Megachurch involvement at the local level: Examining conditions for church action in economic development

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/nml.21401
• Author: Ashley E. English,Lisa A. Dicke
• Published date: 01 March 2020
• Date: 01 March 2020

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Megachurch involvement at the local level:

Examining conditions for church action in

economic development

Ashley E. English

1

| Lisa A. Dicke

2

1

Department of Strategic

Communication, Bob Schieffer College of

Communication, Texas Christian

University, Fort Worth, Texas

2

Department of Public Administration,

University of North Texas, Denton, Texas

Correspondence

Ashley E. English, Department of

Strategic Communication, Bob Schieffer

College of Communication, Texas

Christian University, P. O. Box 298065,

Fort Worth, TX 76129.

Email: a.english@tcu.edu

Abstract

The roles of small congregations and their social

impacts are well known, but few theoretical studies

investigate megachurch congregations. These mam-

moth organizations have the potential for advancing

social good, but minimal research specifically focuses

on the activities of these congregations in economic

development (ED). This study addresses this dearth of

information by answering the following research ques-

tions: (a) In what ways are megachurches involved in

ED activities? (b) Who benefits from these programs

and how are the programs offered? and (c) What fac-

tors influence megachurches to offer ED activities? We

frame our investigation using both demand- and

supply-side arguments from Frumkin's (2002) model of

nonprofit and voluntary action. Online survey data and

follow-up interviews with 42 megachurch leaders in

the Dallas/Fort Worth and greater Houston areas show

that megachurches are implementing ED activities in

alignment with demand-side explanations, especially

when advancing opportunities for the unemployed and

underemployed. However, supply-side arguments pro-

vide more explanatory power, indicating that volunteer

engagement with ED activities plays a significant role

in the provision of ED services through megachurches.

Our study offers a better understanding of why

megachurches carry out ED activities with considerable

attention devoted to how megachurches partner with

Received: 12 June 2018 Revised: 23 December 2019 Accepted: 25 December 2019

DOI: 10.1002/nml.21401

Nonprofit Management and Leadership. 2020;30:399–421. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/nml © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 399

other congregations, nonprofits, and government enti-

ties to encourage economic growth and improve the

economic well-being of community members.

KEYWORDS

collaboration, economic development, faith-based organizations,

local government partnerships, megachurches.

1|INTRODUCTION

Economic development (ED) is a salient issue at all levels of government. Specifically, local gov-

ernments devote significant attention to assembling the ideal basket of goods and services to

attract an array of individuals, families, and businesses to communities and keep them there

(Tiebout, 1956). ED, a tool to augment the desirability of a community, addresses two areas:

economic growth and quality of life (Opp & Osgood, 2013). On one hand, ED focuses on gener-

ating tax revenue, developing businesses, and spurring job creation. On the other hand, the goal

of ED is “to improve the economic well-being of a community and its residents”(Iannone,

2007, p. 164). These goals require partnerships between local governments and their communi-

ties to spur development that creates economic security through the provision of living-wages

and to prepare residents for more competitive employment options based on the local industry

mix. Alleviating long-term unemployment and reducing the percentage of those under the pov-

erty line are essential indicators for improving the quality of life for residents and preparing

them for greater opportunities. Yet, long-term unemployment, urban blight, substandard educa-

tion, and communities entrenched in poverty are complex, “wicked problems”that require col-

laborative approaches to craft viable and sustainable solutions (Weber & Khademian, 2008).

Diener and Suh (1997) view unemployment as not only an economic indicator, but also a social

indicator that affects an individual's well-being and quality of life.

One type of nonprofit poised to assist with addressing the complex quality of life issues asso-

ciated with ED is the faith-based organization (FBO). Reese (2004), and Reese and Shields

(2000), investigated the role of congregations in faith-based ED activities and found that as con-

gregation size and income increased, they were more likely to engage in activities that

addressed business development and job creation. Very large congregations include

megachurches—those congregations with 2,000 or more weekly attendees (Thumma, Travis, &

Bird, 2005). These congregations have formidable ministries with the potential to leave “big

footprints”forsocial good (Marti, 2018), but their reach into ED activities has not captured the

attention of the scholarly community. As highlighted by Littlefield (2010), the examination of

ED as a component of the social reach of megachurches into the economic fabric of a commu-

nity “… is a category that has been neglected in studies describing congregational activities…”

(Littlefield, 2010, p. 1022). Yet, megachurch resources may provide one avenue for expanding

economic opportunities and improving the quality of life of residents in impoverished areas.

Previous research foreshadows the possibility that this specific type of FBO may be engaged in

ED activities, but in what ways are they participating?

In this study, we provide answers to the following research questions: (a) In what ways are

megachurches involved in ED activities? (b) Who benefits from these programs and how are the

programs offered? and (c) What factors influence megachurches to offer ED activities? The first

400 ENGLISH AND DICKE