Vital Signs in Urban Churches
(Excerpted from Urban Churches: Vital Signs - Beyond Charity, Toward Justice by Nile Harper).
Vital signs are indicators of life.
- The most dynamic vital sign in urban churches is the increasingly vigorous and creative worship life taking place in a growing number of city congregations.
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In city centers where congregations are vital and growing, church members and pastors are engaging in community-building in the neighborhoods.
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Urban churches, more than any other institutions, are places where people of all ages - children, youth, young adults, older adults - can experience acceptance, affirmation, and encouragements, rooted in the unconditional love of God.
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Wiith this focus on community-building, many churches in city centers are taking leadership in creative ministries of redevelopment.
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As churches become more and more involved with social justice work, they have also become more politically aware and involved.
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Urban churches are working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in much greater numbers with a new spirit of mutual respect and collaboration.
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Increased community and just work has led urban congregations to seek out a variety of resources with a new understanding that asset development and financial resources are potential spiritual power.
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Urban congregations are generating new financial resources for faith-based community ministry by creating new businesses.
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The creation of community development corporations (CDCs) by urban churches, and their positive record in promoting new housing, housing rehabilitation, and economic development, has attracted strong interest and financial support from foundations.
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Many urban church-sponsored community development corporations (CDCs) have been significantly supported in their work to create affordable housing and advance economic development by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
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At the forefront of all this activity is a rising, new generation of urban pastors who are skilled in organizing, creating partnerships, securing financial resources, and generating religious community.
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There is in many urban churches a kind of earthy wisdom about life in the human family. There is an appreciation of the family as an essential nurturing reality.
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A growing number of mainline urban churches are being revitalized by new members from diverse racial or ethnic groups.
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Emerging from this increasing diversity is a growing capacity in many urban congregations to deal with tough ethical decisions at the personal and social level.
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There is a growing understanding that urban churches potentially have the human gifts that are most important for renewing and rebuilding urban communities.
Practices/characteristics of vital urban churches:
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Creating more culturally appropriate worship
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Creating more inclusive, spiritually mature community
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Nurturing faith that engages the challenges of city life
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Reaching out to make global connections for peace and justice
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Finding effective ways to nurture and mentor children and youth
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Inventing constructive ways of redeveloping neighborhoods
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Promoting the redevelopment of affordable housing
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Enabling people to recover from destructive addictions
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Strengthening family life spiritually, socially and economically
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Forming partnerships for resource development
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Developing community-based schools
