2012 Minister's Institute Conference with Photos!

As I mentioned on Sunday (01-21-12), I had a wonderful time in Florida this past week. The time with fellow minister's and friends was a special treat. I am grateful that the Lord provided a way for me to attend and participate. Listed below is a brief overview of the 5 day conference and my thoughts about attending. Next year, I would love to take a large contingency of members from Kennedy Heights.

To begin with, the event was the brainchild of Dr. W.F. Washington. Dr. Washington is the Senior Minister of the Golden Heights Church of Christ. "Billy" as he is affectionately called, is a brotherhood spiritual superstar and close friend to our own Dr. JW Edmerson. Please read the information to get a good sense of the event and its importance in our fellowship. Click here for the MIC link.

 

02-14-12

Today I arrived in Florida. I left it was 19 degrees in Cincinnati. I had on my pajamas, a pair of slacks and 2 coats. I pulled in to FL to 80 degree weather and not a cloud or snow flake in sight. The sight was beautiful to say the least! After making it to town, I picked up my rental car and headed to the hotel. Typically, Dr Washington chooses really nice properties for the MIC. The Conference was booked at the Renaissance Plantation Hotel. The property was very nice.

 

Renaissance Plantation Hotel

On Saturday evening, there is usually a big concert. This year was no exception. There was a group from Mississippi, Houston and one of my favorite groups, Revelation from Orlando, FL. The singing was really good. I know a lot of the people because of my work in the music industry in our fellowship. There was about 800 people in attendance on Saturday evening. It was good seeing old friends. This was going to be a great week.

One of the things that I appreciate most about attending National events is that it puts our work at Kennedy Heights in a larger framework. We are not alone. Our problems are common. Our successes are shared. Our spiritual awareness needs to include the men and women who attend Kennedy Heights and the men and women from across our great brotherhood.

I was also reminded by many of the fantastic job that we did in 2007 with the National Lectureship. Many people told me how much they enjoyed themselves and that they wish it could always be held in Cincinnati! I thanked them and thought about the work we did to pull off a National gathering of over 3000 Christians.

02-15-12

Well, today I am wondering if everything will go smooth as planned at home. After talking with a few of the members, my fears were arrested and I was mentally free to drive over to Bro Aldanzo Pratt’s congregation and preach for him. The saints of the Magnolia Park Church of Christ were very warm and hospitable. I had a great time and look forward to bringing Felicia and the kids back. The Pratt’s are some of our closest friends.

After service Brother Pratt took me to Piccadilly’s Cafeteria. The food was great! This particular chain is very common in the south. I behaved and ate a chicken wing and fish. We also saw many members of various churches of Christ in that part of south Florida. There are over 30 different congregations in south Florida. Bro Pratt told me about Alvin Daniels of the Pembroke Church of Christ. The church where he is preaching is doing a great work. They have blossomed into over a 1000 people over the last few years. That is great. (I will have to look into bringing him to Kennedy Heights.)

The Sunday evening program was good. I was introduced to Randall Tucker who is the new minister of the South Union Church of Christ in Houston, Texas. He did a good job. He’s a younger dynamic preacher. Afterward we met. I discovered that he knew me through the Lectureship and my music—over the years. He is a new friend. I enjoyed meeting him and hearing about the wonderful work that God is doing in Houston, Texas.

I also bumped into Kennon Olison. Kennon and I go way back to California in the 80’s. He preaches for the North Tenneha Church of Christ in Tyler, Texas. What makes Kennon special is that he fashions himself to be an Apologist. This means that his ministry is focused toward defending the faith. He has just written a book (that I am reading) on music in the churches of Christ. Buy it by clicking here. We had a great time all week. I look forward to corresponding with him again. Kennon is always on Facebook discussing some aspect of the doctrine of the church.

02-16-12, 02-017-12, 02-18-12

During the day Monday – Wednesday, most of us attend workshops. Dr Washington schedules top talent from across the Nation. I had the choice of going to Charlie McClendon’s series on Soul Winning. Jeff Caruthers did a series on, “The Church in the Midst of Generational, Societal and Religious Culture.” Jeff preaches for the Carver Road Church of Christ in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Jeff is arguably one of our leading brotherhood theologians. The third choice was Leroy Butler’s workshop series on, “Paul Confronts Culture In The Church.” All three were excellent choices. I spent my time in Jeff’s sessions. They were very enriching. We are right on it with our emphasis on culture at Kennedy Heights.

