Black Ministry convocations are devoted to strengthening the impact and appeal of the LCMS to African-Americans. At present, less than 5% of our 2.4 million member church body is African-American; however Rev. Phillip Campbell, Executive Director of the LCMS Board For Black Ministry Services, eagerly shares that the goal of his office as well as the 300 congregations in Black ministry is to add at least 50 new churches targeting the African American community by 2010.

The Convocation is open to all. The registration fee is $140 for adults and $90 for youth (ages 5 through adult). Registration forms, agendas and hotel information is available either by call the BBMS office at 1-800-248-1930 x1751 or checking the Black ministry area of the LCMS website at www.lcms.org

The 2006 Black Ministry Family Convocation
Worship, workshops and fellowship for the edification of the entire family!
July 19-23, 2006
Concordia College, Selma, Alabama

CROSSING OVER AGAIN!

March 7, 1965 was a milestone day in the history of Black Americans. On that Sunday morning, 600 demonstrators assembled at Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, heading for Montgomery to protest racial discrimination in our nation’s voting booths.

Currently, the LCMS Board for Black Ministry Services is issuing a call for its members to assemble in Selma once again---this time at Concordia College---not only to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge but to do some more “crossing over” at the 2006 National Black Ministry Family Convocation. Convening under the theme “CROSSING OVER!”, this biannual gathering of Lutherans in Black ministry invites attendees to cross over from “complaining to cooperation” and from “observing to ownership” in their various ministries. The Convocation begins on Wednesday, July 19th and runs through Sunday, July 23rd and features a family-friendly agenda of worship, workshops, business sessions and fellowship event.

Scheduled keynote speakers are Dr. Cheryl E. Williams, an assistant professor at Concordia University in Irvine, California and Mr. John Beasley, an acclaimed stage and television actor. Williams is a cultural anthropologist who specializes in cross-cultural learning; while Beasley is the founder of the Beasley Theater in Omaha, Nebraska which features works by African-American playwrights. Both speakers are active members of the LCMS.