wfn.org | Sets Black Church Priority

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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 (2894 notes).

Note 2891 by SUSAN PEEK on April 22, 1996 at 22:48 Eastern (1924 characters).

SEARCH: Black church, strengthening, priority

029 {2893}                                          April 22, 1996

General Conference '96

'Strengthening Black Congregations'
Becomes United Methodist Priority

     DENVER (UMNS) -- A plan for matching vibrant, growing black
congregations as mentors with struggling churches was overwhelming
approved by the 1996 General Conference.

     The proposed $1.7 million funding package for the four-year
plan now will be referred to the General Council on Finance and
Administration, which will make a recommendation later this week.

     "Strengthening the Black United Methodist Church for the 21st
Century," is a proposal that has been four years in the making. 
Led by chairman Woodie W. White, bishop of the Indiana Area, a
task force conducted hearings in communities and congregations
across the United States.

     Among the findings were:

     * although the black population in the United States grew by
11 percent between 1980 and 1990, the United Methodist Church has
seen a decline in black membership and the number of black
churches;

     * local churches that are growing numerically and in terms of
spiritual and social outreach are those with strong, heavily
involved lay leadership;

     * vibrant local churches offer ideas and resources that can
be useful in strengthening other congregations that are
struggling.

     The approved plan calls for formation of 25 congregational
resource centers across the nation. Each center will train 10 to
15 teams from local churches each year.  White estimated that 400
to 600 congregations may be trained during the next four years. He
emphasized that training and resources would be available to both
black churches and churches in transitional neighborhoods.
                              #  #  #

                                              --M. Garlinda Burton

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