The Continuing Importance of the Local. African Churches and the Search for Worship Space in Amsterdam

This article focuses on the interaction of African churches with the local social, political and religious ecology of Amsterdam Southeast in their search for worship space. It shows the continuing importance of the local, even for such transnational religious movements as African churches. Constructing a worship location confronts the churches with the 'ingrained orders of social power in the host society' (Favell 2003). They encountered familiar black - white distinctions, a legion of 'white helpers' and a long process of building trust. I argue that African churches use transnational and local strategies. Becoming part of the local is inspired by missionary motives and is related to the character of religious congregations as relatively fi xed organisations which nurture a practice of engagement with local society. © Koninklijke Brill NV, 2009.