Faces of the new Black church: a comparative study of three Africultural churches

Ianther Marie Mills

Etd

Faces of the new Black church: a comparative study of three Africultural churches

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Ianther Marie Mills. Faces of the New Black Church: a Comparative Study of Three Africultural Churches. Wesley Theological Seminary. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/093657a0-dd6f-4196-999d-3fc45c3c8c3d.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

I. M. Mills. Faces of the new Black church: a comparative study of three Africultural churches. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/093657a0-dd6f-4196-999d-3fc45c3c8c3d

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Ianther Marie Mills. Faces of the New Black Church: a Comparative Study of Three Africultural Churches. Wesley Theological Seminary. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/093657a0-dd6f-4196-999d-3fc45c3c8c3d.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Ianther Marie Mills

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In Copyright

Abstract

This project is a comparative case study of the worship practices, mission and ministry, and power relationships in three 'Africultural' United Methodist congregations in the Washington Metropolitan area. The author suggests that what has been traditionally termed and understood as the 'Black Church' is not a sufficient descriptor of the experience of African, African-American, and Caribbean people coming together as one community of faith. Thus, the project seeks to lead the congregations to embrace their cultural diversity using a new paradigm: 'The Africultural Church'. The term 'Africultural' is used to describe a multiethnic faith community of persons of African ancestry, which strives to be wholly Christian and multicultural, yet celebrates its Africanness. It is understood that issues arising form ethnocentrism may challenge this new community. Specifically, there may be cultural distances and stereotypes that must be overcome to effectively engage in ministry. To this end, the project explores the cultural consciousness of the three congregations with respect to worship practices, mission and ministry, and lay leadership; best practices derived from these Africultural ministry settings; and the role of the pastor in leading the congregations to more faithfully embrace their cultural diversity. A model of community transformation is also proposed, which uses Bible study and a study circle process to raise cultural consciousness and promote diversity. Liberation theology, John Wesley's notion of a 'catholic spirit' and personality development theory are theological and theoretical foundations for the model. Using this model, the project seeks to identify held stereotypes and cultural conflicts in one congregation and move that congregation toward the affirmation and wider embrace of its cultural diversity. From that experience, further implications for pastoral leadership and ministry strategy in Africultural communities are drawn.

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