# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S210 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 208 ADMINISTRATION EXe leit < WIEKER BENEFIT PLANS ENSOLLMENT TETEMBER 31, 1982 ze Age rm various Leaves cf Absence ayo 2 MET DETS 4-09 Report of Black Centennial Committee The Black Centennial Committee was the first synodical committee of mostly Black members ever appointed by the President of the LCMS. Originally conceived to be simply a committee to plan the observance of the centennial of the Synod’s involvement in ministry to Black people in this country, the resolution calling for its creation had not reached the convention before other crucial assignments had been tacked on. In response to the critical shortage of Black professional church workers, the Board of Directors declared a state of emergency in this ministry and added the following to Res. 11-22 of the New Orleans convention: Resolved, That this committee advise the President of Synod: 1. In the establishment of a massive recruitment program of blacks into church-related vocations in our own country; and 2. Inthe intensification ofour ministry among all ethnic minon- ties, nationally and internationally. In the execution of the basic assignment to promote the observation and celebration of the centennial, the committee prepared materials such as books, filmstrips, tracts, bumper stickers, pins, etc.; produced a drama for the Dallas convention; conducted the convention Communion service; and promoted the centennial celebration Synodwide during the centennial year. Working in conjunction with the Stewardship Depart- ment, the Centennial Committee has prepared the materials to be used for the promotion of the Father’s Day Thankoffering from year to year. The Black Centennial Committee, acting under the direction of the Synod, started two crucial programs in Black ministry. Under the blessings of Almighty God, their labors were not in vain. The first 21 additional Black pastors to enter the ministerium of the LCMS under this program should be credited to the labors of this committee. The thankoffering for the scholarship endowment for Black professional church workers has been the major project of this committee in recent | years. The Dallas convention approved an endowment of- $1,500,000 to be received over a three-year period. The Scholarship Endowment Fund of $1,500,000 is still the elusive goal of the Synod. Efforts to make it a reality are continuing under the leadership of the departments of Black Ministry, Higher Education, and Stewardship. But these moneys have often been used faster than they were received. As of this writing, there is no endowment corpus established, and the fund is more than $40,000 overdrawn. Originally we anticipated little difficulty in establishing the endowment but great and mounting odds against getting the recruitment program off the ground. The reverse of that assumption has been the situation in the case of the endowment fund. As of this writing, slightly more than $400,000 has been received. The end is not yet, and the goal is not in sight, but we struggle on, . The recruitment goal, to enroll and train 150 Black pastors over the next 10 years, was assigned to the Commission on Black Ministry. In addition to the 21 new pastors claimed by the Centennial Committee, there are 16 more in the seminaries and on vicarage. There are 26 additional persons who have signed a declaration of intent, are in college, and should enter the ministerium within a few years. In addition, a program has been designed to isolate, nurture, and recruit promising young persons, beginning at preconfirmation age, when they show an interest in, and a dedication to, the work of the Lord through His church. In this program the goal of 150 Black pastors inthe next 10 years has not been met, but the goal is in sight. The following lists of workers recruited is included for more specific information: Name Sem Program Congregation City Anderson, Paul FW Colloquy Lake Charles, La. Blake, King SL Withdrew (health) Blanks, James FW Regular Student Brazeal, John FW Colloquy Student Campbell, George SP Reinstated St. Michaels St. Louis, Mo. Cooper, Charles SL Colloquy St. Marks Port Arthur, Tex. Davis, John SL Colloquy (vicar) Immanuel Vredenburgh, Ala. Dailey, Moses FW Colloquy Declined Dean, Kevin FW Colloquy (vicar) Faith Chicago, Il. Dickinson, Bernard SL Colloquy Student Dickinson, Booker FW Colloquy Student Douglas, Venice FW Colloquy Ebenezer ’St. Stephens Chicago, Ill. Gaines, Lloyd SL Regular Student Gilmore, Rozell FW Colloquy (vicar) Our Savior Miami, Fla. Glaspie, James SL Regular Student Green, Timothy FW Colloquy Student Griffen, Marvin SL Colloquy (vicar) Holy Ghost Milwaukee, Wis. Holmes, Edgar FW Colloquy Mt. Zion New York, N.Y. James, Harold FW Colloquy Redemption Panama City, Fla Jenkins, Julius FW Colloquy Student Johnson, William SL Regular Student Lucas, Willie FW Colloquy St. John Evang. Brooklyn, N.Y. Malone, Robert SL Regular Good Shepherd Laurelton, N.Y. Marsh, Prentice FW Colloquy Ephphatha Deaf Chicago, II]. Marsh, William FW Colloquy Bethel New Orleans, La.