Historical and Contemporary Perspectives of Ministerial and Nonministerial Roles at Faith-Based Christian Social Services Agencies: An Exploration of Taxonomic, Typological and Theoretical Frameworks and Implications for Leadership

Abstract

Current theoretical frameworks are insufficient for understanding the complex continuum of ministerial and non-ministerial roles that currently exist at faith-based social services agencies beyond the dichotomous legal distinction that is based on the ministerial exception. Historical, contemporary and legal perspectives of roles were explored through case studies of The Salvation Army USA and Catholic Charities USA (which is used herein to represent a network of local agencies). A grounded theory approach was used to collect relevant data from position descriptions to construct a typology (with the superordinate category identified as ordained minister). Positions were explored to identify radial attributes until the point of theoretical saturation was achieved. Controlling for regional variations, as well as semantic and organizational differences, this research revealed nineteen inductively revealed radial attributes for thirty Catholic Charities positions in twenty-two different states; and nineteen inductively identified radial attributes for thirty positions within The Salvation Army in eighteen different states (including the superordinate category and none identified for both organizations). Radial attributes identified indicated that both organizations had positions requiring ordination (fully ministerial); positions requiring adherence to their respective denominations (moderately ministerial); positions requiring commitment to the mission or philosophy of their religious organizations (neutrally ministerial); and positions with no identified ministerial attributes (non-ministerial). The result is a complex typology. Emphasizing those radial attributes that are consistently represented within and across organizations may assist leaders with unifying employees of varying beliefs and roles to further the mission of these organizations within the context of their denominational affiliations.