Center for Social Research

KCCS presentation to religious leaders

November 10 was a great day. About 150 religious leaders from 72 diverse congregations in Kent County gathered with other civic, community and academic leaders at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville for the Kent County Religious Leaders Symposium. Many participants have suggested further meetings to keep energy high, and efforts to fulfill this wish are under way.

Thanks to Calvin student videographer Kyle Berkompas for recording the event.

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Subdivided by Faith? Anti-Urban Bias, Geographical Habits, and Theological Influences

CSR's faculty Fellows for 2006-2008, Drs. Mark Mulder of Sociology and James K.A. Smith of Philosophy, will present the findings from their study "Subdivided by Faith." In a previous landmark study, Divided by Faith, Michael Emerson and Christian Smith articulated the ways in which evangelical spirituality and practice actually contributed to the racialization and segregation of American culture - the very antithesis of the picture of the redeemed community from every nation, tribe, people and language (Rev. 7:9).

Drs. Mulder and Smith's study seeks to launch a correlate (and supplementary) initiative that considers whether evangelicals tend to exhibit an anti-urban bias that fosters a negative view of urban life, and thus contributes to the growth of suburban and exurban social arrangements. And if this is the case, what are the factors of evangelical theology and spirituality that might lead to this correlation? Exploring a relationship between evangelical spirituality and geographical habits requires both a nuanced understanding of theology (particularly ecclesiology), as well as the rigor of social scientific analysis. The "Subdivided by Faith" study seeks to embody a theologically-informed sociology and a sociologically-accountable theology.

Meeter Center Lecture Hall February 26, 2009 3:30 p.m Refreshments Provided

Gatherings of Hope report released from the Kent County Congregations Study

Download the report (PDF, 100pp., 4.7Mb) Order bound copies from the Calvin College Campus Store.

Our report on the Kent County Congregations Study of 2007 is now online! The report, entitled Gatherings of Hope: How Religious Congregations Contribute to the Quality of Life in Kent County is downloadable now in PDF format and bound, full-color copies are available for purchase from the Calvin Campus Store. As reported on Sunday in the Grand Rapids Press, the KCCS is the most comprehensive study of religious congregations and how they contribute to the quality of life in Kent County. Inspired by the philanthropic vision of Doug and Maria DeVos and funded by their foundation, the project affirms the need for educational, community and religious sectors to collaborate in efforts to improve the lives of children and their families. These major findings of the report are found in the Executive Summary: Kent County is an unusually religious community. Compared to congregations across the country, Kent County residents are significantly more likely to attend religious services. Kent County congregations are larger in size, have more leaders, are better funded, and are more likely to have participated in or supported a social service program. Hundreds of congregations are located in areas of poverty and great need. Compared to majority White congregations, Black and Hispanic congregations in the county average three to four times the proportion of people with household incomes under $25,000. Local congregations transfer $75.6 million annually to denominations and to international, domestic and county aid and missions—but only 14 percent is clearly designated for Kent County. Worship services in Kent County take place in 28 different languages, reflecting cultural and ethnic diversity. At times multiple languages are spoken in the same congregation. Religious attendance is strongly associated with service to others. Almost 5,200 people from Kent County congregations—including paid staff and volunteers—participate in community service activities. Congregation leaders spend time worth $8.8 million annually on civic and social efforts. Congregations supply 2,827 volunteers for educational programs, but only a third of congregations report any involvement with public schools. Kent County congregations offer higher numbers of social service programs than comparable national averages—2,338 programs in all. Religious participation is not required by 70 percent of these programs. Other institutions would have to generate from $95 million to $118 million to replace the services and programs that Kent County congregations provide annually in their community-serving ministries. Gatherings of Hope is being distributed today to over 200 religious and community leaders at the Kent County Religious Leaders Symposium, held at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville.

Polling and the 2008 Election

Michael W. Traugott, Professor of Communication Studies and Political Science at the University of Michigan, unravels polling methods and their effect on the 2008 election. Dr. Traugott studies the mass media and its impact on American politics. This includes research on the use of the media in campaigns and its impact on voters. He has a particular interest in the use of surveys and polls and the way they are used to cover campaigns and elections.

Tuesday, October 21
3:30 p.m.
DeVos Communication Center 170
Refreshments Provided

Dotmarketing Presents Findings Concerning Calvin’s Website

Please join us Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at 3:30 p.m. in the Commons Annex Lecture Hall to hear the executive summary results of Calvin’s Web Site Audience Research Study.  This study was conducted by Miami-based Dotmarketing.com with technical assistance from the Center for Social Research.  It examined the effectiveness of Calvin’s current website features and explored how these features might be improved.  Research is based on interviews with over 100 faculty, staff, students and administrators; survey results from over 3,000 prospective students, Calvin students, faculty, alumni, parents, and staff; over a year and a half of calvin.edu web traffic; and analysis of 5 peer websites.  J. Todd Bennett Dotmarketing.com will be presenting on their findings and suggesting how Calvin might enhance its online services.