LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 32

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32 MISSIONS

tutes be conducted at the District level using the Don Abdon
and Church Growth seminars as models, with emphasis on
Black ministry, (6) to study the feasibility of four-year status
for ALAC. The administration of ALAC reports that one of
their goals is to become a terminal degree-granting institution.
They feel that once accreditation is achieved for the junior
college, four-year status will be sought after and achieved.

Report of the Recruitment Committee

The Recruitment Committee was appointed for the purpose
of planning and implementing the program of recruitment of
Black professional church workers. Before its appointment a
recruitment coordinator was engaged on a full-time basis. At
this time phase 1 of the recruitment program was instituted.
This involved placing candidates in the pastoral colloquy
program to relieve a crisis situation in the supply of Black
pastors in the ministry of the LCMS. Since the program began,
15 pastors have gone through the program and 15 are presently
enrolled. The services of the coordinator was continued until
the new management program that was developed by the
committee became operational. Steps were planned to follow
through on work already begun by the coordinator. These steps
included responding immediately with career, institution, cost,
and financial information for those persons already contacted
or making inquiries. Members of the BMC and other support
groups made themselves available as role models at elementary
and secondary schools, colleges, youth gatherings, Sunday
services, and wherever the opportunity presented itself. Pros-
pect lists were compiled with the assistance of pastors,
counselors, Sunday- and day-school teachers, elders, and
laymen and women.

A masterful recruitment brochure was produced. The bro-
chure includes some history of Black Lutheranism, a statement
of the need for Blacks in ministry, financial-aid information
and information about synodical schools, and a method of
response. The brochure was so well received that a second
printing has been authorized, and a copy is included in each
delegate’s package.

A new management program involving a regional setup
began in September 1979. This program started phase 2 of the
recruitment program. Regional counselors were appointed in
areas with significant Black population. All counselors re-
ceived training in recruitment techniques and are responsible
for collecting lists of referrals, contacting parishes with sub-
stantial Black membership, making personal contact with
referrals, keeping card files, determining inquiries, and follow-
ing up on inquiries.

A series of career days has been planned. This is to expose
more people to the actual role model of professional church
workers and to provide information about the cost and financ-
ing. These are to be held in many areas throughout the Synod.

When the Black recruitment program got under way, the
supply of Black Lutheran pastors in our Synod had declined to
a low of 37. Today, counting those pastors who, although
retired, are still occupying pulpits in certain parishes, the
number has risen again to an all-time high. It is entirely
possible through the blessings of Almighty God that by theend
of this decade the supply of Black pastors in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod can exceed the 150 which was the
original goal established in 1977.

Report of the Youth Committee

Res. 9-01 of the August 1978 Black Lutheran Convocation in
Selma, Ala., called for the appointment of a permanent youth
committee to help congregations implement strong youth
programs on the local, District, and national levels. A com-
mittee was appointed, with Mr. Benjamin Porter being
appointed chairperson. The committee began its work in
January 1979, Since that time Black youth gatherings have
been held in 12 Districts of the Synod. Gatherings have been
held in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, New Orleans, St.
Louis, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Greensboro,
and Mobile.

The Youth Committee has been able to establish a network
of youth ministry committees throughout the Missouri Synod,
in addition to a directory of Black youth workers, their
churches, and their pastors. Approximately 500 Black youth

have participated in some way or have been touched in some
leadership area as a result of the gatherings.

Black youth participated in the synodical youth gathering
at Fort Collins, Colo. Black input at the planning stages had
been sought, and this improved Black participation. However,
the majority of Black youth are still not in the mainstream of
the Synod’s youth program. We feel that another Black youth
gathering in 1982 is essential to appeal to these young people.

The Youth Committee feels strongly about the fact that
there has never been a Black staff member in the youth
department. Having Black representation there might be one
way of promoting understanding and coordinating the youth
work of the Black Ministry Commission with the Board of
Youth Ministry, hopefully bringing more Black youth into the
mainstream of the activities of the Synod.

The Youth Committee is proposing that another youth
gathering be planned and held in the summer of 1982 at
Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y. The purpose of the youth
gathering will be the following: to celebrate our holiness as
God’s people and to identify, recognize, and affirm youth as
important members of the Lutheran Church; to come together
in God’s presence and to celebrate under His power His saving
love for each of us as we study God’s Word, receive the Lord’s
Supper, and witness our faith in Christ Jesus.

Report of the Committee on Scholarships and Grants

The Committee on Scholarships and Grants is based in
Chicago and meets according to significant needs. Shortly
after the committee was appointed, it had to meet in emergency
session to put some system into the scholarship program,
which was born under emergency circumstances. The com-
mittee worked out the guidelines and submitted them to the
appropriate boards of the Synod. The guidelines were finally
approved by the Board for Higher Education and the Board of
Directors and are now the official guidelines of the Committee
on Scholarships and Grants.

The Black Ministry Scholarship Fund is a supplementary
scholarship fund. The fund tries to help the student make
financial ends to meet. The fund is a source of funding of last
resort. In keeping with that policy, the financial-aid depart-
ments of the schools that our students would attend work out
for the committee the financial needs for each student, taking
into consideration all other available sources such as the
student’s personal funds, work-study programs, assistance
that should be or could be given by the congregation sponsor-
ing the student, District subsidies, AAL scholarships, or
Federal funds that could perhaps be granted through the
institution. When all of these funds are considered, and there is
a sizable balance that cannot be underwritten, the committee
works with that balance.

This system make it imperative that students apply early to
the Black Ministry Scholarship Fund. The commission recently
established a policy that, with the possible exception of some
seminary students, all applications for funds for the fall
quarter of any year be received in the office of the BMC no later
than April 15. Applications for the winter quarter must be
received no later than Oct. 1 of each year.

The Black Ministry Commission, by sponsoring national
convocations, regional convocations, area workshops, rallies,
District convocations, District Black Ministry commissions,
and other coordinating judicatories, tried to research and
address many facets of Black ministry in the Synod over the
past biennium. In that process several resolutions have sur-
faced; they follow this report. The Lord has richly blessed and
is still blessing our efforts as we go forth in His name to build
His kingdom in the hearts of men, which is the ultimate
assignment of every living Christian.

Simon Bodley, Chairman

1-10
To Continue Overseas Efforts

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has in
the past biennium moved forward in taking the Gospel over-
seas; and