Clearly, the children will suffer first and suffer most. In my new book, Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities, I argue that the three “anchor institutions” that played a heroic role during the African American freedom struggle are now facing threats that require immediate attention.

The black family faces a crisis of commitment evident in dramatically declining rates of marriage, increases in father absence, non-marital births, divorce and domestic violence.

Black churches face a mission crisis evident in the growing appeal of the prosperity gospel movement. Many of America’s most visible, influential, and attractive clergy are obsessed with the gospel of health, wealth and success, offer little good news for poor people, and speak no unsettling truth to power. Also, churches generally lack a strategic approach to solving the problems that threaten children, families and poor communities.

Black schools and colleges face a crisis of moral purpose suggested by modest public and community support, increased competition by majority institutions for excellent black students and faculty, and well-publicized examples of student misbehavior.

These and several other tough issues require fresh thinking and innovative leadership.

Local communities should mobilize to reverse these negative trend. The work should begin with rituals of personal and collective spiritual renewal followed by village-wide conversations, crafting a strategic plan, making specific assignments, performing regular audits of our progress, challenging the public and philanthropic sectors for support, and documenting and celebrating progress.

Young people with their ubiquitous wireless technology should hold village adults and themselves accountable.

This occurred to me after receiving daily text messages from my teenagers inquiring about my whereabouts when I was not in the car pool line at school. It suddenly occurred to me, ‘Why can’t we ask these same young people to text message or call local pastors, politicians, nonprofit leaders, school teachers and community leaders who are committed to village renewal?’

Young people helped to drive the Civil Rights Movement and helped to push Dr. King to take risks he did not initially imagine.

We need their leadership, once again, to advocate for better villages and democracy.

"On Faith" panelist Dr. Robert Michael Franklin, Jr. is Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics at Emory University 's Candler School of Theology. He's former president of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. His new book, 'Crisis in the Village: Restoring Hope in African American Communities.'