By Johan Claasen, 15th Episcopal District
Beyond 2024
By Johan Claasen, 15th Episcopal District
In the context of the AME Church each new term starts after a convention or conference. So our planning begins immediately after the close of such. The 52nd General Conference is done and dusted which means a new quadrennium have started immediately after the assignments of Bishops to the different Episcopal Districts. We have divided the church into two groupings and we Africa fall under the GDC Districts as it is called this time.
This said the challenges differs from district to district but the objectives, mission and vision of the church remains the same. We need a collective purpose driven mandate to move beyond 2024. To face our challenges, seize our opportunities, remove guesswork, increase accountability and human resources, to overcome mediocrity, to eliminate corruption and malfeasance, to Edify Christ, to promote equality and inclusivity, to embrace diversity, to live Christ-like, to forget about the past and stretch ourselves to what is before us and to love your neighbor as yourself. First order is to do self- introspection. Evaluate our current position, revisit our constitution and by-laws, expand our human capital and resources, acknowledge our shortcomings and minimise our challenges. We need to re-align our thinking, scrutinise our reports and decisions as all of these makes you understand all is not well.
As AMEs, we tend to wish things will become better; we think that those who left will long for the warmth of the church; we assume that people will forever be loyal and faithful; we address issues without resolutions; we make decisions to later review and resin them but don’t fix the damages our decisions have caused. We cry over spilled milk but don’t fill the empty jar; we ask people to take the bitter with the sweet and never allow them to feed on the milk and honey the church needs to offer. Our social responsibility and commitment are nonexistent, our caring ministry is poor and insufficient, our teachings and development do not bring change, our passion for African Methodism lacks commitment, and our leaders lack vision. We perish on most levels, we score less than average, and our grades are below par.
How on earth do we justify the exclusion of people because of their diversity? How do we encourage commitment to the church’s work if people feel constantly marginalised? How do you keep people if they don’t feel they belong? Have we ever asked whether our rules, practices and laws are fair to all people regarding race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, language, skin colour etc? Does our human behaviour affects people positively or negatively? There is a distinct difference between love and hate, poor and rich, good and bad, innocent and guilty, strong and weak. How does the church deal with the negative and how do we utilise and maximise the positives? How have we position ourselves to address the current issues, resolutions, outcries, in-effectiveness and much more identified by the past General Conference.
We celebrated the scrapping of the “Covenant” but districts 1 to 13 are not even available for the Senior Bishop. We celebrated the election of 6 Bishops to the bench of Bishops, not one elected from districts 14 to 20 who had 6 candidates. This said let me remind you people elects people but leaders influence their choices. What are our next steps to ensure that the next General Conference brings more joy, empowerment, transparency, equality, inclusivity, and open dialogue that will not leave people disgruntled or disgusted? What new vision, trajectory, and common practices will be implemented to increase numerical and financial growth? One size does not fit all in the AME Church, but the type and make should not differ.
Suppose we promote an inclusive church, a more dynamic ministry, an equal opportunity, and a more transparent church. In that case, we might see a more committed, more vibrant, and more giving people for the church of Allen is built on a solid foundation and the Anvil of our faith is rooted in Jesus the Rock. We need to accept that competence is gender-neutral. It’s never too late to apologize. It’s never too late to say sorry; It’s never too late to turn a new page.
“If” is a word of condition. If our faith is strong enough in Jesus. If our business is dipped in holiness and if we conduct ourselves Christ-like, we will see how the church will become prosperous, God will be magnified, and the people will be emancipated from their fears and uncertainties. We remember hymns telling us “let your lower lights be burning”, to saved those low and at the bottom, “on Christ the solid rock I stand” to give strength to the weak, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound” to make people believe in God’s grace and “if God before us who can be against us” no weapon formed against us will prosper. We cannot change the past but have the present to determine the future. Let us be focused on the future in the present. There is an African saying: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone, but if you want to walk far, walk together. It’s time districts 1-13 and 14 – 20 start walking together because the journey is long. Let us build a united African Methodist Episcopal Church. Let us lead a unified people and serve an Everlasting God.
God bless Africa, America, the Caribbean, and wherever African Methodism is alive. God bless our Bishops, our General Officers, Connectional Officers, Episcopal Officers, Conference Officers, Presiding Elders, Pastors, and all the members, young people, and children of African Methodism.
