Preaching to Remember, Recognize and Re-Invigorate - Empowering Grinnell United Church of Christ Congregational to Re-Imagine its Activist Roots and be a Force for Justice in the Twenty-First Century

Margrave Schirm, Jessica L.

Etd

Preaching to Remember, Recognize and Re-Invigorate - Empowering Grinnell United Church of Christ Congregational to Re-Imagine its Activist Roots and be a Force for Justice in the Twenty-First Century

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Margrave Schirm, Jessica L. Preaching to Remember, Recognize and Re-invigorate - Empowering Grinnell United Church of Christ Congregational to Re-imagine Its Activist Roots and Be a Force for Justice In the Twenty-first Century. ctschicago.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/ec8c56ea-294e-4004-9625-44934c10ddcd.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

M. S. J. L. Preaching to Remember, Recognize and Re-Invigorate - Empowering Grinnell United Church of Christ Congregational to Re-Imagine its Activist Roots and be a Force for Justice in the Twenty-First Century. https://ctschicago.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/ec8c56ea-294e-4004-9625-44934c10ddcd

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Margrave Schirm, Jessica L. Preaching to Remember, Recognize and Re-Invigorate - Empowering Grinnell United Church of Christ Congregational to Re-Imagine Its Activist Roots and Be a Force for Justice In the Twenty-First Century. https://ctschicago.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/ec8c56ea-294e-4004-9625-44934c10ddcd.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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Margrave Schirm, Jessica L.

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Abstract

This Doctor of Ministry project investigates how justice-oriented, activist preaching can re-invigorate and reorient Grinnell United Church of Christ (UCC) to fulfill its historical and contemporary commitments to social justice. Located in Grinnell, Iowa, a small town with a population of 10,000, Grinnell UCC is a predominantly white, highly educated, and middle-class congregation, with a rich history rooted in abolitionism and a commitment to justice, inclusivity, and economic equity. This project explores the role of preaching in mobilizing the congregation to reclaim its abolitionist roots, engage in contemporary struggles for justice, and transform into a force for ethical and political activism in the Twenty-First Century. The church’s commitment to social justice has evolved through multiple historical movements, including the Social Gospel Movement of the early Twentieth Century and the Civil Rights Movement, and most recently, through its adoption of an Open and Affirming covenant and a focus on accessibility and economic justice. Despite these efforts, there is an ongoing need to deepen the congregation’s engagement with justice in ways that address both historical and contemporary issues, particularly through the lens of abolitionist and liberation theologies. This project, therefore, examines how preaching through an activist and social justice-oriented lens can catalyze the congregation’s growth in this way and reimagine its role in promoting justice. By remembering the church’s abolitionist past, recognizing its current justice priorities and re-invigorating the congregation’s imagination of a more just world in the future, this research aims to empower Grinnell UCC to take more effective action in its local context, with a focus on how privilege and positionality can be leveraged in the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, this work seeks to inspire both the present congregation and future generations of Grinnell UCC members to continue the church’s legacy of justice, ensuring that the faith community remains a vital force for positive change in the world, rooted in the teachings of Jesus with a commitment to the flourishing of all people.

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