would deliberately falsify the Pastoral Report.

Blessings

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, October 10, 2001