PE CARSON GUEST SPEAKER AT NYC DISTRICT BANQUET

New York, NY - It was damp and dreary outside on Saturday, September 23, 2023, but warm and festive inside at Mother A.M.E. Zion Church as members and friends attended the 1^st Candlelight Banquet recognizing Trustee and Steward Board Chairs from churches in the New York City District for their leadership.

The Banquet was hosted by members of the Stewardess Board, Mrs. Orris Upshaw Grimes, President, and members of the Women’s Home & Overseas Missionary Society (WH&OMS), Mrs. Wendy C. Grimes Jones, Local President.  The Rev. Dr. A. Alfred Carson, Presiding Elder of the New York City District, was the guest speaker. 

The Honorees were Mr. Rufus Canty, Trustee Chair, and Mrs. Amelia Montgomery, Preacher’s Steward, Mother Zion; Mrs. Myrtle Shaw, Trustee Chair, and Ms. Sandra Govan, Preacher’s Steward, Caldwell Temple; Mrs. Viola Brandenberg, Trustee Chair and Ms. Mona Baptiste, Preacher’s Steward, Shaw A.M.E. Zion.

Ms. Chloe Grimes Jones did a phenomenal job as Mistress of Ceremonies and a perfect fit, as she has a “connection” to both organizations. (Chloe is the daughter of Mrs. Wendy Grimes Jones and the granddaughter of Mrs. Orris Upshaw Grimes.) Mrs. Elsa Magruder Smith read the scripture. Ms.  M. Denise Niles and Mrs. Wendy Grimes Jones followed with the occasion and greetings, respectively.  Rev. Dr. Malcolm J. Byrd, Senior Pastor of Mother Zion, welcomed everyone and introduced his mother, Mrs. Elsie Byrd, who was visiting from North Carolina.  He also commended the Trustee Board and Steward Board Chairs at Mother Zion for their harmonious working relationship. “There is no competition between the two Boards, as there has been in the past.”

Before introducing Rev. Dr.  A. Alfred Carson, Rev. Byrd acknowledged First Lady Mrs. Dorian Carson and daughters Alexandria and Alexis.  He said PE Carson has been traveling non-stop from Alabama to Livingstone College in North Carolina to Washington, DC to attend the conference of the Congressional Black Caucus, “and now he’s at Mother Zion to pay tribute to the Honorees.” 

Presiding Elder Carson thanked Rev. Byrd and the Committee for inviting him to be the guest speaker.  He read from Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

He said good leaders must do what is right in the church and do what is right in the community. The Lord requires us to do justice in God’s house and outside of God’s house and to love mercy.  “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”  1 Corinthians 13:1. PE Carson said to be a good leader, you must also be a good follower. He praised the Honorees for being good leaders, good followers, and for
“walking humbly with your God.”

Mrs. Elizabeth Chappelle-Meeks presented the honorees with framed Certificates of Recognition. Due to a recent medical issue, Rufus Canty, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Mother Zion, was not in attendance.  His ears, however, were no doubt ringing as his excellent leadership as Board Chair was acknowledged, and prayers for his speedy recovery were lifted.

Mrs. Amelia Montgomery, who spoke on behalf of the honorees, is Mother Zion’s first female Preacher’s Steward. Mrs. Montgomery thanked Rev. Byrd for the appointment and for his confidence in her to serve as Preacher’s Steward. She said she was honored to serve in this capacity and thanked everyone for the recognition.  Rev. Denise Davenport, Pastor at Caldwell Temple A.M.E. Zion, also praised Mrs. Montgomery for being Mother Zion’s first female Preacher’s Steward. Everyone laughed when she said, “It can’t be easy being Rev. Byrd’s Preacher’s Steward.”  She added it was gratifying to see that three of the Honorees are women.

Prof. Antwane Harrison, Director of the Music Ministry at Mother Zion, and saxophonist Kayade Morris provided the musical entertainment for the afternoon.  The Fellowship Hall was elegantly decorated with white and navy-blue tablecloths, blue and gold plates, and silverware. Floating candles in glass vase centerpieces blue and gold star-shaped balloons completed the candlelight atmosphere. There was more than enough food to satisfy every palate, plus a red velvet and coconut sheet cake. The guests were also given “Thank You” bags with scented candles and blue crystal mints. A QR code was provided for guests to view the Commemorative E-Journal.

In his closing remarks, Rev. Byrd once again thanked members of the Stewardess Board and WH&OMS for hosting the Candlelight Banquet, which he described as “lavish and splendid.”