1. Establish a sub-committee
of the Board of Trustees that will be resourced by the Director
of New Congregation Establishment and an Associate for Congregational
Growth and Vitality to develop an advocacy plan to ensure the
continued development of new congregations. Extend a standing
invitation to the Director of New Congregation Establishment to
consult with the Program Audit Standing Committee regarding new
church development. Request Homeland Ministries the delegation
of a staff member to resource the Program Audit Standing Committee
and the Director of New Congregation Establishment in the development
of strategies and recommendation to facilitate the development
of new African American congregations.
2. Identify two congregations
within each biennium that will start new congregations. Request
that the Director of New Congregation Establishment identify potential
sites for the establishment of African American new congregations.
Identify the geographical areas with the most promise and identify
African American congregations with viable ministries or leadership
in these areas. In consultation with the Regional Minister, encourage
at least 2 congregations to develop a new congregation. The goal
of two new congregations will be kept before the church through
announcements in Selah and presentations at meetings of Black
Church Structure organizations. Progress on this ministry will
be monitored by the Program Audit Committee of the Board with
regular reports to be brought to the Board.
3. Identify ten congregations
each biennium that require Continuous Christian Education for
all members and share their models of ministry with other congregations.
Request the African-American Christian Education Network to collect
and present a list of ten congregations that fulfill this objective.
This will be initiated at the African-American Christian Education
Network pre-event to the 15th Biennial Session in Lexington, KY.
Note: We need an instrument of evaluation placed in Convocation
packets. Cathy Myers Wirt has special gifts in this area specializing
in small group ministries for evangelism in Homeland Ministries.
Progress on this ministry will be monitored by the Program Audit
Committee of the Board with regular reports to be brought to the
Board.
4. Document the history of eight
local congregations each biennium to be shared within each of
the congregations, Selah, the Biennial Session and the General
Assembly. The Board of Trustees of the National Convocation
shall identify through partnership with Regions and Black Church
Structures those congregations whose journey of faith has been
recorded and demonstrates faithfulness that would inspire other
congregations. Once these congregations are identified, the Disciples
Historical Society will be requested to assist in the development
of the histories.
Note: Congregations that may be agents
of this shared history are: Light of the World Indpls., IN; Gay-Lea-Nashville,
TN; Warren Avenue-Dallas, TX; Romaine Avenue-Dallas, TX;
Louden Avenue-Roanoke, VA; Piedmont, CO; Mount Olive East-Martinsville,
VA; Park Avenue-Chicago, IL; Michigan Park-Washington, DC; Mississippi
Boulevard-Memphis, TN; Third-Louisville, KY; Mt. Olive-Baltimore,
MD. Once the histories are developed they will receive the widest
publication possible. The Program Audit Standing Committee will
regularly monitor this process.
5. Identify at least four of
the Black church structures that will focus on the unique health
needs of African Americans regarding AIDS prevention, diet, exercise
and medical testing each biennium. Survey the black Church
Structures to determine the most effective enhancement of African
American health ministries and identify health advocates/providers
in those structures that will serve as partners with the NCCC
in health ministries. Identify health professionals involved in
the leadership of the National Convocation who, in consultation
with the National Benevolent Association, can develop and implement
health ministries in at least four Black Church Structures per
biennium. The Program Audit Standing Committee will monitor progress
on this ministry.
6. Focus on stewardship education
and increased support of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
ministries the NCCC shall:
6.1: identify 350 individuals
as well as congregations and institutions that will contribute
to the Black Endowment Fund within each biennium. Support
the ministries of the Black Disciples Endowment Fund (BDEF)
Committee. This can be done by participating in the BDEF ministry
ourselves, identifying friends and acquaintances that we can
suggest a visit from the Christian Church Foundation staff person
and enabling, program space and time at events that NCCC coordinates
for the BDEF to be presented. Celebrate the participation of
congregations and individuals in the BDEF and communicate the
benefit of the fund through reports from agencies that have
received grants from the BDEF.
6.2: identify 100 congregations
increasing giving by 10% per biennium;
6 3: identify 100 congregations
increasing BMF giving by 10% per biennium;
6 4: identify 50 congregations
not giving to BMF who will start each biennium;
6.5: identify 100 congregations
increasing Reconciliation giving by 10% per biennium;
6.6: identify 50 congregations
not giving to Reconciliation who will start each biennium;
6.7 identify 100 congregations
increasing Week of Compassion giving by 10% per biennium;
6.8: identify 50 congregations
not giving to Week of Compassion who will start each biennium.
