The Annual National Lectureship among African American Churches of Christ, according to the late Dr. J. Winston, the “historical” National Lectureship of the Churches of Christ, was introduced by the late Dr. R. Hogan in 1942 during his ministry with the Stonewall and Waco Street Church of Christ in Houston, TX. The agenda of this meeting was to discuss the need for a National Lectureship among th
e African American Church of Christ. It was Dr. Hogan’s belief that a Lectureship would help synchronize both the teaching and preaching of the New Testament doctrine, along with fostering a means of fellowship for those who attend. Steward each agreed that a Lectureship would serve a great need in the Brotherhood. In 1944, at the Bowser Christian Institute meeting held in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Steward suggested they should begin to make plans for the Lectureship and G. Bowser encouraged them to sponsor the following year. Subsequently, in 1945, the first ever Annual National Lectureship was held in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with the East Seventh Street congregation serving as the host. Steward served as Ministering Evangelist of this congregation. The date of the first Lectureship among African American Churches of Christ was March 22-24, 1945, with 36 Ministers in attendance. Due to the tremendous success of the Lectureship encounter, it was recommended that it should be held every year and has been held annually since. In 1948, the Annual National Lectureship was held in Chicago, Illinois and hosted by the Michigan Avenue Church of Christ where Levi Kennedy, Jr., served as Minister. During the Chicago gathering, it was agreed that the Ministers who began the Lectureship would serve as advisors to congregations who would host the Lectureship in future years. It was further agreed that both Levi Kennedy, Jr., and J. Winston would assist hosting congregations in making necessary preparations. Levi Kennedy, Jr., was appointed as Chairman of the Lectureship, visiting with all the congregations who served as host and assisting them with their program until his health began to fail in 1969. After the death of Kennedy on December 30, 1970, G. Holt was selected as the new Chairman and served in this capacity until 1975. Christman, Sr., succeeded Holt and served as Chairman until 1988. In 1988, at the Lectureship held in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Clyde Muse was appointed as Chairman and served until his passing in 2007. After Dr. Muse’s passing, Dr. R. Wells assumed the position as Chairman of the Annual National Lectureship Advisory Committee. The Current Chairman of The Advisory Committee is Dr. W. According to statistics, the ministerial attendance for the Annual National Lectureship held among African American Churches of Christ has substantially increased from 36 in 1945, to well over 200. The total average attendance for all participants of the Lectureship has grown to approximately 2,500, with representation from Jamaica, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Nigeria, West Africa. The City of Houston has hosted the Annual National Lectureship five times, 1946, 1957, 1969, 1990, and 2013. On June 17-22, 2023, the 77th Annual National Lectureship of the Churches Christ will be held at the Hyatt Regency Houston Downtown with the theme “Salvation only Through the Crucified Christ.” The City of Houston commends the Houston Area Churches of Christ on this auspicious occasion and extends best wishes for a rewarding Lectureship.
