Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1981 · 54th Convention › Page 208
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 208

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

208 ADMINISTRATION

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TETEMBER 31, 1982

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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.