Soror Vashti in Columbia, SC on 3.23.06

PenguinTrax · #1 08-04-2001, 10:35 AM

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

#2 08-06-2001, 07:20 PM

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!!!!!

Kimmie1913 · #3 08-08-2001, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Divastation.Com:
I got the chance to meet our Soror at the Southwest Regional Conference. She is a very good speaker, and if anyone ever has the chance to hear her speak...you must take advantage of it!

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!

SweetestDiva · #4 09-26-2001, 01:10 PM

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.

DreamfulOne · #5 09-26-2001, 07:40 PM

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!

shani · #6 02-03-2002, 08:43 AM

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?)

CrimsonTide4 · #7 02-03-2002, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shani
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?)

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

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

shani · #8 02-03-2002, 09:53 PM

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

DirectorDST99 · #9 03-21-2002, 11:18 AM

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!

skywalker20_99 · #10 03-21-2002, 02:52 PM

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.

CrimsonTide4 · #11 04-03-2002, 09:03 AM

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.

CrimsonTide4 · #12 08-13-2003, 10:10 PM

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.

Monique · #13 08-27-2003, 07:05 PM

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!

brickhouse492 · #14 09-02-2003, 01:07 PM

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.

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Vashti McKenzie, Trailblazer for Women in Ministry, to Receive Union Theological Seminary's Highest Honor

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. ...

brickhouse492 · #15 09-04-2003, 01:34 PM

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.