Abstract
The critical role played by communities in development initiatives is globally acknowledged. Churches are key community institutions that play a crucial role in community development, yet their role is not well understood from an empirical perspective. A cross-sectional study of a church-driven community development initiative that was implemented in line with a practical inquiry approach, was conducted. The findings are presented and discussed, thereby leading to the conception of a holistic church-driven development approach that brings together different churches in the community. This approach responds to integrated community needs without focusing on one single issue, which is different to approaches advocated by some international development agencies and donors who recommend one or a few focused interventions.
Highlights
Churches and other faith based organisations (FBOs) play a critical role in community development
Due to different religious and ideological positions held by FBOs, their potential contribution to effective community development is hindered by poor coordination and limited capacity to organise themselves to work together
The questions that arise amongst others are: Considering the coordination capacity gap and limited resources, how could churches perform a meaningful community development role amongst many poor African communities such as in Zimbabwe? Can there be a practical approach that could be employed to leverage the community position of churches to ameliorate suffering amongst the poor people? This article responds to these questions by describing a case study of a facilitated model that harnesses churches’ potential in communities
Summary
Churches and other faith based organisations (FBOs) play a critical role in community development. Churches engage in development as a religious institution without necessarily having another internal structure, which he calls the FBO With these gaps, Mati’s (2013:2) lament is understandable that FBOs have not seriously been subjected to rigorous social scientific analysis. In response to this question, a facilitated model that harnesses churches’ potentials in communities and focuses church stakeholders or congregations on vivid community needs is proposed as a church-driven community development model within African contexts of poverty in rural Zimbabwe The methodology for such an approach is described (‘Methodology and context’) in the form of a case study. In this article the case study is employed because of its ability to provide detailed appeal and understanding to the various dynamics of church community interactions, as well as dynamics that may not be captured in the same way if other methodologies were used
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
