God Is Great, God Is Green: Evangelical And Mainline Protestants In The Environmental Movement

Abstract

This dissertation examines the role of the congregation in encouraging or inhibiting engagement with environmentalism for mainline and evangelical Protestants. We often think of the congregation as a mobilizing structure, but this study shows that congregations may actually discourage some forms of engagement. Additionally, I find that congregational activity is strongly shaped by the traditions and institutions in which the churches are embedded. Through in-depth interviews with green mainline and evangelical Protestants, I have identified different forms that engagement with environmental stewardship can take, ranging from individual practice to political engagement advocating for societal change. I find that while evangelicals may not participate in the forms of engagement that are most visible, they transform their participation in a way that allows them to maintain their religious identity. This study illustrates how religious, social, and organizational factors within congregations can influence engagement with environmentalism. This will contribute to our understanding of how religious congregations impact individuals civic engagement, especially around divisive issues.