It is often claimed that local churches provide a significant proportion of social care today. This important new study considers the reality of the church's involvement to offer compelling and concrete recommendations for the future. It proposes a transformational model of welfare that breaks free from the default approach of 'eradicating the five giant evils – squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, and disease'. Instead the authors focus on fostering five assets – relationship, creativity, partnership, compassion, and joy – and empowering people to regain control of their lives.

It is often claimed that local churches provide a significant proportion of social care today. In this important new study, Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin's in the Fields and the Salvation Army's Russell Rook consider the reality of the church's social work today to offer compelling and concrete recommendations for the future.

Samuel Wells;Russell Rook

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Acknowledgements

The Authors

Summary

Introduction

1 A Vision for Church Social Action

2 The Context of Church Social Action

3 The Experience of Church Social Action

4 Examples of Church Social Action

5 Models of Church Social Action

6 Recommendations for Church Social Action

7 Evaluating Church Social Action

It is often claimed that local churches provide a significant proportion of social care today. This important new study considers the reality of the church's involvement to offer compelling and concrete recommendations for the future. It proposes a transformational model of welfare that breaks free from the default approach of ‘eradicating the five giant evils – squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, and disease’. Instead the authors focus on fostering five assets – relationship, creativity, partnership, compassion, and joy – and empowering people to regain control of their lives.

From food banks to drop-in centres and debt counselling, it is often claimed that local churches provide a significant proportion of social care today. In this important new study, Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin's in the Fields and the Salvation Army's Russell Rook consider the reality of the church's social work today to offer compelling and concrete recommendations for the future. Their transformational model of welfare focuses on fostering assets rather than on problems, breaking free from the default approach set by the Beveridge Report 75 years ago which focused on `eradicating the five giant evils - squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, and disease'. Instead they recommend an approach that focuses on fostering five assets - relationship, creativity, partnership, compassion, and joy - and empowers people to regain control of their lives. With bold and innovative practical recommendations for churches, civil society and public policy, and compelling theological reflection on welfare, poverty and public policy today, this is essential reading for anyone interested in the church's contribution to society.

• An important and influential study into the churches and social care, this will be launched at the House of Lords in November. • Includes bold and innovative practical recommendations for churches, civil society and public policy. • Supported by the Bible Society and the Jerusalem Trust, this will herald the start of a programme of seminars and training.

It is often claimed that local churches provide a significant proportion of social care today. This important new study considers the reality of the church's involvement to offer compelling and concrete recommendations for the future. It proposes a transformational model of welfare that breaks free from the default approach of 'eradicating the five giant evils – squalor, ignorance, want, idleness, and disease'. Instead the authors focus on fostering five assets – relationship, creativity, partnership, compassion, and joy – and empowering people to regain control of their lives. With bold and innovative practical recommendations for churches, civil society and public policy, and compelling theological reflection on welfare and poverty, this is essential reading for anyone interested in the church's contribution to society.

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