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Long Island Bishop Among Three Honored for Serving Black Ministries Committee

Episcopal News Service. December 12, 2005 [121205-2]

Daphne Mack

Bishop Orris Walker of Long Island was recognized for his work with the Recruitment, Training, and Deployment (RT&D) committee of the Episcopal Church's Office of Black Ministries at its biannual meeting December 1-2 at the Episcopal Church Center in New York City.

"This has been an interesting experience," said Walker. "I have seen some of the results of some of our early labors working with a variety of individuals ... I now have had the privilege of seeing them mature and become leaders within the life of the church. This brings me a great deal of satisfaction."

Walker was honored, along with the Rev. Dr. Thea Joy Browne and the Rev. Canon Frederick Williams, all of whom are stepping down from the committee after a combined 75 years of service.

The RT&D committee is the facilitator of the RT&D program that aims to empower and encourage Black Anglicans to a vocation in ordained ministry, empower young vocation, and allow the Black Anglican community to shape their Black Episcopal leaders. The program is designed to prepare Black Postulants and candidates for ministry in the church, equipping them with history, mentors, and training, from an Afro Anglican perspective.

The committee is comprised of representatives from various Black Episcopal organizations and groups, such as the Union of Black Episcopalians, Black Episcopal clergy, Black deputies, Black leaders and diocesan executives, Black Caribbean clergy, African leaders, Black Hispanic leaders and persons involved in Black congregations, who may not be of African descent.

Walker said he enjoyed the committee and thinks "it's in good hands" and "will move ahead with great success."

In separate interviews, Browne and Williams expressed similar views.

"Over the years, we were able to identify outstanding participants to the program," said Williams, who will now concentrate on re-vamping the Bragg Fellowship program which allows a newly ordained person to be paired with a seasoned priest thereby creating a mentor relationship.

"I really felt that there was a blessing upon the work, and that people were free to bring what they had to offer to the table without making comparisons or without negative judgment [of the committee] so that it was a shared experience," said Browne. "It has been a pleasure for me to serve on this committee."

Angela Ifill, missioner for the Office of Black Ministries, said of the three: "They have put everything they've got into this work over the years."

"They have been pioneers in getting us, in the Black church, to the point which we're at," she said. "So it's very important that we in the Black community recognize the importance of raising up those who did the work before us."

The committee's agenda also included a discussion about changing its name from "Recruitment, Training and Deployment" to "Recruitment, Training and Development."

"The need for the name change came from looking around the church and seeing the need for more young Black leaders, in the church, clergy as well as lay," said Ifill. "I see the work of this office [of Black Ministries] as being instrumental in helping Black congregations to transform and revitalize themselves so the committee will be engaged in leadership development with clergy and laity."

The Rev. Sandye Wilson, committee member and rector of St. Andrew and Holy Communion in South Orange, New Jersey, agreed, saying that RT&D "has been a committee that has at its heart intentionality and prayer."

"If we don't pay some attention to the importance of recruitment, training and now development of the ministry of people of color, this church will be in some ways diminished because it will be missing out on the gifts of some wonderfully talented people," said Wilson.

Toni Daniels, executive director of enrollment management at New York City's General Theological Seminary, spoke about the program's relationship with the Organization of Black Episcopal Seminarians (OBES).

"OBES and this scholarship go together because you have the support of people who've been in parishes for a long time," said Daniels. "You can talk with other Black seminarians. It's just a great system of camaraderie."

Daniels also said the committee is exploring ways to help dioceses recruit young people of color.

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