Linking Arms, Linking Lives: How Urban-Suburban Partnerships Can Transform Communities

by Ronald J. Sider, Wayne L. Gordon, John M. Perkins

Among the various lines drawn between people in the church--male and female, young and old, black and white, rich and poor, Republican and Democrat--there is the line between the urban and the suburban. The stereotypes of the edgy, socially active, multicultural urban Christian and the middle-class, comfortable, upwardly mobile suburban Christian mix fact and fiction. Linking Arms, Linking Lives looks beyond stereotypes and makes a compelling case for partnership that crosses urban and suburban for effective ministry among the poor. Drawing from a growing network of development practitioners, pastors, and theologians, this book focuses on the experiences of partnership between urban and suburban entities to provide both theological foundations and practical guidelines for those who desire to partner effectively. All who want to find viable ways to help the poor will welcome this thoughtful and hope-filled book. Includes a Foreword by Noel Castellanos.

Genres: Justice, Christian

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

About the author

Ronald J. Sider (PhD, Yale University) is the founder and president emeritus of Evangelicals for Social Action and distinguished professor of theology, holistic ministry, and public policy at Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. He is the author of numerous books, including The Early Church on Killing, the bestselling Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, and The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience.

Reviews

[Will Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linking Arms, Linking Lives is one of the better books on church partnerships that I have read. It’s specifically helpful because the focus is on urban - suburban church partnerships. The primary focus is on building solid relationships, becoming yokefellows - partners on mission, for the sake of God’s Kingdom.

As an urban church pastor I found it helpful in clarifying some of the dangers and fears I have of working with suburban churches. Especially the tendency for wealthier, white, well-educated churches to be paternalistic toward poorer, diverse, and less educated urban churches. I often feel less than a pastor because our church is small, urban, and poor. This book seeks to level the playing field a bit.

The Do’s and Don’ts are helpful reminders as both urban and suburban churches seek to partner together for the sake of the Gospel.

The greatest weakness of the book is some of the poor theology behind it. They tend to confuse the Gospel with the fruit of the Gospel. Ironically, more conservative suburban churches may shy away from this book because of the theology, but even though I disagreed with it I still found the book practically helpful.

My only other criticism is I wish it went a bit deeper. Some of it seems rather surface level and a bit shallow. But it nonetheless provides a helpful starting point.

[Ryan and Sara Wendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource on Christian Community Development!

This collection of brilliant essays from some of the best practitioners of Christian Community Development delivers as being one of the most excellent resources and handbooks on urban-suburban partnerships! Hands down! I highly recommend this esteemed Christian Community Development handbook to ministry practitioners who want to learn and grow in creating dynamic urban-suburban ministry partnerships!

[Carla Herbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads as a why to manual. It should be mandatory reading for pastors of all Christian churches. It would work nicely as a bible study intended to help churches break out of their safe havens of pews and missionary support. It us a shame that people need to have Christian charity explained to them.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's one say to say that we need to foster reconciliation and healing between our priveleged and non-priveleged communities. It's another thing to actually do it. This book lays out a theoretical framework, case studies, and concrete steps for initiating partnerships between radically different church communities.

[Joel Daniel Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, must-read for anyone looking to engage in urban ministry. These guys are heroes of this sort of ministry and speak from a wealth of personal experience. If the church were to read this book, our ministry approach would be seriously transformed.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical ways (and theological underpinnings) to be ONE Body.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect book for me to read given my situation. It basically describes what we are trying to do between WEFC and Grace Point and could act as a guidebook for us to do this well.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical book on partnerships across class and ethnic divides. Definitely recommend to any fellowship that is exploring God's call to work with those unlike them in their own cities.

[Carol R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and practical but still with a basis in the theology of wholeness in the kingdom of God.