First Episcopal District
Bishop Ming's Busy Schedule
The 115th Session of the Bermuda Annual Conference

By Rev. Dr. Leonard Santucci

Bishop Donald George Kenneth Ming arrived in Bermuda on Sunday March 4th, 2001 to participate in the 115th Session of the Bermuda Annual Conference (March 8th-11th) hosted by Rev. P.L. Christopher Haynes and the Mount Zion AME Church family. From the time of his arrival Bishop Ming was well received, as he was acknowledged as "a son of the soil" who had returned to preside over the Annual Conference. His presence, and the prestige of the occasion, was acknowledged from all sectors of the community.

The pre-conference activity for Bishop Ming began with a meeting of the Clergy on the Monday afternoon. Bishop Ming was joined on this occasion by Bishop Vinton Randolph Anderson, presiding prelate of the Second Episcopal District. The presence of Bishop Anderson added to the historical significance of this occasion as it served as the first time in the history of their Episcopal ministries that they had ever been present in a Bermuda Annual Conference together.

During the Clergy meeting, Bishop Ming indicated how blessed he was to have this opportunity to give Episcopal leadership in a District that encompasses the country of his birth. His ministry path took him from these shores in 1949 when he set off for Wilberforce University and Payne Theological Seminary. Entering the itinerant ministry, he obligated himself to go where God and the Church would send him. He followed faithfully as Isaiah models; it was not until the General Conference of 2000 that the direction of the Episcopal Committee would allow his ministry to embrace the shores of Bermuda in a pastoral capacity as Chief Shepherd.

Bishop Anderson in addressing the clergy affirmed Bishop Ming, whom he referred to as a fellow "Onion" and brother beloved. Together they shared how the grace of God has lifted them from little Bermuda to serve the world community. This meeting and their presence will long be remembered.

On Tuesday, Bishop Ming demonstrated that he was home to work, as there was much work to be done in lifting the witness of the Church to new levels. From the start of the day to the close of the day he set a pace that constituted a challenge for everyone to maintain. Tuesday is traditionally Evangelist Day and it includes a full program of activity. During the course of the day the Mayor of Hamilton, The Worshipful Lawson Mapp entertained Bishop Ming. That same afternoon, he presided over a meeting of the Bermuda Annual Conference Trustee Board. The Board is responsible for the Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence and the Allen Camp on Darrells Island.

Tuesday evening was a time of celebration as the official opening of the Annual Conference was held in the form of a banquet honoring Bishop Ming as our prelate and the first son of the soil to preside over us. The banquet was held at the Fairmount Southampton Princess Hotel. To acknowledge the prestige of the occasion and the stature of this son of the soil, the following dignitaries were in attendance at the head table Governor and Mrs. Thorold Masefield, Premier Dr. Jennifer Smith, Senator Michael Scott, Bishop and Mrs. Vinton R. Anderson, Presiding Elder and Mrs. Malcolm L. Eve, Rev. and Mrs. P.L. Christopher Haynes and Ms. Rita Lofton, niece of the honoree.

Other dignitaries in attendance were Bishop Vernon R. Byrd, Government Ministers; The Hon. Paula Cox, Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Dame The Hon. Lois Brown Evans, Attorney General, and Mr. John Evans, The Worshipful Mr. Lawson Mapp, Mayor of Hamilton, Members of Parliament Mr. Reginald Burrows and Mrs. Burrows, and Mr. Derrick Burgess. A host of Presiding Elders, Clergy and Laypersons from across the Episcopal District completed the circled of persons gathered on this occasion.

The pre-conference activities continued on the Wednesday with Missionary Day. The day started with a breakfast meeting. The business session saw representatives from each of the eleven churches as they gathered to report on their stewardship and labors of love. During the evening a memorial musical tribute was held in honor of the late Mrs. Edith White Ming, former Supervisor of Missions for the first Episcopal District.

Thursday saw the members and friends of the Annual Conference gather in the sanctuary of Mount Zion AME Church to commence roll call at 9:00am sharp. Two ministers were late arriving to answer the roll and were chastised accordingly. Bishop Ming used this opportunity to drive home the point that we must be about our Lord’s business and do it on time. From start to finish he instructed the Conference according to the Word and Book of Doctrine and Discipline of the Church.

The Rev. Ruth Van Lowe Smith, Pastor of St. Philip AME Church, preached the Annual Conference Sermon. Rev. Smith used as her theme “From the Crowd to the Christ.” The worship experience continued with the service of Holy Communion. Bishops Anderson and Byrd assisted Bishop Ming during the Communion Service. During the afternoon session Bishop Ming received the eleven pastoral reports. During the reporting session, Bishop Ming paused to have prayer with Rev. Dr. Wilbur Lowe Jr. pastor of Richard Allen AME Church. Dr. Lowe has experienced a period of illness. Bishop Ming indicated that those who are ill need our prayers as he offered up a prayer for Dr. Lowe. The Conference also lifted up the Rev. Charles Alexander Smith, pastor of St. Luke AME Church, who was not well enough to give his report due to illness and hospitalization. The delegate of St. Luke Sis. Barbara Burchall reported for the Church. The First Lady of St. Luke, Sis. Elizabeth Smith and members of the congregation stood with the delegate.

