Dr. Flake invested as president of Wilberforce U

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On April 11, I was able to attend the Investiture ceremony for Floyd Flake as the 18th president of historic Wilberforce University...and what a ceremony it was. Several past presidents, including Chuck Taylor (15th president and now of Morris Brown) and Yvonne Walker-Taylor (16th and no relation to Chuck), WU's only female president.

The Investiture message/sermon was delivered by retired Bishop Richard A. Hildebrand, who is looking pretty good and still delivers a powerful message. It was Bishop Hildebrand who appointed Flake to Greater Allen, where he continues to serve as senior pastor while also serving as president of WU.

A large contingent of singers and dancers (I think there were at least 100) from Greater Allen participated in the service.

President Flake is making an impact. The campus looks great - the grass is greener and the campus is cleaner and it is clear that the students really love their president.

-- Anonymous, April 15, 2003

Answers

Does it make sense to have a "part time" president of a "full time" university; or a "part time" pastor of a "full time" church?

Be Blessed

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2003


Larry: Parson Paris raises an important point. I was under the impression that Dr. Flake's appointment was for only one year. Has his appointment changed? If so, this is indeed good news. If not, I honestly don't understand the purpose for having all the pomp, regalia and circumstance associated with Investiture ceremonies when the honoree will be office for one year. More importantly, if the appointment is for just one year, Wilberforce would be wise to have in place a Preseidential Search Committee ready to make recommendations for Flake's successor. Succession planning is vital if an organization seeks stability. Also Larry ,will you be attending the Ministry on Christian Education meeting in Nashville, TN later this month? I'll be making a presentation about my proposed AME Summer Olympics Model. QED

-- Anonymous, April 16, 2003

Bro. Bill - No, I will not be attending the Nashville meeting, but my collegue, Tracy Cross, (who was also at Charlotte) plans to attend. It's my understanding that the RAYAC is also meeting and he is chaplain. We also received (separately) information about a presentation and training in the use of LabOra, the new software package developed for the AMEC that was introduced at Charlotte. .................................................. Does it make sense to have a part-time pastor/university president?

Generally no, but if that part-timer is someone like Floyd Flake, it's doable. He is able to do more part-time than some of us (self included) are able to do full time (and maybe even with overtime). Also, I'm pretty sure that Allen Cathedral's (is AME still part of the name?) many ministries are not run by other capable "managers" and his wife, Dr. Elaine Flake is one of the assistant or associate ministers of the church.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2003


CORRECTION!!! " many ministries are not run " should read " many ministries are now run "

What a difference one letter can make.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2003


Please let me state from the outset, that this is not a bash of Pastor Flake or his ministry. However, we have just witnessed the flagship institution of our denomination lose its accredition in a most degrading manner, isn't it time that we truly invested in professional full time management of our institutions? Pastor Flake is highly qualified and has proven to be an exemplary multi-task master, perhaps he should be chancellor over all of the schools in the denomination and have totally hands-on presidents at the operating level.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2003


Dear Internet Church Family,

As a former congressman, Dr. Floyd Flake, probably has excellent fund raising skills. The deans of the varous departments and other senior administrative officers can run Wilberforce. It was interesting how quickly the NAACP got out of that 4 million debt after former congressman Kwesi Mfume became president of this organization.

However, wouldn't Dr. Flake's skills be put to the test and better used if he were to become president of Morris Brown College? Imagine what a person with national renown like him could do in the corporate boardrooms of America and amongst the various circles of the congressional black caucus.

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2003


I Found Brother Gibson's idea of an Educational Chancellor most intruiguing, and I believe Dr. Flake, who lest we forget ws considered for the office of Secretary of Education, aa most worrthy candidate for such a seminal role. Perhaps we should explore this.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2003

My thoughts in the posting of this thread was not to indict Dr. Flake (after all he is from TEXAS), but from what is best for the AME Church in the future. In the 10th Episcopal District, a young person can complete Seminary and be assigned to a church that cannot pay a living wage. Lets face it, to attract and keep young gifted and trained pastors we must show them the possibility of an assignment commensurate with their training and abilities.

