Black Church Studies

Historically Black Protestant Churches

Black protestant churches are those that minister to predominantly African American congregations in the United States. Early black churches were founded by free blacks in the 18th century. Historically black churches have long been the centers of African American communities, serving numerous important social functions.

• Theology and Doctrine: While the theology, doctrine and social organization of these congregations are similar to those found other denominations, African American churches often emphasize different aspects of Christian doctrine, such as the importance of freedom and the quest for justice. Moreover, many black churches opt to be more liberal on economic attitudes and conservative on social issues.

• The states with the highest population of black protestants: District of Columbia, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee (collectively have 1,302,149 adherents (as of 2020).

• Trends: Black Protestant congregations (generally but obviously not all) may be liberal on economic attitudes and conservative on social issues.

• The E.M. White Library houses a robust collection that centers around Black Churches and theology, and supports the LPTS Black Church Studies program and the Black Church Rural & Small Towns Ministry Initiative. 

Seven largest Black Protestant denominations are (as listed by ARDA):

• African Methodist Episcopal Church

• African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

• Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

• Church of God in Christ

• National Baptist Convention of America

• National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

• Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.

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Additional information: 

• LPTS Black Church Studies Library guide

• Association of Religion Data Archives: Black Protestant - Religious Tradition

• Documenting the American South: The Church in the Southern Black Community

• Pew Research Center: Historical Black Protestantism

• Pew Research Center: Religious Portrait of African Americans

• Historically Black Methodist Congregations

• Historically Black Baptist Congregations

• Historically Black Pentecostal Congregations

Photo courtesy of https://www.umc.org/en/who-we-are/our-people/african-people