Black Protestants

Thousands of faith leaders, union members, activists rally for poor

By Jack Jenkins — June 29, 2024
WASHINGTON (RNS) — 'It is wrong for the highest court in the land to criminalize homelessness,' said the Rev. Liz Theoharis, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign.
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Richard Smallwood, ‘Total Praise’ composer, to receive Juneteeth tribute in D.C.

By Adelle M. Banks — June 18, 2024
(RNS) — ‘It’s music that has brought us over through slavery, through all kinds of hard trials and tribulations,’ said singer/songwriter Richard Smallwood.

Tony Evans says he is ‘stepping away’ from leading Dallas megachurch due to ‘sin’

By Adelle M. Banks — June 10, 2024
(RNS) — ‘I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders,’ Evans said in a statement.

How this Maryland pastor ended up leading one of the fastest-growing churches in the nation

By Darren Sands — June 10, 2024
CALVERTON, Md. (AP) — In 2019, the year Kingdom Fellowship AME was founded, the church had about 3,000 members and an average weekly attendance of about 1,800 people, according to the church's figures. Today, membership has swelled to nearly 8,000, and its weekly services draw about 2,500 attendees altogether.

Poll: Religious groups think Trump’s actions immoral in hush money case, split on whether he broke the law

By Jack Jenkins — June 5, 2024
(RNS) — A survey indicates while many believe Trump’s behavior has been immoral, it may not sway how people vote in November.

Christian organizations come together to take boycott, divestment action as Rafah campaign continues

By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — May 29, 2024
(RNS) — ‘A core practice of nonviolent resistance, including within our tradition, is economic non-cooperation with injustice,’ the Christian organizations wrote.

He feared coming out. Now this pastor wants to help Black churches become as welcoming as his own

By Darren Sands — May 17, 2024
(AP) – Crowley’s career has flourished, and he has now written a book — “Queering the Black Church” — that he hopes can serve as a guide for other congregations to be “open and affirming” to LGBTQ+ people rather than shunning them.

AME official Jerome V. Harris dies under a cloud of alleged corruption

By Fiona André — May 16, 2024
(RNS) — Harris, an important figure of the AME Church, died suddenly, according to a press release from the Christian Recorder, the church’s official publication.

Bishop T.D. Jakes subject of AI-generated misinformation, says fact-finding website

By Adelle M. Banks — May 15, 2024
(RNS) — A false rumor of Jakes’ resignation was ‘latest chapter in a months-old series of videos — many at least partially created with the assistance of artificial-intelligence tools,’ reported Snopes.

The Rev. William Lawson, Texas civil rights leader who worked with Martin Luther King Jr, dies at 95

By Associated Press — May 15, 2024
HOUSTON (AP) — Lawson’s longtime church, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in that Texas city, announced on its website that he had died on Tuesday.

Can Donald Trump swear on the Bible to tell the truth?

By Jim Wallis — May 10, 2024
(RNS) — The former president is selling 'God Bless the USA' Bibles. What will happen if he has to swear on Scripture in court during one of his many trials?

Churches tied to Civil Rights awarded National Park Service preservation funds

By Adelle M. Banks — May 3, 2024
(RNS) — Other grantees will use the NPS funding to conduct historical surveys, including one in Detroit that will explore 'the role of religion in the struggle for equality.’

To save their movement, student protesters should break camp

By Andre Henry — May 3, 2024
(RNS) — 'A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.'
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