Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick
In a bold and historic move, Bishop Bobby Best, presiding prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, will gather the district’s five regions together for one combined annual conference session.
The joint session takes place on Friday, July 21, through Saturday, July 22, at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa, 8000 South Arizona Grand Parkway in Phoenix, Arizona. The theme is “The Investment Factor: Tapping Into Our Millennials to Help Grow and Plant Churches in a Multi-Cultural Society.”
The Ninth District regions consist of the Alaska-Pacific, Arizona-New Mexico, Northern California, Oklahoma and Southern California. Traditionally, each region held its own four-day annual conference. Best is now combining those meetings into one, as well as shortening the length of the conferences’ session.
The event will also include the Christian Leadership Training School directed by Danette Armstead on July 17-19 and the Women’s Missionary Society Institute.
The agenda includes the Holy Communion Worship Service on Wednesday with preaching by Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, presiding prelate of the 8th Episcopal District. On July 20, the Missionary Worship Service and Lena Jones Rice $100 Missionary March will be held. The Rev. Cathy Jones of Parkwood C.M.E. Church in Charlotte, North Carolina will preach.
The Closing Commission Service of Worship will be Saturday, July 22. The preacher will be the Rev. Jacqueline Maye, pastor of Phillips Chapel C.M.E. Church in Santa Monica, CA. Also, Best will announce the pastoral appointments for 2017-2018.
