Lincoln congregation connects with Ebony Bishops
5/5/1998 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn NOTE: A photo is available with this story.
LINCOLN, Neb. (UMNS) -- An historic day was celebrated here at Newman United Methodist Church when members of the congregation found oneness and a connection which bound them with black United Methodists around the world.
The "Ebony Bishops" of the United Methodist Church, an informal group of 11 active bishops from Africa and 10 African-American bishops from the United States, plus several retired bishops, came to this church on April 29 to discuss matters of concern, be entertained by church choirs and help the congregation welcome home one of its own .
Bishop Forrest Stith, who grew up in Newman Church, welcomed his episcopal colleagues to his home church. Stith is now working with Bishop J. Alfred Ndoricimpa of Burundi who is living in exile in Kenya.
Stith, 64, came from one of Nebraska's pioneering black families which homesteaded in the state's Sandhills region before settling in Lincoln. His father was a former pastor of Newman Church, the only African American United Methodist church in Lincoln and one of only three in the state.
Stith noted that Newman Church in Lincoln had been isolated from Clair Memorial and Union churches in Omaha and from other congregations in the former Central (black) Jurisdiction. As the racially-constituted jurisdiction was dissolved prior to 1968, the three congregations were transferred into the Nebraska Annual Conference of the geographic South Central Jurisdiction where Stith said they found themselves "in a sea of whites." Nevertheless, he said, Newman has continued to make a significant witness throughout its 106-year history and has seen itself as a part of the United Methodist Church, one of the most inclusive American Protestant denominations.
The fact that the Ebony bishops came here to worship and dine, he said, helped the congregation experience "a oneness, a connection, a sense of being bound together around the world."
Although most black United Methodist clergy serve black congregations, there are exceptions, Stith noted. Newman, is served by the Rev. Terry Cain, a white pastor, while First United Methodist in Lincoln, a predominately white congregation, is served by the Rev. Aaron Black, an African American pastor.
Bishop Charles Jordan, Des Moines, Iowa, president of the Ebony Bishops, said the group is working to promote more African mission work and more U.S. government aid to Africa.
The African-American bishops have all visited Africa and are supportive of church development on the continent where the United Methodist Church is strong and rapidly growing, said Stith.
The group also encourages placing African-American clergy and other racial minority clergy in positions of leadership and helping the church "be the kind of church we ought to be," Jordan said. They also promote the preservation of black United Methodist history and work to eliminate racism throughout the denomination.
The Ebony Bishops were among more than 100 United Methodist bishops attending their semi-annual Council of Bishops meeting here April 25-May 1. The council includes 50 active bishops in the United States; 17 active bishops in Africa, the Philippines and Europe, and more than 60 retired bishops. President of the council is Bishop George Bashore of Pittsburgh.
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