{"product_id":"the-other-philadelphia-story-how-local-congregations-support-quality-of-life-in-urban-america-hardback-9780812239492","title":"The Other Philadelphia Story; How Local Congregations Support Quality of Life in Urban America (Hardback) 9780812239492","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Other Philadelphia Story\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eHow Local Congregations Support Quality of Life in Urban America\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eRam A. Cnaan (Author), Stephanie C. Boddie (With), Charlene C. McGrew (With), Jennifer Kang (With)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780812239492\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eHardback, published 10 November 2006\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e352 pages, 5 illus.\u003cbr\u003e22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.666 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"Cnaan uses a unique, thorough field study of nearly 2000 congregations in Philadelphia to probe the issue of social service delivery through religious institutions. . . . The book will be useful for graduate courses in social welfare and religion, and to scholars in both fields. Highly recommended.\" (\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor people living in U.S. cities, social services come not only from the government but increasingly also from local religious communities. Ever since the Clinton administration's welfare reform, faith-based institutions, and especially congregations, have been allowed to bid for federal funds for their programs. In \u003ci\u003eThe Other Philadelphia Story\u003c\/i\u003e, drawing on the first-ever census of congregations in any American city, Ram Cnaan and his colleagues provide an authoritative account of the functioning of congregations, their involvement in social services, and their support of other charitable organizations.\u003cbr\u003e An in-depth study of 1,392 congregations in Philadelphia, the book illuminates how these groups function as community hubs where members and neighbors alike gather throughout the week. Cnaan's findings show that almost every assembly of parishioners emphasizes caring for others, even if the help is modest. Thus American congregations uphold an implicit but strong norm of social responsibility and work to improve the quality of life for members and nonmembers alike.\u003cbr\u003e Many of the problems associated with urban life persist in the face of governmental inaction, and the burden of responsibility cannot be shouldered entirely by congregations. However, in a city such as Philadelphia, where half the residents are regular attenders of religious congregations, hopes for urban improvement are largely to be found in these local groups.\u003cbr\u003e Special focus is given in the book to kinds of care that often go unnoticed: volunteerism, provision of refuge, and informal assistance to community members in need. All told, Cnaan asserts, congregations are an essential component of Philadelphia's civil society. Without them, the quality of life would deteriorate immeasurably.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSECTION I: INTRODUCTION TO THE FIELD OF STUDYING CONGREGATIONS\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 1: \"Here is the Church; Here is the Steeple\": Defining and Measuring Religious Congregations\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 2: The Religious Landscape in Philadelphia\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 3: The organizational behavior of the congregations in our study\u003cbr\u003e SECTION II: CONGREGATIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO QUALITY OF LIFE IN URBAN AMERICA\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 4: Informal Care by Congregations\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 5: Formal Care-Congregations as Social Service Agencies\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 6: Using Space for Good Use\u003cbr\u003e SECTION III: SPECIAL CONGREGATIONS AND SUBGROUPS\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 7: Black Congregations in the City of Brotherly Love\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 8: Latino congregations in the 21st century\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 9: Women in congregations and social service provision\u003cbr\u003e SECTION IV: AREA ORGANIZATIONS THAT ENHANCE THE CONGREGATIONAL SOCIAL SERVICE CAPACITY\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 10: Interfaith coalitions-The Story of the Northwest Interfaith Movement (NIM)\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 11: Using the congregational capacity to help the homeless-the NPIHN story\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 12: Utilizing congregational volunteers: The stories of Amachi and REST Philly\u003cbr\u003e SECTION IV: CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 13: The world of the clergy: Contextual necessities and leadership challenges\u003cbr\u003e Chapter 14: Policy recommendations\u003cbr\u003e Appendix I: Methods\u003cbr\u003e References\u003cbr\u003e Acknowledgments\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"University of Pennsylvania Press","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52555708334360,"sku":"9780812239492","price":52.79,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-other-philadelphia-story-how-local-congregations-support-quality-of-life-in-urban-america-hardback-9780812239492","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}