Black Protestants

Dexter Scott King remembered during memorial as keeper of his father Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream

By Mark Thiessen — February 12, 2024
The memorial service for Dexter King was held at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where his father once was pastor.

In ‘Gospel’ docuseries, Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores Black church’s music, ministers

By Adelle M. Banks — February 9, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Gates reveals early tension within the genres as some musicians held to music only of faith and others were comfortable far afield from gospel music.

Meet ‘The Autism Pastor’ Lamar Hardwick: Preacher, author, cancer warrior

By Kathryn Post — February 8, 2024
(RNS) — Hardwick recently retired as lead pastor of Tri-Cities Church in East Point, Georgia, as he receives ongoing treatment for stage 4 cancer.

We need more Howard Thurman in our politics

By David B. Gowler — February 7, 2024
(RNS) — The theologian and often-overlooked civil rights hero would have warned us against politics as a zero-sum game.

‘Genius: MLK/X’ docudrama depicts the personal lives of the two civil rights activists

By Adelle M. Banks — February 1, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The series includes scenes of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, at home with their families and discussing their faith.

Historic sermon by Gina Stewart at joint Black Baptist meeting draws cheers, controversy

By Adelle M. Banks — January 30, 2024
(RNS) — After many in the room cheered her on and stood as she preached, the session featuring her sermon temporarily disappeared from the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc.’s Facebook page.

Biden praises Black churches and says the world would be a different place without their example

By Zeke Miller — January 29, 2024
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The president is trying to spread the message that he's loyal to South Carolina, which saved his campaign in 2020.

Agriculture Department, COGIC make plans for funds to add trees to urban centers

By Adelle M. Banks — January 23, 2024
(RNS) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said ‘structuring this program so that it's empowering more tree planting and more workforce development gives us the opportunity to partner with the church.’

William Barber on recruiting low-wage voters, Biden’s record on poverty

By Kathryn Post — January 19, 2024
(RNS) — 'If you leave this many people in poverty and low wealth, you open up the door for demagogues and people who will use people’s fears and hurts against them,' said the Rev. William Barber.

MLK summit for Gaza highlighted historic ties between civil rights and Palestinian liberation

By Ben Norquist — January 17, 2024
CHICAGO (RNS) — Civil rights icon Jesse Jackson and his longtime friend and collaborator James Zogby helped convene the gathering of nearly 2,000 faith leaders over MLK weekend.

Chicago pastors help the city grapple with flood of migrants

By Rebekah Barber — January 17, 2024
(RNS) — ‘There’s already plenty of need present in this community,’ said one faith leader. The challenge is to make the situation work for both longtime residents and migrants arriving from the border.

Dozens of Black churches receive total of $4 million for historic preservation

By Adelle M. Banks — January 15, 2024
(RNS) — This year’s grants, which range from $50,000 to $200,000, will allow congregations to address issues such as mold contamination, demolition, water filtration and deferred maintenance.

Bishop T.D. Jakes continues longtime commitment to Md. revival in wake of rumors

By Adelle M. Banks — January 12, 2024
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (RNS) — ‘I love you back,’ he told those who welcomed him back to the revival. ‘I feel your prayers. I’m thankful to God for them.’

Religious leaders to mark MLK Day with early start for 2024 voter mobilization

By Adelle M. Banks — January 12, 2024
(RNS) — 'We're starting early because we need to spend a lot more time educating people about how to vote, how to vote against the rising tide of misinformation,' said the Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner.

A new biblical epic, ‘The Book of Clarence,’ captures the political side of the messiah

By Andre Henry — January 11, 2024
(RNS) — An irreverent biblical comedy counters decades of whitewashed and stiff-necked biblical narratives.
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