The LCMS Southeastern District Coalition of Lutherans in Black Ministry is sponsoring a national Black Ministry Family Convocation July 11-15 at North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.
The convocation is the first to be held since the Synod’s Board for Black Ministry Services was eliminated as a result of restructuring resolutions adopted at the 2010 LCMS convention. That board formerly planned and sponsored the biennial convocations.
With the theme “Sing to the Lord a New Song!,” from Psalm 96:1, the upcoming convocation has two goals for participants:
- to experience worship and spirituality through a service with Holy Communion, Bible study and hymn singing, and
- to explore effective ways to continue to stay “connected” as congregations in black ministry, and determine how to be a driving force in the Synod’s mission and ministry.
The convocation “is an avenue for preparing to extend and strengthen the outreach of our church to African-Americans in our new LCMS structure,” said the Rev. James McDaniels, pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church in High Point, N.C., and a convocation planner.
McDaniels said the convocation site and theme are “very special” to those involved in LCMS black ministry. The A&T campus is the former home of Immanuel Lutheran College and Seminary, which closed in 1962, and the theme “reflects our new vision of black ministry — our ‘new song’ is our new way of doing things.”
The convocation will be “paying tribute to the contributions of Immanuel’s faculty and alumni as we press on to ‘sing to the Lord a new song,'” McDaniels added.
Costs for the gathering are being kept to a minimum — and include some refreshments and meals — to make the event more affordable to those who want to attend, according to McDaniels.
The registration fee of $140 for adults and $100 for teens includes two receptions, a picnic and a dinner theater. Although the registration deadline is June 11, McDaniels encourages those who are interested to register early. The event has a maximum capacity of 400 people, and there will be no at-the-door registration.
Housing options include two hotels and lower-cost dormitory suites at the university. Airport shuttle transportation also is available.
For more information or to download a registration form, click here.
Posted March 19, 2012/Updated March 23, 2012
