| abstract |
This dissertation is a study of the African American Church that provides the resources for spiritual healing for and within the African American Church and community,
from the perspective of a pastoral diagnosis of complicated grief. Utilizing the methodology of ethnography and contextual theology, this dissertation focuses on the
grace which is essential for the spiritual healing of both the African American Church as well as the African American community. Special attention is focused on
interviews with three Baptist Pastors, and a cohort, of millennials, including Baptist congregants and friends, located in churches, in the New York and New Jersey
areas. In addition, attention is focused on the research of several African American scholars who have addressed issues of healing in and beyond the African American
Church and communities. Among them are Edward Wimberly, Gregory Ellison, Derald Wing Sue, Willis Johnson, Paolo Freire, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. This investigation
encompasses the interconnectedness of the African American Church and the African American community within the scope of current pastoral care and counseling practices,
as they pertain to providing care for present-day African American Church and communities. It is my belief that the study of complicated grief within the African
American Church and community, which stems from decades of varied types of loss, is essential for spiritual healing. It is imperative that the African American Church
and community begin self-examination so that spiritual healing may begin. It is also my contention that the Church/community's spiritual healing will culminate in the
acknowledgement of the many losses as well as their ability to respond through healthy methods. Complicated grief is incapacitating, and prevents the resuming of life
because of feelings associated with loss. Such losses may include but are not exclusive to loss of identity, family, employment, severe illness or death of a loved one,
loss of physical ability or financial security. I believe spiritual healing as it pertains to the African American Church and community are prevalent in the Church
community but must be unearthed.
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