As the United Nation adopted Entrepreneurship for development on December 8, 2012, Churches and states around the world cannot seem to agree how to get involved in socioeconomic development and entrepreneurship, a subject certainly bears examination. Using a qualitative approach, religious scholar, psychologist and researcher, Dr. Richard Corker-Caulker outlines the theories that have justified various social programs. He analyzes, interprets, and explains how church and state have responded to socioeconomic problems of the course of history citing concrete examples. The role of religious, political, business, educational and family institutions in economic development and entrepreneurship is examined including how religious and political institutions can develop education, constitutions, laws, program and services around human needs link to human development and prosperity for all. As you read, you'll discover • the relationship between the divine and humanity, and how this affects socioeconomic development; • why a relationship with God is important for communities; • ways to increase the chances of individual socioeconomic development; • strategies to promote social entrepreneurship in developing nations. • how to develop needs assessment • how to identify natural resources and social problems for socioeconomic development and entrepreneurship • potential for creating and starting your own job and • how personal belief can limit or increase socioeconomic development and entrepreneurship prospect It is possible for everyone to become financially independent while adhering to biblical and spiritual principles. The solution to human problems lies in cooperation with a higher power and a willingness to use biblical principles alongside new ideas and theories to become agents of change. With this book, you'll examine the human crisis from the context of Adam and Eve, who triggered a transgenerational problem that requires more complex responses from the church. Improve your understanding of the divine, and take an important step to improving conditions for yourself and others with Twenty-First Century Foundation and Principles for Socioeconomic Development and Social Entrepreneurship. This book recommended for every family and institutions.
21st Century Foundation and Principles for Socioeconomic Development and Social Entrepreneurship
By Richard Corker-CaulkerTrafford Publishing
Copyright © 2012 Dr. Richard Corker-Caulker, ACSW, FACM
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4669-0119-3Contents
Forward..............................................................................................xiChapter One: The Problem.............................................................................1Chapter Two: Political Theories for Government-run Social Programs...................................4Chapter Three: Michigan State Social Programs and Services...........................................6Chapter Four: Dualism and Theology...................................................................9Chapter Five: Dualism and the Church.................................................................12Chapter Six: Specific Perspective....................................................................15Chapter Seven: Field Study Report....................................................................19Chapter Eight: Insight for Faith-based Socioeconomic Development.....................................36Chapter Nine: Genesian Foundation for Socioeconomic Development......................................41Chapter Ten: Genesian Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.........................................58Chapter Eleven: Theological Foundation for Faith-based Socioeconomic Development.....................68Chapter Twelve: Summary and Conclusion...............................................................74Endnotes.............................................................................................77Bibliography.........................................................................................85Appendix I...........................................................................................95
Chapter One
The Problem
The name of the denomination or church the research was completed has been deleted for confidential reasons. Therefore, the word church, members, leaders, former president, Gavin and Sahlin will be used to represent the denomination. The problem we are trying to address is, Gavin former assistant director of the church development agency, traced the historical church's commitment to the poor back to World War I. The church provided food, clothing, and work opportunities to needy families; however, Gavin discovered that the church that was active in her commitment to the poor during World War 1 has declined in her commitment to the welfare ministry of the Church.
Sahlin, former director of the church development and relief services, described major cuts in workforce and programs in many North American community service centers 1988, with few leaders or directors for community services on a half-time basis.
Community ministry served as an umbrella for the organization and was always under the umbrella of the local churches and conferences in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda operating a wide variety of social services, including health screening and education, family life workshops, meals and shelters for the homeless, assistance with immigration issues, disaster relief, and other activities.
Is the observation and report by Gavin and Sahlin applicable in the Michigan church Conference?
Hypothesis 1
Theological dualism is a contributing factor to decline in faith-based program evident by cut in staff, community services and programs for the poor.
Is theological dualism responsible for the decline in programs and services in the church?
Hypothesis 2
Narrow theological assessment and understanding of Adam and Eve identity and dominion is the cause for limiting the scope of the theology, mission and ministry of the church.
The question is, is the lack of understanding of Adam Eve identity and dominion responsible for limiting the theology, teaching, preaching, mission and ministry only to spiritual problem?
Hypothesis 3
A holistic, comprehensive assessment and understanding of the Genesis human identity, dominion, problems and challenges increase level of motivation, commitment and training in socioeconomic development and entrepreneurship.
The question is will the increase understand of integration of Genesis chapter 1-3 increase commitment to faith-based social services training, program and services?
Justification for the study
In the wake of cuts in community social services observed by Sahlin and Gavin completing a field study of the problem for understanding the situation is a positive sign. The result of the study will also rule out whether the generalization applies or not.
Social problems may create challenges and opportunities for religious organizations to impact their communities.
In 1997, the church General Conference sensed the need for dialogue in the areas of missions and social action. High-ranking officials in the Church, representatives from the church Development and Relief Agency, and professors from the church university in Michigan met to discuss the church and it response to social problems
The need to develop a socioeconomic principle based on biblical foundation for entrepreneurship and faith-based community programs and social services for church is urgently needed because of the socioeconomic challenges confronting mankind and the harsh realities of business practices and social programs and services that misuse vital resources for purpose unintended.
