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Race, Diversity, and Membership Duration in Religious Congregations *
Author(s) -
Scheitle Christopher P.,
Dougherty Kevin D.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.2010.00340.x
Subject(s) - assertion , race (biology) , sociology , organizational ecology , diversity (politics) , face (sociological concept) , homogeneity (statistics) , racial diversity , social psychology , gender studies , social science , psychology , mathematics , anthropology , computer science , statistics , programming language
It has long been noted that religious congregations tend to be racially homogenous. Previous case studies assert that members of a numerical minority group face individual and organizational pressures that lead them to leave congregations faster than majority members. This can create a constant pull toward homogeneity despite congregational efforts to diversify. Building on theory in organizational ecology, we test this assertion using national, multi level data from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey. The analysis shows that members of a numerical minority do have shorter durations of membership than majority members and that the gap between the two increases with the size of the majority.