Memo to Historiographers

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To my Fellow Historiographers:

Well, thanks to you, we made it to series 4 Q&A’s. Allow me to congratulate you as a team for a job well done. I hope when you read this information and share it, you will be as proud as I am of what we have accomplished.

Please make sure this information gets out under your signature. In the space indicated on the sheet where it says, “Submitted By,” please insert your name and your signature. Please ensure that your Bishop, Episcopal District President, Presiding Elder, DOLA, YAR and each local church in your district has a copy of series 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as the puzzle.

I am pleased to report that we have opened the door in order to access factual information about our great Zion and our great Lay Organization. Please remember that all of this historical information is posted to the CLO website www.ameclay.org and can be found on the historiographers’ page. Consistent with the directive from our CLO President, we are showing our commitment to the task as we do our job of informing, educating and providing historical information in Districts 1- 20. Thank you so much for your input as we blaze new paths of communication on behalf of our Connectional Church and our Lay Organization. To God be the glory for the great things he has empowered us to do.

Our honorary historiographer is doing a fantastic job on our second puzzle. She recently shared a draft copy with me and all I can say is, WOW! I am certain that you will share my sentiments. Our second puzzle will be available in March. Do not forget to remind everyone that our first puzzle will print in the December Edition of The Christian Recorder.

Is it over? No! You provided so much information that we now need to develop a new piece that will be called “Did You Know?” This format will provide a new opportunity for us to tell the story about those who continue to have influence in our church and community from a historical perspective. The Lord’s work does not stop. Please continue to provide information about folk in your district who “keep on keeping on.” As always, please include our YAR’s and other young adults in Districts 1-20. 

Sincerely,

William “Bill” Ayers,
​CLO Historiographer 

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​African Methodist Episcopal Church Connectional Lay Organization (CLO)
KNOW YOUR CHURCH HISTORY – PART 4 OF A 4 PART SERIES

1. He was elected Treasurer of the AME Church at the General Conference held in Dallas, TX. Name this outstanding layman who also authored several lay handbooks.
2. He is the Music Co-Chair for the Connectional Lay Organization, Chaplain of the Washington Conference Lay Organization and President of the Clara B. Neal Lay Organization at his home church in Washington, DC. He is also the newly elected ANC Board member of his neighborhood. He is also a registered Parliamentarian. Name this young adult educator and musician?
3. What is the name of the current elected Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer of the AME Church?
4. He served as the Historian for the AME Church and published a book in 1980 entitled, History of the A.M.E. Church (The Black Church in Action). What is his name?
5. At the General Conference in 1848, the office of AME Historiographer was created. Name the first AME Church Historian?
6. Who was the AME Church laywoman and Engineer who became a NASA astronaut in 1996? She was the second African American woman to travel in space and subsequently flew three shuttle missions.
7. Who was the native Texan and AME Church layman who migrated to Los Angeles CA. in 1927 and became the first African American Mayor of a predominantly white city? He served an unprecedented five terms as mayor of Los Angeles from 1973 to 1993.
8. Who was the AME Church laywoman and civil rights activist who was the State President of the Arkansas NAACP in 1952? She was an author, journalist, publisher, and owner of the Arkansas State Press. She was a chief strategist in desegregating Central High School in Little Rock and was the mentor of the Little Rock 9. Four of the Little Rock 9 and this laywoman were members of Bethel AME Church, Little Rock, Arkansas.
9. Who was the AME Church layman and former Treasurer of the denomination whose biography is entitled, Black Titan? He was an African American businessman who established several businesses in Birmingham, AL and who played a significant role in the movement to remove legal barriers to school integration in Birmingham.
10. Who is the AME Church laywoman who was appointed Judge President (Chief Judge) in the 19th Episcopal District (RSA)? 
11. He was elected Financial Secretary of the CLO at the 2013 Biennial and elected its Treasurer in 2017. Who was this distinguished layman?
12. He served as an outstanding Layman of the 7 th Episcopal District and served as an advisor to several CLO Presidents. He was also noted for his dedication and devotion to his church in South Carolina. He served as a Lay Organization President at the Conference level. Name this faithful servant of God and dedicated layman.
13. She was an elected President of the Connectional Lay Organization (CLO) in 2017. She passed away while in service. A Second District office building located on Pennsylvania in Forestville, MD will be name in her honor on February 18, 2023. She was one of the Founding Members of First AME Church in Manassas, VA. Name this former CLO President and distinguished laywoman. 
    
