Christians addressing racism in American society must begin with a frank assessment of how race figures in the churches themselves, leading activist Joseph Barndt argues. This practical and important volume extends the insights of Barndts earlier, more general work to address the race situation in the churches themselves and to equip people there to be agents for change in and beyond their church communities. Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Preface
- Introduction: Eleven O'Clock Sunday Morning
- Setting the Biblical Context: Reclaiming an Anti-Racist Gospel
- Part I. The Past: Racism and Resisting Racism in Church History
- A Tale of Two Churches
- Racism in United States Church History
- Resisting Racism in United States Church History
- Racism and Resisting Racism in the Post-Civil Rights Church
- Part II. The Present: Racism in the Church Today
- Race, Prejudice, and Power in the Church
- Captive Christians in a Captive Church
- Institutionalized Racism in the Church
- Cultural Racism and the Multicultural Church
- Part III. The Future: Shaping an Anti-Racist Church
- God's Call to Become an Anti-Racist Church
- Getting It Done: The Organizing Task
- Institutionalizing Anti-Racism in the Church
- Notes
- Additional Resources
- Index
Martin Luther King's observation that 11 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week remains all too true. Christians addressing racism in American society must begin with a frank assessment of how race figures in the churches themselves, leading activist Joseph Barndt argues. This practical and important volume extends the insights of Barndt's earlier, more general work to address the race situation in the churches and to equip people there to be agents for change in and beyond their church communities. A hallmark of Barndt's analysis is his keen grasp of the deep yet checkered legacy that American church and church bodies inherit on this question. Yet Barndt also lifts up the ways in which their prophetic work has proved a catalyst for progress in American race relations, and he clearly shows why and how churches can inculcate an anti-racist commitment into their collective lives.
Product Preview
| Format: | Paperback book |
|---|---|
| Product code: | IC664602 |
| Dimensions: | 8.9" x 5.9" |
| Length: | 232 pages |
| Publisher: |
Augsburg Fortress Publishing
|
| ISBN: | 9780800664602 |
Praise
Becoming an Anti-Racist Church offers one the opportunity to comprehend and terminate racism in the church through self analysis and the discernment of God's intention for an inclusive church. The book includes practical ideas and a rich list of resources for those who are serious about institutional change.
Barndt's new book provides an informed, incisive, and passionate analysis of the challenge racism poses to our collective ability to live out our faith. His title is explicit: this is an achievable objective for the Christian church of the twenty-first century. And Barndt provides here the theological, biblical, social, and historical underpinnings for this belief in accessible, persuasive language. This is a remarkable accomplishment considering Christian complicity in the structures and ideologies of racial oppression. People of faith who read this work will find both motivation and method to accomplish the task of building an anti-racist church.
