ABSTRACT
The literature on religion and politics overlooks church organizational structure as a key variable that explains the ability of a congregation to mobilize for political action. Building on the literature regarding the influence of religious beliefs, attitudes, church attendance, and denominational affiliation or membership on individual voting behavior, others have explored the question of whether religious groups assist their members in developing civic skills that will lead parishioners to participate in community affairs. However, while active participation in church activities can build civic skills, lead to an increase in social capital, and result in mass mobilization; churches are not strangers to the free rider problem. The chapter examines member participation in church activities rather than focusing mainly on weekly attendance at services to further probe participation rates of congregants. Hierarchically organized churches experience higher levels of free riding from their parishioners than churches that are governed by egalitarian structures.
