WS Chronicle

The Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity (MCWSV) elected their new cabinet officers in November of 2018. This past Sunday, January 27, the conference held their installation service to officially bring in the new officers to their respective positions.

The service was held at Union Baptist Church Sunday afternoon in front of family, friends and fellow conference members. The new cabinet officers are: Tembila Covington, president; Rev. C.A. Jones Jr., 1st vice-president; Rev. Alvin Carlisle, 2nd vice-president; Rev. Constance Lowery, secretary; Rev. Reginald McCaskill, assistant secretary; Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach, treasurer; Elder Deborah Jeter, parliamentarian; and Rev. Dr. Charolette H. Leach, chaplain.

“The entire service was wonderful, overall it was very good,” said Covington. “It was a great event with great atmosphere and everyone was pretty excited and I was happy with the overall outcome of the day.”

The speaker during the service was Rev. Dr. Kia Hood-Scott of Union Baptist Church. Her message was titled, “Your assignment in the fire” and touched on working together during tough times, no matter what.

Covington says now that they have been officially installed, now is the time for the officers to “stand and do the work.” 

“Now it is time for us to put our feet on the ground and be solid in what we stand for and to resolve in doing the mission of the Ministers’ Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity,” she said. “We have to stand in truth and do it with solidarity alongside the other cabinet members, elders of the conference and the entire body of the conference as a whole to ensure that our message is a common message that is for the good of everyone.”

For Covington, the installation is like a runner being at the starting line, she said. “It’s like the gun has gone off and it’s time to go, there is no stretching or trying to get yourself situated in the blocks, it’s time to go.

“I’m just ready and I feel everyone in the cabinet is ready, as well as everyone in the community. They are looking to us to see how we are going to handle things and the voice we are going to speak with. Hopefully, we do it together and achieve and accomplish all the things we set out to do.”

Covington previously set forth her plan of action that will focus on social justice, food justice, education, faith and health, and economics. She stated there will be a chairperson to oversee all aspects of her plan throughout the duration of their term. Another point of emphasis for Covington will be female business owners as well.

“We all have work to do and we don’t have much time to wait around to see who is going to get to the work done,” she continued.

Covington wanted to thank everyone for the special services, appreciations and welcomes for her and her cabinet members since they have been elected.