Heidi Rolland Unruh and Ronald J. Sider
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195161557
- eISBN:
- 9780199835836
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195161556.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter highlights eight of the case study churches selected from the Philadelphia area. The narratives focus on how these churches define their mission, particularly in terms of the ...
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This chapter highlights eight of the case study churches selected from the Philadelphia area. The narratives focus on how these churches define their mission, particularly in terms of the relationship between social action and evangelism, and put their theological beliefs into action through community outreach. As a complement to their stories, the chapter presents survey data on church members' motivations and beliefs relevant to outreach, as well as their reported rates of actual practices of evangelism, informal acts of compassion and civic involvement.Less
This chapter highlights eight of the case study churches selected from the Philadelphia area. The narratives focus on how these churches define their mission, particularly in terms of the relationship between social action and evangelism, and put their theological beliefs into action through community outreach. As a complement to their stories, the chapter presents survey data on church members' motivations and beliefs relevant to outreach, as well as their reported rates of actual practices of evangelism, informal acts of compassion and civic involvement.
Heidi Rolland Unruh and Ronald J. Sider
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195161557
- eISBN:
- 9780199835836
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195161556.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter introduces fifteen diverse Protestant churches noted for their community outreach, in the context of their Philadelphia religious ecology. The 237 programs sponsored by these case study ...
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This chapter introduces fifteen diverse Protestant churches noted for their community outreach, in the context of their Philadelphia religious ecology. The 237 programs sponsored by these case study churches are analyzed based on definitions of the key terms “social action” and “evangelism”. Social action includes four basic categories: relief services, personal development, community development, and systemic change. While individualistic, immediate aid tends to predominate over structural approaches to social problems, the amount and type of social ministry to emerge at a given church defies easy prediction. Among the churches studied, a strong emphasis on evangelism does not necessarily preclude involvement in social concerns.Less
This chapter introduces fifteen diverse Protestant churches noted for their community outreach, in the context of their Philadelphia religious ecology. The 237 programs sponsored by these case study churches are analyzed based on definitions of the key terms “social action” and “evangelism”. Social action includes four basic categories: relief services, personal development, community development, and systemic change. While individualistic, immediate aid tends to predominate over structural approaches to social problems, the amount and type of social ministry to emerge at a given church defies easy prediction. Among the churches studied, a strong emphasis on evangelism does not necessarily preclude involvement in social concerns.
Heidi Rolland Unruh and Ronald J. Sider
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195161557
- eISBN:
- 9780199835836
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195161556.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
A mission orientation frames a moral order for a congregation's activity and identity. This chapter focuses on the ways that churches organize the spiritual and social dimensions of their public ...
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A mission orientation frames a moral order for a congregation's activity and identity. This chapter focuses on the ways that churches organize the spiritual and social dimensions of their public mission. In place of the traditional dichotomy between social activism and evangelism, a more nuanced set of orientations classifies churches as dominant social action, dual-focus, holistic, dominant evangelism, and inward-focused. This spectrum of types indicates that the religious impulses to serve and to save are not always polarized drives; rather, churches interrelate these two imperatives in their community outreach in a range of adaptable, and sometimes rather sophisticated, ways.Less
A mission orientation frames a moral order for a congregation's activity and identity. This chapter focuses on the ways that churches organize the spiritual and social dimensions of their public mission. In place of the traditional dichotomy between social activism and evangelism, a more nuanced set of orientations classifies churches as dominant social action, dual-focus, holistic, dominant evangelism, and inward-focused. This spectrum of types indicates that the religious impulses to serve and to save are not always polarized drives; rather, churches interrelate these two imperatives in their community outreach in a range of adaptable, and sometimes rather sophisticated, ways.
Heidi Rolland Unruh and Ronald J. Sider
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195161557
- eISBN:
- 9780199835836
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195161556.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
Religious entities play a vital though limited role in our social safety net. The majority of congregations engage in community-serving activities, though their commitments tend to be shallow. Four ...
