Sources of Social Policies of Church Congregations

This research project investigated the relationship of local church congregations to higher levels of authority within their respective denominations. Interviews were conducted with members of 12 Protestant congregations, two each from six denominations, in Marion County, Indiana. The denominations were chosen to provide a variety of formal structures; the specific local churches were chosen on the basis of membership size and other characteristics indicating their high potential for influencing their denominations.

Fifty members from each church were randomly chosen for interviews, conducted in their homes. A total of 604 people were interviewed. These interviews included items on family background, occupational data, religious background and beliefs, worship experiences, attitudes on a range of social issues, and attitudes on the church’s involvement in those social issues. The broader project also drew on additional interviews with the ministers of those congregations.

This study was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation (GS-28397) and the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University-Bloomington.