Delaware Annual Conference History Project

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Delaware Annual ConferenceHistory Project
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Delaware Annual ConferenceHistory Project

• Initiated as a joint effort of Black United
  Methodist Preachers (BUMP) and BMCR
• Inspired by the Northeast Jurisdictional
  Conference Resolution on Renewal and Restoration
• Intended to reclaim our past to help inform our
  future as a people and as a denomination

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Delaware Annual ConferenceHistory Project

• First meeting of the Delaware Annual Conference
  History Project Committee was convened in 2009 on
  January 29th by Bishop Peggy Johnson at historic
  Ezion/Mt. Carmel UM Church in Wilmington, DE --
  Delawares first church to be organized by
  African-Americans.
• Ezions history also includes serving as the last
  site at which the Conference of Colored Local
  Preachers -- the convening body that was the
  pre-cursor to the Delaware Annual Conference --
  was held in 1863.

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Delaware Annual ConferenceHistory Project

• The History Project Committee elected two
  Co-Chairs representing the Eastern Pennsylvania
  and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences

Rev. David W. Brown Deacon, Cookman
UMC Philadelphia, PA
Rev. Dr. Patricia B. Harris Senior Pastor,
Marshallton UMC Wilmington, DE
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Delaware Annual ConferenceHistory Project

• In addition to Bishop Johnson, the History
  Project has also attracted the involvement and
  participation of two additional Bishops

Bishop Peggy Johnson Eastern Pennsylvania
and Peninsula-Delaware Conferences
Bishop Violet Fisher Retired New York West Area
Bishop Forrest Stith, Retired Chairperson African
American Methodist Heritage Center, Inc.
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Delaware Annual ConferenceHistory Project

• With Three Bishops, passionate pastors and
  engaged laity pursuing such an important
  endeavor, where do we go from here?

First, we focus on telling the story of the
Delaware Annual Conference with truth and
accuracy.
Finally, we present the History and Impact of the
Delaware Annual Conference in a compelling and
engaging manner.
Secondly, we tell the story of the Delaware
Annual Conference by reaching back to the
introduction of Methodism in the U.S. in the
1700s to the Conference of Colored Local
Preachers in the mid 1800s to the 101-year life
of the Delaware Annual Conference from 1864 -
1965.
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Delaware Annual ConferenceHistory Project
Were working with the African American Methodist
Heritage Center, noted historians as well as the
personal collections and recollections of clergy
and laity alike.
The plan is to develop a scholarly document that
will shape a video and commemorative publication
for distribution as widely as our resources will
allow.
We are looking for the Conferences financial
support and material contributions. For more
information on this project, visit
www.DelawareAnnualConferenceHistory.org