Still Standing Under Economic Pressure: Case Study Churches

Abstract

This chapter uses primary data collected in Macon County , Alabama to introduce the churches studied and gives insight into the diversity and ambiguity of Black churches in the rural South with respect to economic ethics. It places the churches in a broader historical context by using Lincoln and Mamiya ’s classic study of the African American Church—particularly their findings on rural churches, giving details of characteristics of these churches. It then scrutinizes the case study churches in a southern religious context by using Mark Silk , Andrew Walsh , and Christian Smith ’s analyses on evangelical churches, race, and politics.