The Haves and Have-Nots: Guidelines for Leading Congregational Change and Economically Empowering Poor Communities

By John F. Green

The significance of Dr. John Greens book entitled The Haves and The Have-nots: Guidelines for Leading Congregational Change and Economically Empowering Poor Communities, rests in his concern about the economically poor communities in which black churches find themselves and thus carryout their ministries. It is an intriguing practical and theological exploration with the major goal of the narrative to present models of ministry grounded in sound biblical theology, and supported by theologians and practitioners familiar with local church outreach strategies and who have chronicled their experiences about churches doing ministry among the economically disadvantaged.

The importance of Dr. Greens book rests in the question of whether or not African American churches will be able to rise above their middle-class status in order to reach out to the poorer communities surrounding their churches. The book presents leadership strategies that will enable pastors as well as the leadership in local churches to begin to engage in congregational change. Presenting leadership strategies for overcoming the status anxiety that hinders outreach of local black churches to the community is the goal of this well-written book.

Edward P. Wimberly, Jarena Lee Professor

Pastoral Care and Counseling

Interdenominational Theological Center

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781512779257

John F. Green

Dr. John F. Green, an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is a well-respected preacher and teacher; a church-builder and administrator; a community activist and theological leader. He has a demonstrated passion for realizing the church's commission for outreach to those who are struggling to survive the myriad complexities and challenges of present-day culture, and in need of spiritual, physical and/or emotional healing. Dr. Green is President-Dean of Turner Theological Seminary, the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) affiliate of the Interdenominational Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA. He accepted the assignment to executive leadership in this ecumenical academic setting after serving as the senior pastor at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Tallahassee, FL for twelve years. This followed twenty-four years of parish ministry, primarily in the Eleventh Episcopal District of the AME Church including pastoral leadership for Hurst Chapel AME Church, Orlando, FL; Hurst Chapel AME Church in Winter Haven, FL; and Allen Temple AME Church, Tampa, FL.

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Copyright © 2017 John F. Green, D.Min.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-7924-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7926-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-7925-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017903890

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/24/2017

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wife, Phyllis, for supporting me in ministry; to my brothers, Henry, Samuel and David for being change agents in the church and community; to my daughter, Courtney and my nephews, G-3.

I express especial thanks to the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Tallahassee, Florida, whom I served as pastor for twelve years, and afforded me the ministry context for my dissertation that provides the basis for this book.

Personal thanks and appreciation to Drs. Barbara Cotton and Rosalie Hill; Mrs. Jane Jelks Jones and Rev. Rae Fitch for their contributions to this book.

Contents

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1

Empowering the Poor: Biblical, Theological, Historical, and Theoretical Foundations for a Ministry of Economic Empowerment

Chapter 2

Guides for Church Leadership in Affecting Congregational Change toward Economic Empowerment

Chapter 3

Models of Ministries Engaged in Economic Empowerment

Conclusion

Endnotes

Bibliography

About the Author

Foreword

Dr. John Green has written a fascinating investigation into the topics of empowerment, stewardship, and, most importantly, leadership. The Haves and the Have-Nots will fill a needed niche in the unfolding literature of community empowerment through nonprofit investment. Dr. Green sees the Church as a necessary community partner in the twenty-first century struggle for corporate uplift.

The Haves and the Have-Nots surveys all of the contemporary literature, synthesizes it, and provides a useful synopsis for the reader interested in bringing theory to practice. Dr. Green anchors his understanding of community empowerment in four different foundations. Like the four legs of a stool, Green’s examinations of the biblical, theological, and such create a structure for an empowered church to engage and transform its community. The historical examination in this volume is of specific interest to those who study the history of giving in the United States.

Dr. Green’s book provides an eight-stage diagnostic and prescriptive model for churches to follow. Congregational leaders can use this resource as a way of examining and preparing their communities for mission. Although all models need to be adjusted for distinctive situations, The Haves and the Have-Nots is easily translatable to various ministry contexts. Eager leaders may want to develop a working guide for institutional development in their particular circumstances. Nevertheless, this book provides necessary content for developing an institutional program.

The Haves and the Have-Nots outlines how to influence change in a congregational environment through vision-casting. Dr. Green’s work provides helpful models to pastors, lay leaders, adjudicatories, and other ecclesial officials to fashion and align to their ministerial topographies. This book provides much for the earnest leader to consider when working on the project of vision-casting. I commend its use to every congregational leader.

Reverend Michael Joseph Brown, PhD

Academic Dean and Interim President

Payne Theological Seminary

Wilberforce, Ohio

Introduction

According to Marvin McMickle, the black middle-class society has lost a power balance between social activities, their spiritual commitments to the Church, and the need to assume some responsibility for those persons still confined to the inner-cities who need the very help and expertise possessed in abundance by the black middle-class. However, it is ironic that in the quest for social status, some middle-class blacks view their membership in the church as a social statement. Indicating, somewhere along the road to achieving status, they have, according to Cornell West, become more deficient and are unlikely candidates for accomplishing the kind of work that must take place in the neighborhoods where there are black middle-class churches.

Thus, the problem confronting middle-class black congregations is the truth about the second great commandment to love thy neighbor as thyself, and in the process, broadening its awareness and deepening its understanding of the concept of stewardship as a spiritual lifestyle rather than a ceremonial activity.

Black middle-class churches throughout the nation have a spiritual, moral, and church mandate to assist and help empower the blacks that have not found a way out of poverty or neighborhoods and lifestyles that keep them economically disadvantaged.

In recent years, the black community served by the black church experienced significant social and economic change. These changes can be attributed to a period of national prosperity, the Civil Rights Movement, and Affirmative Action legislation, which brought about increased income. The changes enhanced the