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Racism and the African American Church: The Impact that Racial Discrimination has on the Theology of African American Churches
Get PDFThe theology of the earlier evangelicals (white theology) has influenced the African American church. More to the point, the theology of the white evangelicals (The Puritans) has had both positive and negative impacts on the African American church, which birthed black theology in the United States. The influence continues today in more subtle ways (e.g., an image of a European blue-eyed man imposter posing as Jesus) and not-so-subtle forms (e.g., Kenneth Copeland’s video of making light of slavery in America). The “Protestant icon” of the blue-eyed Jesus was born in the 1940s and has entered African American homes nationwide. The subtleties of white supremacy mixed with religion have permeated churches across America.
This dissertation aims to demonstrate a solution for reconciliation through the biblical theology of unity and equality of all people according to Leviticus 19:33,34 and Acts 17:26. In the Old Testament, the people of Judah were to treat the stranger of the land as their brother (Lev. 19:33,34) because we came from the same Father in heaven (Acts 17:26). As the Hebrews made their exodus from Egypt, some people who were not Hebrews came with them. Some scholars believe that these people were either Egyptian slaves, people who had married into the Israelite tribes, or perhaps they were mercenaries who had joined Israel. Whoever they were, they were not Israelites. They did not have the same promises that God had made to them. The Israelites were people whom God called, but God included these strangers to be treated as part of the family (Lev. 19:33,34) if they were willing to submit to God’s authority as their Lord. This shows racial unity and establishes common ground for God’s people and those accepted as a family to advance God’s purpose. This dissertation will attempt to show that all people who believe in Jesus can join together to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Racism has become “invisible” to some because it has become the norm in society. It has become “invisible” because it has become the societal norm. I want to highlight the racism (discrimination) proponents that keep racism alive. The hope is that we come to a mutual agreement, according to the scripture, by which both sides claim to follow, that we are all equal in God\u27s eyes and must come together to dismantle the construct of racism.
From the pulpits of America, preachers gave the gospel message every Sunday with the hope that someone\u27s life would be changed for the better toward God through Jesus Christ. The theology of the white evangelicals greatly affected the African American church. This concept is not a new phenomenon. When the Gentiles were introduced to the Gospel in the first century, the Jewish Christians attempted to implement their rituals, cultural practices, and the law so that the Gentiles may become Jewish Christians” (Acts 15:24).
First and foremost, the Bible will be the primary source for this work. This author will use the Hebrew and Greek texts, LXX, and the King James Version as primary sources. This writer will use the Bible\u27s NIV, NLT, and NASB versions as a parallel. The Hebrew and Greek Lexicon concordances and biblical dictionaries, which will help exegete Exodus 32 and other biblical passages, will also be used. Reputable websites, such as JSTOR.com and Google Scholar, will prove helpful in the review of journal articles that will discuss the effects of racism in the church community.
The second group of literary sources will be literature by James Cone, who will cover the origin of Black Liberation Theology, Michael D. LeMay on American Christianity, and Amy S. Greenberg as she covers the historical account of the expansionism of the United States in the 1840s. Other literary sources will give a historical understanding of the slave trade, the oppressor’s theology, and the theology of the oppressed. I will utilize a third group of literary sources: exegetical commentaries.
This author has chosen a qualitative approach to my research, using several groups of literary sources to research history. A qualitative approach is a method that allows the researcher to gather data. The qualitative approach answers the “HOWs” and “WHYs” of the research. The researcher can delve deeper into the data by asking open-ended questions. I will address questions of racism by defining the term and demonstrating how it plays out in society. The misuse of the Bible by early white “Christians” in America (the 1600s-1800s) has led to the oppression of many African Americans, including Native Americans. From this oppression comes many different theologies (e.g., Nation Peoples, Africans, Native Americans, and Orientals). Because of this oppression, other groups do not look at God or the Bible (i.e., different religions such as the Muslims and Rastafarian) equally. Some view God as the God of the oppressed. Some believed that the Jews were of a black-skinned people; therefore, blacks were God’s chosen people. Though some view Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, they do not view Jesus as God in the flesh, who came to save humanity from sin. This view would contradict the precept of the Quran, which is believed to be the “verbatim word of God.” The lower-class African Americans view God in a different light than those who oppressed them.
Why does white theology still influence the “African American” church? Could it be the passed-down trauma of oppression affecting the psyche of the Black man? How can we reach a common ground and advance in the mission, preaching the unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ through deed and creed
Exploring Social Exchange Theory (SET): The Effects of Internal Communication between Select Staff and Managers at Yale University
Get PDFThis qualitative study explores the impact of internal communication on employee engagement and productivity between a select group of non-academic staff and managers at Yale University, using Social Exchange Theory (SET) as a theoretical framework. SET posits that interpersonal relationships are shaped by the exchange of resources, both tangible and intangible. While SET has been widely applied in organizational studies, there is limited research on its application within higher education, particularly concerning how communication dynamics influence employee engagement and productivity. This study seeks to contribute to the academic literature by examining the communication practices between a select group of non-academic staff and managers at Yale University, focusing on how internal communication channels and interpersonal interactions foster or hinder reciprocal relationships.
Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a select group of non-academic university staff and managers, providing insights into communication patterns and perceived rewards and costs within the working relationship. The findings highlight the significant role of effective communication in promoting employee engagement, trust, and productivity. This study contributes to the broader understanding of SET in academic workplaces and offers practical recommendations for higher education administrators aiming to enhance organizational communication strategies
History Professors\u27 Attitudes About Civil War Monument Removal: A Qualitative Study
Get PDFViolence in the United States is on the rise creating movements such as Black Lives Matter and others who call attention to ongoing racism in our country. One area of argument within the discussions of racism is the presence of Civil War monuments (CWMs) throughout the country. Many support the destruction, deconstruction, or relocation of these monuments, due to arguments that they are intended to demean and subjugate racial minorities. Others argue they do not carry this intent or meaning and are simply a memorial to former leaders. Little research exists that explores historian perspectives on this issue. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the viewpoints of history professors regarding monument removal. Sixteen history professors were queried through an interview regarding their viewpoints on the topic. Thematic and modified Van Kaam methods were used for data analyses to reveal themes and outliers. This qualitative study identified seven themes when answering the research questions. No definitive solution to the controversy was isolated, however many suggestions were proposed to assist those contracted to do so. Finally, the implication of this study is that there is no easy answer to this long- standing debate regarding CWM’s. In fact, sixteen well-educated professors were unable to agree on one. Unfortunately finding a solution has been complicated by the underlying, often not spoken of issue of racism, a factor which is nearly impossible to isolate from it. What this study does demonstrate is that there are a multitude of issues complicating the process that will need to be worked through before a community can safely and fairly determine a monuments fate
A Quantitative Descriptive Study of Authentic Leadership Practices and Attracting the Millennial Generation
Get PDFThe millennial generation represents the largest group of the American population, but this statistic is not reflected in local church attendance. Barna Group (2022) explains that many millennials have a relationship with God but are absent from church due to certain customs, leadership practices, and lack of belonging. This rationale is the basis of this research, designed to explore church leadership practices and how to create leadership that builds trustworthy, transparent, and authentic relationships. This descriptive study aimed to examine the extent to which Avolio, Gardner, and Walumbwa’s (2018) authentic leadership practices of transparency, trustworthiness, and relevancy attract millennials to attend and join the local church. The findings reflected the opinions that millennial churchgoers in the Milwaukee area found their church leader to be strongly transparent (82%), trustworthy (78%), and relevant (82%), while (85%) believe a combination of these practices attracted them to join the local church
Creating a Culture of Transformational Leadership Through Implementation of a Nursing Leadership Development Program
Get PDFNurse leaders are responsible for influencing frontline nurses in the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care amid resource constraints and competing priorities. A growing body of evidence indicates that relation-based leadership styles, such as transformational leadership, improve quality and safety within the healthcare environment and positively impact patient, staff, and organizational outcomes. While a transformational leadership style has been proven to successfully drive all organization members to work together toward the organization’s vision, most organizations do not assess leadership style or provide formal training to promote growth in this important leadership facet. This scholarly project aimed to close the gap in relational competency development by implementing an evidence-based transformational leadership development program (TLDP) at two hospitals in a twelve-hospital healthcare system. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire™ (MLQ), the Leader Efficacy Questionnaire™ (LEQ), and a novel program evaluation survey were utilized to evaluate program’s success. Both participant and supervisor scores in the transformational leadership domain of the MLQ demonstrated a significant improvement post-program. All three efficacy domains in the LEQ demonstrated significant improvement in leader scores post-program. The study results for this scholarly project add to the body of evidence in support of transformational leadership development programs, and the TLDP met the overarching purpose of providing a framework to equip nurse leaders with the competencies to create healthy work environments, lead collective change, and positively impact organizational outcomes
A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Exploring the Social Identity Experiences of Male Teachers of Color in the Male Scholarship Program
Get PDFThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the social identity experiences for male teachers of color at the Male Scholarship Program at North Valley University. The theory guiding this study was Tajfel and Turner’s social identity theory, which explained the social cognitive process individuals use to consider joining or exiting a group. Using the social identity theory, this study attempted to answer the central research question: What are the social identity experiences of male teachers of color participating in the Male Scholarship Program? This transcendental phenomenology study used purposeful sampling to recruit participants and collected data through individual interviews, letter-writing, and a focus group. Data analysis in this phenomenological study employed Moustakas\u27 phenomenological model: (a) epoché, (b) reduction, (c) imaginative variation, (d) textural descriptions, (e) structural descriptions, and (f) synthesis. Following the data triangulation, the following themes were constructed: norms and social influences, social mobility, shared experiences, and brotherhood. The study\u27s findings revealed that social identity played a crucial role in recruiting, preparing, and retaining male teachers of color within the context of the Male Scholarship Program. By framing participants\u27 experiences through social identity theory, the study highlighted the significance of identity alignment within educational support structures, which has been explored less in traditional teacher preparation literature
