Urban Poor Spirituality: The Urban Poor Church & the Culture of Poverty

Reflections by Viv Grigg on Oscar Lewis’ Culture of Poverty

and the Slum ChurchApplications of a theory published in Scientific

American, Oct 1966 based on his book “La Vida”Viv Grigg, 2004 Cry of the Urban Poor, chaps 15,16,

Authentic

Place in Anthropological Genre

Developed in opposition to Redfield’s “folk” – urban continuum

A focus on cultures in the city rather than culture of the city

Critique: Culture of Poverty is not really a culture as

not transferred over generations, rather it is an in-between.

Not all characteristics have been verified

Urban Consciousness & Slum Church Culture

Urban Consciousness & Slum Church Culture

Urban Consciousness & Slum Church Culture

Church Leadership Styles in Context

Peasant Societies – Church as village Feudal Lord - Pastor Peasants – Congregation Group (Consensus) Decision Making

Cities – Church as corporation CEO – Pastor Individual Decision Making

“Slum dwellers are peasants of the city.”

What Do Poor People’s Churches Look Like? (Economic)

Produce little wealth

Unemployment, underemployment

Low wages Lack of property Lack of savings Absence of food

reserves Chronic shortage

of cash

Frequent purchases of food at high prices

Pawning of personal goods

Borrowing at usurious rates

Informal credit arrangements

Use of secondhand furniture

The Nature of the Urban Poor Church

Breaking Debt Barriers

No More than 6th Grade education

Middleman

The Nature of the Urban Poor Church

Breaking Debt Barriers

No More than 6th Grade education

Middleman

Characteristics of the Culture of Poverty (Psychological)

Psychological Characteristic Expected Church Culture

Live in the presentPervading sense of hopelessness (?) (subsequent studies disprove this theory for migrant communities, but reinforce it for longterm slum communities

To show their honor before God

Fatalism, helplessness, dependence, inferiority

To break their inferiority complexBreak the fatalism.To provide the opportunity to be somebody, the roles

High incidence of weak ego structure (?)

Counselling through their emotional scars

Confusion of sexual identification Accountability and good discipling relationships are the key.

Characteristics of the Culture of Poverty (Psychological)

Psychological Characteristic Expected Church Culture

Present time orientation

Little disposition to defer gratification or plan for the future

High tolerance for psychological pathology (deviant)

Pre-occupation with “machismo”

Characteristics of the Culture of Poverty (Relationship of Subculture to Major Institutions)

Culture of Poverty Expected Church Culture

Non-integration ??

Disengagement from marriage

??

Hostility to basic institutions

Hatred of police

Mistrust of Government

Cynicism towards established church

Potential for political unrest

Alternative institutions and procedures

Characteristics of the Culture of Poverty (Relationship of Subculture to Major Institutions)

Characteristics of the Culture of Poverty (Family & Community)

Few legally married (value marriage as morally good, but limits options)

Minimal Organization beyond extended family

Gregariousness in community

Low level of organization (less than peasant village, less than middle class)

Characteristics of the Culture of Poverty (Family & Community cont.)

Leadership Development Among the Poor

The missionary as equipper The key leader may be spiritually, in

character, in terms of recognition by the group, the leader but have to deal with deep debt.

Leadership groups make decisions in different style to Western thinking – consensus vs top down, holistic vs linear task oriented.

References Berger, P. L., B. Berger, et al. (1973). The Homeless Mind:

Modernization and Consciousness. New York, Random House. Grigg, V. (2004). Cry of the Urban Poor. London, Authentic Press,

ch 15,16. ----. (1992). Church of the Poor. Discipling the City: A

Comprehensive Approach to Urban Mission. R. Greenway. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker: 159-170.

Lewis, O. (1965). La Vida: A Puerto Rican Family in the Culture of Poverty. San Juan and New York:, Vintage Books.

--- (1966). ""The Culture of Poverty."." Scientific American 215(4): 3-9.

Redfield, R. and M. Singer (1947/1969b). The Folk Society. Classic Essays on the Culture of Cities. NY, Meredith.

--- (1954/1969a). The Cultural Role of Cities. Classic Essays on the Culture of Cities. R. Sennett. NY, Meredith.