Mob: 0406376823 On "Not" Becoming an "Agent of the State"? Church-related social welfare agency '... more Mob: 0406376823 On "Not" Becoming an "Agent of the State"? Church-related social welfare agency 'tactics' in an era of government contracting Abstract United States, United Kingdom and Australian literature on the potential, and actual, impacts on not-for profit (NFP) social welfare and human services agencies of contracting with government highlight the risk that such agencies will become 'agents of the state' without remainder, substantially losing their identity and character in the process. 'Church-related' agencies are now playing a significant role in the delivery of social welfare and human services in Australia, in a distinctive pattern of involvement with respect to the history and structure of service delivery, and the pattern of policy, political settlement and the constitutional basis when compared to that of both the United Kingdom and the United States. This outcome of the shift to a contracting regime has received little attention in the academic literature in Australia, neither has there been much attention paid to the actual impact and dynamics of this engagement with government on the mission and identity of church-related agencies. Theorizing on the impact on NFP agencies of contracting with government has drawn heavily on the literature of organizational sociology, with particular reference to the processes of isomorphism and secularization. There has been an undertone in this literature of an implicit acceptance of sociological determinism in which NFP agencies are 'fated' to be inevitably shaped by these processes due to the powerful position from which the government is operating in the contracting relationship. James C Scott in Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcript has identified possibilities of resistance in social situations characterized by an asymmetry of power. In this context the distinction developed by Michel de Certeau in The Practice of Everyday Life, between strategy and tactics, provides a framework for identifying and characterizing responses by agencies that might enable them to resist at least to some degree, isomorphic and secularizing processes. Against this background I have identified a range of possible 'tactics' that are available to church-related agencies in their engagement with government. Using this framework I will drawn on interviews with a range of senior managers and staff and independent experts, from a purposive sample of church-related agencies and denominational coordinating bodies to explore the possibility that church-related agencies are exercising a degree of agency in their response to the contracting environment to resist, or deflect at least to some degree the impact of the sociological processes associated with the contracting environment. CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Analysis and Policy Observatory (APO) On "Not" Becoming an "Agent of the State"? Church-related social welfare agency 'tactics' in in an era of government contracting
Findings of the Inquiry I framed the inquiry theologically with reference to a trajectory of ongo... more Findings of the Inquiry I framed the inquiry theologically with reference to a trajectory of ongoing tension. This tension consists of seeking the flourishing of the city, on the one hand, while maintaining an exilic identity, on the other, 4 a tension which was at risk of collapse in church-related social welfare agencies in the context of their contracting with government. 5 While drawing on interviews with senior management in agencies, I also undertook documentary analysis of agency annual reports and website publications to test sociological accounts about the likely impacts of contracting in identifying tactics of agency resistance and response. Alasdair McIntyre observes that the nation-state "is a dangerous and unmanageable institution, presenting itself on the one hand as a bureaucratic supplier of goods and services, which is always about to, but never actually does, give its clients value for money, and on the other as a repository of sacred values, which from time to time invites one to lay down one's life on its behalf." 6 McIntyre here names the nation-state in its dual character as both bureaucratic, that is secular in Weberian terms, and sacral, the latter manifesting itself through nationalism. 7 Using this distinction as an interpretive framework assists in understanding how agencies can end up as an extension of the state in two quite different modes of operation. Where the state operated in a bureaucratic mode in contracting for employment services, this involved an increasingly tight specification of outcomes, processes, reporting requirements, and financial incentives to ensure rigid agency compliance with government policy. This 4 On the term flourishing, see Nicholas Wolterstorff,
Review(s) of: Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution: John Howard Yoder, by Theodore J... more Review(s) of: Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution: John Howard Yoder, by Theodore J Koontz and Andy Alexis-Baker (eds), Brazos Press, Grand Rapids, 2009, softcover, 462 pages, ISBN 9781587432316, US$34.99.
Review(s) of: Exploring the Strangeness of Theology, by Chris K. Huebner, A Precarious Peace: Yod... more Review(s) of: Exploring the Strangeness of Theology, by Chris K. Huebner, A Precarious Peace: Yoderian Explorations on Theology, Knowledge and Identity (Polyglossia: Radical Reformation Theologies No.1), Herald Press, Waterloo, Ontario, 2006, softcover, 247 p., ISBN 0836193415, US$19.99.
