Ronald R. Stockton

Decent and in Order (eBook, PDF)

Conflict, Christianity, and Polity in a Presbyterian Congregation

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

This is a systematic study of how a congregational conflict involving allegations of sexual harassment and power abuse against a minister was seriously mishandled by church authorities. The conflict escalated to entangle regional and national authorities and worked its way into the civil courts. Stockton focuses on the interaction of organizational dynamics and ill-defined Christian concepts (such as reconciliation and discipline), showing that in conflict situations the ideals of pastoral care are squeezed by an organizational mentality. Key themes involve the role of women in the church, the complex question of sexual harassment, and the interface between church law and civil law. The narrative, which is based on interviews and official documents, captures the human dimensions of the story while simultaneously giving unique insight into congregational disputes and organizational behavior.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc
• Seitenzahl: 256
• Altersempfehlung: ab 7 Jahre
• Erscheinungstermin: 28. Februar 2000
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780313096945
• Artikelnr.: 37840052

Autorenporträt

RONALD R. STOCKTON is professor of political science who writes and teaches about the role of religion and religious values in the United States and overseas. He has published numerous scholarly articles as well as a book-A Time of Turmoil: Values and Voting in the 1970s (with Frank Wayman, 1983). He is also a university ombudsman.

Inhaltsangabe

Institutional Theory Why Sexual Misconduct Investigations Go Wrong
Beth-El: Early Problems The Congregational Setting Arrival at Beth-El
Escalation Institutional Analysis The Calvinist Concept of Discipline The
Special Case of Women in the Church Beth-El and the Presbyterian Legal
Process Into the Breach Back in the Pulpit The Final Wave Picking Up the
Pieces Institutional Process Presbyterian Polity and Function The Question
of Due Process Some Reflections and Suggestions Lessons From This Case
Epilogue Appendix Glossary Bibliography Index