Beyond the White Church: Disrupting Racism, Rebuilding Faith Community

by Doug Cunningham

Overview

This memoir narrates the author's awakening to the destructive ways of white supremacy in the white-dominant, institutional church. He partners with Black, Latinx, Asian, multiracial, and white young adults to forge an innovative new church in the Bronx (2008-2019). He then joins a mentor and colleagues in combating racism within the wider institutional church. (2020-2025) These gritty stories explore strategies, reflect on setbacks, and celebrate breakthroughs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781958670996
Publisher:	SacraSage
Publication date:	07/18/2025
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.57(d)

About the Author

Doug Cunningham's journey began amid the Philippine resistance that toppled the Marcos dictatorship in the 1980s. He is an ordained United Methodist pastor and missionary. Beyond the White Church is his first book.

Editorial Reviews

Doug Cunningham joined our experiment--foreign missionaries living and working like our local church workers, and challenging the colonial Christianity imposed by the U.S. church. When Doug worked with us, he wrote about his experiences with our mass movements and rallies against U.S. intervention. Now, he offers this powerful testimonial—essential reading!

Beyond the White Church - Bishop Erme Camba

Doug Cunningham has written an extraordinary memoir about his journey from being a person of privilege to becoming a minister called to build a Beloved Community that transcends boundaries of race, sex, and class. Join him on his pilgrimage and see the possibilities, challenges, and blessings in these troubled times.

Beyond the White Church - Dr. Donald H. Matthews

I laughed and cried while reading these deeply moving stories. Listening, becoming vulnerable, pushing beyond the privilege of white skin, unlearning and learning anew – this is a baptism into the work of confronting past centuries of colonialism within a growing community of solidarity. Thank you for this witness!

Beyond the White Church - Norma P. Dollaga

The personal, profound, and sometimes painful details of this compelling memoir shed light on the many contradictions of the White church. Longtime pastor Doug Cunningham's narrative feels like meeting a dear friend willing to share the intimacies of this struggle with honesty and the courage of self-interrogation–a model of cross-racial and collaborative ministry where the gospel of liberation comes alive.

Beyond the White Church - Jeannine Hill Fletcher

This book offers an insightful trove of antiracist and anti-hierarchical church ministry practices that radically challenge the repressive politics in our local and national community life. Rev. Cunningham's inspiring storytelling displays wisdom and humility desperately needed right now from other white social justice faith leaders.

Beyond the White Church - Rev. Dr. Traci C. West