Bishop Ingram’s Planning Meeting 2006

By: Delanda S. Johnson

Special to the News

Hundreds of African Methodist Episcopal Churches across Texas descended on the City of Richardson, Texas the week of November 15-18 for Presiding Prelate Rt. Rev. Gregory G. M. Ingram’s planning meeting.

Under the leadership the both Bishop Ingram and his wife Rev. Dr. Jessica Ingram (Episcopal Supervisor), being led by the Lord and given the theme for the series of conferences and district meetings “Always Moving toward Excellence.” “The quest for the best and striving to be all that you can be is the essence of who we are and what we are all about. This means we cannot do just enough to get by. Anything less than our best is a sin,” said Bishop Ingram.

Bishop Ingram stressed during his conference, that we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. Note that when we become satisfied with less than best efforts for God, our witness is damaged, our worship has no sustaining purpose and our preaching is without POWER.

Ingram said, “Excellence comes from a life of faith, from being more interested in God than self, from having the courage to be different. To become excellent means that you are willing to take a risk and not blend in with the crowd it means that’ll do, won’t do.”

Throughout the conference, Bishop Ingram and Rev. Dr. Jessica met with the Financial Committee, Women’s Missionary Society, Minister’s Spouses, Lay Organization, etc. with the focus being “Making A Difference.”

A brief summary of goals for the 2006-2007 Conference Year Bishop Ingram point was: First; hard work, Second; stick toitiveness; and Third; a lot of prayer. “We must reach the people with God’s love and the exciting life offered to the followers of Jesus Christ. We must teach. Using the bible; focus on the word and seek to assist each other in Christian growth through church school classes, exciting bible studies, spiritual retreats and discipleship groups. Worship by knowing the power of God to change lives. Missions and Service knowing that we are called by God to make a difference. We must become doers of the word and not hearers only,” said Ingram.

The Rt. Rev. Richard Franklin Norris of the Fist District gave the opening sermon. Bishop Norris, as the request of Presiding Elders, Minister, Delegates and Lay people to the General Conference in 2004 was placed in charge of the Eastern half of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, and the many more.

Bishop Norris is a graduate of West Philadelphia High School. He attended Morris Brown College, and then transferred to Rutger University where he received his B. A. Degree. He received his calling at the age of 15, where he attended New Brunswick Theological Seminary and the New York Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry Degree.

Rev. Dr. Marcus Cosby closed the Conference with a power message that moved and stirred the congregation.

Rev. Dr. Cosby serves as the Senior Pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he received his at Emmanuel Christian School and Whitney M. Young Magnet High School. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and English from Fisk University in Nashville, TN, the Master of Divinity Degree in Homiletics and Christian Education from the Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, and the Doctor of Ministry Degree in Homiletics from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary of the Associated Chicago Theological Schools.

Among the gifts and talents with which God has blessed Pastor Cosby, none are more meaningful and fulfilling to him than preaching and teaching.

“Being very sensitive to the spiritual needs of individuals, therefore I focus my ministry primarily, but not exclusively toward persons who are hurting especially in the church. I seek to empower and uplift all humanity through the life-changing, uncompromising Word of God,” said Cosby.

On a local level, Henderson County area African Methodist Episcopal Churches were represented at this Conference. They are Johnson Chapel AME Church, Malakoff, which retained their Pastor, Rev. Cynthia Cole; Union Station/Bethel AME Church, Larue, which retained their Pastor, Rev. Betty O’Neal; and Allen Chapel AME Church, Athens, which welcomes a new Pastor, Rev. Mary Quinn Miller.