Of Borders and Margins

The Disciples of Christ are a Christian denomination that moved into Texas in the mid-19th century. Machado (history of Christianity and Hispanic church studies, Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian U.) explores the uneasy relationship between the Euro-American church and mestizo Tejanos. Placing the narrative within the context of the struggle between church and the postcolonial Mexican state and relations between Mexico and the United States, he argues that the Disciples did little to reach out to the Hispanic communities and stayed comfortable with within a racially homogenous congregation, leading to a failure to create a successful ministry. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)