LOOSENING THE TIES THAT BIND - THE ACCOMMODATION OF DUAL-EARNER FAMILIES IN A CONSERVATIVE PROTESTANT CHURCH

This research explores haw the leaders of conservative congregations accommodate members who do not conform to the church's traditional family teachings. A neofunctional theoretical perspective provides the framework for the hypothesis that non-conformity to traditional family teachings creates conflict between conservative congregations and their member dual-earner families. It is further hypothesized that conservative congregations will reconcile some of the conflict by accepting some limited innovations to the dual-earner model while still maintaining their traditional family norms. The research hypotheses are tested using interview and survey data from a conservative Protestant church in Indiana. The findings reveal that, although church leaders proclaim that the traditional family model is the ideal, they ultimately concede the final decision to the family. The results of this analysis demonstrate the usefulness of neofunctional theory in analyzing the relationship between religion and family and give insight into how churches and families negotiate a continuing relationship despite conflict over family lifestyles.