LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 26

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26 MISSIONS, EVANGELISM, AND SOCIAL MINISTRY

Financial Aid

Rev. Simon Bodley, Chairman
Mr. Sylvester Watson

Rev. George Campbell

Dr. Richard Dickinson

Structure

Rev. John Poole, Chairman
Ms. Elloree Erwin

Mr. Paul Leacraft

Rev. William Parson

Ms. Druscilla Watkins

Ms. Betty Martin

Mr. Matthew Richmond

Archives

Rev. Kermit Ratcliffe, Chairman
Dr. Joseph Lavalais

Dr. Peter Hunt

Dr. Willis Wright

Dr. August Suelflow

Dr. DeWitt Robinson

Structured to Maximize Involvement
at the District Level

Early in its planning, the Structure Committee of the
Commission on Black Ministry accepted the challenge for
effectiveness at the grass roots. The common refrain was
heard, at this level also, that the people who made the decisions
for Black ministry at the local level were not the peoplein Black
ministry, were out of tune with reality, and were not genuinely
concerned about this work. In order to counter this accusation,
valid or invalid though it may be, and above all in order to
achieve the involvement which we are seeking, each District in
the Synod which has a great challenge for ministry to Blacks
would create a coordinating unit composed of persons in Black
ministry. This should produce greater involvement, create
renewed interest and inspiration, and result in increased
effectiveness for that District in its Black ministry program.

The following Districts have created and activated Black
ministry coordinating units, and they are a valuable asset to
the persons assigned to Black ministry in the District.

Southeastern District
NAME OF UNIT: Task Force and Black Coalition

Ruth Johnson, Chairperson, Winston Salem, N.C.; Mrs.
Barbara Dorsey, Washington, D.C.: Mr. Robert Scruggs.
Washington, D.C.; Ms. Kathleen Brooks: Nikki Rochester,
Baltimore, Md.; Mrs. Willia M. Fennel, Washington, D.C.; Rev.
William Parson, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Indiana District
NAME OF UNIT: Commission

Mr. Thomas Goodwin, Chairman. Gary. Ind.: Mr. James
Hewitt, Vice-chr., Louisville. Ky; Mr. James Yerger: Dr. Philip
Campbell. Indianapolis, Ind.; Mr. Eli Newell. Gary, Ind.; Mrs.
Jayne Carter, Garv, Ind.; Mrs. Juanita Briggs, Fort Wayne.
Ind.; Mrs. Susan McCants, Gary, Ind.: Mr. S. T. Williams,
Gary, Ind.: Mr. John McCants. Gary, Ind.

Ifthis report were to continue in this. it would list more than
100 persons already appointed to District coordinating units,
and there are many more Districts preparing to organize,
which will involve many more. The following additional
Districts have already organized: Atlantic, Eastern, Ohio,
Northern Illinois, South Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oklahoma,
Missouri, Texas. The Southern District is in the process of
organizing at this time.

The following Districts have a great challenge for Black
ministry in their area, but they have not established a coordi-
nating unit at this time. It is our goal to have all of these units
established and activated by the time of the next Black
Ministry Convocation, which is scheduled for St. Louis, Mo., in
July of 1984.

St. Louis, Mo.

St. Philip Chicago, Ill.
St. Philip Chicago, III.
Emmaus St. Louis, Mo.

Synodical Staff St. Louis, Mo.

Greensboro, N.C.

Resurrection Richmond, Va.

Prince of Peace Charlotte, N.C.

Grace Greensboro, N.C.

St. Mark Winston-Salem, N.C.

St. Mark Winston-Salem. N.C.

Grace Greensboro, N.C.

Grace Greensboro. N.C.
Nationwide

St. Paul Dallas, Tex.

St. Philip Philadelphia, Pa.

Trinity Selma, Ala.

Trinity Selma, Ala.

Concordia Seminary St. Louis, Mo.

Calvary Memphis, Tenn.

Mid-South Michigan
Kansas New Jersey
California-Nevada-Hawaii

Florida-Georgia
Southern California
New England

In addition to the Commmission on Black Ministry and its
support structure, the integration of Blacks into the decision-
making processes of the Synod is proceeding at arapid rate. On
the level of the Synod, we have the following:

Vice-President, Dr. J. G. Lavalais; Board for Parish
Services, Mr. John McCants: Board for Mission Services, Rev.
Dr. P.R. Hunt. Dr. Benjamin Dennis: Board for Social Ministry
Services, Rev. Simon Bodley: Board for Youth Services, Mr. S.
T. Williams.

There is one Black staff person at the International Center.

The involvement of Blacks at the decision-making levels in
the Districts varies from District to District. The Southern
District, the last District to accept Black work into the fellow-
ship, has made more progress in this area than any other
District in the Synod. In the Southern District there is at least
one Black person on each board and standing committee of the
District. The District’s First Vice-President is Black. The
District Treasurer is Black. The only place where Black
presence is conspicuously absent is at the level of professional
staff, but one cannot reasonably expect to achieve everything
overnight.

In Black ministry we are involved. or at least we know that
we can be involved. We thank God for the renewed commitment
of the Synod to minority ministry. We believe that the strategy
to maximize the involvement of minorities in the decision-
making processes of the Synod, especially that segment which
is directed towards their specific ethnic or racial identification,
will result in increased motivation, a higher degree of commit-
ment, and a more joyful and rewarding participation of these
minorities in the work of the Lord which is done by the Synod.

Black Ministry Is Swiftly and Constantly Expanding _

In 1976, when the first survey was conducted for the Black
Mission Models Task Force to determine the extent of Black
ministry in the Synod, there were 193 congregations in Black
ministry, totaling approximately 50,000 communicants. We
lost 12 of these congregations to the AELC. Today there are
approximately 230 such congregations, and the number is
constantly increasing each year. The table at the top of the
next page isa statistical report on Black ministry in theSynod.
It is taken from the 1981 Statistical Report. If space would
permit and comparative data could be shown, a picture of
constant growth would emerge. We thank God for His
abundant blessings. We know that we only plant and water the
seed of the Word. It is God who is constantly working in and
through that Word and producing an abundant increase. To
Him all praise and glory! .

The parochial school has been the strongest arm for mission
outreach to Black people since Black ministry was begun over