Ethnography of an African American ‘Holy Ghost’ Church. The Role of Saints, Shouters, and Street People in the Organizational Environment of St. Paul Baptist Church in Omaha, Nebraska

“…This work makes a solid contribution to the literature on the African-American church, demonstrating through observed interaction how identities and statuses are negotiated in church and on the street…" -Dr. Chet Ballard, Valdosta State University

“Unlike other studies, Floyd provides a more dynamic and comprehensive analysis, approaching the emotional forms of worship from a sociological perspective.” -Dr. Leo Mundy, College of Coastal Georgia

“The perception of the author's observing eye and his patient, painstaking ability to describe what he sees and hears provide an almost three-dimensional picture of the congregation and its sights, sounds, smells, an sensibilities.” -Dr.Andrew M. Manis, Macon State College

Foreword by Chet Ballard
Acknowledgements
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I
THE INDUCTIVE PURSUIT OF A RESEARCH PROBLEM
Natural History of the Study
The Anticipatory Observer Role
Implementing the Complete Observer Role
Exiting the Complete Observer Role
Negotiating the Participant Observer Role
Focusing and Re-Focusing the Participant Observer Role
CHAPTER II
"SHOUTIN' FOR MY LORD"
The Emotional Gradient
Internal Attributions and Shouter Behavior
Situationai Attributions and Shouter Behavior
A "Great Message" and Situationai Attributions
Music and Situationai Attributions
Music as a Casual Attribution
The Quality and Style of Music at Saint Paul
The Musicians and a "Great Message"
Ministerial Singing and a "Great Message"
Non-Musical Strategies and a "Great Message"
Empathetic Identification through "Altar-Call"
Empathetic Identification through Hesitation
Empathetic Identification through Common Life Messages
Recovery of the Routine after a "Great Message"
CHAPTER III
THE "ACTION SEEKERS" 8
Internal Attributions of "Action Seekers"
Situational Attributions and "Action Seekers"
The Dating Game as a Situational Attribution
Shouters as a Situational Attribution
The Minister as a Situational Attribution
Music as a Situational Attribution
CHAPTER IV
THE SAINTLY "OLD FOGIES"
Internal Attributions of the "Old Fogies"
Belief in God
Living a Saintly Life
Belief in Heaven and Hell
Situational Attributions of the "Old Fogies"
Bible-Centered Preaching
The Baptism Ritual
The Prayer Ritual
Testimony
11 Singin1 God's Praises"
Working in the Church
"Mission Work"
Fellowship
The "Old Fogies" and Social Change
Home-Based Bible Reading Circles
"False Witnesses" in the Pulpit
Liberalization of the Baptism Ritual
Erosion of Civility
The Changing Face of Mission Work
CHAPTER V
THE INTERORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT
The Environmental Density Issue
Fellowship and Interorganizational Alliances
Economic Exchange and Interorganizational Alliances
CHAPTER VI
THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
Physical and Symbolic Boundaries
The Underground Economy
Friendship and Kinship Networks
The Street-Corner Hierarchy
"Mission" and 24th Street
CHAPTER VII
CHURCH AND STREET-CORNER ANALOGIES
Cognitive Schemas
Shouting and Partying Analogies
Language Games in the Church
Language Games in the Streets
CHAPTER VIII
STRESS AND COPING IN THE METROPOLITAN ENVIRONMENT
Anatomy of the Utilities Crisis
The Shooting Incidents
The Funerals of the Black Shooting Victims
Rallying the Church around the Police Misconduct Theme
REFERENCES
INDEX