View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Boston University Institutional Repository (OpenBU) Boston University OpenBU http://open.bu.edu Theses & Dissertations Boston University Theses & Dissertations 2015 Hope for reconciliation or agent of the status quo: multiracial congregations, their theological foundations and power dynamics https://hdl.handle.net/2144/16300 Boston University BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Thesis HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION OR AGENT OF THE STATUS QUO: MULTIRACIAL CONGREGATIONS, THEIR THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS AND POWER DYNAMICS by MEGAN E. LIETZ B.A., Gordon College, 2009 M.Div., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2014 S.T.M., Boston University, 2015 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Sacred Theology 2015 © 2015 MEGAN E. LIETZ All rights reserved Approved by First Reader _________________________________________________________ Bryan Stone, Ph.D. E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism Associate Dean for Academic Affairs ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my academic advisor, Dr. Bryan Stone, for his support and guidance on this thesis. I also express my gratitude to the Emmanuel Gospel Center, which supports me as a Research Fellow and consistently expressed confidence in my research ability well before my fellowship began. This includes special thanks to my supervisors Nika Elugardo and, especially, Rudy Mitchell. In addition, I acknowledge Sarah Lantz and Laura Sender for their editing expertise. My husband, Derek Lietz, was also wonderfully supportive and provided editing assistance. My appreciation also goes out to Drs. Nancy Ammerman, Courtney Goto, Anthony Petro, and Anjulet Tucker for their willingness to allow me to utilize the final assignments for their courses to aid in the completion of this work. I would be remiss if I did not mention my pastors, Reverends Lawrence and Virginia Ward, who have mentored me in multicultural ministry and been instrumental in empowering me to pursue God's plan for my life. I also thank Rev. Dr. Craig McMullen and Gordon College's Gordon in Boston program for immersing me in urban ministry and introducing me to my church family at Abundant Life. First and foremost, I give the glory to God, my Great Teacher and Sustainer. He is my hope for reconciliation. May his Kingdom come. iv HOPE FOR RECONCILIATION OR AGENT OF THE STATUS QUO: MULTIRACIAL CONGREGATIONS, THEIR THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS AND POWER DYNAMICS MEGAN E. LIETZ Boston University / School of Theology, 2015 Major Professor: Dr. Bryan Stone., E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs ABSTRACT In this thesis, the biblical vision of egalitarian multiracial communities is compared to the present practices of Christian congregations in the United States. The thesis establishes that, while multiracial congregations bear the potential for racial reconciliation and equality, this potential may be thwarted by the unintended, counterproductive consequences of racial essentialism and white hegemony. Although I hypothesize that these results reflect the realities of multiracial congregations in general, the focus is on evangelical multiracial churches that are predominantly black and white. The thesis begins by exploring the arguments evangelicals have used to support and oppose racial hierarchy during nineteenth century U.S. slavery and the Civil Rights movement. Next, it traces theological beliefs used to advocate for multiracial congregations today. This is followed by an exploration of the development of multiracial congregations and how they can contribute to racial reconciliation, drawing heavily upon the national study completed by Michael O. Emerson in 2006. v Despite the hope offered in the earlier chapters, I go on to present obstacles that blacks encounter in multiracial congregations. Following a description of the black church tradition, the thesis describes Gerardo Marti's research on how blacks can be utilized and essentialized in multiracial congregations in an effort to achieve diversity. Korie Edwards' study on multiracial congregations, which suggests that, under certain circumstances, potential for racial reconciliation and egalitarian relationships can be hindered by white hegemony, is also employed. This is followed by an examination of how the ideology of whiteness contributes to white hegemony and suggests white identity development as a tool to abate this inequality. Thereafter, formative influences on an individual's identity are explored and a case is made for how multiracial congregations can transform a person's racial identity. It is suggested that such a change bears the potential for racial reconciliation. The thesis concludes with implications for practice today and suggestions for future research. The objective of this thesis is to contribute to the actualization of a biblical vision within multiracial congregations by critically exploring the interactions between theological ideals and sociological realities. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. iv Abstract ............................................................................................................................... v Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vii Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Foundational Research .................................................................................................... 1 My Overarching Research Interests ................................................................................ 4 Current Focus .................................................................................................................. 5 Defining the Evangelical Church .............................................................................. 10 Looking Ahead .......................................................................................................... 19 I. A Theological History of Racial Hierarchy within The Body of Christ ....................... 21 Nineteenth Century Slavery in the United States ......................................................... 24 Biblically Based Arguments For and Against Slavery ............................................. 26 Challenging the Existence of Slavery in the Bible ............................................... 27 Slavery As a Sin .................................................................................................... 32 Racism as Sinful ................................................................................................... 36 Christian Principles ............................................................................................... 43 Moral Progress ...................................................................................................... 46 From the End of Slavery to the Civil Rights Movement ...................................... 49 The Civil Rights Movement ......................................................................................... 52 Evangelicals Fail to Engage in the Civil Rights Movement ..................................... 52 The Theology of Martin Luther King Jr. .................................................................. 60 vii A Loving and Involved Deity ............................................................................... 60 Humanity is Created in the Image of God, thus Interconnected and Designed to be Free ....................................................................................................................... 62 Humans Have a Moral Obligation to Work towards Social Restoration .............. 65 The Ultimate Goal: The Beloved Community ...................................................... 67 Theological Agreement, but a Difference of Priorities, Methods and Timing ..... 68 Looking Ahead to Multiracial Congregations Today ........................................... 70 Summary of Historical Considerations ......................................................................... 73 II. Theological Support for Multiracial Congregations in the Twenty-First Century ....... 76 Ethnicity and Race in the Ancient Near East ................................................................ 76 A Theology of Multiracial Congregations .................................................................... 79 The Nature of God and Humanity ............................................................................ 79 Old Testament Law and the Prophets ....................................................................... 84 The Life of Jesus ....................................................................................................... 84 The Example of the Early Church ............................................................................ 90 The Teachings of Paul .............................................................................................. 96 Summary of the Theology Support for Multiracial Congregations .............................. 99 III. Multiracial Congregations As a Hope for Reconciliation ......................................... 101 Defining Multiracial Congregations: Integrated, but Not Necessarily Equal ............. 103 Becoming a Multiracial Church .................................................................................