Church Work and Management in Change

This book focuses on majority churches in Northern Europe and the changes and challenges they are facing related to church work and management. In many countries the operating environments of these churches have undergone rapid changes in the 2000s. General attitudes towards the Church and religion [...]
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This book focuses on majority churches in Northern Europe and the changes and challenges they are facing related to church work and management. In many countries the operating environments of these churches have undergone rapid changes in the 2000s. General attitudes towards the Church and religion have changed. Commitment to traditional institutions has weakened and values have diversified. Church membership has declined in many of the Northern European countries. Many traditional church activities, such as Sunday service attendance, are also strongly challenged by other activities and lifestyles. At the same time church work is challenged by structural and organizational changes within parishes. In many countries parish mergers have been a growing trend. These form bigger units and pose multiple challenges to church work and management.The book is written by leading scholars in the field of church work and management in Northern Europe. The authors are Per Hansson, Gustav Björkstrand, Margaret Harris, Arja Ropo, Harri Palmu, Gerhard Wegner, Markus Klefbeck, Kati Niemelä, Adam M. Lowe, Lars-Erik Warg, Ing-Liss Bryngelsson, Göte Mölleby, Per Hansson, Ann-Sophie Hansson, Per Vihlborg, Andrea Schleeh, Kerstin Menzel, Lieve Van den Ameele, Leo Glad, Jørgen Straarup and Valdemar Kallunki.The editor of the volume, Dr. Kati Niemelä, is a senior researcher at Church Research Institute, Finland and an adjunct professor in the University of Helsinki.