Sociologist, Professor, Author
My coedited volume with Gary Adler and Brian Starks - American Parishes: Remaking Local Catholicism - will soon join the Fordham University Press series on Catholic Practice in North America! Expected release date is Spring 2019. The book features a discussion of sociological approaches to parish studies alongside chapters by an all-star list of contributors: …
Continue reading Forthcoming -> American Parishes (an edited volume)
One of the most fascinating recent trends in the sociology of religion is the increase in numbers of religious "nones" - individuals who claim no particular religious affiliation. My own state, Tennessee, is not immune to this, despite being in the "bible belt." Knoxville's local TV station WBIR invited me to discuss this trend and …
Review of Religious Research, the official journal for the Religious Research Association, has just released a review of my newest book, Parish and Place. Elfriede Wedam suggests that the book is "essential reading in Catholic studies" and that "non-Catholics will benefit from the clarity of explanations regarding evolving institutional structures." Her summary and questions will …
Continue reading Review of Parish and Place in “Review of Religious Research” Journal
I am honored to be in residence for January 2018 as a Faculty Fellow of the Centre for Catholic Studies, Department of Theology and Religion, Durham University, Durham, England. During my time here, I will lead a research seminar entitled Parishes and Placemaking: Observations from the Making (and Unmaking) of Catholicism in Modern Communities. A recording …
My recent book Parish and Place fosters a conversation about diversity (and its limits) in expressions of local Catholicism. I was interviewed and quoted in a Philadelphia Inquirer story by reporter Kristin E. Holmes that engages such themes. From the article: "Indeed, parishioners who are part of an increasingly diverse Catholic church often seek 'ways …
As I launch into the research behind my next book, I am grateful to the Louisville Institute for a $30,000 Project Grant for Researchers and the Appalachian College Association for a $6,000 Faculty Fellowship. This support will be instrumental as I travel the country to assess religious building "conversions" and transitions: i.e., spaces that go …
Continue reading Thank you to the Louisville Institute and Appalachian College Association
In my interview with the Tribune de Genève (www.tdg.ch), a daily paper in Switzerland, I reference the tides of change that come with recognizing cultures of harassment. The excerpt and translation are below; read the full article here. [Original French] Tricia Bruce, une professeure de sociologie au Maryville College, estime que le danger pour Donald …
Continue reading Calling out the tides of institutional change
