A Quick Question
How Do Faith-Based Social Services
Incorporate Religion?
The quick answer: In subtle and not-so-subtle ways.
The longer answer: The term "faith-based social services" covers a wide variety of programs—some more, and some less, religious in character. We found five basic ways that a social ministry can embrace a spiritual dimension. (These are not mutually exclusive; a program may combine one or more approach.)
1. Passive: Spiritual truths are largely modeled, rather than expressed verbally. The program may be located in a religious environment (such as a church), but has no religious content; evangelistic materials or spiritual counseling may be available but only if clients seek them out.
2. Invitational: No spiritual content is involved in social service delivery, but clients are invited to attend optional events of a religious nature. These may be regular church activities (such as worship services), special events (such as a religiously-themed drama) or religious activities offered in conjunction with the social service (such as a Bible study for those choosing to stay after a meal).
3. Relational: In the context of relationships formed with clients beyond the structured programmatic activities, program staff/volunteers share their faith and address clients’ spiritual concerns informally, one-on-one.
4. Integrated-optional: The program clearly has a religious character. Religious content is woven into the delivery of social services, and staff may verbally share their faith. However, clients are allowed to opt out of participating in religious rituals or explicitly religious teachings.
5. Integrated-mandatory: The program clearly has a religious character. Religious content is woven into the delivery of social services, and staff may verbally share their faith. Client participation in religious activities is required, as spiritual development is at the heart of the program.
The following table summarizes the characteristics of these five types.
Is the spiritual dimension of the program... |
Explicitly verbal? |
Part of the planned program design? |
Mandatory? |
Passive |
No |
No |
No |
Invitational |
No in the program;
Yes in other activities to which clients are invited |
No |
No |
Relational |
No in the program;
Yes in informal conversations with staff |
No in the program;
Yes in intentionally cultivated relationships |
No |
Integrated-
optional |
Yes, unless clients decline to participate in religious activities |
Yes |
No |
Integrated-
mandatory |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
For more information and a full list of reports, please visit this project's index page.
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