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religion
Focus On Religion
He Came To Wt
By AUDREY L. WILLIAMS
Staff Writer
There's a difference between the high emotions of a
Baptist service and the more reserved, ritualistic services
of the Moravian Church -- not much difference, though,
to the Rev. Eddie James Hightower.
"I've found being a Moravian minister to be a very
rich experience," says Hightower. "I didn't want to take
the chance that Jonah did.
"He wound up in the stomach of a whale, so I just
came where ! was led to come," he says. Hightower
was led to St. Phillips Moravian Church on
the corner of 30th Street and Bon Air Avenue three years
ago. St. Phillips is the only black Moravian church in
^ Winston-Salem.
The 41-year-old minister grew up as a Baptist in his
hometown of Burlington and says changing denominations
hasn't at all affected his purpose as a religious
teacher.
"This was more like accepting a call to work,"
Hightower says. "The ministry is non-denominational
and universal. My coming was more like helping people
who were in need of a minister."
Having roots in a denomination characterized, in part,
oy lis emotionalism and a long history as the religion of
millions of blacks, Hightower says becoming a Moravian
minister hasn't made him immune to a> responsive
"Amen" now and then.
"The reservation in the Moravian Church is only as
much as the man wants it," he says. "It is a more structured
and ritualistic service and 1 do miss the emotional
, response found in the Baptist Church because emotionalism
is a part of black people."
Adding that his excitement comes . from being a
messenger of God, Hightower says: "I'm not sure%about
the Amens sometimes. It builds the minister's ego and
leads to a false sense of accomplishment. One can preach
Church Notes
Death Penalty (
More than 1,000 black North Carolina Baptists voiced
their opposition to the state's death penalty during a banquet
in Raleigh last week.
Ministers and members of the 400,000 member General
Baptist State Convention of North Carolina voted
C 1 Iffanimm 1C1V tn on intn nrQVPr fr?r r.ni) lomac 15 Unn?
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Jr. and all judicial officials who are involved in deciding
the fate ot people on Death Row. The resolution was'
passed during last Friday's banquet in honor of Dr. Mar-"
tin Luther King Jr. held at the Raleigh Civic Center.
"We thank the Lord that he's (convicted murderer
James W. Hutchins) is still living," said Dr. E. Burns
Turner, GBSC president, after the state failed to execute
the prisioner Jan. 13. "We wish him to live as long as He
who gave it (life) to him should desire. We stand opposed
to capital punishment. Life is so precious."
The resolution was passed as approximately 1,200 people,
including gubernatorial candidates Jimmy Green,
Launch Faircloth, John Ingram and Tom Gilmore,
finished their meals. Drafted by the Convention's
Political Action Committee and read by the Rev. Joy J.
Johnson of Fairmont, the resolution called on President
Turner to appoint a committee of three persons to meet
with Hunt as soon as possible and to "discuss this grave
issue."
"Be it further resolved that the president designate the
second Sunday in Feburary as a special day of prayer for
those on Death Row," said Johnson.
The featured speaker for the annual banquet was Rep.
Williams Conducts
Men's Day Service
On Sunday, Jdn. 27, Goler Metropolitan AME Zion
Church will celebrate Men's Day during the regular morning
worship service at 11 with Dr. JCenneth R. Williams
as the guest speaker.
Williams, a native of Norfolk, Va., served as
chancellor of Winston-Salem State University until his
retirement in 1977. He also served on the Winston-Salem
Board of Alderman, the Forsyth County School Board,
Health Board, Recreation Commission and Hospital
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commission, i-ie is a memoer or me rsorinwesiern oanx
Board, Voluntary Action Center, Board of Fellows of
Gallaudet College and the Governing Board of Hospice.
Williams, who is married to Edythe Williams, received
his bachelor's degree from Morehouse College and his
master's and doctoral degrees from Boston University.
King Remembered
Saints Home United Methodist Church celebrated
Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday Jan. 15 with a panel
discussion at the church, which is located at 1390 Thurmond
St.
Members of the panel were Edward Hanes, principal at
Paisley High School; William McGee, Mrs. Sandra Pennington
and Qr. Allen Holmes, church Sunday school
superintendartLJYQuth panel members were Denard Pennington,
Erica Johnson, Alphonzo Webb and Jerry
Hauser.
The adults and youth learned much from the panel
members. Mrs. Ollie Sims-Wake is the youth leader.
