What Counts as Religion? A Study of Federal Endorsing Agencies as Hiring Gatekeepers

What counts as religion, and does the state perpetuate labor stratification on the basis of religion? The labor stratification literature suggests that employers often perpetuate gendered, racial, and socioeconomic inequality in hiring, but in this case study of state-appointed endorsing agencies, findings suggest that the federal government—a primary chaplain employer—perpetuates stratification by religion. Given the institutional separation of church and state, the state technically does not interfere with the free practice of religion or in constructing religion, but because federal sectors like the military, veterans affairs, and federal prisons require chaplains, the state appoints and recognizes specific groups—endorsing agencies—to vet and evaluate the preparation of chaplains to serve in these federal roles. Endorsing agencies thus act as state-appointed gatekeepers in a system set up by the state that has no clear change mechanism for expanding the number and type of religious endorsing agencies, resulting in the exclusion of religious groups in hiring. Drawing on qualitative data from endorsing agencies and complementary archival material, we argue that the state plays a role in setting up a system that both shapes and perpetuates labor stratification by religion. We conclude by discussing the implications for scholarship on religion, inequality, and labor stratification.