You could tell Bishop Richard Franklin Norris was glad to be home, facing a large gathering of the First Episcopal District for the first time as a Bishop.

Just two weeks ago, he became the 116th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church during the second round of elections at the General Conference held in Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was the first member of the Bishop class of 2000.

He since has been back in his launching pulpit at St. Matthews in Philadelphia, but this was the first time he had a chance to speak before the First District as a whole.  

The occasion was the annual Christian Education Congress, this year being held July 24-27 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Philadelphia.  Bishop Norris had been selected by new Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, Bishop Donald George Kenneth Ming, to be the opening service speaker.  Like Bishop Norris, Bishop Ming too is a son of the first Episcopal District, and in Bishop Ming's case, by way of Bermuda.

Bishop Ming welcomed Bishop Norris warmly and apologized for what he perceived as a slight in his first assignment as a Bishop (Bishop Ming apologizes) Bishop Norris was equally warm in his thanks to Bishop Ming for the opportunity to address his home crowd.

Bishop  Norris said Bishop and Mrs. Ming had been the matchmakers for his marriage to Mary Ann Norris, his wife of almost 32 years. "They thought that we would look alright together," Bishop Norris recollected, drawing laughter from the massive crowd gathered to here him speak.  "Mother Ming even was part of our bridal party."

Also thanked by Bishop Norris was his church family at St. Matthew's as well as "all of you who helped me along the  way in any capacity."

Then Bishop Norris launched into a fiery sermon titled "Everybody  Will Know," drawn from John 13:35

Bishop Norris built slowly and surely on the theme, explaining that often times, people, especially those in power or aspiring to positions of power, do not want all of their "warts and moles on display."  That they try to cover up their past. "But everything done in secret will come to light,"  Bishop Norris exclaimed. "Everybody Will Know."

"Even in the Oval Office," Bishop Norris said looking towards the highest office in the country ,"Nixon had his tapes, President Clinton had what he had."  But he explained although this was done in secret, it eventually came to light and "Everybody will know."

Bishop Norris drove home the Biblical foundation of his sermon.  Chronicling Jesus' travel and life with his disciples.  How he concluded his teachings to them by encouraging them "love one another, not as the world loves but as I loved you."  He said by this love Everyone will know that you are a follower of Jesus The Christ.

Bishop Norris read the roll call of those who allowed themselves to stand in the path of the Lord and allowed God to use them for God's Greater glory and added, as a note of personal and historical testimony, "God is with us. He is our very present help in times of trouble."

"God will open doors that nobody can shut.  I'm a witness," Bishop Norris declared. "If God has it for you, nobody can take it away from you.  If God's with you, the devil may seem in charge but God will make a way out of no way.  The Lord still is in the blessing business."

Bishop Norris said his father was called home to the Lord when he only was eight years old.  When it became time for him to further his education he did not know if he would be able to go further but God opened a door for him, St. Matthew's, the same church he later pastored, raised the funds to send him to school.

He said that when he accepted the call as a teenager,, and was preparing to preach his trial sermon, he was chided, "Here comes that religious one."  But Bishop Norris said that did not bother him.

He said in some ways he felt like the prophet Jeremiah, who said he would not say a word for the Lord, that he was not going to call the name of the Lord any more.

But there was a strange glow that began to encompass him and Jeremiah had to speak for he said it was like a fire shut up in his bones.

The crowd was on its feet at Bishop Norris' testimony grew more intense.

"When you have God on the inside, you can't hide it. Everybody will know," he  proclaimed. 

"I know the Lord,"  Bishop Norris said with joy, "So I go to the 14th Episcopal District as one who Loves the Lord and His people.

"I go and by this I tell all I have love for one another," he said echoing Jesus'  command to his disciples.  "By this shall all men know,"

The entire gathering was on its feet as Bishop Norris' final words reverberated through the massive room. Without a word of complaint, without a sign of regret or anger, if Bishop Norris sensed any hurt with his assignment, he let all those in attendance know that he would let God use him where he has been sent and it was well with his soul. That as God received the glory in this assignment,  "Everybody Will Know."