The landscape
of the Diaspora communties
is rich with churches.
Many represent different
Protestant denominations.
Some are located in storefronts;
most of the others are
in older church or synagogue
structures. Many of these
churches include healing
as part of their prayer
mission, the specifics
varying from church to
church. In some, time
is set aside to pray for
those who are ill; in
others, there are actual
services dedicated to
healing.
We hypothesize
that, in the African American
community, prayer in the
church contexts constitutes
one of the central approaches
to healing, thereby making
it a significant complementary
and/or alternative form
of therapy and, in some
cases, the primary one.
"‘Special regard
must be given to the new
immigrants who have cultural
needs, linguistic and
otherwise,'’ [Archbishop
O'Malley] told priests
in a December speech,
and his spokesman reiterated
that commitment last week.
But O’Malley faces
a difficult reality as
he makes his decisions:
Immigrant Catholics are
concentrated in the diocese’s
smallest congregations,
oldest buildings, and
poorest cities."
"The Black Ministerial
Alliance of Greater Boston
(BMA), established in
the early 1960s, is an
alliance of over 80 faith-based
and community-based organizations
with a 40-year history
of serving the Black community
in Boston. The BMA’s
mission is to provide
spiritual nurture for
clergy, and advocacy and
program services for the
larger Black community.
As part of its mission,
the BMA demonstrates its
ability to create positive
change in the Boston area."
