University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations Dissertations and Theses 12-19-2008 The Capacity of the Black Protestant Church to Provide Social Ministry in Post-Katrina New Orleans Marshall Truehill Jr. University of New Orleans Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td Recommended Citation Truehill, Marshall Jr., "The Capacity of the Black Protestant Church to Provide Social Ministry in Post- Katrina New Orleans" (2008). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 895. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/895 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by ScholarWorks@UNO with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Capacity of the Black Protestant Church to Provide Social Ministry in Post-Katrina New Orleans A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of New Orleans In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Urban Studies By Marshall Truehill, Jr. B.S. Xavier University, 1973 B.Th. Christian Bible College, 1979 M.Div. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1986 D.Min. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990 Th.D. A. P. Clay Bible College, 1994 December, 2008 DEDICATION To My Beloved Wife MIRANDA Cherished Gift from God, The Love and Joy of My Life You have stood by my side through thick and thin. Stayed up with me long hours throughout the night And helped me do what you knew was in my heart to do. This is as much yours as it is mine. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As I close the book on this chapter in my life, I wish to acknowledge and express my appreciation to all who have had a part in accomplishing this project. To everyone at Operation Brothers Keeper: Total Community Action, the American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter, University of New Orleans Center for Hazards Assessment, Response and Technology, The Ark, and the City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security; you have been my partners in generating data, planning, and piloting the actual work as this document was in preparation. To Drs. Pamela Jenkins, Shirley Laska, Martha Ward, and Bill Day for your dedication, inspiration, and service as my committee; thank you for your hard work and time in advising and guiding me through the project. To the memberships of First United Baptist Church and Greater King David Baptist Church; thanks for your prayers and understanding when I had to be away from work to complete this project. To my family who always believed in me and is my biggest fan club, thanks for being there for me. Without all of your contributions, this project would not have been done. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................ vi LIST OF MAPS.............................................................................................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES.........................................................................................................................viii ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1: THE PROBLEM OF STUDYING AND RECOVERING FROM DISASTERS ........1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................1 Description of the Project ..........................................................................................................................2 Analysis of the Problem.............................................................................................................................3 The Questions............................................................................................................................................8 Feasibility and Limitations ........................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 2: PEOPLE, PLACE, AND SPIRIT ........................................................................... 12 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................12 The Lay of the Land before Katrina ........................................................................................................13 Race and Pre-Katrina Vulnerabilities ......................................................................................................22 The Lay of the Land after Katrina ...........................................................................................................28 The Black Church: Theology and Theory of Urban Ministry .................................................................33 Social Justice Praxis ................................................................................................................................52 Summary..................................................................................................................................................71 CHAPTER 3: WHAT’S RACE GOT TO DO WITH IT? .............................................................. 75 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................75 Racism: Setting the Stage for Katrina.....................................................................................................76 From Stagehand to a Leading Actor........................................................................................................79 Summary..................................................................................................................................................84 CHAPTER 4: THE METHOD TO THE MADNESS .................................................................... 88 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................88 Ethnography.............................................................................................................................................92 Validation ................................................................................................................................................95 Research Questions..................................................................................................................................98 Role of the Researcher.............................................................................................................................99 Ethical Considerations...........................................................................................................................102 Data Collection......................................................................................................................................103 Summary................................................................................................................................................122 iv CHAPTER 5: NEW TYPES OF RESILIENCE AND RESPONSE ............................................. 124 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................124 Descriptions of the Culture-Sharing Group...........................................................................................125 Lived Experiences of the Culture-Sharing Group .................................................................................139 Recurring Themes..................................................................................................................................163 Summary................................................................................................................................................171 CHAPTER 6: MAKING SENSE OF THINGS............................................................................. 172 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................................172 Emerging Patterns: Satellite Churches .................................................................................................172 Emerging Patterns: Invisible Churches.................................................................................................174 Emerging Patterns: Disaster Preparedness Ministries ..........................................................................176 Emerging Pattern: New Partnerships To Mitigate Loss .......................................................................179 Emerging Patterns: Leaving the Pastorate............................................................................................180