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 Catholics in the United States. It started in 1970 and had its main office in Washington, DC.
The NOBC's main goal was to help the Church better serve the needs of the black community. It also aimed to support Black Catholics in becoming more independent and to give them a stronger voice within the Church.
The organization officially closed in 1987. However, some leaders said they continued its work until at least 2007.
Contents
What Was the NOBC?
The NOBC was created in 1970. It brought together several other groups that focused on Black Catholics. These included the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus (for priests and deacons), the National Black Sisters Conference (for nuns), and the National Black Lay Catholic Caucus (for regular church members).
The NOBC received most of its money from a special collection held each year in Catholic churches across the country. This collection was called "Black Catholics Concerned."
How the NOBC Helped
During the 1970s and 1980s, the NOBC worked on many different projects. It had several departments, including ones for culture and worship, spreading the faith, church careers, and education.
The organization worked to encourage more Black people to become priests and nuns. It also helped create church services and traditions that reflected African culture. The NOBC also helped make Black parishes (local church communities) stronger and improved Black Catholic education.
The NOBC also talked with leaders of the American Catholic Church. They wanted to make sure that issues about race were discussed and addressed. The NOBC also took part in a big meeting in 1976 called "Call to Action," which was organized by U.S. bishops.
Events and Publications
The NOBC held many conferences and events throughout the 1970s and 1980s. One of its most popular events was a regular conference on African American Culture and Worship (AACW). This event was led by Father Clarence Rivers.
Starting in 1980, the NOBC also hosted a conference every two years for its members. The first meeting had 2,000 people attending. They created a plan to ask the Vatican (the main office of the Catholic Church) to allow married Black priests and to create a national seminary (a school for training priests) specifically for Black students.
In 1988 and 1989, the NOBC and the National Black Lay Catholic Caucus held two meetings for lay leaders in Belleville, Illinois. The department focused on spreading the faith also organized special revival events across the country.
Over time, there were some disagreements about the NOBC's goals and how it was organized. Because of these tensions, the National Black Sisters Conference and the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus officially left the NOBC in the early 1980s.
The NOBC also produced several publications. These included its newsletter, Impact!, and a journal called Freeing the Spirit. Freeing the Spirit was published by the Office of Culture and Worship, which was led by Father Clarence Rivers. Freeing the Spirit stopped being published in 1983, but Impact! continued to be published sometimes throughout the 1980s.
In 1971, a professional concert and album, also called Freeing the Spirit, was created in Detroit. It featured famous gospel musician Edwin Hawkins, the Hawkins Family, and many other respected Black musicians.
Even though some NOBC leaders, like Walter Hubbard, said the organization continued its work into the 1990s and early 2000s, other sources suggest it stopped operating in 1987. They believe its work was taken over by the National Black Catholic Congress, which was founded that same year, or by the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators.
Leaders of the NOBC
Here are the people who served as the main leaders (executive directors) of the NOBC:
- 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 – around 2000)
See Also
- Federated Colored Catholics
- National Black Catholic Congress
