Learn more about the African American Congregational Support Office
The universal unconditional love of God as known in Jesus Christ empowers Black Presbyterians to be prophetic witnesses of the power of that love to transform people, history, cultures and institutions. The Black Presbyterian legacy of prophetic leaders for justice and a culturally plural society has been transformational for the church and the world. Black Presbyterian congregations will proclaim the gospel from an Afrocentric Christian spirituality that will liberate people to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
One Spirit
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
Historical context
C.N. Jenkins Presbyterian Church Youth Group
African Americans have been members of the Presbyterian Church since 1747. The Rev. John Gloucester formed the first African-American congregation in 1807 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The founding leaders named the congregation, “First African Presbyterian Church.” Three additional churches were developed between 1824-1849. African-American membership in the Presbyterian Church grew steadily until the later part of 1960s or early 1970s when it began to decline. The African American Congregational Support Office was created in the 1996 PC(USA) Mission Design to provide leadership for increasing new church developments, congregational transformation in existing churches, evangelism and community outreach ministries and other program development.