Policy Press

'Faith' in urban regeneration?

Engaging faith communities in urban regeneration

By Richard Farnell, Robert Furbey, Stephen Shams al-Haqq Hills, Marie Macey and Greg Smith

Published

Apr 2, 2003

Page count

64 pages

ISBN

978-1861345165

Dimensions

297 x 210 mm

Imprint

Policy Press
'Faith' in urban regeneration?

Faith groups are already important in the regeneration of communities, and are often more committed and have long-term involvement. However, despite government directives to involve faith communities in regeneration and renewal, official agencies lack understanding about faith communities and their diversity, and conflicts arise between secular liberal views and those of religious groups.

'Faith' in urban regeneration:

summarises the politics and policy of involving religion in regeneration;

looks at the motivations, theologies and values that underpin faith organisations;

locates both good and problematic practice in the participation of faith communities in urban regeneration, and their experiences of involvement with official regeneration programmes;

explores issues of cohesion and conflict;

makes practical recommendations to local, regional and national regeneration agencies and highlights implications for policy.

"... will be read with profit by regeneration officials and members of faith communities." Journal of Social Policy

Richard Farnell is Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Local Economic Development at Coventry University. Robert Furbey is Principal Lecturer in Urban Sociology and Stephen Shams Al-Haqq Hills is Principal Lecturer in Housing, both at Sheffield Hallam University. Marie Macey is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Bradford. Greg Smith is Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Institutional Studies at the University of East London.

Contents: Introduction; Public policy and the complexity of 'faith': the research context; Involving faith communities: policies and perceptions; Faith and action: motivations and responses; Resources, restrictions and resistance: potential and experience; Cohesion, conflict and exclusion: understandings and misunderstandings; Conclusions and policy implications.

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