A black theological deliberation on social ethics for African-American churches.
Empower the People is a study in theological social ethics for North American black churches. It aims to present a conception of liberty/freedom and a liberating social ethic, both relentlessly informed by a black churchly understanding of ourselves in relation to God. There are two main questions: How should we conceive of liberty/freedom? and What should contemporary black churches do in order to contribute to the continuing struggle for liberty? Answers derive from consulting black church history, black theology and the philosophy of black power. Also, the descriptions, predictions and public policy prescriptions of liberal and black sociologies are evaluated from a black churchly perspective. Rightly conceived, liberty/freedom includes comprehensive social-economic-political empowerment and righteous relations to God and others. Accordingly, we church folk should empower the people through an ethic of breaking bread. The religious and social stakes are high. Where bread is not broken, Jesus is not recognized, God is not served, and the people are not free.