Jamie Seals, an Inkster, Mich., native, writer, speaker and thinker, reflects on the generational divide surrounding the relevance of the Black Church, exploring why an institution once central to Black life now feels disconnected to many. Tracing its origins as a sanctuary from racism and exclusion, he challenges believers to look inward, arguing that the condition of the Black Church mirrors the spiritual and social struggles of its people—and that renewal begins with personal responsibility and renewed commitment to faith and community.
Tag: Black Church
Posted inReligion
Soul Shop for Black Churches equips faith leaders to address suicide in their congregations
Soul Shop for Black Churches is equipping faith leaders to address suicide and trauma in Black communities, providing training that combines mental health expertise with pastoral care. The program empowers congregations to have open conversations, reduce stigma and offer hope to those in desperate situations
Posted inOpinion
Is pride in the way of progress?
Christopher Anderson, member of the Baltimore City Republican Central Committee and former congressional and Baltimore City Council candidate, argues that Pride Month has overshadowed Black struggles by co-opting the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement and pushing Black issues further down the national agenda. He urges Black Americans to prioritize their identity and challenges uncritical support of movements that may dilute their fight for justice.
Posted inReligion
As services shrink, churches step up
Black churches across the U.S. are stepping up to fill gaps left by government cutbacks. Across the country, clergy members and congregants are providing food, jobs and essential services to their communities.
Posted inCivil Rights
Black Press Day 2025 highlights need for innovation and resilience in media
At the NNPA Fund’s 2025 Black Press Day event, NNPA President and CEO Benjamin Chavis reaffirmed the Black Press’s role in advocating for justice and equality. He emphasized adapting to digital platforms while preserving print’s impact and urged stronger collaboration between the Black Press and the Black church. Quoting Freedom’s Journal, he reflected on progress and ongoing challenges, stressing that Black media must continue to be the trusted voice of Black America.
Posted inWord In Black
Virtual Faith: Why Black churchgoers are staying home on Sunday
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in in-person church attendance, with only 2 in 5 Americans regularly participating in church services and 37% of Black Protestants saying they join services both in person and virtually.
Posted inCommentary, Opinion, OPINION
Black churches are a gift to the nation – to keep it going, we need more ‘bigheartedness’
By Wale Mafolasire Biden recently praised the Black church, saying the world would be a different place without their example. He described the institution as a gift to the nation. And he is absolutely correct. As an entrepreneur and CEO with a mission to connect people to the causes that matter most to them so […]
Posted inWord In Black
Confronting domestic violence in the Black church
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware, Word in Black I can’t use her name, even if I could remember it after all these years. What I do remember is the visceral pain I felt as I listened to my seminary classmate confess that her husband assaulted her physically, emotionally, and sexually on a regular basis. Most […]
Posted inReligion
The best of both worlds: Meet Bishop C. Guy Robinson, the Mental Health Theologian
By Marnita ColemanSpecial to the AFRO Bishop C. Guy Robinson, pastor of The Tabernacle of the Lord Church and Ministries in West Baltimore, is on a journey to normalize mental wellness from his pulpit. Known as a “mental health theologian,” he believes partnerships between pastors and mental health professionals in service to the African-American community […]