CHRONOLOGY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LUTHERAN HISTORY IN NORTH AMERICA

The Colonial Period April 13, 1669 (Palm Sunday) – An African America man named Emmanuel is baptized At a Lutheran congregation in New York. 1673 – Slave trade begun in Danish West Indies 1704 – Aree and Jora Van Guinea join the Lutheran congregation in New York 1707 – The Van Guineas move to the Raritan Valley in New Jersey still remaining members in New York 1714 – August 1, a Lutheran congregation (now Zion , Oldwick) is organized in Van Guineas home Justus Falckner is the first pastor. 1734 – Salzburger Lutherans settle in Georgia, Opposing slavery, and purchasing African American Children from slave ships 1752 – An African American man is baptized at an installation service at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Germantown, Philadelphia, in the presence of Dr. Henry M. Muhlenberg. 1755 – Lutherans in Christiansted, St. Croix acquired “The Steeple Church”, a former Roman Catholic building, Lord God of Sabaoth congregation Traces its roots to this site, which is a national Landmark. 1771 – Johannes Christian Kingo, the first Lutheran pastor who was specifically called to serve among people of African descent, was ordained as a missionary To the Danish West Indies. Slaves were also taught in the Indigenous dialect of Creole for the first time. Early U.S. History (1776-1862) 1815 - John Bachman called as pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Charleston S.C. began ministry to African Americans and served there until his death in 1874 1817 – “Five Points” plan developed by North Carolina Synod to establish policy for instruction and church membership of African American slaves. 1832 – Jehu Jones, a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Charleston S.C. ordained as first African American pastor by the ministerium of New York. He went on to establish independent African American Lutheran congregations in Philadelphia. 1835 – Daniel A. Payne begins studies at Gettysburg Seminary. 1837 – Daniel A. Payne is licensed to preach by the Franckean Synod in Upstate New York. He serves an African American Presbyterian church In Troy, N.Y. and is ordained in 1839. 1845 – Boston J. Drayton, a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Charleston, S.C., is ordained and sent As a missionary to West Africa. He became a leading figure in Liberian political life. At his death, he was Chief Justice if the Supreme Court of Liberia. 1850 St. John Church reaches an African American membership of 200 1862 One forth of all Lutherans in South Carolina are African American (about 2,000 Out of 8,000) Post Civil War to World War I 1868 Michael M. Coble is licensed by the North Carolina Synod to organize African American congregations. 1877 The Board of Colored Missions is Established by the synodical conference. 1880 David J. Koontz is ordained by the North Carolina Synod. He becomes the first African American Lutheran president of a Church body, the Alpha Synod in 1889. 1880 The Rev. Nils J. Bakke begins work as a missionary to African Americans in the South for synodical confernece. He serves for 40 years. 1884 Nathan Clapp and Samuel Holt are ordained by the North Carolina Synod. 1885 Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Washington, D.C., is organized by African American members from Luther Place Memorial. Daniel Wiseman is called as the first pastor. 1889 The only African American membership of 200 American Lutheran synod In American, the Alpha Synod is formed in N.C. It will have four pastors, five congregations, and about180 members. It will last until 1891. 1897 St. Phillip Lutheran Church, Baltimore, Md., is organized out of the Sunday school mission effort. Nathaniel Carter is called as the first pastor. 1912 Rosa J. Young organizes the Rosebud Alabama School. 1916 The Rosebud School becomes a Christian Day School, and the Christ Church ,Rosebud is organized. Marmaduke N. Carter is called as the first pastor and principal. Post World War I to 1950 1920 Transfiguration Lutheran Church, Harlem, NY is organized by members of Trinity Danish, most of whom are from the U.S. Virgin Island. 1922 Emma Francis, the first African American deaconess joins the staff at Transfiguration. 1923 Transfiguration moves to its present site 74 West 126th Street, New York, NY 1926 Edith Prince joins Transfiguration as a second deaconess. 1928 Paul Edward West is called to Transfiguration the first African American pastor of a congregation In New York City 1930-50 Many new missions start in urban areas, including: Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Jamaica, NY (1934); St. Paul Lutheran Church in Manhattan, (1942), Annunciation Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Pa, (1947), Christ Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, Pa. (1950) and St. James Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL., (1950). 1938 The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America, sponsored by the Evangelical Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states, The Synod of Wisconsin, the Synod of Ohio, the Norwegian Synod, the Illinois Synod and the Minnesota Synod, considers the establishment Of an African American synod, but it does not happen. The 1950s Through the 1970s 1953 Lutheran Human Relations Association of America begins 1953 Allen Youngblood was an African American Lutheran pastor who organized Congregations in Philadelphia, Cleveland And Toledo. He was the founding pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church, Toledo, OH in 1953 1964 Lutheran Church in America (LCA) adopted social statement "Race Relations. 1974 LCA Convention approved an inventory on race relations. Results published in 1976. 