"Inner Circles" in Local Churches: An Application of Thompson's Theory
- 1 January 1979
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Sociological Analysis
- Vol. 40 (3) , 226-239
- https://doi.org/10.2307/3710240
Abstract
We used Thompson's theory of “inner circles” in an attempt to explain the existence of unofficial centers of power within local churches. The theory as originally stated did not provide a good explanation. However, an extension of the theory, stressing the tendency for unofficial leaders to gain control when actors with official authorization to exert control fail to do so, did explain concentrations of unofficial power in our sample of churches.Keywords
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