THANK YOU FOR GETTING TO KNOW US.
We marvel at what the Lord has done and continues to do in the African American community within the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). For nearly 150 years, our forefathers and mothers have found great joy in receiving and sharing in the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is with further great joy that we accept the Lord's call to contribute in the ways we can, anchored in the truth of God's Word and prepared for the mission ahead, to build up the body of Christ through equipping the next generation of African American Christians within the LCMS.
Please join us as the Lord leads you. We hope to be a blessing in every way to our beloved faith community, and to increase our contributions in love for the sake of extending God's kingdom of grace in a world filled with need.
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL ACT. PSALM 37:5
ADVANCING THE
NEXT GENERATION CAMPAIGN!
THE NEED & THE MISSION
On Thursday, March 16, 2023, the Black Clergy Caucus (BCC) Executive Committee passed the following resolutions:
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WHEREAS the Black Clergy Caucus (BCC) Executive Committee has requested leadership for the development and implementation of a fundraising effort for BCC sustainability; and
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WHEREAS the BCC has expressed in its Five-Point Vision the need for OWNERSHIP in ministry, and the ability to self-fund and direct financial resources to ministry, for the ADVANCING OF THE NEXT GENERATION; and
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WHEREAS the BCC members have acknowledged grief over the closure of the flagship historic Concordia College in Selma, Alabama; and
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WHEREAS the BCC has expressed urgency in establishing and building a HISTORIC MUSEUM for the Black Ministry of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Rosebud, Alabama; and
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WHEREAS the BCC has experienced the financial hardships of hosting annual conferences, regional conferences and convocations; and
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WHEREAS the BCC has expressed discouragement over the inability to direct church worker scholarships and grants at our Concordia University System and Concordia Seminary and Concordia Theological Seminary; and
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WHEREAS the BCC has expressed discouragement over the LCMS restructuring for the Black Ministry of the LCMS thereby eliminating the Black Ministry budget and financial discretionary oversight; and
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WHEREAS the BCC members have imagined the possibility of forming a district-like model to unify the congregations, clergy, and the other professional church workers in Black Ministry (African American, African, and Caribbean), and member resources; and
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WHEREAS the BCC members have contemplated the need for increased funding for black scholarly contributions in teaching, devotional and historical documentation, and publications; now, therefore, be it
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RESOLVED, that a campaign name such as "ADVANCING THE NEXT GENERATION!" requires a historic and decisive response to counter such great hardship and depravation of resources; and
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RESOLVED, that the BCC appoint Rev. Dr. Martin E. Lee to lead the effort to raise a goal amount of $85 Million in ten years to fund the "ADVANCING THE NEXT GENERATION!" campaign; and
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RESOLVED, that the efforts to gather these funds to God's glory would occur through three distinct strategic initiatives: THE FOUNDATION, Church Organizers Foundation's (COF) CHARITY OF CHOICE GRANTING PROGRAM, and the MINISTRY INITIATIVES AND ADVANCEMENT FUND; and
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RESOLVED, that the BCC appoint Rev. Dr. Martin E. Lee to fill the role of DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL ADVANCEMENT AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES to raise $85 Million in Ten Years for the BCC in a graduated manner across five incremental phases described herein; and
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RESOLVED, that the BCC appoint Rev. Dr. Martin E. Lee as ex-officio advisor to the BCC Executive Committee for reporting and monitoring progress toward campaign goals; and
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RESOLVED, that the BCC Executive Committee form a Next Generation Advisory Board to oversee and monitor the implementation and administration of the proposed three Strategic Initiatives to help facilitate the "AVANCING THE NEXT GENERATION!" campaign.
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL ACT. PSALM 37:5
ADVANCING THE
NEXT GENERATION!
THE VISION
Historical Museum Fund
Goal Amount: $500K
Annual Income Goal: $25K
Description coming.
Annual Convocation & Conferences Fund
Description coming.
