Let’s explore 100 Old Black and African American church traditions and their significance. As a Black pastor currently serving and raised in the church, my heart aches as I witness the decline of the historic Black church and the fading of many of our cherished traditions.

Traditions not unique to the Black church, such as revival meetings, Vacation Bible School, or tithes and offerings, are excluded.

However, this list embodies a vibrant culture that sustained our ancestors through the most challenging times.

Black Church Traditions 1-10

(1) Affirmative Preaching - Long before the phrase ‘collaborative worship’ pierced the church lexicon, black folk had mastered participatory worship! Congregants respond to the preacher’s words or great singing with affirmations like “Amen!” or “Preach!” 

(2) Getting Happy - Your momma, my momma, and at minimum, our grand-mothers and ‘greats’ got happy. Something which moved them suddenly occurred in the church service and they started ‘shouting’ (getting happy). Some threw their arms in the air, crying while others fell out on the bench. Whatever it was, this sudden release of emotion praised God.

(3) Gospel Music - Uplifting, spiritual often featuring choirs or soloists. It expresses faith, struggle, and hope, central to worship services and truthfully, I cannot imagine the black church without these voices lifted to Heaven. My personal favorite was when the choir marched in singing “we have come this far by faith.”

(4) Branded Choir Robes - No matter how poor you were, if born between 1930-1990, it is almost assured your choir wore robes with the church’s initials!

(5) Negro Spirituals - Songs developed by enslaved Africans, blending African musical scales with Christian themes. They express sorrow, hope, and resistance, like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” as well as others. This music is largely not presented anymore, yet it was the predecessor to gospel music. If I had my way, this is all we would sing

(6) Watch Night Service - A New Year’s Eve service commemorating the night enslaved Africans awaited the Emancipation Proclamation (1863). It includes prayer, singing, and reflection. When we host this event, food is served afterward as well.

(7) Jumping the Broom - A wedding tradition where couples jump over a broom to symbolize a new beginning, rooted in African customs, and adapted during slavery. This was introduced to the wider world in the late 1970s television mini-series ‘Roots.’

(8) Whooping-Style Preaching - Sermons delivered in a storytelling, rhythmic style, engaging congregations emotionally yet has morphed into more of a singing style preach serving as the close to a lesson. Despite popular belief, all black preachers, me included, do not practice this and furthermore, most who do are not gifted in doing so – they are faking worship to please people.

(9) Picture of White Jesus - I must admit that when I became the pastor of the church I now lead, one of my greatest honors was taking down, and throwing away, the image of ‘white Jesus’ which hung in black churches the nation over and its misrepresentation.

(10) Sunday’s Best Attire - Wearing formal, elegant clothing (e.g., big hats, sleek suits, frilly dresses) for Sunday services, especially during holidays, as a sign of respect and tradition. However, this tradition began largely down south during the years of reconstruction because field workers and manual laborers couldn’t wear such fine clothing during the week.

African American Church Traditions 11-20

(11) Children’s Holiday Performances - Children recite poems, perform plays (e.g., nativity scenes), or read scriptures during holiday services, fostering community involvement. If you grew up in a black church, you performed, at minimum, an Easter Play and performed an Easter speech.

(12) Children’s Speeches - Whether it is Christmas or Passover, more commonly called Easter, children were required to recite a speech, with no visual aid, based on scriptures, about the holiday we were celebrating. Forgetting or messing up may result in a but whooping. Have I a witness?

(13) Testimony ServiceFor small churches, this tradition is ongoing, cross-generational and shows no sign of slowing down. Congregants share personal stories of faith, struggles, or miracles, reinforcing communal bonds and spiritual encouragement.

(14) Altar Call - An invitation at the end of a service for individuals to come forward for prayer, salvation, or rededication to Christ. Yet it is also a time for simple prayer requests, healing, and meditation on the Lord’s goodness.

(15) Prayer Warriors - These were either individuals or small groups that could be called upon the pray for someone and were typically not clergy. It was based on the idea that some could ‘get a prayer through’ when those needing prayer could not.

