Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the faith community have long been partners in the fight for justice, with leaders like Rev. William J. Barber II and unions like the AFL-CIO carrying the torch, advocating for fair wages, voting rights, and economic equity.
Author Archives: The Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
AFRO Editor
Posted inReligion
When the hands do the preaching: Black ASL in church
Black American Sign Language has a distinct tradition and cultural sensitivity is required when interpreting in a Black church setting, allowing deaf congregants to stay connected to the sermon, songs, and spirit of the service.
Posted inReligion
Faith and charity merge in Baltimore nonprofit
Associated Black Charities of Maryland is sponsoring a spiritual revival at Mount Lebanon Baptist Church to honor the roots of the organization and renew the collective dedication to faith and the community.
Posted inReligion
Why Baltimore’s Black Catholic parishes are vanishing
The Baltimore archdiocese is closing or consolidating most of the city’s Black parishes, prompting a local Catholic to appeal the decision and argue that the church should take responsibility for declining attendance and crumbling infrastructure.
Posted inPolitics
Evangelicals for Harris: ‘She’s a terrific combination’
A group of White evangelical pastors are urging their followers to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, and Franklin Graham has threatened to sue if they don’t stop airing their ad, which compares his father’s words to Trump’s crude self-assessment.
Posted inReligion
Say Amen: How Black faith traditions showed up at the DNC
The Democratic National Convention featured several Black speakers who used faith, Black church traditions, and the Black church’s role in Democratic Party politics to call for Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next president.
Posted inWord In Black
Rae Lewis-Thornton’s faith-filled fight against AIDS
Rae Lewis-Thornton, a Baptist minister and AIDS educator, is determined to live life to the fullest despite her diagnosis, and is committed to educating people about the disease and the importance of testing and care.
Posted inHBCU
Hampton University announces new school of religion
Hampton University has launched a School of Religion, the first HBCU to offer a doctorate, in partnership with the Church of God in Christ Second Jurisdiction of Virginia, offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in theology, religious studies, and ministry.
Posted inReligion
The hidden pain of church hurt
Church hurt is a common experience for many parishioners, caused by unmet expectations, unhealthy leadership practices, and discrimination, resulting in many leaving their church and seeking therapy to heal.
Posted inWord In Black
Hampton Ministers Conference fosters learning and fellowship
The 110th Hampton Ministers Conference and the 90th Choir Directors and Organists Guild Workshop will bring together thousands of ministers, chaplains, pastors, choir members, organists, musicians and directors for a week of worship, learning, and fellowship.
Posted inReligion
Nationally influential Black church gets new leader
New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore has recently installed its fourth pastor, Dr. Walter Scott Thomas Jr., after 49 years of service by his father, Bishop Walter S. Thomas Sr., and the installation ceremony received national attention.
Posted inReligion
Church shootings force reckoning between faith and security
In the era of mass shootings and widely available handguns, the number of shootings in houses of worship has more than doubled since 2022, prompting the federal government to set aside $400 million to help churches protect themselves with extra security equipment.