Black Ministries

National Black Nazarene Conference 2026

“The Call Still Stands: Lead. Lift. Love. Liberate.”

July 16–19, 2026 | Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons | Greensboro, NC

The National Black Nazarene Conference (NBNC) returns in 2026 with the powerful theme “The Call Still Stands: Lead. Lift. Love. Liberate.” This gathering will take place Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons in historic Greensboro, North Carolina.

Save‑the‑date cards, official letters, and a promotional video link have been distributed to all Black and multicultural churches across the denomination. This four‑day event is organized by the Black Strategic Readiness Team and is open to all persons serving—or desiring to serve—in ministry within and alongside the Black community. Whether you are a pastor, lay leader, district superintendent, youth leader, or a supportive ally, you are warmly invited to attend.

Purpose and Vision

The purpose of NBNC is to engage, encourage, and equip Black leadership, while also offering training and insight for the majority population on how to effectively minister in and through African‑American, Black, and Caribbean contexts. Rooted in this year’s theme, the conference will challenge attendees to:

Lead with spiritual courage and cultural understanding
Lift communities through purposeful ministry
Love with Christ-centered compassion and unity
Liberate through justice, advocacy, and Spirit-empowered action

The call to serve remains strong—and this conference aims to resource leaders so they may respond boldly and faithfully.

Keynote Speakers

We are honored to welcome an outstanding group of featured speakers who embody the theme and mission of NBNC:

Rev. Jacobi Campbell
Dr. Fili Chambo
Dr. Teresa Jefferson-Snorton
Rev. Alfred Glasper
Bishop LeBaron Hedgemon

In addition to our keynote lineup, the conference will host a special Saturday evening concert featuring a nationally recognized gospel recording artist.

Registration Information

Early registration is now open (until May 1st)! Register Here

Adults: $35
Youth: $25
Children 12 and under: Free
Group discounts available

Special Youth Bonus:
The first 50 youth to register and attend all youth activities will receive a $100 check.

To register, simply click the registration link located on this page. After registering, you will receive the exclusive hotel reservation link.
Conference hotel rate: $165 per night at the Sheraton Greensboro.

The full conference schedule will be posted here once finalized.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me directly. We look forward to gathering to answer the call to Lead, Lift, Love, and Liberate within the Church of the Nazarene and beyond.

Dr. Charles Tillman; drtillman@comcast.net

The National Black Nazarene Conference is a Biennial celebration of Black Nazarenes from USA and Canada. The conference features top notch speakers and workshops designed to train, empower, encourage, and inspire attendees. It is also an opportunity for non-Blacks to receive training and instruction on how to effectively minister in and through the Black community.

Engagement with the Black Strategic Readiness Team

The Black Strategic Readiness Team (BSRT) was established by the 1968 General Assembly (then named the “Black Council”) as a resource to help develop strong Black leadership and to guide the church regarding issues of race. Throughout the intervening years, they have worked tirelessly for the Black Church of the Nazarene in the United States. The names and faces of the Council have changed, but today, the members are second and third-generation Nazarenes who have a deep love and commitment to the message of scriptural holiness and the Church of the Nazarene.

Organized by the BSRT and supported by the USA/Canada Region, a National Black Nazarene Conference meets bi-annually and celebrates the life and work of the numerous Black Churches of the Nazarene in the United States and Canada. Desiring to enhance the commitment of the denomination to Black Nazarenes and their communities, the Board of General Superintendents has been specifically engaged for the last 18 months in strategic planning and prayer with the BSRT. Additional funding has been provided to Black ministries to help foster real and lasting change for the future of the church.

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Meet our Black Ministries Strategic Readiness Team (SRT)

Black SRT meeting 2023

Rev. Dr. Charles Tillman
Black Ministries Facilitator
Click here to E-mail

2023 BSRT MEETING SUMMARY

The following BSRT members met for their annual meeting July 13-15, 2023 in Orlando, Florida: Dr. Charles Tillman, Rev. Janice Ballard, Rev. David Solomon, Rev. Oral Walcott, Rev. Melissa Peters, Rev. Jacobi Campbell, Rev. Diane Bonner, Rev. Glenda Fields, Dr. Roberto Hodgson, and Min. Cassandra Trotman. The group also discussed the 2024 National Black Nazarene Conference.

The 2024 NBNC will be held Thursday, July 11 – Sunday July 14, 2024, at the Westin Buckhead Atlanta, Georgia. Save the date cards, posters, letters, and a promo video has been sent to all Black and multicultural churches. Any additional information will be posted here on the Black Ministries site. The conference is open to all persons, regardless of race or ethnicity. The goal is to engage, enlighten, and encourage Black churches and leaders, while also providing training and insight to non-minorities on how to effectively minister in and through the Black community. To attend the conference, simply click on the link located on this page. Upon registering you will receive a link to the hotel, whereas you can reserve your room. The rate is $149 per night. The conference schedule will be posted on this site upon completion. Any additional questions can be directed to any of the following:

Dr. Charles Tillman, Black Ministries’ Facilitator at: drtillman@comcast.net

Minister Cassandra Trotman, Assistant Conference Coordinator/Worship Leader at: ctrotman8903@gmail.com

Rev. David Solomon, Assistant Conference Coordinator/Platform Coordinator at: pastor@communitynazchurch.org

The Black Strategic Readiness Team, led by facilitator Dr. Charles Tillman, meets annually to pray, plan and strategize for their perspective ethnic group in the USA/Canada. The team is comprised of Black pastors that have been approved by their District Superintendent and the Multicultural Ministries Director.

Click here to contact the team facilitator.

The Black Ministries Strategic Readiness Team shall help districts and local congregations in the following manner:

To provide a voice for African-American and Black members of the Church of the Nazarene.
To strengthen Black churches in the Church of the Nazarene.
To identify potential target areas where new congregations could be started.
To train and nurture leaders of our churches for gospel-inspired service to the Black community.
To provide support for institutions that strengthen our community.
To provide relevant ministry for our youth and young adults.
To empower laity for present-day ministry.
To create denominational and district partnerships for service and evangelism.
To be active advocates for racial justice at home and abroad.
To provide spiritual nurture for our members. To enhance clergy-lay ministry partnerships.

Click here for upcoming events

Mission & Strategic Plan of Action

Black Ministries exists to support districts, pastors, local churches, and leaders in the task of making Christlike disciples among Black groups in the U.S. and Canada.

The mission statement for Black Nazarene Ministries is to help the Church of the Nazarene develop strategies for reaching black communities through the starting of new churches and the implementation of inclusive discipleship and culturally-specific leadership training programs. We articulate this mission through what we call Project H.O.P.E., or Helping Our People Evangelize. Members of the Black Mission Team help to create a focus group that is advisory in its capacity, visionary in its strategy, reconciliatory in its mission, and prophetic in its message. Here’s our strategic plan of action:

Identify, develop, and recommend at least 25 emerging Black leaders in leadership positions on the Local, District, and General levels.
Declare the first Wednesday of each month for prayer and fasting for Nazarene Black Ministries, the BSRT, and the Black Ministries Facilitator
Establish a partnership between Nazarene higher education and church placement through internships
Start 20 new churches in four years
Continue the National Black Nazarene Conference to encourage, support and equip our churches, leaders, and laypeople. Additionally, host the 2nd annual Black Pastors and Leaders Conference in 2019.
Establish strong communication with the offices of Pensions and Benefits and Clergy Development to adequately inform Black pastors of helps and benefits.