There is also a Ladies Program hosted by Sister Freeman Wyche. Bro Wyche preaches for the Liberty Gardens Church of Christ in Miami, FL. From what I understand, they had an awesome time too. Hopefully next year, Felicia can come and attend the Ladies sessions.

Other standouts during the week’s day sessions were bro Orpheus Heyward who preaches in Atlanta, Georgia. Orpheus is an Apologist too though he seems to have an interest in the study of biblical languages. He is beginning work on his DMin or PhD this summer. Of all the speakers, Orpheus probably travels the most across the brotherhood. You can listen to him preach by clicking here.

Brother Dr. Cleavon Matthews spoke too. He showed out. My friend preached the word. I was so proud of him to do such an excellent job with such a diverse setting/audience. He represented Ohio well. As you know, bro Matthews preaches for the Northwest congregation in Trotwood, OH and has spoken for us on several occasions.

During the evening sessions, we were treated to some really good preaching. I listened to sermons from Carl Baccus, Los Angeles, CA, AJ Walker, Panama City, FL, Eugene Lawton, Newark, NJ, Richard Barclay, Atlanta, GA, Samuell Pounds, Winter Haven, FL and Jack Evans, Jr. They were all excellent. A.J. Walker is 20+ and is a walking bible. He has strong oratorical skills. I would like to get him to come to KH to do something for our Youth. Baccus did an excellent job. He has been preaching at Southside for 55 years.

On Wednesday evening, the Conference closed with a Banquet. This year Dr. Harvey Jackson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Dr Andrew Hairston and Dr Carl Baccus were all honored. We closed giving our pledge to the bible*, eating and praying together. Time to go home!

I also enjoyed the late meals with new and old friends. I rekindled my friendship with C Rodney Smith who preaches for the Welch Street Church of Christ In Tyler, Texas. I also met a new friend, Jeremie Flowers who preaches for the East Haven Street Church of Christ in Memphis, TN.

02-19-12

Time to go see Felicia, E5 and Aqua. Fe picked me up from CVG. All is well. I had a great time. I can’t wait to go back next year. Do you want to come?

*Pledge To The Bible…I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God’s Holy and inerrant Word, and will make it a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path, for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe it, for there in is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, for as it is written the just shall live by faith!

Mature Disciplined Leadership 

I have been in a series of sermons detailing the great changes happening before our eyes that are hastening a very different reality from the reality that we currently enjoy. We can no longer ignore the political happenings in and around us and stay silent, watching well-meaning mis-educated people steer our Nation down a self destructive course. Over the weekend, I read the following piece below from a well respected blooger and journalist, Roland Martin. He is pictured here:

 

 Blogger and Journalist Roland Martin

Martin does a fantastic job of articulating the great change within the Republican establishment in heralding former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich who is aiming to take Obama's job in the coming year. Read this article carefully and look for solid analysis that illustrate how our opinion about the concept of family is changing and how we are becoming more accepting of failed world views* as being suitable. 

The significance of the Republican's willingness to excuse Newt while nearly crucifying Clinton during his tenure when he cheated on Hillary, is hypocritical, self serving and discouraging to those of us who are searching for leaders that can lead us in a moral and civil sense. I am not looking for perfection. There is no one perfect, no not one--save Jesus Christ. I am looking for maturity and humility. The mature action would have been to open up about his failings and communicate that he has not made the best of decisions and that he has learned and grown from his mistakes. Newt did not take that approach. He blasted CNN's John King and said in so many words that my personal life has no business being brought up in a Presidential race. Newt, I vehemently disagree. Again, I am not looking for perfection, I am looking for maturity.

