Directory of African American Religious Bodies: A Compendium by the Howard University School of Divinity (Book)
Wardell J Payne, Editor.  Howard University Press, 1995.

This ecumenical resource, prepared under the auspices of the Howard University School of Divinity’s Research Center on Black Religious Bodies, provides information on African American religious bodies, organizations, agencies, and scholars. Non-African American religious groups and organizations that serve those of African American heritage are also included.

The Directory features approximately 1,000 entries, each of which includes the organization’s name, address, and key leaders; a narrative regarding its history and mission; and information concerning its membership, regular meetings, and major publications. Each entry is classified by its primary function or organizational focus (e.g., administrative, ministerial, publishing, social justice, research).

Augmenting these listings are essays providing historical overviews of the African American Baptist, Methodist, Holiness/Pentecostal/Apostolic, and Catholic traditions, along with an introduction exploring the historic significance and changing role of the organized church in contemporary African American experience.

For ease of use, a total of seven indexes are provided, organized alphabetically, geographically, by religious category, by denomination, by group type, and by personal name. An index of African American women who are founders or leaders of religious organizations is also provided.

This resource is recommended for scholars, researchers, libraries, and for anyone seriously interested in African American religion.

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