Black Churches Conference Decides On Strategy
ATLANTA ---During the first national meeting of the newly formed Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC), bishops, pastors, and lay leaders began rolling out the strategic plans for improving the lives of African Americans and underserved communities. The organization, which represents nine of the largest historically Black denominations with 30 million people and more than 50,000 congregations worldwide, focused on working in a unified voice on four key issues and developing strong strategic partnerships. Participants traveled from across the country and as far as South Africa to attend the three-day meeting recently held in Washington, D.C.
“This initial CNBC national consultation was a success because it was more than inspiration and information, it focused on implementation of tactical programs,” said Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, CNBC chairman and senior pastor of the historic Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York. “We have a comprehensive strategic plan with specific programs and benchmarks to address our core issues---education, health, social justice, and economic empowerment.” Along with the Ford Foundation and JP Morgan Chase Foundation, CNBC identified other companies, organizations, and programs with common values and interests, multiple resources, and proven track records to collaborate with around the core issues. For example, the education strategy includes partnering with the Children’s Defense Fund and United Negro College Fund (UNCF). CNBC will work with Marian Wright Edelman, founder of The Children’s Defense Fund, to launch Freedom Schools for grades K-12 in local churches. CNBC will partner with UNCF by supporting the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and providing them access to a pipeline of top high school students seeking a college education. The health strategy includes working with The Balm of Gilead founder Pernessa C. Seele on education and advocacy around a variety of health topics and developing a “Healthy Sunday” series. One Sunday a month, 10-minutes of time from the pulpit will be devoted to education and awareness on a specific health-related issue. CBNC will partner with three organizations known for their social justice efforts - the NAACP, the National Urban League and the National Action Network - to leverage support on issues of “prophetic responsibility” and mutual concern as part of the social justice strategy. The economic empowerment partner will be The Vestal Group, owned by multicultural advertising executive Don Coleman. The partnership goals include leveraging the collective consumer dollars of African Americans and increasing financial literacy and discount purchasing power through cooperative economics. “All participating in this effort demonstrated their gift of servant leadership and commitment to the collective call to action,” said Jacqueline Burton, president of the Conference of National Black Churches. “The strength of this CNBC movement will be in the many denominations working as one.” Other highlights of the gathering included a standing-room-only National Ecumenical Service at Israel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. with a sermon by Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr. of the Church of God in Christ and luncheon remarks given by Joshua DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships on “The Possibility of Partnerships.” The consultation concluded with the Black Leadership Dinner where former Ambassador Andrew Young; Balm in Gilead founder Pernessa C. Seele; and Earl G. Graves, Sr., founder of Black Enterprise magazine, were recognized for their leadership, legacy, and activism in the areas of health, business and universal equality and fairness.