The National Convocation Board of
Trustees shall make request of the Director of the Reconciliation
Mission to contact the presidents of Black Church Structures (BCS)
and targeted Black congregations not in BCS's in order to gather
needed commitments from congregations for the increase in outreach
stewardship objectives. The request shall also be for the compiling
of a listing of Black Church Structure congregations and Black
congregations for developing a profile for mission giving to include:
congregational, BMF, Reconciliation and Week of Compassion financial
giving. Have the profiles distributed at a gathering of Black
Church Structure presidents and congregational pastors during
either the '99 General Assembly or the 2000 Biennial Session.
These are to be shared in an informational educational context
that would seriously focus on stewardship within the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ). The educational piece (Goal#1A-4)
that defines Basic Mission Finance, Reconciliation and Week of
Compassion would be used in this context. The Vision Planning
Standing Committee will monitor progress on these ministries.
7. Identify and prepare potential
candidates for membership on boards at all manifestations of the
church. Leaders developed through the implementation of the
Leader Development Data Base described in the "Recruiting
lay and clergy leaders from 100 congregations and additional leaders
from Black Church Structures" objective will be reviewed
by the Nominating Committee of the National Convocation, assessed
for leadership gifts and interests and forwarded to the appropriate
General Unit or region based on that gift assessment. The Vision
Planning Committee of the Board of Trustees will review the work
of the Nominating Committee and make appropriate interventions
regarding the forwarding of the names of gifted leaders of African
American congregations and Black Work Structures to General Unit
and Regional Nominating Committees.
8. Identify at least ten congregations
whose leaders and members participate in general, regional and
area life of the church per biennium. The National Convocation
shall prepare a questionnaire soliciting congregations to indicate
their participation in the general, regional and area life of
the church. Have the questionnaire distributed at the '98 Biennial
Session, the '99 General Assembly, or the '99 Black Ministers'
Retreat. Promote the participation of our congregations
in the life of the general, regional and area church based on
the information gleaned from the questionnaire. The Vision Planning
Standing Committee will monitor this ministry.
9. Identify ten congregations
that have developed effective community ministries in such areas
as economic development, social and health services, housing and
social justice and share these models. Request of Homeland
Ministries the identification of ten congregations that are effectively
ministering in area of social and economical justice and have
the design of those ministries articulated in such a way that
they can be shared with other congregations as models by the 2000
Biennial Session. The Vision Planning Standing Committee will
monitor this ministry.
10. Encourage ten congregations
to develop functional strategic linkages with global ministry
partners enabling mutual sharing of ministry each biennium.
Request of the Division of Overseas Ministries the identification
of congregations that are effectively ministering as global partners,
articulate the design of those ministries and develop means by
which those ministries can be shared and become a model for other
congregations. The Vision Planning Standing Committee will monitor
this ministry.
11. Identify ten congregations
that are doing effective family ministry and share their models
of ministry with other congregations. Request of Homeland
Ministries the identification of ten African American congregations
that are effectively ministering to families. Articulate the models
that those congregations are using and communicate those models
in such a way that it may be helpful to other African American
congregations. This ministry will be monitored by the Vision Planning
Standing Committee.
12. Identify at least 30 congregations
who will increase their youth participation in camp and conference
or an effective youth development ministry each biennium.
Request that Homeland Ministries identify at least thirty African
American congregations that are investing their youth in camp
and conference or an alternative effective youth ministry. Once
the congregations are identified, determine the nature of the
youth ministry in the congregations that enable this investment
and share that model with other African America congregations
as a means of enabling them to invest their youth in similar ministries.
This ministry will be monitored by the Vision Planning Standing
Committee.
13. Identify ten congregations each
biennium that are engaged in an assertive and effective evangelism
effort for its members and share their models of ministry with
other congregations. Request of Homeland Ministries the identification
of ten African American congregations that actively engage in
intentional evangelism. Articulate the models that those congregations
are using and communicate those models in such a way that it may
be helpful to other African American congregations. This ministry
will be monitored by the Vision Planning Standing Committee.
