VViirrggiinniiaa CCoommmmoonnwweeaalltthh UUnniivveerrssiittyy VVCCUU SScchhoollaarrss CCoommppaassss Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2008 FFaaiitthh--BBaasseedd OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonnss aanndd LLeeggiissllaattiivvee AAddvvooccaaccyy:: AA QQuuaalliittaattiivvee IInnqquuiirryy M. Lori Thomas Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Social Work Commons © The Author DDoowwnnllooaaddeedd ffrroomm https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1329 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © M. Lori Thomas 2008 All Rights Reserved 1 i Faith-Based Organizations and Legislative Advocacy: A Qualitative Inquiry A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. by Marye Lorelle (Lori) Thomas Master of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 2006 Master of Divinity, Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997 Bachelor of Arts, Carson-Newman College, 1993 Director: F. Ellen Netting, Ph.D. Professor, School of Social Work Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia April, 2008 ii Acknowledgements Intellectual milestones are rarely accomplished alone. I owe a perpetual debt of gratitude to those who have encouraged and sustained me: To my family whose depth of love and support has provided a foundation for my adventures and dreams – my gentle brother Benjy who precedes me in all things intellectual; my dad Taylor who made me take typing and told me I could be anything I wanted to be; and my mom Ellen whose loving consistency and radical belief in me made this possible. To the girls who have become family – Ana, Cathy, Joanna, and Kelly – who with great encouragement and numerous reality checks have walked through this with me. To faculty members of programs past who expanded the size of my world and then my mind and heart – Ms. Carolyn Blevins and Drs. Mark Biddle, Ross Brummett, Don Garner, and Bob Shurden of the Religion Department at Carson-Newman College, Dr. Glenn Hinson of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and Dr. Bill Rogers who gave me Women’s Ways of Knowing, Carol Gilligan, and two semesters of Great Books. To those faculty members at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work in whose classes and offices I sat becoming a social worker and scholar, especially Dr. Kia Bentley whose commitment to this doctoral program took my experience beyond coursework to community. To the cohort that became my intellectual community and shared this journey, the Black Swans – Andreas, Carol, Gerry, Monica, Mike, and Sara – I can’t imagine the experience without you. To Patty and Jamie McGrath Morris whose generosity, casita, and evening company elicited one of my most memorable intellectual experiences. I am ready to visit Gratitude Point. To my research participants who were candid and generous with their time and opinions. Their commitment to and belief in their work inspires me. To my dissertation committee who shared my enthusiasm for a neglected area of scholarship – Dr. Susan Gooden, your early feedback and key contacts shaped the process and product; Dr. Njeri Jackson, your participation in my dissertation was serendipitous and your questions have made my work stronger; Dr. David Fauri, you brought the political and historical insight I loved in your class to my dissertation experience; Dr. Mary Katherine O’Connor, my advisor, your compelling instruction drew me into the doctoral program and your courage has shaped my definition of social work and scholarship; and, Dr. Ellen Netting, my dissertation chair, you inspired joy and curiosity on the days I thought I had nothing left. I treasure every kitchen table conversation. I hope to develop your wisdom. Thank you all. I am better for sharing a part of my life with you. iii For Poppy iv Table of Contents List of Tables & Figures............................................................................................viii Abstract.......................................................................................................................ix Chapter 1: Rationale for Study......................................................................................1 Definitional Ambiguity.............................................................................................4 Faith-based or Religious?.....................................................................................4 Advocacy Organization or Interest Group?...........................................................7 Why Study Faith-Based Lobbying?...........................................................................9 Historical Relevance.............................................................................................9 Contemporary Relevance....................................................................................10 Why Study Faith-Based Lobbying in the States?.....................................................13 Why Study Virginia?..............................................................................................17 Variation of Religious Organizations..................................................................17 The Tradition of the Separation of Church and State...........................................19 Why Social Work?..................................................................................................20 Vulnerable Populations.......................................................................................20 Historical Precedent...........................................................................................22 Role of Religion in Social Policy.........................................................................23 Chapter 2: Literature Review......................................................................................26 Historical Background............................................................................................26 Abolition.............................................................................................................26 Moral Reconstruction & Prohibition...................................................................28 The Social Gospel Movement..............................................................................34 Civil Rights.........................................................................................................35 The Vietnam War................................................................................................39 The Religious Right.............................................................................................40 Contemporary Studies of Faith-based Lobbying......................................................41 The National Legislative Arena...........................................................................42 The national landscape....................................................................................46 Legislative change strategies and tactics..........................................................52 Religiously-related strategies...........................................................................59 Success and perceived success.........................................................................62 Representation.................................................................................................65 The Local Legislative Arena................................................................................70 The State Legislative Arena.................................................................................75 Limitations..........................................................................................................82 Theoretical Considerations.................................................................................83 Chapter 3: Research Methodology..............................................................................91 v Purpose...................................................................................................................91 Research Paradigm and Theoretical Frame..............................................................91 Epistemology.......................................................................................................91 Theoretical Perspective.......................................................................................94 Research Methodology & Methods......................................................................96 Explication of Process and Methods........................................................................99 Sampling Procedures..........................................................................................99 Data Collection.................................................................................................102 Semi-structured interviews............................................................................102 Organizational documents.............................................................................105 Participant observation..................................................................................106 Data Analysis Procedures.................................................................................107 Coding..........................................................................................................107 Graphic representation...................................................................................109 Memoing.......................................................................................................112 Data Management Procedures..........................................................................113 Study Limitations..................................................................................................114 Chapter 4: Study