The shift by government to contracting of social welfare and human services in Australia in the 1... more The shift by government to contracting of social welfare and human services in Australia in the 1990s raised questions about the possible impacts of not-for-profit agencies becoming financially dependent on government. It was suggested that this move would result in institutional secularisation evidenced in detachment by church-related agencies from their founding bodies and distinctive accounts of mission. This article reports on research that maps the extent of financial dependence of church-related welfare agencies on government and the degree of their (dis)connection to the churches and the Christian tradition after nearly two decades of contracting. The evidence suggests that there is not a necessary and automatic connection between high financial dependence on government and secularisation of church-related agencies. Denominational governance, agency size, along with choices by agency leadership, appear to buffer to varying degrees these impacts of contracting.
Government contracting with not-for-profit agencies, particularly those characterised as 'rel... more Government contracting with not-for-profit agencies, particularly those characterised as 'religious' and 'faith-based', to deliver social welfare has been the subject of substantial research in the United States and the United Kingdom in recent years. In contrast, attention to the role of 'religious' and 'faith-based' agencies in service delivery in Australia has been relatively limited. This paper explores conceptual issues relating to research into the impact on 'church-related' not-for-profit social welfare agencies in Australia of engagement in government contracting. It commences with a critical analysis of typologies in recent US and UK literature that use the terminology 'religious', 'faith-based' and 'secular', and identifies why this terminology is not analytically helpful. An alternative conceptual approach is developed, to guide research into the engagement of these agencies with government focusing on issues...
Review(s) of: Work for God's Sake: Christian Ethics in the Workplace, by Esther D Reed, (Saru... more Review(s) of: Work for God's Sake: Christian Ethics in the Workplace, by Esther D Reed, (Sarum Theological Lectures), Darton, Longman and Todd, London, 2010, softcover, 129 pages, ISBN 9780232527612, RRP A$34.95.
The shift by Australian governments to contracting for the delivery of social welfare and human s... more The shift by Australian governments to contracting for the delivery of social welfare and human services in the 1990s raised questions about the likely impact on agencies’ freedom to advocate. Research into the impact on churchrelated agencies of this shift revealed a sector wide response to contracting, through the development of church-related peak welfare bodies becoming active in policy advocacy. The response by these peak welfare agencies to the Federal Government’s Financial Case Management program (2006) demonstrated the disruptive potential of their advocacy, leading to the emergence of “The Major Church Providers” as a coordinating and networking mechanism to further advocacy. This informally coordinated approach to shaping policy was further demonstrated during the Global Financial Crisis (2008-9). Based on these developments, I draw some conclusions on the significance of policy advocacy by church-related peak welfare bodies and their capacity to make public policy space ...
Review(s) of: Saints and Stirrers: Christianity, Conflict and peacemaking in New Zealand, 1814-19... more Review(s) of: Saints and Stirrers: Christianity, Conflict and peacemaking in New Zealand, 1814-1945, by Geoffrey Troughton (ed.), Victoria University Press, 2017, ISBN 9781776561643.
Review(s) of: Intersections of religion and migration: Issues at the global crossroads, by Jennif... more Review(s) of: Intersections of religion and migration: Issues at the global crossroads, by Jennifer B. Saunders, Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, and Susanna Snyder (eds), New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, Paperback, xxii + 360 pages, ISBN 978-1-137-58628-5. The Refugee Crisis and Religion: Secularism, Security and Hospitality in Question, by Luca Mavelli and Erin K. Wilson (eds), (London, Rowman and Littlefield, 2016). Paperback. x + 316 pages. ISBN 978-1-7834-8895-7.
This paper explores community and government engagement by Doveton Baptist Church, a congregation... more This paper explores community and government engagement by Doveton Baptist Church, a congregation in a suburb on the edge of Melbourne that emerged out of the postwar boom and has been shaped by the subsequent decline of manufacturing. The narrative that I present draws on an extended interview with the pastor of the Church that explored in a reflective way the nature and impact of the Church’s engagement with the community and government and the relationship of that engagement to the mission of the congregation. The involvement of the congregation extends beyond welfare provision into community building more generally. Important themes that emerge are the entanglement of Church and state at a local government level and the porous boundaries between welfare provision, community building and the Church’s mission. The theological account of that mission is Christologically grounded in the life of the congregation
In this paper, I provide an account of the development of church-related social welfare agencies ... more In this paper, I provide an account of the development of church-related social welfare agencies from European settlement to the commencement of the contracting era in the 1990s. In doing so, I explore the ideological, ecclesiastical and geographical influences that contributed to what emerged as a 'mixed economy of welfare', in which the state, while a significant actor, shares the provision of welfare with not-for-profit agencies. I then turn my attention to the constitutional arrangements underpinning church-state engagement in Australia that sit in the background to this structure.
