In a 1999 essay titled "A Good Time or a Good Life? The Black Church in the Twenty-First Century," I attempted to chart the opportunities and obstacles facing black churches on the eve of the new millennium. An extensive quotation from the essay revealed my concern for the need of social justice engagement in many churches:
"Within urban and suburban America, the up-and-coming movement is the 'mega' black church with state-of-the-art classrooms, administrative offices, dinner facilities, and gymnasiums. Many of these 'mega' churches have enough members to populate a small city. ... Many factors contribute to this groundswell of membership ... but, most of all; it is the rebirth of a more charismatic style of worship in the black church that has motivated much of this interest. It is the vibrant, exciting worship of the African-American tradition that is drawing people. ... Yet I am concerned that congregations cultivate spiritual lives, and not simply provide energizing worship.
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