Firstly, the official AME motto: what is it? I have know it all the years as GOD OUR FATHER, CHRIST OUR REDEEMER, MAN OUR BROTHER. During the past couple of General Conferences there was a movement to alter this motto to be more representative of the contemporary gender issue, but I though this proposal for amendment was defeated. Lately I see some bishops and pastors using a different modified version! Who can tell me with some sense and level of authority the official motto of the AME Church?

Secondly, all these 200+ years we have been addressing bishop's spouses as Mother, irrespective of their ordination status. There are addressing forms in the AME Book of Discipline for bishops, which was traditionally "REVEREND FATHER IN GOD" especially in the ordination rituals and ceremonies! With the election of the 1st female bishop in the AME Church, this may have been altered to read REVEREND MOTHER IN GOD" if I am not wrong! Lately, I hear people in both USA and Africa referring to ordained spouses as Reverend Mother Ingram, Reverend Mother Bryant, Reverend Mother etc. just to use examples for argument sake! The scenario here is that one should have referred to Bishop McKenzie's husband as Reverend Father McKenzie if he was an ordained minister! Or am I the only one at a lost?

Finally, who determine the titles?

Regards

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

Answers

Dear Rev. Hanse Very Good Question!!. The protocol of the Church is in a state of continual change. I am sure someone like Brother Jeryl or Brother Rob or Brother Bill Dickens (or maybe someone else) may be able to assist. I too would like to know. Blessings to you and our African Family

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2002

The correct way in Addressing Bishop McKenzie's husband would be "Supervisor McKenzie" or as Districts 14, 15, 17, 18, or 19 may call him "Father Supervisor."

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2002

Re the bishop's wives being addressed as "Mother" - I read somewhere (I think it was in this discussion group) that this is NOT an automatic title, but is endowed only on those who have served in Africa and have had the title bestowed on them by an African district.

I may not have all this exactly right, but I'm sure that I read that it is not automatic. It has to be "earned" or at least, bestowed.

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2002

Bro. Clark's interpretation is the same as mine. Someone on this BB last year clarified the title of "Mother". This title is granted strictly on meritorious accomplishment. Given our penchant to randomly bestow titles on folks (e.g. "Prophet so-and-so", "Apostle Smith", or the ubiquitous reference to "Dr."), it is refreshing to see discriminant use of the title "Mother" in the AMEC. QED

-- Anonymous, April 13, 2002