What are the motifs in Elbow Room by James Alan McPherson?

Implicit or explicit the twelve diverse stories in Elbow Room is religion, always there in the milieu, but generally reduced to religious pictures on living room walls and similar details. In four stories, however, religion forms a major thread, however. "The Faithful" shows two black congregations, separated in "style" by the origins in the South of the urban congregants and their pastors. Alabaman Rev. John Butler at declining Second Calvary Church draws conclusions from Biblical stories (several long excerpts of his preaching are quoted), while rival Rev. Tarwell's church on 138th St., is alive with what people want to hear.