In a consumerist age, 10 members of the “Unfit Christian” congregation share whether the Messiah would hit up the sales. By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Every major religion has its holy days. But for some folks, maybe Black Friday — the annual ritualistic shopping day on the Friday following Thanksgiving — should be added to […]
Author Archives: Rev. Dorothy Boulware
Posted inReligion
Sunday always comes: Pastors search for post-election sermons
Pastors are preparing messages of resilience and hope to offer strength and inspiration to Black parishioners mourning the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
Posted inReligion
Thank Heaven: Churches offer respite for voters on Nov. 5
Churches across the country, including the National Cathedral in Washington and St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York, are opening their doors on Election Day to offer a quiet place for respite, with snacks, massages, and worship services.
Posted inWord In Black
Praise and worship: A key part of healthy bodies and souls
Black Christians who attend church or other houses of worship are less stressed and live longer, and worshiping God causes an increase in BPNF, a neurotransmitter that helps grow healthy brain cells.
Posted inPolitics
Faith organizations declare voting as a responsibility for believers
Organizations are working to energize and register the faithful Christian community ahead of the upcoming general election, with some emphasizing the importance of voting in Sunday sermons and others providing trained poll chaplains and peacekeepers to ensure safe access to the polls.
Posted inReligion
Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant: ‘She lived what she preached’
Rev. Cecelia Williams Bryant, a powerful minister and advocate for community healing and mental health awareness, passed away on September 26, leaving behind a legacy of ministry and love.
Posted inWord In Black
Faith and education: One man’s crusade against prostate cancer
Dewayne Charleston, a Black man diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, is using his foundation to educate other Black men about the importance of prostate cancer screening and to support those who have been diagnosed.
Posted inWord In Black
Marcellus Williams: Faith leaders join the fight to stop his execution
Faith leaders in Missouri are advocating for clemency for Marcellus Williams, a Black man who was wrongfully convicted of murder and is scheduled to be executed on Sept. 24, as they argue that his life can remain open to redemption, mercy, and the healing power of God.
Posted inWord In Black
Trumped: Evangelical leaders want followers to worship God, not politics
A group of evangelical Christian leaders have issued a confessional document urging the faithful to separate religion and politics, rejecting the false idols of power, wealth, and strength, and warning against political idolatry and its messengers.
Posted inWord In Black
Faith, history, health: Why an NYC church commemorates the Middle Passage
St. Paul Community Baptist Church in Brooklyn celebrates the Black experience each year with eight days of programming, including seminars, workshops, and a theatrical production, to commemorate the African ancestors and address generational trauma.
Posted inWord In Black
After a fatal school shooting, faith leaders heal a wounded community
Rev. Stacey Nickerson of Salem United Methodist Church of Upper Falls, MD, organized a coalition of churches and ministers to help heal a community traumatized by gun violence, including writing encouraging notes to teachers and gathering a collection of snacks for the school.
Posted inReligion
Why this powerful Black Baptist church could soon be in crisis
The National Baptist Convention USA is facing a leadership crisis and financial struggles, with a divided membership and a looming election for the presidency, as well as a decline in membership and political influence.
