Practical Theology for Black Churches: Bridging Black Theology & African American Folk Religion

by Dale P. Andrews

Overview

The rift between black theology, with its social and political concerns, and black churches, with their emphases on pastoral care and piety, has been growing. Here, Dale Andrews offers a way to bridge this gap by redefining the paradigm of church as "refuge" in terms of a faith identity that brings together a concern for liberation with a pastoral focus on spirituality. This faith identity emerges from dominant biblical themes that shape preaching and pastoral care.

Andrews' insightful analysis of the gulf between black churches and black theology reveals the invasive influence of individualism in black religious life as well as the shared values for social change and care of the soul. Notably, it is this influence of individualism that has disrupted communal solidarity and brought about the neglect of liberation ethics within black church life. This practical theology will contribute greatly towards renewing the pastoral and prophetic ministry of black religious life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780664224295
Publisher:	Westminster John Knox Press
Publication date:	11/30/2002
Edition description:	1ST
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	541,043
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Dale P. Andrews is Distinguished Professor of Homiletics, Social Justice, and Practical Theology at Vanderbilt Divinity School. He is a past president of the Academy of Homiletics and the author of Practical Theology for Black Churches, among other works.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
	Introduction	1
	Mapping the Chasm	2
	Landscaping the Rifts	7
	Building Bridges?	9
1.	Early African American Folk Religion and Church Praxis	12
	The Encounter with North American Christianity	12
	Black Preaching and the Use of Scripture	16
	Pastoral Care in Black Churches	24
2.	Shaping Ecclesiology in Black Churches	31
	The Church as Refuge	34
	The Church and Social Ethics	37
	Faith Identity: Between Personhood and Peoplehood	40
3.	Readdressing Black Theology to Black Churches	50
	Black Theology's Critique of Black Churches	52
	The Impact of American Individualism	56
	Bifurcation of the Black Community	62
4.	The Convergence of American Individualism and Racism	67
	The Displacement of Black Churches in the Fragmentation of the Black Community	68
	Reassessing the Prophetic Voice of Black Theology	83
5.	Re-Modeling Black Ecclesiology	89
	The Task Facing African American Folk Religion	91
	Historical Interpretation and Black Theology	98
	A Reflexive Covenant in Relationality	103
6.	Prophetic Black Theology in Covenant	106
	Prophetic Consciousness and Black Theology	107
	Covenantal Theology, Prophetic Inspiration, and Black Churches	112
	Prophetic Practical Theology	122
	Conclusion	129
	Bibliography	133
	Name Index	141
	Subject Index	145