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035 a| (OCoLC)1523697285;

090 a| BR115.R55;

049 a| EREE;

100 1 a| Partin, Amanda Patterson,e| author.;

245 10 a| Under God, quite divisible :b| rhetoric, race, and multicultural belonging in non-denominational Christian churches /c| by Amanda Patterson Partin.;

264 1 a| [Greenville, N.C.] :b| [East Carolina University],c| 2025.;

300 a| 1 online resource (208 pages);

336 a| textb| txt2| rdacontent;

337 a| computerb| c2| rdamedia;

338 a| online resourceb| cr2| rdacarrier;

347 a| text fileb| application/pdfc| 1.69 MB2| rda;

538 a| System requirements: Adobe Reader.;

538 a| Mode of access: World Wide Web.;

502 b| Ph.D.c| East Carolina Universityd| 2025.;

500 a| Presented to the Faculty of the Department of English.;

500 a| Advisor: Nicole Caswell;

500 a| Advisor: Erin Frost;

500 a| Title from PDF t.p. (viewed August 19, 2026).;

520 3 a| This dissertation examines the rhetoric of multicultural belonging in non-denominational Christian churches, analyzing how race, faith, and institutional discourse intersect to shape inclusion and exclusion within these spaces. While many churches position themselves as racially diverse and welcoming, their rhetorical and structural frameworks often center Whiteness, reinforcing systemic barriers to full inclusion. Through qualitative interviews and rhetorical analysis, this study interrogates how congregants-particularly people of color and their marital allies-experience, navigate, and contest these dynamics within faith communities. Drawing on Critical Race Theory, Biblical Critical Theory, religious rhetorical studies, and scholarship on multiculturalism, this research explores how language, power, and ideology operate in shaping churchgoers' sense of belonging. It highlights the tensions between performative diversity and substantive inclusion, illustrating how multicultural rhetoric can simultaneously invite and marginalize. This study also considers the ways congregants work to create spaces of belonging through counterstorytelling, advocacy, and community-building efforts, pushing churches toward deeper racial and cultural inclusivity. Ultimately, this dissertation argues that true multicultural belonging requires more than racial representation; it necessitates a fundamental reimagining of leadership structures, theological interpretations, and institutional practices. By bridging scholarship on race, rhetoric, and religion, this work contributes to broader conversations about faith-based racial reconciliation and the ongoing struggle for equity within Christian communities;

504 a| Includes bibliographical references.;

650 0 a| Rhetoricx| Religious aspectsx| Christianity.;

650 0 a| Christianity and culture.;

650 0 a| Race relationsx| Religious aspectsx| Christianity.;

650 0 a| Critical race theory.;

650 0 a| Belonging (Social psychology);

653 a| Affect;

653 a| Counterstory;

653 a| Multicultural Worship;

653 a| Narrative Inquiry;

653 a| Orientation;

653 a| Biblical Critical Theory;

700 1 a| Caswell, Nicole I.,e| degree supervisor.1| https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PCjGghVbfcf7kf9VPjp6R8C;

700 1 a| Clark, Erinq| (Erin A.),e| degree supervisor.1| https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PCjxJkdgTd4JP8cHM8K66PP;

710 2 a| East Carolina University.b| Department of English.;

856 40 z| Access via ScholarShipu| http://hdl.handle.net/10342/14004;

949 o| wjh;

994 a| C0b| ERE;

596 a| 1 4;

998 a| 6584101;

999 a| CLICK ON WEB ADDRESSw| ASISc| 1i| 6584101-1001l| JNETm| JOYNERr| Ys| Yt| JNE3ETDu| 6/16/2025x| ETDz| JERESOURCE;

999 a| CLICK ON WEB ADDRESSw| ASISc| 1i| 6584101-2001l| HSLELECm| HSLr| Ys| Yt| HEETDu| 6/16/2025x| ETDz| HERESOURCE;

Under God, quite divisible : rhetoric, race, and multicultural belonging in non-denominational Christian churches / by Amanda Patterson Partin.

Author/creator	Partin, Amanda Patterson author.
Other author	Caswell, Nicole I., degree supervisor.
Other author	Clark, Erin (Erin A.), degree supervisor.
Other author	East Carolina University. Department of English.
Format	Theses and dissertations
Publication	[Greenville, N.C.] : [East Carolina University], 2025.
Description	1 online resource (208 pages)
Supplemental Content	Access via ScholarShip
Subjects	Rhetoric--Religious aspects. --Christianity. Christianity and culture. Race relations--Religious aspects. --Christianity. Critical race theory. Belonging (Social psychology)

Summary	This dissertation examines the rhetoric of multicultural belonging in non-denominational Christian churches, analyzing how race, faith, and institutional discourse intersect to shape inclusion and exclusion within these spaces. While many churches position themselves as racially diverse and welcoming, their rhetorical and structural frameworks often center Whiteness, reinforcing systemic barriers to full inclusion. Through qualitative interviews and rhetorical analysis, this study interrogates how congregants-particularly people of color and their marital allies-experience, navigate, and contest these dynamics within faith communities. Drawing on Critical Race Theory, Biblical Critical Theory, religious rhetorical studies, and scholarship on multiculturalism, this research explores how language, power, and ideology operate in shaping churchgoers' sense of belonging. It highlights the tensions between performative diversity and substantive inclusion, illustrating how multicultural rhetoric can simultaneously invite and marginalize. This study also considers the ways congregants work to create spaces of belonging through counterstorytelling, advocacy, and community-building efforts, pushing churches toward deeper racial and cultural inclusivity. Ultimately, this dissertation argues that true multicultural belonging requires more than racial representation; it necessitates a fundamental reimagining of leadership structures, theological interpretations, and institutional practices. By bridging scholarship on race, rhetoric, and religion, this work contributes to broader conversations about faith-based racial reconciliation and the ongoing struggle for equity within Christian communities
General note	Presented to the Faculty of the Department of English.
General note	Advisor: Nicole Caswell
General note	Advisor: Erin Frost
General note	Title from PDF t.p. (viewed August 19, 2026).
Dissertation note	Ph.D. East Carolina University 2025.
Bibliography note	Includes bibliographical references.
Technical details	System requirements: Adobe Reader.
Technical details	Mode of access: World Wide Web.

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Under God, quite divisible : rhetoric, race, and multicultural belonging in non-denominational Christian churches / by Amanda Patterson Partin.

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