Model Practices Toolkit:  Types of Faith-based Organizations

Diversity of the U.S. Religious Landscape

The characteristics and activities of organizations with a religious identity and a public mission vary from community to community, state to state, and region to region. It is helpful to understand the variety of institutional structures that can function as intermediaries in the public sphere and as public health partners. FBOs are best described across a spectrum, from large-scale to regional to local. Examples are provided in the table below of the organizational structure that might be found at each level and possible health programming access points where a health organization may find a partnership contact.

LEVELORGANIZATIONAL/STRUCTURAL EXAMPLESPOSSIBLE HEALTH PROGRAM LINKS AND POINTS OF PARTNERSHIP
National AssociationsNational Association of Evangelicals, Islamic Society of North America, World Union for Progressive Judaism, National Council of Churches
  • May have an office for health programming that is connected across related denominations
  • May have religious leaders who are champions of particular national or global health issues
    		•
    National Religious BodiesChristian (Catholic, Southern Baptist, United Methodist, National Baptist Convention, Assemblies of God, etc.), Islamic branches (Shia and Sunni are the largest), Judaism (most within 4 branches or movements), Buddhism movements or schools (many within 3 major divisions)
  • May have health program offices
  • Connectional identity and structures that reach local congregations vary greatly
  • May have little and unpredictable “trickle down” dissemination impact
  • However, policy positions and resources from the structure can support and reinforce local actions
    		•
    Middle Judicatory RegionalSynods, conferences, districts, dioceses, archdioceses, councils, provinces, presbyteries, conventions, unions, societies, etc.
  • Organizational structures that more closely link congregations and faith-based organizations – clusters of states, a state, large metro area, or portion of state.
  • May also have a health program office and staff
  • Key determinant of public health partnership is leadership with a vision for an institutional role in the health of communities – discovered not created from the outside.
    		•
    Local CongregationsMore than 300,000 worshipping congregations of all faiths in the United States, actually a small portion of religious institutions)
  • Majority have less than 200 members
  • Some have health ministry programs
  • Estimated > 10k Faith Community Nurses in the United States
  • Not all congregations are linked to a denominational structure
  • Varied orientations to civic/public engagement
  • Some have spun off community outreach service organizations
    		•
    Local Ecumenical or Interfaith AgenciesRegional or state councils of churches, ministerial alliances, interfaith AIDS networks, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, Jewish Community Relations Council
  • May have a health program and/or health partners; also may have a champion leader who is an advocate for a health issue
  • May have special interests in certain groups or issues – children, violence, prisons, interfaith dialogue
    		•
    Parachurch OrganizationsHabitat for Humanity, Bread for the World, Heifer International, World Vision, Young Men's or Women's Christian Association, Aga Khan Foundation
  • Many are focused on global reach
  • All are linked in different ways to congregations for resource support
    		•
    Charitable Aid OrganizationsCatholic Charities, Lutheran Services in America, Islamic Relief, Church World Service, Salvation Army, American Jewish World Service, Jewish Social Service Agency, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
  • Many combine domestic and global program work
  • All reach those beyond those of their tradition to serve people in need
  • Are ideal public health partners when interests intersect
    		•
    Seminaries and Higher EducationAssociation of Theological Schools (ATS) is a membership orgranization of over 270 graduate schools. Numerous other rabbinical and bible schools
  • Academic partnerships between schools of public health and seminaries have participated in IHP’s Faith Health Consortium
  • A number have programs that address seminarian/future clergy health
    		•
    Hospitals and Health FoundationsNearly one-fifth of U.S. hospitals are religiously owned, and a majority are Roman Catholic sponsored. Religious healthcare assets are often converted to foundations.
  • Often have strong community outreach programs with ties to congregations and faith-based organizations
  • Conversion health foundations have legal mandates to serve the health needs of the underserved and are locally based
    		•
    Diverse Community MinistriesMany have been started by congregations and gain 501c3 status. Most address specific issues or populations: race, health, youth, housing, jobs, food, substance abuse, mental health
  • Often already engaged in partnerships
  • Typically, small with minimal administrative and grants management type structure
  • Ideal partners for tackling social determinants of health
    		•

    *The content of this table is an adaptation of the work of Dr. Eileen Lindner, editor of the “Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches”

    PREVIOUS SECTION: Faith-based Organizations
    NEXT SECTION: Faith-based Partners
    DOWNLOAD THE MODEL PRACTICES TOOLKIT