ABOUT DR. JESSICA BARRON
Author, demographer, impact strategist and advisor with a Ph.D. in Sociology from Texas A&M University. Dr. Barron is a sought after researcher whose work has helped move millions of dollars toward social impact efforts. Her work is published and awarded across the academic and philanthropic sectors, Dr. Barron is a data-driven storyteller and a mixed-methodologist, lending her expertise to leaders all over the country.
THE URBAN CHURCH IMAGINED
Nominated for Distinguished Book of the Year by the Association for the Sociology of Religion, Barron’s The Urban Church Imagined (NYU Press) addresses contemporary diversity and inclusion efforts among one of the nation’s most preeminent organizational structures—religious congregations.
“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.”
