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Special series: Legacy Black churches

UM News special series spotlights legacy Black churches. Clockwise from top left: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair, N.J. (now The Mark Montclair), photo courtesy of St. Mark’s via Montclair Local; Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church in Philadelphia (location 1883-2020), photo courtesy of Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church; Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta, photo courtesy of Central United Methodist Church; and a family at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas, photo courtesy of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.
UM News special series spotlights legacy Black churches. Clockwise from top left: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Montclair, N.J. (now The Mark Montclair), photo courtesy of St. Mark’s via Montclair Local; Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church in Philadelphia (location 1883-2020), photo courtesy of Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church; Central United Methodist Church in Atlanta, photo courtesy of Central United Methodist Church; and a family at St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas, photo courtesy of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.

United Methodist News takes an in-depth look at how Black United Methodist churches are maintaining their traditions while also doing innovative ministries to serve the present age. Each week in March, the series will feature venerable yet still vital African American churches in the United Methodist connection.

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UM News series looks at how historic Black United Methodist churches embrace traditions while creating innovative new ministries. Photos (clockwise from top left): St. Mark’s in Montclair, N.J., courtesy of St. Luke’s via Montclair Local; Mother African Zoar in Philadelphia, courtesy of Mother African Zoar; a family at St. Luke’s in Dallas, courtesy of St. Luke’s; Central in Atlanta, courtesy of Central United Methodist Church; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. 

Pouring new wine into old wineskins

Central, Mother African Zoar and Asbury United Methodist churches embrace traditions as well as innovative ministries. 
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UM News series looks at how historic Black United Methodist churches embrace traditions while creating innovative new ministries. Photos (clockwise from top left): St. Mark’s in Montclair, N.J., courtesy of St. Luke’s via Montclair Local; Mother African Zoar in Philadelphia, courtesy of Mother African Zoar; a family at St. Luke’s in Dallas, courtesy of St. Luke’s; Central in Atlanta, courtesy of Central United Methodist Church; graphic by Laurens Glass, UM News. 

Spirit of service helps Black churches thrive

St. Luke and Trinity in Texas celebrate venerable histories while serving their communities through creative outreach.
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A young family attends St. Luke Community United Methodist Church in Dallas in February. Founded in 1933, the large, predominantly Black but diverse congregation gathers for traditional and contemporary worship services, small groups and social justice ministries. Photo courtesy of St. Luke Community United Methodist Church.  

St. Luke pastor called to build bridges

The Rev. Richie Butler began his race relations work at St. Luke’s mother church, historic St. Paul United Methodist in Dallas. 
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