‘We have saved St. Augustine’s.’ Raleigh university removed from probation.

From North Carolina-

The university has made numerous budget cuts in recent years, such as in 2014 trimming its full-time workforce, not rehiring dozens of adjunct faculty and furloughing employees. In April, the university announced it was laying off 22 employees as part of a restructuring.

Ward said that accreditation agency was impressed by how the university invested $1.7 million in a project addressing its financial processes. He said the university has gone from doing its accounting manually to using software. 

Ward also praised the alumni and the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, which founded the school in 1867, for their financial support. He also singled out the faculty and staff for standing by the university.

“I know how hard it has been and you have stood with us in the most difficult times because you never failed to believe that we would not reach this day,” Ward said.

More here-

 https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article222943610.html?fbclid=IwAR2X5dx2785HL9-Rfzrn_zuC_hmhO2T0cOD_ZSnIMOIezOdnkcZ_aeSVlL8

Read more here: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article222943610.html?fbclid=IwAR2X5dx2785HL9-Rfzrn_zuC_hmhO2T0cOD_ZSnIMOIezOdnkcZ_aeSVlL8#storylink=cpy

The Life of Pauli Murray: An Interview with Rosalind Rosenberg

From African American Intellectual History Society-

In today’s post, Alyssa Collins, PhD candidate in the Department of English at the University of Virginia, interviews Rosalind Rosenberg on her new book Jane Crow: The Life of Pauli Murray, which was recently published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Rosalind Rosenberg is Professor Emerita of History at Barnard College, where she joined the faculty in 1984. Professor Rosenberg specializes in American history with a focus on women’s, social, and legal history. Related to her most recent book, she is the author of “Conjunctions: Race and Gender in the Work of Pauli Murray” in the Journal of Women’s History (2002), Divided Lives: American Women in the 20th Century (1992), and “Pauli Murray and the Killing of Jane Crow” in Forgotten Heroes From America’s Past (1998) amongst many other publications. Professor Rosenberg is also a member of the Executive Board of the Society of American Historians.


More here-


http://www.aaihs.org/the-life-of-pauli-murray-an-interview-with-rosalind-rosenberg/

Disciples of Christ Elects First Black Female Leader of an American Protestant Denomination

From Christian Post-

The Disciples of Christ have elected an African-American woman to head their church, a first for any Mainline Protestant denomination.

At their biennial General Assembly meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, church representatives overwhelmingly approved on Sunday the election of the Rev. Teresa Hord Owens.

The installation service for Owens was held on Wednesday at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

Cherilyn Williams, spokeswoman for the Disciples of Christ's Office of General Minister and President, told The Christian Post that the atmosphere for the General Assembly vote was "joyful and hopeful."

"There was no opposition stated in the business session where she was elected and the social media has been overwhelmingly positive," said Williams.

More here-

http://www.christianpost.com/news/disciples-christ-elects-first-black-female-leader-american-protestant-denomination-192009/

Local Reverend talks modern activism and social media’s role

From Maryland-

Black History Month is coming to a close, but the month wasn’t without controversy.

Whether it was the lack of diversity in Oscar nominations or the debate over Beyonce’s video and Super Bowl performance, people quickly and easily spoke out.

WTOP’s Stephanie Gaines-Bryant talked to Rev. Randy Callender, rector of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Annapolis, Maryland, about activism today and the activism of the 1950s and ‘60s.

“Today, with what’s going on with our youth and young adults, young people are just as outspoken and moving the movement — just as in the civil rights movement, when young people were leading and moving that movement,” says Callender. “The difference between then and now is social media.”

More here-

http://wtop.com/local/2016/02/local-reverend-talks-modern-activism-and-social-medias-role/

Alabama's oldest historically black Episcopal church turns 160

From Alabama-

When seven freed slaves were confirmed at Trinity Episcopal Church in Mobile, the year was 1854, seven years before the start of the Civil War. The new congregation they would form, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, would become the oldest historically black Episcopal congregation in Alabama.

Good Shepherd celebrates 160 years of existence this month.

