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The
National Convocation is an instrumentality within the structure of
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to support and strengthen
African American congregations' partnership in the total mission of
the church. The
primary focus of the ministries of the National Convocation is
vital congregational life. That focus grows out of the recognition
that the African American church is the only organization in American
life that grows out of the African American experience and is totally
accountable to that experience. Mission imperatives
undergird the ministries of the National Convocation:
The
purpose of the National Convocation shall be to provide an instrumentality
within the structure of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):
- as a
forum for the discussion of pertinent issues related to Black
Church life in the context of total church life
- for fellowship
- for program
promotion
- for leadership
training
- and other
general purposes
The opening statement to the "Principles of Merger" clearly
state the National Convocation's commitment to participate in the
ministries of the whole church:
"Under
the ONE God, the ONE Church has ONE mission in the world. The
merger of the National Christian Missionary Convention and the
International Convention of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ)
must be under the disciplines of the ONE God, in ONE Church, and
stand united in ONE mission in the world."
The National
Convocation has: A
Board of Trustees
Executive Committee
Viann Bristow, President, Paducah, KY
Apostle John Harvey, Vice President, Hazel Park, MI
LaVerne Bobo, Executive Secretary, Memphis, TN
Patricia Palmer, Treasurer, Little Rock, AR
Board of Trustees
Nora Shumake, Detroit, MI
Eugene Reynolds, Spencer, VA
Karen Barrett, Berkeley, CA
Eugene Randall, Indianapolis, IN
Jeanetta Cotman, Detroit, MI
Matthew Harris, Lynwood, CA
Raymond L. Brown, Louisville, KY
Patricia Penelton, Ballwin, MO
Armon Allen, Chicago, IL
Howard Coleman, Dallas, TX
Patricia Bluitt, Dallas, TX
Pamela Dubose, Moss Point, MS
Eric Brown, Columbus, OH
Vivian Bass Bryant, Little Rock, AR
Sherley Walker, Dallas, TX
Lillie Wiggins, Nashville, TN
Harold Collins, Past President, Memphis, TN
Ex-Officio Members
Sharon E. Watkins
Ron Degges
Timothy M. James
An
Administrative Secretary
An
HM/Merger staff
Billye P. Bridges
Sheila Spencer
R. Wayne Calhoun
A
Biennial Assembly
The Board of Trustees
consists of twenty-eight members. Four of its members represent the
program/administration of the denomination, twenty-four members are
elected by the Biennial Session of the National Convocation geographically
representing African American Members of the Christian Church (Disciples
of Christ). The Administrative Secretary of the National
Convocation:
- is a member
of the executive staff of the Office of General Minister and
 President
and performs duties which are assigned or normally pertain to
such an office
- serves on
all committees, boards and commissions of the National Convocation,
and bears national administrative responsibility for developing
consultations with regions and other structural configurations
so that those structures, programs and services are effective
for African American congregations
- is responsible
for developing consultative procedures designed to provide adequate
and effective structures, programs and services for African American
congregations in the various general administrative units and
regions of the church
- serves as
a member of the Board of Trustees of the National Christian Missionary
Convention Corporation as corporate secretary, and maintains
custody of the corporate seal.
Division
of Homeland Ministries/Merger Staff
The 1960 "Merger of Staff and Services" mandated the employment
of three African American staff members in Homeland Ministries. The
intent was not that they would provide all of the staff resources
to African American congregations, but that they would be advocates
within Homeland Ministries so that all its gifts were available to
African American congregations. The Administrative Secretary through
the "consultative procedures" advocates "adequate and
effective structures, programs and services." The
Biennial Session The Biennial Session
is held on even-numbered years and regularly begins the fist Friday
in August. The Biennial Session is a gathering of members of the Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada to address
the issues of the full partnership of the African American congregations
in the life of the whole church. Program offerings of the Biennial
Session focus on the mission imperatives of the National Convocation:
forum, fellowship, worship, program promotion and leadership training.
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