Date: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 15:12:12 -0400
From: virginia penley
Subject: Pam Baldwin is honored at Mitchell Chapel
Pittsboro, NC: The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Eastern District met in Pittsboro on August 28th and 29th for the 89th session of the Durham District Conference at Mitchell Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Rev. Anthony Davis was the host pastor and the presiding Elder was Dr. L.A. Miller.
This year’s theme for the conference theme was “A Voteless People Is a Hopeless People.â€
Leaders and members throughout the district convened at Mitchell Chapel to break break, conduct the business of the district, welcome friends, award citizens in the Durham District and celebrate the sacrament of holy communion.
Pittsboro Mayor Pro-Tem, Pamela Baldwin, Siler City Mayor Pro-Tem, Larry Cheek, Durham County Commissioner Chairman, Rev. Michael Page, were among those presented awards for their service to the Durham District by Presiding Elder Dr. Miller.
After heart lifting singing from the visiting choir from St. Mark’s augmented by the luscious keyboard playing of Mitchell Chapel’s Minister of Music, Dennis Williams, and steady beat from his band, the assembly was greeted by Rev. Davis and Elder Miller who invited former Pittsboro Mayor and longtime friend, NCDP Chairman Randy Voller, to introduce the assembled guests from Chatham and Lee County to the district.
Once Voller concluded, Elder Miller invited 2nd Congressional District Candidate, Clay Aiken, and 12th Congressional District Candidate, Alma Adams to address the congregation.
Aiken made a point to let everyone know that he grew up in a church and that God had given him the gift of his voice, which he wanted to use as an elected official to speak up loudly for those who had no voice and who needed a voice to speak for them in Washington. He concluded that everyone had a voice as well: their vote.
Aiken was followed by Rep. Alma Adams, who said everything is political and the community can’t sit on the sidelines. She declared that unless African-Americans take part in the process to make decisions for the community than others will make the decisions for us and to us.
Rep. Adams cited John Wooden when she declared “failing to plan is planning to fail†as part of her rousing speech inciting the assembled guests to get organized, get involved, and get to the polls and vote.
Adams concluded by stating that we don’t have to like Senator Kay Hagan, but we need to take care of ourselves and our community and President Obama and North Carolinians need Kay Hagan in the Senate to deliver for our community and our country.
The conference concluded with a sermon and subsequent benediction from Dr. G. Ray Coleman from St Mark’s A.M.E. Zion Church in Durham, NC.