The study will bring together information for and against faith-based socioeconomic development and social entrepreneurship and the foundation and principle for faith-based socioeconomic practice all in one research. This will contribute knowledge to the field.
Limitations of the Research
The report only represents the responses of thirty church leaders that participated in the study. The data do not include all the churches in the conference but a reasonable number necessary for analysis.
Research Methodology
The field study was designed to find out if the decline mentioned by Sahlin and Gavin applies to churches in the Michigan Conference.
A questionnaire was developed and mailed out to church conference secretary in Michigan for distribution. Several variables were included.
A qualitative designed was used in the study. Qualitative methods have different meanings for different people, depending on a person's intellectual background. A qualitative approach is largely an inductive process used by a scientist or researcher to attempt to gain an understanding of the patterned meanings, perceptions, beliefs, values, and behaviors of a particular group of people in relationship to a research problem (Carlson, Robert., Siegal, H., and Falck, R. 1995). Qualitative research studies things, situations, problems or phenomena. It is also used to find out what people do, know, think, and feel about their condition, problem, or issue in a thematic descriptive way, differing from existing information, theory, explanation, or generalization.
The data was collected and analyzed. Then, a coordinated effort was used to support the response. Qualitative steps include the following: find out what you want to learn about, ask questions, decide who you are going to ask and how, gather the data, analyze the data using word processor and write what you have found out about the question.
Chapter Two
Political Theories for Government-run Social Programs
What are the spiritual and political responsibilities of society towards the poor? In the study, the researcher reviewed two current worldviews—political and Christian as a starting point. In this chapter, the researcher discussed the political worldview or theories of the Republican, Democratic and Liberal political groups in the United State of America. Secondly, the researcher described the Michigan State owned socioeconomic programs and services for the poor and those in need. The reason for discussing Michigan State response to the poor in need is that the church that is the focus of the study resides in Michigan. So, understanding the state response will give us an idea to evaluate on one hand how the state is responding and how the church in the study is responding.
We all live in an economy that has been constructed by the powerful and wealthy. The economy we have created from Adam and Eve is built on political socioeconomic philosophy.
Social Democrats
Social democrats believe that poverty and social problems are caused by conflict in social values. Conflict means a contested struggle among groups or institutions with opposite aims and perspectives.
Therefore, restoring order will bring about equilibrium, stability, continuity, consensus, integration, and social control. Government intervention is always inevitable to create access for all, because social democrats believe that competing powers and different aims will create disequilibrium in society and the day-to-day life of people.
Because of this, the government needs to intervene on behalf of the oppressed, the poor, the working class, and the middle class that cannot compete for goods or services, as well as those who have been bypassed, excluded, or prevented from achieving successful human development.
This belief is clearly articulated in programs and services aimed at the poor, needy, and deprived. Social democrats do not argue against control and accumulation of resources or against capitalism.
Neoconservative
The neoconservative believes that a welfare state and welfare programs will eventually fracture traditional family life, erode work ethic, and legitimized unearned leisure time without shame or penalty. Therefore, government should cut down on social programs and services that do not encourage economic independence.
The logic is that if people receive state benefits and free programs, they will do nothing about ending their dependence. The neoconservative view states that individuals are responsible for their poverty. Therefore, investing in the individual to be independent could result in eradicating poverty and dependence.
Neoconservative is mainly responsible for advocating that government should stay out of people's lives and pockets, while at the same time advocating the control of resources and services by the rich and famous instead of the masses. They are prepared to fight any legislation that will empower the masses or restore the masses to have dominion over the few.
They believe the few should continue to be in charge of controlling all resources and services through democratic capitalism. They reject the idea that material resources are existential resources never created for democratic capitalism though legitimate. Democratic capitalism, however effective it may appear, has its merits and demerits and has been one of the leading causes of modern economic collapse, greed, stagnation, and poor development, as well as the creation of few in the wealthy class and masses living in poverty.
Liberals
Liberals, on the other hand, believe society needs reform in order to enable those who are less privileged to climb up. Liberals also share the opinion that if the government doesn't intervene the result will be disorganization and social stress. If poverty is allowed to go unchecked, it will trigger all kinds of vices, disease, mental unrest, family breakdown, crime, and social problems. In the liberal view, the function of the state is to modify negative aspects of capitalism. Capitalism, however effective, has a downside, and it is the duty of government to minimize the problems of capitalism.
Chapter Three
Michigan State Social Programs and Services
Until the nineteen hundreds, community social service programs were the exclusive concern of private organizations, particularly churches. The Protestant churches took the lead in providing faith-based community social services. Protestant churches later cut back on social services efforts when Franklin D. Roosevelt became president of the United States.
Roosevelt's dream was that even though the federal government could not ensure 100 percent of the population against 100 percent of the risks and vicissitudes of life, the Social Security policy would give some measure of protection to the average citizen and his or her family against the loss of a job, health problems, and poverty in old age.
The Social Security program was introduced by the federal government. The program cost citizens' work-time savings. The policy requires universal coverage and compulsory deductions made directly from each worker's salary.
