This article discusses the role of organized religion in providing respite services to families of children with disabilities. Respite programs using church volunteers are seen as an opportunity for new and effective partnerships between secular service systems and the religious community. Model programs are described. (PB)

Historically, faith-based organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) have been involved in the provision of social services, such as drug treatment, job training, community redevelopment, housing, and education. However, FBOs and CBOs have not often participated in U.S. Department of Education (the Department) grant programs. In…

The people of the United States have always been determinedly religious. What is new is the public recognition of this fact and the debate over the problems that attend it. In high schools and colleges across the country, students are reading textbooks that state as fact that the United States is, or is rapidly becoming, a secular society, an…

The ethnic minority local church and its role in the Methodist ministry is discussed in an effort to emphasize the importance of strengthening Methodist ties with the black community. The black religious heritage and its historical relationship to the Methodist church are also discussed. It is suggested that church boards and agencies should…

Reported are the results of a survey of 222 United Methodist campus ministers across the country in both private and public colleges and universities. The report covers the personal backgrounds and careers of the ministers, their views of campus ministry goals and programs, how the campus ministries are financed and administered, and the quality…

Despite the fact that the twentieth-century ecumenical movement was coeval with the beginning of a "language revolution" and the "theology of crisis," it was only at the beginning of the present decade that the problem of unity in verbal formulations reached the agenda of the World Council of Churches (WCC). At that time the…

Public/Private Ventures launched a national demonstration in 15 cities to assess the effectiveness of faith-based initiatives in working with youths involved in the juvenile justice system. The initiatives focused on high-risk youth and developed programs involving mentoring, education, and employment readiness. This report focuses on whether…

This reference volume contains the texts of documents pertinent to the development of Catholic higher education during the years from 1967 to 1990. The documents reveal church officials' and university presidents' collaborative efforts to address the questions of what it means it mean to be a university or college and what it means for such an…

This Technical Committee Report focuses on theological, ethical, and spiritual values within the context of spiritual well-being from the perspective of institutionalized religion in America. The place of organized religion in regard to aging and its role in developing national aging policies is examined. A presentation of the data base for this…

As part of an evaluation of the Community College Program of the United Ministries in Higher Education (UMHE), this study surveyed 323 pastors in local churches to determine: (1) local congregations' interest or involvement in working with community colleges; (2) a baseline against which to measure further involvement of the church with the…

This book is designed to give readers a basic grasp of the general legal principles controlling the role of religion in public education, to apply those principles to typical church-state issues in the schools, and to equip readers to address other related issues as they arise. The book covers the following topics: (1) general legal principles;…

Seven articles and a series of cartoons provide background information and practical suggestions for the development of a working relationship between community colleges and the church. William E. Hallman discusses the church's responsibility for ministry at the community colleges. Robert A. Mayo explores the ways in which a supportive…

This paper on Spiritual Well-Being provides information for leaders concerned with the problems of older people. The first four sections of the paper discuss: the need for religious organizations and society to develop and promote services and programs that will contribute to the spiritual needs of the elderly; goals proposed by previous groups…

The paper discusses the functions and activities of the World Council of Churches (WCC), particularly in connection with combating racism and poverty. The hypothesis is that policy makers interpret religious organizations such as the WCC as models of international communications in microcosm. Specific model functions of the WCC are identified.…

Examines the historical role and influence of the Black church in the American Black community. Questions the viability of both Black churches and Christianity in the contemporary Black community. (FMW)