Christian Churches and Immigrant Support in Canada: An Organizational Ecology Perspective

Canada receives roughly 250,000 immigrants each year, and the government spends considerable resources on assisting them to settle and integrate into Canadian society through the agencies they support. Most of these new immigrants settle in Canada's largest cities, where churches meet specific...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of religious research
Authors: Reimer, Samuel Harold (Author) ; Chapman, Mark D. 1960- (Author) ; Wilkinson, Michael 1965- (Author)
Contributors: Janzen, Rich (Other) ; Watson, James (Other)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Springer [2016]
In: Review of religious research
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Canada / Immigrants / Support / Church
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
KBQ North America
RB Church office; congregation
RG Pastoral care
RK Charity work
Further subjects:B Canada
B Christian Churches
B Refugees
B Immigrant settlement
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:Canada receives roughly 250,000 immigrants each year, and the government spends considerable resources on assisting them to settle and integrate into Canadian society through the agencies they support. Most of these new immigrants settle in Canada's largest cities, where churches meet specific needs that extend beyond the capacities of government agencies. In smaller centers, churches cover a wide range of services because few government supports are available. Little is known about the work of churches in Canada in spite of their importance to immigrant settlement and integration. In this study, we examine the services offered to immigrants by Canadian Christian churches. We show how the service provision of Christian churches is constrained by other organizations and groups in their environment, in ways consonant with the organizational ecology framework. Specifically, churches service the needs of immigrants by adapting to specific niche needs and by filling in gaps left by other service providers.
ISSN:2211-4866
Contains:Enthalten in: Review of religious research
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1007/s13644-016-0252-7