Faith-based organizations and the challenges of public legitimation: A case for communications
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the challenges of public legitimation faced by faith-based organizations (FBOs) today. The paper addresses a new approach to studying legitimation as a public and communicative process.
Design/methodology/approach
FBOs ' public legitimation problems are discussed on the basis of a systematic literature review and the problematization method.
Findings
The paper presents a novel typology of FBOs ' public legitimation problems, which are divided into the four categories of mission, brand and reputation, public relations and trust. It is suggested that research on FBOs and their legitimation should apply and develop the communication approach.
Originality/value
The paper addresses a current gap in legitimation research by reviewing the literature on public legitimation and the legitimation problems faced by FBOs. It identifies the communication approach as a significant perspective for future studies of FBO public legitimation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The funding for Karoliina Malmelin ' s research was provided by the Alfred Kordelin Foundation.
Citation
Malmelin, K. and Malmelin, N. (2015), "Faith-based organizations and the challenges of public legitimation: A case for communications", International Journal of Public Leadership, Vol. 11 No. 3/4, pp. 166-179. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPL-08-2015-0022
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited