Strengthening Black Churches: A Collaborative Approach

Throughout United States history the Black Church has played a significant role in the Black community. As one of a few truly African-American institutions, the Black Church, led by skilled, committed pastors and lay leader, has served as an anchor for the survival and achievement of the African-American community. Black churches bring to their social ministries and neighborhood revitalization efforts a wealth of strengths and assets including a set of values, a self-help philosophy, an emphasis on leadership development, and human resources which are all brought to bear on the myriad of social, economic and moral issues confronting Black people. In the early 1990s, Boston-area foundations began supporting the work of several Black churches in the community. After initial data gathering and reflection, foundations concluded that Black churches have a unique and critical role to play in building and sustaining the Black community and that foundations can further their own goals by forming new partnerships with Black churches