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When work is worship: studying identification and faith in church workers

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dc.contributor.authorNeal, Autumn (Buzzetta), author
dc.contributor.authorWilliams, Elizabeth, advisor
dc.contributor.authorFaw, Meara, committee member
dc.contributor.authorDik, Bryan, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-28T10:28:04Z
dc.date.available2023-08-28T10:28:04Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractThis thesis assesses the relationship between faith, organizational identification (OI), spiritual labor, and burnout in ex-church workers. The impetus for my study came from media (Cosper, 2021; Barr, 2021; Du Mez, 2021) and research (Chappell et al., 2022; Garner & Peterson, 2018; McNamee, 2011) that critically addresses destructive practices in church work. Using a qualitative, phenomenological methodology, I conducted thirteen semi-structured interviews of those who have left their positions in the church. I analyzed the data using Tracy's (2020) phronetic-iterative coding approach and SaldaƱa's (2021) coding recommendations. My findings revealed five key themes: identities in tension, faith as expectation, forced separation, balancing authenticity, and learned solutions. Ultimately, I contribute to research on organizational identification by problematizing enmeshment and over-identification. I conceptualize the faithful face as a balance of authenticity and boundaries in church work. Additionally, I offer contributions to discourses of spiritual labor and implications for studying faith-based organizations. Finally, I address practical implications, limitations, and future directions.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierNealBuzzetta_colostate_0053N_17792.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/236893
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectchurch work
dc.subjectorganizational identification
dc.subjectburnout
dc.subjectspiritual labor
dc.subjectfaith-based organization
dc.titleWhen work is worship: studying identification and faith in church workers
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineCommunication Studies
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (M.A.)

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