The Contextualization of the Theology of Work for African Americans

The purpose of this project is to determine the feasibility of contextualizing the Theology of Work for African American congregants and pastors in the city of Pittsburgh. There is anecdotal evidence that many people are showing the desire to live an integrated life, where faith teachings and workplace practices are aligned. Pittsburgh is a city where the Faith at Work movement is thriving. In fact, the mantra in Pittsburgh is to make “the city of Pittsburgh as famous for God as it was for steel” (Elliott, 2004, p. 165). People who do see their places of work as a mission field are making a tremendous difference how they look at work. Today many people are showing the desire to live an integrated life where faith teachings and workplace practices are aligned. Workers of all types are no longer content to leave their souls in the parking lot (Gunther, 2001, pp. 58-80). Businesspeople today want to find moral meaning and purpose for their work. Jesus taught that discipleship should be undertaken by humanity in every aspect of life. Many African Americans, however, do not see their workplaces as a place of opportunity and ministry. In fact, they often see their workplaces as a reflection of the world of injustice and discrimination that they have experienced since the 1600s. They have not been exposed to the Theology of Work and in many instances do not see God clearly in the reality of their culture.
This project seeks to summarize the historical and biblical/theological context of the Theology of Work, while looking through the lens of demographics of Pittsburgh as it relates to salary, religion, and economic equity. A survey was developed for the purpose of validating the research. The Contextualization of the Theology of Work is consistent with the findings of study and research reflecting its relevance to the current African American culture. It validates the research that points to barriers to the Theology of Work for African Americans.