Decent and in Order: Conflict, Christianity, and Polity in a Presbyterian Congregation

by Ronald R. Stockton

Overview

This is a systematic study of how a congregational conflict involving allegations of sexual harassment and power abuse against a minister was seriously mishandled by church authorities. The conflict escalated to entangle regional and national authorities and worked its way into the civil courts. Stockton focuses on the interaction of organizational dynamics and ill-defined Christian concepts (such as reconciliation and discipline), showing that in conflict situations the ideals of pastoral care are squeezed by an organizational mentality. Key themes involve the role of women in the church, the complex question of sexual harassment, and the interface between church law and civil law. The narrative, which is based on interviews and official documents, captures the human dimensions of the story while simultaneously giving unique insight into congregational disputes and organizational behavior.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275966683
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/28/2000
Series:	Religion in the Age of Transformation Series
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

RONALD R. STOCKTON is professor of political science who writes and teaches about the role of religion and religious values in the United States and overseas. He has published numerous scholarly articles as well as a book—A Time of Turmoil: Values and Voting in the 1970s (with Frank Wayman, 1983). He is also a university ombudsman.

Table of Contents

Institutional Theory
Why Sexual Misconduct Investigations Go Wrong
Beth-El: Early Problems
The Congregational Setting
Arrival at Beth-El
Escalation
Institutional Analysis
The Calvinist Concept of Discipline
The Special Case of Women in the Church
Beth-El and the Presbyterian Legal Process
Into the Breach
Back in the Pulpit
The Final Wave
Picking Up the Pieces
Institutional Process
Presbyterian Polity and Function
The Question of Due Process
Some Reflections and Suggestions
Lessons From This Case
Epilogue
Appendix
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Political scientist Stockton analyzes the disintegration of a North American church community, blaming both inept leadership and an ineffective political system. Though some of the features were unique to the Presbyterian structure, he finds a similar pattern in many denominations: a pastor accused of power abuse and sexual harassment, inexperienced congregational leaders failing to act, district leaders proving inconsistent and ineffective, members filing charges in the ecclesiastical court, retaliation against them, a civil lawsuit by those expelled or punished, and the congregation wrecked. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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