The black church historically has been a primary context for leadership within the black community, and black churches continue to call young people into leadership.  But what is the state of black churches today? The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, recently coordinated "Faith Factor Project 2000," a survey of African-American churches.  In "The Shape of Zion:  Leadership and Life in Black Churches," Michael Dash, Professor of Ministry and Context at ITC, and Christine Chapman, adjunct professor at ITC and president of the Millennium Foundation, assess the data of the "Faith Factor Project." 

Highlights from the Faith Factor Project:

1,863 pastors, assistant pastors and lay leaders from historically black congregations in denominations including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Baptist Church, the United Methodist Church, and the Church of God in Christ, responded to the survey.

Church Activities:

• 92 percent sponsor youth programs.
• 86 percent provide assistance to families in need.
• 75 percent run food pantries or soup kitchens.
• 76 percent conduct voter registration.

Political Activities:

• 55 percent of church leaders approve of clergy participation in protests and marches on civil rights issues.

Role of Women:

• 40 percent of all clergy approve of women as pastors.
• 23 percent of Church of God in Christ clergy approve of women as pastors.
• 20 percent of Baptist clergy approve of women as pastors.
• The survey also found that higher education levels increase the likelihood of acceptance of women in pastoral leadership. 

Finances:

• 64 percent of churches were said to be in good financial health.
• 33 percent said finances were tight.
• 3 percent reported financial difficulties.

Major Concerns:

Major concerns voiced in the survey include homosexuality and same-sex marriages, aging leadership in the black church, aging congregations and church size.  More than half of surveyed churches had fewer than 100 regularly participating adult members.

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