An unchurched observer might conclude that American congregational life centers on political or social service activities...[But] using his pioneering 1998 National Congregations Survey, the first study to delve into the specific activities of a truly representative sampling of the nation's religious congregations, [Chaves] finds that politics and service programs are not the main draws. Indeed, most congregations put little effort into community work...What congregations are most engaged in, Chaves reveals, are cultural activities. That includes education and the many components of worship, of course, but also the generally less-remarked-upon activities of producing and consuming art and culture, particularly musical and theatrical performances, outside of worship.
U.S. News and World Report - Jay Tolson
There are more than 300,000 religious congregations in the United States...What do these congregations do, and what is their impact on American culture and society? Chaves's thesis is that American congregations are not as active in social service and political engagement as both their defenders and detractors allege, but rather make their most important contribution as worshipping communities that use preaching, music, art and drama to forge congregational identity...With [an] emphasis on historical continuity, he suggests that American congregations have probably never been as active in social service as they would like to think, and have always been politically diverse.
Times Literary Supplement - David Hempton
One criterion for an effective public sociology is that it helps to start, or continue, a public conversation by speaking directly to an audience’s presuppositions. Congregations in America does just that, by challenging commonsense theses on congregations’ social service and political roles. I am very glad that Chaves has produced an elaborate, extensive description and analysis of what American congregations do and what worship is like. This is material we sorely need, and it is clearly presented, meticulously argued, and just plain fascinating.
Paul Lichtermann Journal of Sociology
In his new book, Congregations in America, Mark Chaves offers detailed descriptions of the basic activities of American congregations. It is vital reading for scholars interested in the history and contemporary practice of religion in the United States.
One criterion for an effective public sociology is that it helps to start, or continue, a public conversation by speaking directly to an audience’s presuppositions. Congregations in America does just that, by challenging commonsense theses on congregations’ social service and political roles. I am very glad that Chaves has produced an elaborate, extensive description and analysis of what American congregations do and what worship is like. This is material we sorely need, and it is clearly presented, meticulously argued, and just plain fascinating.
American Journal of Sociology - Paul Lichterman
One criterion for an effective public sociology is that it helps to start, or continue, a public conversation by speaking directly to an audience’s presuppositions. Congregations in America does just that, by challenging commonsense theses on congregations’ social service and political roles. I am very glad that Chaves has produced an elaborate, extensive description and analysis of what American congregations do and what worship is like. This is material we sorely need, and it is clearly presented, meticulously argued, and just plain fascinating.
American Journal of Sociology
A classic as well as timely contribution to our understanding of American religious organizations...[Chaves] take[s] commonly held assumptions about congregations, test[s] them empirically and revise[s] the way we think about them...Chaves's book is a little like stepping on the bathroom scale. What we see may not fit our image of ourselves. But it gives us a reality check, helping us consider what we want to do about the mission of the church...[It] make[s] a tremendous contribution to our knowledge of the 300,000 congregations in America...A first-rate work of sociological scholarship.
There are more than 300,000 religious congregations in the United States...What do these congregations do, and what is their impact on American culture and society? Chaves's thesis is that American congregations are not as active in social service and political engagement as both their defenders and detractors allege, but rather make their most important contribution as worshipping communities that use preaching, music, art and drama to forge congregational identity...With [an] emphasis on historical continuity, he suggests that American congregations have probably never been as active in social service as they would like to think, and have always been politically diverse.
Times Literary Supplement
An unchurched observer might conclude that American congregational life centers on political or social service activities...[But] using his pioneering 1998 National Congregations Survey, the first study to delve into the specific activities of a truly representative sampling of the nation's religious congregations, [Chaves] finds that politics and service programs are not the main draws. Indeed, most congregations put little effort into community work...What congregations are most engaged in, Chaves reveals, are cultural activities. That includes education and the many components of worship, of course, but also the generally less-remarked-upon activities of producing and consuming art and culture, particularly musical and theatrical performances, outside of worship.
U.S. News and World Report
Considering how ubiquitous religious congregations are in America, it is surprising that social scientists had never carried out a statistically reliable survey of them before the 1998 National Congregations Survey. Principal investigator Chaves reports here on some of its more striking findings, based on a treasure trove of data from 1,236 congregations that reflect the diversity of the more than 300,000 congregations in America. (While non-Christian religions are growing, their numbers are so small that Chaves can only analyze the data for Christian and Jewish congregations.) Most relevant for current policy debates, Chaves examines how involved congregations are in providing faith-based social services. His conclusions are sobering: far from offering "holistic" or "transformational" services, congregations generally focus on services "requiring only fleeting contact, if any at all, with needy people." Further, there is no great untapped reserve of resources in congregations, most of which are quite small (60% of U.S. congregations have fewer than 100 active members). But if congregations' social service potential is often overstated, Chaves finds that they are the preeminent venue in American society for the arts, especially music-the only place, he points out, where Americans still regularly sing together. Though Chaves writes with admirable clarity, his Olympian statistical perspective makes for rather bloodless reading. However, he provides a vital empirical supplement to more anecdotal studies, and no doubt to many readers' assumptions. (May) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Based on the National Congregations Study (1998), this book by Chaves (Univ. of Arizona; Ordaining Women) provides a depiction of the typical church congregation in America. Some of the results are surprising, e.g., 59 percent of U.S. congregations have fewer than 100 members. Yet more Americans participate in churches than in any other voluntary activity. As the author points out, congregations exist primarily to share religious activities and cultural events. Social service or political action activities rank much lower in importance for congregations. Hence, faith-based social service programs would not be an efficient investment of tax dollars since churches usually work with social service agencies rather than providing primary social services themselves. The research represented in the book is now six years old and thereby out of date. Nevertheless, the general description of congregations in America has not changed much in recent years. This book will find readers in large public and academic libraries.-James A. Overbeck, Atlanta-Fulton P.L. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
