| dc.description.abstract | Are church leaders still relevant in politics? How do church leaders discuss political issues in their sermons? These are the two questions this study addresses as part of the broader literature of the influence of church leaders on their congregations. This study seeks to fill the hole in the literature surround the topic in that the current literature is lacking in regards to what church leaders say from the pulpit and what their role is in regards to political activism. This study begins with an overview of the literature surrounding the topic of the influence of church leaders on their congregations and political activism in churches. Hypotheses are then presented and a research design that tests these hypotheses will be discussed. Elite interviewing was determined to be the best method to study the topic, and as such, interviews were conducted with several church leaders in the area. The findings of the research are then presented and analyzed as they pertain to each hypothesis. The findings determine that the ideology of church leaders is irrelevant to how they see their role in regards to political activism, that the calendar set forth by the church does not affect the discussion of political issues in sermons, and that the church leaders analyzed would not endorse a political candidate. Following that analysis, further analysis takes place of the remaining data gathered from the research that does not pertain to an individual hypothesis. This analysis pertains to the discussion of abortion in sermons, as well as other issues. Finally, the conclusion proves that church leaders are relevant in politics. This study provides the basis to fill a hole in the literature surrounding how church leaders discuss political issues in their sermons. | |