The Christian Churches in Australia are not only present in parishes and congregations but are al... more The Christian Churches in Australia are not only present in parishes and congregations but are also involved in a wide range of activities in the fields of social welfare, human services and social policy. The historical legacy of this involvement is organisationallydiverse and represents a significant presence in public policy in Australia. With the shift to contracting as a funding technology for social welfare and human services in the 1990s, church-related agencies found themselves engaging in new ways with government. Nearly two decades later there has been relatively little research into the impact of the shift to contracting on these agencies, leaving unanswered the question as to whether, or not, they have now become simply an extension of the state. Driven by that fundamental question, this thesis is a theologically-informed inquiry into the impact of the shift to government contracting for social welfare and human services with ‘church-related’ agencies in Australia betwee...
Review(s) of: Sunday Best: How the Church Shaped New Zealand and New Zealand Shaped the Church, b... more Review(s) of: Sunday Best: How the Church Shaped New Zealand and New Zealand Shaped the Church, by Peter Lineham. Auckland: Massey University Press, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-9941407-7-7.
Mob: 0406376823 On "Not" Becoming an "Agent of the State"? Church-related social welfare agency '... more Mob: 0406376823 On "Not" Becoming an "Agent of the State"? Church-related social welfare agency 'tactics' in an era of government contracting Abstract United States, United Kingdom and Australian literature on the potential, and actual, impacts on not-for profit (NFP) social welfare and human services agencies of contracting with government highlight the risk that such agencies will become 'agents of the state' without remainder, substantially losing their identity and character in the process. 'Church-related' agencies are now playing a significant role in the delivery of social welfare and human services in Australia, in a distinctive pattern of involvement with respect to the history and structure of service delivery, and the pattern of policy, political settlement and the constitutional basis when compared to that of both the United Kingdom and the United States. This outcome of the shift to a contracting regime has received little attention in the academic literature in Australia, neither has there been much attention paid to the actual impact and dynamics of this engagement with government on the mission and identity of church-related agencies. Theorizing on the impact on NFP agencies of contracting with government has drawn heavily on the literature of organizational sociology, with particular reference to the processes of isomorphism and secularization. There has been an undertone in this literature of an implicit acceptance of sociological determinism in which NFP agencies are 'fated' to be inevitably shaped by these processes due to the powerful position from which the government is operating in the contracting relationship. James C Scott in Domination and the Arts of Resistance: Hidden Transcript has identified possibilities of resistance in social situations characterized by an asymmetry of power. In this context the distinction developed by Michel de Certeau in The Practice of Everyday Life, between strategy and tactics, provides a framework for identifying and characterizing responses by agencies that might enable them to resist at least to some degree, isomorphic and secularizing processes. Against this background I have identified a range of possible 'tactics' that are available to church-related agencies in their engagement with government. Using this framework I will drawn on interviews with a range of senior managers and staff and independent experts, from a purposive sample of church-related agencies and denominational coordinating bodies to explore the possibility that church-related agencies are exercising a degree of agency in their response to the contracting environment to resist, or deflect at least to some degree the impact of the sociological processes associated with the contracting environment. CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Analysis and Policy Observatory (APO) On "Not" Becoming an "Agent of the State"? Church-related social welfare agency 'tactics' in in an era of government contracting
Findings of the Inquiry I framed the inquiry theologically with reference to a trajectory of ongo... more Findings of the Inquiry I framed the inquiry theologically with reference to a trajectory of ongoing tension. This tension consists of seeking the flourishing of the city, on the one hand, while maintaining an exilic identity, on the other, 4 a tension which was at risk of collapse in church-related social welfare agencies in the context of their contracting with government. 5 While drawing on interviews with senior management in agencies, I also undertook documentary analysis of agency annual reports and website publications to test sociological accounts about the likely impacts of contracting in identifying tactics of agency resistance and response. Alasdair McIntyre observes that the nation-state "is a dangerous and unmanageable institution, presenting itself on the one hand as a bureaucratic supplier of goods and services, which is always about to, but never actually does, give its clients value for money, and on the other as a repository of sacred values, which from time to time invites one to lay down one's life on its behalf." 6 McIntyre here names the nation-state in its dual character as both bureaucratic, that is secular in Weberian terms, and sacral, the latter manifesting itself through nationalism. 7 Using this distinction as an interpretive framework assists in understanding how agencies can end up as an extension of the state in two quite different modes of operation. Where the state operated in a bureaucratic mode in contracting for employment services, this involved an increasingly tight specification of outcomes, processes, reporting requirements, and financial incentives to ensure rigid agency compliance with government policy. This 4 On the term flourishing, see Nicholas Wolterstorff,
Review(s) of: Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution: John Howard Yoder, by Theodore J... more Review(s) of: Christian Attitudes to War, Peace, and Revolution: John Howard Yoder, by Theodore J Koontz and Andy Alexis-Baker (eds), Brazos Press, Grand Rapids, 2009, softcover, 462 pages, ISBN 9781587432316, US$34.99.
