Call the Roll: Laity in the African Methodist Episcopal Church

By Ethel H. Russaw

Call the Roll: Laity in the African Methodist Episcopal Church is designed to inform and inspire the reader. From the early days of the Methodist Church in America to the present-day African Methodist Episcopal Church, lay persons have been vital to church health and societal betterment. Following a brief overview of the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, highlights of African American lay presence in the early Methodist societies are presented. Four pioneering lay leaders are profiled prior to the introduction of lay persons who made specific contributions to the growth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. As well, the reader is introduced to a group of AMEC lay persons (including Henry O. Tanner, W.C. Handy, Rosa M. Parks, and Herman Russell) who made invaluable contributions to society. Over 65 references are cited in this extensively researched monograph.

The reader is challenged to recall with appreciation and respect the contributions of lay persons to the health and growth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. In addition to lay persons who were first to hold leadership roles in the church, the roll call also pays homage to selected laity who made outstanding contributions to improve society. Call the Roll honors laity in the African Methodist Episcopal Church issues a clarion call for all AMEs to proudly embrace their roots.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 3, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463431877

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Synopsis of African Methodist Episcopal Church History

Chapter 2

African American Presence in the Early Methodist Societies

Chapter 3

Pioneering Lay Leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Chapter 4

Lay Contributors/Firsts in the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Chapter 5

African Methodist Episcopal Church Lay Achievers in the Community

CHARACTER NOTES

Bibliography

Acknowledgements

My interest in knowing more about the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was ignited and nourished by many people: those who provided insight pertaining to the role of the Lay Organization in keeping alive this history, those who offered resources to enhance my search for information and those who encouraged my seeking of knowledge. As my knowledge expanded, I became more curious as to the role of lay persons in the growth and health of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. This passion to know more (especially about the role of lay persons in the African Methodist Episcopal Church) has evolved into the present monograph.

Mrs. Virginia Allen resurrected the Lay Organization at our local church in 1998, reminded me that I was the Director of Lay Activities (from a previous time when our Lay Organization was active) and proceeded to talk about the education/training programs to be undertaken. As Virginia and I planned programs, I came to realize my need to learn more about the African Methodist Episcopal Church so that I could be informed and appropriate in the work. Thanks, Virginia for opening my eyes to the beautiful story of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Reverend Julius H. McAllister Jr., my pastor from 2000-2008, encouraged me in my search to learn more about the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Reverend Julius (as he likes to be called) gave me basic books (i.e. History of the AME Church by both Daniel Payne and Charles Smith, and The Romance of African Methodism by George Singleton) to read. He suggested that I write a monthly article pertaining to the history, structure, governance, and traditions of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for our church bulletin/worship guide. Writing this monthly article required extensive and careful research because I soon learned that the Reverend carefully read every entry. Thanks, Reverend Julius for your encouragement and information sources.

When the Director of Lay Activities for the Chicago Conference Lay Organization (Fourth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church) relocated to another Episcopal District, I was asked to complete her term of office. The outpouring of gratitude and compliments from the members of the organization (for the programs that I produced) encouraged me to continue learning about the history, structure, governance, and traditions of our Zion so that I could produce high quality programs. Thanks to the Chicago Conference Lay Organization for the opportunity to serve and grow.

Finally, thanks to Mrs. Mary Farrior McKinney who graciously shared with me information pertaining to her late husband, Dr. Joseph McKinney; Mrs. Margaret Jordan who provided me with important biographical facts about her mother, Dr. Julma B. Crawford; and to Ms. Alice Belden who gave me a copy of a shortened bio which was written by Attorney Herbert L. Dudley, himself. My special appreciation is extended to Dr. Paulette Coleman for her kind words of encouragement pertaining to the monograph. And, as always, I am indebted to my husband, Dr. Floyd Russaw, for his continual support in yet another of my many writing projects. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Foreword

In this marvelous tribute to lay members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Ethel Russaw celebrates the contributions of historical and contemporary African Methodists who have significantly impacted the denomination and the larger society. From the story of Ann, a slave with no recorded last name, who was the first person of color to embrace Methodism in pre-colonial America to Herman J. Russell, Atlanta-based contemporary entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded one of America’s largest and most profitable African American-owned construction industry empires, Call the Roll: Laity in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, fills a deep chasm in our denominational history.

