The Inter-Organizational Ties That Bind: Exploring the Contributions of Agency-Congregation Relationships
Do inter-organizational relationships between religious congregations and social service agencies create bonds that have the capacity to strengthen civil society? Previous research has shown that the provision of social services is one way that congregations contribute to their communities. While so...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Published: |
Oxford Univ. Press
2008
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In: |
Sociology of religion
Year: 2008, Volume: 69, Issue: 1, Pages: 45-65 |
Online Access: |
Volltext (JSTOR) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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Summary: | Do inter-organizational relationships between religious congregations and social service agencies create bonds that have the capacity to strengthen civil society? Previous research has shown that the provision of social services is one way that congregations contribute to their communities. While some congregations establish their own social service programs, many do not. Instead, they provide services by forming relationships with other organizations. Yet, few studies have examined these relationships to determine whether the institutional bonds that they create encourage individuals to become more engaged in service activities that foster community connectedness. Drawing on interview and survey data collected from social service agencies in one community, this article explores the types of relationships that exist between agencies and congregations. Findings reveal four categories of agencycongregation relationships. Moreover, interview data suggest that inter-organizational partnerships have the most potential for contributing to stronger local civic life. |
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ISSN: | 1759-8818 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Sociology of religion
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1093/socrel/69.1.45 |