June 2005 Article Abstracts Vol. 46 Issue 2

ON CHURCH GROWTH: INSTITUTIONAL INFLUENCES ON GROWTH IN SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONGREGATIONS

KEVIN D. DOUGHERTY CALVIN COLLEGE

Recent trends in church growth research emphasize the influence of institutional factors in generating organizational growth. However, confusion exists over how internal factors relate to growth and which are most influential. Pitfalls of limited longitudinal data and a lack of attention to both direct and indirect influences limit past studies of church growth. To reduce confusion, this paper distinguishes structural characteristics from more malleable institutional aspects. The basic premise is that congregations grow by creating belonging, which in turn elevates membership participation. A causal, structural equation model is proposed to test seven hypotheses. The model tests relationships of structure, participation, and growth, using three waves of self-reported data from 35,202 Southern Baptist congregations. Findings affirm the primary importance of participation in promoting congregational growth and relegate organizational characteristics of age, size, and staffing to secondary roles of influence.

A TAXONOMY OF CHURCH MARKETING STRATEGY TYPES

ROBERT J. VOKURKA TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY – CORPUS CHRISTI

STEPHEN W. McDANIEL TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY – COLLEGE STATION

Strategy types or groupings provide a unique way of studying strategic issues. An underutilized application of strategic typing is in the nonprofit area, particularly with churches. A major decision area for churches relates to the strategy that determines the programs and ministries for the church to emphasize. No empirical studies have been reported that identify factors that differentiate various church strategies or an overall model of strategic configurations used by churches. Based on responses from 247 Southern Baptist churches, this article empirically determines the major factors that differentiate churches. Strategic configurations are determined and defined as “traditional,” “programs-oriented,” and “worship-oriented.” Each of these configurations is investigated for differences in operationalization through areas of program emphases, marketing communication methods, type of location, and church growth.

DIFFERENTIAL MAINTENANCE AND GROWTH OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS BASED UPON HIGH-COST BEHAVIORS: SERPENT HANDLING WITHIN THE CHURCH OF GOD

W. PAUL WILLIAMSON HENDERSON STATE UNIVERSITY

RALPH W. HOOD, JR. UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT CHATTANOOGA

The Church of God (COG, Cleveland, Tennessee) is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world. A distinctive characteristic of Pentecostalism in general, and of the COG in particular, is glossolalia, which is accepted as biblical warrant for possession by the Holy Ghost. This paper uses historical documents, especially articles in the Church of God Evangel (COGE) to document that, as the early COG carefully socially constructed the importance of tongues-speaking as evidence for Holy Ghost possession, they also encouraged, supported, and utilized serpent handling as another biblically warranted sign. Over time, however, as the church grew from a small sect to denominational status, it came to oppose serpent handling. The churches that refused to abandon this practice became “renegade” Churches of God and remain as such to the present time. Recent modifications in church-sect theory account for both the maintenance of serpent handling as a high-cost religious practice among renegade Churches of God and its abandonment as a high-cost religious behavior within the more mainstream COG.

ON CHRISTIANITY IN MAINLAND CHINA

OFFICIAL VS. UNDERGROUND PROTESTANT CHURCHES IN CHINA: CHALLENGES FOR RECONCILIATION AND SOCIAL INFLUENCE

JACQUELINE E. WENGER THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

Protestant Christianity in China is divided into two segments, an official Protestant church and unofficial, “underground” church. As China’s doors are opening to increased capitalism and modernization, the Protestant church in China may have the potential to offer a much-needed stabilizing societal influence. This article examines the strengths and weaknesses of both the official and unofficial Protestant churches from an organizational perspective. Four organizational theories - social construct theory, social network theory, religious marketplace theory, and religious cultural influence theory - are employed in evaluating each church group’s potential for influencing a changing Chinese society and the likelihood that the two churches will unite in that effort. Each church group has developed distinctive qualities that make social influence possible but in limited venues and with limited groups of people. Their unique but conflicting characteristics make it unlikely that the two would become a united Protestant church.

THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW TYPE OF CHRISTIANS IN CHINA TODAY

CHEN CUNFU ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY

HUANG TIANHAI ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY

A new community of Christians is emerging in some of China’s economically developed coastal areas. Chinese scholars have started to call them “Boss Christians,” a term that distinguishes them from the uneducated farmers or elderly city dwellers who have traditionally made up the majority of the Chinese Christian population. They are private-business owners or employees, young, educated, open-minded, and active in both social and church work. They are becoming the major financial supporters of the churches and boosters of democratic practices in the local church management. Unlike the underground Christians or those in the official “Three-Self Association” and the “Catholic Patriotic Association,” they have no fear displaying their financial and religious status, and are competent in dealing with the government on behalf of the churches. They are enthusiastic sponsors, organizers, and participants in public welfare activities as well as in evangelization work. Case studies from Zhejiang Province reveal two factors that will likely determine the future prospects of Chinese churches. One is the development of a younger generation of open-minded, theologically well-trained clergy who can coordinate with international Christian communities. The other is the emergence of these economically strong and politically competent “Boss Christians.” These developments, along with the conversion of more and more of the cultural and intellectual elite in the metropolitan areas, will greatly affect the shape of Chinese Christianity.

RESEARCH NOTE:
THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF EX-RELIGIOUS:
A STUDY OF FORMER CHRISTIAN BROTHERS IN OLD AGE

J. T. DILLON
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

This report forms one part of a larger research project on the early formation of Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic religious order. This study describes the religious convictions and practices of a group of men aged 60-90 who departed a Catholic order of teaching Brothers in the decades 1940-1980. It covers their departure from the order, their subsequent religious development, and their current beliefs and practices today.