Prelude to Struggle: African American Clergy and Community Organizing for Economic Development in the 1990's

by Katie Day

Overview

In Prelude to Struggle, Katie Day analyzes the findings of a three-year study of the African American churches in North Philadelphia, the most impoverished section of the city. All of these congregations were engaged in significant community economic development projects, yet pursued their common goals through two distinct strategic approaches. Five of the churches joined a citywide community organizing coalition while the others stayed within the traditional entrepreneurial paradigm. Day argues that whether an urban African American congregation utilizes the more grassroots, confrontational tactics and structural change orientation of community organizing, or relies on the traditional model of the entrepreneurial pastor, the choice of strategy is not related to either congregational factors or pastoral leadership considered in isolation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761821540
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	01/01/2002
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.76(w) x 8.82(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Katie Day is Professor of Church and Society at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 Research Methodology Chapter 4 Results from the Congregational Questionnaire Chapter 5 Leading the Flock: The Role of the Pastors in Social Change Chapter 6 "The Extension of Our Dreams" Chapter 7 "A Place to Let My Light Shine" Chapter 8 Conclusion Chapter 9 Appendix: Survey Chapter 10 References Chapter 11 Index