African American Lutherans Hear 'State of the Church'

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- About 80 African American Lutherans and pastors of African American and Black Lutheran congregations gathered here May 12-13 for one of seven "Proclaiming the Power 2000" events. They came to hear the needs and concerns of the Black community in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"Proclaiming the Power 2000" is designed to assist pastors, lay professionals and leaders who want to help their congregations reach African Americans and Blacks with the good news of Jesus Christ.
"We are very excited about these events and anticipate representatives of nearly all African American and Black congregations in the ELCA to attend events in their regions," said the Rev. Eric T. Campbell, director of African American ministries, ELCA Commission for Multicultural Ministries.
Participants heard statistical data on the "state of the church" as it relates to African American and Black congregations and learned how to proceed in the immediate future and long term with more effective ministries.
"We are working with congregations with 20 percent or more African American and Black membership to develop a consensus on specific needs such as resources and financial support," said Campbell.
Congregations are classified by the ELCA as Black or African American if the membership is at least 30 percent Black or African American. Approximately 227 of the ELCA's 11,000 congregations are classified as Black or African American. There are 170 Black or African American pastors serving those congregations.
Of the 227 congregations, 28 percent have no full-time pastor; 29 percent have African American or Black pastors and 43 percent have=20 non-African American or Black pastors.
Currently 88 percent of African American congregations have baptized memberships of 350 or less, compared to 53 percent of all ELCA congregations; 52 percent have memberships of less than 175, compared to 26 percent of all congregations.
"Our church is struggling with leadership and leadership development in the Black and African American communities," said Campbell.
The Rev. E. Taylor Harmon, associate executive director, ELCA Division for Outreach, shared an update on the ELCA's African American Outreach Strategy.
The African American Outreach Strategy provides a vision and plan of action that guides the Division for Outreach in its efforts to provide leadership and support to synods and congregations as they work with the African American community, he said.
The church has had several different African American strategies formulated by predecessor church bodies, Harmon said.
"This is not a project that has an end; there will never be a beautifully-bound document. This is an ongoing process that will change as the needs of the community change," he said.
Two "Proclaiming the Power 2000" events have been held to date. One was in Los Angeles for ELCA Regions 1 and 2, and the other was in Chicago for Regions 3 and 5. Upcoming events are scheduled for:
Toledo, Ohio June 2-3
Houston June 16-17
Atlanta Aug. 18-19
New York Sept. 8-9
Baltimore Sept. 15-16
An event is scheduled to take place in the Caribbean in early 2001.
Proclaiming the Power 2000 is an ELCA multi-unit endeavor sponsored by the Divisions for Church in Society, Outreach and Global Mission; the Commissions for Multicultural Ministries and Women; and the African American Lutheran Association.
The gatherings have been made possible by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans, a fraternal benefits society based in Appleton, Wis.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html