It tells the stories of lay people whose lives and work fully embrace the AME legacy of liberation, self-help, and economic and political empowerment. This well-documented and thoroughly researched publication presents new lay achievers while re-introducing us to familiar lay luminaries such as A. G. Gaston, entrepreneur and philanthropist, and Charlotte Manye Maxeke, educator, missionary, first woman from South Africa to obtain a B.Sc. (Wilberforce University, 1901) and founding member/president of the Bantu Women’s League and forerunner of the African National Congress’ Women’s Bureau.

Russaw reminds us that Call the Roll is the beginning of a much needed adventure of uncovering and discovering African Methodist lay achievers. It is by no means exhaustive or complete. It is hoped that this important work will stimulate conversation and motivate new and ground breaking research on the many untold contributions of African Methodist lay achievers in church and society. Tell these stories through our Christian Education departments, the Lay Organization, the Women’s Missionary Society, our youth and young adult ministries, the Social Action Commission, and our public schools and other community partners.

As we approach the centennial anniversary of the formal recognition of the present day Connectional Lay Organization in 2012, we owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Russaw for this invaluable gift and training resource.

Faithfully,

Paulette Coleman, Ph.D.

Retired General Officer

Editor, The AME Church Review (1992-2000)

Introduction

Richard Allen of Philadelphia, Daniel Coker of Baltimore, and Morris Brown of Charleston—all ministers of the Gospel—led the African Methodist Church movement in America; however, lay persons, as well, were vital to the beginning, growth and societal impact of this independent church movement. Lay persons of African descent were prominent in the organization of Mother Bethel of Baltimore, Maryland several years before the African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as an Ecclesiastical body. Free Negroes of Baltimore (including Stephen Hill and Don Carlos Hall) withdrew in 1785 from the Mother Church of Methodism, which was organized by Strawbridge, and formed the Mother Bethel Methodist Society of that city.1 Likewise, members of African descent walked out of Saint George Methodist Church in Philadelphia to worship under their own vine and fig tree* in 1787. The work of building the church [African American-led] in Charleston was halted in 1822 due to a contemplated slave insurrection to overthrow slavery in that state.2

Much has been written about the life and works of great preachers (ministers of the Gospel) in the African Methodist Episcopal Church but very little has been recorded about the role that lay persons played in the growth and expansion of the church. Also, as the African Methodist Episcopal Church flourished so did its members impact the world in which they lived; many used their God-given talents to make significant contributions to the betterment of society. The purpose of this monograph is to shed light on outstanding lay persons in the African Methodist Episcopal Church or at least to revisit the contributions of lay persons to the health and growth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The influence of the church extends beyond its people and its walls; therefore, a secondary purpose of this monograph is to spotlight selected AME achievers who have made significant contributions to society.

Before delving into the purposes of this monograph, a few reflections on the concept of lay or laity are presented. There are two categories of members in the African Methodist Episcopal Church: clergy and laity. Clergy persons include all members who have been ordained as deacons or elders (ministers of the Gospel). The laity or lay persons are non-clergy members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Historically, the lay preacher was included in the category of members called, laity.

A very early tradition of preaching [in the American colonies] in the Wesleyan/Methodist churches was that a lay preacher was appointed to lead services of worship and preach in a group (called a circuit) of meeting places or churches. The lay preacher walked or rode on horseback in a prescribed circuit of preaching places according to an agreed upon pattern and time and the people came to the meetings. In the early days of the AME Church, these lay preachers were often counted as lay persons