Living faith at work: Christian social work in statutory contexts

Despite social work’s foundational roots in faith-based initiatives and moral philanthropy, the secularization of the field has led to the privatization of religious beliefs. This study explored the extent to which Christian faith is seen as a legitimate dimension of social workers’ identity. Local authority Christian social workers in England were interviewed. Thematic analysis showed that social workers view their practice as aligned with liberation theology but experience reticence to articulate their faith at work, such reticence being influenced by professional norms grounded in individualism, implicit bias toward other faiths and none, and how their churches view their profession. Our research challenges the presumed dichotomy between personal faith and public professionalism, contending that faith-informed practice can enrich relationships between colleagues and the people they serve.