The Importance of Denomination for the Civic Engagement of Migrant Congregations in Amsterdam and Beyond

Abstract

In this article I argue that researchers studying migrant congregations should pay attention to the denominational arrangement in which these congregations find themselves. I compare two contrasting case studies: the case of African (Pentecostal) churches in Amsterdam Southeast and the case of the Spanish-language parish in the centre of Amsterdam. The case studies show that denominational structures can provide resources in the form of buildings, persons and trust. Migrant congregations which don’t have these resources available via denominations, have to find other ways to acquire them.