On Sunday March 6, twenty three (23) seminarians and nine presenters arrived at the Quality Inn Hotel in Orangeburg, South Carolina for the annual OBES Conference under the auspices of the Office of Black Ministries.  The event commenced with a reception and dinner at Voorhees Episcopal College in Denmark, South Carolina, the venue for the conference.

Seminarians came from eleven seminaries and included Judith Alexis, Cassandra Burton, Ronald Byrd, Maxine Cleghorn, Betty Coleman, John Daniels, Rosemarie Duncan, Kassinda Ellis, Renee Fenner, Ernestine Flemister, Carlotta Gary, Frazier Green, Caron Gwynn, Carlyle Hughes, Angela Ingram-Vesey, Rhondesia Jarrett, Roberta Knowles, Terrence Lee, Alexandria Link, Joyce Matthews, Donyelle McCray, Michael Reid and Shelley- Ann Tenia.

Presenters
The Rev. Angela Ifill      (Convener ,Missioner for the Office of Black Ministries)  
The Rev. Nan Arrington Peete (Canon for Clergy Deployment & Ordination, Diocese of  Washington, D.C.)
The Rev. Karen Montagno (Dean of Students, Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts) 
The Rev. Gregory Jacobs
The Rev. Joy Walton
The Rev. Allen Robinson
The Rev. Dr. Kortright Davis
Mr. Michael Macdonald    (Vice President Pension Services)
Mr. Louis Short
Mr. James W. Dooley, CLU.ChFC   ( Vice President Advisory Services)

President’s Welcome
Dr. Lee Monroe, President of Voorhees College, welcomed participants to Voorhees at the luncheon Monday March 7.   He spoke about the mission of the college and its presence in the community shared briefly about the programs offered.   He especially noted that that the student body at the College represented a great opportunity for the Episcopal Church, but that it was not relevant to the college constituency.    

Expectations for OBES
At the opening session, the Reverend Angela Ifill welcomed the seminarians and presenters  and stated the purpose of the conference.   Participants were invited to articulate their expectations for the conference. These included; to continue fellowship annually, group by class for conversation, develop relationships beyond the conference ( intentionally), gain information on how to evangelize and make a difference, bridge gaps of isolation and create a healing environment, career guidance, discuss  eligibility for OBES Conference, share stories and learn how to deal with the clarity of cultures.   Many of these items were already on the agenda and new expectations were incorporated for discussion. 

Bible study and Colloquy
Bible Study on the first day included reflections on hymn 594 which begins: God of glory, God of grace, on thy people pour thy power.    One-half day was given over to participants to describe their call to ministry as well as articulate their faith journey.   This was followed by responses from the eight- member panel of presenters

Each conference day began with morning devotions and bible study.   Presentations on preparing CDO Profiles and Resume Writing were done by the Rev. Nan Arrington Peete.  She stressed the importance of careful preparation and submission of documents.    The Rev. Gregory Jacobs gave a presentation on Canon Law and Church Polity.  He highlighted topics relating to the National Church, Worship, Ministry and Disciplinary Canons.  Information on the Anglican structures
 was provided for our perusal.  We were also presented with excerpts from the Windsor Report. 

The Rev. Dr. Kortright Davis presented on Vocations and Practical issues of Ministry.    Dr. Davis explored the Theology of Vocations, Aspects of the one who is called, questions about vocation (called from; to whom; by whom; for what; with whom)?    He used Isaiah 6:8 as his text to emphasize the point that God calls, promises, judges, enables and refines and that divine vocation consists of human engagement and detachment.

Dr. Davis told participants that the authenticity of the call is communal, theological, personal, mystical.   He emphasized the personal and mystical dimensions of ministry and explained that the personal dimension includes personal obligation, personal integration, personal consecration, personal liberation and personal animation.   The mystical dimension takes into account being, doing and becoming.

In his second presentation on Developing Parish Leadership Skills, Dr. Davis  focused on 
the minister’s rule of faith or personal discipline that guides each ministry.  These would include prayer, Bible reading, journaling, silence, love, journey or pilgrimage of faith and honesty. Participants responded with questions and their own observations to both presentations. Following the session the words ‘love the people,’ ‘love the people,’ ‘love the people,’ became, as it were, a mantra.   

Dr. Lee Monroe cancelled classes on the days that the conference met in the Chapel for worship conversation, so that all students and faculty could be in attendance.     There,  final year postulant Terrence Lee gave a brief presentation on what it means to be a black Episcopalian.
The Rev. Allen Robinson in his conversation on a Profile of a Black Episcopal Church  highlighted the challenges and strides of the black church and did not fail to mention Asalom Jones the first black Episcopal priest and his contribution to the church.  

Facilitators of Church Norms and Etiquette were the.  Four discussion groups formed around particular situations give to them by the Rev. Allen Robinson and the Rev. Karen Montagno who facilitated the large group conversation.  All four groups gave a comprehensive and realistic presentation.

Mr. Michael McDonald and Mr. Louis Short from the Church Pension Fund offered a presentation on Introduction to the Basics of Financial security for ordained and lay professionals of the Episcopal Church.   Participants were introduced to the different options of investments for retirement offered by the Church Pension Fund .The importance of being involved in these investments was stressed.   Questions and answers followed.

Worship
Daily Eucharist took place in the St. Phillips chapel at the Voorhees College. The college choir added to the enrichment of the service. The daily homily was delivered by the Rev. Joy Walton, the conference chaplain and the Rev. Angela Ifill respectively.

OBES Meeting 
The question of eligibility for OBES membership and the relatedness of the of the group title made up part of the discussion at the OBES meeting.    Election of new officers resulted in Caron Gwynn succeeding outgoing group president the Rev. Renee Fenner.   Mr. Michael Reid
succeeded Kassinda Ellis as vice president and Cassandra Burton succeeded Donyelle  McCray as secretary.

Display
Literature relating to ministry and the Office of Black Ministries and the new Black Bishops’ posters and the biographical booklet were available for sale.   Handouts and other materials were also made available for participants use.

All involved in the conference expressed their thanks and appreciation to the President, Faculty and students at Voorhees who extended the most gracious hospitality that made conferees feel very welcome indeed.   The assistance given by Voorhees personnel assigned to the conference, student drivers, chefs and dining room attendants, faculty and professional staff was incredible and beyond words.   Hats off to the President’s assistant Jade Jenkins who oversaw the operation  and ensured that all was going well.