It appears that new candidates for Bishop 2008 will soon officially announcing their campaign to run for Episcopal Service at their Founder's Day celebrations. Do you know of any candidates who have presently announce including former candidates?

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2005

Answers

From what I understand, the situation is very fluid and people that were considering "8 year" campaigns are now looking at running to win in 2004. I think that the serious candidates are actually going to wait a year to make public announcements and will take this calendar year to woo the power brokers in their districts.

I expect a much more tightly controlled race, with no more than one legitimate candidate from an Episcopal District. (If I recall correctly, two of the Bishops elected in 2004 were from the same city!).

As for the names ... I'm interested in hearing what folk around the connection are saying ...

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2005

I believe that John White, Phil Cousin Jr,Andrew Lewin,Julius Mccalister and Reggie Jackson

They might add a New District

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2005

Greetings, Rev Brown Do we have to start this trek so soon? There are a great deal of issues facing our Zion at all levels. Our Reverand Clergy should be addressing thses things, the things of "now". instead of focusing on 2008. They have been ordained for service to God. As Rick Warren reminds us in The Purpose-Driven Life, "It is NOT about YOU". It is entirely too early. Fifty Pastors seeking Episcopal Service means that a significant number of churches will be short changed in leadership and pastoral attention for 3 years. I hope they examine what priority is in control of their lifes from now to 2008. Bob McCain

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2005

Rev. Brown:

"There are a great deal of issues facing our Zion at all levels. Our Reverand Clergy should be addressing thses things, the things of "now". instead of focusing on 2008."

You make a great case for the way that things "ought" to be, but as humans, we have to deal with things as they are now. The reality is that our Zion covers 4 continents and 12 time zones. Candidates who are not in position in the next 12-15 months will be too far behind the curve to secure core constituencies and to reach out to potential supporters beyond their conferences/districts.

If anything, my complaint is that the campaign process is too closed. Right now, candidates are wooing the Bench of Bishops and "Big Steeple" pastors/connectional officers for their imprimatur. I think we'd do better if there were candidate forums at each Annual Conference so that delegates and members can find out each candidate's position on the issues that affect our church - particularly with respect to: long-term church growth/evangelism, economic development (especially in the overseas districts) and the future of AME colleges and seminaries.

At the General Conference, candidates can really only give pithy slogans and (at most) sound-bite filled sermons. With over 1,500 delegates involved, only about 10-15% of them really have an inkling about the major candidates' positions on anything. The other delegates generally just follow the dictates of whomever is leading their Conference's delegation.

What we have now is a process that is essentially brokered. In a denomination with 2.5 million members, there are probably only 250- 300 people (including Bishops, General Officers, Pastors/Presiding Elders and lay persons) that determine the outcome of our elections.

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2005

Parson Cager opines -

"What we have now is a process that is essentially brokered. In a denomination with 2.5 million members, there are probably only 250- 300 people (including Bishops, General Officers, Pastors/Presiding Elders and lay persons) that determine the outcome of our elections."

Right you are!!! Our church electoral system is in need of a complete overhaul in order to promote membership empowerment. Currently, we participate in an ecclesiastical system that is a plutocracy not a democracy. QED

-- Anonymous, January 28, 2005

Bro. Dickens

"Right you are!!! Our church electoral system is in need of a complete overhaul in order to promote membership empowerment. Currently, we participate in an ecclesiastical system that is a plutocracy not a democracy."

So, how do we change the system without either (or both) of us being excommunicated? I have no influential family members or friends at the connectional level to protect me!

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2005

Parson Cager -

Until disinterested, aloof and lazy AME Lay members require and demand that the Discipline be respected, honored and implemented in ALL areas and not just in selected circumstances, the plutocrats will remain in power and disenfranchisement will be the norm. The key rests with the Lay Organization but most of our lay members choose to spend more time with WMS, Sons of Allen, Daughters of Sarah Allen or YPD. These components play an important role but I would argue that none are as important as the work of the Lay Organization. I'm not one of the AME plutocrats but I don't concern myself with excommunication because the plutocrats know that suppressing informed dissent of the type that I occassionally offer will only prove to be counterproductive :-) QED

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2005

Whether we are a plutocracy, theocracy or a diminished democracy, this thread is symbolic of what is wrong with our zion. We spend far too much time on who is going to get what. We need to spend more time building the faith base of our membership. If we know what God's word requires of us, clergy and lay, then we would be vigiliant to be about the great commission rather trying to be a part of bishop consecration.

To those persons whose pastors have run for office win or lose, what is the environment like before and after?

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2005

I think that the 2008 election will be very interesting. I believe that we need to make some very important decisions in regards to the A.M.E. Church. That is why I am offering myself for the office of Bishop in 2008. I believe that I can make a difference and I have a lot to offer to the church. I pastor Allen AME Church in Oxford, PA, where the Lord is blessing us real good. I know that the First has many candidates, but I believe that God has called me to the bishopiric. Please keep me in your prayers!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2005

Rev. Smith,

What is your platform? I'd love to find out what you'll do as Bishop!

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2005

My platform is that for too long we have talked about change, but have nothing to show for it. We talk about how the AME Church was birthed and how Richard Allen was done wrong because of racism, but what about our own discrimination in the AME Church. we discriminate against those who are not in good with the bishop or the presiding elder. I know that I only have one good leg and the other one fake, but when are we going to start looking at a preachers credentials and stewardship.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2005

Candidate Smith, I agree with you about the credentials and stewardship of Candidates but also, I feel it is most important to look at the Spirituality of candidates first. It is important to realize that if God has given you the Call and the Vision to seek a higher calling in the Episcopacy then your mission should validate the cause. There has been several candidates whose Bishops were not supportive of their decision to run for office, but their conviction of the call was more important to them and therefore, several of them were elected Bishops of the church. It has been said that; "Faith comes first." I would like to encourage you to keep the faith and trust in the Lord. Remember that someone may take your "spot" but not your "Place". Love, Peace and Power E. H. Brown

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2005

Many of the Founder's Day Celebration have concluded and it has been said that several candidates have announced the candidacy for 2008 for Episcopal Service. Potential candidates are; Candidates; Linda Alford,(6th) James Arnell,(9th) Simon Bouie,(1st) George L. Champion,(11th) Dennis Dickerson, Deborah Grant(6th), Kenneth Hill, (13th) Terrence Hensford,(1st) Reginald Jackson,(1st) Jeffrey Leathe, (1st) Rumph(9th) Stanley Gordon Smith,(1st) Mikarl Thomas,(2nd) Albert D. Tyson,(4th) D. Albert Turk,(1st) Isaiah Waddy,(6th)and others to come.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2005