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Congregations in conflict : cultural models of local religious life / Penny Edgell Becker

Author
Edgell, Penny, 1963-
Published
Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1999.
Physical Description
1 online resource (xii, 267 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).
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Contents
"Who we are" and "how we do things here" : local understandings of mission and identity -- The congregations of Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park -- Houses of worship -- Family congregations -- Community congregations -- Leader congregations -- Mixed congregations -- An institutional approach to local culture -- American congregational religion.
Summary
Congregations in Conflict examines the nature of American congregations as institutions, looking in particular at how they deal with conflict within their ranks, to gain insight into religious culture, or the moral order of local religious life. In detailed and well documented case studies of conflict in twenty-three congregations Becker examines such factors as organizational processes, the extent and types of ties between church members, their shared understandings about mission and identity, and level of public commitment. From these factors, the author develops four models of local religious cultures, each of which emphasizes different aspects of the mission imperatives that broadly characterize American religion - to reproduce an historic faith, to provide a caring community of believers, and to witness. Becker finds vital 'public religion': congregations that provide caring and support for members, service to the local community, and important arenas for moral debate and public activism.
Subject(s)
ISBN
9780511499319 (ebook)
9780521594448 (hardback)
9780521594622 (paperback)
Note
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).
View MARC record | catkey: 34847916