Maturity is a broad term that encompasses such words as good judgement, self discipline, commitment to ethical standards, etc. Is this to much to ask for from the most powerful man in the free world? I think not. Are we to think that anyone can turn their judgement off and on, thereby compartmentalizing their thinking to being disciplined over here and not so disciplined over there? Mature leadership is balanced in all spheres. Though none of our potential Presidential candidates are perfect, I am personally more accepting of any candidate be it Barak (who I voted for in 2008) or Mitt who have developed a strong healthy marriage. Newt, the next time you get an opportunity to address your poor judgement with your personal relationships, do so with humility and an eye toward modeling contriteness and wisdom not disgust and hypocrisy. Think on these things. --jte

P.S. If you missed the exchange between Newt and John King, see it here.

*It is not ok that Newt is married to his 3rd wife when he cheated on his first two wives with the subsequent wife.

So long to the party of family values

By Roland Martin, CNN Contributor

updated 10:10 PM EST, Fri January 20, 2012

(CNN) -- When someone asks when the Republican Party abandoned its longstanding position as the party of family values, we will all be able to say it was shortly after 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on January 19, 2012, in Charleston, South Carolina.

When the invited audience of 2,300 Republicans stood up and applauded Newt Gingrich's angry and defiant response to the opening question from CNN's John King about allegations leveled by the ex-wife of the former speaker of the House, it was clear that the GOP, always judgmental about marital fidelity with Democrats, threw that out of the window.

The GOP's desire to beat President Barack Obama at any cost, and its unwillingness to coalesce around Mitt Romney, clearly outweighs its view on rampant adultery by one of its leading presidential candidates.
Those willing to make excuses for Gingrich's cheating on his second wife, Marianne, with his current wife, Callista (he also cheated on wife No. 1 with Marianne, who later became wife No. 2) are quick to say that the Christian faith requires forgiveness. And that is absolutely right. But when has Gingrich apologized to President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore for his routine missives declaring both of them morally corrupt? When has Gingrich ever said publicly that while he was ripping others to shreds, he was doing the same to his marriage vows to forsake all others?

The nation clearly was made aware of Clinton's extramarital affairs while serving in the White House with the impeachment trial. But nothing of the sort was said about Gore. Yet that didn't prevent the bombastic Gingrich from lobbing his morally bankrupt grenades towards the Clinton-Gore White House. Now we know that while he was doing that, he was deeply involved in a torrid affair with Callista, then a Capitol Hill staffer.

What was amazing Thursday night is that we were in South Carolina, the Bible Belt, where evangelicals hold significant sway. Just last year, Republicans were aghast when the governor, Mark Sanford, was busted for engaging in an international extramarital affair, hiding away in Argentina and lying about his whereabouts. Details of his sordid affair made national headlines and embarrassed the state and the national party.
South Carolinians were disgusted with his behavior, and the potential presidential candidate who was a darling of Bible-thumpin' social conservatives ended his tenure in shame, losing his wife in the process.
So why was the GOP so quick to leap to their feet as Gingrich castigated King for even asking the question? No doubt they will say it was his denunciation of the media for asking such a tawdry question. Others will say that Newt's multiple affairs were common knowledge and since he was a declared changed man, we all should move on.

But how can someone like Gingrich stand up in debates and forcefully talk about the sanctity of marriage when he has no history of believing what he is saying? How can any social conservative talk about the moral fiber needed in a presidential candidate when the man many of them love has none?
It's highly likely that when the group of influential social conservatives met in Texas last weekend to coalesce around a candidate, Gingrich's rampant cheating was too much for them to overlook and that's why they settled on Rick Santorum.

The GOP loves to scream from the mountaintop about family values, but when a Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana continues to sit in the U.S. Senate after it was revealed he often used an escort service, then their protestations ring hollow. And there are many other Republicans who have had to come forward, some unwillingly, to own up to their transgressions.

See, when Republicans are busted for cheating on their spouses, they will quickly play the forgiveness card. Yet isn't a failure to have character and integrity at home a sign of how someone will act in the workplace?
And it must gall the GOP to watch Obama often dote on his wife, and make clear that even while in the White House, his family is a top priority.

Gingrich is correct in stating that many of the folks in the audience understand personal pain. But when Newt himself, and his party, has shown little concern in the past about such pain when it has affected someone in the other party, their pleas for understanding looks like shameful pandering.

So to the Republican Party, your high-minded and sanctimonious positions about others not having morals and values should end. If you are willing to accept Newt Gingrich with all of his failings, then you had better open your arms for a whole lot of other sinners who have also sought God's redemption.