MOST RECENT
Just published August 2023
Children, Religion and Social Capital: Bonding and Bridging in Multi-faith Urban Neighbourhoods by Greg Smith
Based on a research project I carried out 20 years ago
Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 33
New Vistas in the Study of Religious and Non-religious Belief
- Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, Volume: 33 https://brill.com/display/title/64742
2023 .Is there still Faith in the City. Blog https://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/is-there-still-faith-in-the-city/?
The Ordinary Theology of British Evangelicals : The Bebbington Quadrilateral and Beyond (October 2021)
this is my final paper based on data from the Evangelical Alliance 21st Century Evangelicals Research Programme
Download direct from
In THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY 7 (2021): 31–54 ISSN 2049-4513
© THE AUTHOR This is an open access article distributed under a CC BY 4.0 licence www.theologyandministry.org
Urban Mission 40 Years On (July 2021)
This first instalment of the William Temple Founation Urban Tracts series offers an overview of urban ministry since the early 1980s and draws out some important lessons from the last 40 years. Are there distinctive characteristics and key principles that are transferable to new places, new times, and a new generation of practitioners? As we head, post-pandemic, towards a ‘new normal’ for urban society and the church there are exciting opportunities to be grasped.
Or download here
On 7 September 2021 this as the subject of a webinar: A video recording of this is available above or at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9qBWXnlosk
***************************
How can we create multicultural church? Blog Article for Psephizo May 2021
My latest William Temple blog considers some of the complex relationships between flag, state, and church: Is Britain Flagging
Trans-Atlantic Evangelicalism: Toxic, Fragmented or Redeemable? (2020)
https://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/temple-tracts/
also a review of Chris Wright's new book
review: https://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/blog-review-here-are-your-gods/
******************************************
BOOKS
G.Smith - Edited Volume 2015
21st Century Evangelicals Reflections on Research
The draft text of this is available here
Smith G (2005) "Children’s Perspectives on Believing and Belonging"
London: National Children's Bureau for Joseph Rowntree Foundation 84pp. ISBN 1 904787 53 3
Summary Findings here
(an unpublished paper arising from this work can be downloaded here.
On line Book: Community and Communitarianism; Concepts and contexts by Greg Smith
This book length manuscript was first published in 1996 on the Web by UK Communities Online Download Pdfs of chapters
Published Academic Papers
Trans-Atlantic Evangelicalism: Toxic, Fragmented or Redeemable? (2020)
Greg Smith
In the wake of the 2020 US presidential election, Greg Smith investigates the rapidly changing, and often fraught, nature of evangelical identity in both the US and the UK. Drawing on survey data from the Evangelical Alliance, Smith offers a nuanced picture of evangelical self-understanding in relation to British values, moral questions, contemporary politics and our current culture wars. What, asks Smith, is the future for evangelical identity on both sides of the Atlantic?
https://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/temple-tracts/
or at https://drive.google.com/file/d/14cJ6XwAiT4TK9DkgVcE7BI6rURBlpx1P/view?usp=sharing
Evangelicals and the Encounter with Islam: Changing Christian Identity in Multi-Faith Britain.
Smith, G. (2018). Entangled Religions, 5, 154-209. https://doi.org/10.13154/er.v5.2018.154-209 https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/7343 or https://drive.google.com/file/d/19oVfwoZWBPHmJFZvLhuJkIb1IQ4Ss-DE/view?usp=sharing
Religion and Brexit: populism and the Church of England
Smith, G. and Woodhead, L., 2018. Religion and Brexit: populism and the Church of England. Religion, State & Society, 46(3), pp.206-223. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09637494.2018.1483861
Or
https://drive.google.com/open?id=16KVk3d02QnYB18zyEdY5L9Dp7dFU9tC5
Greg Smith - Testimony and Theodicy: Evangelical Christians, answered and unanswered prayers for healing in
Theology and Ministry Volume 5 (2018) download from
https://www.dur.ac.uk/theologyandministry/volumes/5/
or https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gfbhItAGU0RAfMk5UpgGvvNv8CmJ8vca/view?usp=sharing
The Revenge of the Racists and the Silence of those who Worship the Lamb |
Greg Smith (2018)
In a provocative and timely new Temple Tract, Greg Smith provides a sociological and theological reflection on populist nationalism, religious prejudice, xenophobia and racism in the contemporary context of the United Kingdom and especially England, with comparisons with the USA and Europe. Drawing on new empirical research on religion and Brexit voting trends, along with decades of activism in the church, Greg considers how we can better respond to the challenges of xenophobic and racist social attitudes.
