Interim Trust: A Qualitative Research on an Ecclesial Practice of Trust

This article reports on an explorative, qualitative-empirical research on the meaning of trust between church boards of Dutch protestant congregations and the interim ministers they temporarily employ in-between incumbent ministers. Trust, or the perception of trustworthiness, is analyzed as a socia...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Brouwer, Rein 1962- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Brill 2014
In: Journal of empirical theology
Year: 2014, Volume: 27, Issue: 2, Pages: 239-260
Further subjects:B Trust interim ministry pastoral professionalization congregational studies
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:This article reports on an explorative, qualitative-empirical research on the meaning of trust between church boards of Dutch protestant congregations and the interim ministers they temporarily employ in-between incumbent ministers. Trust, or the perception of trustworthiness, is analyzed as a social constructed, multi-dimensional phenomenon. Research shows the coherence of several theoretical variables (Risk, Accountability, Encapsulated interest, Autonomy, Reciprocity, Credentials, Performance, and Context) that constitute trust in this particular and specific context. A theological evaluation of the data analysis suggests the emergence of another variable, the ‘givenness’ of trust. In the particular context of the pastoral profession, trust is induced by how the trustee, i.e., the interim minister, in his performance embodies the social identity of the trustor, i.e., the church board, but there is also a dimension grounded in faith in the presence of God.
ISSN:1570-9256
Contains:In: Journal of empirical theology
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15709256-12341299