Thursday evening the Lay organization lead the Conference in a service of celebration that honored both Bishops Ming and Anderson as Episcopal sons of the soil. The Richard Allen Memorial Plaque was presented to both Bishops as an acknowledgement of their legacies and the Annual Conference’s contribution to African Methodism and Christendom through them. Bishop Vinton Anderson served as the preacher for this occasion. He highlighted that as the senior he was preaching for his junior…but Bishop Ming responded that as the Presiding Bishop, Anderson had no choice but to do as he was requested.

The Friday session of the Annual Conference was memorable in that Bishop Ming invited Bishop Vernon R. Byrd to serve as the noonday preacher. Introducing him, Bishop Ming reminded the Conference of Bishop Byrd’s pastoral service at St. Paul AME Church during the 1960’s. Bishop Byrd is the only American pastor to be honored, by the Queen of England, as an honorary Member of the British Empire (MBE). Bishop Byrd lifted the Conference to the rooftops of Mount Zion as he shared the Word.

During the afternoon session, the Board of Examiners presented three candidates for ordination. Two for Itinerant Elders orders, Rev. D’Wain Wales and Rev. D. Terry Hassell, and one for Itinerant Deacons orders, Bro. Ouemonde Brangman. Other candidates were either retained in the same year of studies or moved on to the next.

Friday evening saw the Christian Education Department lead the Conference in a wonderful youth celebration. Bishop Ming addressed the gathering of roughly eight hundred people and shared his story of what the Lord has done in his life from his departing Bermuda in 1949 until his return as the Bishop. Everyone listened attentively as a Bermudian story was being told. During the evening Mr. & Ms. AME youth of the Year was crowned.

The Saturday session witnessed the Memorial Committee Report. We paused to celebrate the life and witness of the late Rev. Samuel Hayward and Mother Edith White Ming. Rev. Hayward is best remembered, as the great builder at Mount Zion AME Church, were he labored for twenty years. During that period he transformed the mission church into the modern day cathedral that it is today. Mrs. Ming is acknowledged as a renowned musician, Christian witness and Missions Supervisor. She was a devoted wife to our beloved Bishop.

The Ordination Service followed the Memorial Service. Rev. Sylvester Beman, pastor of Bethel Wilmington, was the ordination preacher. Rev. Beman challenged the candidates for ordination and the Conference with a sermon entitled "Called and Chosen." The message was delivered with such power and authority that it left people dancing under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Leading in a dance of praise and thanksgiving was Bishop Ming. He explained that he experienced "the can’t help its." As he reflected on the grace of God in his life all he could do was to dance and praise the Lord. The more the Bishop danced, the more the people danced. Bishop concluded by thanking Rev. Beman for allowing the Lord to use him. The Ordination Service saw Rev. Ouemonde Brangman ordained as an Itinerant Deacon and Revs. D’Wain Wales and D. Terry Hassell ordained Itinerant Elders.

At the conclusion of this service the Presiding Elder read the names of persons appointed by the Bishop to preach from the eleven pulpits the next morning. After the Ordination Service, Bishop Ming served as host to a luncheon for more than thirty people before conducting a series of late afternoon meetings into the early evening.

The Closing Service for the Annual Conference was held in St. Paul’s Centennial Hall on Sunday March 11, 2001 commencing at 3:00pm. Over one thousand people gathered inside and outside the Hall to bear witness to this historic celebration. The Hall had a new central air-conditioning system installed for occasions such as this, but it had little impact due to the attendance. As a consequence of the size of the congregation, doors remained open to give those on the outside an opportunity to hear the proceedings. The open doorways increased the level of heat experienced on the inside. As a consequence of the heat, several people were escorted outside and assisted by medically trained personnel.

As Bishop Ming stood to preach the closing sermon, clad in ministerial regalia, he too was overcome and was assisted by Rev. Dr. Leonard Santucci, Rev. P.L. Christopher Haynes and other members of the clergy. Dr. Santucci acknowledges that the heat was very much a factor in this unfortunate turn of events for Bishop Ming. Bishop Ming was taken from the podium to hospital for observation, but insisted that the work of the Church and the Conference must go on. Rev. Conway Simmons assisted by visiting Presiding Elder Rev. Joseph Tull, Episcopal District Accountant, and Rev. Dr. Earl Jefferson, District Christian Education Director, continued the work of the Conference. Bishop Ming’s overcoming reminded the clergy and the laity of Bishop Philip R. Cousin’s similar experience in 1993. Bishop Cousin during his first Annual Conference in Bermuda was also taken to hospital for examination. The humidity was a causal factor for Bishop Cousin’s observation as well.

Bishop Ming, after a period of observation in hospital, left Bermuda for Philadelphia on Tuesday March 13, 2001. Bishop Ming regrets most not having the opportunity to finish his sermon and conduct his post Annual Conference series of meetings that were planned for Monday March 12, 2001.