Staccato Powell, a former bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, pleaded guilty to wire and mail fraud in a scheme to fraudulently gain control of multiple church properties in California, using forged documents and false statements.
Category: Religion
Posted in!Front Page National News
Black Church and Black Press unite to empower Black America
By Black Press USA Newswire Nashville, TN — July 25, 2025: In a historic announcement, a coalition of leading Black faith organizations and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) unveiled a strategic partnership and plan to confront systemic disparities impacting African American communities nationwide. Dr. Boise Kimber, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA; Bishop […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Roslyn Chandler Wood, devoted educator and community pillar, dies at 96
Roslyn Chandler Wood, a devoted educator, cultural advocate, and lifelong Baltimore resident, passed away on July 17 at age 96. Family, friends, and community members gathered July 24 to honor her legacy of service, excellence, and empowerment during a heartfelt celebration of life at St. James Episcopal Church.
Posted inReligion
Rev. Dr. Zollie D. Bagby Sr. retires after decades of ministry
Rev. Dr. Zollie D. Bagby Sr., longtime pastor of The Village Baptist Church in Baltimore, is retiring at age 85 after more than three decades of ministry and a lifetime of service. Known for his humility, dedication to community, and spiritual leadership, Bagby leaves behind a powerful legacy of faith, family, and outreach.
Posted inReligion
Episcopal trailblazer Rev. Canon Sandye A. Wilson remembered for a life of faith and justice
Family, friends, and church leaders gathered on July 12 at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore to celebrate the life and legacy of the Very Rev. Canon Sandye A. Wilson, a pioneering priest, educator, and justice advocate. Remembered for her joyful spirit and decades of ministry, Wilson broke barriers in the Episcopal Church and left a lasting impact on communities across the U.S. and the Virgin Islands.
Posted inReligion
Black churches strive to reignite youth engagement amid shifting generational ties
Black churches have long supported youth through education, mentorship, and leadership opportunities, but changing generational dynamics and declining attendance—especially post-pandemic—pose new challenges. At Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., Rev. Brian Woolfolk is working to revitalize youth programs and reengage the next generation through a holistic approach combining spiritual growth, community service, and digital outreach.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Zion Baptist Church champions affordable senior housing in Ward 4
The Rev. Dr. Keith W. Byrd Sr. calls for Ward 4 seniors to age in place with dignity through the church’s new housing initiative.
Posted inReligion
Celebrating National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: A look at therapists with religious- based practices
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. This week, the AFRO takes a look at therapists with religious- based practices.
Posted inBaltimore News
State of the People wraps three-day national tour in Baltimore
The State of the People National Assembly concluded its three-day gathering in Baltimore, bringing together Black leaders, activists, and organizations to build a national agenda rooted in empowerment, community healing, and political action. Key discussions—such as the “Black Women Leading Change” panel—centered on the importance of rest and wellness as vital tools of resistance, especially for Black women bearing the weight of communal responsibility and systemic stress.
Posted inReligion
Rebuilding one of the nation’s oldest Black churches begins at Juneteenth ceremony
On Juneteenth, a ceremonial groundbreaking marked the reconstruction of First Baptist Church of Williamsburg—one of the oldest Black churches in the U.S.—on its original site, where enslaved and free Black worshippers once defied laws to gather in faith. The effort by Colonial Williamsburg aims to restore not only a historic structure but also the long-suppressed legacy of Black Americans who shaped the nation’s spiritual and cultural foundations.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Faith organizations rally behind migrants amid nationwide ICE crackdowns
By Ali HalloumAFRO Interns Amid ongoing immigration crackdowns by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, faith leaders of every denomination are calling for action. On June 8, the 47th president federalized the California National Guard to quell protests against ICE raids, over the objection of Governor Gavin Newsom. The agency has detained individuals outside of […]
Posted inWord In Black
Rev. Jamal Bryant: Target is canceled. Dollar General’s next
On the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, faith leaders held prayer vigils outside Target stores to protest the company’s retreat from its racial equity commitments, leading Rev. Jamal Bryant to announce a full cancellation of the retailer. Calling it the most successful Black boycott since Montgomery, Bryant said the movement has cost Target $1 billion in valuation and is now turning its focus to holding Dollar General accountable for failing Black communities.