Review(s) of: Exploring the Strangeness of Theology, by Chris K. Huebner, A Precarious Peace: Yod... more Review(s) of: Exploring the Strangeness of Theology, by Chris K. Huebner, A Precarious Peace: Yoderian Explorations on Theology, Knowledge and Identity (Polyglossia: Radical Reformation Theologies No.1), Herald Press, Waterloo, Ontario, 2006, softcover, 247 p., ISBN 0836193415, US$19.99.
The shift by government to contracting of social welfare and human services in Australia in the 1... more The shift by government to contracting of social welfare and human services in Australia in the 1990s raised questions about the possible impacts of not-for-profit agencies becoming financially dependent on government. It was suggested that this move would result in institutional secularisation evidenced in detachment by church-related agencies from their founding bodies and distinctive accounts of mission. This article reports on research that maps the extent of financial dependence of church-related welfare agencies on government and the degree of their (dis)connection to the churches and the Christian tradition after nearly two decades of contracting. The evidence suggests that there is not a necessary and automatic connection between high financial dependence on government and secularisation of church-related agencies. Denominational governance, agency size, along with choices by agency leadership, appear to buffer to varying degrees these impacts of contracting.
Government contracting with not-for-profit agencies, particularly those characterised as 'rel... more Government contracting with not-for-profit agencies, particularly those characterised as 'religious' and 'faith-based', to deliver social welfare has been the subject of substantial research in the United States and the United Kingdom in recent years. In contrast, attention to the role of 'religious' and 'faith-based' agencies in service delivery in Australia has been relatively limited. This paper explores conceptual issues relating to research into the impact on 'church-related' not-for-profit social welfare agencies in Australia of engagement in government contracting. It commences with a critical analysis of typologies in recent US and UK literature that use the terminology 'religious', 'faith-based' and 'secular', and identifies why this terminology is not analytically helpful. An alternative conceptual approach is developed, to guide research into the engagement of these agencies with government focusing on issues...
Review(s) of: Work for God's Sake: Christian Ethics in the Workplace, by Esther D Reed, (Saru... more Review(s) of: Work for God's Sake: Christian Ethics in the Workplace, by Esther D Reed, (Sarum Theological Lectures), Darton, Longman and Todd, London, 2010, softcover, 129 pages, ISBN 9780232527612, RRP A$34.95.
The shift by Australian governments to contracting for the delivery of social welfare and human s... more The shift by Australian governments to contracting for the delivery of social welfare and human services in the 1990s raised questions about the likely impact on agencies’ freedom to advocate. Research into the impact on churchrelated agencies of this shift revealed a sector wide response to contracting, through the development of church-related peak welfare bodies becoming active in policy advocacy. The response by these peak welfare agencies to the Federal Government’s Financial Case Management program (2006) demonstrated the disruptive potential of their advocacy, leading to the emergence of “The Major Church Providers” as a coordinating and networking mechanism to further advocacy. This informally coordinated approach to shaping policy was further demonstrated during the Global Financial Crisis (2008-9). Based on these developments, I draw some conclusions on the significance of policy advocacy by church-related peak welfare bodies and their capacity to make public policy space ...
Review(s) of: Saints and Stirrers: Christianity, Conflict and peacemaking in New Zealand, 1814-19... more Review(s) of: Saints and Stirrers: Christianity, Conflict and peacemaking in New Zealand, 1814-1945, by Geoffrey Troughton (ed.), Victoria University Press, 2017, ISBN 9781776561643.
