Lara Rusch ~ 8
what is happening in the wider community and the effectiveness of the congregation at
collaborating with other associations.
Recent sociological work on resource mobilization theory provides yet another
perspective on hierarchy and lay political involvement, one which considers political
action by the congregation or denomination as a whole rather than individual behavior.
The theory posits that social movements emerge when groups have sufficient resources
(material, organizational) to act when political opportunities arise (McAdam 1982;
McCarthy and Zald 1977; Morris 1984). Khari Brown (2006) reaffirms the significance
of this theory in his comparison of predominantly white and black congregations, where
he finds that the “principal resource constraint” on black congregations is their
denominational affiliation (1598). Because black congregations are less likely to be
affiliated with denominations that have strong bureaucratic infrastructures (e.g. the
Roman Catholic Church), they are limited from costlier forms of political activism such
as lobbying and protests, and more likely to engage in less expensive voter registration.
Bureaucratic hierarchy provides specific directives, lines of communication, and
consolidation of resources towards chosen aims. So certain kinds of political participation
are more likely to be encouraged in hierarchical versus autonomous congregations based
on their access to resources, probably with different implications for lay initiative,
bridging opportunities within and outside of the denomination, and kinds of issues
addressed.
4
Focusing on institution-level behavior, research can assess a larger political
impact of congregations but may overlook internal dynamics as a resource or constraint
on collective action.
4
It is open to debate whether the role of authority figures in choosing issues or methods of engagement
supports or undermines the democratic benefits of political participation, such as efficacy.
Convention