Fellowship Southwest – C3I with Dr. Gaynor Yancey
Through funding from Fellowship Southwest, Dr. Gaynor Yancey, DSW, MSW, MRE, ACSW, Professor and Director of the Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I) in the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work at Baylor University selects and trains MSW community-level students to work alongside a diverse network of congregations to strengthen their ministries, deepen their relationships with God, enhance their connections with each other, and contribute to the flourishing of their communities and world. The project further enables students to conduct congregational research and strengthen community transformation initiatives in their communities. A key aim is to raise awareness of the various resources congregations can access when committed to transformation as they embrace their changing communities.
Erin Albin Hill, LMSW, MDiv, Program Manager at C3I, says about the project, “The MSW research assistants combine learning from their work with C3I to what it means to be a congregation and positive influence in their community. In addition, they learn how to ethically connect their faith to their social work practice.” Several former research assistants involved in the project now serve in permanent positions within and in support of congregations nationwide, as well as working for Methodist Children’s Home, the City of Waco Housing & Community Development, and other areas across the country.
After this four-year grant-funded project concludes July 2024, 13 MSW students will have participated in the study. Each student served as a research assistant supervised by Dr. Yancey. The team conducted unique evaluations in partnership with participating congregations. C3I is grateful for Fellowship Southwest’s investment in congregations and this research.
Learn More About Dr. Gaynor Yancey