Rev. Dr. Jamal H. Bryant
CO-HOST
Rev. Dr. Brianna K. Parker
CO-HOST
Where Faith Meets Freedom. Where Strategy Meets Power.
STATE OF THE BLACK CHURCH CONFERENCE
January 15-17, 2026
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Atlanta Georgia
THE CALL OF THE MOMENT
The world is shifting and so must we.
The Black Church has always been the soul of every movement.
From civil rights to cultural renaissance, we’ve carried the vision and the voice.
But now, we face a new frontier: banned books, voter suppression, AI inequity, disappearing DEI programs, and the re-segregation of schools and spaces.
The question isn’t if the Church still matters.
The question is, will we still lead?
The State of the Black Church Conference is the answer.
It’s not a performance. It’s a plan.
Not a revival. A realignment.
This is the table where faith meets strategy, where conviction meets collaboration, and where the Black Church meets the future.
WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THIS
This isn’t about another inspirational weekend.
It’s about building the infrastructure for the next generation of Black power.
You belong here if you:
Lead in the Church, community, school, or city hall.
Feel the urgency of the moment and need clear direction.
Want to move your influence from passion to measurable impact.
Are ready to collaborate instead of compete.
You’ll leave with:
A Movement Strategy Map for your church or organization.
Exclusive access to the latest BMC data on the Black Church, consumer activism, and justice trends.
Blueprints and tools for faith-based civic action, media response, and community mobilization.
National connections with partners who can amplify your mission.
BLACK CHURCH CONFERENCE
A MOVEMENT. NOT JUST A MEETING.
The Black Community has never been neutral — and in this moment of cultural erasure, political backlash, and economic vulnerability, we cannot afford to be silent.
This isn’t a conference for performance. It’s a strategy gathering for serious people who believe that Black faith still has the power to shape culture, protect freedom, and build the future.
BLACK CHURCH CONFERENCE
WHAT TO EXPECT
- National data and insights from Black Millennial Cafe
- National briefings on politics, economics, education, and theology
- Unapologetic conversations on power, justice, and responsibility
- Strategic planning sessions, breakout cohorts, and curated resources
- Youth voice and leadership in worship and witness
- Movement Activation Zones and action-based engagement
- A place for pastors, educators, elected officials, activists, organizers, and youth leaders to build together
FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
The State of the Black Church Conference is a national strategy gathering where faith leaders, organizers, educators, artists, policy influencers, and community builders come together to confront the defining challenges facing Black communities today. Anchored in data, grounded in theology, and driven by action, this convening moves beyond inspiration to coordinated strategy.
Across three days of high-level conversations, cross-sector panels, justice labs, and denominational leadership dialogues, attendees collectively discern the Church’s role in shaping culture, protecting communities, and preparing for the political and social realities ahead. This conference is not a meeting — it is a mobilization.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 — OPENING NIGHT
( 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM )
5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
Movement Builder Welcome + Orientation (Private)
A private, high-impact orientation for Movement Builder Pass holders.
Includes strategic framing, pre-brief materials, and a private Q&A with conference hosts.
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
State of the Church
A multi-ethnic, theologically rich conversation exploring the Church’s global moment — from the rise of white Christian nationalism to the evolving mission of the Church across Black, Latino, and Asian communities.
Speakers examine cultural shifts, theological tensions, and the spiritual responsibility of the Church in an age of political and social disruption.
Proposed Speakers
- Dr. Mark Labberton
- Father Michael Pfleger
- Dr. Robert Chao Romero
- Dr. Soong-Chan Rah
- Lisa Fields
- Jamar Tisby
- Rev. Traci Blackmon
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 — MOVEMENT + MAPPING
( 9:00 AM - 5:45 PM )
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Movement Builder Strategy Session (Private)
A justice-integration lab for churches, nonprofits, organizers, and institutions.
Participants map their influence, identify leverage points, and build justice-aligned strategic frameworks.
Facilitators
- Heber Brown
- Additional Facilitator (TBD)
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
Morning Devotional + Framing
A grounding moment led by local clergy, artists, and educators to frame the day’s work.
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
State of the Moment
A political and advocacy-forward session decoding the most urgent legislation affecting Black communities nationwide — translated into plain language with action steps for the 2026 midterms.
Attendees gain strategies for mobilization, narrative framing, and policy engagement.
Proposed Speakers
- Derrick Johnson
- Phil Agnew
- Angela Rye
- Frederick D. Haynes III
- Van Lathan
- Stacey Abrams
- Tiffany Loftin
- One Elected Official (TBD)
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Movement Builder Private Lunch (Private)
A working lunch for Movement Builder Pass holders focused on digital strategy, economic justice, influence mapping, and community power.
