Bishop Vashti McKenzie
 

I just wanted to let you know that your distinguished soror, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, will be in Tallahassee this weekend speaking at Bethel AME Church. The community here is very excited about her visit and the story made the front page of today's Religion section. If you'd like to check it out, here is a link.

Yours in Greekdom,
Barbara Forbes-Lyons
Alumna, Zeta Tau Alpha
Greekchat Moderator
http://www.tallahasseezta.org

I just thought I would add that she was our luncheon speaker at a conference I attended in Cincinnati a few weeks ago. She is such a wonderful, beautiful, and intelligent person. And might I also add... the sistah can preach!!!!!

That is so true. Living in Baltimore, I have had the pleasure of hearing her speak and preach on several occassions. And had the pleasure of having her in attendence when I entered Deltaland!

Okay, wow. Although I am interested in another org, I have heard Bishop McKenzie's name floating around this forum for awhile. I attend a VERY predominantly white Baptist university, so I was thrilled when I found out she was coming to speak at one of our required chapels. Well, today was the day, and let me tell you - I was SO impressed. Y'all, normally chapel is very reserved, but today people were shouting and praising God in the aisles, black, white and everybody else. I heard "amens" from football players that usually sit through chapel talking about what they did with who and when. I mean, her message was powerful, and she has a presence that simply demands attention. I felt both convicted and encouraged by her message, so I thought I just had to post this. Like everybody before me, I would like to encourage ANYBODY to hear Bishop McKenzie if the opportunity ever presents itself.

Bishop McKenzie is definitely a no-holds-barred kind of woman when it comes to preaching. She ministered at my school my freshman year (1998) for our School of Theology's opening convocation. It was blessed. I remember that evening going to a local church w/ my dorm director and best friend that night to hear her preach. She is definitely off the hook!

The Bishop also spoke at the Howard University's opening Convocation. She is a great speaker. (Question: I'm not a member of Delta Sigma Theta but I was wondeing is the Bishop related to one of the 22 founders?)

It's Sunday
 

Bishop Vashti McKenzie is INDEED related to one of our illustrious founders!! Can YOU guess which one?:D

The answer can be found all up and down In Search of Sisterhood.

the answer is !!!
 

Is she related to the founder Vashti Turley Murphy???!!! ;)

I heard her speak several times including in San Antonio last year for the SW Regional Conference and in Houston for MLK Celebration.

She is a dynamic speaker and is truly a beautiful woman!

I had the pleasure of EXPERIENCING Bishop McKenzie last week. I must say that she is absolutely beautiful and has a magnificent presence. She spoke very eloquently and the church was truly filled with the spirit. I can honestly say that is the best service I have attended in a long time, if not ever. I would count it a blessing to be able to hear her speak again.

Female Bishop Delivers Poweful Message
 

Female bishop delivers a message
Leader who broke gender barrier talks at AME church

By Kevin Lynch
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 1, 2002

Women's Day in the African Methodist Episcopal Church is an annual opportunity for its female members to lead church services, which have been historically dominated by men.

But that tradition was turned on its head Sunday in Grant AME in the Oakland neighborhood, where the pulpit was turned over to a woman who outranked the pastor.

Rt. Rev. Vashti Murphy McKenzie, who in 2000 was elected the first female bishop of the 215-year-old church, delivered a combined Women's Day/Resurrection Day service to Grant's congregation, which swelled with visitors to roughly 600.

McKenzie used the biblical story of three women who tried to anoint Christ's body after the crucifixion to illustrate how faith can help people advance against seemingly insurmountable odds. When they set out for Christ's tomb, McKenzie said, the women had no idea how they would move the giant stone that sealed its entrance.

"None of these women could power lift," McKenzie said in the sermon. "None of them had the muscles to roll away this stone. None of them had a degree in stone rolling. But they moved forward anyhow. They didn't sit down and waste a lot of time worrying about worst-case scenarios."

When they arrived at the tomb, the stone had already been rolled away, according to the Book of Mark.

McKenzie said the lessons of the ancient story are relevant for women today.

"These women started early, while others were asleep, while others were afraid they'd be crucified if they took on this mission. If you're going to be successful in your career or in anything, you've got to start early and have faith. God will take care of those stones, whatever they are," McKenzie said after the service.

"Don't be afraid to try the thing you're not trained in, that you don't have the degree in, that you don't have experience in. This just may be your opportunity to gain that experience," McKenzie said.

