Black Ministries

Engagement with the Black Strategic Readiness Team

The Black Strategic Readiness Team (BSRT) was established by the 1968 General Assembly (then named the “Black Council”) as a resource to help develop strong Black leadership and to guide the church regarding issues of race. Throughout the intervening years, they have worked tirelessly for the Black Church of the Nazarene in the United States. The names and faces of the Council have changed, but today, the members are second and third-generation Nazarenes who have a deep love and commitment to the message of scriptural holiness and the Church of the Nazarene.

Organized by the BSRT and supported by the USA/Canada Region, a National Black Nazarene Conference meets bi-annually and celebrates the life and work of the numerous Black Churches of the Nazarene in the United States and Canada. Desiring to enhance the commitment of the denomination to Black Nazarenes and their communities, the Board of General Superintendents has been specifically engaged for the last 18 months in strategic planning and prayer with the BSRT. Additional funding has been provided to Black ministries to help foster real and lasting change for the future of the church.

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Meet our Black Ministries Strategic Readiness Team (SRT)

Black SRT meeting 2023

Rev. Dr. Charles Tillman
Black Ministries Facilitator
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2023 BSRT MEETING SUMMARY

The following BSRT members met for their annual meeting July 13-15, 2023 in Orlando, Florida: Dr. Charles Tillman, Rev. Janice Ballard, Rev. David Solomon, Rev. Oral Walcott, Rev. Melissa Peters, Rev. Jacobi Campbell, Rev. Diane Bonner, Rev. Glenda Fields, Dr. Roberto Hodgson, and Min. Cassandra Trotman. The group also discussed the 2024 National Black Nazarene Conference.

The 2024 NBNC will be held Thursday, July 11 – Sunday July 14, 2024, at the Westin Buckhead Atlanta, Georgia. Save the date cards will be sent in October 2023 and the information will be posted on the Black Ministries site: https://www.usacanadaregion.org/multicultural-ministries/black-ministries. The conference is open to all interested persons. Registration information will be posted after January 1 2024. For questions you may contact Dr. Charles Tillman, Black Ministries’ Facilitator at: drtillman@comcast.net.

The Black Strategic Readiness Team, led by facilitator Dr. Charles Tillman, meets annually to pray, plan and strategize for their perspective ethnic group in the USA/Canada. The team is comprised of Black pastors that have been approved by their District Superintendent and the Multicultural Ministries Director.

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The Black Ministries Strategic Readiness Team shall help districts and local congregations in the following manner:

To provide a voice for African-American and Black members of the Church of the Nazarene.
To strengthen Black churches in the Church of the Nazarene.
To identify potential target areas where new congregations could be started.
To train and nurture leaders of our churches for gospel-inspired service to the Black community.
To provide support for institutions that strengthen our community.
To provide relevant ministry for our youth and young adults.
To empower laity for present-day ministry.
To create denominational and district partnerships for service and evangelism.
To be active advocates for racial justice at home and abroad.
To provide spiritual nurture for our members. To enhance clergy-lay ministry partnerships.

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Mission & Strategic Plan of Action

Black Ministries exists to support districts, pastors, local churches, and leaders in the task of making Christlike disciples among Black groups in the U.S. and Canada.

The mission statement for Black Nazarene Ministries is to help the Church of the Nazarene develop strategies for reaching black communities through the starting of new churches and the implementation of inclusive discipleship and culturally-specific leadership training programs. We articulate this mission through what we call Project H.O.P.E., or Helping Our People Evangelize. Members of the Black Mission Team help to create a focus group that is advisory in its capacity, visionary in its strategy, reconciliatory in its mission, and prophetic in its message. Here’s our strategic plan of action:

Identify, develop, and recommend at least 25 emerging Black leaders in leadership positions on the Local, District, and General levels.
Declare the first Wednesday of each month for prayer and fasting for Nazarene Black Ministries, the BSRT, and the Black Ministries Facilitator
Establish a partnership between Nazarene higher education and church placement through internships
Start 20 new churches in four years
Continue the National Black Nazarene Conference to encourage, support and equip our churches, leaders, and laypeople. Additionally, host the 2nd annual Black Pastors and Leaders Conference in 2019.
Establish strong communication with the offices of Pensions and Benefits and Clergy Development to adequately inform Black pastors of helps and benefits.