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A historic photo shows the library of Claflin University in Orangeburg,
S.C. Claflin is one of 11 historically black colleges and universities
receiving support from the United Methodist Black College Fund, which
celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Photo courtesy of the United
Methodist Commission on Archives and History.
View in Photo Gallery
A UMNS Report
By Faye Wilson*
7:00 A.M. ET February 1, 2012
Year after year, when students from the New York Annual (regional)
Conference boarded buses to visit historically black colleges, they
envisioned their future. They also saw history in the making as they
walked the campuses. Each time they opened a door or leaned against
sun-warmed bricks and mortar, they touched the fruition of others’
dreams.
Forty years ago, when the 1972 General Conference established the Black College Fund apportionment, United Methodists made a commitment to justice ministries that began with the work of the Freedmen’s Aid Society.
Organized following the Civil War to educate people newly freed from
slavery, the society helped to establish more than 70 schools in the
south and southwest regions of the United States. Eleven of those
institutions remain (some because of mergers). They are supported by
the tithes, offerings and donations of United Methodists across the
connection.
For 15 years, the Rev. Julius S. Scott Jr. provided leadership at one of those United Methodist-related historically black colleges — Paine College in Augusta, Ga. He saw firsthand how the generosity of United Methodists fulfilled the dreams of thousands of students.
The Black College Fund “was genius, really,” he said in a recent
interview. “It provided us with a pool of funds we could rely on and
direct to our most urgent needs. A lot of funds that come to colleges
are designated, especially federal funds. They only can be used in a
specific way. (The) Black College Fund, on the other hand, allowed me
as an administrator to address critical concerns immediately.”
One of those concerns included implementing capital campaigns to
repair aging buildings and to construct new, modern facilities. “At
Paine,” he said, “we built a $5.5 million building; the largest gift
came from the Black College Fund. At the same time, we were able to use
that gift as leverage when we approached foundations and other
organizations for matching funds or for seed money for additional
projects.”
Doing ‘all the good they can’
Funding through the Black College Fund also enables college
administrators to recruit and retain stellar faculty. A keystone of the
historically black colleges is to allow students to interact with
staff who serve as cultural, spiritual and academic role models and
mentors.
When educator Gloria Randle Scott received the 2011 Black College Fund Servant Leader Award, Orphe said that (Gloria Randle) Scott “took a little country girl” and helped Orphe find her voice.
Black College Fund gifts also provide direct support such as student
scholarships and strengthen public relations efforts, especially
college choirs.
An archived photo depicts a speech class at Paine College in Augusta,
Ga. Photo courtesy of the Commission on Archives and History.
View in Photo Gallery
“Having our choirs sing at annual conferences all across the
country,” Julius Scott said, “gave our students critical experience in
articulating the value of their college education and their campus
experience at a historically black institution. We took them
everywhere, and everywhere they went, they had a chance to tell a
story, meet alumni and make church connections – invaluable!”
Scott also emphasized the importance of the summer intern program.
“We picked the most highly motivated students and sent them out in the
world to, not only gain life and work experience, but (also) to
represent their college and our institutions. This program was critical
to the church having a ‘face’ for the funds they were giving.”
The creation of the Black College Fund called forth the creativity
of conferences in raising apportioned funds. Along with the college
tours, the New York Annual Conference held an annual Black College Fund
luncheon. This gala affair gave congregations an opportunity to hear
firsthand how they were doing “all the good they can” through the Black
College Fund.
Supporting leadership for life
Colorado resident Pensal McCray and her three daughters are all graduates of Bennett College for Women
in Greensboro, N.C. Yet, her investment in young people expands far
beyond one historically black college. She supports the work of these
institutions using a three-point approach: college fairs, workshops and
tours.
The backbone of her work is college workshops, designed to help
students get into college, complete degrees and continue to graduate
school. The workshops advise students on filling out applications,
writing essays, interviewing for scholarships and developing leadership
skills. In some cases, college students inspire their parents to
return to school and complete degrees.
Bricks and mortar. Life and breath. Visions and dreams. Present and
future. All are made possible through 40 consistent years of giving
through the United Methodist Black College Fund.
Students walk across the campus of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C. Photo courtesy of Bennett College for Women.
View in Photo Gallery
The United Methodist Black College Fund-supported colleges and universities include:
- Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, N.C.
- Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
- Claflin University, Orangeburg, S.C.
- Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta
- Dillard University, New Orleans, La.
- Huston-Tillotson University, Austin, Texas
- Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn.
- Paine College, Augusta, Ga.
- Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Ark.
- Rust College, Holly Springs, Miss.
- Wiley College, Marshall, Texas
*Wilson, a former staff member of the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries, resides in Salisbury, Md. A member of Mount Zion
United Methodist Church, Quantico, Md., she serves as minister of music
and arts. She is a frequent writer for materials used in United
Methodist Schools of Christian Mission.
News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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