The Characteristics of Northern Black
Churches with Community Health
Outreach Programs

Thomas, Stephen B., PhD, and Quinn, Sandra Crouse, PhD and Biingsley, Andrew, PhD and Caldwell, Cleopatra, PhD (1994) The Characteristics of Northern Black
Churches with Community Health
Outreach Programs. American Journal of Public Health 84(4):575-579.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. The Black church has a long history of addressing unmet
health and human service needs, yet few studies have examined characteristics
of churches involved in health promotion. METHODS. Data obtained from a
survey of 635 Black churches in the northern United States were examined.
Univariate and multivariate statistical procedures identified eight
characteristics associated with community health outreach programs:
congregation size, denomination, church age, economic class of membership, ownership of church, number of paid
clergy, presence of other paid staff, and education level of the minister. RESULTS. A logistic regression model
identified church size and educational level of the minister as the strongest predictors of church-sponsored community
health outreach. The model correctly classified 88% of churches that conduct outreach programs. Overall, the model
correctly classified 76% of churches in the sample. CONCLUSIONS. Results may be used by public health
professionals and policy makers to enlist Black churches as an integral component for delivery of health promotion and
disease prevention services needed to achieve the Year 2000 health objectives for all Americans.