Findings.........................................................................................117 Sample Selection and Description.........................................................................118 Individual Stakeholders.....................................................................................118 Religious Advocacy Organizations....................................................................121 Group A........................................................................................................122 Group B........................................................................................................124 Group C........................................................................................................128 Group D........................................................................................................130 Group E.........................................................................................................132 Group F.........................................................................................................134 Group G........................................................................................................138 Group H........................................................................................................140 Group I..........................................................................................................141 Overview of Groups..........................................................................................143 Legislative Context...............................................................................................145 Part-time Citizen Legislature............................................................................146 Role of Special Interests....................................................................................148 Receptivity of Legislators..................................................................................149 Religion in the Legislature................................................................................150 Activities of Religious Advocacy Organizations...................................................152 Relational Lobbying..........................................................................................153 Visits.............................................................................................................157 Special events................................................................................................159 Provide information.......................................................................................160 Testimony.....................................................................................................161 vi Contribute to legislation................................................................................163 Coalitions......................................................................................................164 Presence........................................................................................................165 Education and Engagement...............................................................................166 Speaking engagements..................................................................................171 Provide information.......................................................................................171 Special events................................................................................................172 Media............................................................................................................173 Facilitate direct lobbying...............................................................................174 Meaning & Advocacy in Religious Lobbying Organizations.................................176 Mandate............................................................................................................177 Decision-Making...............................................................................................183 Determination of policy areas........................................................................184 Policy areas avoided......................................................................................186 Agenda setting...............................................................................................187 Prophetic & pragmatic...................................................................................188 Strategic use of religion.................................................................................191 Strategic use of tactics...................................................................................194 Strategic use of relationships.........................................................................195 Representing.....................................................................................................197 God...............................................................................................................197 Organization members...................................................................................198 Vulnerable populations..................................................................................199 Alternative & minority perspectives..............................................................201 Defining Success...............................................................................................202 Presence & activity........................................................................................203 Legislative success........................................................................................205 Relationships.................................................................................................209 Organizational growth...................................................................................213 Education & engagement...............................................................................214 Religious and Political Expression....................................................................215 Influence...............................................................................................................218 Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications.....................................................................223 Lessons Learned...................................................................................................224 Implications..........................................................................................................242 Research...........................................................................................................243 Social Work.......................................................................................................244 Conclusion............................................................................................................248 References................................................................................................................249 Appendix A: Interview Guides..................................................................................267 Appendix B: Recruitment Plan..................................................................................272 vii Appendix C: Research Subject Information and Consent Forms................................273 Appendix D: Organizational Document Form...........................................................279 viii List of Tables & Figures Table 2.1: Hofrenning’s Decision-Making Model.......................................................46 Table 2.2: Major Religious Lobbying Groups.............................................................50 Table 4.1: Sample Characteristics.............................................................................121 Table 4.2: Group A Policy Areas & Exemplars.........................................................123 Table 4.3: Group B Policy Areas & Exemplars.........................................................126 Table 4.4: Group C Policy Areas & Exemplars.........................................................129 Table 4.5: Group D Policy Areas & Exemplars.........................................................131 Table 4.6: Group E Policy Area & Exemplars...........................................................133 Table 4.7: Group F Policy Areas & Exemplars..........................................................136 Table 4.8: Group G Policy Areas & Exemplars.........................................................139 Table 4.9: Group H Policy Areas & Exemplars.........................................................141 Table 4:10: Overview of Groups...............................................................................144 Table 4.11: Overview of Relational Lobbying...........................................................166 Table 4.12: Education and Awareness.......................................................................176 Table 4.13: Religious Concepts.................................................................................182 Table 4.14: Policy Areas...........................................................................................184 Figure 3.1: Ontological & Epistemological Assumptions............................................93 Figure 3.2: Inquiry package.........................................................................................98 Figure 4.1: Group & Coalition Network....................................................................145 Figure 4.2: Religious and Political Expression of Faith-Based Advocacy Organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.....................................................................217