Bishop Philip R. Cousin, Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, remembers his friends, those people who have been kind to him.

In introducing the preacher, who was to close out the 184th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, Bishop Cousin said he was "in need of a word." and that the preacher he selected, "always has a good word."

The preacher for the Sunday service, which was held at First Episcopal District Headquarters at 3801 Market Street in Philadelphia, was the Reverend Earl Jefferson. Rev. Jeffereson is the Executive Director of Christian Education for the First Episcopal District, he also served as Administrative Assistant to Bishop Cousin during this tenure in the First Episcopal District.

Bishop Cousin commended Rev. Jeffereson on the way in which he assisted him, saying Rev. Jeffereson never exceeded his authority but rather stayed within the vision and intent of the Bishop. And if there was any question as to the scope of that vision, "he would ask me what I wanted."

In the emotional preface to his preaching, Rev. Jefferson thanked Bishop Cousin for standing behind him and his family and for the kindnesses he had extended to him.

Rev. Jefferson acknowledged his family members in attendence, "but they would be here anyway even if I were not preaching, since they did not know I was going to preach today, which was good."

The scripture for the sermon was drawn from John 5:1-8. Rev. Jeffereson not only opened the scripture for its historical point but then easily took the thread and made it pertinent for today.

The familiar story of the man waiting by the pool awaiting a chance at his blessing was explored with one central theme being, did he want to be well.

Rev. Jefferson said that sometimes there are people do not want to get well. No one is going to care for them if they are well. Nobody will have a pity party with them if they are well.

Although this person had been sick for years, Rev. Jefferson said perhaps his state kept people from wanting to help him get his blessing. Perhaps he had become an outcast because of his illness.

But Rev. Jefferson said one thing he did do, was make himself available for a miracle. He was there when Jesus arrived and Jesus first dealt with the question of whether he wanted to be healed, to be well, and then told him to "Get Up."

Without raising his voice, Rev. Jefferson generated a quiet power that rolled over the gathered worshippers.

He addressed the problems and the ills of this day and age but then asked the question that Jesus asked, "Do you want to be well." It was a question that applied to the church as a whole as well as the individuals in front of him.

As he addressed an issue, like a chorus, the capacity crowd roared back to him, "Get Up." Indicating that to a person, they had fully digested Rev. Jefferson's point, if you wanted to get well you have to place yourself in the position to receive a miracle and then you had to get up and recieve it.

It was a powerful message to bring a week worth of strong preaching to a close.

Following the sermon, and just before the offering, Bishop Cousin took a moment to address those gathered about tithing, how it is a necessity in the church.

He told his clergy that how can you expect people to follow where you don't lead and that to expect tithing, his pastors would have to be tithers. He also said he did not want non-tithers in the counting rooms, counting tithers money.

Bishop Cousin said this was his last chance to address the Annual Conference and he made good use of the opportunity by giving a strong message on tithing and its benefits to the church.

This was followed by the reading of the Special Resolution of the 184th Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference. It focused on national, international and local concerns. It endorsed and supported the candidacy of Rev. Richard Frank Norris for Bishop, applauded the work of his wife Mary Norris as office manager for the Bishop and lamented the leaving of Bishop Cousin and Episcopal Supervisor M. Joan Cousin at the end of their 8 year term. The Resolution read by Rev. Trevor Woolridge of Tyree A.M.E. Church, was greet by outburst of cheers for the poignent and pressing points it addressed. It received two points of clarification for Rev. William Smallwood, who added a word of praise for the work and effort of host pastor Rev. Jeffrey Leath, his wife Dr. Susan Leath and the officers and members of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church for the manner in which they hosted the conference and to Rev. Jefferson for his work at the Headquarters building. The Special Resolution then was unanimously adopted. You can read the full text of the Special Resolution by clicking [Here]

Rev. Janet Jenkins, Statistician for Philadelphia Annual Conference, made her report next and it showed some declines in membership and fundraising. Bishop Cousin said he hoped that there would be improvement in the next support. That he only called for improvement because he loves the Conference. "If I do not care for you, I will avoid you. I will not say anything and try to be in a position where I do not have to say anything to you for fear of what I may say."

Rev. Jenkins said some of the numbers may be out of line because the churchs reporting may have some questions as to the designations conversions and accessions. Bishop Cousin explained, unless you were doing a lot of work out of the church, most conversions should also be accessions. That conversions were people who have accepted Christ and came to a church for the first time, whereas accessions are any new members to the congregation but not necessarily new people to Christ.

Rev. Joseph Tull, a Presiding Elder in the Delaware Conference, serves as accountant for the First Episcopal District and the Philadelphia Annual Conference. He gave his report next and Bishop Cousin thanked him for his service during the past 8 years.

With the business of the Philadelphia Annual Conference concluded, Bishop Cousin then moved into the Commisioning assigning his pastors old and new to their charges for the upcoming year.

A spirit-filled and informative Philadelphia Annual Conference had come to its conclusion.

The Planning Session is set for June 8, 9, 10. at First Episcopal District Headquarters at 3801 Market Street, in PHiladelphia. Bishop Cousin said they will be recognizing his 50 years in the ministry during this event. "I will be preaching the Quadrennial Sermon almost 50 years to the date from when I preached my trial sermon," he explained.

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 a look at the highlights of Day Three [Click Here] For Day Four highlights [Click Here] For the overall schedule of the Philadelphia Annual Conference [Click Here]