Christianity in the United States has long been organized around congregations and denominations. However, a different type of organization operating outside of these traditional structures is claiming an increasingly important place in the religious market. The growth of Christian nonprofits, popularly called "parachurch" organizations, has been recognized by churchgoers and social scientists alike as an important development that is transforming the composition and dynamics of American Christianity. The size, resources, and activities of this population have made it the public face of American Christianity and altered the relationship between individuals, churches and denominations. Beyond the Congregation utilizes data on almost 2,000 of the largest and most influential Christian nonprofits in the United States to answer some of the key questions raised by these organizations. What explains the growth of Christian nonprofits? What activities are they pursuing? How are they funded and how do they use those funds? Beyond the Congregation provides a much needed examination of these issues that is accessible and informative for scholars, nonprofit executives, religious leaders and the general public.
Unprecedented. . . Scheitle presents a rich overview of Christian nonprofits and their role in the American religious landscape. . . . Scheitle's research is meticulous and thorough, yet his presentation is broadly accessible. . . . Scheitle navigates the complexities of the relationship between the parachurch sector and the state with skill and insight. The realm of Christian nonprofits is amorphous and difficult to penetrate. Sacrificing neither depth nor breadth, Scheitle has helped give shape to the chao?
