In Case of Katrina: Reinventing the Church in Post-Katrina New Orleans

by Ellen Blue

Since six months after landfall, Ellen Blue has taught "The Church's Response to Katrina." It sidesteps disaster response, where clearly the church should be involved. What was unclear was how leaders in a connectional denomination like United Methodism should decide which churches to merge or decommission after floods destroyed seventy churches and displaced ninety pastors, and no one knew how many members would return. Katrina gave the church a chance to re-make itself without deteriorating structures in no-longer-thriving neighborhoods. Yet as members returned to chaos, they sought solace. Should the church meet needs for Sanctuary and reassurance or use newfound flexibility to seek justice? In Case of Katrina examines leadership strategies and the theological convictions that underlay them during the struggle to decide. The larger United Methodist Church controls real estate, and the hierarchy had the power to choose. Instead they let verdicts spring primarily from congregants and pastors on the ground through a long, controversial process. Recovery has been entwined with issues of race and class. Cooperation among African American and Anglo congregations has birthed vibrant multi-racial worship and ministries. Yet other prophetic ministry was left undone, and it should set the agenda for the next decade."

224 pages, ebook

Published August 4, 2016

Reviews

[Sue Whitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the book is, as the title states, about reinventing the church in a specific place in specific circumstances, it also serves as a primer for the rest of us. We all need counsel and encouragement in dealing with our situations--for example, how to be what the church is supposed to be; how to recognize and develop and encourage leadership; how to reach out successfully to the nones and dones; and so on. To summarize: read this book.