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lere He Was Led
in both settings, Baptist or Moravian, and have people
jumping over benches and not get the message across.
"I like to see the word impress the heart of the people
so that they respond through commitment and action,"
he says.
Hightower's alma mater, Shaw Divinity School in
Raleigh, is where he says he learned how to care for people
and he emphasizes that the "Shaw, experience" is
unlike any other.
"Any black pastor needs to have the experience Shaw
provides," he says, "Despite all the theory and theology,
he stiB has to learn how to deal with people and you get
that at Shaw." ? .
Hightower is firm in his Belief that ministers ought to
involve themselves in their surroundings and not just with
"One can preach in both settings, Baptist or
Moravian, and have people jumping over benches
and not get the message across. "
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? rvtrv. nuuie nigniuwer
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the goings on of the church and its members.
4'The minister ought to take a stand for what is right,
be it politics or family," he says. "The body of Christ is
in this world and while we're (Christians) not of this
world, the government affects our earthly destiny and we
should involve ourselves with politics."
On his announcement that he would leave the Baptist
Church to become a Moravian minister, Hightower says
there were some mixed emotions about his decision.
"Many asked why a Moravian church," he says. "A
lot of people really don't understand the ministry of
Jesus Christ and they have limited it to denominations.
"Before 1 left, I was encouraged by some ministers in
my church (where he was serving as associate pastor) to
stay because they felt I had more to offer there," he says.
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Opposed A t Bapt
Ed Towns,D-N.Y., and a native of Chadbourn. He
challenged the crowd to do the impossible, citing recent
gains blacks have made politically by becoming mayors in
Chicago, Philadelphia and Charlotte.
"Don't fall asleep at the wheel," he cautioned, and
said "things aren't what they should be."
He urged blacks and whites to spend Jan. 15 each year
in church and in celebration of what Dr. King means to
all of American society.
"We don't want to see Martin Luther King's birthday
become a sale day. Don't let them make a shopping day
out of it." ;. ?
Towns said that Dr. King has inspired him, the son of a
"poor" Baptist minister, to reach the halls of Congress.
And he said that Rev. Jesse Jackson has shown that
bj^cks can negotiate on an international level.
Kimberly Park Is Excite
The New Year has produced an atmosphere of excitement
at Kimberly Park Holiness Church, located at 417
Burton St.
The youth department christened the new year with a
program of song and inspiration. The Rev. Hilton Stone
Jr., church pastor, delivered an inspirational sermon titled
"A Double Portion of the Spirit of Christ."
wm.1$ i 1 PlisiiWiMMil
Rev. Alphonso Harvey
Minister Installed
The Rev. Alphonso Harvey will be installed as pastor
of First Baptist Church of East Martinsville in Martinsville,
Va., Jan. 22 at 3 p.m.
Jht Rev. Henry J. Mack* pastor of Antioch Baptist
CHurch in Ridgeway Va., and the congregation will officiate
at the installation.
Rev. Harvey was licensed to preach by his home congregation
at White Rock Baptist Church and pastor, the
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For the Rev. Eddie Hightower, denomination had
minister. He's just doing what he was called to do
Because of the firm structure of the Moravian Church, 1
Hightower says he and his wife, along with their two I
children, have hopes of organizing a family ministry call- t
ed the Star of Light. He says they hope it will launch into r
a broadcast ministry and eventually branch out into
building retirement and low-income housing for the I
elderly. c
His first commitment, though, is St. Phillips, and i
Hightower says because of public thinking in the black r
community, his church's membership is not what it could
be. r
"St. Phillips has not grown like the other churches s
f
ist Convention
The Convention had earlier passed a resolution congratulating
Jackson for obtaining the release of Navy Lt.
Robert O. Goodman Jr. The convention will send \
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Jackson a telegram of appreciation forhis "Christian
leadership, stewardship, concern and compassion for all
mankind."
The Baptists voted in support of a legal, paid holiday
?for state eroployees-or^Dr, King's birthday and also ufg
ed churches to register people in their -communities to
vote in the 1984 elections.
Special awards of excellence were presented to Mrs.
Frances M. Cummings, an educator from Robeson
County and president of the North Carolina Education
Association; Stanley H. Smith, educator and president of .