(16) Prayer Closets - There is a very popular, old-school song dedicated to this black church tradition called ‘Come on In The Room.’ Although often not a literal closet, but could be, it was simply a secret place someone went to for the purpose of being alone to talk to the Lord.

(17) Church Mothers - Elder women, known as church mothers, serve as spiritual guides, nurturing younger members and preserving traditions. In our church, they typically at on the second bench from the front, dressed in all white on first Sundays to work the communion table with the pastor. Our church has several of these mothers.

(18) Deacon Board - Male leaders who assist the pastor, manage church affairs, and uphold spiritual and administrative duties. This is biblical yet is mentioned here because of the distinct traditions developed by the negro deacon as opposed to the group itself.

(19) Deacon’s Opening Prayer - No matter what church one attended, at least up north, when I was a child, during devotion Sunday service, the deacons would open their prayer with; “Our Father and our God. The Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Some could even ‘whoop’ a prayer!

(20) Pulpit Seating - Traditional black church pulpits share one thing that is common: the seating arrangement. The pastor sits in the center, in the mot ornate chair, while associates sat to the right and left in smaller chairs. Although unknown to 99% of church leadership, this has theological roots in the Book of Revelation, God’s Throne, and the twenty-four (24) Elders seated around the throne.

Old Black Church Traditions 21-30

(21) Homegoing Service - This word describes a black church’s funeral. When compared to ‘others,’ one must admit we do things quite differently. For a good laugh after a most solemn occasion, check the look out on a white person’s face who attends for the first time. In their world, funerals are depressing but y’all know how we do it!

(22) Eastern Stars - It makes my spirit groan to even mention this because church women who participate in this female oriented free masonry group are practicing witchcraft unknowingly. However, and knowing my mother was one as well, it is a part of black church tradition which bears mentioning.

(23) Free Masons - At the highest levels of black church leadership are free masons who are male witches (warlocks). This began because of Jim Crow segregation yet that most black pastor are free masons is shocking. One cannot serve Jesus Christ and witchcraft at the same time. I don’t care how much you love your pastor, if he is a free mason, he is following Satan and should be thrown out today!

(24) Pastor’s Aide Committee - A group that supports the pastor’s personal and professional needs, such as organizing appreciation events or providing financial assistance. Our church still conducts this practice.

(25) Ushers’ Ministry - Ushers, often in uniform, guide congregants, maintain order, and signal during services (e.g., raising a hand for silence) and themselves are not unique. Yet the black church usher is an institution to itself and comes with an expectation that one is literally guarding the door to God’s presence. When sisters got ‘happy,’ an usher was the first on the scene hugging, holding, fanning, and making sure the other didn’t harm themselves.

(26) Lap Handkerchiefs - Still widely used today, this overtly large women’s hander kerchief is used to keep modesty among women. There are a few uses, the first of which is used to cover a church mother if her skirt or dress comes to the knee while sitting down. Second, and more self-righteously, it is used to cover almost the entire bottom half of a women who is viewed as immodest.

(27) Fifth Sunday Special Programs - In months with five Sundays, special programs or youth-led services are held, emphasizing communal participation. Another form of this is when the Pastor allows an associate minister to preach the sermon.

(28) Pastor’s Anniversary - Each year, many churches honor the pastor and his wife for leading in faithfulness. Other churches honor uncalled, unanointed, and unsent crooks as well. However, this can be a one day or multi-day event where other churches are invited for communal worship.

(29) Church Dinner Sales

This tradition is used as a fundraising tool to keep the church doors open, lights on, and for general operating expenses. Our church ceased because the Bible’s model of giving (tithes and free will offerings) is Holy and not selling chicken dinners!

(30) Angel Choir - This designation was given to the children’s choir who sang songs such as ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ ‘We Are Soldiers in the Army’, and other timeless classics.

Traditions of the Black Church 31-40

(31) Church Anniversary Celebrations - Marking the founding of the church with special services, guest speakers, and communal meals, pastors conduct this traditional service often serving as the MC throughout this multi-day event.

