The Immigrant Church as an Urban Service Hub

Abstract

This paper draws from interviews conducted with leaders of 46 immigrant Christian churches in Vancouver. The congregations comprise newcomers from Korea, ethnic Chinese who are primarily recent immigrants and an older post-1945 German migration. The churches are identified as a hub in which relations of trust and compatibility generate bonding social capital; from this base, a wide range of personal and social services is provided, significantly aiding co-ethnic members to adapt to their new conditions. In a neo-liberal era, the state is facilitating such activities as part of a policy of contracting-out its own former in-house functions. The capacity of the immigrant church to serve both its own members and adherents and also a broader expanded constituency beyond its co-ethnic clients is important. The paper examines the activities of some of the churches in this transition from bonding to bridging social capital and the challenges that they confront.

Bonding and bridging among first generation Asian migrants in Australian protestant churches

“…Work with immigrant and multi-ethnic churches suggests migrants can develop networks in the wider community through the contacts that they make within their congregation (Allen 2010, Ley 2008. We suggest that involvement in congregations over a number of years leads to increased bonding ties, and this is also true for bridging ties because networking in a congregation opens opportunities for networking beyond it.…”

“…Churches may foster bridging by organising contacts with other groups, empowering individuals to volunteer in the community, or increasing their political activism (Smidt 2003). For migrants, religious institutions may connect them to new culture and traditions, directly provide resources (such as language lessons or counselling), or allow them to access other resources by diversify and strengthen their external social networks (Allen 2010, Greeley 1997, Ley 2008). …”

Navigating Urban Life in Lisbon: A Study of Migrants’ Mobilities and Use of Space

“…After family reunification, the needs of everyday life became more spatially anchored. As the religious leader describes, a sister association was established in the same square to provide faith-based welfare provision in compensation for rudimentary social services (Ley, 2008;Winkler, 2008), and to address specific migrant needs.…”

Faith and place: constructing Muslim identity in a secular Lutheran society

“…73 Some religious Muslim practices are adjusted to a Swedish context; for instance, "we try to start Ramadan at the same time for all Muslims = the Swedish way". 79 A spokesperson for Islamic Association in Göteborg says, the role of our organisation is for our members to feel safe and secure socially, in society and with Islam.…”