Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Recruitment and Engagement Strategies to Start and Sustain Your Interfaith Work
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Habitat’s Interfaith is …? a. Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical faiths joining together to end poverty housing b. Muslim, Jewish, Christian and other faiths joining together to end poverty housing c. Uniting all faiths into one: joining together to end poverty housing is how we demonstrate it d. Implying that one has to become a Christian in order to join with Habitat to end poverty housing Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Habitat’s Interfaith IS NOT …
IS …
• Watering down our Christian faith • Leaving our Christian identity • Syncretism (reconciling different beliefs into one) • Ecumenism (uniting Christian denominations)
• Engaging two or more different faith groups in the mission of Habitat • Providing leadership role in inviting faiths to work together to end poverty housing
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
From Theology of the Hammer, by Millard Fuller •
“We work with Catholic and Protestant, Christian and other faith groups, black and white, sacred and secular, liberal and conservative, rich and poor, urban and rural, inner-city and suburban, government and private, business and civic, and innumerable other creative alliances. These wide-ranging partnerships are central to ‘the theology of the hammer.’” (p 42)
•
“My dream, from the outset of the ministry of Habitat for Humanity, has been for our work to be a new frontier in Christian missions. Habitat is not, has not been, and will not be an evangelistic organization that seeks to convert people to become Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, or whatever. Rather, we aggressively demonstrate God’s love by all that we do.” (p 43)
•
“Habitat for Humanity has always had a policy of building for needy people, regardless of race or religion, and we welcome donors and volunteers from all backgrounds and from whatever motivation. We are a religiously-driven, God-centered venture, however, that seeks to give tangible expression to God’s love in all that we do.” (pp 106-07)
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
From Creating a Habitat for Humanity, by Jonathan Reckford “[An] element of building community and finding solutions that has been part of Habitat for Humanity’s story from the beginning has been the idea of reconciliation. From our roots at Koinonia Farm, where Christians sought to live in racial harmony, to some of our current projects that bring together Muslims, Christians, and Jews who seek an avenue for building peace, Habitat for Humanity has been an opportunity to put aside differences and to work together. “(p 31)
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Habitat’s roots and center is in Christ. Our faith in Christ inspires what we do. As a Christian housing ministry, engaging faith communities in ending poverty housing is one way we do what we do.
We remain Christian no matter who joins us . Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Objectives • Research and identify appropriate outreach strategies for engaging diverse faiths • Establish an effective and sustainable interfaith council
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Fast Facts on Religion What are the world’s 4 largest religions by # of adherents?
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism What are the two fastest growing religions in the U.S.?
Islam and Mormonism About what % of your partner families practice a faith other than Christianity?
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
2010 U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study
Largest Non-Christian Group Varies by Region
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Engaging the Interfaith Community 1. 2. 3. 4.
Identify faith communities Know the history (find cultural informants) Develop (wish) contact list Initiate and build relationships How have you gotten to know faith groups in your community? Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Religion as a Cultural System Religion forms our view of the world. We live out our view of the world.
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Given a description of a Consider: • Marketing and religion, what could you Communications do to make this faith • Volunteer Management group in your community • Resource Development feel welcome and a part • Construction Management of Habitat’s affordable • Affiliate Operations • Etcetera housing work? Be prepared to share your small group’s top 3 answers.
Activity
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Who are these people? There’s a group in our community that meets exclusively once a week. They seem to only socialize with each other or just within their families. Occasionally the group takes a meal together that symbolizes eating and drinking their leader, an age-old cannibalistic ritual. We only see them out in our community when they ask our kids to a week long summer program where they teach them stories of their faith and serve them punch and cookies.
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
"Jim Jones, David Koresh and Meir Kahane do not typify Christianity and Judaism in the eyes of the civilized West, but those same eyes are prone to see Osama bin Laden and Mullah Muhammad Omar as typifying Islam."
Richard Bulliet, The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Avoiding Stereotypes
• Understand everyone is different • Listen, listen, listen • Be self critical Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
©Habitat for Humanity/Ezra Millstein
Interfaith Council An Operating Committee
• What operating committees do you have? • How do operating committees help your affiliate? • How are they sustained? Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Interfaith Council An Operating Committee Exists to direct and develop the affiliate’s interfaith effort for advocacy and action on decent, affordable housing.
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Setting up an Interfaith Council • • • • •
Building relationships Extending invitation Exploratory meeting Interfaith formation meeting Regular meetings and activities as planned by the Council
Toolkit
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Strategic
Product/Program
• Board Commitment and Alignment • Mission/Vision focus, clear goals • Common/Core principles • Engages a wide community
• Connection with families served • Demonstrated value to families • Reflects values and skills of council and community • Effective, streamlined procedures
SUSTAINABILITY Personnel
• Care and feeding (concrete appreciation) • Recruiting the right people • Individual commitment to volunteer and invite others • Empowered to do the work • Term limits
Financial
Speaks for itself
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Additional Resources • My.Habitat.org – type “interfaith” in the search box • Interfaith Toolkit – available on My.Habitat.org • Upcoming webinars – stay tuned to the US Office News
Make 9/11 an Interfaith Build Day! Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Make 9/11 Interfaith Build Day!
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Thank you!
