Black Ministry is...

A programmatic board of the LCMS that develops policies to assist congregations in reaching out more effectively with the Gospel of Jesus Christ among African Americans.

Ministry Statistics

Why Black Ministry In The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Black Ministry congregations are comprised of congregations with significant African American memberships, congregations located in African American communities, or congregations with day schools who serve the African American community. (Example: there are congregations with predominately Caucasian membership and predominately African American day schools.)

Black Ministry in particular has 300 congregations, 104 African American pastors active and retired, 100 white pastors serving in predominately African American congregations, 25 involved districts, an estimated 70,000 African American Lutherans (not including 2nd generation African Immigrants), and a 133-year history with the LCMS.  In 2007, LCMS will be 160 years old.  Dr. Jeff Johnson's book, Black Christians, the Untold Lutheran Story, depicts the history of the 300-year development of Black Lutherans.

Black Ministry is within The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, not outside.  Congregations in Black Ministry are scattered over the nation and in 25 of the 35 Districts of the Synod.  Members serve in many ways: as Circuit Counselors, Vice Presidents, members of boards of directors, on boards, committees, task forces, and on faculties at our colleges and universities.  The Board For Black Ministry Services in no way supplants this service.  On the contrary, it enhances, strengthens, and empowers every dimension of it.

Why Black Ministry? Because Black Lutheran Ministry has been in existence for 300 years; therefore Black Ministry is twice as old as the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) itself.

Why Black Ministry? Because Black Ministry is the connecting link that holds it all together, the conduit through which God is rekindling the missionary spirit in African Americans in America so that we can reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ - relate our faith to our culture - make a significant contribution to the advancement of Lutheranism during the 21st Century - provide leadership to our church body at every level - and be a mature, self-reliant people in the Lutheran Church.  This we will do while boldly confessing Christ, administering the sacraments, encouraging one another in lifting up prayers, preaching, singing songs of Zion, and making disciples.

Why Black Ministry? Because Black Ministry is needed to plan, coordinate, and expand the work of African Americans with The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  This begins with an affirmation of our heritage and our security in being African American and Lutheran, full partners in carrying out the Ablaze(ment) within this church body.

Why Black Ministry? Because now is the time for African Americans to come forth, to speak, to make decisions, and to be daring concerning God's Word.  "Come, Ye That Love The Lord" is a command to step forward for service to God and His people.  It is an invitation to draw near to God, that God may draw near to us.  The times in which we live, cry out for God's people to come forth as instruments of God for the temporal and eternal well-being of people.  Led by the Holy Spirit, we must step forward boldly and confidently.