Engaging Poverty and Inequality

Abstract

Abstract This chapter investigates multicultural evangelical approaches to combating poverty and economic inequality through grassroots community development, community organizing, public service, and political advocacy. The first two sections focus on grassroots food security and community development efforts in Atlanta (The Food Co-op) and Portland (Neighborhood Partners), exploring how multicultural evangelicals enact ethical democratic principles of empowerment, participatory governance, pluralism, redistribution, and reciprocal learning and solidarity across difference. The next section builds on Chapter 2’s investigation of “gentrification with justice” as a strategy of economic empowerment in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Next I describe how research participants answered questions about the biblical view of poverty, economic inequality, the role of government, and the role of individual Christians or the church in addressing them. The chapter concludes with a summary and assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to combating poverty and economic inequality observed in my research.