Covenant Relationships for Radicals
Baptists, Community Organizing, and Social Justice
- Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2026
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Publisher's Description
This book examines the theory and practice of broad-based community organizing, establishing a critical dialogue between this approach to social change and Baptist social justice theology, ethics, and practice with impoverished and marginalized people. Community organizing is an approach that originated in the US in the 1940s and which came to the UK in the late 1980s. It has been adopted by churches from many denominations, by other faith traditions, and by many civic society institutions because of its perceived effectiveness as a vehicle for leadership development and collective action for social justice and the common good. Despite much theological reflection and research by Baptists and others on social justice as a key area for Christian discipleship and action by churches, there is currently little practice of social justice by UK Baptist churches, and community organizing has not been well explored by them. This book aims to close that gap. Baptists would benefit from a stronger theological ethic for social justice. Community organizing has informed other faith communities’ social justice work, particularly in Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. However, there is little UK Baptist literature on community organizing. This book brings the growing community organizing literature into contact with Baptist church theology, ethics, and practice.
Endorsements (4)
“A generous, hope-filled invitation, rooted in Baptist tradition yet open to learning from others, Richard (true to his name) is a Weaver of theology, community organizing, and storytelling—showing how churches can walk together with neighbors and partners in the work of social justice. Attentive to voices at the margins and rich in practical wisdom, this book compellingly affirms activism for justice as integral to Christian faith and calls communities into deeper, relational ways of living.”
“This is a book that should ignite every Baptist heart! At last! A thoughtful, reflective, well researched, and challenging study into how our neighborhoods can know hope and renewal through the lens of community organizing. . . . Only together, with careful listening, courageous action, and compassionate co-journeying can communities change for the better and for everyone. A must read!”
“This book offers an authoritative, fresh treatment of community organizing as it has intersected, and failed to intersect, with Christian communities. Weaver shows that UK and Welsh Baptists, while periodically offering advocacy for social justice, have never engaged the proven strategies for social justice pioneered by community organizing. He aptly describes ways in which deep Baptist moral and ecclesial commitments can and should connect with community organizing. This is a study with promise to enrich both community organizing and Baptist social ethics. Highly recommended.”
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