The 21st-century American church should be concerned about philanthropic redlining, and the racial wealth gap because our faith calls us to strive for justice. Philanthropic redlining makes access to funding out of reach for black-led organizations. It is time for the church to engage racial reconciliation work that moves beyond implicit bias training and charitable gifts that do not build black wealth. My project is not a case for reparations; however, it does aim to find a responsible way forward for the church to promote just practices for African American organizations.

I will pursue my main question: why should the church focus on economic justice for American descendants of slaves by supporting black-led institutions? Through building a historical sketch that ties the current racial wealth gap to chattel slavery. Next, I’ll explain why black-led institutions are vital as we seek to change the trajectory of the wealth gap. Lastly, I will show how mainline Christianity can be a catalyst for this transformative change. To do this, I’ll tell the story about my clergy group that is a partnership of black and white pastors working for economic transformation in West Louisville, America’s 11th poorest city. The faith community is uniquely positioned to live out effective racial healing in America in our present generation as we are people committed to Jesus’ command to love one another and vow to work for justice and peace.