"Birds have a way of going back home," Bishop Philip R. Cousin Sr. said. His glasses sat on the table in front of him. He unashamedly wiped at his eyes with a handkerchief

"I was born in Pittston, up by Scranton, so maybe my deciding to live in Philadelphia is the pigeon coming back home. It is a natural, comfortable, normal way of doing things. So don't be surprised if you think you see me in Philadelphia, I live here."

Bishop Cousin, after what he and everyone in attendance deemed an excellent Conference, was winding down both the business of the 184 Session of the Philadelphia Conference but his eight years of being its Presiding Prelate.

With the close of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, there will be no further Annual Conferences for Bishop Cousin in the First Episcopal District.

As he spent a few final minutes remembering the past, and leaving wisdom for the future, Bishop Cousin was emotional. The Conference was equally emotional and supportive. He called the impromptu address a "valedictory" all ears realized that it was spelled farewell.

He urged on the Philadelphia residents of the Conference to maintain and continue their support of Mayor John Street. "We have a Mayor who looks like us, don't desert him."

Bishop Cousin also made a plea for the enhancement of the Philadelphia school system. That vouchers may be fine under some circumstances but right now a stronger educational system was needed to go along with the vouchers.

He told the gathered Conference that if they did not fill out their census forms, they should answer the questions by phone. "Make sure we get our fair share of funding. Make sure we show we have enough people in our districts to maintain our representation."

Another concern for Bishop Cousin was preachers trying to stay in the active ministry too long. "Some folks ought to know when its time to move. Some folks need to know when it is time to give up. It is hard to get A.M.E. preachers to know these things."

Bishop Cousin said many do not retire because they have nothing to retire to He said this is a concern that needs to be taken care of "You don't have to die with your boots on."

Then Bishop Cousin said he remembered how when he was a young preacher, he used to look at the older preachers and wonder when they would be getting out of the way. Now, he said, he looks at himself and realizes he looks today, as those older preachers looked to him then.

"Twenty years ago I could stay up all night and get right up and go to work the next day. If I stay up all night now, the next day you are going to have to try and resuscitate me."

"You've been a good Annual Conference," Bishop Cousin concluded. "I've enjoyed every day working with you. My good days far out weighed my bad days. I have no reason to complain."

As he ran his big white handkerchief across his eyes, he concluded "I thank you for a good Annual Conference."

The entire assembly rose in mass to applaud and thank Bishop Cousin.

Rev. Herman A. Rhodes, the senior of the Presiding Elders in the Philadelphia Annual Conference, spoke for all gathered when he voiced his appreciation for Bishop Cousin's work and efforts during his eight years in the First Episcopal District.

"We thank you," Elder Rhodes said, "For although you had power, you did not use it to destroy us, you used it to lift us up. Some of us were down and out and you revitalized us. No matter where you go next, somebody is going to receive a blessing."

The third day of the Philadelphia Annual Conference came to strong conclusion but it had a somewhat shaky beginning.

After leading the conference through some important economic development issues, methods for keeping dollars spent with in the District, Bishop Cousin took a minute to survey the Conference members. He did not like the numbers he saw and asked for an impromptu roll call.

The calling of the roll confirmed what he thought he noticed. There were a lot of people missing from the clergy and the lay.

Bishop Cousin reprimanded those missing saying the one thing he would not stand for was disrespect for the Annual Conference.

If the third day started a little out of kilter, a little cold, it got right back on track when preaching time arrived.

The afternoon service was devoted to the Woman in Ministry. The volunteer choir got things off on the right foot again and then Rev. Juanita Walters, Pastor of Arnett A.M.E. Church and President of Women in Ministry for the Conference, took things to a whole new level with her uplifting, spiritual rendition of "Because He Lives."

If the third day started out a little chilly, it was definitely getting hot now.

The speaker of the hour, the Reverend Janet Jenkins, Pastor of St. John's A.M.E. Church and Statistician for the Annual Conference, brought her message from Jeremiah 12:5 "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out how can you compete with horses. If you stumbled in the safe country, how can you manage in the thickets of the Jordan."

This developed into the theme, "If you can't run, get out of the race."

It was a powerful and moving sermon. The central point was man can not take away what God has for you. If you do not have it, perhaps God just did not have it for you. Rev. Jenkins said man can not take away what God has for women. If God has it for you, nobody can take it away.

She concluded with three poignant points. The first being you have to know when you are in Lord. Then she added, you have to be in your proper place. Not where you want to be, but the proper place God has for you.

Her concluding point was to run the race you have to have power. "This power is not energy it is not even stamina. This power is the Power of God and it can not be imitated."

At the conclusion of the sermon, which had everyone on their feet, Bishop Cousin said he felt better and was empowered to complete the day of business. He called the sermon, "one that only a woman could have preached." And he applauded Rev. Jenkins both for her courage and honesty in letting the Lord speak through her.

For a report from the first day of the Philadelphia Annual Conference [Click Here] For a report from Day Two of the Philadelphia Annual Conference [Click Here] For the overall schedule of the Philadelphia Annual Conference [Click Here]