Black Contemplative Preaching: A Hidden History of Prayer, Proclamation, and Prophetic Witness

Stereotypical images of African American Christian spirituality eclipse the profound diversity of Black preaching. As a result, contemplative preaching has become one of the most overlooked streams of gospel proclamation in Black Protestant contexts. Far from a new phenomenon, contemplative preaching consists of a robust tradition of orators, theologians, prophets, mystics, and pastors. In different ways, these proclaimers embody a life-giving, boundary-crossing, contemplative vision that fosters spiritual and social transformation.

In Black Contemplative Preaching, E. Trey Clark expands our understanding of Black religiosity by drawing attention to the rich history of contemplative preaching in the Black church. Clark brings this hidden history to light by examining the life and preaching ministry of three twentieth-century African American religious leaders: Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King Jr., and the late Bishop Barbara Harris. In addition, the book discusses the contemplative proclamation of contemporary spiritual leaders such as Ineda Pearl Adesanya, Veronica R. Goines, Luke A. Powery, and Frank A. Thomas, as well as poet and activist Amanda Gorman.

Black Contemplative Preaching challenges monolithic portraits of Black spirituality and ministry through an evaluation of these influential figures. The uncovering of this rich, yet neglected, history of mystical activism among Christian preachers sheds light on the creative synthesis of spirituality, social justice, and proclamation in the Black church. Ultimately, the book presents Black contemplative preaching as a historic and enduring source of theological wisdom that speaks to the political, ecological, and spiritual challenges of our times.

• Introduction
• 1 Preaching as Prayer: Toward a History of Contemplative Preaching
• 2 Creating a Friendly World: Howard Thurman as Contemplative Preacher
• 3 Redeeming the Soul and Society: Martin Luther King Jr. as Contemplative Preacher
• 4 Embodying Prophetic Contemplation: Barbara Harris as Contemplative Preacher
• 5 The Endurance of Black Contemplative Preaching
• Conclusion

This book provides a rich resource for those seeking to find ways to enliven their preaching. It will enlighten those exploring how one's contemplative practices can profoundly impact one's preaching. It is a historical resource for all those interested in the contribution Black preaching has made to both the Black church experience and society at large. I highly recommend this book for its historical, homiletical, and inspirational strengths.

Written in an academically rigorous and spiritually invigorating style, E. Trey Clark's Black Contemplative Preaching: A Hidden History of Prayer, Proclamation, and Prophetic Witness is a treasure-trove for preachers, teachers, and lifelong learners of Christian spirituality... the book itself both guides the reader in understanding the practices and ways of being that form and transform contemplatives and inspires readers to give attention to their own spirituality.

As Clark makes clear, Black Contemplative Preaching challenges us not only to consider the Black contemplative tradition but to resist the limiting assumption that there is a single mode of Black preaching. There remains much to study, learn, and expand upon in this field. While this is a deeply theoretical text, its wisdom and insights are accessible to ministers, proclaimers, spiritual leaders, and other faith-oriented practitioners across traditions and identities. His work stands as a critical contribution to the study of homiletics, rhetoric, spirituality, and ministry as we continue striving toward a more expansive and inclusive praxis.

For any student of Sacred Rhetoric, Clark's work is a landmark contribution. He successfully argues against a flat perspective of the Black pulpit, revealing an overlooked history of introspective spirituality. His innovative threefold grid provides a taxonomy for future researchers to detect and celebrate the contemplative heart of Black Sacred Rhetoric.