National Christian Missionary Convention Minutes

This background from Cardwell, Journey toward Wholeness, page 21, explains the beginning of the National Christian Missionary Convention:

"African-American Disciples leaders were frustrated. This frustration brought about the organization of the National Christian Missionary Convention (NCMC). They yearned for participation in the administration and implementation of their own affairs.

Two calls went out to Black Disciples of Christ church leaders in 1917 to come together for the formation of an African-American-Ied and fashioned National Convention. William Alphin gave a call to come to St. Louis during the assembly of the predominantly Anglo-American International Convention. Alphin was a great advocate of cooperation and togetherness between the races. On the other hand, Preston Taylor, W. H. Dickerson, and Henry L. Herod joined in giving a call for the brothers and sisters to come to Nashville, Tennessee, in September 1917. Key leaders answered that call."

DCHS has a Virtual Cemetery where we are gathering information about African American leaders in the Stone-Campbell Movement, with special emphasis on people affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The majority of the people in the collection are African Americans. A few people are non-African Americans, but are listed because of their work among African Americans. The Virtual Cemetery is here.