Ministers and Local State Leaders Gather
for the 13th Annual Collective Banking Group Conference
Sanctuary at Kingdom Square in Capitol Heights, MD - May 1, 2009
It wasn’t enough that Rev. Anthony G. Maclin, pastor of the Sanctuary at Kingdom Square was stronger than two coffees and a Red Bull when he opened the conference with his message about the power of faith that stirred the passions of the state and county’s most visionary leaders.
“Though the fig doesn’t blossom, I shall remain faithful,” he extolled with regard to the trying economic times the nation is suffering. Maclin warmed and then he heated, from Dickenson--citing the best of times, the worst of times--and back through to the Bible to more verses than the audience could keep up with—“you have to learn to lift up your head. You may weep in the night but joy is coming in the morning.”
Before Maclin was done, heads of state stared lost in inspiration. He’d taken them to church and back on a Friday morning. Not a group easily impressed in comparison to their resumes and responsibilities. Included were County Executive Jack B. Johnson, Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Congresswoman Donna Edwards, DBED’s Christian Johansson as well as numerous faith and community leaders.
But that wasn’t enough.
At lunch, after several workshops aimed at enhancing the leadership skills of faith leaders, keynote speaker Bishop Vashti McKenzie invoked the message of the day: leaders must choose between leading for the moment and legacy.
“There are the George Jefferson leaders and then there are the legacy leaders [like Barack Obama],” explained McKenzie, who is a member of the White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. “True leadership is when you build something [others recognize as] worth continuing when you’re gone.”
All of this was part of The Collective Banking Group's 13th annual economic empowerment conference and career fair on May 1 at the Sanctuary at Kingdom Square in Capitol Heights. Organizers say the conference’s purpose included connecting community and churches together while unifying small and local banks. The CBG’s 2009 theme, “connect community and churches as one,” is derived from the group’s mission to give economic voice to some 200,000 residents of the region.
“The Collective Banking Group is so proud to have hosted a community economic empowerment conference,” said Pastor Kerry A. Hill, president of the CBG. “As we came to end of the day at 8:30 p.m., we still had one workshop going on about home foreclosure prevention. Even though it was a long day, late into the night, but for us, working with those eight to ten people was like finding and helping stranded star fish on the beach: Hopefully, we saved that one. If so, the conference was a success.”
The conference provided several real-world relevant workshops for participants including “Best practices for surviving tough economic times,” “Economic Survival – The New Emerging, Expanding Church,” “Economic Survival—Small Businesses,” and “Economic Stimulus Package and Education” among others. Workshops, like the event itself, were aimed at giving information and support to church leaders.
“The collective banking group and the purpose of this conference was to bring all the new pastors together in further development of our communities,” said Rev. Jonathan Weaver, former president of the CBG and lead pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church in Bowie. “It looks to establish those individual pastors to mentor and become stronger, wiser in the growth of reestablishing the community during the recession.”
County Executive Jack B. Johnson expressed CBG’s practical importance. “When people fall on hard time, the church is the first place they go,” the county executive said just after complimenting Pastor Maclin on the positive effect the church has had on the revitalizing community. “And the church is always there.”
“I appreciate the Collective Banking Group,” he said. “You recognize and receive the burdens that people have. You are spiritual first responders.”
CBG banking partners recognize the organization’s influence and value. “CBG has covenant with their church and partners,” said Jeffery A. Banks, a representative of Bank of Georgetown and longtime partner of the CBG. “The church interviews the bank rather the bank interviewing the church,” he said. “This helps the church see if the bank fits, has a fair process. Thus, opens the door for better rates and loans with bank partners.”
--PGS Staff
Photos by Danett Crespo
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