Featured

Rev. Cassandry Keys’ Historic Moment

Published

11 years ago

July 5, 2013

From left to right: Pastor Cassandry Keys, Reverend Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Reverend Dr. Alvin C. Bernstine and Superior Court Judge Diana Becton.

By Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Bernstine

The incredibly engaging pastor of the historic Davis Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Cassandry Keys, has done what no other woman has done. She preached a Pastor’s Appreciation at a Baptist Church in Richmond, California.
Although delighted to have received the invitation to preach at Rev. Dr. Alvin C. Bernstine’s 7th Year Appreciation, she had no idea that she was making history.
Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, a historic symbol of the staunch conservatism of Christian patriarchy, enthusiastically joined their pastor in the journey to accepting women in ministry. Pastor Keys was not the first woman to preach at BMBC, nor was it her first time preaching at BMBC.
Pastor Bernstine has led three congregations in embracing women ministers, with Bethlehem being the most accepting. Little known in the history of BMBC is that in the early 50s, founding pastor Rev. Nathaniel Phanor licensed three women to Christian ministry, Millie Bernstine (the pastor’s aunt), Agnes Waitley, and Della Harris, all of whom now are deceased.
Noteworthy is that the speaker for the 10:45 a.m. worship was the Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland. Dr. Smith has been the vanguard for women in ministry in Northern California.
During the morning service, Dr. Smith announced that he and Pastor Bernstine will be leading a doctoral cohort at United Theological Seminary beginning January 2014. Rev. Keys has indicated that she will be a part of the cohort.
During the 3 p.m. celebration, Rev. Keys mesmerized the BMBC congregation with a sermon from Jeremiah, “When the Thrill is Gone.”

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

8 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.