Dear Brothers and Sisters

With the General Conference at the end of June and no information on the General Board. I am wondering if there are any plans elevating Bishop McKenzie to President of the Council. Does anyone know when she will become President.

Thanks

-- Anonymous, April 04, 2004

Answers

Someone posted on the board, months ago, that she either was president, or that she will officially be appointed president as of General Conference 2004. That was my understanding.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2004

BISHOP VASHTI MCKENZIE IS NEXT IN LINE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE BISHOPS' COUNCIL, BY ORDER OF ELECTION. BISHOP NORRIS IS CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT. SHE BECOMES PRESIDENT JUST PRIOR TO THE 2004 GENERAL CONFERENCE. ANOTHER HISTORY MAKING EVENT!

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2004

What a tragedy. So be it. Let all the poisions leak out.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2004

Brother Harris:

By now, we are all aware of your dislike of women as preachers/bishops in the Spirit of Paul's infamous letter.

This suggestion is being made in the spirit of love:

Go to General Conference and do something about it......

We have laid out the scriptural argument for women in ministry. If you are reading your Bible using only the English, I can see where you have a problem. But if you are using an interlinear Bible (so you can see the Hebrew/Greek with the English), and a Strong's Concordance, there is IRREFUTABLE proof that women belong in ministry.

In fact, let me leave you with this one. Romans 16:1 -

Phoebe is described as a "deacon", "deaconness", or "helper" depending on the English translation you have. The GREEK word he uses is "diakonos", the SAME word he uses to describe the office of a deacon in two other letters.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2004

Rev. Harper.

You're right - at least about going to the general conference and doing something about it. I obviously am in the minority with my objection as evidenced by the overwhelming numbers of women in our pulpits, and the time has come to let the subject rest as far as the A.M.E. Church is concerned. I can only pray that those who have heard my arguement know that it's in defense of God's Word that I struggle. And despite thoughtful, considered disagreement on both sides of the discussion, we can all trust the TRUTH will yet prevail. So shall it be.

In Love, In Christ,

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2004

Brother Ron:

You would indeed have a difficult time in defending your position at General Conference. Women have been in the forefront of Jesus' ministry and populate the majority of the AME Church. Richard Allen was in direct support of women ministers and supported Jarena Lee. Bishop Turner of old supported women in the ministry as well. God bless.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2004

To Ron Harris, If you are that disgusted with Women in Leadership positions in your demonination, why don't you just leave rather than stay and be miserable? Of course, I don't know where else you can go and not find women in pulpits, pastoring, supervising, serving as bishop etc. By the time you find that demonination or non demoninational group, the AME church will have elected scores of females to the bench and America will have it's first woman president. By the way, if the Episcopal church can stomach the fact they have an openly gay bishop serving, (clearly an abomination before our Lord) you might agree that your bias or misinterpretation of the scriptures towards women in ministry is not as poisionous as you think. I ask myself, who would I rather have as my leader and leading God's Church, a righteous woman of God filled with His spirit or an openly gay male who divorced his wife and moved in with his male lover to practice and live in sin? HMMMMM

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2004

A.C. opines -

". I ask myself, who would I rather have as my leader and leading God's Church, a righteous woman of God filled with His spirit or an openly gay male who divorced his wife and moved in with his male lover to practice and live in sin?"

Well, if you describe the choice in those terms I'll take the righteous woman of God over the gay clergyman, especially if she has the tenacity and temperment of Deborah. QED

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2004

Well Sister Gaines,

Although I'm not believing just yet that it is possible to have a reasoned exchange with you, I shall none-the-less give it a shot. First, there are 30,000 Christian denominations the world over and most of them follow the teachings of the Scriptures with regard to women in headship positions in the church, including the Roman Catholics. Finding another church would be just a matter of looking for one. Secondly, as you point out, leaving would accomplish nothing except the abandonment of my beloved which frankly, runs contrary to my character and my belief. Lastly, regardless of how insulting you are or how loudly you talk, you can't drown out the sound of the Truth.

In Christ,

-- Anonymous, April 27, 2004