Publications [#255591] of Mark Chaves

Publications

1. Chaves, M, Denominations as Dual Structures: An Organizational Analysis, Sociology of Religion, vol. 54 no. 2 (1993), pp. 147-169, ASSOC SOCIOLOGY RELIGION, ISSN 1069-4404 (Reprinted in Demerath, N.J., Peter Dobkin Hall, Terry Schmitt, and Rhys Williams, (eds.). 1998. Sacred Companies: Organizational Aspects of Religion and Religious aspects of Organizations. New York: Oxford University Press..) [eLvHCXMwVV09C8IwED0EwcWloFn9AylN0iS9uVgcBEEUdOzlYyyI_f94LRV0OXjTBe7x8gJ5HMBBZQpZG0JylpTxZG02Dm2tkCLq_0DYj5p3BazSsIN7d7y1J7ksA5BBoTfSIL-mgq5swlyrbLl1zbebTzE6rpl9PTt3qlwTUtSOadeHJrBZdp6anqm7h20_fRofxjlcFgWsM084iUl1BZ9AwOaB7fl5uS6w-MLyPSegytcoWORngkhVVh87Jzji], [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/06/16)

   Abstract:
   The central thesis of this article is that denominations are composed of two parallel structures overlying congregations: a religious authority structure and an agency structure. This article elaborates the notion of religious authority structure, provides a brief overview of agency structure origins, and sociologically distinguishes the two structures. Placing denominational dual structure at the center of organizational analysis: (a) leads to a heretofore elusive sociological definition of religious organizations; (b) reveals the horizontal rather than vertical nature of intradenominational power shifts, thereby challenging the common (mis)perception that congregations are increasingly beholden to agencies; (c) highlights both the largely ignored role of agencies and the often overlooked top-down component in intradenominational conflict and schism; and (d) makes it easier to conceptualize and investigate processes of internal secularization. This approach to denominational organization is in line with a recent development in the sociology of organizations in which organizational subunits rather than organizational wholes occupy the center of attention.