Bridging Faith: The Effect of Evangelical Social Service
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Abstract
This article uses qualitative data gathered from a case study of a service program at an evangelical Christian university to examine the links between volunteering and the development of social capital and civic engagement in college students. The students were asked to describe their service experiences and to discuss the ways in which these experiences affected their connections with others and the influence that these experiences had on their perspectives on social action. Data gathered from these interviews provided new insights into the ways that volunteering promotes social capital formation in students and changes their perspectives on civic engagement. The data also revealed ways that the religious tradition of students shaped their ideas about forming relationships and social action. The results show that bridging social capital formation is far and away the most salient aspect of the volunteer experience for these students. The guiding social engagement framework for these evangelical students is relationships, which, for them, took precedence over meeting practical needs and working for structural change.
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Keywords: social capital, civic engagement, social action, evangelicals, bridging capital,   Christian college students
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Keywords: social capital, civic engagement, social action, evangelicals, bridging capital,   Christian college students
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Becker, Penny Edgell and Pawan H. Dhingra. 2001. “Religious Involvement and Volunteering: Implications for Civil Society.†Sociology of Religion 62(3):315-335.
Beyerlein, Kraig and John R. Hipp. 2006. “From Pews to Participation: The Effect of Congregation Activity and Context on Bridging Civic Engagement.†Social Problems 53(1):97-117. Boyte, H.C. and N. N. Kari. 1996. Building America: The Democratic Promise of Public Work. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Journal of Sociology and Christianity Volume 6, Number 2 • Fall 2016
Campus Compact. 2013. “Engaging Ideas: 2012-2013 Annual Report.†Retrieved May 16, 2016 (http://www.compact.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2013-Annual-ReportFINAL1.pdf ).
Cromartie, Michael, ed. 2003. A Public Faith: Evangelicals and Civic Engagement. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Davie, Grace. 2001. “Global Civil Religion: A European Perspective.†Sociology of Religion 62:455473.
Edwards, Bob, Linda Mooney, and Carl Heald. 2001. “Who is Being Served? The Impact of Student Volunteering on Local Community Organizations.†Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 30(3):444-461.
Emerson, Michael O. and Christian Smith. 2000. Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. New York: Oxford University Press.
Eyler, Janet S., Dwight E Giles, Jr., Christine M. Stenson, and Charlene J. Gray. 2001. At a Glance: What we Know about the Effects of Service-Learning on College Students, Faculty, Institutions and Communities, 1993-2000. Vanderbilt University.
Eyler, Janet. S., Dwight E. Giles Jr., and J. Braxton. 1997. “The Impact of Service-Learning on College Students.†Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning 4:5-15.
Jackson, E., M. Bachmeier, J. Wood, and E. Craft. 1995. “Volunteering and Charitable Giving: Do Religious and Associational Ties Promote Helping Behavior?†Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 24:59-78.
Kirlin, Mary. 2002. “Civic Skill Building: The Missing Component in Service Programs?†Political Science and Politics 35(3):571-75.
Lichterman, Paul. 2005. Elusive Togetherness: Church Groups Trying to Bridge America’s Divisions. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Noll, Mark. 2001. American Evangelical Christianity: An Introduction. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers Inc.
Penning, James M. and Corwin E. Smidt 2002. Evangelicalism: The Next Generation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Perry, James L. and Michael C. Katula. 2001. “Does Service Affect Citizenship? Administration and Society 33(3):330-365.
Journal of Sociology and Christianity Volume 6, Number 2 • Fall 2016
Putnam, Robert. 2002. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Raskoff, S. and R. A. Sundeen. 1998. “Youth Socialization and Civic Participation: The Role of Secondary Schools in Promoting Community Service in Southern California.†Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 27(1):66-87.
Serow, Robert C. 1991. “Students and Voluntarism: Looking into the Motives of Community Service Participants.†American Educational Research Journal 28(3):543-556.
