New Books by Black Church Leaders Offer History and Hope for the Future

Three new books by Black church leaders are generating discussion in faith communities this year, each offering a different lens on the history and future of the Black church in America.

Reverend Boise Kimber's "Breaking the Stained-glass Ceiling" examines the role of women in Black church ministry. Kimber argues that resistance to women's leadership has held the church back and calls for a direct reckoning with that history.

Bishop Teresa E. Snorton's "Roots of Resilience: Black History Through the Eyes of Faith" traces Black history through a faith lens, emphasizing how the church has served as a source of strength through slavery, segregation, and ongoing racial injustice.

Reverend W. Franklyn Richardson's "Never Lost: The Black Church as God's Ark of the Covenant" pays tribute to the church's history while calling for renewal. Richardson argues that young people must be brought into leadership and that the church must engage with technology and social justice to stay relevant.

Religion News Service reported on the books in February 2026, noting that they arrive as the Black church faces real questions about its place in American life. Surveys show generational divides, with younger Black Americans more likely to describe the church as struggling or disconnected from their lives.

The authors do not shy away from those tensions. All three books acknowledge the diversity within the Black church and the need for greater inclusion, particularly of women.

Kimber, Snorton, and Richardson are all longtime figures in Black church leadership. Their books are being used in seminary courses and church study groups across the country.

Religion News Service described the publications as a sign that the Black church is engaged in serious self-examination, not retreat.