CBCO AND THE RENEWAL OF CONGREGATIONS
GOOD FOR THE SOUL, GOOD FOR THE WHOLE
GOOD FOR THE SOUL, GOOD FOR THE WHOLE
Congregations involved in community organizing have
discovered the power of the values and visions they
hold in common, and are working to transform
themselves and their institutions and communities.
discovered the power of the values and visions they
hold in common, and are working to transform
themselves and their institutions and communities.
Faith communities today find themselves struggling with decreasing
membership and dwindling budgets, confronting a culture of
individualism and tending to the casualties of a market economy.
While many religious congregations believe all they can do is address
private pain and their own institutional survival, some 3500 faith
communities across America have ventured beyond their walls through
Congregation-based Community Organizing (CBCO, also known as
Faith-based Community Organizing or FBCO) to address the larger
causes of the pressures they confront.
Interfaith Funders was already convinced of the democratic impact of
CBCO, and how it draws on the strengths of congregations to achieve
that impact. But we knew little about whether this kind of public
engagement strengthens, undermines, or leaves unaffected the
sponsoring faith communities. Under what conditions does civic
engagement for justice broadly contribute to congregational
development? How does CBCO generate leadership skills,
strengthen congregations as organizations, and forge stronger links
between congregational life, social action, and the justice teaching of
diverse faith communities?
Over a 2-year period, researchers interviewed clergy, lay leaders, and
professional organizers in 13 cities throughout the country, in projects
sponsored by all the major CBCO networks. We analyzed
congregational development in 45 faith communities, including Roman
Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopalian, Jewish, Methodist,
Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Unitarian/Universalist, Unity, Muslim, and
nondenominational/evangelical congregations. Some were highly
multiracial, while the others constituted a rich mix of majority Latino,
African American, or white/European congregations.
Nearly all congregations reported some benefits from their relationship
with CBCO. Where these benefits were most substantial they included:
Congregation-based community organizing takes work, and
congregational development is not automatic. CBCO requires
attentive commitment over time. Our study shows that community
organizing, when done well by leaders, clergy and organizers, can be
an instrument of transformation. It is democracy in action and
democracy at its best. Congregations find that their sacred texts live in
a new way, that the words of their clergy resonate in action, and that
the rift between life of a citizen and life of the spirit is healed.
Related Publications:
Good for the Whole, Good for the Soul: Faith-Based Community
Organizing and the Renewal of Congregations
Available as .pdf email or hard copy
Faith and Public Life: Faith-Based Community Organizing and the
Development of Congregations
by Mary Ann Flaherty and Dr. Richard L. Wood, 2004
Full Report on the Findings of the Congregational Development Research Study
conducted by Interfaith Funders and the University of New Mexico with funding
from the Ford Foundation. Available as a .pdf email or hard copy
(To order the above Interfaith Funders publications, send an email to
interfaithfunders@yahoo.com)
Renewing Congregations: The Contribution of Faith-Based
Community Organizing
A resource publication based on the Congregational Development Research
Study conducted by Interfaith Funders and the University of New Mexico.
(To order copies of Renewing Congregations call Augsburg Fortress Order
Center at (800)328-4648. Ask for ISBN 6-0001-7670-8)
membership and dwindling budgets, confronting a culture of
individualism and tending to the casualties of a market economy.
While many religious congregations believe all they can do is address
private pain and their own institutional survival, some 3500 faith
communities across America have ventured beyond their walls through
Congregation-based Community Organizing (CBCO, also known as
Faith-based Community Organizing or FBCO) to address the larger
causes of the pressures they confront.
Interfaith Funders was already convinced of the democratic impact of
CBCO, and how it draws on the strengths of congregations to achieve
that impact. But we knew little about whether this kind of public
engagement strengthens, undermines, or leaves unaffected the
sponsoring faith communities. Under what conditions does civic
engagement for justice broadly contribute to congregational
development? How does CBCO generate leadership skills,
strengthen congregations as organizations, and forge stronger links
between congregational life, social action, and the justice teaching of
diverse faith communities?
Over a 2-year period, researchers interviewed clergy, lay leaders, and
professional organizers in 13 cities throughout the country, in projects
sponsored by all the major CBCO networks. We analyzed
congregational development in 45 faith communities, including Roman
Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopalian, Jewish, Methodist,
Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Unitarian/Universalist, Unity, Muslim, and
nondenominational/evangelical congregations. Some were highly
multiracial, while the others constituted a rich mix of majority Latino,
African American, or white/European congregations.
Nearly all congregations reported some benefits from their relationship
with CBCO. Where these benefits were most substantial they included:
- More and deeper relationships among congregants and with
members of other faith traditions; - Development of new leadership skills like public speaking,
selecting issues, and running effective meetings; - Increased lay involvement in congregational work as well as
public action; - A heightened public profile for the congregation;
- Deeper understanding of the faith tradition’s call for social
justice; - And in some cases, an increase in congregational membership.
Congregation-based community organizing takes work, and
congregational development is not automatic. CBCO requires
attentive commitment over time. Our study shows that community
organizing, when done well by leaders, clergy and organizers, can be
an instrument of transformation. It is democracy in action and
democracy at its best. Congregations find that their sacred texts live in
a new way, that the words of their clergy resonate in action, and that
the rift between life of a citizen and life of the spirit is healed.
Related Publications:
Good for the Whole, Good for the Soul: Faith-Based Community
Organizing and the Renewal of Congregations
Available as .pdf email or hard copy
Faith and Public Life: Faith-Based Community Organizing and the
Development of Congregations
by Mary Ann Flaherty and Dr. Richard L. Wood, 2004
Full Report on the Findings of the Congregational Development Research Study
conducted by Interfaith Funders and the University of New Mexico with funding
from the Ford Foundation. Available as a .pdf email or hard copy
(To order the above Interfaith Funders publications, send an email to
interfaithfunders@yahoo.com)
Renewing Congregations: The Contribution of Faith-Based
Community Organizing
A resource publication based on the Congregational Development Research
Study conducted by Interfaith Funders and the University of New Mexico.
(To order copies of Renewing Congregations call Augsburg Fortress Order
Center at (800)328-4648. Ask for ISBN 6-0001-7670-8)
| Evangelical Lutheran Presbyterians USA Joint Position Paper on Congregation-based Community Organizing |
| Jewish Funds for Justice Resources YouTube videos of Jewish CBCO leaders K'hilot K'Doshot Holy Congregations, Just Communities resources |
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Interfaith Funders
Congregations and Renewal
| Heinemeier What Would a Organizing Culture Look Like? |
| Association CBCO: A Social Justice Approach to Revitalizing Congregational Life resources |
| Rev. Susan Engh Emboldened and Empowered Lutheran Woman Today March 2009 |
Inter-Religious (IOI)
Table here
Table here