For 18-year-old Tiffany Johnson, meeting McKenzie after the service encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a minister.

"I'm almost in awe," Johnson said as she waited in line to have McKenzie autograph a copy of her book, "Not Without a Struggle," which offers leadership strategies for African-American women. "I never thought I would meet a female bishop. To see someone who is female and African-American reach that stature is very inspiring to me," said Johnson, who lives in Frankfort and will begin classes in the fall at the University of Chicago.

Sunday marked McKenzie's first visit to Grant AME. She was serving as pastor at Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore in 2000 when she was elected as the national church's first female bishop. Soon after, she was assigned to the church's 18th Episcopal District in southern Africa, where she heads a 200-church network with 10,000 members in Botswana, Swaziland, Mozambique and Lesotho. McKenzie spends about eight months a year in Africa and is in the U.S. to visit family and other AME churches.

Vashti McKenzie, Trailblazer for Women in Ministry, to Receive Union Theological Seminary's Highest Honor



NEW YORK, August 11, 2003 -- Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York will award the Union Medal to Vashti Murphy McKenzie as part of the 168th Convocation ushering in a new academic year at the Seminary. The event, which is open to the public, will take place Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at 6:10 p.m. in James Memorial Chapel, at 121st Street and Broadway.

Attendees are asked to R.s.v.p. no later than Sept. 1, 2003, to
212-280-1315. Bishop McKenzie will meet with Union seminarians the following morning for a breakfast conversation.

Long recognized as a trailblazer for women in ministry, Vashti McKenzie is the first woman to be elected Bishop in the African American Episcopal Church, the nation's oldest African American denomination. She is presiding prelate of the 18th Episcopal District, which comprises Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Swaziland in Southern Africa. She is an officer of the AME Church's Council of Bishops.

Reflecting on the choice of Bishop McKenzie as the next Union Medalist, the Rev. Brenda Husson, Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church in New York City and chair of the Union Medal Committee, said: "Bishop McKenzie obviously exemplifies many of Union's highest ideals. Through her groundbreaking and inspirational ministry, she has demonstrated that the church can be relevant
to our contemporary society and its issues and make an important difference in the lives of all people."

Bishop McKenzie has served as pastor for three AME congregations, from small and rural to large and urban. Prior to her election as bishop, she served for ten years as pastor of the 103-year-old Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland, growing the congregation from 330 to over 1,700, increasing property value from $1.6 to $5.6 million, launching 25 innovative
ministries and instituting and organizing Payne Memorial Outreach, Inc., a million dollar, faith-based non-profit organization.

A poll of national, civic, social, religious and academic leaders selected Bishop McKenzie for an "Honor Roll of Great African-American Preachers," featured in the November 1993 issue of Ebony Magazine. In November 1997, she was listed as one of "Ebony's 15 Greatest African American Female Preachers." She is National Chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Union Medalists "include people engaged in works of ministry in
congregations, in public service, in government, in private realms of business, in the professions, in education, in the arts-indeed in any place where individuals are making an important difference that is congruent with Union's high purposes of faith and service." Their ranks have included: Andrew Young, George Kennan, Gardner Taylor, Kurt Masur, Kim Dae-Jung, Marian Wright Edelman, William Sloane Coffin and others.

Union Theological Seminary, founded in 1836, is an independent, ecumenical graduate school of theology with the mission to educate men and women for ministries in the Christian faith, service in contemporary society, and study of the great issues of our time. The Seminary believes that the city remains a critical training ground for facing such issues.

wow
 

I just want to say that on our line, our number 32 is the great great grandaughter of Vasthti T. Murphy. She has told us that she will speaking and we are all going. This is such a privilage and and Honor for our chapter!

I'm very happy to hear that Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie is being honored in New York tomorrow.

This is a great opportunity for all of us. I'm excited about going. I will be sure to share the experience with you all. Thank you CT4 and PnguinTrax for the information.

The Rt. Rev. Vashti McKenzie is absolutely beautiful and an extremely powerful speaker. I loved the way she used analogies to get her point across. I’m totally paraphrasing here but she urged us to flow together like a river into the shelters, churches, prisons, high schools and group homes so that we might be a catalyst for positive change in the urban communities. As we flow together we will get stronger.

