By social capital , Putnam meant the kinds of organizations and social opportunities in which we practice neighborliness and hone our citizenship skills. Americans are, indeed, bowling more than ever, Poston noted, but with the membership decline in the kinds of organizations that once sponsored bowling leagues, we are alone on the lanes. Lodges, the Jaycees, the League of Women Voters, farm cooperatives, and PTA s are all in decline. And these are the organizations in which Americans traditionally learned to live together. No matter how effective these groups are as lobbies, the most interaction they can offer us comes in the form of a personalized direct-mail solicitation.
Most churches are relatively small and encourage interaction and involvement.
Larger churches that value such interaction have elaborately structured small-group ministries.