(32) Church Fellowship Dinners - These post-service meals, often held in the fellowship hall or basement, strengthen community ties and serve as a time to build a stronger church. Occasions vary but the pastor’s anniversary, church anniversary, Passover (Easter) and Watch Services are a few immediate examples. What makes our dinners different is the southern heritage which defines the food and love expressed through cooking.

(33) Homegoing Service Condolences - Another peculiar black church tradition is reading the condolences during the funerary homegoing service. These letters are sent from other churches to the decedent’s home church to express sorrow.

(34) Women’s Day - An annual service celebrating women’s contributions, often with women guest preachers (or speakers) and special attire (e.g., all white or red) is worn to show solidarity.

(35) Men’s Day - A counterpart to Women’s Day, honoring men’s roles with male-focused sermons and activities. This is also a day where in some instances, deacons are invited to preach.

(36) Missionary Board - Groups dedicated to outreach, supporting local and global missions, often led by women. However, and within a modern context, these function serve as more of a social function than actual public evangelism of the lost.

(37) Praise Dance - This is a more modern form of youth worship participation. Angel choirs are no longer as popular as they once were so to keep children involved, this effective and biblical practice is now common in black churches.

(38) The Building Fund - This has become a by-word for church theft and corruption. So, pejorative has this word become for dishonesty, that it has been changed to ‘capital campaign.’ For years, the Saints raised money, yet nothing seemed to ever get fixed. Black comedians such as Steve Harvey mock church leaders in this area and righteously so.

(39) Black History Month Programs - Church history cannot be separated from black history. February, Black History Month, highlights African American contributions, often with historical sermons, speech, and other celebrations.

(40) Preacher-Only Pulpit Access - The traditional black church pulpit is viewed as a sacred place where only those anointed by God should enter. I openly mock this by holding private conversations with laypeople in this space. Crooked, unsaved, and unclean preachers are ‘invited up,’ but the Holy people of the Lord cannot? Hypocrites!

Church Traditions 41-50

(41) Church Covenant Recitation - If you grew up in an old school Missionary Baptist Church, you have seen the large version of the Baptist Church Covenant hanging on a wall. Congregants recite a shared statement of faith and commitment, reinforcing communal values and most often prior to communion on the first Sunday.

(42) First Sunday Communion - I have never served in a church, or now pastoring, where communion is served on any other Sunday than the first. Resurrection Sunday being the lone exception. The table service is all white, with gold communion dishes, and both church mothers and the pastor wear white.

(43) Communion Songs - Another black church tradition is two songs played during the communion service: ‘I Know It Was the Blood’ and ‘He’s Sweet I Know.’ The first song is played while communion is distributed while the second after communing together.

(44) Devotional Service - While many experience praise and worship today, its predecessor was ‘Devotion.’ Our church still practices the old school devotional service but as I write this, it is being phased out. Devotion is led by deacons and in some cases, their wives and/or church mothers.

(45) Pastor Pimp Strut - This is my name for a nationwide tradition from those who are supposed to be the greatest servants in the church. Pastor Pimp Struts occur when a group of preachers, and shortly before the end of devotion, suddenly appear and enter the pulpit for all to see. This godlessness is for nothing more self-aggrandizement and to announce the elite princes of the church have arrived. Hypocrites!

(46) Responsive Scripture Reading - The congregation and leader alternate reading Bible verses aloud, fostering collective participation in worship. This is among the traditions I no longer practice because I couldn’t figure out its purpose. Reading verses is great but I read the sermon text and devotional leaders read the Bible as well.

(47) Church Announcements - All churches have announcements, but the black church’s tradition is unique. Typically, a woman comes up in front of the church, reads the announcements and then finishes with; “these are your announcements. Govern yourself accordingly.” There is a weekly comedy skit on YouTube called ‘Church Announcements’ (Rickey Smiley) which is hilarious!

(48) Foot Stomping - Before we had all forms of instruments, a black church tradition to ‘keep time’ during a song was to stomp our feet. An example is a song called ‘What a Time’ by Lashaun Pace where this can be heard.

(49) Deaconess - Women who assist with devotional services, baptisms, communion, and care for female congregants, especially in Baptist and Pentecostal churches. These women are typically the wife of serving church deacons.

