Developing ethical leadership in youth to reduce violence among them: a resource for the church and society

Gregory E Coles

Etd

Developing ethical leadership in youth to reduce violence among them: a resource for the church and society

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Gregory E Coles. Developing Ethical Leadership In Youth to Reduce Violence Among Them: a Resource for the Church and Society. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/18b616c2-f018-439b-9611-50a97ef37258.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

G. E. Coles. Developing ethical leadership in youth to reduce violence among them: a resource for the church and society. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/18b616c2-f018-439b-9611-50a97ef37258

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Gregory E Coles. Developing Ethical Leadership In Youth to Reduce Violence Among Them: a Resource for the Church and Society. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/18b616c2-f018-439b-9611-50a97ef37258.

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

Creator

Gregory E Coles

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In Copyright

Abstract

The lifeworlds and problems that lead some young people to lives of violence, crime, cognitive and academic deficiencies, substance and alcohol abuse and/or other anti-social behaviors is one of the most serious problems facing our nation as we enter the new millennium. In order to critically examine this problem attention is first given to the issue of identity formation, the role it plays in the development of human beings and how unhealthy psychological and psychosocial development plays a major role in leading some young people to act out violent or otherwise anti-social behavior(s). Posited here is that Erik Erikson provides a planned theory of behavior that sheds great light on the role of identity formation, prosocial behavior both as an individual and as an individual who is part of a reference group. Racial identity, racial socialization and racial salience must be considered in any approach designed to assist Black American youth relative to the issue of youth crime and violence. Theological and ethical analyses are brought to bear on the problem being examined. The position taken is that the problem of youth violence and crime is, perhaps, best addressed from within a religious/theological framework of meaning. Moreover, that the Black Church and African-American moral tradition provides a model for developing ethical leaders. Such a model can provide a useful framework for working with young people in order to reduce violence, criminal and other anti-social behaviors among them. Walter Earl Fluker has done extensive research in the area of developing ethical leaders from the Black Church and African Americans moral tradition. This work is based on his exhaustive study of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr. The model is based on four concepts; agapeic love (the overarching concept), character, civility and community. Based on these concepts a program model with these four foci as the foundational principles is described. The program is designed to work with 8-14 year old inner-city, socio-economically deprived youth. An evaluation of project outcomes follows. A postscript chapter details the potential role of the Black Church and Black clergy in working with these, our most challenged young folk.

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