Faith in Action

Paper title: Faith in Action
Author/researcher: Jason Davies-Kildea
Country of origin: Australia
Publication/completion date: August, 2007
Length: 35 pages
Keywords: The Salvation Army, social service,
Abstract:
Faith-based organisations right across the world are providing an invaluable role as social service providers with a capacity to reach and engage people significantly beyond that of government and private sector providers. In Australia, the vast majority of non-Government social welfare services are delivered by faith-based organisations, however there has been little local research into how the religious motivations of these organisations shape the character of service delivery.

This report brings together the experiences of staff and service users in almost 50 services across three countries: the US, UK and Kenya. It demonstrates that a critically important factor to the contribution of faith-based organisations is how the spiritual and religious dimensions shape the fundamental values and character of services provided. The capacity of social services to address spiritual issues which may be initiated by service users is an essential component that adds significantly to the range of benefits these organisations provide.

In addition to this, FBOs consistently demonstrated a number of characteristics which stemmed from an organisational orientation towards human values. These included ways of working with highly disadvantaged people that were more resilient, longer term and extended beyond the ‘basics’ to recognise the importance of ‘quality of life’ activities and experiences. Furthermore, the life-changing and transformative potential which was seen in positive engagement with FBOs, was significantly enhanced when local faith communities were able to provide a network of support and care for socially isolated individuals.

The combination of clinical and non-clinical care which was seen in the best examples of this allowed people a safe environment in which they could experience healing and wholeness. People also gained a vital sense of belonging and feeling valued when they were given the opportunity to make their own personal contributions to the lives of these communities.

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