Social Diversity and Civic Engagement: The Effects of Ethnic and Social Heterogeneity on the Community Involvement of American Congregations

A growing body of research has been devoted to examining the community service activities of congregations. Yet there is much we still do not know about factors that affect variation in levels of congregational community service. One area that deserves attention is the relationship between congregational services and increasing levels of diversity in the United States. Are homogeneous or diverse congregations more or less likely to provide services to their communities? Does the makeup of a congregation's surrounding community affect the likelihood that it will become involved in the provision of services? Utilizing data from the U.S. Congregational Life Survey (USCLS), I explore the effects that diversity has on the community service activities of congregations. Results from multivariate analyses suggest that some types of diversity may increase the number of service programs provided by congregations.