Goal Amount: $500K
Annual Income Goal: $25K
Scholarly
Publications and Teaching Fund
Goal Amount: $1M
Description coming.
Annual Income Goal: $50K
Church Workers Scholarships and Grants Fund
Goal Amount: $2M
Description coming.
Annual Income Goal: $100K
Black Ministry Administration
Fund
Goal Amount: $6M
Description coming.
Annual Income Goal: $300K
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL ACT. PSALM 37:5
Hear from Our BCC Executive Committee Members & Campaign Director
Growing up I loved singing the song, "Jesus Loves the Little Children of the World." In my childhood church, our pastor had the kids sing it with gusto: "Red, yellow, black and white, They are precious in His sight." It is the aim of the Black Clergy Caucus to celebrate life together in Christ as one body with many precious parts.
ADVANCING THE NEXT GENERATION CAMPAIGN!
THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
1
$5M Current Gifts
Current gifts are those given and received now by the Advancing the Next Generation Campaign. Examples of current gifts include cash or checks, stocks or bonds, real estate, and personal property. An outright charitable lead trust would qualify as a current gift.
2
$5M Deferred Gifts
Deferred gifts are given now but received later, often at the end of the donor’s (and the donor’s spouse’s) lifetime. The most common deferred gift is a bequest. The donor makes a provision in his or her Will to benefit the Advancing the Next Generation Campaign, but the gift is not received until the donor’s death. Similarly, a donor may leave a life insurance policy to the Campaign, either as a beneficiary, or as both the owner and the beneficiary of the policy for tax-savings results for the donors.
3
$75M Charity of Choice Granting Program
Church Organizers Foundation’s Charity of Choice Granting Program enables customers to participate in directing COF grants to their favorite “Charity of Choice,” in this case to the Black Clergy Caucus Advancing the Next Generation Campaign. Participation is at no cost to COF customers.
TO PARTICIPATE in the Granting Program, please open an investment account at Church Organizers Foundation. Assets are held in custody at Charles Schwab.
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL ACT. PSALM 37:5
More Ways to Get Involved in this Ministry!
FIRST, take the SURVEY. Coming.
SECOND, become a PARTICIPANT. There are five levels of participation, please prayerfully consider what level of participation God is moving in you. Double click on the text boxes below for descriptions of the duties and responsibilities at each level. (Draft)
THIRD, write a BIBLE STUDY LESSON. Contribute a Bible study to Advancing the Next Generation campaign's annual Stewardship Bible Study workbook. The goal is to make the workbook available for use by all LCMS congregations each year during the month of February. (Draft)
FOURTH, write a DEVOTIONAL. The Campaign needs up to 30 contributors each year to write a devotional on any topic relevant to black ministry in the LCMS to be included in a Daily Bread-like devotional called, Advancing the Next Generation! (Draft)
FIFTH, design a CAMPAIGN LOGO. Everyone is invited to contribute to the best T-Shirt design competition. Each year of the 10-year campaign a winner's artwork will be selected at the annual conference. The winner's artwork will be used widely in the following year's digital and print media. (Draft)
FINALLY, TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF! God has given us each a beautiful story in His plan of salvation. Tell us about yours. Where has God taken you? What do you believe are His plans for your future role in His Kingdom here on earth, the Church? We would love to share your story in the Advancing the Next Generation Newsletter. (Draft)
Regional Vice President
Duties & Responsibilities
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District Vice President
Duties & Responsibilities
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Circuit Advocate
Duties & Responsibilities
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Congregation Organizer
Duties & Responsibilities
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Ambassador
Duties & Responsibilities
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Volunteer & Donor Leadership Levels
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL ACT. PSALM 37:5
ABOUT YOU
Tell us about yourself. What YOUR
hopes, goals, dreams and wishes for the future ministry of your church in the LCMS? Let us get to know you more.
COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; TRUST IN HIM, AND HE WILL ACT. PSALM 37:5
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