JULY 2021 COMMUNICATION BRIEFINGS

FEATURED ARTICLE • Becoming a New Church CELEBRATION • Juneteenth Highlights UPCOMING EVENTS • Let Us Pray (Second Tuesday, 7/13) • Hope & Healing (7/14) • Being Brave Together (7/25) • In The Eye Of The Storm (7/21-8/3) • Disciples Virtual Gathering (8/7) • SENT Seminar (9/16-18) NEWS & RESOURCES • HER Faith Ministries Inc. featured in Tennessee Tribune • Certificate in African American Ministry (CAAM) - Apply now • DCHS seeks information on African Americans in Stone-Campbell movement CONNECTIONS • 2022 It's Real (Save-the-Date) • Stay Connected • Visit Our Website

WELCOME The vision of the National Convocation is to be a leaven in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) under One God as One Church with One Mission in the world, as a voice promoting pertinent issues related to the African American Church, carrying out the biblical mandate to transform lives. SELAH will feature the vital ministries of worship, education, justice, advocacy, fellowship, and discipleship that abound throughout our congregations as well as ministry resources; and Convocation events that are crucial for discerning future ministry and leadership of the National Convocation. There is strength in community. Please send congregational updates, ministry concerns, and prayer needs here.  

FEATURED ARTICLE

Becoming A New Church: Starting a New Conversation How do you start a new conversation? What inspires you to participate in active dialogue and to make space to offer perspective and listen? A new relational possibility, a crisis, a moment of desperation, risk and heartbreak, faith, necessity, aspiration, love, via an invitation? How do you start a new conversation with God in community about covenant? Together, we embody multiple answers to these questions. I invite you to consider sharing in several conversations with the assurance that your voice and experience is treasured and integral to discerning what it means to flourish as God’s beloved in 2021. We are invited to reflect on a new resource, A Covenant Conversation for Disciples, within the context of our ministry settings and congregations, and the ministry of the National Convocation. It includes an introduction by Rev. Teresa Hord Owens, and five guided sessions, including sessions led by Rev. Dr. Nadine Burton, and Rev. Dr. Bill Lee. Each session will take participants into a deeper reflection of what it truly means to live in covenantal relationship with each other, with the church, and with God. The Governance Committee of the General Board, a group tasked with making recommendations for changes to the Design when needed, spent the past two years considering what revisions to the Design might help the church better live out our calling. The concept of covenant kept resurfacing as the foundational premise of life together as a church. This resource is an invitation to the church to join the conversation. We are also invited to reflect on "The Merger." During the summer of 1968, after 26 years of careful planning, focused discernment, and 138 years of covenantal relationship, “A Proposed Recommendation on Principles for Merger of the National Christian Missionary Convention and the International Convention of Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ),” Resolution No. 44, as submitted by the Joint Committee on Merger and New Brotherhood Relationships, was accepted. The merger is a foundational document of the church that reflects an audacious counter-cultural call to become a new church, and a covenantal identity beyond fear that calls for faithful innovation and shared flourishing as God’s beloved though it is not included in the Design. It recommends administrative, programmatic, and structural changes, and ensures the legal integrity of the National Christian Missionary Convention and its legacy, including the National Convocation. It is a reflection of theological commitments, faithful covenantal vision, meaningful tension, leadership education needs, and an evolving ministry landscape. As we converse with “The Design,” and “The Merger,” and consider the post-pandemic landscape, what practices ground our communities, our bodies, and our covenant today? How do we make meaning of our covenantal relationships with each other and with our church today? Our covenantal life as church is rooted in historic proclamations, religious practices, communal hopes, and innovation in light of our present aspirations. We reflect on these documents not simply to rehearse historical events but to comprehend, draw strength, and map vision in the present moment. Please reply to this e-mail if you’re interested in being a part of a National Convocation conversation group that engages this guide. I look forward to our conversation. Thank you in advance.

Rev. Yvonne T. Gilmore Interim Administrative Secretary of the National Convocation, and Associate General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Juneteenth Highlights

The National Convocation invited the whole church to gather online on June 19 to share in an inter-generational celebration of Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when U.S. soldiers enforced the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas, and ended slavery in the United States. It became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. The online event was led by 12 Disciple leaders and viewed by more than 1,000 people.

The celebration began with powerful drumming by Rev. Vincent Dial followed by a prophetic proclamation from Texas by Rev. Dr. Irie Session. Click here to read the Freedom Proclamation. Greetings were offered by Rev. Teresa Hord Owens and Rev. Yvonne Gilmore. Spoken word was shared by Rev. Yani Davis; Aneesah Ettress reflected on the visual art of Edward Mitchell Bannister, a painter and abolitionist; and Dwayne Bell chronicled the legacy of Greenwood Cemetery. A contemporary musical arrangement of “Wade in the Water” by W. Mitchell Owens, III centered the gathering before Rev. Dr. John Foulkes reflected on African American Disciples history. A call to community action was sounded by Rev. Eddie Anderson, Rev. Terri Owens, and Rev. Dr. Irie Session, and the event concluded with a litany led by Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, Niles Crain, and Rev. Monique Crain Spells. In case you missed it, you can click the picture to watch the celebration.

