Special to the NNPA
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.
For more
information on the organization, visit website www.thecnbc.org.
Copyright 2010 NNPA
Photo
Caption: Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson (left), chairmen of the Conference of
National Black Churches (www.thecnbc.org) , introduces Joshua DuBois (right),
director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood
Partnerships, who delivered luncheon remarks on "The Possibility of
Partnerships," during the organization's first national consultation held
in Washington, D.C. this month. The newly formed organization represents the nine largest historically Black denominations with 30
million people and more than 50,000 congregations worldwide. Its mission is to improve the quality
of life for African Americans and the underserved through strategic
partnerships targeting education, health, social justice and economic
empowerment issues. (CNBC/Jason Miccolo Johnson)
