Black Theology Project records

1935-1989 [bulk 1976-1988]

The Black Theology Project (BTP) is an interdenominational organization, founded in 1976, under the leadership of Rev. Charles Spivey, Sister Shawn Copeland, and Rev. Muhammad Kenyatta. BTP incorporates Black academicians, theologians, clergy and laity, and political and community activists in a national network committed to theological reflection and social action on behalf of the Black church and the Black community. The organization has established theological dialogues with Hispanic, Native American, and Pacific/Asian Christians in the United States and with Third World Christians and liberation movements outside of the United States, especially in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia.

The Black Theology Project was originally organized as one of eight projects of Theology in the Americas (TIA), a consortium program related to the National Council of Churches. BTP engages in theological dialogue and conferences with related TIA projects regarding a theology of liberation for North America.

The Project has played notable roles in the world theological conferences of the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologies (EATWOT) and has sent representatives to present papers and participate in several EATWOT conferences since 1976. Among its other activities, BTP has held several conferences, including "Black Church and Black Community: Unity and Action for Education" (Atlanta, 1977); a 1979 conference focusing on the relation of class and feminist analysis to Black Theology; and "National and International Priorities of the Black Church" (Washington, D. C., 1984).