Putting Civic Participation in Context: Examining the Effects of Congregational Structure and Culture

Abstract

Research indicates that participation in organized religion is related to higher levels of civic engagement. It is often theorized that social connections developed in congregations facilitate this increased involvement in civic life. Yet, despite interest in the link between religion and civic engagement, few studies have explored the effects that varying congregational contexts have on attenders’ civic behavior. In an era when both religious culture and demographics are changing rapidly, understanding how organizational contexts affect attenders’ community involvement may be valuable for predicting future patterns of religion and civic engagement. I utilize multilevel data drawn from the 2001 US Congregational Life Survey to investigate the relationship between congregational context and three measures of civic engagement. Findings reveal that important structural and cultural characteristics of congregations are related to civic behavior and that these characteristics influence different types of engagement differently. Implications for the relationship between religion and civic participation are discussed.