Keeping Faith in Faith-Based Organizations: A Practical Theology of Salvation Army Health Ministry
Ebook
The world's poorest people are struggling to access quality, affordable health care. Change is urgently required. Faith-based organizations deliver more than 40 percent of health services in many of the poorest places. This book argues FBOs can--and must--deliver quality health services without sacrificing their faith in the process. Dean Pallant asks an awkward question: "If its faith does not drive an FBO, whose faith does?" Pallant visited Salvation Army health ministries in more than forty countries in four years, and this book records his global reflections structured around a practical theological model of enquiry. His goal is to identify a faithful future for hundreds of Salvation Army hospitals and clinics and thousands of congregation-based health ministries. Pallant finds answers in the work of Karl Polanyi, John Wesley, Stanley Hauerwas, William Booth, and Luke Bretherton, among others. Pallant challenges the bio-medical definition of health and proposes a comprehensive appreciation of people as "healthy persons"--the people God created us to be. Pallant's proposals are bold and far-reaching for the Salvation Army and other FBOs. They are insightful and challenging for everyone--of whatever faith--committed to improve the health of the poorest people.
"This is . . . [a] pioneering book that combines prophetic
vision, practical know-how and academic rigor . . . [Pallant]
provides a compelling case study of the Salvation Army's worldwide
health ministries, an account of what faithful ecclesial witness
might involve in development and health work, and [a description
of] how this contrasts with state- and market-centered
approaches."
--Luke Bretherton
Reader in Theology & Politics
King's College London
"I have been challenged and encouraged by Dean Pallant's fresh
approach. This book is not a word in season for the Salvation Army
alone. It is timely for any faith-based organization. The time has
come for us to stand because of our faith in order to serve with
compassion and grace."
--Linda Bond
General of the Salvation Army
"Through all her history the Church has been involved in health
ministries. How is this ministry to be performed in today's world
of poor and marginalized people? Is there a distinct role for
faith-based health institutions shaped by their distinct identity
and mission? Pallant's affirmative answer is based on both a
careful analysis of today's context and solid theological
reflection. This is practical theology at its best!"
--Kjell Nordstokke
Professor
Diakonhjemmet University College
Norway
"Faith fuels an army of dedicated health care professionals serving
the least, the last, and the lost in the most difficult areas of
the world . . . No one better articulates . . . the necessity of
these servants' calling than Major Dean Pallant . . . Pallant opens
a window into why faith-based health organizations foster healthy
people . . . [This is] a groundbreaking work in an engaging style.
I could not put my copy down."
--David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics)
Product Details
- Title : Keeping Faith in Faith-Based Organizations: A Practical Theology of Salvation Army Health Ministry
- Author: Pallant, Dean
- Publisher: Wipf and Stock
- Publication Date: 2012
- ISBN: 9781621891888
Dean Pallant is Director of The Salvation Army's International Social Justice Commission based in New York. Previously he coordinated The Salvation Army health services around the world for seven years. In recent years he has focused on strengthening accountability and measurement systems across The Salvation Army. Ensuring a strong theological foundation for all this work continues to be a priority. Born in Zimbabwe, Pallant has lived most of his life in Africa. He has a doctorate in theology from King's College London with a focus on practical and political theology. He is married to Eirwen and they have two children at university in the UK.