This training was made possible by the generous support of the
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Habitat’s Interfaith is …? a. Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical faiths joining together to end poverty housing b. Muslim, Jewish, Christian and other faiths joining together to end poverty housing c. Uniting all faiths into one: joining together to end poverty housing is how we demonstrate it d. Implying that one has to become a Christian in order to join with Habitat to end poverty housing Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Habitat’s Interfaith IS NOT …
IS …
• Watering down our Christian faith • Leaving our Christian identity • Syncretism (reconciling different beliefs into one) • Ecumenism (uniting Christian denominations)
• Engaging two or more different faith groups in the mission of Habitat • Providing leadership role in inviting faiths to work together to end poverty housing
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
From Theology of the Hammer, by Millard Fuller •
“We work with Catholic and Protestant, Christian and other faith groups, black and white, sacred and secular, liberal and conservative, rich and poor, urban and rural, inner-city and suburban, government and private, business and civic, and innumerable other creative alliances. These wide-ranging partnerships are central to ‘the theology of the hammer.’” (p 42)
•
“My dream, from the outset of the ministry of Habitat for Humanity, has been for our work to be a new frontier in Christian missions. Habitat is not, has not been, and will not be an evangelistic organization that seeks to convert people to become Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, or whatever. Rather, we aggressively demonstrate God’s love by all that we do.” (p 43)
•
“Habitat for Humanity has always had a policy of building for needy people, regardless of race or religion, and we welcome donors and volunteers from all backgrounds and from whatever motivation. We are a religiously-driven, God-centered venture, however, that seeks to give tangible expression to God’s love in all that we do.” (pp 106-07)
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
From Creating a Habitat for Humanity, by Jonathan Reckford “[An] element of building community and finding solutions that has been part of Habitat for Humanity’s story from the beginning has been the idea of reconciliation. From our roots at Koinonia Farm, where Christians sought to live in racial harmony, to some of our current projects that bring together Muslims, Christians, and Jews who seek an avenue for building peace, Habitat for Humanity has been an opportunity to put aside differences and to work together. “(p 31)
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Habitat’s roots and center is in Christ. Our faith in Christ inspires what we do. As a Christian housing ministry, engaging faith communities in ending poverty housing is one way we do what we do.
We remain Christian no matter who joins us . Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Objectives • Research and identify appropriate outreach strategies for engaging diverse faiths • Establish an effective and sustainable interfaith council
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Fast Facts on Religion What are the world’s 4 largest religions by # of adherents?
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism What are the two fastest growing religions in the U.S.?
Islam and Mormonism About what % of your partner families practice a faith other than Christianity?
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
2010 U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study
Largest Non-Christian Group Varies by Region
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Engaging the Interfaith Community 1. 2. 3. 4.
Identify faith communities Know the history (find cultural informants) Develop (wish) contact list Initiate and build relationships How have you gotten to know faith groups in your community? Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Religion as a Cultural System Religion forms our view of the world. We live out our view of the world.
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Given a description of a Consider: • Marketing and religion, what could you Communications do to make this faith • Volunteer Management group in your community • Resource Development feel welcome and a part • Construction Management of Habitat’s affordable • Affiliate Operations • Etcetera housing work? Be prepared to share your small group’s top 3 answers.
Activity
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Who are these people? There’s a group in our community that meets exclusively once a week. They seem to only socialize with each other or just within their families. Occasionally the group takes a meal together that symbolizes eating and drinking their leader, an age-old cannibalistic ritual. We only see them out in our community when they ask our kids to a week long summer program where they teach them stories of their faith and serve them punch and cookies.
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
"Jim Jones, David Koresh and Meir Kahane do not typify Christianity and Judaism in the eyes of the civilized West, but those same eyes are prone to see Osama bin Laden and Mullah Muhammad Omar as typifying Islam."
Richard Bulliet, The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Avoiding Stereotypes
• Understand everyone is different • Listen, listen, listen • Be self critical Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
©Habitat for Humanity/Ezra Millstein
Interfaith Council An Operating Committee
• What operating committees do you have? • How do operating committees help your affiliate? • How are they sustained? Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Interfaith Council An Operating Committee Exists to direct and develop the affiliate’s interfaith effort for advocacy and action on decent, affordable housing.
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Setting up an Interfaith Council • • • • •
Building relationships Extending invitation Exploratory meeting Interfaith formation meeting Regular meetings and activities as planned by the Council
Toolkit
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Strategic
Product/Program
• Board Commitment and Alignment • Mission/Vision focus, clear goals • Common/Core principles • Engages a wide community
• Connection with families served • Demonstrated value to families • Reflects values and skills of council and community • Effective, streamlined procedures
SUSTAINABILITY Personnel
• Care and feeding (concrete appreciation) • Recruiting the right people • Individual commitment to volunteer and invite others • Empowered to do the work • Term limits
Financial
Speaks for itself
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Additional Resources • My.Habitat.org – type “interfaith” in the search box • Interfaith Toolkit – available on My.Habitat.org • Upcoming webinars – stay tuned to the US Office News
Make 9/11 an Interfaith Build Day! Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Make 9/11 Interfaith Build Day!
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
Thank you!
This training was made possible by the generous support of the
Interfaith: Stretching further for impact
