About SCJ BMCR

The South Central Jurisdiction (SCJ) of Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR) is comprised of numerous caucuses spanning 7 states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. SCJ’s purpose is to raise up prophetic and spiritual leaders who will be advocates for the unique needs of Black people in the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.

We achieve this through the following values:

BMCR History.

On August 19, 1967, the segregated, all-Black Central Jurisdiction of the Methodist Episcopal Church elected its 14th and final Episcopal leader, Bishop L. Scott Allen. At midnight that Saturday, the Central Jurisdiction ceased to exist, ending the open segregation of the races in the Methodist Episcopal Church. This sad chapter in Methodist history was now closed.

In 1967, many members of the now defunct Central Jurisdiction felt uncertain about the status of Black Methodists in this new United Methodist Church. Despite the tremendous contributions that Black Methodists had made to the church, the Methodist Church had never accorded Blacks equal status as Christian sisters and brothers. Groups of Black Methodists met frequently to discuss the problem of racial equality in their new denomination.

On February 6, 1968, Black Methodists from around the United States convened in Cincinnati, OH, to answer this critical question: “How do we ensure that there will be a permanent place for Blacks in the new United Methodist Church?” [READ MORE]