In exchange for each worker's monthly contribution, the government promises to provide retirement, survivor benefits, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, and Medicare health insurance. Social Security programs and services provide some assistance to help individuals during periods of heat or other adverse weather conditions, family planning, anti-poverty programs, neighborhood health centers, and mental-health services.
Medical and public health programs provide treatment for and prevention of diseases and injuries, as well as substance abuse treatment necessary to protect life or private safety.
This is one way to fight back against poverty in old age, which is a fact of life no matter your past work contribution or savings. We have to remember that in states with a higher population of mothers, children, students, and the elderly unemployed are at higher risk of poverty. Today, even the safety net of Social Security funds will not be enough to pay for all services. Therefore, individuals are advised to invest in private retirement funds. However, due to recent negative experiences and the Wall Street collapse in 1999, many investors and potential investors are left wondering about relying on these investment funds for future economic security.
The researcher has included in the chapter a description of Detroit city, Michigan, social problems as a background of problems confronting many poor in cities around the world. Furthermore, the problem is a representation of social problems confronting churches in cities. It will provide a tool for evaluating the response of the church in this study. The following data reflects information available in 1980-1990. Detroit, a major city in Michigan's industrial development, was in ruined, abandoned, decayed, or destroyed.
The annual population in Detroit declined 14.6 percent from 1980–90 and again by 3.5 percent 1990–94. The population was 1,027,974 according to the 1990 census. By 2000, the census put the population at 951,270, a 7.5 percent drop, although the city disagreed with the report (Mayor's Press Release by U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). At the same time, median household income was $ 18,742 in 1990. The cost of health care per month per family was $567 in the city.
The census also reported that 59 percent of mothers with children six years older or younger in the labor force. There were 71,876 children living with a mother as the only parent, while 9,343 children were being parented only by a father. It is no surprised that with the decline in jobs, fallen income, an increase parenting problems, and less supervised care, social problems and poverty multiply. Other social problems that also emerged were homelessness and poverty.
The situation in 2010 may not be any better for the poor in the city, let alone in the world, as man continues to face challenging environmental and economic problems and issues. Michigan State has been responding to social problems and socioeconomic challenges in Detroit by programs and social service. Is the Michigan State social programs and services similar or different from the church in the field study? We will not know the answer to the question just yet until we go over chapter seven and start discussing the data from the field study.
Michigan Child Program
The Michigan Child program gets its name from Michigan Children's Health Programs. (MI Child is pronounced "my child.") This program provides services and medical coverage for all children of working people for only $5 per month, regardless of family size..
This program targets families with no health insurance and a monthly income of less than $1,800 for a family of two, $2,300 for a family of three, $2,800 for a family of four, or $3,200 for a family of five. Michigan Child provides prevention better than traditional corrective services.
Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
State and local authorities provide health, education, food stamps, Medicaid or Medicare, and disability and unemployment benefits. In 1993, Wayne County (Detroit area) provided benefits to 288,924 people or families who needed them. The County also provided medical checkup, shots, emergency dental care, pharmacy pharmaceuticals, hospitals care, prenatal care and delivery, and vision and hearing benefits. Services are also available that provide checkups, shots, emergency dental care, pharmaceuticals, hospital care, prenatal care and delivery, and vision and hearing benefits.
Chapter Four
Dualism and Theology
Should we expect the Christian church to develop a theology, teaching, mission and ministry practice that will provide similar services to individuals and families? The church in North America attempted in the past to provide a theological foundation for social entrepreneurship called the social gospel. The social gospel was an attempt to make Christianity more relevant to individual social and economic concerns by addressing human needs in the contemporary world. The view was that while looking for a heaven in which the soul returns to unit with God the earth can be a place also to live like in heaven while awaiting the arrival of the return of Christ.
The theology of the social gospel by Niebuhr and Rauschenbusch was criticized by many who viewed theological emphasis undermining the main trust of the gospel which is to save soul. Does the bible promote hierarch of salvation? To help answer the question and determining the origin of the hierarch of salvation the following literature were reviewed to give an idea about what is all ready known.
According to the literature, the origin of Western Dualism could be traced to a philosophical system developed at Alexandria, Egypt, in the third century by Plotinus (205-270 CE) and his successors. Plotinus constructed an elaborate hierarchy of spiritual levels through which the soul can ascend from physical existence to merge with the Divine. This represents traditional Greek rationalism of scheme of salvation the merging of self or soul to a higher life. The order includes the one, divine, physical and the soul that supports the finite and visible world, which include the individual and matter. Platonism has grown though the school was closed by Justine the Christian in AD 529. Platonism lived on and exhibited it influences in the views of Christian leaders who tends to prioritize Christian theology, belief, teaching, training, mission and ministry to exclude any thing that is matter or physical from Christian teaching, mission and ministry. Futhermore, there is the issue in the world at large that tends to separate spiritual matter from programs and services that cater to human needs. The influence is subtle.
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Excerpted from 21st Century Foundation and Principles for Socioeconomic Development and Social Entrepreneurshipby Richard Corker-Caulker Copyright © 2012 by Dr. Richard Corker-Caulker, ACSW, FACM. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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