Effectiveness of Religious Legitimating Agencies in Enhancing Accountability and Organisational Performance of Independent Churches in the Face of Rising Secularism and Public Scrutiny
Nweke, Uchenna (2024) Effectiveness of Religious Legitimating Agencies in Enhancing Accountability and Organisational Performance of Independent Churches in the Face of Rising Secularism and Public Scrutiny. Doctoral thesis, Buckinghamshire New University (Awarded by Staffordshire University).
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Abstract
Platforms for affiliation and collaboration provided by umbrella agencies have been shown to bolster the legitimacy, accountability, and overall performance of entities in the nonprofit sector (Zeimers et al., 2019; Ford, 2015; Tang and Wang, 2020). However, a gap exists in relating this literature to Religious Legitimating Agencies (RLAs) operating in the UK Independent Church Sector (UKICS). UKICS RLAs, as registered faith-based umbrella and resource bodies, offer voluntary association and support to independent (non-denominational/autonomous/self-governing) churches and provide accreditation to their ministers. They serve to advance the religious objectives of their constituents, represent their members’ interests, and facilitate the accomplishment of their operations. In the context of the highly monitored and secular-leaning socio-cultural backdrop in which independent churches operate, this study sought to analyse the functions of UKICS RLAs. The goal being to assess how effective these agencies have been in enabling independent congregations to enhance their social legitimacy, organisational performance, and accountability to multiple stakeholders. The selected research methodology involved a constructivist interpretivist process, with a theoretical underpinning that integrated related aspects of legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory and Christian theological concepts. Primary data was generated in multiple phases, commencing with an online survey administered to all identified UK-based ICS RLAs. Survey returns served to inform selection and in-depth study of 4 RLAs and 14 churches selected from across the four UK nations. The research also captured the experiences and views of 64 senior level sector officials who participated in online interviews and focus group discussions. Findings of the study point to ten contemporary roles performed by UKICS RLAs. These RLA functions exert a legitimating influence and significantly contribute to enhancing the relational and revitalisation agendas of benefiting independent congregations. On accountability, the analysis sought to both identify the factors that trigger safeguarding and governance concerns and to develop a framework for independent church accountability. The inference drawn from findings is that the effective functionality of this accountability model is hinged on a tripartite working partnership involving individual churches, their RLAs, and charity regulators. This approach has the potential of enhancing overall stakeholder satisfaction while preserving independent church autonomy. In examining the extent of ethnic diversity in the leadership structures of independent churches, the impact made by demographic and mission-related factors were evident. However, a significant imbalance was observed in their ethnic diversity in membership and ethnic diversity in leadership ratios. A further area of interest is the involvement of women in senior leadership positions. A key finding from studying five female-led churches is that patterns in their church growth attainment levels are consonant with that which pertains generally within the UKICS. That said, it is still the case that the egalitarianism v. complementarianism debate (Mowczko, 2022; James, 2022) continues to influence opinions and shape policies regarding women’s role in leadership within the sector.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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| Keywords: | Independent Churches, Stakeholder Accountability, Religious Legitimating Agencies, Faith-based Umbrella Organisations, Social Legitimacy |
| Depositing User: | RED Unit Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Sep 2024 10:41 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Sep 2024 10:41 |
| URI: | https://bnu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/19225 |
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