Dear Reader,
I want to touch on a couple of things before you jump into this edition of the FM Newsletter.
First, we previously alerted you to our premium interview with singer CeCe Winans, which includes the full transcript and exclusive audio. In that conversation, Winans reflects on racism in Christian music, why some artists do not survive the spotlight, and more.
For readers who have not yet made it past the paywall, we have also published a shorter, free article on the main site that takes a closer look at some of the racial dynamics within the Christian music industry. Both pieces are linked below.
Second, we have updated the newsletter’s look to make each issue cleaner, better organized and, hopefully, more consistent. We are also incorporating a limited amount of AI into the production process as a time- and energy-saving measure. A human editor still reviews, refines and approves everything before the newsletter reaches your inbox.
As always, we welcome your constructive feedback.
Stay Faithful,
Nicola
Founder & Managing Editor
CeCe Winans, 'Musical Bigotry,' and the CCM–Gospel Divide
Winans recalls how she and BeBe entered Christian music without the racial boundaries that structured the industry around them. Their success crossed a line, but it did not erase the systems deciding which artists, sounds and audiences would be treated as central.
READ THE REPORTED FEATUREHear the complete conversation
Paid subscribers can listen to the full June 30 interview and read the edited Q&A. Winans discusses faith, family, longevity, self-care, mentoring younger artists and navigating racial barriers in Christian music.
SUBSCRIBE AND LISTENFaithfully Mag, hosted by Substack, is our premium home for complete audio, extended interviews and deeper archive access.
Consider...
When our congregation says
“Christian music,” whose traditions are treated as central — and whose are treated as a category? Who gets heard, who gets translated, and who is allowed to belong without explanation?
How gospel music shaped American culture
Historian Dr. Claudrena N. Harold ( When Sunday Comes) explains gospel music’s cultural force, BeBe and CeCe Winans’s crossover significance, and why Black sacred music can be widely embraced while remaining institutionally separated from the Christian “mainstream.”
Read the interview →Latina women are reshaping United Methodist ministry in Texas
The strongest thread here is not demographic representation alone, but institutional trust. Latina leaders are building ministries informed by migration, bicultural life and the communities they already know — at a moment when the denomination is rebuilding after years of schism and decline.
Read at RNS →Bank to cut ties with ICE partners after losing millions
Citizens Bank announced it will be ending its financial relationship with ICE. This decision comes after hundreds of millions being divested due to its relationship with Core Civic and The GEO Group — two companies that invest and operate in prisons used to detain people arrested by ICE.
Does the Black Church need a national advocacy office?
Lewis Brogdon argues that sermons, conferences, and protest do not automatically become durable public power. His proposal — a coordinated office linking denominations, congregations, HBCUs, researchers and policy advocates — raises a practical question: what structures are needed to convert moral authority into measurable outcomes?
Read the argument →Clergy Quarterly Touchpoint: Voter Engagement and Voter Protection
BJC is convening pastors and ministry leaders to discuss election barriers and practical ways congregations can strengthen civic participation.
VIEW EVENT DETAILS →The Black Church and Climate Justice Webinar
Hosted by Apostle Sharyn Cosby and sponsored by Disciples Home Missions, this prophetic event explores how climate resilience, environmental racism, and localized neighborhood stewardship intersect seamlessly with the gospel.
View event details →Don't Throw That Away: Why Archiving Our History Matters!
A targeted, free workshop part of the United Church of Christ (UCC) Nurture the Soul series designed to help historical congregations preserve their legal documents, civil rights memories, and foundational records.
VIEW EVENT DETAILS →Black Catholic Messenger enters its second editorial era
After nearly six years as founding editor, Nate Tinner-Williams is turning editorial leadership of Black Catholic Messenger over to Sheila Hodges, who will also serve as president of the outlet’s nonprofit foundation.
Read the announcement →Grace P. Cho moves from acquisitions to literary representation
Embolden Media Group has welcomed Korean American editor and writer Grace P. Cho as a literary agent. Cho previously served as a senior acquisitions editor at Revell and Brazos Press and is now building a client list with particular interest in BIPOC, progressive, and post-evangelical voices.
Read the industry announcement →Evangelical Press Association searches for its next leader
The Evangelical Press Association has opened a national search for an executive director to succeed Lamar Keener in 2027. The role spans membership, professional development, the annual convention, awards and financial sustainability.
Read the position announcement →“God doesn’t promise safety. He promises presence.”
— Audrey Luhmann, a Chicago-area Christian mother who tracks immigration-enforcement activity and aids immigrant families, in RNS’s Faith on the Immigration Frontline.
Watch the short documentary →Get the full CeCe Winans conversation
Faithfully Mag’s premium tier helps sustain the time-intensive work behind interviews like this one. Become a paid subscriber for the complete audio, extended Q&A and deeper archive access.
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