My favorite part of the sermon was when she asked us if a rock and a river were set against each other, which would be the victor. And girl, she preached I tell you. She said the river would push on and on against that rock until it broke into a stone. And the waves would push and collide against that stone until it cracked into a pebble. The water would push onward until the pebble broke down and became sand. The sand would turn into silt. Finally, the silt would flow and become one with the river. How? Through persistence. She inspired us to be persistent when trying to accomplish our goals of bettering our community and spreading God’s word and that obstacles will be defeated if we flow as one. She is the bomb.

After Union Theological Seminary’s Convocation Ceremony where the Bishop received the Union Medal, the school’s highest honor, there was a reception. The atmosphere at the school was very welcoming. If anyone is thinking about becoming a minister, Union seems like a great place to consider attending. I wish I could have made it to the breakfast this morning where Bishop McKenzie met with students and faculty. To say the least, she was very giving of her time, experience and expertise.

Thank you CrimsonTide4 for the information.

Bishop McKenzie comes to Spelman
 

For Atlanta area folks....

Bishop Vashti McKenzie will speak at convecation at Spelman's Cosby Center Auditorium on Sunday, February 1st at 10 a.m.

For Kentucky People
 

Bishop Vashti McKenzie will speak at the Caanan Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky at Friday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m.

Re: For Kentucky People
 

YAY!!!!!!!!!

I am gonna have to make plans....

@CT4....Is that book you reading good? LOL!

She is a powerful speaker. I heard her this past Monday at an annual MLK breakfast we have here in Boston

That is wonderful. Her calendar seems to be very full.

BET Honors Rev. Vashti McKenzie
 

BET Honors Influential African-Americans for Black History Month

Press Release Washington, D.C

In honor of the nation's Black History Month observance in February, BET is partnering with General Motors to recognize History Makers in The Making, contemporary African-American leaders who have made a significant contribution to enrich or better the lives of other African Americans and their communities. Each of the four honorees will be featured on BET and BET.com throughout the month of February. The History Makers in the Making initiative will culminate in a private reception honoring the award recipients on February 26 at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, Michigan. "As the preeminent media company targeting African Americans, BET makes history everyday. However, it is always appropriate to salute and honor those who give so much of themselves to help others in our community improve and grow," said Louis Carr, BET President of Broadcast Media Sales.


History Makers in the Making salutes African Americans in the fields of education, medicine, social services, government, entertainment, business and sports. Previous honorees include Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, Pastor Apostolic Church of God; Aaron Dworkin, Executive Director of The Sphinx Competition; Dr. Wilbert Jordan, HIV/AIDS medicine; Kwame Kilpatrick, Mayor of Detroit; and Kevin Liles, President Def Jam/Def Soul Records.


"Historically, African Americans -- customers, employees, suppliers and dealers -- have played a significant role in the success of GM," said Chris Robinson, Director of African-American Marketing for GM. "History Makers in the Making provides a great platform for us to honor those important contributions to our company by saluting leaders in the African-American community."



2004 HISTORY MAKERS IN THE MAKING HONOREES
Reginald Brass - Founder and President, "My Child Says Daddy"

Founded in 1989, My Child Says Daddy (MCSD) was established to address the issues and concerns of fathers seeking a more active role in raising their children. MCSD provides fathers workshops on parenting skills, divorce, parental rights and anger management/conflict resolution. One-on-one counseling and referrals for outside professional services are also provided. Reginald Brass also serves as Commissioner of the Los Angeles County Child Support Advisory Board.

Karen E. Jackson - Founder and National President "Sisters Network (R) Inc."

Following her own diagnosis of breast cancer, Karen Jackson established the 10-year-old "Sisters Network® Inc." to provide a warm and nurturing environment for African-American women coping with breast cancer, as well as to empower, educate, encourage and mobilize women about the importance of breast health awareness.

Sisters Network is the only national African- American breast cancer survivorship organization in the United States with 39 affiliate chapters and nearly 3,000 members. It is committed to increasing national and local attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African-American community. Sisters Network will celebrate its 10th Anniversary at the 6th Annual National Breast Cancer Conference April 16th- 18th, in Richmond, VA.

William H. Gray III - President/ CEO - United Negro College Fund

(UNCF) William H. Gray III has been president and chief executive officer of The College Fund/UNCF since 1991 and has led the United Negro College Fund to new fundraising records, while cutting costs and expanding programs and services.

Among the initiatives launched under Mr. Gray's leadership are the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute to research issues affecting African-American students from kindergarten through graduate school; the successful completion of a $280 million capital campaign; development of an $80 million Technology Enhancement Capital Campaign to bolster technology infrastructure of UNCF's member colleges and universities; and most noteworthy, raising $1.1 billion of the $2 billion raised by UNCF in its 58-year history -- representing over
50% of all funds raised since its existence.

