Darren Sands
Darren Sands is an author at Religion News Service.
All Stories by Darren Sands
Obstacles remain as women seek more leadership roles in America’s Black Church
By Darren Sands — April 29, 2024
(AP) – In the Black Church as a whole, male pastors predominate, though there’s no comprehensive gender breakdown.
Prominent New York church, sued for gender bias, moves forward with male pastor candidate
By Darren Sands — April 16, 2024
(AP) – Candidate Kevin R. Johnson, founding pastor of Dare to Imagine Church in Philadelphia, will be recommended for the congregation’s approval to lead the more than 200-year-old Abyssinian Baptist Church,
Black pastors see popular Easter services as an opportunity to rebuild in-person worship attendance
By Darren Sands — March 28, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — This Easter is an opportunity for Black churches to welcome more visitors to their pews and try to begin reversing attendance trends
Fasting at school? More Muslim students in the US are getting support during Ramadan
By Darren Sands, Corey Williams, Giovanna Dell'orto, and Mariam Fam — March 18, 2024
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — Fasting is not required of young children, but many Muslim children like to fast to share in the month's rituals and emulate parents and older siblings, according to the Islamic Networks Group.
As threats to Black cemeteries persist, a movement to preserve their sacred heritage gains strength
By Darren Sands and Giovanna Dell'orto — March 15, 2024
MIAMI (AP) — When sites of sacred cultural memory are desecrated, it adds additional trauma to the indignity of being segregated even in death, said the executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.
How Hakeem Jeffries’ Black Baptist upbringing and deep-rooted faith shapes his House leadership
By Darren Sands — February 28, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — For Jeffries, 53, his leadership in the House traces back to his formative days growing up and serving at Cornerstone, a historically Black congregation which he still attends.
Prominent Black church in New York sued for gender bias by woman who sought to be its senior pastor
By Darren Sands — January 8, 2024
(AP) — Along with the church, the lawsuit specifically names the search committee chair, Valerie S. Grant, accusing her of behaving inappropriately by asking Marshall Turman questions and pressing issues not broached with her male counterparts.
Send-offs show Carlton Pearson’s split legacy spurred by his inclusive beliefs, rejection of hell
By Darren Sands — December 5, 2023
The Bishop's splintered influence was underscored this week as different factions paid tribute to Pearson at various memorial services that have raised questions — and objections — about how best to remember him.
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