Ecologies of Faith in New York City: The Evolution of Religious Institutions (Polis Center Series on Religion and Urban Culture)

"A great resource for students in congregational, religious, and urban studies . . . a valuable installment in the resurrection of urban religious ecology."—Omar McRoberts, University of Chicago Ecologies of Faith in New York City examines patterns of interreligious cooperation and conflict in New York City. It explores how representative congregations in this religiously diverse city interact with their surroundings by competing for members, seeking out niches, or cooperating via coalitions and neighborhood organizations. Based on in-depth research in New York's ethnically mixed and rapidly changing neighborhoods, the essays in the volume describe how religious institutions shape and are shaped by their environments, what new roles they have assumed, and how they relate to other religious groups in the community. "The book deals with important issues in important ways. New York City is a veritable center of the phenomena being studied." —Jay Demerath, University of Massachusetts "A valuable contribution to the growing field of congregational studies that places congregations and their agency on the table as one important element to understanding the changing American metropolis." —Journal of Urban Affairs "An excellent example of religious scholarship." — Review of Religious Research "Offers nine essays focusing on religious institutions of New York City as they have been impacted by the social dynamics of gentrification, immigration, and entrepreneurial innovation . . . Recommended." ? Choice "A solid resource for addressing entanglements of religion and urbanism. The case studies have significant richness." — Critical Research on Religion "A well-developed collection of essays that does an effective job of exploring the breadth of the ecological interaction between religious institutions and their environments in New York City." ? Sociology of Religion Cover 1 CONTENTS 8 FOREWORD 10 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 20 Introduction: The Ecology of Religious Institutions in New York City 24 PART 1 RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND GENTRIFICATION IN THE RELIGIOUS ECOLOGY 46 1 Disneyfication and Religion in Times Square 48 2 Filling Niches and Pews in Williamsburg and Greenpoint: The Religious Ecology of Gentrification 78 3 Korean American Churches and the Negotiation of Space in Flushing, Queens 104 PART 2 IMMIGRATION, RELIGION, AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHANGE 126 4 Diversity and Competition: Politics and Conflict in New Immigrant Communities 128 5 The Brazilianization of New York City: Brazilian Immigrants and Evangelical Churches in a Pluralized Urban Landscape 143 6 Building and Expanding Communities: African Immigrant Congregations and the Challenge of Diversity 165 PART 3 ENTREPRENEURIAL INNOVATION AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS 190 7 Changing Lives One Scoop at a Time: The Creation of Alphabet Scoop on the Lower East Side 192 8 Navigating Property Development through a Framework of Religious Ecology: The Case of Trinity Lutheran Church 221 9 Hinduism at Work in Queens 243 CONTRIBUTORS 264 INDEX 268 A 268 B 268 C 268 D 269 E 269 F 269 G 269 H 269 I 269 K 270 L 270 M 270 N 270 O 270 P 270 Q 270 R 270 S 271 T 271 U 271 V 271 W 271 Y 271 Z 271 Introduction: The Ecology Of Religious Institutions In New York City / Richard Cimino, Nadia A. Mian,with Weishan Huang -- Disneyfication And Religion In Times Square / Hans E. Tokke -- Filling Niches And Pews In Williamsburg And Greenpoint: The Religious Ecology Of Gentrification / Richard Cimino -- Korean American Churches And The Negotiation Of Space In Flushing, Queens / Keun-joo Christine Pae -- Diversity And Competition: Politics And Conflict In New Immigrant Communities / Weishan Huang -- The Brazilianization Of New York City: Brazilian Immigrants And Evangelical Churches In A Pluralized Urban Landscape / Donizete Rodrigues -- Building And Expanding Communities: African Immigrant Congregations And The Challenge Of Diversity / Moses Biney -- Changing Lives One Scoop At A Time: The Creation Of Alphabet Scoop On The Lower East Side / Sheila P. Johnson -- Navigating Property Development Through A Framework Of Religious Ecology: The Case Of Trinity Lutheran Church / Nadia A. Mian -- Hinduism At Work In Queens / Matthew Weiner. Edited By Richard Cimino, Nadia A. Mian, And Weishan Huang ; Foreword By Nancy T. Ammerman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.