Center for Civic Partnerships

Faith Community and Collaboration

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What is the faith community’s role in collaboratives? Collaboratives want faith representation, but frequently struggle in recruiting religious leaders and are then unclear about what they want the faith community to contribute. Faith leaders and organizations can provide valuable contributions to a collaborative and the community, including:

Education, information dissemination and community outreach: Faith organizations have established communication processes in their congregations and in the community which can be used to provide information on collaborative activities and services (e.g., newsletters, announcements before or after service).
Facilities: Churches can provide safe, accessible, neighborhood-based locations for community activities, meetings and services.
Long-term commitment to the community: Faith organizations are not dependent on short-term grants or government assistance to continue to serve the communities in which they are located. Their commitment and presence in the community is long-term.
Meeting convener: Clergy can convene meetings and discussions as "neutral" leaders, as the faith community is not typically viewed as a political entity or competitors for funding dollars. Faith organizations can also facilitate community focus groups and meetings.
Resident input: Religious organizations are usually located in and serve specific communities. Congregation members are not only members of the church, they are also community residents. You can gather their input through focus groups, surveys, etc.
Service delivery: Faith organizations often provide an array of services to residents in need, such as food, shelter, clothing, childcare and senior services in the community.
Spiritual support: Faith organizations can provide spiritual support, guidance and assistance to community participants, service providers and other collaborative organizations.
Volunteers: The faith community usually has an established volunteer base who can assist in collaborative programs and other community activities.

Online Resources and Tools

Bethel New Life
http://www.bethelnewlife.org/bnlframe.htm
A faith-based community improvement project in Chicago which partners with local government, schools, community organizations and citizens.

Bread for the World
http://www.bread.org/
Grassroots advocacy network on hunger issues.

Call to Renewal Network
http://www.calltorenewal.com/
Nationwide faith-based campaign to combat poverty.

Catholic Charities USA
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
The largest private network of social service organizations in the United States works to support families, reduce poverty and build communities.

Center for Community and Interfaith Partnerships
http://www.hud.gov/cdc.html
Program focuses on partnerships between community and faith-based organizations and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Civic Practices Network
http://www.cpn.org/
Link to CPN’s religion section, which describes interfaith projects and community organizing.

Ecumenical Community Development Organization
http://www.ecdo.org/
Develops and implements plans and projects that improve the housing, social and economic conditions of low and moderate income residents.

Gamaliel Foundation
http://www.gamaliel.org/
Network of community organizers and key institutional leaders working to rebuild urban areas; focus of work is with faith-based community organizations.

Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies
http://www.gwu.edu/~icps/faithb.html
Link to the Faith-based Social Services section of the Institute’s website.

Interfaith Health Program
http://www.ihpnet.org
http://www.interaccess.com/ihpnet/manual.htm
Established at The Carter Center to educate and encourage faith groups to improve the individual and collective health of their members and the local and global communities they serve. The second link is a program development guide on congregational health programs.

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/inits/religionandschools/index.html
Site provides information on religion and public schools and school/faith partnerships.

Suggested Reading

American Public Health Association (1994). Expanding the Public Health Envelope Through Faith Community - Public Health Partnerships. Transcript of speeches on the faith community and public health programs. Available online: http://www.interaccess.com/ihpnet/aphatxt.htm

Day, Donna C. (1997). Church Based Community Organizing; Philadelphia Perspectives. Report reviews faith organizations involved in community economic development in Philadelphia. Available online:
http://comm-org.utoledo.edu/papers98/warren/faith/day.html

DiIulio, John (1997). "The Lord’s Work: The Church and the Civil Society Sector." Brookings Review, Fall 1997. Available online: http://www.brook.edu/PUB/REVIEW/FALL97/AMCITIES.HTMA>

Dionne, Jr., E.J. & DiIulio, Jr., John J. (1999). "What’s God Got To Do With The American Experiment?" Brookings Review, Spring 1999. Available online (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader): http://www.brook.edu/press/REVIEW/spring99/dionne.pdf

Gorrell, Reverend Carla (1998). Becoming a Caring Community: An Adult Education Curriculum for Congregations. Curriculum developed for the Campaign for New Community to strengthen congregations’ connections with the community. Available online: http://www.bettercommunities.org/index.cfm?method=BecomingCaringTOC

Kramnick, Isaac & Moore, R. Lawrence (1997). "Can the Churches Save the Cities?" The American Prospect, November-December 1997. Article discusses issues related to faith-based organizations involved in government-funded programs and service delivery. Available online: http://www.prospect.org/archives/35/35kramfs.html

Smith, Jr., Rev. Dr. Fred Douglas (1999). Repairers of the Breach and Restorers of the Streets: The Role of the Faith Community. Report discusses the role of the faith community in addressing community violence. Available online: http://www.ihpnet.org/repairers.htm

U.S. Department of Education (1999). Faith Communities Joining with Local Communities to Support
Children's Learning: Good Ideas. Publication provides several examples of school/community/faith partnerships. Available online: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/goodideas/

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (1999). Community 2020 Forum: The Role of Faith and Justice in Public Policy. Introduction and transcript of a HUD forum on faith-based organizations’ role in public policy. Introduction and forum transcripts available online:
http://www.hud.gov/2020/1130tran.html and http://www.hud.gov/2020/1130tran.html

Wallis, Jim (2000). Faith Works. Excerpt from the activist preacher’s book on faith-based activities and programs to combat poverty. Excerpt and order information available online:
http://sojourners.com/faithworks/excerpts.html