UNCF Leader Links Black Church, Education

Michael Lomax spoke at Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia about the church's role in Black leadership and learning.

Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in African-American

UNCF Leader Links Black Church, Education

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Michael Lomax, outgoing president and chief executive of the United Negro College Fund, spoke Monday at Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia. The Black Philadelphia LIVE event gathered religious, civic and cultural leaders.

Why it matters

The discussion framed Black churches and schools as linked institutions that pooled resources to advance students. It highlights how Philadelphia's oldest Black institutions continue to shape education and civic life.

Mother Bethel sits at 419 S. Sixth St. on land bought Oct. 10, 1791. Lomax has led the UNCF since 2004 and plans to retire in June 2027.

The players

United Negro College Fund (UNCF)

The UNCF is a private nonprofit that has supported students at historically Black colleges and universities since 1944.

Michael Lomax

Lomax is the outgoing president and chief executive of the UNCF and has led the organization since 2004.

Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Founded by Bishop Richard Allen more than 200 years ago, Mother Bethel is among the oldest continuously Black-owned properties in the United States.

The details

Lomax described the UNCF as the modern heir to the church-and-school tradition, a mutual aid society pooling resources to push students forward. Moderator Tamala Edwards, a 6abc anchor, led the discussion, which also touched on the historical roots of Black literacy.

Oct. 10, 1791: Land for Mother Bethel is purchased.
2004: Lomax begins leading the United Negro College Fund.
Monday, Nov. 9, 2026: Lomax speaks at Mother Bethel AME Church.
June 2027: Lomax plans to retire from the UNCF.

Culture Shift

The panel traces Black literacy to Bishop Richard Allen's founding of Mother Bethel, when enslaved and free Black people pursued reading so they could interpret Scripture on their own terms. That legacy of church-based education continues in the UNCF's work supporting HBCUs such as Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia residents can visit Mother Bethel at 419 S. Sixth St. for its historic programs and tours. The church's educational legacy is a reminder that community institutions remain active civic resources in the city.

The takeaway

Black churches and HBCUs have long worked together as mutual aid networks for education, a model that still shapes access to learning today. Readers interested in this history can see how local institutions preserved it across generations.