Churches and Faith Communities as Third Places/ 2 of 5
An Introduction and Definition
Robert Putnam is an American political scientist most famous for his book Bowling Alone, which revealed a collapse in membership of civic organizations (including churches) in the U.S. since the mid-1960s Putnam popularized the term “social capital,” which refers to societal value/influence derived from strong bonds between individuals that can, in turn, help build strong networks between different civic groups.
“Americans are going to church less often than we did three or four decades ago, and the churches we go to are less engaged with the wider community. Trends in religious life reinforce rather than counterbalance the ominous plunge in social connectedness in the secular community.”1
Churches/Faith Communities and “Social Capital”
Until the mid-20th century, churches and faith communities tended to be hubs of community activities and, therefore, had a higher degree of “social capital.”
- Offering soup kitchens or food pantries
- Hosting meetings of Church-related societies (e.g., the Knights of Columbus)
- Conducting clothing drives
- Sponsoring boys and girls clubs
- Presenting special events (e.g., May processions, parish theater productions)
- Offering parish BBQs
- Hosting meetings for divorced and separated folks
- Inviting membership in a parish activities (e.g., a marching band)
- Hosting bereavement groups
- Presenting adult faith formation classes
- Welcoming 12-step group
- And much more…