Definition/Understanding of
"Urban" from 1975-1998
Note: one of the reports distributed at the
Urban Ministry Consultation. It traces the changing understanding/definition of
"urban" over time.
1978
City: Municipality (Standard Metro Statistical Area) with 100,000+ or municipality of
20,000-100,000 with significant development, minority population, and/or poverty problems.
Center City Church: Any church within municipal boundaries of a city with particular
emphasis on churches in "heart" of city neighborhood or transitional
neighborhood. (Some self-selection included.)
Categories of churches:
1."Troubled"--not coping well, especially with urban socio-economic
developments.
2. Stable/"Thriving"--strong, viable institutions (often with little
consciousness of self as urban) with membership often from suburbs.
3. Metro and near suburban--not in city but serving the area, "might relate to urban
issues if they had a mind to."
1980
"Important to do urban for two reasons"
-social action to keep cities livable
-growing numbers of "UU types" moving back into cities
1985
Urban Church: In Standard Metro Statistical Area, in central city portion (as defined by
US Census or Stats Canada), area served by congregation sufficiently urbanized to affect
life of congregation (college/university towns excluded).
Three categories:
1. Downtown: located near central business districts with members from a wide area
2. Urban neighborhood: located residential areas in cities (not suburbs), members from
limited region of the city.
3. Metro Regional Urban: located on edges of cities, in residential communities, members
from a large area.
Late 1980s through early 1990s
During this time, "urban" is tied almost exclusively to "race" or
"diversity" (e.g., focus on recruiting minority ministers--training, money,
placements, etc.) "Urban" during this time was almost a code-word for
minority/racism/diversity. "Urban" becoming a self-selected category.
1994
Urban Concerns in Ministry Committee still strongly focused on anti-racism, but concept of
"urban" (as in city-center not just code-word for racial justice) increasingly
coming into focus. Urban Church: "An urban congregation is physically located in a
city of high population density impacted by economic distress, middle class flight, crime,
and other problems attendant upon unemployment, low educational levels, and family and
cultural breakdown."
1995
Urban Church: "An urban congregation is located in an area of high population
density, impacted by urban issues including crime, middle class flight, economic distress,
and usually occupies an older building constructed for larger, affluent congregations.
1996
"urban ministry is distinguished by an outward focus on the surrounding community,
which is often a densely-populated region of racial, cultural, artistic, intellectual, and
spiritual resources that can enrich all our lives. These same communities are also
compelled to deal with what we consider systemic social injustice, which creates myriad
problems -- poverty chief among them. We grapple with the internal and external
consequences of racism, violence and lack of safety, limited economic opportunity,
unstable financial resources, and crumbling infrastructure."
1998
Self-selected understanding of "urban" -- if you think you're urban then you're
urban. Four categories of urban ministry:
1. Suburban congregations affected by urban issues
2. Urban congregations, substantial and thriving
3. Urban congregations, renewing and/or struggling
4. New ministries
Comments/Questions: urbanuu-request@uua.org
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