Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing

by Dennis A. Jacobsen

Doing Justice is an introductory theology of congregation-based community organizing rooted in the day-to-day struggles and hopes of urban ministry and in the authors 14 years of personal experience in community organizing ministries. Drawing from the organizing principles of Saul Alinsky, Jacobsen weaves the theological and biblical warrants for community organizing into concrete strategies for achieving justice in the public arena. Designed to be used by congregations and church leaders, as well as by ministerial students, Doing Justice opens new vistas for community action in support of the poor, the disadvantaged, and the disenfranchised of our society.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality

152 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Tim Krause · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some sound advice on effective community-based activism can be found in this handbook. Conservative and moderate coordinators, however, may take issue with the author's radical worldview and political opinions. The all-or-nothing tactics presented are probably more useful to inner-city proponents battling corruption and social injustice. I found any relevant guidance to be weighed down with one-sided anecdotes and fierce generalizations of American clergy and government officials.

I can empathize with Jacobsen's personal frustrations. Unfortunately, his message of reconciliation is lost in passionate outrage. A non-partisan edit would make this work much more accessible to a wider range of community organizers.

[Pito Salas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. I recommend listening to it, narrated by the author.

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The test of this book is not so much how well it reads as much as how well it leads to constructive collective social action. Its audience is rather niche: actively religious people who are concerned about injustice and have a group with which they can join in acts of justice. For them, it's profoundly challenging (because my heart's in the right place but there are things I'd rather be doing), sympathetic (I'm also the quiet type at least in public), and encouraging (because wins are few and far between).

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

We were asked to read this as a background for a seminar I haven't been to yet on building an inclusive church. This book is an explanation of what faith-based community organizing is. It's a real general overview of the concept and basic principles. You don't gain much in how-to specifics from it, though, so it'll be interesting to see what they do with it at the seminar.

Update: It didn't really have too much to do with the seminar. I'm not sure why they had us read it.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent theology of community organizing. I'm surprised we didn't have to read this in seminary. On the other hand, not much about the praxis of community organizing here, which is what I was hoping for.

[Lauren]

Extraordinary

[Janine Holter · Rating 2 out of 5]

sadly, I expected more and it did not deliver.

[Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some really great chapters within this book and a lot of helpful tips. However towards the end in delved into ideas that I couldn't quite grasp

[Becky Swanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great primer for faith-based congregational community organizing.

[Melissa Greene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful resource for community organizing whether you are in the institutional church or not.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good look at faith-based community organization from a why perspective, but I would have liked to have seen more of the how.

[Shoshanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

good starter to understand faith based organizing