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Religious entities play a vital though limited role in our social safety net. The majority of congregations engage in community-serving activities, though their commitments tend to be shallow. Four currents in the broader political and social setting have particular implications for understanding faith-based social services: devolution, faith-based initiatives, changing norms for religion in public life, and ambivalence toward evangelism. Shifting patterns in church-state relations have generated both opportunities and uncertainties. This dynamic context invites a fresh conceptual framework for interpreting churches' public engagement. In particular, new language is needed to describe the “faith factor” that has meaning outside of the religious community, but does not reduce faith to a product of other social variablesLess
Religious entities play a vital though limited role in our social safety net. The majority of congregations engage in community-serving activities, though their commitments tend to be shallow. Four currents in the broader political and social setting have particular implications for understanding faith-based social services: devolution, faith-based initiatives, changing norms for religion in public life, and ambivalence toward evangelism. Shifting patterns in church-state relations have generated both opportunities and uncertainties. This dynamic context invites a fresh conceptual framework for interpreting churches' public engagement. In particular, new language is needed to describe the “faith factor” that has meaning outside of the religious community, but does not reduce faith to a product of other social variables
Heidi Rolland Unruh and Ronald J. Sider
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2005
- ISBN:
- 9780195161557
- eISBN:
- 9780199835836
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195161556.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
The political controversy surrounding the role of religion in public life calls for more objective attention to the faith factor in social activism. What does it mean for a community-serving program ...
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The political controversy surrounding the role of religion in public life calls for more objective attention to the faith factor in social activism. What does it mean for a community-serving program to be “faith-based”? How do churches and other religious organizations express their religious identity or convey a religious message in the context of social services? Drawing on case studies of fifteen Philadelphia-area Protestant churches with active community outreach, Saving Souls, Serving Society introduces a new vocabulary for describing the religious components and spiritual meanings embedded in social action, and provides a typology of faith-based organizations and programs. This analysis yields a framework for Protestant mission orientations that makes room for the diverse ways that churches interrelate spiritual witness and social compassion. In particular, the debate over faith-based initiatives has highlighted a small but growing segment of churches committed to both saving souls and serving society. The book illuminates the public engagement of these “;conversionist” churches, exploring how they navigate the tension between their spiritual mission and the constraints on evangelism in the context of social services. The closing chapters explicate the potential contribution of religious dynamics to social outcomes, assess the relationship between mission orientations and social capital, present recommendations for research on faith-based social services, and draw implications for a constructive approach to church-state relations. Openness to a fresh perspective can equip policy makers, scholars and practitioners to respond wisely to the evolving complexities of the religious contours of social ministry. Less
The political controversy surrounding the role of religion in public life calls for more objective attention to the faith factor in social activism. What does it mean for a community-serving program to be “faith-based”? How do churches and other religious organizations express their religious identity or convey a religious message in the context of social services? Drawing on case studies of fifteen Philadelphia-area Protestant churches with active community outreach, Saving Souls, Serving Society introduces a new vocabulary for describing the religious components and spiritual meanings embedded in social action, and provides a typology of faith-based organizations and programs. This analysis yields a framework for Protestant mission orientations that makes room for the diverse ways that churches interrelate spiritual witness and social compassion. In particular, the debate over faith-based initiatives has highlighted a small but growing segment of churches committed to both saving souls and serving society. The book illuminates the public engagement of these “;conversionist” churches, exploring how they navigate the tension between their spiritual mission and the constraints on evangelism in the context of social services. The closing chapters explicate the potential contribution of religious dynamics to social outcomes, assess the relationship between mission orientations and social capital, present recommendations for research on faith-based social services, and draw implications for a constructive approach to church-state relations. Openness to a fresh perspective can equip policy makers, scholars and practitioners to respond wisely to the evolving complexities of the religious contours of social ministry.
Andrew Billingsley
- Published in print:
- 2003
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195161793
- eISBN:
- 9780199849512
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195161793.003.0011
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
This chapter demonstrates how the potential for collaboration was developed in Denver and Atlanta and how it is proving appropriate and effective for both internal and external strategies of social ...
