Black Church Studies Program

ABOUT THE BLACK CHURCH STUDIES (BCS) PROGRAM

The Black Church Studies (BCS) Program cultivates liberatory and prophetic leaders informed by historical and contemporary understandings of Black Christianity, Black religious life, and Black life more generally. We work to accomplish this goal through the combination of BCS courses, a concentration in BCS, the annual BCS Consultation, the Edwards Peacemaking Lectureship, and the Nehemiah Project.

BLACK CHURCH STUDIES COURSES

BCS courses offer the opportunity for in-depth, academic study that can expand one’s knowledge and appreciation of diverse examples of Black Christianity, Black religions, and Black life. The Academic Committee designates a course as a BCS course based on two criteria: (1) a central focus of the course must include an aspect of Black Christianity, Black religious life, or Black life more generally; (2) two thirds or more of the required learning resources (readings, videos, immersive experiences, etc.) for the course must be from people who identify as Black.

Every master's level student must complete one BCS course during their tenure at Louisville Seminary.

BCS COURSE PROJECTIONS

* Courses that are repeated in this projection have been color coated.

** Courses with a full description in the Academic Catalog contain a course number.

*** Course projections are based on current commitments from instructors. However, courses taught may change, and this table will be updated periodically to reflect those changes.

Click on the (+) below to expand the table below to view BCS course projections organized by academic year.

CONCENTRATION IN BLACK CHURCH STUDIES

Master’s level students can choose to concentrate in Black Church Studies by completing four BCS courses. Upon graduation, students will receive both a mater’s diploma and a Certificate in Black Church Studies.

Students in the Doctor of Ministry Program can choose a concentration in BCS by taking three Advanced Practice of Ministry or Independent Study Courses in Black Church Studies.

BLACK CHURCH STUDIES CONSULTATION

Every February Louisville Seminary hosts the Black Church Studies Consultation, a three-day event that draws together people inside and outside the seminary community for worship and learning tied to a central theme.

• The 2024 BCS Consultation was titled "The Future of the Black Church: Trends, Threats, and Promising Paths." Click here to watch the worship service.
• The 2023 BCS Consultation was titled "Healthy, Holistic, and Holy Approaches to 21st Century Ministry and Mental Health in the Black Church." Click here to watch the worship service and workshops on the history of African Americans and psychology, mental illness (including particular foci on clergy, women, children, young adults, LGBTQIA+ people, and males), and a showcase of doctor of ministry projects related to Black Church Studies.
• The 2022 BCS Consultation focused on the theme of how the Black Church transitions in a new world. Click here to watch the worship service and workshops on hybrid church technology, pandemic challenges, social justice, mental health, and more.
• The 2021 BCS Consultation was titled "Power, Action, and Justice: African American Rural Ministry for the 21st Century." Click here to watch the worship service and workshops on the organizing of social and economic power to counteract anti-democratic forces, the responses of Black CME clergywomen to the obstacles and barriers they face, the Black churches roots of radical Black protest, and more.
• The 2020 Black Church Studies Consultation was titled "African American Rural Ministry: Hopeful Ministries in Hopeless Times." Click here to watch the worship service and workshops on a theological vision for rural Black churches, an ethnographic portrait of Black religious life in Henry County, the effects of permanent plant closing on Hopkinsville’s Black communities, and more.
• The 2019 Black Church Studies Consultation was titled "Rural Ministry in the African American Context." Click here to watch workshops on community organizing, rural community politics, gender relations, and more.

EDWARDS PEACEMAKING LECTURESHIP

The Edwards Peacemaking Lectureship honors Dr. George Edwards and his wife, Jean. Dr. Edwards, an alum of Louisville Seminary (BD ’51), also served the Seminary for 27 years as Professor of New Testament. Dr. Edwards died June 2, 2010. Together, Dr. and Mrs. Edwards shared a ministry that was active in Christian efforts for peace and social justice. Established in 1986, the Edwards Peacemaking Lectureship endowment supports a visiting lecturer to teach a special course or programs in continuing or lay education.

Traditionally, the Edwards Peacemaking Lectureship has been coupled in time and theme with the BCS Consultation because of a shared focus on peace and social justice. Some of the Edwards Lectures are available online.

Nehemiah Project

The Nehemiah Project: Strengthening Historical African American Congregations is funded by the Lilly Endowment and operated in a partnership between Louisville Seminary and the leaders of participating congregations. The goal is to support a dozen primarily rural, historically Black churches in Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio in their relationships with God, strategic goals for their churches, connections with each other, and contribution to the flourishing of their communities.

Presentations in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 BCS Consultation witness to the specific issues and work that has been done through the Nehemiah Project.

BCS Faculty and Leadership