Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant Challenges Black Churches to Move Beyond the Sanctuary
At the 19th annual Urban Summit in Kansas City, Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant urged Black church leaders to expand their work into financial literacy, education, and voter mobilization. The June 6 event drew community leaders ahead of the August primary election.
The Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant stood before hundreds of community leaders at the 19th annual Urban Summit in Kansas City on June 6 and delivered a pointed challenge to Black churches across the country.
"Ninety-seven percent of what we do is inside our church," Bryant told the crowd. "But 92 percent of what Jesus did was outside of the church."
Bryant, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, called on congregations to take a more active role in financial literacy programs, student support, and political education. He said the Black church has the infrastructure and trust to move communities in ways that no other institution can.
The summit, held annually to energize civic participation in the Kansas City metro area, drew particular urgency this year with the August primary approaching. Speakers discussed a proposed congressional map that critics say dilutes Black voting power, as well as Amendment 4, which could affect citizens' ability to amend the Missouri Constitution.
Qiana Thomason, CEO of the Health Forward Foundation, urged attendees to treat voter mobilization as a health issue. She argued that political representation directly affects access to healthcare, housing, and economic opportunity.
The event drew pastors, nonprofit leaders, and elected officials. Organizers said attendance was up from previous years, reflecting growing concern about the direction of local and national policy.
