Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.

As Black Protestants prepare for Easter this year, they hope to welcome more people to church than since the COVID-19 pandemic began four years ago.

A judge has awarded more than $1 million to a Black church in Washington, D.

Vandalism at four downtown Washington churches after rallies in support of Trump are exposing rifts among people of faith as the nation confronts bitter post-election political divisions. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez, File)WASHINGTON – Vandalism at four downtown Washington churches after rallies in support of President Donald Trump is exposing rifts among people of faith as the nation confronts bitter post-election political divisions. Among the damaged houses of worship were two historically Black churches where people ripped down Black Lives Matter banners, with video posted to social media showing one banner being burned. She added that the episode at her church was “incredibly minor compared with what happened to our neighbors” and urged that attention be paid to the damage at Asbury and Metropolitan A.M.E. Church, both historically Black institutions. Some pro-Trump conservative evangelicals criticized the church vandalism, while describing it as part of a broader trend that has marked a year of heightened political tensions.