Can be dowloaded for free at http://williamtemplefoundation.org.uk/temple-tracts-series-4/
Smith, Greg., 2017, 'Evangelical Social Action in the UK',
Crucible, the Journal of Christian Social Ethics, October, pp. 25–37
can be accessed here
Does Faith Make You Healthy and Happy? The Case of Evangelical Christians in the UK
Greg Smith, William Temple Foundation : June 2017 The Journal of Religion & Society Religion and Politics [ Supplement 14 ]
Edited by Ronald A. Simkins and Zachary B. Smith, Creighton University Free Download pdf at
https://dspace2.creighton.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10504/113358/2017-19.pdf
or https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7UDiSlsmmA8SllNTm01bW03RFE
‘The Seven Pillars of Religion in the Public Sphere (or what on earth is religion?)’ by Greg Smith
Temple Tract Greg Smith - August 2016
ebook for the William Temple Foundation
available to download here: http://amzn.to/2bBg44X
or here
Is God back? Whether one sees religion as declining or experiencing a resurgence, in 2016, questions of religious beliefs and actions are perhaps more present in public life than they have been in recent times. From politicians publicly professing their faith, to France’s infamous ‘burkini ban’, to legal disputes over icing cakes with slogans supporting same-sex marriage, religion is far from a silent elephant in the room.
Conversely, at the same time religious literacy appears to be declining. Greg Smith takes up the challenge of explaining ‘what on earth is religion’ writing specifically from the UK’s globalised, post-Christian context. Smith suggests that the best way to understand it is through looking at what he coins as the ‘seven pillars of religion’, which are distinct yet overlapping in nature. In doing so, Smith highlights and clarifies what this increased visibility of religion in public life might actually mean, both in terms of how we perceive modern society, and how we understand the changing nature of religion within it.
"Faith, Progressive Localism & the Hol(e)y Welfare Safety Net"
ebook for the William Temple Foundation
Greg Smith April 2015
An analysis of the British welfare system takes a candid look at the role of faith-based organisations, asking how and why these groups have tried to plug service gaps. With case studies from local authorities in North West England, Greg Smith brings together and builds on some of the most significant research on religion, poverty and the welfare state from over the last decade. "Faith, Progressive Localism & the Hol(e)y Welfare Safety Net" is available to download now." Kindle version £2.99 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Progressive-Localism-Welfare-Safety-Temple-ebook/dp/B00W1SLFW6/
or here
Greg Smith 2011
Faith and Volunteering in the UK: Towards a Virtuous Cycle for the Accumulation of Social, Religious and Spiritual Capital?
Diaconia. Journal for the Study of Christian Social Practice
2011/2,2 p. 175–193 available here
Smith G. Faith in Local Government: The emergence of religion in the politics of an Inner London Borough 1975-2006:
in The Politics and Religion Journal Volume IV (No. 2) - Autumn 2010 ISSN 1820 - 659X (online) or Here
Great Gulfs and Chasms 2006
- Greg Smith on the Bridge Builders Project in Preston paper presented 15th June 2006 , NCVO, London at ESRC NCVO seminar on Faith-based voluntary action, published report from the ESRC or available on the web HERE
BEFORE 2005
Smith G & Soteri-Procter A. (2004) Tracing and Mapping: the challenges of compiling databases and directories in Social Research Update, Issue 42 published on paper and on the web quarterly by the Department of Sociology, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2
Smith G. (2002). "Community Research: A practitioner's perspective on methods and values." The journal of community work and development 1(3): 31-48.
