Suchergebnisse

English
Set within the context of the growing expectations on faith organisations in the UK to be involved in public policy implementation, this article considers the capacity of churches to contribute to implementation of the twin public policy themes of delivering public services and encouraging community engagement. Building on an empirical study, it suggests that churches can make an important contribution to the implementation of the twin policy agenda but that their theological underpinnings and organisational characteristics also raise questions about their suitability to play a major role in public policy implementation. The implications of the findings for the broader 'faith communities' policy agenda are discussed.

The context for this article is the public policy interest in the United States and the United Kingdom in the contribution that faith-based organizations can make to the provision of welfare and other public services, and the corresponding demands on such organizations to consider how they plan and deliver services. The authors present findings from a major research program that aimed to facilitate the planning of service provision within one faith group, theU.K.Jewishcommunity.Theauthorsoutlinetheopportunitiesandobstacles found to be facing this "Jewish voluntary sector" and then discuss the lessons to be drawn from this kind of community-wide approach to the planning of services within and across a faith group in the current public policy climate. Specifically, the authors look at implications for planning in the U.K. Jewish community and other faith groups, for the research agenda on faith-based organizations, and for public and social policy.

This article explores the policy and organizational drives towards cooperation and merger within the voluntary sector. We draw together theoretical and empirical literature on the topic and identify six factors which may be hypothesized to be associated with a decision to cooperate in the voluntary sector: adverse macro‐economic conditions; the search for an organizational niche; severe resource dependency; a drive for organizational growth; funders' concern about duplication of provision; and perceived crisis. We then present a case study which provides detailed data about the circumstances leading to a decision to merge by several independent voluntary agencies working in the HIV/AIDS field. We analyse the multiplicity of factors which drove the agencies and the complex interrelationships between those factors. Policy pressures, pragmatism and the personal values of key managers are found to be particularly important. Finally, we consider the implications of our study for policy analysis and future research.