The Conference of International Black Lutherans (CIBL) grew out of a conference held in Hararé, Zimbabwe September 1986.  About forty (40) African and African American Lutheran theologians, church administrators, and observers from the Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Lutheran World Federation gathered on the campus of the University of Zimbabwe.  Led by the Rev. Dr. Albert ‘Pete’ Pero and the Rev. Dr. Ambrose Moyo, participants explored the theme “The Lutheran Heritage and the Black Experience in Africa and North America.”  The conference was sponsored by the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and the University of Zimbabwe through the Department of Religious Studies, Classics, and Philosophy.  The goal of the conference was to develop and affirm an African and African American Lutheran theology in which unity in diversity is celebrated within a culturally inclusive church.

The overwhelming success of the conference created an intense need and desire by participants to: (1) summarize the conference findings and distribute them as widely as possible.  (2) replicate the kind of dialogue and interchange that had occurred in the initial conference.  Hence the organization was formed with a steering committee composed of African and U. S. participants to see that the objectives of the organization were achieved.  The first objective was accomplished with the publication of Theology and the Black Experience: The Lutheran Heritage Interpreted by African & African-American Theologians (Augsburg Publishing, 1988) and the publication of the Hararé Message.  The second objective was accomplished with presentations at various ELCA seminaries and the development of various workshops fostering formation of Black Lutheran leaders and others who wanted to do ministry within the African American community.

The initial membership of CIBL was confined to the participants of the conference.  It soon became evident, however, that this was too restrictive.  Consequently, the membership was expanded to include all Black bishops and teaching theologians in Africa and the Americas.  Further discussions focused on how to involve more women, laity, and church professionals in CIBL activities and membership.  This concern was met with an increase of women, laity, and church professionals fully participating in the 1989 CIBL conference in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.  Over the next decade, there was an increase of African American Lutheran teaching theologians at ELCA seminaries and colleges.

The formation of CIBL, as an organization, was welcomed by African Lutherans.  It became an activity of the Committee on Theological Education in the Department for Mission Development of the LWF.  For the Lutheran Church in America/ELCA, it was an anomaly.  Because of its international character, there was no “convenient place” for it to be lodged within existing LCA/ELCA structure.

After much consultation it was decided that CIBL would be lodged under United Lutherans for Black Concerns (ULBC) now the African Descent Lutheran Association (ADLA).  Moreover, CIBL would have support from the Division for Global Mission (DGM) of the Department of World Community.  Support would be provided by the Division for Ministry (DM), the Commission for Multicultural Ministry (CMM) and other ELCA churchwide units based on availability of resources.  Additionally, several synods and congregations provided support for CIBL’s programs.

At the Chicago convention of ULBC in 1989, the convention voted to incorporate CIBL into its structure and promote it as an ongoing activity of Black Lutherans.  This comported with CIBL’s perception of itself as a “think tank” for the African American Lutheran Association (AALA) the successor to ULBC, especially in the area of theological education concerns.

Since its formation, CIBL, in the U. S., has sponsored and developed a “Message from Hararé,” a mentoring program for pastors and congregations in the Detroit area (1992), African educational trips (1994), a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Project in Atlanta, participated in the formation and directing of the Lutheran Theological Center at Atlanta (LTCA), a Black Doctoral Candidate Program, and International Teaching and CPE Exchanges.  Subsequent conferences were held in Wittenberg, Germany (1999 with the production of “Confessions for a Third Millenium: Black Lutheran Experiences”) with the study guide “A Study of the 38 Theses, ELCA 2001) and Brazil (2005). CIBL members were deeply involved in the writing the ELCA African Descent Strategic Plan adopted by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2005. A long-desired project articulated by The Rev. James Kenneth Echols on African Descent interpretations of Luther’s Small Catechism was completed and published in 2019 as Luther’s Small Catechism with African Descent Reflections (Augsburg Fortress 2019).

Currently, CIBL USA is working on several projects.  The first is completing the oral history project developed by The Rev. Dr. Richard N. Stewart.  This project includes a variety of material including oral interviews of African Descent Lutherans, material written by and about African American Lutherans, and original essays written by several CIBL USA members.  Soon, there will be a launching of a website which will be available for individuals to view and learn about the rich and diverse stories of African American Lutherans.  In addition, several CIBL USA members are continuing CIBL’s tradition of connecting and teaching internationally.  The Rev. Dr. James Thomas has served as a visiting professor at Good News Theological Seminary in Accra Ghana. The Womanist Initiative of the ELCA, a project begun by The Rev. Dr. Beverly Wallace, a member of CIBL, encourages African and African American women to pursue doctoral studies and to become involved internationally.  Another current project, designed especially for laymembers is The Richard N. Stewart Learning Certificate Program provides courses on Lutheran history, theology, ethics, and womanist theology from an African American perspective.  Individuals and congregations can access those courses through United Lutheran Seminary’s “Kindling Faith” Program.  Finally, members of CIBL USA have participated in discussions which led to the development of the Sankofa Theological Center for African Studies of the ELCA which serves as the successor to the Lutheran Theological Center at Atlanta.  Dr. Beverly Wallace serves as manager of the academic program for the Sankofa Theological Center.

CIBL gives thanks and praise to our ancestors who had the vision to bring us together in 1986.  We thank God for their courage and wisdom on the journey to publicly express an African Descent understanding of the Lutheran Heritage.  That vision empowers African, African American Lutherans and others within the Lutheran tradition toward healing the divide in our common struggle for justice and liberation.  To God be the Glory!

Written by the Rev. Dr. Richard J. Perry, Jr., Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus,
Church and Society/Urban Ministry
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and Convenor of CIBL, USA

This short history is adapted from a soon to be published essay written by Dr. Richard Perry, titled “The Rise of the Conference of International Black Lutherans, U.S.A.: A Theological Social History.”