(RNS) — As she prepared to preach at the evening service Tuesday (Sept. 9) at the annual session of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc., the Rev. Tracey L. Brown admitted to feeling the nerves she always has before entering a pulpit and “dealing with people’s souls.”
But the occasion took on other emotions when the New Jersey minister learned from NBCUSA leaders that she would be the first woman ever to preach to the 145-year-old, historically Black denomination’s annual meeting. “I feel humbled and honored,” Brown, 63, founder and pastor of Ruth Fellowship Ministries in Plainfield, told Religion News Service hours before the service at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Religion scholars said Brown’s preaching was a noteworthy moment, even as women have long been preaching in local Baptist churches, often without much recognition.
When the Rev. Gina Stewart preached at a meeting of four Black Baptist denominations in 2024, the historic moment temporarily disappeared from the Facebook page of the NBCUSA. A later post on the page reassured members that the stream of the service was not blocked by its officers or administrators, but there also were claims some attendees chose not to be present when Stewart spoke.
“It’s a long time coming; it’s 2025,” said the Bible scholar and retired professor Renita Weems, of Brown’s sermon on Tuesday. “A lot of local churches are light-years ahead of the executive cabinet of the National Baptist Convention.”
The Rev. Boise Kimber, who is leading his first annual session as president of the denomination, has talked about his plans to increase the visibility of women leaders in the denomination, along with younger and newer pastors. Earlier this year, he appointed the Rev. Debbie Strickling-Bullock as the first female chairman of the board of the NBCUSA’s Sunday School Publishing Board.
The Rev. Boise Kimber, right, congratulates the Rev. Tracey L. Brown, center, after her sermon at the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc.’s annual session, Sept. 9, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (Photo by Derrick K. Hammonds)
“Tonight will go down in the history books,” he said at the conclusion of the evening worship service. “So, Tracey Brown, we are grateful for you.”
Kimber has had to overcome a contentious process that marred his election last year in which he ended up as the sole candidate on the ballot after officials determined he had received the required 100 endorsements from member churches and other NBCUSA entities to qualify to run for president.
He then drew pushback this summer over reports that he and other Black church leaders were involved in accepting a donation from Target for education and economic development initiatives even as other prominent Black Baptist leaders boycotted Target for pulling back on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