Be Blessed

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2003


excuse me that should have been "responded to this thread"

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2003

Again, I am shocked at what people think about this Amazing man! Let me explain something to you all. I looked at the dates of your postings, so I'm willing to explain that THE President Flake is the most full time ANYTHING I have ever seen. We, The student body see our president more in a week than we ever saw our last President. Furthermore, he takes time to fellowship with the students, instead of hiding behind his desk. I am sure that he does the same for Allen Cathedral AME, because I visited there. What is the problem? If Rev. Dr. Floyd H. Flake isnt FULL-TIME, I dont know what is? I'd like to see any of you do what he does in one day.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2003


Thank you for sharing the love of your president. And it is wonderful to hear the impact that he has had on the student body thus far. When I went to Princeton Seminary I too had a wonderful President. Dr. Thomas Gillespie. He would eat in the student dining room every day instead of the falculty dining room. He became my pastor while I was at seminary. It has been 11 years and he is still my pastor that I turn to for advice. Thank you for sharing about Dr. Flake and continue to support him. I wish you success as you continue your studies at Wilberforce and I hope you will continue to post.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2003

~~~I appreciate everyones comments. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.I dont mean to come off rude or anything, but honestly, I cannot see a better person to lead Wilberforce. I thank God for Rev. Flake everyday, as well as his family. Rev. Dr. Elaine Flake is a compliment to Rev. Floyd Flake. She is just as wonderful as him. ~~~~I've been A.M.E all my life, from a small town in Mansfield Ohio, where there is only 1 AME church, and I never knew until I came to Wilberforce how big some of these churches are. I never knew about this website, and I am so glad I found it. It is really nice to speak about concerns I have with people who have the same concerns. THANK- YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2003

Your support for Dr. Flake is to be admired and your defense is good. However, when Dr. Flake is with you, he cannot be with Allen Cathederal and when he is present at Allen, he cannot be with you. All of us have been allocated a certain amount of time, 100%. Full time means that you do not have another job. Consider this: Assume Dr. Flake can do both jobs as well as he can do one or the other. I consider it is not good for the AME Church to have one individual filling two "Fulltime" positions. What effect does this situation have on a young Seminary Student who has to make a choice between the AME Church and The UM Church? What effect does this situation have upon another individual who has invested time and money to get the required education but cannot get an appointment to an equivalent position because of this situation? It is not healthy for the future of the AME Church to make such assignments. Lest someone think my thoughts are based on "sour grapes", I am not qualified by education to hold either of those position. I am a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas (BS Psychology, 1977), a military man (20 years) and an Engineer (25 years), preacher called by God and ordained Elder (20 years). I consider myself not qualified for those positions. But all of us have the right to free speach and opinions.

BE Blessed

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2003


President Flake's visibility around campus is not the central issue. As College President it is actually in the best interest of Wilberforce for him to remain invisible and incognito; provided his time away from campus is solely focused on seeking corporate sponsorships and recruiting faculty and students. The day-to-day operations and perfunctory attendance at a myriad of college activites are best reserved for the Provost, not the President. In today's fiscal climate it is absolutely imperative that a College President combine the qualities of being scholar and entrepreneur. As Parson Ray correctly noted in a related thread, the real issue is fortifying the endowment base for our AME schools. A President can not, repeat cannot, increase the school's endowment by adjudicating tenure disputes, atending a plethora of student functions or holding unproductive meetings on campus. You must be on the road "shaking down corporations" and seeking all forms of philoanthropic help. One thing is certain, if you are not a "fulltime fundraiser" your tenure as college president will be brief because a responsible Board of Trustees will demand your resignation. QED

-- Anonymous, April 26, 2003

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