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This chapter demonstrates how the potential for collaboration was developed in Denver and Atlanta and how it is proving appropriate and effective for both internal and external strategies of social reform. Membership size of churches in both cities varies widely; many—49% of churches in Denver and 52% in Atlanta — have between 100 and 500 members. There is a strong tendency in both cities for black churches to own their buildings rather than rent them. In addition, a majority of churches in both cities conduct at least one nonreligious community outreach program. Metro Denver Black Church Initiative was launched in Denver to improve conditions in low-income black neighborhoods through the local churches. Furthermore, the outreach to the community in Atlanta is described.Less
This chapter demonstrates how the potential for collaboration was developed in Denver and Atlanta and how it is proving appropriate and effective for both internal and external strategies of social reform. Membership size of churches in both cities varies widely; many—49% of churches in Denver and 52% in Atlanta — have between 100 and 500 members. There is a strong tendency in both cities for black churches to own their buildings rather than rent them. In addition, a majority of churches in both cities conduct at least one nonreligious community outreach program. Metro Denver Black Church Initiative was launched in Denver to improve conditions in low-income black neighborhoods through the local churches. Furthermore, the outreach to the community in Atlanta is described.
Wesley G. Skogan
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- May 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780195154580
- eISBN:
- 9780199944033
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195154580.003.0061
- Subject:
- Sociology, Law, Crime and Deviance
One goal of Chicago's community-policing initiative, CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy), was to build popular confidence in the responsiveness and effectiveness of the police. This chapter ...
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One goal of Chicago's community-policing initiative, CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy), was to build popular confidence in the responsiveness and effectiveness of the police. This chapter examines the changing views of Chicagoans about their police as CAPS took root in the city. Police gained significant support over time, and they did so among all major groups. This can be attributed in large part to improving neighborhood conditions. Many—but not all—Chicagoans felt their neighborhoods were growing cleaner, safer, and more comfortable as places to live, and official rates of crime were declining. These improvements in quality of life benefited the police. Some of the remaining gaps between views of whites and African Americans can be ascribed to personal experience. At least some of the improved rating of the Chicago police was “earned” by improving neighborhood conditions, and a bit was earned by effective community outreach. It is necessary to consider the enduring gap between the city's whites, Latinos, and African Americans.Less
One goal of Chicago's community-policing initiative, CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy), was to build popular confidence in the responsiveness and effectiveness of the police. This chapter examines the changing views of Chicagoans about their police as CAPS took root in the city. Police gained significant support over time, and they did so among all major groups. This can be attributed in large part to improving neighborhood conditions. Many—but not all—Chicagoans felt their neighborhoods were growing cleaner, safer, and more comfortable as places to live, and official rates of crime were declining. These improvements in quality of life benefited the police. Some of the remaining gaps between views of whites and African Americans can be ascribed to personal experience. At least some of the improved rating of the Chicago police was “earned” by improving neighborhood conditions, and a bit was earned by effective community outreach. It is necessary to consider the enduring gap between the city's whites, Latinos, and African Americans.
JOY G. DRYFOOS
- Published in print:
- 2000
- Published Online:
- March 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780195137859
- eISBN:
- 9780199846948
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195137859.003.0008
- Subject:
- Psychology, Developmental Psychology
This chapter looks at what works to help young people overcome the barriers to Safe Passage. It summarizes the lessons learned about program components and compiles those factors that successful ...