Review(s) of: Intersections of religion and migration: Issues at the global crossroads, by Jennif... more Review(s) of: Intersections of religion and migration: Issues at the global crossroads, by Jennifer B. Saunders, Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, and Susanna Snyder (eds), New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016, Paperback, xxii + 360 pages, ISBN 978-1-137-58628-5. The Refugee Crisis and Religion: Secularism, Security and Hospitality in Question, by Luca Mavelli and Erin K. Wilson (eds), (London, Rowman and Littlefield, 2016). Paperback. x + 316 pages. ISBN 978-1-7834-8895-7.
This paper explores community and government engagement by Doveton Baptist Church, a congregation... more This paper explores community and government engagement by Doveton Baptist Church, a congregation in a suburb on the edge of Melbourne that emerged out of the postwar boom and has been shaped by the subsequent decline of manufacturing. The narrative that I present draws on an extended interview with the pastor of the Church that explored in a reflective way the nature and impact of the Church’s engagement with the community and government and the relationship of that engagement to the mission of the congregation. The involvement of the congregation extends beyond welfare provision into community building more generally. Important themes that emerge are the entanglement of Church and state at a local government level and the porous boundaries between welfare provision, community building and the Church’s mission. The theological account of that mission is Christologically grounded in the life of the congregation
In this paper, I provide an account of the development of church-related social welfare agencies ... more In this paper, I provide an account of the development of church-related social welfare agencies from European settlement to the commencement of the contracting era in the 1990s. In doing so, I explore the ideological, ecclesiastical and geographical influences that contributed to what emerged as a 'mixed economy of welfare', in which the state, while a significant actor, shares the provision of welfare with not-for-profit agencies. I then turn my attention to the constitutional arrangements underpinning church-state engagement in Australia that sit in the background to this structure.
The Christian Churches in Australia are not only present in parishes and congregations but are al... more The Christian Churches in Australia are not only present in parishes and congregations but are also involved in a wide range of activities in the fields of social welfare, human services and social policy. The historical legacy of this involvement is organisationallydiverse and represents a significant presence in public policy in Australia. With the shift to contracting as a funding technology for social welfare and human services in the 1990s, church-related agencies found themselves engaging in new ways with government. Nearly two decades later there has been relatively little research into the impact of the shift to contracting on these agencies, leaving unanswered the question as to whether, or not, they have now become simply an extension of the state. Driven by that fundamental question, this thesis is a theologically-informed inquiry into the impact of the shift to government contracting for social welfare and human services with ‘church-related’ agencies in Australia betwee...
Review(s) of: Sunday Best: How the Church Shaped New Zealand and New Zealand Shaped the Church, b... more Review(s) of: Sunday Best: How the Church Shaped New Zealand and New Zealand Shaped the Church, by Peter Lineham. Auckland: Massey University Press, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-9941407-7-7.
Review of Ellul and the Bible: Towards a Hermeneutic of Freedom - Accepted Manuscript for Studies... more Review of Ellul and the Bible: Towards a Hermeneutic of Freedom - Accepted Manuscript for Studies in Christian Ethics
I acknowledge that I share with the author both the trajectory of having begun life in an evangel... more I acknowledge that I share with the author both the trajectory of having begun life in an evangelical church, and retaining much from that upbringing, and a deep interest in Bonhoeffer. The sketch of the shift in the way Bonhoeffer was read and interpreted since the 1950s that emerges from Stephen Haynes' account was helpful in assisting me to reflect on my own reception of Bonhoeffer across the years. That though is a side benefit of the book. Its importance lies elsewhere.
Postmodern Continental philosophers in recent decades have undertaken a range of provocative enga... more Postmodern Continental philosophers in recent decades have undertaken a range of provocative engagements with Christian theology, particularly the work of the apostle Paul, in search of resources for a range of political projects directed at resisting capitalism, violence and terror. Theologians have taken note of this counterintuitive development from left field so to speak. This unexpected return of theology from the academic wilderness even if under strange auspices and politically radical purposes has resulted in a burgeoning literature in the field of political theology, surveying, and critiquing these intrusions into their academic turf and increasingly offering constructive responses.
An introduction to discussion around the theme of the 'return of"religion' and theology to academ... more An introduction to discussion around the theme of the 'return of"religion' and theology to academic discourse. This provides the basis for a survey of some literature in political and social theory and public policy that document the entanglement of theology with these supposed 'secular' discourses. A work in progress shaped by research for a cross-disciplinary PhD in theology and public policy and participation in a reading group on this theme.
