HAVE FAITH IN SOCIAL CHANGE?
Faith in Social Change? by pam ashlund Let's face it, so much of the nonprofit world has its foundation in activism. Not counting such venerable institutions as the Red Cross and the YMCA, so many nonprofits were born in the '60's & '70's. It's always struck me as odd that the very reasons people are motivated to create change, are the same reasons that make them vulnerable to attack. I presume that were government funding not involved, none of this would have been an issue. Where did we get this idea that neutrality of ideas was a prerequisite for the use of public monies? Ironically, this notion was successfully challenged by faith-based organizations. It's gone in and out of vogue, but in some years pushing a religious agenda, requiring a prayer for service, would exclude an organization from the use of federal funds. Politics found a way to justify this. At the same time that the faith-based organization was placed squarely on the legitimate table, n...