Date of Award

9-6-2024

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Sociology

First Advisor

Rhys Williams

Abstract

This dissertation aims to begin to clarify whether Protestant, multiracial churches are in fact challenging racism and, if so, how. To this end, my study turns its attention to social engagement. What role, if any, do these churches play in their larger social contexts? Are they socially engaged in ways that challenge racial injustice? Do they foster this type of social engagement in those who attend? These are some of the questions this study begins to answer. This is an ethnographic study of four congregations in Chicago, IL. Through a careful study of each congregation’s racial discourse and their understanding of their relationship to the larger society (their moral project), I found that while the leaders of all four churches were deeply committed to racial justice there was a disconnect between them and their congregants. Thus, while each church was doing good work in their respective communities, work that did in fact challenge the racial status quo, they were less successful when it came to the formation of those who attended.

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