Keith Caldwell elected president of MICAH. He was elected at Micah’s February Delegates meeting on Tuesday, February 18.
I understand the critical role faith has played historically in forming meaningful social movements. When believers collectively live into our profession of faith, we are provided with a means of grace that allows us to “accept the power and freedom God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” It has been my experience that many faith organizations have chosen the low-hanging fruit of doing Charity work – a model of “doing for” rather than engaging in the transformative work of doing Justice – a model of “doing with,” one that addresses Systemic Sin. I am delighted to live into my baptismal identity by working outside the four walls of the church and holistically addressing the adverse material reality of folks who have pressed against the margins to bring about Beloved Community.
Pastor Keith Caldwell
About MICAH
MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope) is a coalition of community and faith-based organizations joining together to give a more powerful voice for issues of justice in our city. Our current platform concentrates on three pillar issues, economic equity, education equity, and race & class equity in the justice system. We organize and speak to our community and its leaders, always seeking to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” The purpose of MICAH is not to replace each congregation or community organization’s efforts, but instead to amplify the voice and the impact by working together interdependently.
MICAH follows the community organizing methodology of the Gamaliel Foundation. Gamaliel has worked successfully with communities across the country, including Nashville, where NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action and Hope) has become a force for change and an influencer of community policy on affordable housing, criminal justice, and economic equity.
About Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
This Sunday, Centenary members will celebrate the rich heritage of Africa and celebrate the achievements of African Americans in U. S. history. Please wear your African attire and bring a “soul food” dish for our potluck dinner in the Family Life Center after the 10:30 a.m. service.
About Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
TWK BMCR is sponsoring a workshop titled “Mental Health in the Black Church” that focuses on mental health stigmas, how congregations can support mental wellness, and how to work with local resources. Register now!
Our mission is to raise up prophetic and spiritual leaders who will be advocates for the unique needs of Black people in The United Methodist Church. Our vision is a renewed, transformed, unified body of Christ on a mission in the world. Our purpose: We call ourselves and the entire United Methodist Church to repentance, to rebuild God’s Church as a community of faith, to declare the traditions and stories of the Bible and Black culture, to reclaim the black community, and to liberate all people from racism and injustice everywhere.
According to the American Heart Association, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. The report notes that Black Americans suffer some of the worst CVD health outcomes, likely due to the increasing prevalence of health risk factors that lead to CVD.
CVD Prevalence: Among people aged 20 and older in the U.S., nearly 60% of Black adults have some type of CVD, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and hypertension; that’s compared to about 49% of all U.S. adults who have some type of CVD.
Stroke Disparities: Among all adults in the U.S., the prevalence of stroke is highest among Black women (5.4%) and Black men (4.8%), compared to all women at 2.9% and all men at 3.6%. High Blood Pressure Crisis: Black adults in the U.S have some of the highest prevalence of hypertension in the world, with 58.4% of Black women and 57.5% of Black men having high blood pressure. That compares to 50.4% of all U.S. adult men and 43% of all women. Heart Failure Burden: Black adults account for over 50% of heart failure hospitalizations among U.S. adults under 50.
Females, over the age of forty, (40), years of age and past menopause, are at a high risk of having a heart attack.
The science is clear-Black communities continue to face disproportionate risks of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions, leading to poorer survival outcomes. But data alone won’t drive change. Real impact happens when we work directly with communities formulating ideas and creating plans and programs to create solutions that address these disparities. By advocating for equitable healthcare, fostering heart health education, providing monthly blood pressure, blood glucose, and oxygen saturation evaluations, and access to Hands-Only CPR training we, Centenary United Methodist Church, Health and Wellness Team are committed to working with the community to change the future of health.
Join Centenary Memphis as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 19th and 20th.
Labor in the Pulpit
Join us for worship service Sunday, January 19 at 10:30 am. We welcome our local laborer leaders to speak briefly on the important connection between faith and labor and on the history of the sanitation workers.
Teamsters Local 667 Scheduled Events:
8:00 am – Opening ceremony by Teamsters Local 667 Begins in the park at N. Main & SW Willis Ave.
