1. Social, Economic and Historical Setting of the Community -- 2. Springdale's Image of Itself -- 3. The Major Dimensions of Social and Economic Class -- 4. Springdale and the Mass Society -- 5. The Business Character of Village Politics -- 6. The Prosperous Farmers and Town Government -- 7. The Clash of Class Interests in School Politics -- 8. Reciprocal Political Relations between Springdale and Mass Society -- 9. Religion and the Affirmation of the Present -- 10. Community Integration Through Leadership -- 11. Personality and the Minimization of Personal Conflicts -- 12. A Theory of the Contemporary American Community -- 13. Methods of Community Research -- 14. Ethical and Bureaucratic Implications of Community Research -- Afterword / Arthur J. Vidich.

To explore the question of the church’s role in Western economic systems, Mr. Pope presents a pioneering study of the actual role played by the church in the industrial community Gastonia, North Carolina. He has written a brilliant criticism of the relationship between the textile mills and the churches, with broad implications for industry and church.