Future of Work: Professionalization of Clergy and Nonprofit Collaborations

Abstract

Building upon research on the professionalization of clergy, this paper analyzes the future of work in the context of organizational change. Increasing prevalence and rising pressures on nonprofit organizations to collaborate have resulted in a greater need for interagency ties. In this context, engaging in collaborations can be viewed as an indicator of professionalization. Yet, questions remain regarding whether faith-based organizations align with or diverge from broader trends of nonprofits. Thus, this paper investigates the research question: Are nonprofit collaborations more common among professionalized religious leaders? Data are drawn from the National Survey of Religious Leaders (NSRL), which collected surveys from a nationally representative sample of 1,600 religious leaders. Two mechanisms are posited for professionalization in nonprofit collaborations: intergenerational change and information access. Findings have implications for religious leaders and professionals in nonprofit organizations.