There has been a tradition in Australia, from the sectarian conflict in the nineteenth century on... more There has been a tradition in Australia, from the sectarian conflict in the nineteenth century onwards, of excluding theology from consideration as either a legitimate subject of study, or as being a relevant subject of research in Universities. In the late twentieth century this has been reinforced by an implicit acceptance of a strong version of the secularization thesis. Theology was irrelevant and fated to disappear from public debate. With the assumed departure of churches and Christianity from public life, researchers concluded that they could develop careers with more relevant and viable research agendas. Like the much heralded “end of history”, the anticipated departure of theology was overtaken by reality. Theology has returned as a significant background, and complicating factor in social and political thought, and as an important resource in debates being progressed by a range of social and political theorists.
It is hard to pin down and scope the ‘return of theology’ within disciplinary boundaries. I have therefore discussed this development and the literature in which it is manifested, using a thematic approach under the following headings:
• ‘Religion’ and theology • Theology in public policy and anthropology • Theology and the ‘secular’ • Secularisation and the ‘post-secular’ • Political theology and Marxist engagement with the Apostle Paul
Peace as communal flourishing? The term 'peace' in English doesn't serve us all that well. It doe... more Peace as communal flourishing? The term 'peace' in English doesn't serve us all that well. It doesn't do much more than reference the absence of violence. The contrast with the Hebrew "shalom" is striking. "Shalom", while it references peace, also brings into view related themes of prosperity, community welfare and communal flourishing. Thinking and acting for peace within the frame of reference suggested by shalom would bring into view a much wider range of possible responses beyond the goal of ending violence.
Preparation for war should be factored into the calculation of climate change measures, a prepara... more Preparation for war should be factored into the calculation of climate change measures, a preparation that is increasingly fuelled by the sacralisation of the nation-state. I will then suggest that this form of idolatry is one that theology is uniquely poised to name and deconstruct. In making this move in a theological direction, I will point to the story of Cain and Abel as providing a rubric through which we can interpret the question as to how Christians may continue to have hope, even in an ostensibly hopeless time.
In this article I report some of the findings of my research into the impact on church-related ag... more In this article I report some of the findings of my research into the impact on church-related agencies of contracting. I set the scene with accounts of the policy shift to contracting, developments in the power and reach of the state more generally, and the implications of these developments for the contracting relationship with church-related agencies. The narratives on the impact of contracting that I present in this article come from interviews with senior agency management in a wide range of church-related agencies, supplemented by information from annual reports and agency websites. The theoretical basis for the analysis draws on both organisational sociology and the sociology of religion.
In presenting each proposal I begin with an account of the political orientation that I wish to c... more In presenting each proposal I begin with an account of the political orientation that I wish to challenge, followed by an account of an alternative political practice, along with illustrations of how it offers a politics that is “different”. My first proposal is that we commit to a pattern of practices that challenge political fundamentalism, a stance which is best understood not as a specific set of beliefs, but rather a practice of political engagement that freezes at a particular moment in history a specific interpretation of authoritative texts, cultural understandings, and social judgments.
My second modest proposal is directed at challenging a politics where the aura of the sacred becomes entangled with the state and the entrenching of a militarizing civil religion proceeds apace.
I offer two modest, theologically informed, proposals that gesture towards a politics different t... more I offer two modest, theologically informed, proposals that gesture towards a politics different to those currently causing so much discontent, that drive social and cultural change in communities and through nongovernment and nonmarket, institutions. In presenting each proposal I begin with an account of the political orientation that I wish to challenge, followed by an account of an alternative political practice, along with illustrations of how it offers a politics that is “different”.
The paper provides an account of an emerging critique of the implicit assumptions underpinning HR... more The paper provides an account of an emerging critique of the implicit assumptions underpinning HR Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture typology, particularly those related to Christology, culture, and Christendom. A consideration of this critique along with a sketch of alternative typologies of “Christ and culture”, and some traditions of post-Christendom engagement with culture and society, suggests that there are good reasons why we should remove this tool from the public theologian’s toolkit.
I offer two modest, theologically informed, proposals that gesture towards a politics different t... more I offer two modest, theologically informed, proposals that gesture towards a politics different to those currently causing so much discontent, a politics that is genuinely conservative rather than fundamentalist. Proposal One: That we commit to a politics of listening and voice in respectful engagement. Proposal Two: That we challenge the state’s sacral character.
