Do Moving Ministers Move Congregations? Rational Choice Theory and Methodist Ministerial Itinerancy

Bibliographic Data

ID4909065
AuthorsPhilip J Richter (0009-0006-6061-9659, Sarum College, corresponding author), Philip Richter
Year2002
Volume32
Issue1
Pages39-50
Publication date2002-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligion (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0048-721X • E-ISSN: 1096-1151
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1006/reli.2002.0397
OpenAlexW2018537767
LanguageEN
References cited13

Ministerial itinerancy is characteristic of, although not exclusive to, the British Methodist Church. Rational choice theorists Finke and Starke have claimed that, historically, itinerancy has served to promote and reinforce instrumental commitment to the local church. This article develops and assesses a rational choice analysis of the effects of ministerial itinerancy on the organisational commitment of Methodist congregations and their ministers. It concludes that rational choice theory can only offer a partial analysis and fails to take into account less instrumental forms of organisational commitment. The article surveys the current debate within the Methodist Church about the future of ministerial itinerancy and suggests that the Church may be in the process of recognising that ‘moving ministers’ is not necessarily good at ‘moving congregations’ to embrace the national Church's priorities. The article predicts that itinerancy will remain an important feature, but not a defining characteristic, of the Methodist ministry and will no longer tend to ‘go with the job’

Christian ministry · Economics · Epistemology · Management · Political science · Rational choice theory (criminology) · Rational planning model · Sociology · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions · Religion, Society, and Development · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

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