The Black Chronicles: History of African Americans and the Black Seminarians Union

As we gear up for the 40th anniversary of the Black Seminarians Union and Black History Month, we will highlight events and important dates in history that are significant to Black identity and the Black church.



On November 24:

(1897)* J.L. Love patents the Pencil Sharpener.

(1865)* Mississippi passed the so-called "Black Codes" that barred blacks from jury service, testifying against whites in trials, being armed and attending white schools.

BSU (1969)- The Office of Black Church studies came out of the Black Seminarians Union which was founded in the fall of 1969.

*Courtesy to www.blackfacts.com

ChristWorld: Seeing Christ in the World

This new section of the BSUBlog, "ChristWorld," will highlight both recent and historical events that involve the influence of Christ (and Christianity) in the world. Here is a clip from CNN.com covering an issue that is happening in Italy. Crosses are displayed in public places in Italy and now the Christian symbol is being contested.




What does this say about the cultural impact that Christianty has had on Italty and in comparison to America? In analysis, what does this say about the Black Church's embrace of the cross in its community?

Wrapping Up 2009, Gearing Up for 2010

We have been blessed to see another year. 2009 was a year full of history, miracles and also suffering. As we close 2009, we look forward to great things to come in 2010. Here are some of the things we are expecting:

-The 40th Anniversary of the Black Seminarians Union. Please mark your calendars for February 9-11, 2010 and the whole month of February. BSU will be celebrating its legacy with the theme "Triumph and Truth." Please continue to check the blogspot for more information.

-The 2010 Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. Clergy & Lay Leadership Conference.
This year this conference will be held in Chicago, Illinois on February 22-25, 2010. The conference is named after the late Rev. Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor who was Pastor Emeritus of the Abyssinian Baptist Church of New York. He also was a part of the faculty of Duke Divinity School. This conference brings clergy and lay leaders from across the world to discuss the black church, ministry and the gospel of Jesus Christ in the 21st century.

There is more to come in the new year.

The Rest of the Semester

We are near the end of the semester. Some important dates to remember are:

November 24: Tuesday Divinity Classes End/Thanksgiving Recess Begins
November 30 - December 4: Reading Period
December 5 - Christmas Fellowship
December 7 - Final Examinations Begin
December 11 - Final Examinations End

A New School Year

The Black Seminarians Union continues to educate, inform and prepare the black students of the seminary about Christian vocation and continuing academic programs. On September 22, 2009 in the middle of the BSU Kick-Off Week, Dr. Ellen Davis, professor of Old Testament, facilitated a discussion on A Future for African Americans in Biblical Scholarship. Even though there is a small number of African Americans in Biblical Scholarship, the discussion encouraged and enlightened some students about the importance of Biblical scholarship and how it can help in pastoral ministry, theological studies and independent research.

Duke Divinity School and Office of Black Church Studies Welcomes Dr. Joy Moore

Duke Divinity School, the Office of Black Church Studies and the Black Seminarians Union welcomes Dr. Joy Moore as the Dean of the Office of Black Church Studies. Dr. Joy Moore is also the advisor for the Black Seminarians Union. We pray that her time and work at Duke Divinity School will be fruitful. This will be Dean Moore's second year at Duke Divinity School, but her first year as the Dean of the Office of Black Church Studies. Welcome Dean Joy Moore!

Lift Him Up: Campus Wide Prayer

On Thursday, October 22, 2009, the Black Seminarians Union made a clarion call to the Duke University campus to gather on the campus grounds to pray for the school, the nation and the church. Here are some photos of this awesome and life-changing event.