Kate E. Mead

Publication Date

2017

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Woodyard, Kerith M.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Communication

LCSH

Communication

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of communication as presented through church anniversary services. The paper includes a discussion on organizational branding, which is then applied to religious organizations and, more specifically, the megachurch. Anniversary services to be analyzed originate from Willow Creek Community Church of South Barrington, Illinois and include those presented during the years 2011 to 2015. These services are employed as a case study through which communication is analyzed in two primary ways: first, as part of a church organizational branding process and second, through a lens of community-building ritual communication (per James Carey and Eric Rothenbuhler). Attention is given to how communicated messages are tailored to two main audiences: those who already ascribe to the Christian faith and those who do not.

Comments

Advisors: Kerith Woodyard.||Committee members: Gary Burns; Mehdi Semati.||Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

iv, 91 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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