March 22, 2010 issue
Clarifying study
By David Brubaker Harrisonburg, Va.Thank you for “Board Seeks Ways to Deal with Conflict.”
I believe the article’s summary of my input could have been confusing. First, the research cited was based on my 2002 master’s thesis, a study of conflict over homosexuality in 25 denominations.
The research examined the effect of three variables — governing structure, organized movements and countermovements, and theological innovation — on the likelihood of conflict over homosexuality. Second, the results of this research were more nuanced than the article reflected. My thesis concluded: “The only sufficient combination of causes (of high-intensity conflict leading to possible schism) is the presence of strong movements and countermovements combined with no history of early ordination of women.” It was the combination of well-organized advocacy movements and the failure to ordain women prior to World War II that most strongly predicted conflict over homosexuality. Developments since 2002 support the hypothesis that more centralized denominations are experiencing greater conflict over this issue than more decentralized ones.
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