LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 31

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MISSIONS 31

time staff to coordinate efforts and studies, it is hoped that we
can continue to carry out the objectives clearly outlined for the
council by the Synod, but more importantly we hope to serve
the Lord and His church as “healers,” sensitive to the needs of
the total person.

To God be the glory!

Florence Montz, Staff Administrator

1-05
Report of Commission on Black Ministry

The 1979 St. Louis convention gave full commission status
to the Black Ministry Commission (BMC). Before that conven-
tion the Black Ministry Commission was tied into the synodi-
cal structure through the Board of Directors and reported to the
convention through that board. This is the first time that the
BMC has had the right and responsibility to report directly to
the convention.

The BMC collects the items or issues that form its work
program from many sources: (1) directives of the synodical
President, (2) proceedings of synodical and District conven-
tions, (3) deliberations of the biennial convocations of Black
Lutheran Ministry, (4) requests and actions of the various
judicatories of the Synod, (5) the needs of the recruitment
program—the only program that the commission administers,
and (6) the changing needs in Black ministry on all levelsin the
Synod.

Res. 10-01 A of the Dallas convention made the BMC a
coordinative commission rather than an administrative one.
This means that the BMC takes an issue or a task to the proper
board or commission or judicatory body in the Synod and
works through that board or commission or jurisdiction to get
the issue addressed or the work done. The BMC has structured
itself to carry out this function most effectively. There are
standing and special committees. Standing committees are
located in one city for efficiency. There is a national biennial
convocation for synodical input. There are District coordinat-
ing units for effectiveness at the grass roots, and the BMC
recommends an annual Black Ministry convocation at District
level to inform and inspire, activate and involve God’s people
at the local level in more effective and rewarding service to
Christ and His church.

BMC Planning Retreat for the ’80s

The BMC held a retreat to isolate goals and objectives and
to plan strategies for Black ministry in the Synod for the ’80s.
After spending much time evaluating the work of past years,
the commission felt it necessary to restate its purposes in its
own words and in a way whereby the work of the commission
could be evaluated properly. After considerable discussion, the
following was adopted: “To plan, develop, and administer
programs; to coordinate resources and mechanisms for ex-
panding and promoting Black ministry so that the roles of
Blacks in the fulfillment of the Great Commission will be more
visibly and vocally impacted within The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod and throughout the Christian church.”

The words “plan, develop, and administer” and “coordi-
nate’’ point the commission in two directions. They are to have
a twofold task: (1) to work with the Synod through its boards,
commissions, and districts and (2) to work with congregations
of the Synod who are involved in Black ministry.

The commission adopted the following goals for itself as a
way ofcarrying out its tasks. These goals are to beimplemented
during the ’80s. (1) Ask the Board of Directors to authorize a
program coordinator by the end of 1981; (2) develop a program
to aid congregations in changing communities by the end of
1982; (3) continue to expand the communication of the com-
mission; (4) obtain additional funding for the recruitment
program from outside sources by 1982; (5) plan programs to
assist Black congregations and congregations in changing
communities in the development of effective ministries in
evangelism, stewardship education, and social ministry; (6)
assist the Board of Control in making Alabama Lutheran
Academy and College, Selma, a first-rate institution before the
end of the decade; (7) effect before the end of the decade equal
deployment of Black workers in all of the ministries of the

Synod; (8) assist the Synod and its Districts in the establish-
ment of 20 new congregations during the decade; (9) develop a
closer working relationship with the various boards and
commissions of the Synod.

You will note from the statement of purpose and goals
adopted by the commission that its work is multifaceted. It
becomes clear even to the casual observer that the task the
commission has set for itself is too much forits present staff. At
present the staff of the commission consists of a full-time
executive and a secretary. Additional personnel are needed if
the goals and objectives of the commission are to be reached.

One of the goals of the commission for the ’80s is to effect
equal deployment of black personnel in all ministries of the
church. Res. 2-20 of the 1963 Cleveland convention states:
“Whereas the Council of Administrators of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod has called attention to the disturbing
fact that our membership gains among Negroes in the United
States have been less than 17,000 when they should have been
229,000 if they had kept pace with our acquisition among the
rest of the population...’ After several other whereases and
resolves, the resolution concludes with the following: “That we
demonstrate our sincerity and expedite our outreach among
Negro Americans and other nonwhites... by working toward
the ideal that our Board of Assignment assign the graduates of
our terminal schools to congregations and that they be accepted
by them on the basis of Christian character and personal
ability, thus making available to the church in every sphere the
best that God has provided in personal consecration and
fitness, without weakening the church’s witness and program.”
This resolution was adopted.

It may surprise vou to know, Res. 2-20 of the Cleveland
Convention notwithstanding, that in the history of our church
we have never had a Black pastor in foreign missions, neverin
college or university work, never in jail and prison ministry,
and only one in hospital and institutional ministry. In the.38
Districts of our church, 15 of which have a significant amount
of Black ministry, there is not one District executive who is
Black. In secondary schools and colleges and in the seminaries
of our church, Black staff personnel or administrators are
conspicuous by their absence.

The possibilities for expanded deployment of Blacks is
limitless. In the following areas Blacks could be placed im-
mediately: (1) chaplains in institutions such as hospitals and
jails, (2) campus ministry, (3) District and synodical staff
positions, (4) synodical institutions of higher education, (5)
secondary schools, (6) foreign missions, (7) Black congre-
gations.

Res. 2-08A of the Chicago Convocation of Black Lutheran
Ministry states in its final resolve that we place 10 Black
professional church workers in foreign missions in the ’80s, 5
in hospital chaplaincies, 4 in prison ministry, 8 in military
chaplaincies, 12 in campus ministries, 8 in higher education, 8
in various executive positions in the Districts, 5 in various
executive positions in the Synod. In playing the numbers
game, one is saying that ideally this is a valid estimate of the
number of Black professional church workers that our church
should deploy in these various ministries during this decade.

Report of the Committee on Higher Education

The task of the Committee on Higher Education as assigned
by the Black Ministry Commission was to seek ways to
implement all resolutions passed by the Black Ministry Con-
vocation and synodical conventions that relate to higher
education in Black ministry. The committee is working with
the following: (1) to change the name of Alabama Lutheran
Academy and College, Selma, to Concordia College, Selma, (2)
to revise and enrich the programs for the training of pastors for
Black ministry (the Task Force is at work with the seminaries
and colleges to upgrade their curricula to include courses and
experiences reflecting the culture and experience of Blacks, (3)
to assist our colleges and secondary schools to locate and
secure the services of Black staff and faculty persons. A recent
recruitment brochure put out by the Recruitment Committee
indicates the number of Black faculty in synodical colleges and
seminaries, (4) to designate Alabama Lutheran Academy and
College (ALAC) as an archives center for Black Lutheran
history, (5) to establish regional lay-training institutes (the
Committee on Higher Education recommended that the insti-