Christian Men's Freedom Forum 2000
Brings July 4th Fireworks to Cincinnati

You did not need to see the rocket's red glare, to know that something was explosive at the Christian Men's Freedom Forum 2000 held on the Fourth of July in Firstar Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The program was orchestrated by Bishop Vinton Anderson, Presiding Prelate of the Second Episcopal District. It was a first rate presentation from start to finish. The underlying theme was wholeness for men. Helping men help themselves through awareness of who they are and what influences have shaped their lives.

The program lived up to its founding premise and then some. It both was educational and inspirational. What it wasn't, was packed. Bishop Anderson prepared a program that deserved many more people in attendence.

There were many highlights during the ful-day event, but one most will not forget were the pyrotechnics created by the dynamic preaching of Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, Pastor of Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Serving as a backdrop to Rev. Browning's stirring sermon was the 200-plus voices of the King's Men Choir, that traveled with their pastor. The men all were dressed in black with gold ties. If the sight was impressive, seeing that many men gathered togeher to sing, the sound was heavenly.

The first number of their presentation was an inspired adaptation of "The Lord's Prayer" and the spiritual level just kept rising from this already high mark.

Rev. Browning brought a contemporary feel to his sermon by using "Shaft" and the movie character's amoral outlook on life as part of the problem facing today's man. Working from the foundation of "Goodbye Shaft" Rev. Browning carefully charted a Biblically-based course of how we can leave the old mentality behind and prepare for new times.

He ressolved this by saying, the change only can come through God and we have to believe that a change indeed is going to come.

The day was a mixture of the secular and the spiritual. Before Rev. Brownings tour de force preaching turn during the day's Hour of Power, a large grouping from the Congressional Black Caucas were in attendence, forming a panel that addressed Political and Exonomic Responsibilty.

Aside from explaining the work of the caucus, they also fielded questions from the general populace of the Conference. The questions were varied with a nagging concern being the governments less than preferential treatment of non-white immigrants.

There also was enertainment during the day. The Johnny O'Neal Trio provided a background of jazz and gospel during the lunch hour. There also were two male liturgical dance troupes who impressed those gathered with their energetic and well-practiced choreography. The groups were the Men of Bethel from Bethel A.M.E. in Baltimore and The Allen Dance Ministry from Allen Cathedral AME Curch in Jamaica, N.Y.

Rev. Sylvester Laundermill's, expressive, multi-range voice also was part of the uplifing enertainment portion of the Forum. Rev. Laudermill, is from St. Peter's A.M.e. Church in St. Louis, MO

Rev. Ron Johnson, Founder and Execuive Drecor of National Family Life and Education Center, put the day in perspective for the young men and women. He gave his presentation in language that they would understand and absorb. He honestly explored the relaionships between young males and females and then provided them a blueprint as to how to really grow up to be men and women.

Rev. Johnson provided the necessary anchor for the day for the young people who were there.

The day was closed with the Act of Covenanting, as the men gahered pledged collecively to leave the forum in unity, acknowledging the problems inherent in today's society and in the relationships between men and women, an pledging, that through God's help, to return home prepared and armed to make a difference.

Among those things pledged was to organize a prison visit on the Fourth of July 2001; to develop substance abuse programs; to educate people about the AIDS crisis; to establish crime watches in the neighborhoods; to institute training for male parenting; develop self esteem programs for children; to encourage all congregations to develop Men's ministries that would promote the wholeness of their families; to father every two years in a similar national forum; and to work with non-Christian and Sisers in the spirt of unity for the betterment of humankind to the Glory of God.

Bishop Anderson developed a wonderful and fulfilling program that was uplifting and provided inspiration to both men and women. It was a perfect high mark with which to start the gathering of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Cincinnati for its General Conference 2000.