A PARADOX PERSPECTIVE ON FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS by Roger Jeffrey Huston A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in in Urban Affairs and Public Policy Spring 2019 © 2019 Roger Jeffrey Huston All Rights Reserved A PARADOX PERSPECTIVE ON FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS by Roger Jeffrey Huston Approved: __________________________________________________________ Maria P. Aristigueta, D.P.A. Director of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration Approved: __________________________________________________________ John A. Pelesko, Ph.D. Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Approved: __________________________________________________________ Douglas J. Doren, Ph.D. Interim Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ John G. McNutt, Ph.D. Professor in charge of dissertation I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Maria P. Aristigueta, D.P.A. Member of dissertation committee I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Anthony E. Middlebrooks, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Joseph S. Wholey, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee EPIGRAPH “Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: ‘Use power to help people.’ For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord. Amen.” – George H. W. Bush, Presidential Inauguration Prayer, January 20, 1989 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to especially thank my advisor, John McNutt, for his enduring patience, wisdom, and for allowing me considerable autonomy in the creation of this project! My journey would not have been the same without you! Thank you also to my dissertation committee for their helpful and thoughtful feedback. By graciously sharing their time, and providing guidance throughout the course of this project, the entire committee enhanced the overall scope and quality of this dissertation. Thank you to the five organizations who participated in this study. They provided much-needed validation on the importance and timeliness of this project; this project would not have been possible without you! I am amazed by your dedication to serving your communities. I am also honored by the hospitality you showed during my time with you. I truly enjoyed every minute I spent observing organizational operations and doing interviews with you. Together we laughed, cried, and confided our personal hopes and professional dreams. My time with you has left a lasting, positive impact on my life, and my outlook, moving forward in my career. Thank you to my wife, Shawna, who encouraged me to pursue my educational goals. You shared my countless frustrations, read numerous pages, and listened to hours of explanations, incomplete thought-formations, and political strategizing. You helped me stay sane through many setbacks. You also watched our rambunctious children and financially sustained our family while this dissertation was written. I love you! Thank you also to my entire family for your inspiration and support throughout the course of my education. v Finally, thanks be to God! Throughout this project I was reminded of one of my favorite sayings, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more, will be demanded” (Luke 12:48). Indeed, I pray that this project helps others, and that one day I can return some of the many boons done for me by those who profess your name and who are in your service. vi DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this endeavor — To God: I am truly humbled by this travail; to you be the glory forever and always. I hope and pray this dissertation can be used in service of “the least of these.” To Jeffrey: I know you would have wanted me to use my knowledge to help others; I will do my best to make you proud. To Noah & Micah: Remember, do not give in to hubris; find your own path in life; anything you do, try to do it in the service of others. I love you both very much! vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................... xiii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ xiv Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Research Overview .................................................................................... 1 1.2 Research Problem ...................................................................................... 2 1.3 Research Purpose ....................................................................................... 7 1.4 Research Questions ................................................................................... 9 1.5 Research Sampling .................................................................................. 10 1.6 Research Rationale .................................................................................. 11 1.7 Research Significance ............................................................................. 14 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 17 2.1 Overview of Faith-Based Organizational Research ................................ 17 2.2 Government Funding & Collaboration .................................................... 19 2.2.1 Federal Government Funded Social Service Provision ............... 19 2.2.2 Local Government Collaboration ................................................ 22 2.3 Faith-Based Organizational Outcomes .................................................... 24 2.3.1 Inefficiency & Ineffectiveness .................................................... 24 2.3.2 Effectiveness & Efficiency .......................................................... 28 2.3.2.1 Program Effectiveness .................................................. 28 2.3.2.2 Service Efficiency ........................................................ 30 2.4 Defining Faith-Based Organizations ....................................................... 32 2.4.1 Prior Research Definitions .......................................................... 32 2.4.2 Organizational Faith .................................................................... 37 2.4.3 Organizational Typologies .......................................................... 43 2.4.4 Operational Definition ................................................................. 46 viii 2.4.5 Future Definitional Directions ..................................................... 49 2.4.6 Current Definitional Advancement ............................................. 51 2.5 The Faith Factor ...................................................................................... 55 2.5.1 The Missing Faith Factor ............................................................. 55 2.5.2 The Faith Factor Found ............................................................... 57 2.5.3 The New Faith Factor .................................................................. 59 2.6 Limitations in Prior Faith-Based Organizational Research ..................... 62 2.6.1 Past & Future Methods ................................................................ 63 2.6.2 Methodological Sampling ........................................................... 64 2.6.3 Organizational Theory ................................................................. 66 2.7 A Paradox Perspective on Faith-Based Organizations ............................ 68 2.7.1 Faith-Based Organizational Tensions & Their Management ...... 69 2.7.2 A Paradox Perspective ................................................................. 74 2.7.3 Applying A Paradox Framework ................................................. 76 2.7.4 Exemplar Literature Summary .................................................... 82 2.7.4.1 Core-Category Paradoxes ............................................. 82 2.7.4.2 Cross-Category Paradoxes ............................................ 93 3 RESEARCH DESIGN .................................................................................... 104 3.1 Methodological