1977 May 4-5, Black Pastors & Seminarians met at LeGrange, Illinois to probe the joys and frustrations of their ministries. A Task Force was established to crystallize the ideas generated and to plan for a broader meeting. A group of 2 each, Pastors, Seminarians and Lay persons formed the Task Force under staff Grover C. Wright (Division for Professional Leadership (DPL). They first met in November in Philadelphia. 1978 Oct. 20-22, Conference of Black Lutherans met at Hope Lutheran Church and Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan. The Rev. Lynell Carter of Baltimore, Md. Chaired the Planning Committee. Presenters were: Dr. Robert Marshall, LCA President; Dr. Howard Christiansen, President Michigan Synod; Father Giles Conwill, Director Church Vocations National Office of Black Catholics; Rev. Richard Stewart, Campus Minister Central State University; Dr. Kenneth Senft, Exec. Dir. Division for Mission in North America (DMNA); Dr. Lloyd Sheneman, Exec. Dir., Div. for Professional Leadership (DPL). WORKSHOPS: Are you a Grabber or a Giver, Political Realities of the Church, Black Theology, Go Tell The People, The Beat Goes On, The Preacher Is a Woman. Attendance was @ 200 delegates. Tom Clay elected to chair planning for a nationally focused organization of Black Lutherans. GOALS AND PLANS FOR MINORITY MINISTRY 1978-1984 adopted by LCA Convention. 1979 Earlene Miller is ordained as the first African American female pastor in the LCA, August 26. Oct 19-21 - Conference at University City Holiday Inn, Philadelphia. More than 300 delegates. Rev. Sherman Hicks chaired Planning Task Force. Rev. Charles Leonard chaired Local Committee. ASSOCIATION OF BLACK LUTHERANS (ABL) established with Thomas Clay, President; Livingston Chrichlow, Secretary; Magdalene Abraham, Treasurer. Dr. Lawrence Jones, Dean Howard University School of Religion, Keynote address "God's Unanswered Prayer." Panel discussions: Theological Education, Justice in Society, Minority Ministry Report Card, People as Ministers. Preachers were: Miss Grace Bowen, Rev. Victor Langford, Rev. Dr. Albert Pero. A Special Attraction was "The Old Ship of Zion" dramatization. November 1-3, Cynthia Stuart, Rev. Michael Cobbler & Livingston Chrichlow represented ABL at the Consulting Committee for Minority Group Interests (CCMGI )meeting. The 1980s to Present 1980 Initial meeting of ABL Governing Council at St. Marks Church, San Francisco, Calif. supported by Rev. Massie Kennard, Director of Minority Concerns , LCA staff. Tom Clay represented ABL at the LCA 10th Biennial Convention in Seattle, Washington. Sixteen persons from the ABL Registry were nominated for positions. Nine persons were elected. Sept. 26-27 review of strengths and weaknesses of ABL by an expanded ABL Council. Oct. 17-19 Southern Region of ABL convened at Howard Johnson Motel in Atlanta. Father Giles Conwill was keynote speaker. Attendance 47. 1981 Oct. 30-Nov.1 ABL Biennial Conference at Americana Hotel, Fort Worth, Texas. Attendance was more than 125. Shirley Lewis and Audrey Fucles were Co Chairpersons. Rev. Dr. Nelson Trout, Professor Trinity Lutheran Seminary was Keynote Speaker. Conference adopted a Theological Rational for ABL. Workshops: Leadership Recruitment, Mutual Ministry, Black Lutheran Heritage, Lutheran Church Structure & Polity. Shirley Pickett elected President to fill unexpired term of Tom Clay. Rev. Ray Legania elected Secretary. The Conference called for divestment of investments in banks and companies doing business with South Africa. ABL also objected to the Coast Guard interdiction of boats carrying refugees from Haiti. ABL was listed in the 1981 Yearbook of the Lutheran Church in America under Religious - Social Service Agencies. Ramona Carroll was editor of the first issue of an ABL Newsletter in the spring. Rev. Julius Carroll was elected President of the Philadelphia ABL Chapter. Willie Hill was elected President of the Metro NY Synod ABL Chapter. 1982 - Shirley Pickett represented ABL at the LCA 11th Biennial Convention in Louisville, Ky. Nine persons of language and color were elected to terms expiring in 1986. In addition, William Ellis and Rev. Callon Holloway were elected to the Commission for a New Lutheran Church. 1983 - Nov. 11-13, ABL Conference, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, Pa. 1983 – Nelson W. Trout is elected bishop of the Pacific Southwest District of the American Lutheran Church. 1984 – Will L. Herzfeld becomes bishop of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches. 1997 - May 22-25, St. Louis, Mo., 6th Biennial Convention of ABL. Sylvia Pate elected President. ABL challenged "The Lutheran" magazine to seriously consider staffing that is more inclusive of the constituency. Change was made. 1999 - June 23-26, 7th Biennial Conference at Holiday Inn O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Ill. 165 in attendance including 87 in the Youth Trek. "This Far By Faith", the new Lutheran Hymnal, was used for the first time as it was introduced to the Chicago area during the Conference. Annette Sample was elected Corresponding Secretary. Rev. Beverly Jackson was elected Treasurer. The ELCA document, "In The City For Good" was presented by the Urban team. The AALA DRUM, a newsletter was published. There was overwhelming support from the churchwide staff. RESEARCH SOURCES The Lutheran, Nov. 15, 1978 pg. 21 "Black & Lutheran" - Report of the 1978 Conference of Black Lutherans ABL News Release 1-79 News of the LCA 11-3-81-S-34-103 ABL Biennial Conference Actions, 1981 ABL History in the LCA, Nov. 1983 by Livingston Chrichlow AALA 7th Biennial Convention 1999, Report of the President 1999 AALA Convention Delegate Report, Dan Joy, Livingston Chrichlow Addendum compiled by Livingston Chrichlow (516-233-1125) 2232 Leighton Road Elmont, NY 11003 Chrich2232@optonline.net