Episode 5: Faith in Community: The Role of Churches as Community Builders | Brian Stiltner, Sacred Heart University

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to Mapping the Divine! I'm Ria Wilson and honored to be joined by Professor Brian Stiltner! Professor Stiltner a Christian ethicist at Sacred Heart University and author of the forthcoming book Faith in Community: Practices that Strengthen Churches and Neighborhoods. Drawing on five years of research in six congregations, Professor Stiltner argues that churches have a vital role to play in responding to what he calls the “crisis of community.” The erosion of social connection, trust, and shared purpose has intensified through the Covid-19 pandemic, political polarization, and rising loneliness.Together, they explore why community life is fraying, how congregations already support their members and neighbors, and what more they can do to build strong, outward-facing communities. The conversation ranges from public health warnings about loneliness to the everyday practices of worship, care, and outreach that make churches powerful community builders.Whether you are part of a church, curious about the intersection of faith and civic life, or simply concerned about isolation and division in our society, this episode offers a hopeful and practical vision for renewing community.