Smith, Christian. 2000. Christian America? What Evangelicals Really Want. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Smith, Christian. 1998. American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Wilson, John. 2000. “Volunteering.†Annual Review of Sociology 26:215-240.
Wilson, John and Thomas Janoski. 1995. “The Contribution of Religion to Volunteer Work.†Sociology of Religion 56(2):137-152.
Wuthnow, Robert. 1998. Loose Connections: Joining Together in America’s Fragmented Communities. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Yates, Miranda, and James Youniss. 1998. “Community Service and Political Identity Development in Adolescents.†Journal of Social Issues 54:495-512.
Beyerlein, Kraig and John R. Hipp. 2006. “From Pews to Participation: The Effect of Congregation Activity and Context on Bridging Civic Engagement.†Social Problems 53(1):97-117. Boyte, H.C. and N. N. Kari. 1996. Building America: The Democratic Promise of Public Work. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
Journal of Sociology and Christianity Volume 6, Number 2 • Fall 2016
Campus Compact. 2013. “Engaging Ideas: 2012-2013 Annual Report.†Retrieved May 16, 2016 (http://www.compact.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2013-Annual-ReportFINAL1.pdf ).
Cromartie, Michael, ed. 2003. A Public Faith: Evangelicals and Civic Engagement. New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Davie, Grace. 2001. “Global Civil Religion: A European Perspective.†Sociology of Religion 62:455473.
Edwards, Bob, Linda Mooney, and Carl Heald. 2001. “Who is Being Served? The Impact of Student Volunteering on Local Community Organizations.†Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 30(3):444-461.
Emerson, Michael O. and Christian Smith. 2000. Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America. New York: Oxford University Press.
Eyler, Janet S., Dwight E Giles, Jr., Christine M. Stenson, and Charlene J. Gray. 2001. At a Glance: What we Know about the Effects of Service-Learning on College Students, Faculty, Institutions and Communities, 1993-2000. Vanderbilt University.
Eyler, Janet. S., Dwight E. Giles Jr., and J. Braxton. 1997. “The Impact of Service-Learning on College Students.†Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning 4:5-15.
Jackson, E., M. Bachmeier, J. Wood, and E. Craft. 1995. “Volunteering and Charitable Giving: Do Religious and Associational Ties Promote Helping Behavior?†Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 24:59-78.
Kirlin, Mary. 2002. “Civic Skill Building: The Missing Component in Service Programs?†Political Science and Politics 35(3):571-75.
Lichterman, Paul. 2005. Elusive Togetherness: Church Groups Trying to Bridge America’s Divisions. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Noll, Mark. 2001. American Evangelical Christianity: An Introduction. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers Inc.
Penning, James M. and Corwin E. Smidt 2002. Evangelicalism: The Next Generation. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
Perry, James L. and Michael C. Katula. 2001. “Does Service Affect Citizenship? Administration and Society 33(3):330-365.
Journal of Sociology and Christianity Volume 6, Number 2 • Fall 2016
Putnam, Robert. 2002. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Raskoff, S. and R. A. Sundeen. 1998. “Youth Socialization and Civic Participation: The Role of Secondary Schools in Promoting Community Service in Southern California.†Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 27(1):66-87.
Serow, Robert C. 1991. “Students and Voluntarism: Looking into the Motives of Community Service Participants.†American Educational Research Journal 28(3):543-556.
Smith, Christian. 2000. Christian America? What Evangelicals Really Want. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Smith, Christian. 1998. American Evangelicalism: Embattled and Thriving. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Wilson, John. 2000. “Volunteering.†Annual Review of Sociology 26:215-240.
Wilson, John and Thomas Janoski. 1995. “The Contribution of Religion to Volunteer Work.†Sociology of Religion 56(2):137-152.
Wuthnow, Robert. 1998. Loose Connections: Joining Together in America’s Fragmented Communities. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Yates, Miranda, and James Youniss. 1998. “Community Service and Political Identity Development in Adolescents.†Journal of Social Issues 54:495-512.
Section
Research Articles