LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 38

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38 SYNODICAL REPORTS

Black Ministry in the LCMS is growing in school ministry:
* 16,262 students in Lutheran schools
* 100 congregations in Black Ministry with schools
* Early childhood center is a new goal

Black Ministry in the LCMS is growing in the ability to cre-
ate and maintain effective networks:
~ 15 Black Ministry units in Districts organized in the 1997/98
budget year
— Unit leaders conference held July 15—16, 1997
— Education leaders conference held July 15-16, 1997

— Board for Human Care and Black Ministry raised over $80,000
for burned churches; and researched 10 essential characteristics
of new churches

Boards for Mission Services and Black Ministry Services:
— Network and assist Districts and congregations in the develop-
ment of new mission starts

— Make room in Black Ministry for African Immigrant Ministry
(AIM)

~ Provide an African American presence and participation in mis-
siology
Boards for Congregational Services and Black Ministry Ser-
vices:
~ Work jointly on a Tithing Chapter for the Stewardship Manual
for congregations

~ Seek ways to provide evangelism materials to assist congrega-
tions in outreach ministry

- Facilitate youth involvement in youth gatherings and servant
events

~ Provide leadership resources for leaders

Boards for Communication Services and Black Ministry
Services:
— Develop and distribute video and print materials for celebrating
the 150th and 120th anniversaries

Commission on Worship and Board for Black Ministry Ser-
vices:
— Provide a hymnal supplement for Lutherans in Black Ministry

Concordia Historical Institute and the Board for Black
Ministry Services:

+ Preserve and maintain archival resources for students in Black

Ministry, for congregations, and for the LCMS historical record.

Significant synodical and Black Ministry events:
+ 150th anniversary of the Synod

+ 120th anniversary of Black Ministry in the LCMS
+ 75th anniversary of Concordia College, Selma, Ala.
+ 60th anniversary of work in Nigeria

+ 20th anniversary of the Commission on Black Ministry and its
elevation to Board for Black Ministry Services

+ heritage as Black Lutheran Christians with abundant future af-
firmed

+ advance from subsidy mindset to abundance frame of reference,
“a can do spirit!” Begun!

Significant Financial Arrangements
The William A. Schiebel Endowment Fund

“This endowment fund has been designated to be sed by the
LCMS Commission on Black Ministry (Board for Black Ministry
Services) for the benefit of LCMS Black inner-city/urban min-
istries.” Approximately $23,000 will be available for ministry an-
nually.

The board adopted an African Immigrant Ministry (AIM)
policy: This ministry as it is being presented under the Board for
Mission Services, is a stand-alone ministry. Stand alone in the
sense that it is emerging as ministry in Africa, with African leaders,
under an American director, providing dollars and direction. This
stand alone ministry is therefore a lateral move from the mission
field to America, as if the conditions are as they are in Africa.

The outline of this ministry presents so much of our past his-
tory. Immigrants coming from Europe, establishing the church here
as in Europe, even the speaking of the language here as there. In
time that immigrant ministry discovered that it had to americanize
to be effective here. Part of that americanization continues unto this
very hour. Every now and then some researcher will remind us that
the boats don’t come anymore and we must reach out to the people
around us.

When we trace Black Ministry in America, we come to that pe-
riod of history called the “Synodical Conference.” During that time,
in the words of Dr. Dickinson, Black Ministry had “a Black body
and a White head.” We are to this very hour trying to correct that so
this ministry can embody the gifts and talents God has placed in
the people.

All this history teaches us to root African Immigrant Ministry in
the Black Ministry that is here, that is strong and vibrant, that is
growing and expanding, that is open and inclusive, that is African
in scope and fully committed to the Gospel as we know it in the
Lutheran tradition.

The Board for Mission Services should be encouraging, pro-
moting, and facilitating with mission dollars a common American
root for all Africans.

The challenge before the Board for Mission Services, the Board
for Black Ministry Services, African Immigrant Ministry, and all
engaged in this ministry is to encourage, promote, facilitate, and
root this ministry in African American soil and culture.

Significant Publications

Communique—a board report to congregations in Black Ministry
semiannually

Communities—a Black Ministry newspaper

Dare to Dream—how to reach various age groups among African
Americans

William Schiebel Memorial Booklet—to become a teaching tool for
White pastors interested in ministry among African Americans

African Americans and the Local Church, edited by Dr. Robert H.
King, CPH, contributors, Drs. Bryant Clancy and Phillip Campbell

Significant Opportunities

+ Reflecting the face of the nation in LCMS congregations and the
face of heaven in our church body

+ Garner the resources in Black Ministry for the work of ministry
in the LCMS

+ Clearly define Black Ministry so that it speaks to the full range of
diversity on the urban scene, while giving anchor to the soul of
its adherents

+ A Census Bureau Report found 620,912 Black-owned U.S. busi-
nesses with total revenue of $32.2 billion (1992 survey of minor-
ity-owned businesses)

At the heart of Black Ministry is that invitation of Jesus,
“Whosoever will let him come and whosoever comes, I will in no
wise cast out.” With that Word of God, Black Ministry has kept an
open door, open heart, open purse, and open hand. The Word of
God takes precedence over race, ethnic origin, social position, pres-
tige, and possessions so that it can truly be said. “In the Lord's
house all are welcome!”

Future Goals

— Increase the 53,642 African Americans in the LCMS to 100,000
by the early dawn of the new century—2010. This goal aligns
Black Ministry with the “3/10” direction of the Synod as it
reaches to the end of the world. ,

— 50 congregations planted for the 150th anniversary of the Synod
(36 have been planted).

~ 10,000 convocation participants for the year 2000 as a show of
readiness for increasing the 53,642 to 100,000 by the dawn of the
new century. The goal of 2,000 participants has been achieved.

— 100 professional workers in colleges; 50 students in the seminar-
ies preparing for the work of ministry. The 1998 enrollment is at
20.