Smith G. (2003). Faith in the Voluntary Sector : A common or distinctive experience of religious organisations? Manchester, Working Papers in Applied Social Research, Dept of Sociology: University of Manchester.
Smith G. (2001) 'Religion as a source of social capital in the regeneration and globalisation of East London', (2001) Rising East, (vol 4. No.3 Spring 2001). London, Lawrence and Wishart.
Smith G. (2006) Religious Identities, Social Networks and the Power of Information ;Field work issues in mapping religious diversity in London in Fieldwork in Religion vol 1 no 3 September 2006
Smith G. (2004). "Implicit Religion and Faith Based Urban Regeneration"… in Implicit Religion Vl 7 No 2 Augut 2004
Smith G. (2004). "Faith in Community and Communities of Faith? Government Rhetoric and Religious Identity in Urban Britain." Journal of Contemporary Religion Vol. 19, No. 2, May 2004
Religion and the Rise of Social Capitalism (2002) in Community Development Journal (April 2002 edition) Oxford. OUP.
Smith G. (2000 C..) Global Systems and Religious Diversity in the Inner City Migrants in the East End of London" MOST Journal on Multicultural Societies, Vol. 2, No. 1 ISSN 1564-4901 © UNESCO, 2000
additional case study material is available here
(1998a) A Very Social Capital; Measuring the vital signs of Community Life in Newham in "Rising East" Vol.2. no.1. London Lawrence & Wishart ... reprinted in Building Civil Society&.(1998) eds. Knight B Smerdon M & Pharoah C . , West Malling Kent. Charities Aid Foundation pp 51-73
(1998b) Ethnicity Religious Belonging and Interfaith Encounter : Some Survey Findings from East London (1998) in Journal of Contemporary Religion Vol 13. No3 pp 333-351 "
(1996) "Ties, nets and an elastic bund: The concept of community in postmodern society" in Community Development Journal July 1996 (Oxford)
(1995) "Poverty Ethnicity and Geography: Newham in the 1991 Census" working paper of Geography Dept. Queen Mary & Westfield College, London Summary of this Smith G (1996) "Census Data" and the Church Urban Fund (guidelines for funders)". in Crucible..
Chapters in collections
Smith G. (2004) "Building Community; within and without the walls of the church" in eds Eastman M. & Latham S. (2004) "Urban Church; a Practitioners Resource Book" London, SPCK, ISBN 0-281-05603- X
Smith G. (2003), "The Christ of the Barking Road" in J.Vincent (ed) "Faithfulness in the City " published by Monad press, St. Deiniols Library, Hawarden, CH5 3DFand from 2011 a sequel from Preston : The Christ of Fishergate Hill by Greg Smith.. A contextual and Biblical Reflection
1996 "The Unsecular City" in Rustin & Butler "Rising in the East" London, Lawrence & Wishart ( much of the data and argument i s also in this presentation to the Marchant Seminar 1995)
"Community Development and Christian Mission" is one chapter in a book of essays in theology of community work from six practitioners. In "Changing the Agenda" (1989) British Council of Churches:
Entry on "City" in IVP's new Dictionary of Ethics and Pastoral Theology
Research Reports .. on local communities and Unrefereed publications and Grey Literature
Baker C. and Smith G., (2011) “Spiritual, religious and social capital – exploring their dimensions and their relationship with faith-based motivation and participation in UK civil society.” Summary working paper Manchester: William Temple Foundation (Based on a paper presented at the BSA Sociology of Religion Group Conference, Edinburgh April 2010) Statistical appendix Here
February 2006 : Reports and working papers from the Bridge Builders Preston Project
A project funded by MB Reckitt Trust...Working for greater understanding and co-operation between the faith communities and local statutory agencies.All the reports and working papers of the project are available here
Urban Ministry and Mission in Preston : Towards a Strategic Overview. A paper for Preston Christian Action Network and the Anglican Commission On Urban Life And Faith OCTOBER 2004:
THE CRAP REPORT ON EMPLOYABILITY IN CANNING TOWN MARCH 2001
The Community Research Action Project (CRAP) was a piece of research carried out by Aston Mansfield CIU for the Canning Town SRB Partnership on the Rathbone Estate in Canning Town between November 2000 and March 2001. (summary of report)
The Barking Road Community Audit
A REPORT BY GREG SMITH OF THE ASTON MANSFIELD COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT UNIT ABOUT A COMMUNITY PROFILE CARRIED OUT ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL GROUP OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
Directory Database of Religious Groups in Newham 1992
(funded by Aston Charities Trust) with report on the findings and implications of this commissioned by LB Newham Social Services Dept.
