They focus on building political power in the hands of an organization of local residents, and using that power to influence issues the organization defines as important. Congregation-based Community Organizing (CBCO) works through local
synagogues,
churches, and
mosques as the primary institutional sponsors of this work. Common characteristics:
Faith-based: They ground their organizing in the moral values and traditions that stem from religious faith, to varying degrees and often quite powerfully. See
religion and peacebuilding.
Broad-based: They are typically
ecumenical or
interfaith, and many include schools, unions, or a variety of other community-based institutions like neighborhood associations.
Locally constituted: They organize in areas that range from large neighborhoods to entire cities. Although linked into the national and regional networks discussed above, they emphasize local grassroots organizing.
Multi-issue: Their purpose is to instruct local congregational authorities about how to effectively address a variety of pressing issues facing their communities.
Professionally staffed: CBCO groups hire professionals to recruit and train leaders to work with their religious communities on a personal and regular basis.
References
Chambers, Edward T. and Michael A. Cowan, Roots for Radicals: Organizing for Power, Action, and Justice (New York: Continuum, 2003).
ISBN0-8264-1499-0
Jacobsen, Dennis A. 2001. Doing Justice: Congregations and Community Organizing. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Wood, Richard L.
[1] and Mark R. Warren. 2002. "A Different Face of Faith-Based Politics: Social Capital and Community Organizing in the Public Arena," International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 22:11/12, 6-54 (Fall 2002).