Barna Group Releases 20-Year Longitudinal Study on the State of the Black Church

The Barna Group has released Trends in the Black Church, a comprehensive report based on a 20-year longitudinal study that examines the current health, values, and needs of Black Christians and congregations across the United States.

The report was produced in partnership with the American Bible Society and Urban Ministries Inc. It covers a wide range of topics including spiritual identity and expression, activism and civic engagement, leadership pipelines and pastoral transitions, gentrification, the legacy of historically Black churches, and the impact of COVID-19 on congregations.

The report also examines the role of women in the Black church and the flourishing of Black Americans both inside and outside church communities.

Barna Group researchers say the report is designed to help church leaders, denominational officials, and ministry organizations understand the data behind trends they are observing in their own congregations. The 20-year scope allows the report to track shifts in religious identity, including a documented move toward religious diversification and secularism among younger Black Americans.

The report is available in paperback for $39, digital format for $29, and a Ministry Kit for $79 that includes a presenter's slide deck, bonus data on denominational and emotional well-being trends, a team debrief guide, and a guide for making data-informed ministry decisions.

The release comes as Black church leaders are navigating a generational divide, with older congregants often emphasizing traditional legacies while younger members, particularly Gen Z, raise questions about the church's relevance to their daily lives.

NYU Press also published the paperback edition of Jason E. Shelton's The Contemporary Black Church in June 2026, offering empirical data on the shift toward religious diversification and secularism within the African American community.