Church Collective-Community Collective: Achieving a Faithful Economic Justice by Joined Faith Action and Intentional Collaboration

Clearly, we are at a serious inflection point in our country’s history, and more specifically in relation to the thesis posited in this dissertation project, we are also at a seminal inflection point as related to the collectiveness, and in measure, the deficit of collectiveness that exists in the broader African American community, and the attendant detriment it can be to lasting meaningful church and community cooperation. This cooperation is becoming even more vital, because at this point in time, we will continue to encounter more turbulence. This will have effects on the well-being, financial and otherwise of all Americans, but advancing from a deficit position of action, the afro-centric community, church, and citizenry must embrace and proffer a greater unity by being intentional about our needs, and the satisfaction of them. Binding our prosperity and future in tandem with operating socially and economically in concert with one another, even more than we ever have. Knowing and understanding the broader dynamics that accompany all partnerships or collaborations, it is important that we understand the nature of opposition outside and even more, inside our community, and that it is overcoming the negative effects of how we cooperate to prosper, that we learn how to work, and begin to thrive. Even as we have encounters that consider the past, we know that the effects of being collective and cooperative will have a net effect of positive gains for the wealth of our community, and its long-term prosperity. Engaging the betterment of our own souls, and spirituality is a guiding movement, that then expands through the church and community. Clergy and the men and women of God must lead this. If our communities and churches operate in greater harmony, their collective power will be position then to help the broader community, not as unwitting recipients of the service, or cause de-jour, but to assert what the community needs, and can demand because of the collective power it brings to bear. As citizens, not consumers of the promise of our country; as children, held in the promises of God.