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This chapter looks at what works to help young people overcome the barriers to Safe Passage. It summarizes the lessons learned about program components and compiles those factors that successful programs appear to have in common. It organizes the factors compiled at four different levels: individual, family, school, and community. Success factors at the individual level include early intervention, one-on-one attention, and youth empowerment. Those at the family include parental involvement and reaching across generations. Factors at the school level are educational achievement, effective principals, on-site facilitators, social skills training, group counseling, and community service. Success factors at the community level involve the location in the community, community outreach, cultural responsiveness, community police, safe havens, financial incentives, multiagency multicomponents, food, residential care, and intensive and long-term involvement in a program.Less
This chapter looks at what works to help young people overcome the barriers to Safe Passage. It summarizes the lessons learned about program components and compiles those factors that successful programs appear to have in common. It organizes the factors compiled at four different levels: individual, family, school, and community. Success factors at the individual level include early intervention, one-on-one attention, and youth empowerment. Those at the family include parental involvement and reaching across generations. Factors at the school level are educational achievement, effective principals, on-site facilitators, social skills training, group counseling, and community service. Success factors at the community level involve the location in the community, community outreach, cultural responsiveness, community police, safe havens, financial incentives, multiagency multicomponents, food, residential care, and intensive and long-term involvement in a program.
Eddie Hsu
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- May 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190658397
- eISBN:
- 9780190658434
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190658397.003.0008
- Subject:
- Music, Performing Practice/Studies
In this chapter I use Chinese music departments in the PRC and Taiwan as case studies, exploring how the process of institutionalization has reshaped traditional music in the region and how Chinese ...
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In this chapter I use Chinese music departments in the PRC and Taiwan as case studies, exploring how the process of institutionalization has reshaped traditional music in the region and how Chinese music programs have developed responses to growing concerns about their relevance to the surrounding community. More Chinese music programs now seek to develop curricula that incorporate the practices of oral/aural tradition from local musical communities. In an effort to make traditional music more accessible to a wider audience, some institutions attempt to increase their appeal through interdisciplinary collaborations and outreach events as well. I argue that collaborations between institutions and communities will become indispensable to Chinese music programs to help ensure an appropriate representation of local music genres and its relevance to local audiences.Less
In this chapter I use Chinese music departments in the PRC and Taiwan as case studies, exploring how the process of institutionalization has reshaped traditional music in the region and how Chinese music programs have developed responses to growing concerns about their relevance to the surrounding community. More Chinese music programs now seek to develop curricula that incorporate the practices of oral/aural tradition from local musical communities. In an effort to make traditional music more accessible to a wider audience, some institutions attempt to increase their appeal through interdisciplinary collaborations and outreach events as well. I argue that collaborations between institutions and communities will become indispensable to Chinese music programs to help ensure an appropriate representation of local music genres and its relevance to local audiences.
Kevin C. Elliott
- Published in print:
- 2017
- Published Online:
- January 2017
- ISBN:
- 9780190260804
- eISBN:
- 9780190260842
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190260804.003.0008
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
This concluding chapter of A Tapestry of Values synthesizes the book’s major lessons. It challenges the value-free ideal by arguing that values can have legitimate roles to play in choosing research ...
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This concluding chapter of A Tapestry of Values synthesizes the book’s major lessons. It challenges the value-free ideal by arguing that values can have legitimate roles to play in choosing research topics, deciding how to study them, determining the aims of research, responding to uncertainty, and choosing scientific language. It shows how this view of science challenges traditional concepts in science policy, such as the linear, social-contract, and deficit models. Finally, it suggests three conditions for incorporating values into science in an appropriate fashion: (1) the influences of values should be made transparent; (2) values should reflect ethical and social priorities; and (3) values should be scrutinized via processes of engagement that incorporate multiple stakeholders.Less
This concluding chapter of A Tapestry of Values synthesizes the book’s major lessons. It challenges the value-free ideal by arguing that values can have legitimate roles to play in choosing research topics, deciding how to study them, determining the aims of research, responding to uncertainty, and choosing scientific language. It shows how this view of science challenges traditional concepts in science policy, such as the linear, social-contract, and deficit models. Finally, it suggests three conditions for incorporating values into science in an appropriate fashion: (1) the influences of values should be made transparent; (2) values should reflect ethical and social priorities; and (3) values should be scrutinized via processes of engagement that incorporate multiple stakeholders.
