THE GATHERING OF THE VILLAGE - FOR JUSTICE AND PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY - THE CONCERNED BLACK CLERGY OF ATLANTA

Sep 29, 2026

A scholarly monograph presenting the history, culture, and mission of the Concerned Black Clergy (CBC) of Metropolitan Atlanta. It explains how the organization’s signature practices support its survivability and practical effectiveness over more than three decades. Emphasis is placed on participatory democracy, leadership, advocacy, and service, alongside a “safe space principle” and the “beloved community” as a renewal-oriented framework for responding to 21st-century community needs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages142

Reading Time3 h 39 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Bibliography

# THE GATHERING OF THE VLLAGEFOR JUSTCE AND PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY:THE CONCERNED BLACK CLERGYOF ATLANTA Edward P.Wimberly,Ph.D. Foreword By:Dr.Ralph Preston Peay,PresidentConcerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta # THE GATHERING OF THE VILLAGEFOR JUSTICE AND PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY:THE CONCERNED BLACK CLERGYOF ATLANTA Edward P.Wimberly,Ph.D. INTERDENOMINATIONAL THEOLOGICAL CENTER Published byThe ITC PressAtlanta,Georgia ITC MONOGRAPH Temba Mafico,Ph.D.Editor Angel ParksITC Press Printing Director Cover photograph:Files of the Concerned Black Clergy Copyright C2017 All Rights Reserved This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used inany manner whatsoever without the express written permission ofthe publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a bookreview. Revised EditionISBN 978-0-692-85201-9 Send your orders to: The ITC Press /Journal of the ITCInterdenominational Theological Center700 Martin Luther King Jr.Drive SWAtlanta,GA 30314 DEDICATION PAGE This book is dedicated to Mrs.Alice WhiteBussey,one of the founding members of the ConcernedBlack Clergy(CBC),the Chair Person of the CBC'sEconomic Development Committee,a key organizerand member of the Atlanta Business League,and aleading entrepreneur who supported the CBC's effort toapply business management practices to its work.Weowe her much of the credit for the CBC's efforts torenew itself over the years. https://archive.org/details/gatheringofvilla0000edwa TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword by Dr.Ralph Preston Peay : Preface by Dr.Temba Maficoix Acknowledgementsxiii # Introduction The Gathering of the Village for Justiceand Participatory Democracy:The Concerned Black Clergy of MetropolitanAtlanta 1 Chapter 1The 1983 Birth of the Concerned BlackClergy of Metropolitan Atlanta11 Chapter 2The Concerned Black Clergy Practicesfor a Post-Racial Environment27 Chapter 3The Gift of Audience,PastoralImagination,and Public Theology47 Chapter 4Practical Theology of Engagement:Building the Beloved Community 67 Chapter 5The Concerned Black Clergy is Aliveand Well:Reflections on Why95 Chapter 6Conclusion:The Reason Why the CBCHas Been Successful109 Bibliography121 ## Foreword It is a distinct privilege for me to provide theforeword for this historic publication which I read withtremendous interest. This project (manuscriptpreparation)has been in progress for nearly three years.This is a testimony to the commitment of the author,Dr.Edward Wimberly,who is the Concerned BlackClergy's designated historian.In producing thispublication,he has performed an outstanding task bydefining and describing the nine signature practices thatundergird the survivability and practicality of theConcerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta. The author brings to this project forty years ofexperience as a teacher,pastor,and researcher at thecollege,seminary,and graduate levels.This will be hissixteenth publication. With the ethnographic research orientation andthe use of narrative research methodology,Wimberlyprovides a reader-friendly book.The reader willappreciate the history,culture,and mission of theConcerned Black Clergy(CBC).The book focuses onthe survivability of the CBC for more than threedecades and highlights the value of "the safe spaceprinciple.”The reader is constrained to share his visionof the "beloved community"and at the same time,takenote of “the renewal phase”of the Concerned BlackClergy wherein focused efforts and concentratedintentionality sought to respond to the twenty-firstcentury needs of our community. The Concerned Black Clergy of MetropolitanAtlanta is a primary proactive,principle-centeredorganization composed mostly of African-Americanministers and laity.The mission is "to provideleadership,advocacy,and service to the homeless, helpless,and hopeless,in our community.”Because ofthe mission,research,renewal,and strategic planning,the Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta

FAQs

What is the main focus of the book?

The book examines the history, mission, and practices of the Concerned Black Clergy (CBC) of Metropolitan Atlanta and how they sustain the organization over decades.

Which themes guide the CBC’s work according to the foreword?

The foreword highlights participatory democracy, leadership and advocacy, service to those in need, the “safe space principle,” and building the “beloved community.”

How does the book portray renewal within the CBC?

It describes a “renewal phase” marked by focused efforts and intentionality to address 21st-century needs of the community.

Sep 29, 2026

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