Bishop McKinley Young 11th Episcopal District, AME Church The Greeting  “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.” Proverbs 13:22 NIV  “…Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his Glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV  Greetings to our Eleventh Episcopal District Family:  We begin this historic 2009 series of Annual Conferences with tremendous joy and great thanksgiving.  As sons and daughters of Richard and Sarah Allen, who claim and are claimed by Christ, we celebrate a holy inheritance sealed by the Holy Spirit.  Hallelujah!  In this season of Pentecost, we, too, are compelled again by the Holy Spirit to live, witness and serve as a liberating and reconciling people to the glory of God.  We proudly celebrate the ministries of Bishops Richard Allen Hildebrand and Robert Vaughn Webster.  We are also greatly encouraged and inspired by the many ministries of retired presiding elders, pastors and ministers and we gladly welcome their prayers, presence, wisdom and support of all programs and district projects.  We are excited and thrilled with our Supervisor’s innovative and thoughtful work and leadership with the Women’s Missionary Society/YPD, Ministers’ Spouses Alliance and the Debutante Masters Commission.  We praise and thank Almighty God for the love and support of our children and grandchildren.  We celebrate our loyal, caring, competent and dedicated staff for all they do to complement and enhance our work and ministries.  Edward Waters College, in its 143rd year remains under the capable and dynamic leadership of Dr. Claudette H. Williams.  During this Quadrennium we will continue to build on a solid foundation of support, energetic recruitment and sustained financial and resource development.   With your prayers and indispensable support we hosted the Connectional Seminar on Church Growth and Development under the auspices of the Department of Evangelism in Jacksonville in January.  Evangelism is at the center of our witness and work.  We also hosted the largest Connectional Young People’s and Children’s Division Leadership Training Institute (LTI) in Orlando in April.  We look forward, with great anticipation, to our 2010 Founder’s Day Celebration and Black Heritage Weekend on the campus of EWC in February. As we gather at our Conference sites to worship, study and pray, we look forward to the Annual Sermons, Pastors’ Reports, and the word and witness of our components.  We will ordain persons into our ministry and celebrate the ministries of those who retire from active ministry and look forward to the actions of our six annual conferences. In November we will convene our Post Conference Planning Convocation in Freeport in the Grand Bahamas, November 19-22, 2009 to plan our work for the ensuing conference year and to dedicate the first property we have owned in the Grand Bahamas.  We urge you to take full advantage of the Connectional Initiative of  our Council of Bishops as you consider and support the 2009-2010 Anvil theme: “Great Past-Greater Future: An Incredible Call to Serve: Our Inheritance.  We invite you to join us in a season of prayer for the move of God in all sessions of our Annual Conferences.    Joy and Peace,  Bishop and Mrs. McKinley Young