Subject Area
Theology/Religious Education
Abstract
Since 1996, faith-based organizations have been eligible to receive federal funding, opening a new avenue for faith-based partnerships. In the years since, both federal and state agencies have expanded support for faith-based partnerships, opening new avenues for faith-based organizations, including congregations, to utilize government funding and resources for outreach initiatives. As a result, the number of faith-based partnerships will continue to grow as a way to provide services to citizens.
This dissertation seeks to develop a practical theology that enables churches to participate in these partnerships in a way that not only protects, but strengthens, their theological identity. It explores the legal and political evolution of faith-based partnerships, examining the role of the church in relation to civil society, and examines existing means of church participation in the public square. Finally, it develops a process of congregational practical reasoning, building upon the work of Alasdair MacIntyre, which results in a set of theological tensions. This process of practical reasoning and its impact on the theological formation of the church is demonstrated through two imagined scenarios.
Degree Date
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
D.Min.
Department
Perkins School of Theology
Advisor
D. Stephen Long
Second Advisor
Rebekah Miles
Number of Pages
162
Format
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Stanton, Allen T., "Unlikely Partners: A Practical Theology of Faith Based Partnerships" (2024). Doctor of Ministry Projects and Theses. 37.
https://scholar.smu.edu/theology_ministry_etds/37
