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

    Rev. Dr. Delores Carpenter, President
    Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas, Vice President
    Dr. Charisse Gillett, Secretary
    Mr. John Tiggle, Treasurer
    Denise Bell (’06)
    Patricia Maples (’06)
    Edgar Wallace (’06)
    Felicia Wright (’06)
    Dale Braxton (’08)
    Jean Brown (’08)
    Beverly Dickason (’08)
    John Walker (’08)

    Disciples Men
    Frederick Govan (’06)
    Dwayne Bell (’06)

    Disciples Women
    Barbara Williams (’06)
    Daisy Chambers

    Ministers Fellowship
    Jessee Jackson (’06)
    Alexander Fletcher (’06)

    Ministers Wives/Husbands
    Giley Griffin (’06)
    Virgie P. Lawton (’06)

    President Elect
    Harold Collins

    Ex-Officio Members
    Sharon Watkins
    Arnold Nelson
    Jane Lawrence
    Timothy M. James

An Administrative Secretary
    Rev. Dr. Timothy James
An HM/Merger staff
    Lonnie Graves
    R. Wayne Calhoun
    Billye Bridges
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. | Return to Convocation Start Page |  | History of the Convocation |