One area of tension between the disciplines of anthropology and theology is the question of norma... more One area of tension between the disciplines of anthropology and theology is the question of normativity—an invocation to be otherwise. Some imagine a sharp bifurcation between the disciplines, with anthropologists concerned with thick description of human life-worlds whereas theologians practice a normative endeavour in their attempt to propel their audience toward a desired telos. This article interrogates these assumptions by reexamining the relationship between description and normativity. Through explorations of recent theological and anthropological arguments on these themes, we propose that the relation between these orientations is not as clear-cut as it first would seem. Each discipline has both normative and descriptive impulses, and these are never entirely disentangled. Indeed, we argue that anthropologists and theologians have much to learn from each other about their respective normativities. Over some years we have participated in a small ad hoc reading group that discussed recent engagements with theology, including works by anthro-pologically informed theologians, and anthropologists with a lively interest in theology. It has been a good time to have such conversations for, after a period of prolonged neglect, theology has in the last decade re-emerged as a vital stimulus for critical scholarship right across the humanities and
One area of tension between the disciplines of anthropology and theology is the question of norma... more One area of tension between the disciplines of anthropology and theology is the question of normativity—an invocation to be otherwise. Some imagine a sharp bifurcation between the disciplines, with anthropologists concerned with thick description of human life-worlds whereas theologians practice a normative endeavour in their attempt to propel their audience toward a desired telos. This article interrogates these assumptions by re-examining the relationship between description and normativity. Through explorations of recent theological and anthropological arguments on these themes, we propose that the relation between these orientations is not as clear-cut as it first would seem. Each discipline has both normative and descriptive impulses, and these are never entirely disentangled. Indeed, we argue that anthropologists and theologians have much to learn from each other about their respective normativities.
For I was Hungry: Congregations & Church Agencies in Relationship, 2022
The impact of the shift to contracting as a government funding technology has been working its wa... more The impact of the shift to contracting as a government funding technology has been working its way through church-related social welfare and human services agencies in Australia over nearly two decades. Reflection on the impact of that policy change is overdue given both the significance of the changes, and the different shape of Australian church agency involvement in social welfare from that in the UK, US and Europe, respectively, influenced as it has been by Australian history, geography and a pragmatically pluralist constitutional settlement.
In this presentation I provide a summary of findings from a theologically oriented inquiry into the impact on church-related agencies of contracting with government between 1996-2013, which identifies the circumstances under which contracting has lead to church-related agencies becoming extensions of the state, other impacts of the shift to contracting, the tactics by which agencies have sought to resist the pressures of contracting and the role of theology.
Drawing on those findings I present a theological reading of the contemporary nation-state that identifies its ambiguous character in manifesting both bureaucratic and sacral modes of operation. I illustrate the operation of the state in sacral mode with an account of the experience of the Salvation Army in contracting with the Australian Government for the provision of offshore humanitarian services for asylum seekers.
In documenting theological responses to the bureaucratic operation of the state I discuss Catholic agencies’ involvement with contracting for employment services, and the significance of Catholic Social Teaching. I conclude by providing accounts of ways theology has been used within church-related agencies in their decision-making about contracting, and attempts to maintain identity and mission connected to the church rather than the state.
Abstract
Focusing on the third sector agencies’ ability to enable ‘positive impact’ can occlude f... more Abstract Focusing on the third sector agencies’ ability to enable ‘positive impact’ can occlude from view the importance of background issues such as the specific policy environment and the nature of the relationship of agencies with government. Australian government policy on refugees and asylum seekers in recent decades has been characterised by deep public policy conflict, ongoing moral critique and frequent crisis. Many third sector agencies in this field are carrying out their mission with views of positive impact that are in conflict with the apparent goals of government policy.
This paper explores issues in accountability, governance, planning and decision-making for third sector agencies involved in serving asylum seekers and refugees, in an environment where crisis and conflict over policy have become the norm. I specifically explore the impact on agencies of contracting with government for the provision of humanitarian services, tactics of agencies working in the field but not involved in government contracting, including a case study of a local community organisation’s response to the recent withdrawal of support of services and income support to refugees and asylum seekers. I argue that a reflective approach to questions of agency mission and identity is critical for agencies operating in this policy field.
