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University Microfilms 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 A Xerox Education Company I I 73-2025 HUNTER, Mary Jane, 1937- THEOLOGICAL POLITICS: AN ANALYSIS OF ENDS ADVOCATED BY CHURCH CROUPS TO CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS RELATED TO POVERTY FROM 1964 THROUGH 1971. The Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1972 Religion University Microfilms, A XEROX Company , Ann Arbor, Michigan THIS DISSERTATION HAS BEEN MICROFILMED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED. THEOLOGICAL POLITICS: AN ANALYSIS OF ENDS ADVOCATED BY CHURCH GROUPS TO CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS RELATED TO POVERTY FROM 196H THROUGH 1971 DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Mary Jane Hunter, B.A., M.S., M.S.W. * * * 4 ft The Ohio State University 1972 Approved by Adviser School of Social Work PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have ind i st inet pr int. Filmed as received. University Microfilms, A Xerox Education Company PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research was done for partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University. The writer is a student in the School of Social Work. The purpose of the research was to describe and classify the ends advocated by church groups to Congressional hearings related to poverty from 196i* through 1971. Categories of major ends advocated in regard to problems of suffering, such as poverty, were derived from an exploration of contemporary literature on theologies. These categories were used to describe and classify the ends advocated by church groups in the Congres­ sional hearings♦ Even though statements to Congress were primarily in secular terms, it was assumed that recommendations of the ends sought in regard to poverty would parallel recommendations made in regard to suffering in formal theological language. With a feeling of joy because of the association in learning, the writer wishes to acknowledge the contributions to this research of Dr. Leonard Schneideman (the major advisor), Dr. Milton S. Rosner, and Dr. John H. Behling. VITA September 3, 1937 Born— Dallas, Texas 1958............ B.A,, North Texas State University, Denton Texas 1960............ M.S., North Texas State University, Denton Texas 1960-1962 .... Staff Psychologist, Private Clinic, Dallas Texas 1962-1963 .... School Psychologist, Board of Education, Towson, Maryland 1963-1966 .... Probation Officer, Juvenile Department, Dallas, Texas 1968............ M.S.W., San Diego State College, San Diego California 1968-1969 .... Probation Officer, Juvenile Department, Dallas, Texas 1969-1971 .... Teaching Associate, School of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1 9 7 1 ........... Assistant Professor, School of Social Work The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Social Work Studies in Social Welfare Policies and Programs. Professors Leonard Schneiderman and Milton S. Rosner Studies in Social Work Practice. Professors Richard R, Medhurst and James 0. Billups Studies in Social Functioning. Professor Ronald C. Bounous Studies in Social Work Research. Professors Joseph T, Cryrnes and Merriss Cornell TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS....................................... ii VITA ....................................... iii LIST OF T A B L E S ..................................................... vi Chapter I. THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING.................................. 1 The Problem Researched Theoretical Framework Regarding the Problem II. RATIONALE FOR THE RESEARCH, ASSUMPTIONS AND DESCRIPTIVE QUESTIONS ...................................... 11 Rationale Assumptions Specific Questions Researched III. METHODOLOGY .............................................. 18 Research Design Sources and Types of Data to be Collected Data Collection Instruments Definition of Terms Procedures of Analysis IV. PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS— PART 1 ................. 37 Introduction Perceptions of Sufferers and Prescribed Ends in Religious Theologies Classificatory Framework of "Broad Theologies" of Sufferers V. PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS— PART 2 ............................. 72 Preliminary Questions Major Question Other Comparisons iv Chapter Page VI. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, INTERPRETATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................ l*+8 Summary Conclusions Interpretation Re consne nda t ions APPENDIX ............................................................ 166 BIBLIOGRAPHY . ...................................................... 188 v LIST or TABLES Table Page 1. Characteristics of Six Broad Theologies of Suffering.............................................. TO 2. Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related to Poverty, 196U .... 73 3. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 196*t Hearings ............................................ 75 U . Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related to Poverty, 1965 .... 81 5. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 1965 Hearings .......................................... 83 6. Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related to Poverty, 1966 .... 90 7. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 1966 H e a r i n g s ............................... 92 8. Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related to Poverty, 1967 .... 95 9. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 1967 H e a r i n g s ............. ................................ 98 10. Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related to Poverty, 196 8 .... 103 11. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 1968 H e a r i n g s .......................* .......................105 12. Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related to Poverty, 1969 .... 110 13. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 1969 He ar in gjs 113 1**. Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related to Poverty, 1970 .... 118 vi Table Page 15. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 1970 Hearings .......... .............. ..... 120 16. Themes of Church Group Statements Submitted to Congressional Hearings Related toPoverty, 1971 .... 12*+ 17. Frequencies and Percentages of Themes in 1971 Hearings . ........................................... 126 18. Distribution of Theme Frequencies and Percentages, 1964-1971 .......... 130 19. Comparison of Themes in Response to Different Hearing Focuses, 1964-1971 133 20. Comparison of Total Frequencies and Percentages of Themes, 1964-1971, by Church Bodies ............... 136 21. Comparison of Total Frequencies and Percentages of Themes, 1964-1971, by National Church Groups .... 139 vn# * CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING The problem researched In a contemporary poem, Pierce stated: "... 'why' is a truly dreadful word." She continued: Why is there meat and fruit And liquor and ice for you? Why is there nothing but greasy grits And flour and beans for me? ^ These questions reflect a major problem of suffering in our nation— the social inequality of poverty. How is this problem of suffering explained? What ends in its regard are sought through national policy? Religion has always been a major source for explaining why oneself or others suffer as well as prescribing what to do about it. In recent years, church groups have also increasingly submitted statements to United States Congressional hearings related to poverty. These state­ ments have often advocated ends to be sought through national policy in regard to the sufferers of poverty. In this research, the problem was to establish a framework of major theological