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Types of Research
SurveysNational Survey of Clergy. Pastoral leader telephone interviews were conducted for us in Summer and Fall 2001 by the National Opinion Research Center of the University of Chicago. Additionally, collaboration with the U.S. Congregational Life Survey Project of the research office of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has given us survey data from the attendees of the congregations whose leaders participated in our survey. This gives us congregational data to accompany our interviews with the pastoral leaders. Some early findings have been reported in the religious press and some mass media outlets. Study of recently ordained Catholic priests (within 5 years of ordination) has been conducted in collaboration with the National Federation of Priests' Councils by Professor Dean Hoge of Catholic University. This study is complete; the book The First Five Years of the Priesthood is available from Liturgical Press. National survey of Catholic priests (based on a new survey in 2001 replicating previous surveys of 1970, 1980 and 1990). This study is also undertaken in collaboration with the National Federation of Priests' Councils by Professor Dean Hoge of Catholic University of America. The book manuscript is currently at the editing stage; it will also be published by Liturgical Press. Implications for pastoral leadership of leadership patterns in "new paradigm" churches. Professor Donald Miller of the University of Southern California has drawn on data from a current study of innovative, "new paradigm" churches in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He also draws from his early work on new paradigm churches in the United States, especially churches related to the Calvary Chapel, Hope Chapel, and Vineyard movements. Professor Miller has completed a draft of this report. Case StudiesPastoral Leadership in public ministries is a study of the leadership styles and strategies of pastors of congregations who are engaged in significant public ministry. The research is being conducted by Mark Constantine, a consultant to several charitable foundations and a sociology Ph.D. candidate at the University of North Carolina. He has considerable experience in working with congregations engaged in such ministries. In addition, Constantine is working with Eric Gottesman, a documentary photographer, to record images from the life of each congregation. Constantine and Gottesman plan a book on lessons learned about public ministry from these in-depth cases and one or more public exhibitions of Gottesman's photographs. History & TheologyHistory of Ministry in America. Brooks Holifield of Candler School of Theology at Emory University has begun to write a history of ministry practice in America, using biographies and a variety of other sources to present a picture of continuities and changes in the characteristics and work of ordained ministers. His work encompasses both Catholic and Protestant traditions. Although his primary focus is on pastoral leadership in the United States, he helpfully traces the origins of various contemporary understandings of ordained ministry to earlier developments in Christian history. He will also produce a companion volume of primary source material on pastoral ministry to accompany his history. Theology of Ministry: L. Gregory Jones and Kevin Armstrong are heading a small group of pastor-theologians and academic theologians who will shape one or two volumes focused on the study of excellent ministry from the perspective of theology. At present, two questions seem primary: (1) What does it mean to give one's life to ordained ministry, understood in the contexts of a rich Christian life and a vision of the church in the world? (2) What friendships, practices, and conceptual and narrative resources are crucial to sustaining a pastoral vocation over the long-term? We are supporting the preparation of two papers for a United Methodist Task Force focusing on leadership formation in the Wesleyan tradition. Bishop Kenneth Carder heads the task force of several U.M.C. bishops, Board of Ordained Ministry staff, and U.M.C. seminary presidents. Professors Richard Heitzenrader of Duke Divinity School and Randy Maddox of Seattle-Pacific University have written papers on historical and theological perspectives respectively. These papers are available on the Pulpit & Pew webpage. Clergy Career IssuesSalary Study: A draft of this report is available that uses data from the Pulpit & Pew National Pastoral Leader Survey, data from the United Methodist Church and other denominations, and other data sources to examine various aspects of clergy compensation. Becky McMillan, Associate Director of Pulpit & Pew, a labor economist and ordained United Methodist minister, undertook the analysis with Matthew Price, a sociologist and former Pulpit & Pew Associate Director. Price is now Director Of Research at the Church Pension Group of the Episcopal Church. Analyses of clergy career characteristics and of the supply and demand for ordained leadership in selected Protestant denominations. Professor Patricia Chang of Boston College is undertaking these two studies and has completed first drafts. Study of expectations and experiences of pastoral search committees and pastor-parish relations committees in securing pastors. Dr. Adair Lummis of Hartford Seminary Institute for Religions Research has completed this study, interviewing chairpersons of these committees, as well as middle judicatory officials. The report is in the editing stage. Study of morale issues, stayers and dropouts in selected Protestant denominations. This study is being undertaken by Professor Dean Hoge of Catholic University, and has some parallels with Hoge's research on recently ordained seminarians (see above). Hoge and his associates have identified a sample of clergy who have left ordained ministry, especially those who have left to enter a secular occupation. Five denominations are included: the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Responses of those who have left pastoral ministry, either for another type of ministry position or a secular occupation, will be compared with samples of currently active clergy from the several denominations. The researchers will pay special attention to whether gender is an important contributor to dropping out. It will also provide information on issues of clergy morale. Study of pastors who have been fired from their congregations in three denominations. The study was undertaken by Dr. Alan Klaas, an independent researcher and congregational consultant. He identified congregations and clergy who have experienced forced resignations and did in-depth interviews with the pastors, congregational leaders, and middle judicatory officials involved in the firings. A draft of this report has been completed. Media StudiesAnalysis of representations of clergy in the popular media. This report involves content analysis of newspaper, television, and film portrayals of clergy and other religious leaders. It assesses the number and types of representations; who is included and who is not; what kinds of roles clergy play in these representations; and what message these portrayals send to clergy and laity, especially to those who might be considering a call to ordained ministry. Professor Joyce Smith, a specialist in religion and the media, teaches media studies at Ryerson College of the University of Toronto. She has completed the manuscript of this report. Gender, Race, & EthnicityReview essay on Protestant clergy women and women serving in lay leadership roles in the Catholic Church, draws together and summarizes findings from recent research on the experiences of women clergy. This report is now available. Professor Edward Lehman reviews the literature and reflects on policy implications that it suggests. Professor Lawrence Mamiya of Vassar College will write a report for us on the status of ministry in historic African-American churches. Professor Mamiya is currently undertaking a study of African-American congregations, and the study of pastoral leadership is being done in connection with this study. Hispanic/Latino Pastoral Leadership Issues. Edwin Hernandez, a sociologist and current program director of the Center for the Study of Latino Religion at Notre Dame, along with Father Ken Davis and Professor Milagros Peña, are undertaking a review of the literature on the current state of Hispanic pastoral leadership. In addition, they will conduct six regional listening sessions to learn from pastoral leaders themselves what are the current issues and concerns related to Hispanic pastoral leadership. The conclusion of the study will be an historic Hispanic Religious Leaders Summit. Asian-American Clergy. We are in current conversation with leaders of an Asian-American Study Center about possible research and reflection on issues of pastoral leadership in various Asian-American congregations. Dissertation Fellows
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