Saviors and Services: The Interface of Neoliberal Deprivation, Hegemonic Christianity, Social Exclusion, and Rural Church Resource Provision^☆

Abstract

With one‐third of rural areas in the United States living in persistently high poverty, churches are some of the most prolific—and often only—sources of resource‐provision in rural places. This paper qualitatively examines the complex role that churches play as resource providers in rural areas. Further, we examine the ways churches are helpful and/or harmful in meeting the needs of those experiencing vulnerability. We fuse hegemonic Christianity with social exclusion and neoliberalism to argue that rural people may not only experience ostracization and othering, but can also lose access to already‐limited resources in rural areas as a result. Using community‐based action research, ethnography, 47 semi‐structured interviews, and research participant‐driven photography from a town we call Gordon, we find that while churches are important resource‐providers, they perpetuate hegemonic Christianity, hold exclusionary power, and act as critical gatekeepers for resources. This often results in ostracization and jeopardizes resource provision for those most vulnerable. This is a critical finding that demonstrates the complexity of resource provision, church influence, and rurality. We highlight participants’ suggestions for ways to expand services in rural places without solely relying on religious organizations.

Doing rural community-based action research (CBAR): Community perceptions and methodological impacts

“…This article contends with the realities of doing community-based participatory-and action-oriented research in rural places. This is a critical contribution to both methodological and rural scholarship; rural places are unique in that they value close relationships and residents often face harsh inequities routinely neglected by research and social policy (Magnus 2023;Magnus and Advincula 2021;Magnus and Donohue 2021;Magnus and Sherrick 2023). Reflecting on one rural, 12-month community-based action research (CBAR) project, this article demonstrates the complexities of doing rural CBAR in a community we call Ledora.…”

“…Lisette explained that the '…trust factor has to be established when you go into a rural community because we get a lot of lip service'. For rural people living in an infrastructurally-deprived community, the inconsistent and unreliable resource infrastructure creates immense uncertainty, stress, chaos, and frustration (Magnus and Sherrick, 2023;Magnus and Advincula, 2021). This leaves a lasting mark on rural communities that damages their trust of outsiders and shapes their initial perceptions of researchers.…”

Pengaruh Makna Gedung Gereja terhadap Motivasi Partisipasi dalam Pembangunan dengan Mediasi Persepsi Kemegahan Gereja

“…Kehadiran gedung gereja menunjukkan adanya aktivitas kekristenan baik sebagai pusat kegiatan sosial, dukungan, dan penjangkauan kepada masyarakat (Clark 2007). Di daerah pedesaan, gereja seringkali memainkan peran penting dalam menyediakan sumber daya dan dukungan kepada masyarakat, terutama di daerah yang menghadapi kemiskinan dan pengucilan sosial (Magnus and Sherrick 2022).…”