LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 37

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 37

That the Board for Black Ministry Services develop partnership
with selected geographical Districts and explore ways to deal with
the issues raised in the.report; and be it finally resolved

That the Board for Black Ministry Services begin the dialog with
the 26 geographical Districts about alternative ways to deal with
issues raised in the Non-Geographical Black Ministry District
Study Report.

The Study Committee highlighted these issues for consider-
ation by the Board for Black Ministry Services:
1. Separation/segregation reality based issues versus ideological
hope
2. The need to keep pushing, keep educating, and keep encourag-
ing at all levels
. Financial viability of supporting churches in community
. Control issues/shaping our destiny
. Clergy supply/alternate route
. Relate to District and District relates to congregations and to
Black Ministry units in Districts
7. Facilitate. help design, focus through Districts on congre-
gations
8. Focus on key Districts—Mid-South, Northern Illinois, South-
astern, Southern
9. Revealed anti-worker-priest expressions, “I do not favor
worker-priest’”—Study Committee members felt this has not
been a bad thing
10. White/Black pastors statement in the study (common ground
is needed for the sake of the ministry)
11. Black Ministry Non-Geographical District will divide
church—speak on this from the lack of unity point of view
12. Work at helping Districts provide services needed to serve
African American congregations and involve District Black
Ministry units in the process
13. North American Missions has task forces which function like
Black Ministry units, and the BBMS is learning from that
arrangement and our experience is instructive of it

On Dec. 31, 1997, the report of the Study Committee was pre-
sented to Dr. A. L. Barry, President of The Lutheran Church-Mis-
souri Synod. On Jan. 13, 1998, the Board for Black Ministry Ser-
vices adopted the recommendations of the Study Committee. A
copy of the report will be filed with each congregation in Black
Ministry.

Summarize the goals set by the unit and assignment given
to it in recent or previous conventions or by the President.

The board has translated the work assigned to it into a mission
statement and action plan for the 1995-98 triennium:

Being empowered by God, called to carry out the Great Commis-
sion, undergirded by the Black Ministry Convocation, the mission
of the Board for Black Ministry Services is to

Garner attention, resources, energy, knowledge, and the diverse
gifts God has given His people to advocate change, nourish, affirm,
encourage members in the faith, and reach new peoples with the
Gospel all over the world.

RMnhw

Critical Target 1: Link with Black Leaders
Goal: Support the unity of all ministries among African
Americans.
Critical Target 2: Worldwide Relationships
Goal: Establish and maintain a strong relationship with our
brgthers and sisters worldwide.
Critical Target 3: Congregations and Convocations

Goal: Congregations are affirming and developing varied
styles of ministry and worship to reach within and beyond them-
selves with the Gospel in the African American experience.

Critical Target 4: New Mission Fields and New People

Goal: A significant number of new mission fields are utilizing
greater lay involvement, new and different forms of worship, wit-
ness, and service to gain new people for Christ.

Critical Target 5: Networking

Goal: Leaders are creating and maintaining networks which
reach across geographic, cultural, and denominational boundaries
to garner and share information in support of effective Black
Ministry.

Critical Target 6: Lay and Professional Leaders

Goal: Individuals are identified and equipped within a nurtur-
ing supportive environment to give bold, dynamic, prophetic, and
visionary leadership to Black Ministry.

Critical Target 7: Concordia Selma

Goal: Concordia Selma is appreciated for its historical con-
tributions to the church and world and recognized for its potential
to develop leaders for the 21st century within the context of the
Black experience.

Critical Target 8: Elementary and Secondary Education

Goal: Lutheran schools are providing Christian role modets
from a variety of cultures who nurture, educate, and care for the
children of their communities.

Based on the current assessment of the church and its envi-
ronment provided in the President’s report, as well as the de-
scription of the needed services, analyze and report the unit’s
performance during the past triennium.

Black Ministry in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
is growing in congregations:
¢ 1,851 adults gained
¢ 1,791 children baptized
* 3,642 new Lutherans, in one year, increasing the 50,000 to
53,642!

Black Ministry in the LCMS is growing in congregations:
—30 new missions are being developed in all sections of the na-
tion; (SO new starts is the goal)

— 22 potential sites have been targeted for development in six Dis-
tricts

~ 35 congregations have goals of becoming congregations that av-
erage 300 in worship on Sunday moming

Black Ministry in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
is growing in the ability and capacity to reach and do ministry
with African immigrants (AIM):

— The board identifies with their 25 new starts
— Participated in their conference of 50 leaders

— African immigrant and Black Ministry working on Church Plant-
ing Manual

— Through resolution, the board calls for planting African immi-
grant in the African American soil

Black Ministry in the LCMS is growing in leadership devel-
opment:
* 24 leaders serving on presidium and boards of the Synod
* 29 leaders elected by District conventions (including 5 vice-
presidents)
¢ 37 leaders leading District Black Ministry units
¢ 20 students at the seminaries and Concordia Seminary, Fort
Wayne Extension, at Concordia Selma

It was awesome to see 70-plus leaders standing before the Black
Ministry Family Convocation. The goal of 100 African American
pastors in the Synod has been reached. Now we have 100 White
pastors, too.

Black Ministry in the LCMS is growing in convocation par-
ticipation: convocation statistics—

1996 New Orleans
2,000 opening worship service
80 pastoral delegates
121 voting lay delegates
10 advisory member
250 youth participants
515 adult participants
1,200 registered participants!

1997 Atlanta
1,500 opening worship service

55 pastoral delegates
61 voting lay delegates
39 advisory members

340 youth participants

450 adult participants

945 registered participants!