Faith and Work: Christian Perspectives, Research and Insights into the Movement.
Edited by Timothy Ewest,
Published by Information Age Publications
Call for Book Chapter Proposals
Although the expanding literature regarding the impact of spirituality on organizational life is creating recognition within the Academy of Management and organizations regarding the importance of this topic, the importance of religious faith, or faith and work (Miller 2007), within organizational life, while identified as foundational (Benefiel, Fry & Geigle, 2014) is still formative. The nascent development of faith and work may be surprising for some when one considers that the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life (2008; 2013) determined that 92% of the American population said they believe in God, and 83% self-identified with a religious group. Correspondingly, other studies indicate that world religious adherence is currently at 80%, and by 2050 it is predicted to rise to 85% (Johnson, 2010). Finally, there is a persistent rise in Equal Employment Opportunity Claims in the United States pertaining to religious discrimination (Greenwald, 2012).
Yet, the way forward for people of faith to bring their whole selves, including their faith, into the workplace is opaque and resources to support them are scant (Miller & Ewest, 2014). Challenges of integration of faith into the workplace abound, even from within the Academy of Management. Consider Mitroff (2003) who personally states, "I still believe that formal, organized religion has very little, if any, role to play in the workplace" (p. 378). Nolan (2006) concurs, suggesting businesses have always regarded religion as an issue to be left outside the organization.
Those who adhere to a faith tradition are longing for theories and insights into how they can be true to their faith within the workplace and yet be sensitive and respectful to others of varying faith commitments and beliefs (Hicks, 2003). Yet for Christians, respect of other faith traditions is especially difficult since Christianity as the dominate religion has become secularized and institutionalized within the workplace as represented in holidays and days off (Alexis, 2012).
Within the multiple theoretical and research dimensions of management, religion and spirituality, this proposed book explores theoretical, conceptual and strategic theories and research which consider how individuals and organizations integrate their Christian faith in the workplace, and how these groups attempt to change society as a whole. This historical movement is characterized by a desire for people to live a holistic life which integrates their Christian faith into the workplace, also deemed "faith at work" (Miller, 2007). Historically, Christian's faith integration is manifested individually or collectively and is demonstrated in the ways it shapes and informs the values systems, ethics, character and attitudes towards work (Benefiel, Fry & Geigle, 2014; Miller, 2007; Miller and Ewest, 2014). This edited volume draws themes out of the three historical epochs of the faith and work movement traced by Miller (2007) in the book, God at work: The history and promise of the faith at work movement. These organizing themes, while not congruent to the historical epochs, do capture the ways in which people of faith have historically attempted to integrate their faith into the workplace. These themes include: Individual integration, organizational strategies for integration and societal integration.
Book Sections:
Section One Individual: This section involves chapters which depict theories, strategies or research pertaining to personal strategies for integrating the Christian faith in the workplace. This would include, but not be limited to, attempts of Christian individuals to find purpose, or meaning in work, the integration of faith into ethics, character or organizational practices (e.g. finance). It may also include attempts of individuals to bring needed personal transformation to others.
Section Two Organizational: This section addresses chapters which depict theories, strategies or research pertaining to strategies of organizations attempt to aid in their employee's integration of faith into the workplace. This may include seeing the organization as a vehicle of transformation (e.g. corporate chaplaincy programs, pedagogy, human resource policies). Organizations could include profit, for-profit and higher education. This section may also include faith groups organized or permitted by organizations, or "para" faith groups.
Section Three Society: This section is typified by chapters which depict theories, strategies or research pertaining to larger movements, or collective actions, of groups and individuals who seek to change and transform society through their faith activities in the marketplace (e.g. Social Gospel Movement, Business as Mission, Social Entrepreneurship). This section seeks to explore the nature of the aforementioned collective individual actions and organizational movements, seeking to understand its directions, intent and effect.
Schedule for publication of the book:
*Book chapter proposals received: March 1st, 2016
*Notification of accepted chapter proposals: April 15th, 2016
*Receipt of full book chapters: November 1st, 2016
*Revision feedback: December 1st, 2016
*Receipt of final draft of book chapters: February 15th, 2017
*Book delivered to the publisher April 1st, 2017
*Anticipated publication: June 1st, 2017
Please submit an extended Abstracts (1500 words) to tewest@princeton.edu or timothy.ewest@wartburg.edu by March 1st, 2016. Final chapters will be expected to be revised and submitted by February 15th, 2017 for publication with Information Age Publication. Final submitted chapters are intended to be between 4,500 and 6000 words, original not previously published and formatted in APA style and/or consistent with Information Age Publication guidelines.
Final selection of chapters retained will be determined by Editorial review Include as a separate file a brief biography covering your current institutional affiliation and position and a listing of your relevant publications and educational background and any other pertinent information on your qualifications for contributing to this manuscript.
Send proposals and inquiries to:
Dr. Timothy Ewest
Associate Professor of Management, Wartburg College.
Visiting Research Collaborator, Princeton University's Faith and Work Initiative.
Director of Social Entrepreneurship Program, Wartburg College.
Wartburg College
100 Wartburg Blvd.
Waverly, IA. 50677; USA
Tel + 1 (319) 352-8416
timothy.ewest@wartbug.edu / tewest@princeton.edu
References
Alexis, Y. G. (2012). Not Christian, but nonetheless qualified: The secular workplace – whose
hardship? Journal of Religion and Business Ethics. 3(1), 1-24.
Benefiel, M., Fry, L. W., & Geigle, D. (2014). Spirituality and religion in the workplace: History, theory,
and research. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 6(3), 175.
Hicks, D. A. (2003). Religion and the workplace: Pluralism, spirituality, leadership. Cambridge, England:
Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511615474
Emmons, R. (2003). The Psychology of Ultimate Concerns: Motivation and Spirituality in
Personality. Guilford Press, New York.
Greenwald, J. (2012). Religious discrimination claims rising. Business Insurance. 46(7), 3-18.
Johnson, T. (2010). A statistical approach to the world's religions adherents, 2000-2015. CE. In
J.G. Melton & M. Bauman (Eds), Religions of The World: A Comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices (Vol. 1, pp. lv-lix), Santa Barbara, CA.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2008). U.S. Religious Landscape Survey.
Retrieved from http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf.
Pew Research Center Publications (2010). U.S. religious knowledge survey. Retrieved June 20,
2012, from Pew Research Center Publications website: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1745/religious-knowledge-in-america-survey-atheists-agnostics-score-highest.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2013). "Nones" on the Rise: One-in-Five Adults
Have No Religious Affiliation. Retrieved from http://www.pewforum.org/uploadedFiles/Topics/Religious_Affiliation/Unaffiliated/NonesOnTheRise-full.pdf
Miller, D.W. (2007). God at work: The history and promise of the faith at work movement. New
York: Oxford University Press.
Miller,D & Ewest, T. (2014). The Present State of Workplace Spirituality: A Literature
Review Considering Context, Theory, and Measurement/Assessment Journal of Religious & Theological Information, 12(2), 29-54.
Mitroff, I. (2003). Do not promote religion under the guise of spiritualty. Organization, 10(2), p..
375-382
Nolan, J. (2006). Doing the right thing: A Catholic's guide to faith, business and ethics.
Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenge
Dr. Timothy Ewest
Associate Professor of Business Administration,
Co-director of Social Entrepreneurship Program,
Wartburg College
Visiting Research Scholar
Princeton University's Faith & Work Initiative.
HM: 319-352-4857 WK: 319-3528416