Evangelism Among African American Presbyterians

Evangelism Among African American Presbyterians
Author: Marsha Snulligan Haney
Publisher: Rlpg/Galleys
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2007
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

As Presbyterians, Lutherans, Methodists, Disciples of Christ, and other predominantly European-centered Christian denominations of North America seek to respond as a faith community to the increasingly dynamic ethnic and cultural diversity within our society, this book offers a sobering yet valuable perspective. By understanding the ministry of Christian evangelism as a construct that speaks of the power of divine transformation (personal and communal) and the embrace of a way of life, this work argues for a multi-variant approach that values the philosophical aspects of cultural differences, which are effective and faithful models of Christian evangelism. An analysis of key missiological concepts, such as mission histories, ethno-theologies, worldview, culture, ethnic cohesion, and contextualization is appropriated to illuminate the theological voices and evangelical practices of a specific people, or ethnicity, shaped by a journey of spiritual faith. While the numerical significance of self-identified African-American Presbyterians may appear small, their synergistic encounter of human identity and religious faith, historical experience in the church, and the impact of their evangelical presence provide an excellent case study for discerning the twenty-first-century challenges of evangelism. This thorough study of history, theology, organizational structures, methods, and techniques will serve as a valuable tool in evaluating the impact of the faith journey of African-American Presbyterians and its challenges for today and the future.

Presbyterians in South Carolina, 1925–1985

Presbyterians in South Carolina, 1925–1985
Author: Nancy Snell Griffith
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2016-09-12
Genre: History
ISBN: 149823772X

The history of South Carolina Presbyterians between 1925 and 1985 covers a period of great development achieved through many difficulties in church and society. We tell the story not only of the churches belonging to the PCUS, sometimes called "southern Presbyterians," but also African-American churches and institutions in South Carolina established after the Civil War by PCUSA missionaries from the North. For all Presbyterians, events between the World Wars challenged the moral stances birthed by Protestants to build a Christian America. Women's right to vote came to the nation in 1920, but claiming equality of women's roles in mainline churches took decades of advocacy. The Great Depression engulfed the whole nation, eroding funds for churches, missions, and institutions. World War II set the scene for a great period of church expansion. When moral and cultural challenges came from the Civil Rights Movement and the war in Vietnam, the church increasingly began to face these issues and tensions, both theological and social, as they arose among the members of historic denominations. An effort began to reintegrate African-American churches into the Synod of South Carolina. As the Synod of South Carolina was taken up into a larger regional body in 1973, its more conservative churches began to withdraw from the PCUS. Many congregations began to shrink and the resources for mission diminished. In telling this story we hope to provide insights into how Presbyterians in South Carolina contributed to culture, connecting their religious life and practices to a larger social setting. May a fresh look at the recent past stir us to renewal ahead.

Presbyterians and American Culture

Presbyterians and American Culture
Author: Bradley J. Longfield
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
Total Pages: 278
Release: 2013-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 066423156X

This book provides a history of Presbyterians in American culture from the early eighteenth to the late twentieth century. Longfield assesses both the theological and cultural development of American Presbyterianism, with particular focus on the mainline tradition that is expressed most prominently in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He explores how Presbyterian churches--and individuals rooted in those churches--influenced and were influenced by the values, attitudes, perspectives, beliefs, and ideals assumed by Americans in the course of American history. The book will serve as an important introduction to Presbyterian history that will interest historians, students, and church leaders alike.

African American Religious Cultures [2 volumes]

African American Religious Cultures [2 volumes]
Author: Anthony B. Pinn
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 785
Release: 2009-09-10
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1576075125

This encyclopedia offers the most comprehensive presentation available on the diversity and richness of religious practices among African Americans, from traditions predating the era of the transatlantic slave trade to contemporary religious movements. Like no previous reference, African American Religious Cultures captures the full scope of African American religious identity, tracing the long history of African American engagement with spiritual practice while exploring the origins and complexities of current religious traditions. This breakthrough encyclopedia offers alphabetically organized entries on every major spiritual belief system as it has evolved among African American communities, covering its beginnings, development, major doctrinal points, rituals, important figures, and defining moments. In addition, the work illustrates how the social and economic realities of life for African Americans have shaped beliefs across the spectrum of religious cultures.

Getting Right With God

Getting Right With God
Author: Mark Newman
Publisher: University of Alabama Press
Total Pages: 307
Release: 2001-09-11
Genre: History
ISBN: 0817310606

Publisher Fact Sheet This groundbreaking study analyzes the evolution of Southern Baptists' attitudes toward African Americans during a tumultuous period of change in the United States.

Graceful Evangelism

Graceful Evangelism
Author: Frances S. Adeney
Publisher: Baker Books
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2011-02-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1441214356

The word evangelism evokes strong reactions among Christians. Conflict about what it is, whether to do it, how to go about it, and the desired results divides churches, demonstrating the need for new theologies and methods that address today's religiously pluralistic and secular contexts. This book offers a comprehensive treatment of evangelism, from biblical models to contemporary practice. Frances Adeney shows that understanding different contexts and approaches to evangelism and accepting the views of others on this crucial topic can help replace the "evangelism wars" (social action vs. proclamation) with a more graceful approach to sharing God's good news with the world.

Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture [4 volumes]

Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture [4 volumes]
Author: Jessie Smith
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 1916
Release: 2010-12-17
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0313357978

This four-volume encyclopedia contains compelling and comprehensive information on African American popular culture that will be valuable to high school students and undergraduates, college instructors, researchers, and general readers. From the Apollo Theater to the Harlem Renaissance, from barber shop and beauty shop culture to African American holidays, family reunions, and festivals, and from the days of black baseball to the era of a black president, the culture of African Americans is truly unique and diverse. This diversity is the result of intricate customs forged in tightly woven communities—not only in the United States, but in many cases also stemming from the traditions of another continent. Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture presents information in a traditional A–Z organization, capturing the essence of the customs of African Americans and presenting this rich cultural heritage through the lens of popular culture. Each entry includes historical and current information to provide a meaningful background for the topic and the perspective to appreciate its significance in a modern context. This encyclopedia is a valuable research tool that provides easy access to a wealth of information on the African American experience.

How Shall We Witness?

How Shall We Witness?
Author: Milton J. Coalter
Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
Total Pages: 212
Release: 1995-01-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780664255756

Witness has long been recognized as an essential task of Christ's disciples. But the question of how to evangelize responsibly has often confused and divided the Christian community.How Shall We Witness?is an account of one Christian family seeking to heed Christ's commission to witness in and to the world.