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.
Category: Religion
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.
Posted inReligion
Local pastor is president of the historic Hampton University Ministers’ Conference
Rev. Dr. Harold A. Carter Jr., pastor of New Shiloh Baptist Church, will begin his term as president of the prestigious 111-year-old Hampton University Ministers’ Conference on June 2, focusing this year’s gathering on Christology under the theme, “An Ageless Christ for An Age that Still Needs Christ.”
Posted inReligion
Supporting the mind and spirit in places of worship
Black churches have long served as hubs for more than worship—offering political, social and emotional support to their communities. Now, many are stepping into a new role: helping congregants care for their mental health alongside their spiritual well-being.
Posted inReligion
Faith leaders stand with governor on veto of bill to create Maryland reparation commission
Rev. Jerome Stephens and a group of prominent faith leaders support Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of a proposed reparations commission, urging a shift from further study to immediate action on racial equity. They highlight the administration’s tangible progress in closing racial gaps and call for continued investment in housing, education and economic opportunity for Black Marylanders.
Posted inReligion
Young trailblazer honored as an unsung hero at historic Black Catholic Church
Varia Alston, a 21-year-old junior at McDaniel College, became the first young adult to receive the Unsung Black Catholic Woman Award from Baltimore’s Historic St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The award honors Black Catholic women whose quiet dedication to faith, family, and community often goes unrecognized.
