Abstract
Drawing upon the author's ethnographic study of an interracial church with members from group homes, the essay argues for “a place to appear” as an ecclesiological image supportive of reconciliation between persons of different races and abilities. The image is a corrective of “obliviousness” toward marginalized groups, which is more likely than outright malice to characterize churches populated by dominant populations. In order to portray the supports for obliviousness and, by contrast, what enables persons from different groups to “appear” or to be fully recognized by one another, this essay explores the concept of bodily practices of propriety.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.