Bishop Bobby and Lady Jacqueline Best                (courtesy photo)

Bishop Bobby R. Best, presiding prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District of the C.M.E. Church, will convene the Mid-Winter Council of the Northern California (NCR) and Southern California Regions of the CME Church (SCR) on Friday Dec. 1, through Sat. Dec. 2.

The annual symposium takes place at Amos Temple CME Church, 1500 90th St., in Oakland, CA. The Rev. TJ Davis, Jr., is both the host pastor and host presiding elder of the Oakland District. The co-host presiding elder is the Rev. Eloise Knox of the San Francisco District.

SCR Presiding Elders Travis Morris of the Los Angeles/San Diego District and Mark A. Hardin of the Los Angeles District will participate along with several L.A. area pastors and lay members. The theme is “The Investment Factor: A Changed People Changing the World.”

Business sessions and other activities will be presented on Friday. The Women’s Missionary Society will hold a workshop on Friday at 9 a.m., facilitated by Danette Armstead. Wanda L. Thomas is the SCR WMS president and Verna McAllister is NCR WMS president.

At 7 p.m., the worship service will feature the sermon by the Rev. Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., pastor of Beebe Memorial Cathedral CME Church in Oakland.

Saturday’s agenda includes devotion at 8 a.m., with preaching by the Rev. Donna R. Williams. Presiding elders of both regions will give business reports as well. At 1 p.m., Dr. Carmichael Crutchfield, general secretary of the CME Church Department of Christian Education, will preach at the Closing Worship Service.

For more information, call the Ninth District Office at (323) 294-3830.