religion Archives - Word In Black

From hotline calls to quiet confessions, a counselor recounts what Black women share about intimate partner violence — and how faith, fear, and misused scripture can complicate their path to safety.

They Tell Me About the Abuse. I Wish I Could Tell Them to Run

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware April 24, 2026April 24, 2026

A counselor’s perspective sheds light on a rising crisis: intimate partner violence against Black women, and the powerful role faith can play in shaping whether they stay or go.

As church choirs shrink and arts programs fade, Eric Waddell, a Baltimore native, is rallying hundreds to revive Charm City's proud Black gospel tradition.

500 Voices, One Mission: Reviving Baltimore’s Gospel Sound

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware April 22, 2026April 22, 2026

When Grammy-winning neo-soul artists purportedly said Black wealth is hampered by tithing, it spurred a debate between traditioalists who see tithing as spiritually and historically important, and those who believe it drains Black wealth from a community that is persistenty behind whites economically.

Next Lifetime or This One? Eryka Badu Ignites a Tithing Debate

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Easter doesn’t end at resurrection; it unfolds in uncertainty, where fear comes before purpose. That arc — from hiding to bold witness at Pentecost — mirrors Black America today. As hard-won rights face pressure, the question isn’t just what was lost, but what comes next — and how faith becomes action.

Between Easter and Pentecost, Survival — Not Faith — Came First

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

The shocking Easter Sunday murder of Pastor Tammy McCollum, a minister at The Well Worship Center in metro Charlotte, North Carolina, exposed a serious problem among Black women clergy: the threat of harassment, abuse and violence. Police arrested McCollum's husband and charged him with her murder, but Black women clergy who suffer abuse often don't report it for fear of being shamed or not believed.

Behind the Pulpit, Black Women Battle Violence and Silence

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware April 14, 2026April 16, 2026

A sacred Black church tradition rooted in Christ’s final words is evolving—embracing livestreams, diverse voices and modern interpretations that connect ancient scripture to today’s struggles for justice, community and hope. An all-female contingent of bishops (left to right) Kennetha Bingham-Thai, Sharma Lewis-Logan. Robin Dease, Tracy Smith Malone, LaTrelle Easterling and Delores Williamston participated in the event.

‘Seven Last Words’ Services Unite Black Churches Nationwide

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware April 9, 2026April 8, 2026

After a traditional career rising through the ranks of United Methodist Church leadership, Rev. Dr. Wanda Bynum Duckett reinvented herself as a minister who fuses hip-hop, spoken-word poetry and Christian texts to form "Sacred Slam," a unique form of preaching that's attracting notice and filling the pews.

This Pastor Is Flipping Black Church Tradition With Poetry

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware April 2, 2026April 2, 2026

In an effort to reaffirm the institution of maarriage in the Black community, pastors and lay leaders in the Black church are extolling the benefits — and requirements — of marriage. That includes couples like Voncille and Melvin Greene, members ofof First Baptist Church of Glenarden International in Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Why Black Pastors Are Reclaiming Marriage in the Pews

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware and Jennifer Porter Gore March 31, 2026April 2, 2026

Practically since its inception, Black women have been the backbone of the Black church: directing choirs, teaching Sunday school, and leading the culture. Yet even though more Black women are entering ministry, fewer than 1 in 10 leadership positions in the Black church are held by Black women. There has been progress, however, including Black women ministers and a Black woman bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who was elevated in 2000

Black Women Built the Black Church. Why Can’t They Lead It?

by Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware March 24, 2026March 24, 2026