Paul MacLean, Areeta Bridgemohan, Agnes Meinhard, et al.
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Leiden
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Brill
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
This article presents a comparative case study of two faith-based community partnerships created in answer to crisis situations involving food distribution to the needy. Theoretically grounded in social capital theory it describes how two faith-based organizations built bridges with other groups to create new social capital. In both cases the foundation supporting these bridges was faith, both institutional and personal; faith that reached beyond parochialism to embrace universal humanitarian objectives. It was this faith that informed the visionary leadership and trust necessary to create an active multi-faith, multicultural partnership that withstood both internal and external challenges. The types of communal bonds that were created, crossing race, religion and ethnicity are essential in multicultural societies. This article presents a comparative case study of two faith-based community partnerships created in answer to crisis situations involving food distribution to the needy. Theoretically grounded in social capital theory it describes how two faith-based organizations built bridges with other groups to create new social capital. In both cases the foundation supporting these bridges was faith, both institutional and personal; faith that reached beyond parochialism to embrace universal humanitarian objectives. It was this faith that informed the visionary leadership and trust necessary to create an active multi-faith, multicultural partnership that withstood both internal and external challenges. The types of communal bonds that were created, crossing race, religion and ethnicity are essential in multicultural societies.