Black Church Sponsorship of Economic Programs: A Test of Survival and Liberation Strategies

The Black Church has a long history of sponsoring programs in response to economic challenges in the African American community. Yet current double digit poverty and unemployment rates among African Americans suggest the need to examine their current efforts to combat economic problems. This study, informed by the “survival versus liberation” thesis, examines sponsorship of cash programs, employment programs, and credit unions for a national sample of 1,863 Black churches across seven denominations. Results show the tendency for Black churches to sponsor economic programs to meet more short-term needs rather than address systemic issues. Moreover, findings from logistic regression modeling suggest limited denominational effects, but a positive relationship between churches that espouse a more liberative stance and economic program sponsorship—particularly programs associated with more long-term benefits. Furthermore, Black churches that offer more educational and contemplative religious programs and that have the requisite human resources and organizational structure appear best positioned to offer these economic programs. Results provide important insights into the Black Church economic ethic.