Bill Text: MS SC549 | 2012 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognize retirement of Right Reverend Carolyn Tyler-Guidry, 122nd Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)
Status: (Passed) 2012-02-14 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC549 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-SC549-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Horhn, Butler (38th), Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Stone
Senate Concurrent Resolution 549
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND SALUTING RIGHT REVEREND CAROLYN TYLER-GUIDRY OF JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, AS THE 122ND ELECTED AND CONSECRATED BISHOP OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (A.M.E.) CHURCH ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, Right Reverend Carolyn Tyler-Guidry, the first female appointed to a major leadership position in the A.M.E. Church, has announced her retirement; and
WHEREAS, the story of Carolyn Eujean Jackson Tyler-Guidry is one of victory over adversity and triumph over tragedy. The child of an unwed mother and reared by a doting grandmother, she evolved from humble beginnings in Jackson, Mississippi, to become the 122nd Elected and Consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; and
WHEREAS, following the lead of her beloved husband Cary B. Tyler, and accompanied by their five small sons, Reverend Tyler moved from Jackson, Mississippi, to Los Angeles, California, in 1964. She spent 12 years as a Bank Liaison Specialist at the Security Pacific Bank. In 1973, she answered her "call" at the Second A.M.E. Church, and was licensed to preach. She was ordained the first female itinerant Deacon in the then 53-year history of the Southern California Annual Conference. In 1977, she was ordained an itinerant Elder and assigned to her first pastoral appointment at First A.M.E. Church in Indio, California, by Bishop H.H. Brookins. There she led a struggling congregation in renovating the church building and parsonage, establishing a Day Care Center, and was the founder of the Unity Center for Human Development, a community faith-based project funded by HUD; and
WHEREAS, in 1983, Reverend Tyler was moved to Cain Memorial A.M.E. Church in Bakersfield, California. Exhibiting her business acumen, she persuaded the congregation to purchase the property surrounding the church as an investment. Now valued at over Three Million Dollars, this key property housed a day care center, several community service programs, and a "Senior Sack Meal" service; and
WHEREAS, a woman of many firsts, Reverend Tyler was moved by Bishop Vinton Anderson to Walker Temple A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, California, in 1989, and became the first female appointed to a major metropolitan charge in the A.M.E. Church. She was appointed as the first female Presiding Elder in the Fifth Episcopal District. In 2004, she was elected and consecrated the 122nd Bishop of the A.M.E. Church. While assigned Presiding Prelate to the 16th Episcopal District, her credits included the purchase of the district's first Episcopal Residence, start of a first Annual Christian Education Conference and, with Partner Payne Theological Seminary, creation of a Ministerial Training Program. After being assigned to the 8th Episcopal District-Mississippi and Louisiana in 2008, she led the District in purchasing an Episcopal residence and an office complex. Under her leadership the District has established an Economic Development Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Chairperson of the Social Action Commission of the A.M.E. Church, and a member of various social, educational, political, interdenominational religious organizations that serve to uplift humankind, she is a member of the Board of The National Council of Churches. Her education includes an Associate of Arts Degree in Business and Secretarial Science from J.P. Campbell College in Jackson, Mississippi, 1963; the study of Economics at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi, 1963-1964; a four-year certificate in Religion and Bible in 1977 from the Los Angeles Bible School (under the auspices of Talbot Seminary); and a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary, June 2004. On May 7, 2009, Payne Theological Seminary awarded Bishop Carolyn Tyler-Guidry an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her accomplishments in Ministry; and in April 2011 Bishop Tyler-Guidry was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers of Morehouse College; and
WHEREAS, she is a contributor to the fourth edition of Those Preaching Women, by The Reverend Dr. Ella Mitchell, published by Judson Press which was released in June 2004, and has contributed to the publications of the A.M.E Bishops, The Anvil. Numbered among her many honors and awards are features in the 1968 and 2004 Ebony magazines, a "Woman of the Year" Award from the California State Legislative Caucus, and a "Woman of our Times" Award from the Women of Religious Achievement, Los Angeles. She is the mother of five sons and one daughter, twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, the African Methodist Episcopal Church is a time-tested religious and civic institution. Many of the African-American leadership of the State of Mississippi has come from the A.M.E. Church, including educators, businessmen, professionals, political leaders and ministers. Hiram Revels, the first African-American United States Senator, was a member of the Mississippi African Methodist Episcopal Church, as was John R. Lynch (first African-American Congressman from Mississippi) and I.T. Montgomery (only African-American member of the Mississippi Constitutional Convention of 1890), and B.K. Bruce and many other Mississippi historical figures; and
WHEREAS, Carolyn Tyler-Guidry grew up in the African Methodist Episcopal Church at a time when girls didn't dream of becoming preachers. As a girl in Jackson, Mississippi, she instead dreamed of becoming a foreign missionary. Youthful dreams of ministry laid idle for a while, but not forgotten. And now, under her leadership, opportunities for women to exhibit their leadership abilities in the highest level of leadership in the A.M.E. Church are endless; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the career of this religious and civic leader who has brought honor to her community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and salute Right Reverend Carolyn Tyler-Guidry of Jackson, Mississippi, the 122nd Elected and Consecrated Bishop President of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, on the occasion of her retirement, and extend our greetings and best wishes to her and her congregation on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Right Reverend Tyler-Guidry and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