14. Where was the first AME Publishing House owned and operated by Negroes located and who established it?
    
15. She was the first woman graduate of the now University of North Carolina Wilmington. She was also an actor in the Willis Richardson Players and served as President of the troupe for nearly 2 decades. This active AME Church woman was a member of St. Stephens, Wilmington. She was the recipient of the Enduring Contribution to Wilmington Theater Award. The award was later named in her honor. Who was this great thespian?
    
16. He served as the first President of the 20th Episcopal District after the AMEC General Conference approved the formation of the 20th Episcopal District (RSA). The Episcopal District comprises Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda. The President was born in Zimbabwe. He worked hard and paved the way for the growth/expansion of the District Lay Organization. What is the name of this pioneer President?
    
17. The General Conference is the supreme body of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It meets every four years (quadrennial). In the year 2024, Columbus, Ohio will serve as the host city of the General Conference. What year was the last General Conference held in Ohio?
    
18. He served as the first Black judge on the highest court in the District of Columbia. This outstanding layman was elevated to Chief Judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals in 1976. He was also greatly involved in the life of Metropolitan AME Church in DC. Additionally, he served on the Steward Board and as a member of the Robert Kelly Lay Organization. What was the name of this Senior Judge who was the son of an AME minister?
    
19. He hailed from Liberia (RSA) and served on the AME Church General Board Commission from the years 2000 to 2004. Name this distinguished gentleman.
    
20. She represented the 16th district numerous times on the AME General Board, serving on a number of Commissions. Name this outstanding episcopal district representative and laywoman?

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​African Methodist Episcopal Church Connectional Lay Organization (CLO)
KNOW YOUR CHURCH HISTORY – PART 4 OF A 4 PART SERIES

1. Dr. Joseph Columbus McKinney - (2nd) Episcopal District).
2. Brian Glover - (2nd Episcopal District).
3. M. Marcus Henderson - (13th Episcopal District).
4. Howard D. Gregg, Ph.D. - (4 th Episcopal District).
5. Rev. Daniel A. Payne - (later elevated as the 6th Bishop in the denomination. He purchased Wilberforce University for the AME Church) - (3rd Episcopal District).
6. Stephanie Diana Wilson - (1stEpiscopal District). 
7. Thomas J. “Tom” Bradley - (10th Episcopal District).
8. Daisy Lee Gaston Bates - (12th Episcopal District).
9. A. G. (Arthur George) Gaston - (9thEpiscopal District).
10. Judge President Monica Leeuw - (19th Episcopal District).
11. Richard Bowden - (9th Episcopal District).
12. Norman L. Deas - (7th Episcopal District).
13. Valarie Faith Gary Bell - (2nd Episcopal District).
14. Philadelphia, PA. - Richard Allen - (1stEpiscopal District).
    
15. Lela Mae Pierce Thompson - (2ndEpiscopal District).
    
16. Phillip Nhekairo - (20th Episcopal District).
    
17. 2000 - (the year the AME Church made history by electing its first female Bishop - (3rdEpiscopal District).
    
18. Theodore R. Newman Jr. - (2ndEpiscopal District).
    
19. Justice M. William Wright - (14th Episcopal District).
    
20. Elvira Douglas - (16th Episcopal District).
    

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YOU ARE ENCOURAGED and please encourage others to use the CLO website to purchase “The CLO Historical Journal.” The Journal will assist you in getting correct answers to the puzzle and Series 1, 2, 3 and 4 Q & A’s. We look forward to seeing you at the CLO Biennial, June 26-30, 2023 in Chicago, IL. Vendor information will be available February 15, 2023.

Submitted by:
Mr. Matikane A. Makiti, CLO President.
Mr. William “Bill” Ayers, CLO Historiographer.