Black Church Culture and Community Action

Cultural theory posits that social groups possess a cultural repertoire or “tool kit” that reflects beliefs, ritual practices, stories and symbols that provide meaning and impetus for resource mobilization. However, little research based on quantitative techniques has been forwarded relative to the relationship between longstanding Black Church cultural components – specifically, scripture, songs, prayers and sermons – and activism among Black churches. Using a large national sample of Black congregations across seven denominations, I test aspects of cultural theory. Findings support the consistent, direct relationship between prayer groups and gospel music and various forms of community action and less influence by spirituals and the general usage of sacred scripture. The Black Church has long been considered a bulwark in the Black community. Research supports its’ religious, economic, socio-cultural and political dimensions (Billingsley 1999; Drake and Cayton 1962; Dubois 1953[1996], 1903[2003]; Ellison and Sherkat 2000; Frazier 1964; Lincoln and Mamiya 1990; Mays and Nicholson 1933; Morris 1984; Nelsen and Nelsen 1975). More contemporary studies tend to contradict some of these claims (Gregory 1998; McRoberts 2003). An ethnographic study by Pattillo-McCoy (1998) details aspects of Black Church cultural transference to Black community members in the Chicago neighborhood of Groveland. An important point of departure for her seminal analysis presupposes a relationship between cultural “tools” such as prayer, songs and other religious symbols, and community action among Black congregations. Although this correlation has been suggested based on theoretical, anecdotal or qualitative findings, to my knowledge, scholars have not tested this relationship using quantitative techniques. To address this limitation, I assess whether key claims, derived largely from ethnographic studies, are evident for a national sample of 1,863 Black congregations in order to test aspects of cultural theory. This study investigates whether cultural symbols such as gospel music, spirituals, prayer and social justice sermons endemic to the Black Church engender community action. Although not an exhaustive test, this study examines existing literature on the role of the Black Church as a change agent as well as possible correlates between common cultural patterns and specific strategies to address social problems in the Black community. Research also suggests variability in community action based on denomination, with less hierarchical denominations generally encouraging civic and social engagement (Harris 1995; Verba, Schlozman, and Brady 1993) and greater community support among the Methodists and Baptists than Church of God in Christ due to the historic differences in community Earlier versions of this article were presented at the 2004 Association for the Study of Religion and American Sociological Association conferences. I would like to thank Clara Brown-Smith, Ken Ferraro, Nancy Ammerman, James Davidson, Stephen Rasor and Social Forces’ anonymous reviewers for their assistance. This research was funded by a 2001 Purdue University Incentive Grant and a 2002 Purdue University Research Foundation Grant and with support from the ITC Faith Factor 2000 Project sponsored by the Lilly Endowment and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Direct correspondence to Sandra L. Barnes, Department of Sociology & Anthropology and the African American Studies Research Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2059. E-mail: [email protected]. © The University of North Carolina Press Social Forces, Volume 84, Number 2, December 2005 involvement, denominational polity, socioeconomic status of the membership, infrastructure of local congregations, and theological tenure of the church culture (Billingsley 1999; CalhounBrown 1998; Lincoln and Mamiya 1990; McRoberts 1999; Park and Smith 2000). In addition to less tangible factors associated with church culture, clergy education and their personal theology as well as church size and economic stability also have been shown to influence community action (Billingsley 1992, 1999; Calhoun-Brown 1999; Cavendish 2001; Chaves 1999; Chaves and Higgins 1992; Day 2001; Lincoln and Mamiya 1990; McRoberts 1999; Reese and Shields 2000; Sawyer 2001; Wilmore 1994).