Shaw University in Raleigh; and to Rep. Towns.
d About New Year
Activities throughout the month of January include a
program sponsored by the senior choir on Jan. 22 at 3
n m with FlHpr T R Rirf* at thf? cnpalcpr Qn/H a Hictrir?r
9 '? ' ? -r ? . ? . ? V v7pVUI> VI f UIIU U Ul Jll IV!
missionary meeting on Jan. 26, with Sarah Crumpton
presiding.
Church services include Sunday school at 9:45; morning
worship service at 11 and nightly service at 7. Midweek
prayer service is held on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
lev. J.S. Mickens of Winston-Salem. J
Ordained by the Guilford Baptist Missionary and
ducation Association of the General Baptist State dcnention,
his former pastorates were with Zion Baptist
Ihurch in Mt. Airy and Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in
lamptonville. He attended Tennessee State University in
Jashviile and Piedmont Bible College. He is a native of A
irmingham, Ala.
Harvey is married to Ada Goldsmith and has five 1
hildren. He is employed by the City of Winston-Salem tl
nd lives in Pfafftown. C
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hronicle, Thursday, January 19, 1984-Page B5
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I nothing to do with his becoming a Moravian
(photo by James Parker).
>ecau$e it is surrounded by familiar denominations of (he
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>lack churches," says Hightower. "... And I won't let
he quietness of a service or the simplicity of a church
estrict me from dbing the work of Jesus Christ."
Hightower isn't letting the lack of support for St.
5hillips hinder his belief that its goal is the same as other
hurches. In fact, he says, there is a great amount of willngness
and support for the 162-year-old church from its
nembership.
"God put St. F8|jilips in the black community for a
eason and I believe He has something for us to do," he
n i/r
ays.
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SATURDAY, JANUARYS
The Women's Missionary Society of Haaes Christian
Methodist Episcopal Church will be in chaff* of
the morning worship service at II* Miss Tamya
Boulware will be the worship leaded The lbeihe for
the occasion will be "Malrihjg Mission Relevant
Through Love To A World in Transition. The
Women's Chorus will render music, under the direction
of Mrs. Pansy Wilkerson*
The Gospel Choir of Zion Memorial Baptist
Church at 101 N. Dunleith Ave. wih be celebrating Its
12th anniversary at 5 p.m. Various choirs in the city
will particpgte.
The Chronicle welcomes church calendar notices.
Announcements should he mneixp and tvneri rtr njmL
ly printed. They should also include the day, time,
place and sponsors of the event, plus a number tocatt
for additional information. Announcements should x.
be addressed to the WinstqfrS&iem Chronicle v
Church Calendar, P.O. Box 3134, Winston-Salem,
N.C. 27102. The deadline for announcemetiis to
Mondays at 5:30
Funerals
Morgan Passes
ir. Elijah Morgan
Mr. Elijah Morgan, of 1424 Emerald St., died Jan.
2th, at Forsyth Memorial Hospital. He was a native of
lis city and a faithful member of Cleveland Avenue
Christian Church. He was a retired employee of Taylor
Irothers Tobacco Co.
Surviving are four cousins, Mrs. Eliza Brown, Mrs.
adie Perm, Mrs. Annie Hairston, all of this city, and
4rs. Mary Ellington, of Providence, Rhode Island, and
>ther relatives.
Funeral services were conducted jan. 14th at 11:00 at
Cleveland Avenue Christian Church, with Rev. J.O,
Villiams officiating. Interment followed in the Evergreen
Cemetery.
Hooper Funeral Directors were in Charge of Services.
dr. Henry Wade Campbell
Mr. Henry Wade Campbell, of 2049 K Court Avenue,
lied Jan. 12th, at Forsyth Memorial Hospital. He was a
lative of this city and a veteran of World War II. He was
i faithful member of Mr. Zion Baptist Church, having
erved on the Usher Board, a member of the Over-The5hone
Pinochle Club and an employee of the
["homasville Furniture Company.
Surviving relatives aie his wife, Mrs. Shirley Jones
I^ampbeU, of the home; one son, Mr. barry Wade Campjell;
two daughters, Miss Henrietta M. Campbell and
^liss Iris J. Campbell; two grandchildren; one brother,
^Ir. Monroe Campbell; two sisters, Missr Delcina CampJell
and Mrs. Margaret C. Matthews; his mother and
"ather-in-lawm Nr, & Mrs. John H. Jones Sr., and other
Please see page B6
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