As we celebrate 90 years of faithful work for justice and equity this year, we’re sharing stories of 90 Years Rooted in Faith that reflect the heart of the North Carolina Council of Churches. Each month, you’ll hear from staff and long-time friends of the Council as they highlight the transformative impacts we’ve had on our community and our vision for the future. Stay tuned for these inspiring reflections throughout the year!
by the Rev. Dr. Conrad K. Pridgen, Past-President of the North Carolina Council of Churches Governing Board and retired Presiding Elder of the Western North Carolina Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
As a pastor striving to serve well at my local church, I would constantly ask myself the question, “Where can I invest my time during the week so that I can make the most out of my limited amount of time.” Attending board meetings of the North Carolina Council of Churches, always prompted me to ask myself this question afresh. Given the travel time, meeting time, and meeting preparation time, I would sometimes think I could not afford the time to attend those meetings. Then the Holy Spirit would speak to me, saying time spent with the Council is an excellent investment. Meeting time often provided resources for local church ministry, statistical data that could strengthen sermon preparation, and connections to resources for justice issues important to the local congregation. As a bonus, it offered regular exposure to people of noble Christian Character. Often, I would attend a meeting with a particular church issue on my mind and during the course of the meeting would receive the answer to the problem right there in the subject matter being presented. I would always come away from the Council Gatherings richer than I was when I arrived. The Holy Spirit was right. Council meetings were a good investment of my time.
In short, I could sum it all up by saying that my time spent with the Council was not so much about what I gave, but what I received from being in the presence of noble, unselfish, loving people who love the Lord supremely and their neighbors deeply.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rev. Dr. Conrad K. Pridgen
The Rev. Dr. Conrad K. Pridgen is a retired Presiding Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is currently the Past-President of the Council’s Governing Board, having served as President in 2022 and 2023. Previously, he chaired the Personnel Committee and the Planning Committee. He also served on the Executive Director Search Committee in 2015 and was a member of the former House of Delegates.
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