Living Out Being a Public Church in Selma, Alabama

Contemporary missions, regardless of the sending country, often include socio-economic dimensions. One application of the socio-economic aspect is Entrepreneurial Church Planting which uses business entrepreneurs and clergy members to launch spiritually and economically integrated communities of faith. In a world that measures success economically, how should be success being measured in such endeavours? For too long in the history of the Christian faith, financial stewardship or the number of conversions has sufficed. Increased economic pressures have led to the need not only to be governed by the quantifiable elements of reconciliation or financial flourishing, but also to evaluate outcomes of transformation—and thus to be accountable. This article explores these issues through a case study of the Blue Jean Church in partnership with Arsenal Place Accelerator and the Children’s Policy Council in Selma, Alabama. It represents a form of a congregationally-based practical public theology

Economic growth · Economics · Faith · Flourishing · General partnership · Jewish studies · Political science · Public policy · Quality of Life Research · Social science · Sociology · Sociology of religion · Stewardship (theology · Theology · Christian Theology and Mission · Law · Pentecostalism and Christianity Studies · Public Administration · Religion, Society, and Development