(50) Social Justice Advocacy - While other churches have a footprint in this area of serving, the black church is unique in its tradition rooted in the Civil Rights Movement. To be clear, it is against God’s word to advocate for anything scripture condemns (like LGBTQ+ rights).

Black Church Traditions 51-60

(51) Choir Annual Day - Let’s call this what it is, a fundraising event! This tradition may have begun with the most earnest of intentions, but its purpose now is solely focused on money. Choir members who plan this have righteous intentions, but the pastor is another story. It must be hard out here for a pimp.

(52) Annual Usher’s Day - A service honoring ushers’ service, often with special uniforms and guest speakers from other churches. Like Choir Annual Day, this is a money grab.

(53) The First Lady Bench - This tradition witnesses the pastor’s wife, more commonly known as the First Lady, having unofficially assigned seating on the first few rows (looking out from the pulpit). Bolder wives have an individual seat (mini pew) and apart from everyone else. My wife absolutely hates this tradition and is righteously indignant when I question her!

(54) Sunrise Service - An early morning Resurrection Sunday (falsely called Easter) service celebrating Jesus’s resurrection.

(55) Sick and Shut-In Ministry - Based on Matthew 25 and Jesus’s teaching of visiting the sick, hungry, etc., members visit congregants unable to attend church, providing spiritual and practical support. However, many older members do not want to hear from anyone except the pastor.

(56) Pastoral Installation Service - There are few other times pastor can expect such large numbers of fellow leaders to attend their church. Installation services honor the choice the Lord has made (more often crooked church members). It is a church gathering on the grandest scale, short of state and national denominational conventions, that one can imagine.

(57) Singing Improvisation - No matter how precise and exact a song is rehearsed in choir practice, black church tradition demands that Sunday Morning singing is improvised! Words are changed, bars are sung more than the original song calls for and the musician joins in!

(58) Sermonettes - Brief sermons delivered by youth, lay leaders, or in the Midwest, associate ministers who may not otherwise receive preaching time at their home church. Sermonettes are short (ten minutes or less), to the point and impactful.

(59) Missionary Annual Day - A service honoring missionaries, with sermons on outreach and evangelism in general. Again, like previously mentioned annual days, this is more about fund raising and socializing than executing effective outreach.

(60) Juneteenth Celebrations - Services or events marking the end of slavery (June 19), with historical reflections and music. This is less of a ‘thing’ now for churches as third-party community organizations have taken the lead.

Black Church Traditions 61-70

(61) Stewardess Board - Women, typically church mothers, or their designees, who prepare communion, decorate the altar, and assist with worship logistics, especially in AME churches but also present in Baptist world as well.

(62) Choir Gospel Concerts - Special events featuring local or national gospel artists, often as fundraisers and community outreach.

(63) Church Historian - A member tasked with documenting the church’s history, preserving records and oral traditions, and reading these documents at the church anniversary.

(64) Baptist Training Union (BTU) - Baptist Training Union (BTU) was a ministry focused on Christian living, Baptist doctrine, history, and missionary service to strengthen believers. It involved activities like Bible drills, scripture memorization, and storytelling, engaging all age groups, typically held on Sunday evenings.

(65) Clergy Robes - Pastors wear distinctive robes or vestments, often with symbolic colors, to signify their role but this isn’t distinctive to black clergy. However, what is unique is the primary reason we wear them. Black preaching is hard, intense, and makes us sweat so much that we ruin suits. It is cheaper to replace those robes than nice suits.

(66) Thanksgiving Basket Drives - Collecting and distributing food baskets to needy families during Thanksgiving reflects community care. Like robes, this is not unique to black church tradition, but the content of the baskets is. At our church, it consists mostly of traditional southern food items.

(67) Speech Preamble - In a more traditional black churches, when a layperson is allowed to speak to the entire congregation, they are almost mandated to say: “Give an honor to God, who is the head of my life, to the pastor, first lady, other preachers on the roster, church, family and friends.”

(68) Preacher and Musician Collaboration - When a ‘whooping’ preacher is winding up the sermon, and during the ‘tune up,’ some tell the musician, in mid-preach, “give me an E flat” or whatever their preferred chord is to sing the end of the sermon. Although I am not among these types, I absolutely love it!

