Progressive National Baptist young people see signs of welcome but seek less judgment

WASHINGTON (RNS) — Before 2025, the yearly meeting of the Progressive National Baptist Convention occurred in August, making it harder for some students to make it to the gathering.

But now teens and young adults meet in July for their annual session along with older members of the historically Black denomination.

The move comes as younger Black Americans have in recent years become less likely than their elders to attend predominantly Black churches , according to Pew Research Center. PNBC leaders want to demonstrate that young people are welcome.

At its recent meeting in the nation’s capital, young members from high schoolers to 20-somethings joined adults in a visit to Capitol Hill, attended a live episode of the denomination’s youth-led “The Pew and The Porch” podcast and later discussed their thoughts on the current and future state of the church.

Kaisa Jones, 14, a member of an Augusta, Georgia, church attended all three and was particularly impressed by the podcast, which launched last year.

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