The Trouble with Racial Reconciliation: Why John Perkins' Theological Approach Works

by Kenneth N. Young

The Trouble with Racial Reconciliation offers biblical theology to redeem socially constructed racial and ethnic identities. The real solution for racism and ethnocentric problems lies not in human efforts to reconcile, but in the sanctification process and in the implementation of a theology that outlines what it means to be and to live "in Christ."

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Dr. Kenneth Young (Ph.D., Systematic Theology, Luther Seminary) is J. Edwin Hartill Endowed Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ministries at University of Northwestern St. Paul.

Ken Young has been teaching at University of Northwestern since 1994. His areas of expertise include systematic theology, ministry, education ethics, race and ethnicity, and biblical counseling. Young served as a pastor and church planter with the Evangelical Free Church of America for several years prior to teaching at Northwestern.

His life’s work has been focused on educating on the issues of racial reconciliation. In 2003 he was honored by his hometown community for a Martin Luther King achievement. He has served on the EFCA’s Eastern District Task Force of Racial Reconciliation and the Board of Directors for the North Central District.

Beginning July 1, 2018, Young will serve a two-year term as J. Edwin Hartill Endowed Professor in the department of Biblical & Theological Studies. As Endowed Professor, his research will include the ongoing study of hermeneutics and theology and their implication for race and reconciliation. He is developing and teaching a new course, Theology for Social Engagement, where students will construct a biblical theology for addressing current social issues. His work has tremendous implications for improving race relations in the Christian church and higher education.