National Office for Black Catholics facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | NOBC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1970 |
| Founder | Joseph M. Davis, SM (among others) |
| Dissolved | 1987 |
The National Office for Black Catholics (NOBC) was an important group for Black Catholic people in the United States. It started in 1970 and was based in Washington, DC.
The NOBC's main goal was to help the Church better understand and support the needs of the Black community. It also worked to help Black Catholics have a stronger voice. The organization aimed to help Black Catholics become more self-reliant. It officially ended in 1987. However, some leaders said they continued its work until about 2007.
Contents
How the NOBC Started
The NOBC began in 1970. It acted as an umbrella group, bringing together several important organizations. These included the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus (NBCCC), the National Black Sisters Conference (NBSC), and the National Black Lay Catholic Caucus (NBLCC).
The money for the NOBC mostly came from a yearly collection. This collection was taken at Catholic churches across the country. It was called “Black Catholics Concerned.”
What the NOBC Did
The NOBC ran many different programs during the 1970s and 1980s. It had several main departments. These included the Office of Culture and Worship and the Office of Evangelization. It also had a Department of Church Vocations and an Education Department.
The organization worked to help Black people become leaders in the Church. It supported the creation of new ways to worship that were rooted in African traditions. The NOBC also helped to make Black parishes (local church communities) stronger. It worked to improve Black Catholic education.
The NOBC also talked with American Catholic leaders. They helped bring up important issues about race. The group took part in a big meeting in 1976 called “Call to Action.” This meeting was held by the U.S. bishops.
NOBC Conferences and Events
The NOBC held many conferences and events. These took place throughout the 1970s and 1980s. One of its most successful events was a regular conference. It focused on African American Culture and Worship (AACW). Fr Clarence Rivers led these popular gatherings.
Starting in 1980, the NOBC also hosted a conference every two years for its members. About 2,000 people attended the first meeting. They created a plan to ask the Vatican (the main office of the Catholic Church) to allow married Black clergy. They also wanted a national seminary (a school for training priests) specifically for Black people.
In 1988 and 1989, the NOBC and the NBLCC held two leadership meetings. These took place in Belleville, Illinois. The Office of Evangelization also sponsored special revival events. These events happened in different places across the country.
Changes and End of the NOBC
In the early 1980s, some disagreements arose within the NOBC. These disagreements were about the group's mission and how it was organized. Because of this, the NBSC and NBCCC officially left the NOBC.
The NOBC published a newsletter called Impact!. It also had a journal called Freeing the Spirit. This journal was from the Office of Culture and Worship. Freeing the Spirit stopped being published in 1983. However, Impact! continued to be published sometimes through the 1980s. A special concert and album, also called Freeing the Spirit, was made in Detroit in 1971. It featured famous gospel musician Edwin Hawkins and other respected Black musicians.
Some NOBC leaders, like Walter Hubbard, said the group continued its work into the 1990s and early 2000s. But other sources say it stopped operating in 1987. At that time, the National Black Catholic Congress was founded. The National Association of Black Catholic Administrators also became active. These new groups continued similar work.
Executive Directors
- Br. Joseph Davis, SM (1970-1977)
- Fr. Cyprian Lamar Rowe, SSF (1978-1980)
- James Henderson (1981-1987)
- Penelope Taylor Powell (1978 [acting director], 1987-1988)
- Walter Hubbard (1988-c. 2000)
See also
- Federated Colored Catholics
- National Black Catholic Congress
