Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [79]
But it was this very attitude that made Murcheson James the ideal choice for bishop for many people in the denomination. A lot of folks were fed up with bishops who acted like they owned the Gospel United Church and wanted a preacher elected who would treat the office as sacred. Their strong urging convinced Murcheson James to lay aside his misgivings and ultimately led him to believe that the Lord had called him to run for this office. And it was only this belief that gave him the courage to enter this race and embark upon an aggressive campaign to get elected bishop.
It seemed to Theophilus that Rev. James was taking a long time to answer his question. But then it struck him that they were surrounded by preachers, all of whom probably had big ears and their own allegiances. Rev. James seemed to read his thoughts and said, "Son, why don't we take a stroll around the campus. Be good for both of us after sitting in that hot chapel all morning."
When they were at a decent distance from the other preachers, Rev. James confided, "Theophilus, I think I have 817 delegate votes I can count on."
Theophilus gave a low whistle. "How did you manage that? You only need 925 to win."
"Remember when I went to Atlanta for a meeting with SCLC? Well, I had a long lunch with Bishop Jennings there. He pledged his support and immediately started working for me. Said he was impressed with all my civil rights work and the day-care programs I've been getting started in Mississippi. Also said the Board of Bishops needed a preacher with a good track record for faithfully serving the people—a man like me."
A group of women who were at Virginia Union University for a special pre–Triennial Conference missionary meeting now approached, and when they saw Rev. James, some of them nudged the others, pointing him out as one of the pastors running for bishop. Theophilus was almost surprised that they recognized him, for Rev. James was an extremely modest and unassuming, plain and down-to-earth man, with a keen intellect and a fondness for suits that were just a little bit worn, for comfort. And when he wasn't working at church, he could be found in overalls working his land, happy, content, and talking out loud to the Lord about everything from women and birthing babies to questions about why one seed made a flower and another seed made corn.
A light brown woman with long reddish hair walked right up to Rev. James and extended a pale-lavender-gloved hand toward him. She took a deep breath that made her breasts swell, looked into Rev. James's eyes, and said in a dramatic and breathy voice, "I'm Mae Wilson and I've been trying to meet you during this conference."
Rev. James looked at the woman like she was crazy. He looked her over, not to assess how good she looked—she was light-skinned, long and slender, a marked contrast to his wife, Susie, who was full-figured and brown-skinned—but to better measure her character, or lack of it.
"Mrs.?"
"Miss, Reverend. I must confess that I live the single life because I have not been so blessed as to meet a man like you."
At first Rev. James was taken aback by her boldness. But he quickly recovered his composure and told her, "Miss Wilson, I'm not sure what it is I should be saying to you. But, I am sure of this. You need to get out of my face and go spend some time with Jesus. And if you need some extra help with praying, my wife, Susie, is a powerful woman of God and a prayer warrior. She will be more'n happy to pray with and for you."
Mae Wilson's smile froze on her face. She tried to wiggle away from his rebuke, saying, "Uhh, Rev. James, I am late for my next meeting and don't have time to finish this conversation about your wife and prayer."
Rev. James gestured at her departing figure. "I'd bet some of Booker's dog track money, she the kind of woman always got to shout when service get going good. And she a bigger she-devil than some old hoochie-coochie gal out in those streets. And I don't know why some of these women think a man always wanting some old lanky, high-yellow