The Politics of Ending Church Discrimination

By W. Astor Kirk, PhD

Subjects: politics of church decision-making, sociology of religion, Methodist church (u.s.), Discrimination, social movements, church history

Description: This book examines, interprets and appraises intra-denominational politics of the United Methodist Church (UMC) with respect to (1) ending racial segregation of Blacks, (2) eliminating discrimination against Methodist women and (3) revoking policies and practices of negative differential treatment of Methodist members who are gays and lesbians. The author constructs "Pentagonal Ethics Paradigm" model of the "Jesus of history" and employs it as a tool for assessing UMC institutional discrimination.