Immigrant Congregational Names in Chicago: Religious and Civic Considerations

Abstract

Scholars have overlooked organizational names as a source of knowledge about the religious identities and civic relationships of immigrant congregations. This article draws upon ethnographic research at 16 immigrant congregations and an analysis of 110 Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim immigrant congregations in the Chicago area. Congregational name characteristics include denomination/lineage identity markers, generic religious terminology, national/ethnic identity markers, locational terms, and multiple languages. The article emphasizes the importance of religious identity in naming an immigrant congregation (a non-trivial fact), and discusses commonalities and distinctions among Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim naming patterns. On the whole; immigrant congregations with a preponderance of English and no national/ ethnic identity markers in their names are likely to be open to engagement with the larger society.