Becoming an Anti-Racist Church: Journeying Toward Wholeness (Prisms)

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 themselves and to equip people there to be agents for change in and beyond their church communities. 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 antiracist commitment into their collective lives. Setting The Biblical Context -- A Tale Of Two Churches -- Racism In The United States Church History -- Resisting Racism In The United States Church History -- Racism And Resisting Racism In The Post-civil Rights Church -- Race, Prejudice, And Power In The Church -- Captive Christians In A Captive Church -- Institutionalized Racism In The Church -- Cultural Racism And The Multicultural Church -- God's Call To Become An Anti-racist Church -- Getting It Done: The Organizing Task -- Institutionalizing Anti-racism In The Church. Joseph Barndt. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Setting the biblical context : reclaiming an anti-racist gospel -- 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 -- Race, prejudice, and power in the church -- Captive Christians in a captive church -- Institutionalized racism in the church -- Cultural racism and the multicultural church -- God's call to become an anti-racist church -- Getting it done: the organizing task -- Institutionalizing anti-racism in the church.