An Important Faith-Based Discussion

Dr. Fred Smith, a nationally recognized Theologian, will visit Columbia next month to speak. This is not the first trip Dr. Smith has made in correlation with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. He came to South Carolina in 2001 to help the Foundation celebrate the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine’s 150 year anniversary.

The Foundation, in conjunction with the United Way of the Midlands, will welcome Dr. Smith again. We will assemble several faith-based leaders in the Columbia area to discuss several important issues. The entire premise for the discussion is about the ever changing demand and expectations for faith-based organizations in community building.

It was not too long ago that churches, synagogues and other religious facilities were mainly focused on their congregations with limited outreach. Things are very different today. The faith-based sector finds themselves invested in a variety of activities and purposes that have traditionally been carried out by nonprofit organizations. There are soup kitchens, after school programs, reading recovery programs, teen pregnancy prevention efforts, fatherhood related activities, job training programs, self help and self esteem programs, food banks, clothing closets and an array of other programs far too numerous to mention.

This all happened for a reason. When welfare reform took place in the mid 1990’s a lot of government related services went by the wayside. Religious groups had to fill the gap. They have done the best they can with little training and limited resources. Dr. Fred Smith will ask the how question to faith-based leaders. How can we in the faith community work together to impact our community both from a human capital and financial perspective? Should more of an effort be made to focus on one area or neighborhood to maximize impact? Are we looking around to make sure that what we are doing is not duplicative or that we are not missing the involvement of another faith entity that could strengthen our efforts?

These are very compelling questions and should result in a lively discussion by area faith leaders. There are no easy answers to solving community problems. We are all well intended and hopeful of impact and success. I am very thankful that we are going to have this type of discussion. Religious leaders are so important to our community and our society and the role their institutions play now and in the future is critical to community improvement.


Tom Keith is the president of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina