Giving

Chapter 6 takes up a second dimension of congregational culture—giving—and assesses the ways in which joining shapes men’s and women’s involvement both within and beyond their individual congregations. We begin with a review of what clergy would like to see happening within their congregations and move on to explore narratives of involvement, volunteering, and ideas about the articulation of faith to politics and social change. In each of these domains, we assess gender overlap and diversity in giving—whether financially or as volunteers within these congregations’ programs of service, or in broader political and social involvement.