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie - Presiding Prelate of the 18th Episcopal District AME Church

In July 2000, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie was elected bishop of the AME Church, the first female to hold such a position in the denomination's 213 year history. Bishop McKenzie is responsible for spiritual leadership and service for the South African countries of Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Mozambique encompassing 200 churches and 10,000 members. Her focus includes developing spiritual disciplines, strengthening the technological infrastructure, developing self-help projects and supporting education.

She has also started orphanages and parental-support systems for children losing parents to AIDS. Widely recognized as an expert on the theological and historical struggles of black women in the church, she has authored two books on this issue and wants to give increased support for the ministry of Black women throughout the world.

Congratulations to Bishop McKenzie. My mentor is a member of an affiliated church, AME Zion, and she has remarked about how great a speaker the Bishop is! Kudos!!

SC

I had never heard of this remarkable speaker until I saw her name floating around your forum. I am watching her right now on Tavis Smiley Presents: The State of Black America Forum on C-Span and she is extremely DYNAMIC.

Susan Taylor and Greg Mathis were going at it in a small, discreet way(idealism vs realism)

But anyway Bishop McKenzie is extremely awesome and I will be looking forward to hear her speak in the future

06

My mother and I watched the first panel Saturday night. It lasted like 4 hours. :eek: However, I couldn't watch the 2nd panel, I fell asleep.

As usual, that Forum is always great! :D

Marva Collins is GREAT!

We're talking about Tavis Smiley's forum in the Alpha Room--the thread is called, The State of the Black Church. That was last year's topic. I want you all to post your comments!

March 2, 2004
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Howard University Community
FROM: H. Patrick Swygert, President
SUBJECT: Charter Day Dinner 2004

On March 6, 2004, we will commemorate the 137th anniversary of the founding of Howard University at the 80th Annual Charter Day Dinner. This year's Corporate Chairperson is Mr. James G. O'Connor, Group Vice President, North America Marketing Sales and Service, Ford Motor Company. Dr. John E. Jacob, Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees and Executive Vice President, Global Communications, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., is the Alumni Chairman.

During the Dinner, four alumni will be honored for outstanding contributions to their fields: Dr. Antoine M. Garibaldi, in the field of Education; The Right Reverend Vashti Murphy McKenzie, in the fields of Ministry and International Service; Dr. Richard K. Scher, in the fields of Medicine and Education; and Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., in the field of Ministry. The University will also honor Eli Lilly and Company with the 2004 Corporate Award. The University is proud of its long heritage of producing "Leadership for America and the Global Community"; the Charter Day Dinner is a true illustration of this legacy. For further information, please contact the Office of University Events & Special Projects at
202.238.2430. I look forward to sharing this great moment with the entire University community.

Soror Bishop Vashti Mckenzie
 

Soror Bishop McKenzie is a very dynamic speaker!!!!!! If you are anywhere near the area, go!!!!

Congrats SOROR VASHTI!!!

This morning TJMS interviewed Soror Vashti who has been elected PRESIDENT of the AME Bishops. This, of course, is a first for a WOMAN PRESIDENT and BLACK WOMAN PRESIDENT. :D

Once Tom Joyner updates his site, I can get you the audio link to hear the interview. :D

I sure wish I lived in Tennessee this weekend
 

Soror Vashti will be preaching there. You have to subscribe so I copied it in full



http://mas.scripps.com/KNS/2005/10/0...bishop1e_e.jpg

Soror Vashti is indeed an awesome women. When folks say you need to hear this women....YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS WOMEN. Her message is a powerful one. An earlier post by someone talks about her uncanny ability to use analogies. ...it's mind boggling. The sistah is BAD!

Will be in Columbia 3/23/06
 

She's coming to USC tomorrow!!:D :D I will probably be there!!

http://uscnews.sc.edu/asci-afro054.html

http://www.cas.sc.edu/afra/2006.html

I did see her yesterday in Columbia. I agree with everyone so far and that she is a very dynamtic (sp) speaker. She talked about leadership in uncertain times and advised the audience to look be leaders in their community and to let nothing stop you from acheiving your goals! I also got a chance to meet her and she is a very nice person!:D :D If she does come to your area or near it (I traveled two hours to see her), please do so!