wfn.org | BMCR Celebrates 30th Anniversary

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3514 notes).

Note 3509 by UMNS on March 25, 1997 at 15:51 Eastern (5806 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                          155(10-31-71B){3509}
          Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470           March 25, 1997

Black caucus celebrates 30 years,
prepares for 21st Century

                                 
     CHICAGO (UMNS) -- Black United Methodists from across the
United States met here, March 19-22, to observe 30 years of
accomplishments in the denomination and to experience spiritual
renewal while learning new leadership skills for the 21st Century.
     During the 30th annual meeting of Black Methodists for Church
Renewal (BMCR), more than 370 adults celebrated the ministry of
their national caucus and affirmed the four-year initiative
"Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century." The
initiative is a $1.3 million plan for matching vibrant, growing
black congregations as mentors to struggling churches.
     BMCR was organized in 1968 as a forum for black Methodists to
define issues and develop strategies for change within the United
Methodist Church. It was designed to empower black Methodists for
effective witness and service; to involve them in the struggle for
economic justice; and to expose racism at all levels of the
church, its agencies and related institutions.
     Under the theme, "Leadership Development: Clergy and Laity
Partners in Ministry" participants attended workshops that
explored new models of leadership designed to help them enhance
local church ministry as the 21st Century approaches.
     BMCR also welcomed a 15-member delegation of black Methodists
from London, England, who came to observe BMCR in action. They
came to learn how to empower their congregations in the
Westminster district of London to grow.
     Also during the meeting, more than 460 youth attended
"Harambee '97," the youth version of BMCR, to learn about their
heritage and to discover the black presence in the Bible as
examples of leadership. They also participated in mission projects
throughout Chicago. 
     During a surprise visit the Rev. Jesse Jackson talked about
current welfare reform, public housing in Chicago and the anti-
affirmative action stance moving across the country. He said, "We
are going to have to fight to change the course again. Civil
rights is not a thing of the past, it's right now."
     United Methodist Bishop Jonathan Keaton, East Ohio Area,
during his Holy Communion message, said the black church has roots
in a series of divine initiatives. The quadrennial focus on
Strengthening the Black Church belongs to the whole denomination
but is dependent on God, he said.  "Unlike welfare, which tends to
maim and kill independence, dependence on God empowers," Keaton 
said. 
     He said the Coordinating Committee, which oversees the
initiative, will be like the farmer who plants the seed, steps
back and depends on God. "You won't grow a church if the
conditions are not right," Keaton said. "God has to be there and
take over. The committee can work to provide conditions but it
must step back and say 'God it is up to you.'"
     A major component of the initiative calls for the formation
of 25 congregational resource centers across the nation by the
year 2000. Each center annually will train 10-15 teams from local
churches with the ultimate goal of transforming 100 black churches
in the denomination.
     Keaton emphasized that churches seeking to become resource
centers will be required to invest time and resources. "This means
being pushed beyond what you want to do," he said.
     According to Anna M. Dirl, executive director of BMCR, the
caucus's focus on leadership development "challenges us to
redefine our relationships to address the needs of our
congregations and the community it seeks to serve." She said both
clergy and laity must share with one another to build a
relationship that is based on a common vision -- building God's
kingdom.
     She said black United Methodists first must "re-learn" how to
disciple people. The Great Commission has been reduced to trying
to make converts instead of disciples, she said. Participants were
invited to learn the issues and concerns, address them with "word-
based" action so that people may recognize that they need Christ
and come willingly to him.
     Secondly, Dirl urged the audience to use what they learn from
the Bible to address today's social problems. She said the Bible
is full of answers to get drug dealers and gangs off the streets,
to economic empowerment, to community development, to strong
families. 
     Finally, she said each individual must use appropriate
examples from the gospel to explain day to day occurrences in the
world.
     Another speaker, the Rev. Frank Thomas, pastor of New Faith
Baptist Church, Matteson, Ill., urged BMCR to have a "teachable
spirit." He said if an individual has a teachable spirit, that
person can grow and pursue new truths. He said this spirit arises
when a person is able to bow to a spiritual authority; tolerate
pain; and develop humility. 
     Thomas said if BMCR has a teachable spirit, "God will do
something great in the 21st Century that BMCR has never seen."
     In other actions BMCR participants:
     * paid tribute to retired Bishops James S. Thomas and Edsel
Ammons for their dedication, commitment, life and witness to the
mission of Black Methodists for Church Renewal;
     * issued a statement declaring the alleged "act of violence"
upon a black United Methodist pastor by a Wilmington, Del. police
"as most reprehensible." (see UMNS #154)
     The next annual meeting will be held March 4-7, 1998, in
Oakland, Calif.
      
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