The Impact of Church Members on Single Parents in Residential Family Care Systems
Get PDFThis paper discusses the value of grace and its significance for making positive, lasting change. The researcher initially hypothesized that accountability alone was the sole catalyst for transformation (van Manen, 1990; Williams, 2008). The researcher conducted 30-minute interviews of seven single mothers with a minimum of 2 years residence in one or more Residential Family Care (RFC) programs, identifying them with pseudonyms for the purpose of protecting their identities. Each interview transcript was then evaluated for key repeated themes and phrases. While accountability did indeed play a significant role in the women’s change processes, the researcher found that grace, facilitated by accountability, was the actual driver of meaningful growth. Grace is defined as unearned favor and kindness given to another through forgiveness, generosity, and love, with honesty and humility (Easton, 1987; Wilson, 2010). The value of adopting grace for self-facilitation was also considered, highlighting the process of transition from survival mode to a state of personal growth, self-compassion, and improved mental health (Zimmerman & Campillo, 2003). Lastly, the researcher discusses grace\u27s role and the significance of accountability stemming from additional venues outside of formal programs. Support from an external source, such as a church community, enabled participants to feel valued, build resilience (Bluth et al., 2018; Kovoor-Misra, 2020; Seoane, 2023), and accomplish long-term goals. The implications of these findings for future program development and research are outlined
A Phenomenological Study of Principals\u27 Perceptions of Principal Preparation Programs
Get PDFThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand participants’ lived experiences in Principal Preparation Programs (PPPs) and their perceptions of how these programs prepared them for their roles as educational leaders in a public school district in the western United States. The lived experience is generally defined as the participants’ experiences, options, and choices and the influence these have on the participants’ perception of knowledge and education related to educational leadership. The historical, social, and theoretical context of principal preparation was highlighted in the introduction. A systematic literature review was conducted to explore issues in principal preparation. The focus was investigating how experiential learning in preparation programs influenced principals in their current practice. The theory guiding this research is Kolb’s experiential learning theory as it relates to how authentic and meaningful learning occurs when learners are involved in learning opportunities that mirror or simulate real-life scenarios. Data was gathered through three collection approaches with 10 participants currently serving as site administrators: individual questionnaires, individual semi-structured interviews, and focus groups. The data analysis revealed three themes: authenticity of experiences, role of mentorship, and limited efficacy of case studies. The data analysis includes a discussion of its empirical, practical, and theoretical implications and recommendations for future research
Emergency Management Single Points of Failure
Get PDFDisaster management begins and ends at the local level and encompasses every aspect of public administration. Emergency management practices using jurisdictional authority are central to protecting communities during incidents and events. Although contemporary emergency management plans, procedures, and policies are methodically developed over time, a single point of failure may cause preventable issues that result in a measurable loss of time, funding, or opportunity. A single point of failure can be any moment where a process, action, or detail was either overlooked or executed incorrectly and caused emergency management challenges. Fred Fiedler and William Scott’s descriptions of Contingency Theory, a human relations-oriented framework, were used to evaluate emergency management single points of failure situations and the contingent response to incident and event situations (Fiedler, 2008). The data collection methods used in this research included document analysis, interviews, an online survey, and a focus group session that explored emergency management single points of failure to develop better intervention processes that may minimize or eliminate identified failure impacts and create a new grounded theory. Key takeaways from this exploratory research highlight the importance of developing effective public administrative strategies. Through qualitative methods, data collection, and analysis, the study provides insights that can help emergency managers identify and prevent potential failures while uncovering commonalities in single points of failure related to new independent variables. This research addressed a real-world issue and contributed to past literature and theory by addressing the gaps linked to the single points of failure in the public administration of emergency management
Academic Performance, Violent Community Crimes, and Socioeconomic Status of Chicago Public Schools\u27 Students: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology
Get PDFThe purpose of this phenomenological study is to describe how community violence and low socioeconomic status influence the academic achievement gap among minority students at Chicago Public Schools. The theory guiding this study is Ogbu\u27s theory as it relates to how forces within the community influence the academic performance of minority students. The research study addresses the following central research question: How do the experiences of marginalized students influence their academic performance? The methodology used includes individual interviews, focus groups, and journal prompts. Based on the analysis of interviews, focus groups, and journal responses from the 12 participants, four major themes emerged regarding how marginalized students experience education in Chicago Public Schools: (1) Influence of Community Violence on Educational Experience, (2) Navigation of Socioeconomic Barriers, (3) Cultural Identity and Educational Navigation, and (4) Sources of Support and Resilience. Each theme contains several subthemes that provide deeper insight into participants\u27 lived experiences