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Should We Have Faith in Faith‐Based Social Services? Rhetoric Versus Realistic Expectations
Author(s) -
Gibelman Margaret,
Gelman Sheldon R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
nonprofit management and leadership
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.844
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1542-7854
pISSN - 1048-6682
DOI - 10.1002/nml.13105
Subject(s) - faith , credibility , wrongdoing , accountability , faith based organizations , public relations , service provider , sociology , political science , service (business) , public administration , law , business , epistemology , marketing , philosophy
Early in his administration, President George W. Bush set forth his Faith‐Based Initiative, which would authorize and encourage religious groups to compete for and provide publicly funded social services. This article analyzes the arguments made by supporters of faith‐based social services in regard to their underlying values and premises. This analysis forms the basis for examining the managerial track record of faith‐based organizations in the delivery of social services. To identify issues and trends within this category of service providers, the authors analyzed press reports of instances of wrong doing in faith‐based groups from 1995 to 2001. Findings reveal that faith‐based groups appear to be as susceptible to managerial and accountability inadequacies, if not outright wrongdoing, as are nonsectarian service providers. The authors identify implications regarding the credibility of faith‐based groups and public trust as they pertain to an enhanced role in the less regulated service system that the president envisions.