He presents an original reading of Ellul's works, focusing on the theme of presence, emphasizing ... more He presents an original reading of Ellul's works, focusing on the theme of presence, emphasizing the separation of the word from the speaker, and he explores the relation between contemporary protestant Christian theology and structuralism. This is a lot to accomplish in a single volume, but he keeps his writing succinct, and focuses like a laser on his chosen tasks. He succeeds admirably. If I could make some changes to the book, I would have included the chapter on structuralism in Part I, the architecture section of the book, rather than in Part II. This would allow readers to gain a better understanding of structuralism itself as well as with Ellul's engagement with those who founded the movement such as Michel Foucault. However, the book still flows in a logical and readable manner and is a testament to Rollison's firm grasp of Ellul's worldview and philosophy. I highly recommend this book's 'presence' on your bookshelf.
Review of Intersections of Religion and Migration: Issues at the Global Crossroads edited by Jen... more Review of Intersections of Religion and Migration: Issues at the Global Crossroads edited by Jennifer B. Saunders, Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, Susanna Snyder Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-1-137-58628-5 (Religion and Global Migrations) and The Refugee Crisis and Religion: Secularism, Security and Hospitality in Question Edited by Luca Mavelli and Erin Wilson Rowman & Littlefield 2016 ISBN 978-1-7834-8895-7 (Critical Perspectives on Religion in International Politics)
Thematic series by theological publishers don't have a strong record of surviving beyond the firs... more Thematic series by theological publishers don't have a strong record of surviving beyond the first few volumes that may or may not deliver on the initial promise. What frequently follows is silence, with death notices on the series hard to find. Wipf & Stock are to be congratulated on their exceptional record with their Theopolitical Visions series. Commencing in 2008, dedicated to opening up conversations between theology and political theory, the series now includes 25 titles with an exemplary ecumenical diversity in the contributing authors, and topics covered.
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Papers by Douglas Hynd
It is hard to pin down and scope the ‘return of theology’ within disciplinary boundaries. I have therefore discussed this development and the literature in which it is manifested, using a thematic approach under the following headings:
• ‘Religion’ and theology
• Theology in public policy and anthropology
• Theology and the ‘secular’
• Secularisation and the ‘post-secular’
• Political theology and Marxist engagement with the Apostle Paul
My first proposal is that we commit to a pattern of practices that challenge political fundamentalism, a stance which is best understood not as a specific set of beliefs, but rather a practice of political engagement that freezes at a particular moment in history a specific interpretation of authoritative texts, cultural understandings, and social judgments.
My second modest proposal is directed at challenging a politics where the aura of the sacred becomes entangled with the state and the entrenching of a militarizing civil religion proceeds apace.
Proposal One: That we commit to a politics of listening and voice in respectful engagement.
Proposal Two: That we challenge the state’s sacral character.
In this presentation I provide a summary of findings from a theologically oriented inquiry into the impact on church-related agencies of contracting with government between 1996-2013, which identifies the circumstances under which contracting has lead to church-related agencies becoming extensions of the state, other impacts of the shift to contracting, the tactics by which agencies have sought to resist the pressures of contracting and the role of theology.
Drawing on those findings I present a theological reading of the contemporary nation-state that identifies its ambiguous character in manifesting both bureaucratic and sacral modes of operation. I illustrate the operation of the state in sacral mode with an account of the experience of the Salvation Army in contracting with the Australian Government for the provision of offshore humanitarian services for asylum seekers.
In documenting theological responses to the bureaucratic operation of the state I discuss Catholic agencies’ involvement with contracting for employment services, and the significance of Catholic Social Teaching. I conclude by providing accounts of ways theology has been used within church-related agencies in their decision-making about contracting, and attempts to maintain identity and mission connected to the church rather than the state.
Focusing on the third sector agencies’ ability to enable ‘positive impact’ can occlude from view the importance of background issues such as the specific policy environment and the nature of the relationship of agencies with government. Australian government policy on refugees and asylum seekers in recent decades has been characterised by deep public policy conflict, ongoing moral critique and frequent crisis. Many third sector agencies in this field are carrying out their mission with views of positive impact that are in conflict with the apparent goals of government policy.
This paper explores issues in accountability, governance, planning and decision-making for third sector agencies involved in serving asylum seekers and refugees, in an environment where crisis and conflict over policy have become the norm. I specifically explore the impact on agencies of contracting with government for the provision of humanitarian services, tactics of agencies working in the field but not involved in government contracting, including a case study of a local community organisation’s response to the recent withdrawal of support of services and income support to refugees and asylum seekers. I argue that a reflective approach to questions of agency mission and identity is critical for agencies operating in this policy field.