YACM AME ZION

“Episcopal Candidates Corner”

By

Rev. George William Whitfield

YACM Public Relations Committee Member

Associate Minister at Spradling Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Louisville KY

Happy 1^st day of Black History Month!  

I pray that you enjoyed yesterday’s article. It’s really exciting getting to know the candidates. Looking at there facebook pages and meeting them in person has been a wonderful experience for me.

During the 2011 CED Winter Meeting in Los Angeles, California I didn’t get the chance to meet our next candidate but I was able to attend the same workshop that he was in. It brought season and emerging preachers of our denomination together to discuss how we can move Zion forward. I really like this workshop because it gave me the opportunity to learn from those who went before me.

I would like to introduce to you today’s Episcopal Candidate, the Reverend Dr. Douglas L. Maven. He was born in Mays Landing, NJ, and gave his life to Christ at the tender age of 13. He preached his trial sermon in July 1978 at the St. John A.M.E. Zion Church, Mizpah, NJ. Upon earning a B.S. degree in Industrial Management from Cheyney State College, Pennsylvania, in 1979, he enrolled in Hood Theological Seminary and received his M.Div. degree in 1982. He earned a D.Min. from Hartford Seminary in 2000.

He was ordained a Deacon in 1982 and an Elder in 1983 in the West Central North Carolina Conference where he began his pastoral ministry at the Brown Hill and Ebenezer Circuit. In 1983, he transferred to the North Carolina Conference to pastor St. Stephens A.M.E. Zion Church, Morehead City, NC. He was appointment to Parker Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Meriden, CT, New England Conference in 1985. He returned home to the New Jersey Conference in 1991, where he is currently completing his 21st year as pastor of First A.M.E. Zion Church, Paterson, New Jersey.

           

Rev. Dr. Maven is very active in his community and the church. He currently serves as, Dean of First Church Christian Training Academy, President and CEO of Zion Community Development Corporation, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Paterson Family Success Center, Commissioner of the Passaic County Board of Social Services and the Housing Authority City of Paterson, Director of Evangelism for the New Jersey Annual Conference, Chairman of the New Jersey Conference and Jersey City District Budget Committees, Asst. Secretary of the Board of Trustees for Hood Theological Seminary  and Secretary for the Board of Evangelism, of the A.M.E. Zion Church

Rev. Dr. Maven is celebrating his 28^th year of marriage to Janet and they are the proud parents of three young-adult children, Erica, Desmond and Derek.

The following is how Rev. Dr. Maven answered the questions:

 1.  Why do you think we have a lack of young adult involvement in our Church?

Young adults, like any other age group, must be valued and be made to feel that they have something to contribute to the life and ministry goals of the Church. The lack of young adult involvement results when local church leaders (clergy and lay), do not create opportunities and provide multiple venues for young-adult engagement. Young adults must be allowed to serve in leadership roles, assist in ministry planning and be given freedom to use their gifts in ways that may not be within the traditional organization structures of the church. Creativity and flexibility must be welcomed to keep young adults engaged in the life and ministry of the church.

2.   As Bishop what will you do to engage the young adults?

I would challenge pastors, leaders of young adult ministries, and young adults themselves to follow a model that has worked for me in keeping ministry relevant.

Meaningful Engagements – involve young adults in activities that enhance their personal and     spiritual growth and development. Allow them to shape the nature of form of those engagements.

Memorable Experiences – encourage young adults to engage in experiences that appeal uniquely to their gifts and passion for fulfilling the mandates of the gospel and the Church’s mission.

Existential Moments – this challenges young adults to participate in ministry to others as a means of self-discovery and affirming their value and purpose in life. Participation in the biblical mandates of “service” and the “ministry of helps” allows young adults to extend themselves to provide meaningful deeds that benefit others.

I pray that young adults will insist upon providing the kind of leadership that will secure Zion’s future at the Local, District, Conference and Connectional level. As a Bishop, I would support every effort for them to do so.

3.  Currently what ministries are you doing at your local church that engages   young adults?

I sponsor an off-site Bible Study class at a local restaurant. Young adults invite unchurched friends or inactive members. Assist YACM leaders in choosing on-going group participation in topical and devotional plans through the use of “YouVersion” on cell phones, IPads, Tablets, Facebook, etc. The YAMS sponsor a monthly breakfast feeding program and clothing bank for the homeless from area shelters.

           

4.  Where do you see our church in the next 10 years?

I am hopeful for the future of our Zion. While there are plenty of challenges before us, I sincerely feel if we would equally focus on our traditional strengths, our best days are ahead of us. One of the foundational strengths of the A.M.E. Zion Church is the local congregation. We must find more ways to intentional invest in strengthening the local church with the assistance of District and Conference ministry leaders, i.e., Christian Education, Evangelism, Missionaries, Lay Council, etc. The stronger (more healthy) our local congregations are, the more secure the Connection will be.  Our continued insistence of trained clergy, along with encouraging and empowering our laity to exercise their spiritual gifts through local church ministries will assure the future of Zion. One of the critical challenges is for the church to remain relevant to the times without compromising our biblical principles. I envision that Zion will continue to be a refuge for lost souls, a place for personal spiritual growth and development and a viable corporate witness to the world of God’s grace.

If you would like to contact Reverend Dr. Douglas L. Maven he can be reached at drmaven@verizon.net