May 6, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS – In The Church Enslaved: A Spirituality of Racial Reconciliation by Tony Campolo and Michael Battle, two of the most vocal activists on racial issues in the church seek nothing less than a conversion of American Christianity. Campolo and Battle expose the sad history and present realities of racism in the churches and then lift up a vision of a church and society without racism.

To achieve reconciliation among Christians, they argue, both black and white churches need to acknowledge and overcome substantial problems in their traditions. Campolo and Battle then directly challenge Christians to a deeper spirituality, enabling them to resume leadership in overcoming and redressing America's legacy of racial division.

The authors provide a blueprint for how racially reconciled churches can encourage activism in the cities, church involvement in politics, and responsible use of the Bible, ultimately helping to transform American society itself.

"Anything these good and learned men have to say on the vexed subject of the scandal of religious segregation is required reading for us all. This work, much needed, provokes us all in the most vital of areas. The credibility of the Christian faith depends on it." –Peter J. Gomes, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minster in the Memorial Church, Harvard University

"It takes great courage, and great faith too, honestly to confront the chief sin of the North American church-racism. We could have no better guides in this journey of faithful confrontation than Tony Campolo and Michael Battle. Here, in black and white, is truth-telling, confession, repentance, and a powerful call to reconciliation. This is the honest yet hopeful gook that the church needs to read now and take to heart." –Will Willimon, Bishop, The United Methodist Church, North Alabama Conference

Michael Battle is Associate Academic Dean and Vice-President and Associate Professor of Theology at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria. He is the author of The Wisdom of Desmond Tutu (1999).

Tony Campolo, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, is a leading Evangelical writer, professor, and minister. Among his most recent titles is Revolution and Renewal: How Churches Are Saving Our Cities (2000).

Format: Paperback 171 pages 5.5 x 8.5 inches; Item No: 0-8006-3697-X; Price: $15.00; Publisher: Fortress Press, Minneapolis, MN.

To order The Church Enslaved call Fortress Press at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the web site at http://www.augsburgfortress.com/.

Fortress Press