Release #029 {2893} April 22, 1996
DENVER (UMNS) -- A plan for matching vibrant, growing black congregations as mentors with struggling churches was overwhelming approved by the 1996 General Conference.
The proposed $1.7 million funding package for the four-year plan now will be referred to the General Council on Finance and Administration, which will make a recommendation later this week.
"Strengthening the Black United Methodist Church for the 21st Century," is a proposal that has been four years in the making. Led by chairman Woodie W. White, bishop of the Indiana Area, a task force conducted hearings in communities and congregations across the United States.
Among the findings were:
* although the black population in the United States grew by 11 percent between 1980 and 1990, the United Methodist Church has seen a decline in black membership and the number of black churches;
* local churches that are growing numerically and in terms of spiritual and social outreach are those with strong, heavily involved lay leadership;
* vibrant local churches offer ideas and resources that can be useful in strengthening other congregations that are struggling.
The approved plan calls for formation of 25 congregational resource centers across the nation. Each center will train 10 to 15 teams from local churches each year. White estimated that 400 to 600 congregations may be trained during the next four years. He emphasized that training and resources would be available to both black churches and churches in transitional neighborhoods.
--M. Garlinda Burton
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