Synopsis: This volume is the appendix to volume one and includes notes,
bibliographies and related materials. Since the Second World War more
than 1,000 black independent congregations in around 300 different
organizations have sprung up all over Britain. The immigration of
Afro-Caribbeans and West Africans has led to the emergence and growth of
many churches, which flourish in the cities and attract a growing number
of members. They now play an increasingly active role in the social and
ecumenical life of the nation, which is reflected in cooperation with
the 'New Instrument' of the British churches. They comprise a rich
diversity of theological traditions and cultural inheritance, some in an
interesting blend, some in a struggle with white elements. Existence and
growth of these communities have often been explained by factors
inherent in British society, such as social deprivation and English
racism. The book attempts to prove that, as much these factors are a
reality, they do not account for the dynamics of the movement, its
proliferation and stability. Rather these congregations are carried by
strong cultural and theological forces, which molded the spiritual
experience of the African diaspora. They carry a living faith, sound
contextual theologies, and a form of organization, which presents a
model for other ethnic minorities. Author Biography: Roswith Gerloff is
Founding Director of the Centre for Black and White Christian
Partnership, Birmingham, UK, and former Senior Research Fellow at the
University of Leeds, UK.
