Black congregations came into being to bear the gospel message of God’s kindom—the reign of love and justice—to the needs of healing and uplift for Black lives. Given that, in ethical and  theological terms, justice is a divine moral imperative to do what is right in a manner that is fair and impartial, ABC stands in a unique position to help Tennessee congregations explore theological and ministry praxis for implementing strategies relevant for prophetic mission and social justice ministry.

To this end, ABC Empowering Congregations serves Tennessee congregations grounded in Black church tradition seeking to thrive with and within communities afflicted by racism, trauma, and economic disparity.

Our congregational initiative seeks to invigorate and breathe new life into the ecclesial practice of Black churches in three foci for spiritual and social empowerment:

1) Theological Imagination | Re-engaging all forms of oppression and dominant interpretations of reality through a congregation’s exercise of critical consciousness and human agency;

2) Ministry Praxis | Reorienting reflection and action upon forms of prophetic communal care to transform the ways in which congregations address injustices; and

3) Adaptive Leadership | Visioning emancipatory models of non-hierarchical, gender-equitable, and intergenerational leadership to humanize systems through profound love for people and the community.

Program Goals

This three-year, three-phase process will engage congregations from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville, thus covering the four regions of the state.  Six congregations will be selected from each region, forming a cohort of 24 congregations. Preference will be given to:

· Congregations that demonstrate a commitment to community-based ministry.

· Congregations which will covenant to meet requirements of participation, engagement, and sharing of ministry resources generated or discovered through each of the phases of this three-year process.

Phase One | Seminary without Walls Pastoral Learning Communities (Pastors Only)

Phase Two | Congregational Theological Study & Practice

Phase Three | Activating InterCongregational Empowerment Zones (CEZs)

By the end of this process, members of participating congregations will understand spirituality as social witness and develop vibrant congregational interconnections. Participants will then be empowered to name the realities impacting marginalized and oppressed communities and to imagine and engage powerful possibilities to transform them.