QUEST 2012

Hello Wonderful People of God,

I want to use some of the precious moments remaining in 2010, to share why I have chosen to name my aspiration to the Connectional Office of Historiographer/Executive Director of Research and Scholarship a ‘QUEST’.   Quest can be simply defined as a journey filled with challenges with the object of attaining a particular goal.  For some, the word quest, conjures up medieval images of knights searching for treasure, romance and fame.  However for me, as an African American woman who is a scholar and an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the word quest reminds me of the importance of focused perseverance as one works toward the fulfillment of a God-given task.  The history of our Christian tradition as Methodists provides a framework for this topic:

·         The early Christians in the Roman Empire understood the importance of focused perseverance as they committed themselves to the cause of the coming of Christ’s kingdom even at the risk of losing their lives.  The kingdom of God was worth dying for because it was a realm where injustice and oppression did not exist, and suffering and death had been defeated.

·         The early Methodists in England’s industrial age during the mid 1700’s, understood the importance of focused perseverance as they committed themselves to lifestyles which reflected personal sanctification and social holiness.  The early Methodist members of Methodist societies committed themselves to perform works of piety and works of mercy in response to God’s grace at work in their lives.  The object of the quest was to transform their society through visible love in action toward God and neighbor.

·         The early African Methodists in North America during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, understood the importance of focused perseverance as they committed themselves to the principles of the Free African Society, creating viable communities which ensured that enslaved and free Africans had access to material and spiritual resources that nourished their damaged souls and bodies.  Our fore parents search for the material necessities of life, dignity, and respect were rooted in spiritual principles of faith, integrity and charity.

In spite of the complex social and cultural challenges of our time, the quest remains the same for all Christians who anxiously await the kingdom of God.  We must identify our God-given task and do all that our hands find to do to accomplish it.  My prayer is that as the AME Church continues in its quest of liberation and reconciliation for all God’s people - that all of us vigorously do our part to manifest the righteousness, peace and joy of Christ’s kingdom within our midst.

I continue to solicit your prayers and your support.   May your New Year be filled with joy!

Rev. Sharon

2012 Candidate for Historiographer/Executive Director for Research and Scholarship