Congregation-Based Community Organizing

Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO, also called Faith-Based, Broad-Based, or sometimes Institution-Based) is a movement that seeks to establish inter-faith, cross-class, multi-ethnic and multi-racial grassroots organizations for purposes of increasing social integration and power in civil society and for making civic, regional and state-wide changes for social improvement.

New! Building Bridges, Building Power: Developments in Institution-Based Community Organizing How we effectively counter rising social inequality and the fracturing of communities and families in the United States? Among the most widespread and sustained efforts to link democratic engagement to faith-based and secular institutions is the field of congregation-based community organizing. Interfaith Funders in collaboration with Dr. Richard Wood (University of New Mexico) and Brad Fulton (Duke University), shares the findings of a new national census of all institution-based community organizing efforts in the United States. The study shows the geographic spread of organizing, its growing influence in state and national political arenas, and the complex changes occurring in the religious and racial/ethnic diversity of its institutional base, leadership core, and professional staff. This report as a tool for understanding how this major social movement is addressing their specific issue areas, geographic focus, and leadership development interests.

• Read the report (PDF)
• View slideshow (PowerPoint)

Best Practice

People’s Church of Kalamazoo MI—Winner of 2012 Bennett Award for Congregational Social Justice! Ten years ago, after a Sunday Service, a newcomer asked about the People’s Church social action program and a long-time member answered, “Oh, we don’t do that.” Today, the congregation supports a vibrant social justice ministry, from community organizing and community service, to advocacy at the local, state and national level, and an international partnership. A Standing on the Side of Love banner hangs in the sanctuary and the congregation received a Leadership Award from their interfaith community organization (ISAAC) for their role in securing funding from the city and state for early childhood education, as well as bringing a multi-million dollar grant for the Nurse Family Partnership to Kalamazoo. They also lifted up People’s for bringing an anti-racism focus to ISAAC’s ministry and applauded their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) advocacy in the community. Fifty people–adults, youth, and children—regularly help prepare and serve meals at an interfaith weekly program for homeless people. What has changed to make the congregation this year’s recipient of the Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA’s) social justice award? Read the full story including the action steps and resources the congregation used to strengthen their justice ministries.

Read more CBCO congregational stories.

Get Started!

1. Learn more about CBCO.
2. Find a CBCO affiliate (PDF) near you.
3. Apply for matching grants for membership dues and training.
4. Connect with other UU congregations in CBCO.