The Changing Church and the Challenge of Racial Justice

Research shows that church attendance increasingly correlates with conservative political views and racial attitudes, particularly among White Christians. Despite increasing diversity in American society, Sunday services remain highly segregated such that worship practices, fellowship networks, and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Martí, Gerardo (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2025
In: Interpretation
Year: 2025, Volume: 79, Issue: 4, Pages: 327-340
Further subjects:B Pastoral Leadership
B Symbolic Allyship
B Systemic Racism
B Political Partisanship
B Conservative Christianity
B Racial Justice
B Liturgy
B White Supremacy
B Congregational Worship
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Description
Summary:Research shows that church attendance increasingly correlates with conservative political views and racial attitudes, particularly among White Christians. Despite increasing diversity in American society, Sunday services remain highly segregated such that worship practices, fellowship networks, and shared religious beliefs often reinforce, rather than challenge, racial divisions. This article suggests ways in which churches can embody the prophetic call for justice by moving beyond performative inclusion to sustained efforts that dismantle racism. In doing so, clergy, staff, and lay leaders must avoid merely symbolic allyship and enact substantive actions, even in the face of tensions and disagreements among their own members.
ISSN:2159-340X
Contains:Enthalten in: Interpretation
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1177/00209643251350131