So Gone Challenge

#Preachershavefuntoo

Statement of Faith

Grace and peace, 

I am Reverend Tawana Davis, retired Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. At the 130th session of the Desert Mountain Annual Conference, I requested to be placed on the Superannuated role of Elders in the AME Church and my request was granted. According to The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, retired ministers are defined as: “An itinerant minister must be relieved from traveling, and is not to receive an appointment as presiding elder or pastor at the age of seventy-five (75) years of age by his/her Annual Conference. Those who desire to retire before age seventy-five (75) must submit a letter to the Annual Conference requesting retirement. The retired minister shall be a member of a Quarterly Conference. Retired ministers are encouraged to continue preaching. They may assist in their local church and other capacities as requested by the bishop, presiding elder, or local pastor.” In other words, I will continue to serve G-d under the auspices of AME Church but in a very different capacity, until G-d says otherwise. 

I acknowledged and accepted the call on my life to ordained ministry in 2006.  Since then G-d has led me on an unorthodox faith-filled journey: from leaving my children and family; my corporate, well paying career; to relocating to Denver, again leaving my family and friends as well as my job as a Resident Chaplain to delve into the unknown; and not without heartache and pain along the way. I have a track record of stepping out on faith and taking risks in the name of Jesus. 

At this point in my life, I find myself stepping out on faith once again. Yet, this time I find this step further empowering, dignified, spirit-filled, and liberative. Not only for me and the call G-d has placed on my life but prayerfully for those who are still in a system that often times chooses to master the ways of the world in lieu of being transformed by the renewing of the mind.  

As a child of G-d, a woman, a Black woman, a mother of a Black man, a sister of a Black man, a mother of a Black woman, a clergy woman, a lover of souls, a freedom fighter, a GLBT ally, a Womanist activist, and justice warrior, I can no longer stand idly by and witness the oppressed become the oppressor. The level of oppression, marginalization, sexism, misogyny, bigotry, and self-importance has caused me to make one of the most difficult decision thus far: to be placed on the role of the Superannuated Elders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  

Why retirement? After much prayer, I knew it was time to leave last year when I resigned from full-time service as an Executive Minister. This was the beginning of the shift; an unveiling of next steps that have now culminated in this poignant decision.  I am choosing to honor the ten years of my life by closing this door via retirement versus leaving while ten years of my life, my call, my ministry would be seemingly erased.  I am choosing to honor the institution under which I was called, by G-d, into ordained Itinerant ministry. I am choosing to fight the good fight.  

As a retired Elder I still have an opportunity to love, speak truth to power, and do justice work in and outside of the African Methodist Episcopal church.  I can do what G-d has called me to do and that is love beyond measure; to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our G-d; to speak on behalf of the voiceless and empower the same; to fight for the rights of the vulnerable; and to defend Black and Brown human beings who are dehumanized, marginalized, disregarded, and facing new and improved systemic forms of genocide.  

One might say I can do all this things under the auspices of the AME Church and this is where I beg to differ. For you see, the oppressor cannot see the error of his or her way and liberate self. It will take the oppressed to liberate both the oppressed and the oppressor. And it will take someone who has nothing to lose but her chains. So until the system of the AME Church comprised of G-d’s people who are called by G-d humble themselves and pray and seek G-d’s face and turn from their wicked ways, we will continue to remain harmful, destructive, and in perpetual pain for forgiveness and healing will not manifest; hence, destroying lives physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Retiring not only breaks the chains of egoism, misogyny, and hate but it also frees me to love and love beyond measure. It liberates me to err on the side of love. It enables me to fight the good fight which is the fight to save the lives of our Black and Brown sisters and brothers who are being murdered physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  

As I end this statement of faith, many aspects of the church have been good to me: my childhood church in Harlem, Metropolitan AME; my Georgia church, Antioch AME during my time at Turner Theological Seminary; Shorter Community AME Church and the great folk who make up this divine church; some women in Women in Ministry; some men in key leadership roles; and most salient, the ministry training and development received during my tenure. I am accepting this divine status to honor the path on which I have grown as a preacher, advocate, and pastor as I continue to serve in a different loving, liberating, Justice-filled capacity. 

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. The lord has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.  (Isaiah 61:1)

More to come in this fight toward and for liberation for all. 

In the name of Love and liberation, 

The Reverend Tawana Davis