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Can I Get an Amen? Central Florida Black Pastors' Perceptions of the Impact of the Black Church in the Black Community

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Date Issued:
2015
Abstract/Description:
This study uses phenomenological methods to answer the research question, (")what do black pastors perceive as the role of the church in the black community?(") I asked 20 Central Florida black pastors 17 questions, most of them open-ended, to determine their perceptions of the current black church. First, these pastors are dismayed at the condition and the position of the current black church. They view the history the black church as strong and stalwart, and the Civil Rights Movement as an example of what the institution is capable of doing and being. Second, they perceive the primary roadblock of the black church to be leadership. They do not see current pastors as having neither the vision nor the desire to make the church the instrument of social justice and change that it once was. They see current pastors trying to make a name for themselves instead of impacting the communities they serve. They also see member apathy as another issue that hinders the impact of the black church. They argue that many black people have climbed the social ladder and no longer desire to reach back and help other blacks in the community that they have exited. This study provides important insight into the current state and the perception of the direction of the black church from the vantage point of these men and women who lead black churches in Central Florida.
Title: Can I Get an Amen? Central Florida Black Pastors' Perceptions of the Impact of the Black Church in the Black Community.
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Name(s): Williamson, Jeffrey, Author
Gay, David, Committee Chair
Carter, Shannon, Committee Member
Corzine, Harold, Committee Member
Matejowsky, Ty, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2015
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: This study uses phenomenological methods to answer the research question, (")what do black pastors perceive as the role of the church in the black community?(") I asked 20 Central Florida black pastors 17 questions, most of them open-ended, to determine their perceptions of the current black church. First, these pastors are dismayed at the condition and the position of the current black church. They view the history the black church as strong and stalwart, and the Civil Rights Movement as an example of what the institution is capable of doing and being. Second, they perceive the primary roadblock of the black church to be leadership. They do not see current pastors as having neither the vision nor the desire to make the church the instrument of social justice and change that it once was. They see current pastors trying to make a name for themselves instead of impacting the communities they serve. They also see member apathy as another issue that hinders the impact of the black church. They argue that many black people have climbed the social ladder and no longer desire to reach back and help other blacks in the community that they have exited. This study provides important insight into the current state and the perception of the direction of the black church from the vantage point of these men and women who lead black churches in Central Florida.
Identifier: CFE0006017 (IID), ucf:51011 (fedora)
Note(s): 2015-12-01
Ph.D.
Sciences, Sociology
Doctoral
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): Black Church -- Central Florida Black Pastors
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0006017
Restrictions on Access: public 2015-12-15
Host Institution: UCF

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