Empowerment Through Development: A Critical Look with Philip Powell (Tear Fund)

Empowerment Through Development: A Critical Look with Philip Powell (Tear Fund)
Join Philip Powell, a theologian at the development agency Tear Fund, as he delves into the complex topic of "Empowerment through Development." Drawing on his extensive experience, including a childhood in India and years of advocacy at the UN, EU, and UK Parliament, Powell offers a nuanced perspective.

In this talk, you'll discover:

Philip Powell's Journey: From a conservative Christian upbringing focused on "saving souls" to a deep commitment to global justice and systemic change.

Tear Fund's Approach: An introduction to Tear Fund's work and its theological framework of "Integral Mission," which seeks to address poverty holistically by restoring broken relationships (with God, self, others, and creation).

Church and Community Transformation (CCT): Learn about Tear Fund's flagship CCT process, which empowers local churches to identify their own resources and drive sustainable change from within, fostering mindset shifts and community-led development (illustrated with powerful video testimonies).

Impact and Stories: Hear about the tangible impact of CCT, including a significant independent study showing positive outcomes across various aspects of well-being.
Critical Questions & Challenges: Powell doesn't shy away from the tough questions, prompting reflection on:
The relationship between charity and justice.
The dangers of "white saviorism."
Christianity's role: colonial imposition or indigenous force for good?
Whether "development" itself can be misguided, reinforcing dependency rather than true empowerment.

A Call for Deeper Change: The talk concludes with a challenge to move beyond local relief to tackle unjust global structures, inspired by thinkers like the liberation theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez.

This presentation offers a rich blend of theological insight, practical examples from the field, and a provocative call to critically engage with how faith can genuinely empower the marginalized and contribute to a more just and peaceful international order.

00:00 - Start
00:06 - Introduction - Jonathan Chaplain
02:19 - Start of Philip Powell's talk
35:57 - Q&A