Black Mega Churches and Prophetic Community Engagement

Watch Susan Barnes's Jan. 23 talk on "Black Mega Churches and Prophetic Community Engagement."

This lecture was part of the colloquium series sponsored by the Center for Community Studies.

According to C. Eric Lincoln and Lawrence H. Mamiya's book The Black Church in the African American Experience, prophetic churches are those whose Christian stances are informed by a "this-worldly" call to community action. In contrast, more priestly congregations have an "other-worldly" focus on religious hygiene.

This presentation examines some of the purposes and programs of black mega churches that lead to community engagement and personal empowerment. Of particular interest will be whether and how black mega churches respond to issues related to race, poverty and politics.