Roger R. Wade
The South Central Conference has been awarded a significant grant as part of the Black Church Rural and Small Towns Ministry Initiative (BCRSMI), implemented in partnership with Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS). Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., this initiative aims to preserve and strengthen the essential role of African American churches as pillars in their communities, especially in rural and small-town settings.
Troy Brand, senior pastor of the Orchard Park Church in Chattanooga, Tenn., and community engagement co-leader for South Central Conference, expressed enthusiasm about the grant, said, “This will allow us to continue our mission of being both salt and light, influencing society as agents of redemption.”
The grant will support three key initiatives:
1. Annual training sessions to develop ministry structures promoting community engagement and building social capital.
2. Creative evangelistic outreach emphasizing partnerships and addressing issues specific to the African American community.
3. Direct mentorship and support for Black female clergy leading small rural congregations.
This aligns with the BCRSMI’s four key priorities, which are church growth, evangelism, engagement with Black Church rural heritage, and empowering Black women in ministry.
Established in 1946, the South Central Conference has grown from 42 churches to 145 congregations with more than 29,000 members across Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the Florida panhandle. With nearly 75% of its congregations located in rural areas and small towns, this grant is anticipated to significantly enhance the Conference’s community impact.
Benjamin Jones Jr., South Central Conference president, noted, “This collaboration with Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary aligns perfectly with our recent shift toward engaging our mission field in more innovative ways. We’re excited to see how this grant will help us build stronger, more resilient communities.”
The initiative builds on the success of the Louisville Seminary’s previous Thriving Congregations initiative, which supported 14 primarily rural, historically Black churches. It aims to empower leaders with theological knowledge, spiritual resilience, and practical tools for navigating evolving ministry contexts.
Andrew D. Pomerville, D.Min., president of Louisville Seminary, expressed his enthusiasm: “I am exceptionally proud of the partnerships in ministry that went into the formation of this new initiative. LPTS is eager to support strong relationships between the seminary, Black congregations, faith leaders, and ministries that lead to vitality.”
The BCRSMI will offer educational programming, resources, and sub-grants, focusing on Black church leaders and organizations that serve rural and small-town congregations. One notable initiative is the Sankofa Project, which seeks to document Black Church traditions through oral history.
For more information about South Central Conference and its initiatives, please visit www.iamsouthcentral.org or contact Roger R. Wade, communications director, at 615-226-6500.
South Central | April 2025
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