Table of Contents

List of Tables and Figures Acknowledgments Introduction Part I. History, Organization, and Activities 1. The Logic of Mainline Churchliness: Historical Background since the Reformation Peter J. Thuesen 2. Mainline Protestant Washington Offices and the Political Lives of Clergy Laura R. Olson 3. The Generous Side of Christian Faith: The Successes and Challenges of Mainline Women's Groups R. Marie Griffith 4. Religious Variations in Public Presence: Evidence from the National Congregations Study Mark Chaves, Helen M. Giesel, and William Tsitsos 5. Connecting Mainline Protestant Churches with Public Life Nancy T. Ammerman 6. The Changing Political Fortunes of Mainline Protestants Jeff Manza and Clem Brooks Part II. Involvement in Public Issues 7. Furthering the Freedom Struggle: Racial Justice Activism in the Mainline Churches since the Civil Rights Era Bradford Verter 8. The Hydra and the Swords: Social Welfare and Mainline Advocacy, 1964--2000 Brian Steensland 9. Caring for Creation: Environmental Advocacy by Mainline Protestant Organizations Michael Moody 10. Vital Conflicts: The Mainline Denominations Debate Homosexuality Wendy Cadge 11. For the Sake of the Children? Family-Related Discourse and Practice in the Mainline W. Bradford Wilcox 12. From Engagement to Retrenchment: An Examination of First Amendment Activism by America's Mainline Churches, 1980--2000 Derek H. Davis 13. Doing Good and Doing Well: Shareholder Activism, Responsible Investment, and Mainline Protestantism Lynn D. Robinson 14. Love Your Enemies? Protestants and United States Foreign Policy Lester Kurtz and Kelly Goran Fulton 15. Beyond Quiet Influence? Possibilities for the Protestant Mainline Robert Wuthnow List of Contributors Index

About the Author

Robert Wuthnow is Professor of Sociology at Princeton University. His most recent books are Creative Spirituality: The Way of the Artist (California, 2001), Growing Up Religious (1999), After Heaven (California, 1998), and Loose Connections (1998). John H. Evans is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of California, San Diego. He is the author of Playing God? Human Genetic Engineering and the Rationalization of Public Bioethical Debate (2002).

Reviews

"An important contribution to our understanding of the public influence of mainline Protestantism. This well-written and expansive book reveals how socially, civically, and politically active mainline Protestantism continues to be in American society, contrary to much conventional wisdom. Yet it shows the mainline influence as having a particular character, different from that of other religious traditions. Mainline Protestantism has, without justification, been understudied lately. This landmark book puts it back on the map and will generate discussion and inquiry for years to come." -Christian Smith, author of The Secular Revolution