9:00 am – MLK Memorial March from the park to the National Civil Rights Museum
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Mid-Day Luncheon, food, and beverages will be provided with a small program, located at Centenary UMC
5:00 pm – Join Teamsters Local 667 and all of organized labor in celebrating MLK Day with the Memphis Grizzlies as they take on the Charlotte Hornets at their annual MLK Day Game
About Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
We will be celebrating our 159th anniversary on the weekend of November 15th. Centenarians, we are asking you to support our cause by participating in the planned activities.
November 15th: Family Night 6:30-10 pm
November 17th: Sunday Service 10:30 am and Dinner Following Service
Featured Speaker
Rev. Dr. Tamika D. Robertson is a Nashville, Tennessee native and is the second born of five children to Sandra and Harry Jones (deceased). Dr. Robertson is an Elder in Full Connection with the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and is currently a member at Lee Chapel AME Church Nashville, TN under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Harold Moses Love, Jr.
Robertson is married to her high school sweetheart, Mr. Kenny J. Robertson, Sr. They are the parents of two adult children, Kenny J. Robertson, Jr. (29) and Kierra J.Robertson (23). And the grandparents of, Alivia D. Robertson (9) and Aubree D. Robertson (3).
In June 2009, Tamika acknowledged the call for the Christian preaching ministry and enrolled at American Baptist College. As a first-generation college graduate, she understands education’s transformative and liberating power for individuals embarking upon the spiritual journey. At American Baptist, she received the Congressman John L. Lewis Scholarship Award and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors (Magna Cum Laude). Tamika also received the Delta Epsilon Chi award. She was selected for membership in the Honor Society of the Association for Biblical Higher Education in recognition of intellectual achievement, Christian character, and leadership ability. Dr. Tamika obtained a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University Divinity School in August 2015. She was awarded the Kelly Miller Smith Certificate in Black Church Studies and an honorary service award named the Bishop Holland Nimmons McTyeire Award of the United Methodist Church.
Join us for Men’s Day 2024 on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 10:30 am. Our speaker is Brian Harris, Special Assistant to Mayor Paul A. Young and the Director of Youth Services for the City of Memphis.
About Men’s Day 2024
Our theme for Men’s Day 2024 is “Empowering Men for a Stronger Community: Faith, Unity, and Action”
This theme can be broken down into key focus areas:
Faith: Emphasize the importance of spiritual growth and faith as a foundation for addressing community issues.
Unity: Highlight the need for unity and collaboration among men in the community to tackle common challenges.
Action: Encourage proactive involvement in initiatives that address local concerns, such as mentoring programs, economic development projects, and advocacy for social justice.
About Our Speaker
Brian E. Harris, Sr. is a Memphis native, proud father of two to Brian E. Harris, II & Hailey Harris. A Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity life member and board member of several organizations throughout the state of Tennessee. Being one of the top business and community leaders in the Mid-South, Harris has spent over twenty years building and developing teams professionally while also being a staple amongst the community. He has served in senior leadership roles with companies such as Best Buy, Apple, and Amazon.
Brian fulfilled his life passion by becoming a teacher in Memphis Shelby County Schools at Westwood High School where he taught dual credit college courses in business to seniors in 2023. Brian currently serves as a Special Assistant to Mayor Paul A. Young and the Director of Youth Services for the City of Memphis. His innovative and unique approach to strategic planning and execution has assisted in creating opportunities of growth and expansion in every organization he’s led.
About Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s reckless plans to build another polluting methane gas plant in South Memphis puts the climate and nearby neighborhoods at risk.
The proposed plant would continue a long legacy of environmental injustice in the predominantly Black communities that make up South Memphis. The cancer rates in some South Memphis neighborhoods are four times the national average. Another dirty gas plant will make these pollution problems even worse.
TVA’s proposed gas plant would also release massive amounts of climate warming gases every year, worsening the climate crisis. Communities of color are on the front lines of climate change, and families in South Memphis are already experiencing deadly heatwaves, increased flooding, and extreme winter storms.
Hosted by Centenary UMC, The Healed People Heal People Conference will be held August 16th & 17th, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and consist of two workshops.
About the Healed People Heal People Conference
On Day 1 we will be hosting a Victims Compensation workshop where we will be educating victims on how to apply for victim’s compensation and what to do if they are denied.
Day 2 will be a community-based violence prevention/intervention workshop titled “We are the Calvary”. The conference will also consist of panel discussions and breakout sessions.
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
