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Katherine Marshall and Marisa Van Saanen Release New Book, Development and Faith: When Mind, Heart, and Soul Work Together

January 9, 2008

Katherine Marshall, Executive Director of the World Faiths Development Dialogue, and Marisa Van Saanen, Faith Liason at the World Bank, released a new book entitled Development and Faith: When Mind, Heart, and Soul Work Together in June 2007.

The book highlights the faith and development nexus, which is both a promising new focus for secular development agencies and a historic reality: for centuries, world faiths and individuals inspired by their faith have played many roles in social change and social welfare. Secular development agencies have largely operated in parallel to the world of faith-motivated development. The World Bank began in the late 1990s to explore ways in which faith and development are connected. The issue was not and is not about religion, but about the recognition that some of the best experts on development are faith leaders living and working in poor communities, where strong ties and moral authority give them unique experience and insight. The World Bankâ™s goal is to act as a catalyst and convenor, bringing together development practitioners to find common ground, understand one anotherâ™s efforts, and explore differences.

Development and Faith

explores and highlights promising partnerships in the world between secular and faith development entities. It recounts the evolving history of relationships between faith and secular development institutions. It focuses on the Millennium Development Goals as a common framework for action and an opportunity for new forms of collaboration and partnership.