Соціальне служіння церков як провайдер практик соціальної допомоги

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of churches social service of in the context of its ability to ensure the implementation of social assistance practices which carry out by members of religious congregations. Namely to act as a provider of such interaction in society. Analyzed and compared terminological field of social service research, differences between social service, social activity, social assistance and confessional social work. The origins of social service, its content and conditions of transformation are determined. In particular, the tendency to actualize research on social service in the scientific environment is pointed out and the need to implement the task of institutionalizing social service both within churches (Second Vatican Council) and in the wider community is proved. The most notable scientific achievements of American and British sociologists are summarized; new types of social service are presented. Changes in the structure of social service, common and different in the practices of social assistance of religious associations, their relations with government agencies and civil society depending on the structure and level of institutionalization of the organization are identified. The advantages of social service are emphasized, which are that even in countries with a developed social security system, a well-established structure of social services, social assistance practices provided by members of religious congregations within social service are much more mobile and able to respond more quickly to societal challenges, due to the lack of bureaucratic procedures inherent in state structures. Particular attention is paid to defining the principles of functioning and development of social service in Ukraine, as well as social assistance practices carried out within this activity. The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is considered in detail as the newest direction of social service. Based on the data of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, the main practices of social assistance, which are carried out within this area of social service, are analyzed. Examples of the most notable projects by confessional affiliation are also given.