4) 'Faith Makes Community Work,' 2000
Report of an evaluation of Shaftesbury's community worker scheme, in the wider context of faith-based regeneration funded by the DETR Summary Here
5) Review of Service of Newham Council for Racial Equality with Mark Patchett of MPCS Spring 1999
6) Feasibility study for East London Day Centre for Homeless People with Alexis Keir for Newham Community Renewal Programme, followed by evaluation of the Turnaround Project Spring 2000
7) "Networking for Urban Mission; A case study of the UK in the 1980s"
(it was refereed and accepted for publication in Urban Mission Journal in the USA but the journal went broke and ceased to publish
other papers on Social Network Analysis
- paper looking at network relationships in the Voluntary Sector in East London
Paper on religious networks in Newham presented at ISSR Toulouse 1997
looks at inter church relationships in East London...
...
Unpublished paper More than a little quiet care... analyis of the contribution of churches to social welfare in East London
IT Rams CD.. How Community Work Became Computer Work Published alongside Bulletin of Standing Conference on Community Development September 1999
1999 With F. Handem "CANNING TOWN AND FAMILY LIFE TODAY STATISTICAL REVIEW"by FELISBERTA HANDEM & GREG SMITH JULY 1999 Aston Community Involvement Unit, London E7 9AB
Building Bridges or Barriers Christians and Muslims in Newham: in City Cries Journal of ECUM, No 36 (autumn 1998)
Cycling
These pieces are archived here in this folder
"ON YOUR BIKE NEWHAM: The cyclists guide to East London" (1989)Greg Smith joint author with other members of London Cycling Campaign (Newham Group).
Smith G. (2000) "Cars Crush Cycling" in Electronic Journal: Social Issues Volume One. Issue 1 December 2000-March 2001 Special First Edition: The New Oil Crisis
For my latest writings and ravings and links to Willian Temple blogs see -
The Common Good - who and what is it good for?
And another piece I've written, just published on the Church Action On Poverty
Blog. Benefit Sanctions - immoral and ineffective
On Romans 13 This is the text of a talk given by Greg Smith at the Christian Aid and Church Action on Poverty Tax Justice Bus event in Preston on October 14th 2012.
Papers And Reports In Community work and Urban Ministry Pre 1995
Smith G. (1989) "Evangelicals and Liberation Theology" from
Christian Urban Resource Unit, University of Bradford
Smith G. (1991) "Poverty and its Alleviation ; Strategies for
Community Work" from Christian Urban Resource Unit, University of Bradford
Smith G. (1993) "Neighbourhood Profiles; Pt.1 Some Background onSurveys and the Census. Pt.2 Doing a Survey and Presenting theResults" published as Alliance Briefings No 8 & No. 9 by Churches Community Work Alliance, Westhill College, Birmingham. (The same
material is also published by the Association of Community
Workers in their "Talking Point" series of papers and as part of
the ACW "Community Work Training Skills Manual".
Smith G. (1994) "(Almost) All You Could Ever Want To Know;
Newham in the 1991 Census, Implications for Community Work" in "Newham Needs and Responses ; CIU Annual for 1994" , Aston Community Involvement Unit.
Smith G. (1993) "West Ham Parish Survey Report" summary version and Full Report
Smith G. (1994) "Neighbourhood and Networks in Newham; report on
a research project ...... by a team of medical students" from
Aston Community Involvement Unit.
