“It does sometimes feel like Stockholm syndrome”: Exploring identity, resistance, and emotional labor in the lives of church camp staffers

Harper, August Olivia

Item

“It does sometimes feel like Stockholm syndrome”: Exploring identity, resistance, and emotional labor in the lives of church camp staffers

Harper, August Olivia

Date

2025-04-29

Abstract

The expectation set by Christian organizations is that employees will respond with and communicate kindness, tenderheartedness, joy, and forgiveness, as opposed to malice, wrath, and anger, as aligns with their religious ideology (English Standard Version Bible, 2009, Ephesians 4:31-32). Though sound theology, the practical application of these principles are often more challenging. Failure to comply with these expectations led employees with faith identities to feel as though they are defying both their organizational mandate and their deeply ingrained faith identity. The goal of this qualitative study was to further enhance the communicative understanding of identity relating to the intersection of faith and work role expectations. Using 26 semi structured interviews with individuals employed as church camp staffers across 11 Christian organizations in the United States, I explored the dialectic between the faith identity and role expectations they experience. Results yielded two theoretical and two practical implications discussed in greater detail below. In the end, acceptance and extending grace, for staffers and the Christian organization alike, goes a long way.