ABOUT DR. JESSICA BARRON
I am a sociologist and demographer which essentially means I am a life long learner. The majority of my time, research, and interests are spent exploring, measuring, and understanding the effects of population change on patterns and practices of inclusion and stratification in the U.S.
THE URBAN CHURCH IMAGINED
The Urban Church Imagined illuminates the dynamics surrounding urban evangelical congregations’ approaches to organizational vitality and diversifying membership. It offers important insights into concepts I call managed diversity, and the racialized urban imaginary to discuss organizational diversity efforts among institutions relocating to urban areas. This work is an important case study on the inclusion challenges faced by modern churches and urban institutions in general.
“The Urban Church Imagined expertly takes us into the heart of ‘new urban’ Christianity, a Christianity reflecting a renewed interest in the city, but a city highly constructed to serve idealized purposes. With richness of analysis and deep insight, we learn about the very heart of new America—the good, the bad, and the ugly. A fascinating read.”
“By turning the lens of critical studies of race upon religious spaces, this book illuminates the dynamic relationship between racial inequality and religious identity.”
“Ambitious evangelicals want to reach the city—a dynamic place filled with connotations of fashion, power, and cosmopolitanism. But the desire of evangelical churches to be relevant and racially diverse is colliding with the implicit racism still underlying their history. Drawing from observations in a multiracial evangelical church in downtown Chicago, The Urban Church Imagined reveals how modern evangelicalism is deeply entangled in the desire for contemporary relevance while persisting in racial prejudices and outright discrimination. ”
“The Urban Church Imagined confronts the peril facing all organizations who want to benefit from diversity. Without real, deep, meaningful change, people of color become window dressing. With insightful analysis that is at times empathetic and incisive, the book is a must-read for leaders who want to see real change in their work.”
