Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century: An Overview

A General UM Church Initiative

Contact Information

• SBC21
• P.O. Box 340003
• Nashville, TN 37203-0003
• Phone: 866.712.4200
• Website: www.sbc21.org

Director: Cheryl Stevenson

SBC-21 Process

1. Church fills out and submits a Congregational-Commuity Profile Form.
2. Church recruits a team and determines which area it needs to first focus on:
   1. Community and Economic Development/Revitalization
   2. Congregational Development/Revitalization
   3. Leadership Development and Training.
3. The Church then selects a teaching church’s training event for that area and attends as a team (list of events).
4. After the event someone from the SBC-21 office will contact the church to debrief.
5. Eventually the program hopes to offer on-site consultants.

Funding

1st Training Event: SBC-21 pays 100% of registration, travel, and lodging expenses for the pastor and up to four others from the church.

2nd Training Event: SBC-21 pays 50% of registration, travel, and lodging expenses for the pastor and up to four others from the church.

3rd Training Event: SBC-21 pays 25% of registration, travel, and lodging expenses for the pastor and up to four others from the church.

Additional Training Events: SBC-21 pays 0% of registration, travel, and lodging expenses for the pastor and up to four others from the church.

Additional scholarships are available through the North Indiana Conference Strengthening the Black Church Team once General Church funds are reduced or unavailable.