Denominationalism/Congregationalism

Abstract

Those who study organizational life have begun to discover that religious organizations offer both ample objects for observation and interesting challenges for theorizing. The intersection of organizational theory and the study of religion is a fruitful field of exploration that can yield insight into organizational dynamics, as well as insight into the many ways religion takes empirical social form. As Paul DiMaggio noted, “because much religious activity is institutionalized and carried out through formal organizations “ students of religion may have something to learn from the experience of their colleagues in the organizations field” (DiMaggio, 1998). We will follow his lead in looking to the cultural and ecological turn in organizational studies for insight, drawing on research from diverse religious communities to sketch out an organizational view of religion.