Facilitators
- Black digital strategist
- Justice-focused practitioner
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
State of the Black Union
A cross-sector briefing from leading voices in education, economics, media, health, civic life, and culture.
Panelists identify the most pressing conditions affecting Black Americans today and outline institutional pathways forward for coordinated, measurable change.
Proposed Speakers
- Moderator: Roland Martin
- Joy Ann Reid
- Tamika Mallory
- Dr. Thema Bryant
- Dr. Julianne Malveaux
- Dr. Glenell Lee-Pruitt
- Rev. Starsky Wilson
- Marc Lamont Hill
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett
- Pop Culture Guest (TBD)
4:15 PM – 5:45 PM
State of the Faith
A candid national conversation on the cultural impact of white Christian nationalism, the distortion of faith in the public square, and the urgent need to reclaim liberating, justice-centered faith in the Black tradition.
Featuring artists, theologians, and cultural leaders shaping the future of Black public witness.
Proposed Speakers
- Hezekiah Walker
- Phillip Anthony Mitchell
- LeCrae
- Charlie Dates
- Otis Moss III
- Leslie Callahan
- Braxton Shelly
- Kirk Franklin
-
Moderator: Eric Mason
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 — COMMISSIONING + FUTURE-FACING STRATEGY
( 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM )
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Morning Gathering: Faith, Power & Formation
A grounding session blending prayer, testimony, and cultural expression to ready attendees for a day of strategy.
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
State of the Black Church
A historic convening of the highest-ranking leaders across the nation’s major historically Black denominations and reformations.
This closed-rank conversation brings together the senior stewards of Black ecclesial tradition — voices who shape doctrine, direct national priorities, and shepherd millions across the Black Christian landscape.
They will address the spiritual, cultural, and institutional concerns of Black Americans and chart the future of the Black Church’s witness.
Proposed Speakers
- COGIC – Bishop J. Drew Sheard
- AME – Bishop Reginald Jackson
- CME – Bishop James Walker
- NBC USA – Dr. Boise Kimber
- NBC America – Dr. Samuel Tolbert
- PNBC – Dr. Jacqueline Thompson
- FGBCFI – Bishop Joseph Walker III
- PAW – Bishop Noel Jones
- Dr. Gina Stewart
- Bishop Yvette Flunder
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM
Strategy Circle + Call to Commitment
A collaborative vision-harvesting session focused on regional coalitions, community-level commitments, and next-step activation across sectors.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Movement Builder Commissioning (Private)
A private commissioning for Movement Builder Pass holders featuring:
- Guided reflection
- Regional movement priorities
- Leadership charge from conference hosts
- Access to the Exclusive Movement Builder Toolkit
REGISTRATION
OPTIONS
Find the option that’s right for you.
VIRTUAL ACCESS
$99
Livestream access to all main stage sessions (Friday + Saturday),
7-day replay access,
Downloadable Digital Conference Guide,
Access to all BMC research briefs shared during the conference
Live Q&A with featured speakers (end of Day 1)
Discount on post-conference toolkit + curriculum
GENERAL ADMISSION
$199
All Virtual Access benefits, plus:
Full access to all in-person main sessions + breakout sessions
Friday lunch + Saturday morning refreshments
Printed Program Booklet + Note Journal
Access to Movement Activation Zones
Conference tote bag with curated tools and local goods
Participation in Opening + Closing Strategy Sessions
MOVEMENT BUILDER PASS
$349
Premium Access to all plenaries, private lunches, and reserved seating
Invitation-Only Strategy Session with national organizers, clergy, and culture-shapers
Toolkit Bundle with exclusive downloads, action plans, and campaign resources
Priority Networking with speakers, partners, and fellow movement leaders
MOVEMENT ACTIVATION ZONES - WHERE BLACK FAITH MEETS ACTION
Visit each zone. Reflect. Engage. Commit.
-
Youth Justice Lab
-
Black Consumer Power Table
-
Faith & Civic Action Station
-
Black Bank Page Wall
-
Black Church Consumer Strategy
-
Survey + Research Wall
-
Building Banned Book Libraries
-
Black Bank + Church Partnerships
Visit each to complete your Faith & Freedom Passport and unlock exclusive resources.
SPEAKERS AND LEADERS INCLUDE
Leaders from each historically Black denomination,
Black educators, mental health professionals, healthcare professionals, elected officials, global faith leaders, and justice innovators
THIS IS OUR MOMENT.
- We cannot outsource our strategy.
- We cannot delay our unity.
- We cannot afford to be unprepared.
The State of the Black Community demands our attention and our action.
© 2025 by Black Millennial Cafe. All Rights Reserved.