Community-Wide Planning for Faith-Based Service Provision: Practical, Policy, and Conceptual Challenges

Abstract

The context for this article is the public policy interest in the United States and the United Kingdom in the contribution that faith-based organizations can make to the provision of welfare and other public services, and the corresponding demands on such organizations to consider how they plan and deliver services. The authors present findings from a major research program that aimed to facilitate the planning of service provision within one faith group, theU.K.Jewishcommunity.Theauthorsoutlinetheopportunitiesandobstacles found to be facing this “Jewish voluntary sector” and then discuss the lessons to be drawn from this kind of community-wide approach to the planning of services within and across a faith group in the current public policy climate. Specifically, the authors look at implications for planning in the U.K. Jewish community and other faith groups, for the research agenda on faith-based organizations, and for public and social policy.