Africentric Christianity: A Thological Appraisal for Ministry (Book)
J. Deotis Roberts, Author. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2000.

In this book, theologian J. Deotis Roberts provides a theological assessment of Africentrism and its relationship with Christianity. Roberts explores the origins, history, and principles of Africentrism for those who have only a general sense of this movement, and he reveals how it has affected the way people practice their Christian faith.

Black and Christian.com (Web Resource)

Black and Christian.com bills itself as the voice of the African American Christian community. This site provides information in four primary areas: the pulpit—resources to assist clergy, pastors, and others engaged in church leadership; the pew—resources to assist families and congregations; the academy—resources to assist theologians, seminarians, and others; and the black church—historical information and reference material on the African American Church. This site also has a useful nationwide African American church directory.

Black Church Beginnings: The Long Hidden Realities of the First Years (Book)
Henry H. Mitchell, Author. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2004.

Black Church Beginnings provides an intimate look at the struggles of African Americans to establish spiritual communities in the harsh world of slavery in the American colonies. Written by one of today’s foremost experts on African American religion, this book traces the growth of the black church from its start in the mid-1700s to the end of the 19th century.

The Black Church in the African American Experience (Book)
C. Eric Lincoln and Lawrence H. Mamiya, Authors. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1990.

This text can be used by scholars, clergy, lay leaders, and all those concerned with the institutional life of the African American community. It contains impressive data relative to subjects not previously studied sociologically—such as analyses of various issues pertaining to women and youth and the impact of the African American theology movement on African American churches. The study also provides important and unique comparisons between rural and urban churches.

The Black Church in the Post-Civil Rights Era (Book)
Anthony B. Pinn, Author. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2002.

Anthony Pinn has provided a contemporary snapshot of the life of the black church in America. Much has changed on the black church landscape since the Civil Rights era, and Pinn sketches these changes: the decline of denominationalism and the rise of black megachurches; black church burnings and leadership scandals within the National Baptist Convention; the rise of women in the ministry, including the installation of the first black female bishop in the African American Episcopal Church; and the challenge of HIV/AIDS, drugs, and black male incarceration.

Church Planting in the African American Context (Book)
Hozell C. Francis, Author. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

One in every six churches in the United States is African-American. So, given the church's central role in the black community, why is the number of unchurched African-Americans increasing? How can you plant a church that proclaims with power and relevance the unchanging gospel to our changing African-American culture? Drawing from his wealth of experience, Hozell Francis provides the theory and practice for raising up a church in today's black community. You'll learn how to shape a vision to guide your church; form plans to realize your vision; cultivate strong community ties; develop an effective core of leaders; impact families with the Gospel; and transcend cultural dividing lines.

Directory of African American Religious Bodies: A Compendium by the Howard University School of Divinity (2nd edition) (Book)
Wardell J. Payne, Editor. Washington, DC: Howard University Press, 2004.

Addresses and brief background information are provided for African American religious bodies, African American organizations within predominantly white religious bodies, religious councils, ecumenical organizations, and others. This directory includes essays giving historical overviews of African American religious traditions within the Baptist, Methodist, and Holiness/Pentecostal/Apostolic traditions.

An Encyclopedia of African American Christian Heritage (Book)
Marvin A. McMickle, Author. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2002.

Written to be accessible to lay readers, this book will interest those seeking inspirational stories of African Americans who embraced a life of service (not always within the Christian Church). Chapters include denominational founders and leaders, preachers, teachers, politicians, nationalists, singers, and movements. The entries are cross-referenced, and many photos are included.

Evangelism and Discipleship in African American Churches (Book)
June N. Lee and Matthew Parker, Editors. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999.

The topic of evangelism has been a focus of the African American church throughout the centuries. June Lee and Matthew Parker draw on the wisdom of several scholars to investigate how the church might approach evangelism in the contemporary setting. The authors address overarching themes on how and why the church must refresh its evangelistic methods. They also discuss how ministries within the church (such as deacons and trustees) might approach evangelism.

Faith Based Community Economic Development Initiative (Organization)

The Faith Based Community Economic Development Initiative is a project of the National Congress for Community Economic Development (NCCED). Its mission is to promote and facilitate faith based community economic development by engaging in research and training in faith based development, expanding collaboration between religious institutions and other agencies, encouraging theological reflection on community revitalization within American religion, and enhancing NCCED’s services through integrating faith based development into the life of the association.

High Impact African American Churches (Book)
George Barna and Harry R. Jackson, Authors. Ventura, CA: Regal Books, 2004.

In High Impact African American Churches, researcher George Barna and Pastor Harry Jackson combine their research, knowledge, and experience to describe how some African American churches are changing lives. Their critical insights into the historical African American experience and its current ministry practices will show you transferable concepts that will help your ministry—regardless of its location or ethnicity—lead people to greater spiritual maturity.

In Search of Wisdom: Faith Formation in the Black Church (Book)
Anne Wimberly and Evelyn L. Parker, Authors. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2002.

In Search of Wisdom is a guide for pastors, church leaders, and all others who help African Americans in their search for a meaningful Christian lifestyle. Drawing upon biblical texts and African traditions, this book will assist African Americans in their pursuit of genuine Christian discipleship. Wisdom in African American tradition is not simply knowledge. Rather, it combines those insights, attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and practices that create and sustain a life of hope and produce an inherent sense of one's worth.

Journal of Religious Thought (Periodical)
Washington, DC: Howard University Press.

The Journal of Religious Thought, published semiannually for Howard University School of Divinity, focuses on scholarship in the field of religion, with special attention to the ministry of the black church and related aspects of the black religious experience.

Living Stones in the Household of God: The Legacy and Future of Black Theology (Book)
Linda E. Thomas, Editor. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2004.

In this volume, sixteen theologians assess the importance of black theology and the new challenges presented by today’s intellectual, social, religious, and geopolitical situation. Including two chapters by James H. Cone, the pioneer of black theology, the volume examines black theology and the black churches, black theology and the white churches, black theology in light of global religions, and the ongoing spiritual challenges to African Americans today. A major focus of the volume is the contribution of womanist thought.

Teaching African American Religions (Book)
Carolyn M. Jones, Author. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005.

This textbook is a valuable guide to the variety of African American religions, both Christian and non Christian. Teaching African American Religions supplies functional and innovative ways to teach African American religious traditions in a range of settings, including the church.

Virtues and Values: The African and African American Experience (Book)
Peter J. Paris, Author. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2004.

This book explores the impact of African religious and moral values on African American thinking. Author Peter Paris asserts that African and African American values are grounded in a social ethic that emphasizes the interdependence of four domains in African experience: God, community, family, and person. After discussing virtue theory, Peter Paris discusses on six specific virtues (including beneficence). He explores how African perspectives contributed to African American notions of morality, meaning, and public virtue.