(69) Pastor as Dictator-in Chief - Although the Bible totally rejects this model of leadership, it is among the most common black church traditions. “Yes Passa” people are typically either afraid of the preacher or at angering the Lord God if they righteously rebuke an out-of-control church leader which biblically describes a dictatorial leader. More plainly, these men and women are abusing the Lord’s Bride. How would you feel if someone was going upside your spouse’s head every week?

(70) Wigs - There are very few black church folk who haven’t seen their momma or grand momma in a wig and depending on age, perhaps a very bad one! Other women wear wigs as well but if black women held a nation-wide boycott on wigs, the industry would cease to exist!

Black Church Traditions 71-80

(71) Black Church Sayings - Black church sayings are a staple of Christian life within our walls. Whether “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good,” or other, these cliches communicate a sense of culture and heritage.

(72) Church Hats - Of all the black church traditions, female church hats is the most noticeable staple. However, at least in the Midwest, this is quickly fading as younger sisters are opting for no hats or another head covering (weave).

(73) Saturday Evening Meal Prep - When I was a boy, my momma used to do the Sunday meal preparation on Saturday evening. Of course, this was under a misguided belief that Sunday is the Sabbath Day (although biblically Saturday is) and no work was to be done

(74) All Day Sunday Gospel Radio - Being from Waterloo, Iowa, there were two times during the week in the 1980s when the television was off and radio on: Saturday night blues and Sunday gospel music! Although radio is irrelevant anymore, whoever your playlist provider, this tradition is alive and well.

(75) The Black Church Bus - Although not exclusive to black folk, there is something that is: in small church life, the pastor would often drive these vehicles to pick up their “members.” With the new class of bourgeoise church leaders today, can you imagine that taking place?

(76) Pastor’s Pulpit Committee - As with the church bus, this is also not unique to black church life, but two things are: first is the extremely high, almost cultish devotion to serving the pastor by church women (married nonetheless) and next, the demonic black pastor worship by members. As a Pastor, trust me when I tell you if your wife is participating, keep your eyes open.

(77) Side Piece Ministry - This is a tradition that although not widely adopted, occurs enough to be noticeable. I refer to it in such a derogatory way because it consists of single women who will, upon command, wipe a sweaty preacher’s face, pull off his jacket or other unseemly acts. More plainly, these women are a pastor’s whores.

(78) Taking a Plate Home - Whether a church picnic or fellowship dinner, there is almost always leftover food. Taking a plate home is not only suggested, but quasi-mandatory. Woe to those who say “no thanks” because this is taken as an offense against another’s cooking prowess!

(79) The Chair of Salvation - This begins with, “come to Jesus, come to Jesus, come to Jesus just now.” During the song, a preacher pleads with the lost and backslidden to come to Jesus for forgiveness of sin. The deacon sits the Chair of Salvation at the church alter for any so desiring to come and sit in.

(80) Conditions for Joining a Church (Letter, Christian Experience, or Candidate for Baptism) - When someone sits in the chair, they may join the church through a letter (release from another church), Christian experience (been out of church for a while), or candidate for baptism (salvation). Though the final condition mustn’t be confused with baptism saving anyone, the sentiment is understood.

Church Traditions 81-90

(81) Deacon’s Bench - The church deacon is biblical and not specific to the black church, but these brothers stand out like a full moon in the night sky. Among the reasons are their traditional assigned seating in front of the congregation as well as their Casket Sharp’ suits.

(82) Mourner’s Bench - Although I have never personally witnessed this tradition, my wife, who was born in Arkansas and raised in Kansas, says this was in front of the church where backsliders and sinners came to repent. If this was Holy Ghost ordained, church pastors should be assigned to these seat as well!

(83) Special Event Ribbons - In the old Black Church, especially for pastor’s anniversary, the church demonstrated being on one accord through small colored ribbons pinned onto clothing. Church ushers used them as well as personal name badges or what their assigned role was. Our church still practices this from time to time.

