Parish Autonomy: Measuring Denominational Differences

Growing Suburbs, Relocating Churches: The Suburbanization of Protestant Churches in the Chicago Region, 1925–1990

“…Although there is not much difference in these two groups who differ on congregational autonomy, we can look at the suburbanization rate of churches in the Protestant groups in this study in 1988–1990 by Cantrell, Krile, and Donohue's () list of autonomy (from less autonomy to more): Methodists were 68.77 percent suburban; Presbyterians were 65.94 percent suburban; Episcopal churches were 72.13 percent suburban; Missouri Synod Lutheran were 75.85 percent suburban; and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America were 63.11 percent suburban. The suburbanization rate by the late 1980s does not fit the autonomy rankings as Presbyterians and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America congregations were more likely to be in Chicago than their autonomy might suggest.…”

“…Reactions to changing racial compositions in neighborhoods plus church ethnic composition may also have been influenced by church polity and the ability congregations had to make decisions on their own to move somewhere else. If Cantrell, Krile, and Donohue (1983) are correct, there would be differences in suburbanization between groups like the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the ELCA is not included in all five time points of this study because there were a variety of mergers from 1925 on) who have more congregational autonomy, and Methodists, who have less congregational autonomy (see Figure 6).…”

“…Similarly, Gamm () argued Catholic churches were tied to urban neighborhoods longer than Jews and Protestants because of a more hierarchical structure and different conceptions about churches. Cantrell, Krile, and Donohue () developed a ranking from less autonomy to more autonomy among Christian groups: Roman Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran Church‐Missouri Synod, Lutheran Church in America, American Lutheran Church, and United Church of Christ. Thus, I expect: H3:Religious groups with more congregational‐level polity to be more likely to move to the suburbs compared to churches with more top‐down structures. …”

Theological, Denominational, and Organizational Influences on Ecumenical Involvement between Black and White Churches

“…However, the most commonly observed pattern suggests broad differences based on whether churches are hierarchically linked to a national organization or independent/ congregational. For example, Cantrell et al (1983) show that more autonomous churches are more likely to establish ties with other congregations. Krille et al (1981) also find a direct relationship between centralized church authority and ecumenism.…”

“…Furthermore, professionalism among clergy and staff also engender inter-denominational ecumenism by increasing awareness of available resources in other organizations and heightening external contacts (Boldon 1985). And studies focused on local churches show a direct relationship between church size and organizational complexity and ecumenism (Cantrell et al 1983;Hougland and Sutton 1978). Another early study by Wilson (1966) on the British religious experience posits a direct relationship between ecumenism and church decline due to economic deficits, clergy shortage, decreased attendance, and membership apathy.…”