Book, Rust to Renewal, explores religious attitudes toward deindustrialization

(YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio.) — Thirty years after the historic shutdown at the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Campbell Works and the unprecedented religious response of the Ecumenical Coalition that followed, the religious community of Youngstown, Ohio are still concerned about the city's socio-economic future.

Not unlike other rustbelt cities, Youngstown, Ohio faces many socio-economic challenges in an age of globalization and deindustrialization. A young sociologist-theologian has researched the attitudes of clergy in the Youngstown area toward the problems faced by the realities of corporate downsizing and diminishing manufacturing labor. Dr. Joshua Reichard completed the research as part of his doctoral dissertation in hopes that the results will lead to positive socio-economic change.

Reichard stated that "the research presented in Rust to Renewal provides a platform for dialog between historically polarized religious communities. The research indicated that not all national stereotypes apply to the Youngstown clergy. There is a shared interest in justice for workers affected by downsizing and the socio-economic consequences that follow". As the Mahoning Valley faces new challenges with uncertainty at General Motors Lordstown and Delphi Corporation, the research may help religious communities respond to the economic needs of the families they serve. "There is hope for the future of Youngstown and the clergy are forward-thinking", Reichard added.

Rust to Renewal is guided by theory based on the work of futurist Alvin Toffler and the "wave" model of socioeconomic change. Through this lens, the author explores the history of Youngstown's economy and religious communities. Drawing parallels between religious attitudes and economic trends, the author presents a model by which Youngstown's current economic crises can be both religiously and economically evaluated.

The research in the book assessed six basic theological attitudes among a sample of Youngstown's clergy: justice vs. charity, community vs. individuality, and activism vs. piety. Each attitude was analyzed according to its implication for the leadership of the clergy in Youngstown's economic and social recovery.

The research found that while right-wing and left-wing, evangelical and mainline divisions are characteristic of American Christianity as a whole, some of the common values that will bring renewal to Youngstown are mutually shared by the clergy of the Mahoning Valley. Reichard noted that "there is room for all churches in Youngstown to work together to bring genuine change to the city and region".

The book concludes with a presentation of an alternative ideology known as "transformationalism", challenging the churches in Youngstown to learn from one another and appreciate the diversity that exists. The transformationalist approach to social change requires that religious leaders and adherents "be" rather than "do" as they strive to make Youngstown a better place to live and work.

More information is available online at www.rusttorenewal.com.