(84) Sunday Morning Slip and Stockings - Whether mandated by momma, grand-momma, or aunties, a young girl was required to wear an undergarment called a ‘slip’ and adult women wore stockings as a show of modesty.

(85) Offering Plate Shake Down - This is an evil black church tradition, and the recent Pastor Marvin Sapp $40,000 shake-down scandal was no surprise to church folk. This godlessness occurs when greedy preachers don’t get enough money and force people to keep giving money until their lust is satisfied. Hypocrites!

(86) Assistant Scripture Reader - In the old south, literacy, even for preachers, was an issue. However, the Lord was faithful to provide a person or two in the congregation who could read and thus this practice of someone other than the pastor reading the sermon text. In some places, such as a COGIC church in this community, this persists although for other than literacy reasons.

(87) Pimp Suit and Penny Loafers - This black church tradition has ‘country’ preachers, by heritage if not location, wearing flashy, loud colored suits, matching shoes, ties, and crazy colored socks.

(88) “They Hung Him High and Stretched Him Wide” - This saying is an exercise from a whooping (singing) preacher which takes place near the end of a sermon. It encourages people to follow Christ and serves as a reminder of His love.

(89) Coon Dancing - Holy Ghost dancing, as did King David before the Lord, is not exclusive to the black church but coon dancing is! I use this derogatory term toward old black men who jump out in the church aisles, flapping their arms, and acting a fool to be seen by others. Hypocrites!

(90) Preaching Deacons - If you ever desire a word from the Lord that is absent unnecessary theatrics, the preaching deacon will bless your heart. Not only is this biblical, and since only in black church tradition is ‘preaching’ and ‘teaching’ different, our deacons teach Sunday School and Bible studies, so is it a leap to put them up during the preaching hour?

Black Church Traditions 91-100

(91) Pastor’s Appreciation Day - This is distinct from Pastor’s Anniversary because while the anniversary is deigned to honor time served as shepherd, Appreciation Days may not occur yearly but are meant to show appreciation beyond the more formal anniversary festivities.

(92) Male Chorus - Although I have not been blessed with the gift of song, I love to hear black church male choruses sing old school songs such as ‘Cooling Water,’ ‘I’m Smoothin (Up the Rough Side),’ and other classics.

(93) Family and Friend’s Day - This annual or in our neck of woods, bi-annual event, witnesses church members inviting either family or friends to the House of Worship. The purpose is three-fold, introducing (or reminding) them of the message of Jesus Christ, recruiting members and fundraising.

(94) Pew Rallies - This is another form of the Family and Friends model. However, the terminology is more bothersome to me personally because it suggests getting people in the pew is the goal and not saving souls.

(95) Church Anniversary Banquet - Although this is a glorified church fellowship meal, it has become a church tradition for one seedy reason: fundraising. As always, and in concert with other traditions, it showcases black pastors, and not the reason for the occasion which is the church.

(96) Holy Week Services - Whether while living in Denver, Colorado or now in Waterloo, Iowa, the black church tradition of Holy Week Services, recognizing the week of Jesus’s arrest, execution and resurrection is alive and well. Multiple black churches in communities move from church to church, during this week, to hear preaching, singing, and general worship.

(97) Seven Last Sayings of Christ - Whether a community holds worship services the entire Passover (Easter) week or not, Fridays are reserved for the seven (7) last sayings of Jesus Christ as He both went to and was crucified on the cross.

(98) Instrument Playing Preachers - Although this talent is becoming rarer among the ‘called,’ this tradition is still visible in certain more traditional churches.

(99) Singing Preachers - I love singing preachers, full stop! Although most are not truly called by the Lord to preach, the gift of singing covers up their lack of Word Power. However, for those who are called, singing and preaching effectively blesses the kingdom.

100. Sheep Dogs - These are invited preachers and pastors from other churches who are guest speaker yet have the task of rebuking a congregation in a way the church pastor will not. This tradition is quite new because there is few time, to a point of appearing mean, that old school negro preacher wouldn’t say what was right to whomever it needed to be said to. If your pastor called in a sheep dog, find a new church because you are following an absolute gospel coward.