Smith G. & Rodrigues D. (1994) "The directory of Research in
Newham" published by Newham Community Research Forum available from Aston Community Involvement Unit.
Smith G (circulated by Aston CIU) "Census information on Newham;Update of Findings and Sources Spring 1995
"Grey" literature (Printed or Xeroxed only )
Smith G. & Byrne D. (1994) "The Religious Directory of Newham, 2nd Edition 1994-95" from Aston Community Involvement Unit.
QMCW medical students with Smith G. (1993) "(UN)Wealth and (UN)Health; Survey Reveals Sickening Poverty In Newham" from Aston Community Involvement Unit.
Urban Mission 1983-1991 :Published monographs
"Christian Ethnics : Church Growth in Multicultural Britain"
Smith.G.(1983) British Church Growth Association- Sociological discussion of how ethnicity is defined in British society and in the Bible, and the implications for churches in a racist society.
In the Inner City: How Can we Tell if God is at Work?" Smith.G.
(1986) Handsel Press for British Church Growth Association
Theological discussion about discerning the signs of the Kingdom of God in the urban church and world.
Inner City Christianity: Some Sociological Issues" Smith G.
(1988) published as MARC monograph no 17
The urban church examined in the light of insights from sociology of religion.
Smith, G & Driscoll, D (1984) "West Ham Church Life Survey"
Document submitted to Archbishops Commission on Urban Priority Areas.
Smith, G (1985) "West Ham Christians: 1984" summary of above
Evangelical Coalition for Urban Mission
Smith, G. (1986) "God's in E7" Evangelical Coalition for Urban
Mission / British Church Growth Association
"Equal Partners; Theological Colleges and Racism" with Raj Patel and Maurice Hobbs (1991) published by Community and Race Relations Unit, CCBI
Urban Mission 'Grey literature' : Ecum In House Publications
A number of discussion papers and reports written by Greg Smith
include.
1) Biblical Bases of Socio-Political Action
2) Mission Audits: Resources for UPA Churches
3) Mission Audits: towards an appropriate methodology.
4) Base Communities: Models of Good Practice in Urban UK.
5) Mustard Seed Missions 1987
(a report on 17 local innner city evangelistic campaigns)
6) Crumbletown: A role play exercise
looking at the politics of inner city housing.
7) Ray Bakke Tour 1987 ( A report on consultations in seven
British cities by Greg Smith & John Oliver)
8) Report on a visit to Singapore and Asia Theological
Association Urban Ministry conference.
9)"Christian Youth Work in Newham 1986" with Shirley Jackson
A report of the Newham Youth for Christ Survey of 86 churches.
10) Newham Churches and Homelessness (1990) report on NCRP's
pastoral care of the homeless working party. A summary popular
version called "Home Truths" is also available. Both from NCRP,
170 Harold Road, London E13 OSE.
Articles in Christian magaziner etc CITY CRIES and ECUM Bulletin :
I held partial editorial responsibilities for this magazine and
briefing notes on Urban Mission from 1987-91:
Articles published here by Greg Smith include:
- Trends in Evangelical Urban mission the Last Ten Years. (IssueNo. 16 (1988)
- Paranoia And Spiritual Warfare (Issue No 17 1988)
- God's Heart for the City (Issue No 18 1989)
Third Way articles etc All of these Third way articles are now archived and available on Google Books.
Red & Yellow Black & white (ethnic churches) Third Way August 1984
Open letter to Brian Griffiths February 1986
The Newham Sect (Christians in politics) 1987 In Third Way October 1987
Review article on Books about Liberation Theology July 1989
On insurance (1991) In Third Way April 1991
You and Who Else (on concept and theology of community) In Third Way Feb 1995
Miscellaneous Other
Various articles and served on editorial board of "Church Growth
Digest" (1987 - 1992)
Various articles and partial editorial responsibility from 1980
to present in "Racial Justice" magazine of Evangelical Christians
for Racial Justice.