The congregation has seen wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights era and a move from downtown Mobile to Toulminville in the 1960s. "We've weathered all those storms," said Eric Finley, a member of the vestry. "For those seven men who started this church, it had to take an enormous amount of confidence to branch out away from Trinity."

More here-

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/10/alabamas_oldest_historically_b.html

Colorado Floods: Churches are drying out, finding ways to help

From ENS-

Devastating floods up and down Colorado’s Front Range have impacted several communities and Episcopal churches. As those churches – none of which suffered catastrophic damage – dry out, they are making contact with parishioners, and will be working to help in their communities in days to come.

The staff in the [Diocese of Colorado] Office of the Bishop has been contacting clergy in affected areas, and has determined they are all safe and accounted for, although some of them have experienced some personal property damage and loss. Clergy and other leaders continue to get in touch with their parishioners to determine their safety and immediate needs. In some places this has been much more difficult than in others. Based on initial assessments, while many church buildings have had some flooding damage, none has catastrophic damage.

Several churches have already begun to reach out to those least likely have personal resources to deal with the disaster. St. Aidan’s in Boulder has already been working through their existing partnership with Boulder Outreach for Homeless Overflow to provide overnight shelter for the homeless in these adverse conditions. The St. Aidan’s community is also reaching out through their Canterbury ministry to University of Colorado students who suffered losses.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/09/18/colorado-floods-churches-are-drying-out-finding-ways-to-help/

The death of Saint Paul’s College

From The Pittsburgh Courier-

Saint Paul’s College, a historically Black college founded in 1888 in partnership with the Episcopal Church, announced last week that it’s shutting down and working to help current students transfer to other institutions.

The school, located in Lawrenceville, Va., announced that it was closing after a deal that would have allowed Saint Augustine’s College in Raleigh, N.C. to acquire the struggling college collapsed under the weight of Saint Paul’s debt.

Already mired in debt, Saint Paul’s College terminated its sports programs in 2011 to cut costs. When the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, a regional group that certifies degree-granting institutions, rescinded the schools accreditation last summer, administrators went to court to get it back.

Now, both the accreditation and the school are gone.

In a press release, Oliver Spencer, chairman of Saint Paul’s College Board of Trustees, wrote: “The time deadlines associated with our accreditation issues with SACSCOC and the termination of the proposed merger require our Board to take this action in the best interests of our students.”
According to news reports, approximately 200 students were enrolled at the school; 51 students graduated from in the spring.

More here-

http://www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php/featured-news/national/14132-the-death-of-saint-paul-s-college

St. Paul’s College, in Virginia, Reportedly Will Close

From The Chronicle of Higher Education-

Saint Paul’s College, a historically black institution in Virginia that has been struggling shore up its finances and regain accreditation, has informed its accreditor that it will close, the Associated Press reported on Sunday. The AP’s source for that information was Belle S. Wheeler, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges. Officials of the college could not be reached over the weekend.

Nothing on the college’s Web site indicates a decision to close. An “urgent appeal to alumni and friends,” apparently posted recently, says the Board of Trustees is working diligently to secure the college’s future. The message gives fund-raising totals for April and May, and says the college is about $400,000 away from completing a campaign, begun last summer, to raise nearly $1.8-million.
More here-

http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/st-pauls-college-in-virginia-reportedly-will-close/61261

Wright becomes first African-American Episcopal bishop for Atlanta diocese

From Atlanta-

The Rev. Robert C. Wright will be ordained as the 10th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta in a ceremony Saturday at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College.
The ceremony, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will be held at the chapel, 830 Westview Dr. S.W.

Wright, 48, a Howard University and Virginia Theological Seminary graduate, will become the first African-American bishop to lead the diocese, which is among the largest in the world. The Atlanta diocese, which covers middle and north Georgia, has 96 parishes and 56,000 members.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, will perform the ordination. Former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young will preach during the service, which is expected to draw more than 2,000 people.

“God’s invitation is to draw the circle wide and invite people to into that circle,” said Wright, who has led St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta. “I’m talking about a God that is big and loving and wise and I’m going to talk about that God as often as I can.”

The service is open to the public.

More here-

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/wright-becomes-first-african-american-episcopal-bi/nSb3P/

Atlanta Diocese of the Episcopal Church to have first black leader

From Atlanta-

For the first time ever, a man of color will take the reins of the Atlanta Diocese of the Episcopal Church.

Reverend Rob Wright will be ordained as Bishop in a ceremony at Morehouse College King Chapel Saturday.

In an interview with WSB’s Pete Combs, Wright said he is convinced the Episcopal Church is awakening, as if from a long sleep.

“An old theologian once said, ‘From time to time, the Church forgets who she is. But every once in a while, we remember and we begin to act like a church,” Wright said. Now, he continued, is such a time of remembrance.

As for being the first African-American to lead this Diocese, Wright called it “a sign of real hope.”
“People are finally moving into this notion of character content versus color,” he said.

More here-

http://www.wsbradio.com/news/news/atlanta-diocese-episcopal-church-have-first-black-/nSbXB/

Southern Baptists elect 1st African-American president, the Rev. Fred Luter Jr. of New Orleans

From The Washington Post-


At the end of the day Wednesday, the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention will pass to an African-American pastor for the first time.

The nation’s largest Protestant denomination voted Tuesday to elect the Rev. Fred Luter Jr. to lead them, an important step for a denomination that was formed on the wrong side of slavery before the Civil War and had a reputation for supporting segregation and racism during much of the last century.


In a news conference after the vote, Luter said he doesn’t think his election is some kind of token gesture.

“If we stop appointing African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics to leadership positions after this, we’ve failed,” he said. “... I promise you I’m going to do all that I can to make sure this is not just a one-and-done deal.”

Faced with declining membership, the SBC has been making efforts to appeal to a more diverse group of believers.

More here-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/southern-baptists-elect-1st-african-american-president-the-rev-fred-luter-jr/2012/06/20/gJQArEPkpV_story.html

Head of Episcopal Church urges help for Va.'s Saint Paul's College

From Virginia-

Saint Paul's College, the historically black school in Lawrenceville that is in a financial battle for survival, is getting a boost from the leadership of the Episcopal Church in the U.S.


Saint Paul's, a private liberal arts school affiliated with the church, is $1.2 million shy in its campaign to raise $5 million by May 17 — before its accreditation comes up for final review in June by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.


The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States, has issued an open letter to Episcopalians, urging them to help Saint Paul's in its time of need.


In another development, Charles M. Royce, a Wall Street investor with ties to the Episcopal Church, and his wife, Deborah, have issued a $250,000 challenge grant, pledging $1 for every $2 in unrestricted grants raised until the May 17 deadline. Under terms of the grant, the first $500,000 raised would become $750,000 toward the school's goal.


"As Episcopalians, we share a deep, spiritual commitment to support educational institutions and strengthen communities," said Royce, president and co-chief investment officer of Royce & Associates LLC and president of The Royce Funds.

More here-


http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/state-news/2012/may/08/tdmet01-head-of-episcopal-church-urges-help-for-va-ar-1898215/

First African American female ordained from the Episcopal Diocese of Texas

From Virginia (I believe)

On Jan. 13, Petersburg native Glenice Robinson-Como was ordained the first African American female from the Diocese of Texas at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston, Texas. As a Petersburg native, Glenice stands on the shoulders of many who paved the way to her priesthood.

Every Sunday she would pass St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, the oldest African American Episcopal Church in Virginia, while heading to First Baptist Church. Although she never imagined becoming a priest, she reflects upon the rich history of the Episcopal Church in Virginia, realizing God supplied her with the best foundation for service.

The Bishop Payne School of Theology, (a branch of the Virginia Seminary in Alexandria), was formed in Petersburg to prepare African American males for sacred ministry. Como says. "So many brave men stepped out on faith so that I may stand today as a woman of color and as a priest in the Episcopal Church. I am honored to have lived in Petersburg because of its role in the progression of African Americans in the Episcopal Church."

A student of Petersburg Public Schools, Glenice graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and later moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where she would marry and start a family. She always hoped of returning to Virginia, but "God had other plans."

Read more:

http://progress-index.com/lifestyles/faith-values/first-african-american-female-ordained-from-the-episcopal-diocese-of-texas-1.1129590#ixzz1J3L2vH15