UPCOMING EVENTS

TODAY, JULY 13TH 7ET/6CT/4PT

PRAYER LEADERS BY CONVENTION TEXAS CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY FELLOWSHIP Musical Prelude| Greeting| Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, Interim Administrative Secretary Invocation| Rev. Johnathan Strange, Pastor, New Fellowship C.C.(Palestine, TX) Musical Selection| TCMF District II Choir “TCMF’ Story – Who We Are”|Elder Bobby Williams, Warren Avenue C.C. (Dallas, TX) Scripture| President Elder Robert Loftis, New Mount Olive C.C. (Henderson, TX) Invitation to the Table| Rev. Dr. Raumone Burton, Associate Pastor, Garden Grove C.C. (Houston, TX) Communion Song | TCMF District II Choir Prayers| Bread – Elder Betty J. Brown, University C.C. (Houston, TX)              Cup – Elder Tommy Cole, Jr., Warren Avenue C.C., (Dallas, TX) Words of Institution and Sharing of Elements| Rev. Dr. Raumone Burton Announcements and Benediction| Rev. Yvonne Gilmore   Click the image above or below to join the gathering on zoom

JOIN ONLINE: WWW.ZOOM.US/JOIN or by PHONE: 1-646-876-9923 MEETING ID: 5574704923 | PASSCODE: 096873

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14TH

July 14, 2021, 12:30 PM Eastern: Hope & Healing: Tending to Our Spiritual and Mental Wellbeing After Crisis and Trauma Following a season of health pandemics, social isolation, economic instability caused by shutdowns, and the social unrest due to acts of violence and racism, there is a great need for healing in communities everywhere.   As part of NBA’s Mental Health and Wellness Initiative, join Disciples mental health professionals as they speak to the importance of tending to our mental health and wellness, especially as we return to social gatherings beyond family, and even begin to worship in person again. Attendees will come away with useful resources for mental wellness as well as some hopeful inspiration for the everyday.   Host: Mark D. Anderson, NBA President & CEO Panelists: Rev. Anita Adams, Rev. Dr. Heather Hunnicutt, Rev. Lee Ivey, Rev. Cisa Payuyo

Register Now

CONVERSATIONS OF HEALING

Facing Brokenness: Being Brave Together Disciples Justice Ministries will host Watch Parties all summer long as they premier a series of video conversations about "Facing Brokenness: Being Brave Together!" The Watch Parties will be interactive, will showcase the world premier of each video, and feature a time for Q&A Follow-ups with the panelists. July 11, 7 pm EDT – Facing Brokenness: Church July 25, 7 pm EDT – Facing Brokenness: Communities August 15, 7 pm EDT – Facing Brokenness: World August 29, 7 pm EDT – Facing Brokenness: Creation Sign-up below to receive the Zoom Links for the Watch Parties you would like to attend!

Sign-up for any session

JULY 21 - AUGUST 3, 2021

Join AMANESER 2025 and Global Ministries in a Virtual Pilgrimage to Puerto Rico! This virtual pilgrimage will explore the effects of climate change in this Caribbean island through the lens of Hurricane María, a hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. Participants will learn about how colonialism and racism play important roles in the current socio-political situation of the island, further aggravating disaster response and recovery efforts. Through a series of sessions of pre-recorded materials and live interactions and discussions, participants will immerse themselves in the work, witness, and hope of AMANESER 2025 and other partner organizations in Puerto Rico and discover opportunities for further engagement and support.

Learn More

Register Now

DISCIPLES VIRTUAL GATHERING

HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET? You don't want to miss this opportunity for Disciples to connect, learn, worship, and imagine new ways of gathering as a church. The Disciples Virtual Gathering is a one-day event focus on the covenant we share as Disciples and the promise of Romans 8:38-39 that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God. The program will consist of bible lectures, educational workshops, and worship service, with invited speakers and presenters focusing on our theme.

“ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Register Now

September 16 – 18, 2021: SENT Seminar – Faith-Rooted Social Impact The NBA Social Entrepreneurship team invites Social Entrepreneurs and Disciples who want to learn more about the world of social enterprise to our virtual SENT Seminar. Participants will experience online education on the importance of impactful work in our communities, as well as lessons on how to plant and grow new faith-rooted social enterprises. You do not need to be currently involved with a social service ministry to attend — if you are curious about social entrepreneurship we encourage you to join us. SENT Seminar will be held Thursday, September 16 through Saturday, September 18 in our virtual classroom. A full list of seminar speakers, class topics, and full event agenda will be available in the coming months.   Speakers Thursday Plenary: Rev. Yvonne Gilmore and Rev. Sheila Spencer present “The Life of Preston Taylor: A Disciples Legacy of Social Entrepreneurship” Friday Plenary: Rev. Dr. Yolanda Norton presents “A Biblical Affirmation of Social Entrepreneurship” Saturday Plenary: Rev. Dr. Rudy Rasmus presents “Contemporary Practices of Social Entrepreneurship” Class instructors and other speakers include: Rev. Darnell Fennell, Rev. Ashley Mayham, Mark Sampson, Linda Kay Klein, Dr. Jennifer Madden, Victoria Sun Esparza, Rev. Dr. Jim Herrington, Chris Rotolo, Rev. L. Robin Murray, Rev. David Harrison Jr., Rabbi Elan Babchuck, Haifa Baptiste, D’Angelo D’Ontace Keyes and more! Apply to Attend

NEWS & RESOURCES

The Tennessee Tribune recently featured the ministry of Rev. Dr. Elaine Sanford, an ordained minister in the Tennessee Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on July 8. Below is an excerpt from the article. Woman On A Mission: Rev. Dr. Elaine Sanford Devotes Her Life to Helping Women and Children Pull Themselves Out of Poverty "Rev. Dr. Elaine Sanford is a woman on a mission. And she refuses to allow the Covid-19 pandemic to slow her down. As founder of HER Faith Ministries Inc. in Memphis, she is focused on helping homeless and needy women and their children achieve better lives by becoming stable and self-sustaining. The organization offers programs to empower and protect needy women and children while helping to strengthen their ability to succeed.  Over the past 12 years, the ministry has served countless women and children throughout Memphis and Shelby County, where the poverty rate is almost 30 percent. The past year of the pandemic has made Rev. Elaine's mission even more difficult, but it has not diminished her commitment. She says the most critical way the pandemic has affected her work is the “psychological and emotional impact” of not being able to personally interact with people. Rev. Sanford emphasizes that every positive charitable action or donation by an individual, business, or agency can make a difference in the world. She adds, “If we could all do just a little, then no one has to do a lot.”"   Read More

The Certificate in African American Ministry (CAAM) is a two-year continuing education program that provides theological, biblical, spiritual, and leadership training for women and men as pastoral leaders with attention to the twenty-first century African American congregational context. It supports those enrolled in the program to pursue excellence in core areas of ministerial practice. The program is a partnership of Lexington Theological Seminary, the Office of African American Clergy Leadership Development, and the National Convocation. It is funded in part by the Thriving in Ministry Project at LTS with a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. 

To accommodate busy schedules, students attend synchronous courses online (via Zoom) as well as four-day, in-person intensive courses at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, KY, in the summer.

Courses in the Certificate Program The curriculum of the CAAM program addresses sixteen areas of ministerial practice, including: biblical knowledge, church administration and planning, communication, cross-cultural and anti-racism experience, ecumenism, teaching and leader development, ethics, evangelism, mission of the Church in the world, pastoral care, preaching, spiritual development, stewardship, theology, and worship.  Over the course of two years, students in the CAAM program take the following courses: IS 100 Old Testament IS 110 New Testament IB 100 Christian Social Ethics IB 110 Diversity in a Globalized World IF 100 Disciples Theology IP 100 History of Christianity & History & Polity of the Christian Church (DOC) LC 100 Pastoral Care & Spiritual Growth LF 100 Christian Education & Faith Formation LM 100 Evangelism and Missions LM 110 Administration & Stewardship LW 100 Preaching LW 110 Worship Space is limited to 15 people! The deadline to apply is October 1. Click APPLY NOW!

Learn More

Apply Now

Information Needed for African American Disciples Personalities By Jim McMillan, DCHS Archival Consultant The Disciples of Christ Historical Society is gathering information on people, both lay and clergy, who were involved in the emergence of African Americans in the Stone-Campbell Movement in its early years as well as in the years during the establishment and growth of the National Christian Missionary Convention.    We have existing biographical files for some people but only a small percentage of the many people who led congregations as ministers and elders; who served on committees such as the Interagency Council and the Joint Executive Committee.   We need your help. For these well-known and not so well-known people: Perhaps you attended a funeral and kept the program. Perhaps you delivered a eulogy and have the manuscript thereof. Perhaps you clipped an obituary from the local newspaper. Send us these items! Or, if you prefer, scan them and send a digital copy to us.   To keep track of their information we will:   Add information to their biographical files if we have one created already Create biographical files for people for whom we do not have one already Add their biographical information to the Virtual Cemetery we have created as a way for people to see the progress we are making on documenting their lives. The Virtual Cemetery is here: https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/1370687.   We have noticed that gravesites for some African American Disciples are hard to find, particularly for people with common last names. Will you help us gather (or confirm) their biographical information? Send an email to mail@discipleshistory.org with questions or information. We want to preserve and tell their stories! 

CONNECTIONS

SAVE THE DATE: JULY 20-23, 2022

National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)