Amy Sherman came "to Charlottesville in 1989 to do doctoral work in foreign affairs at UVa. After graduating she begin editing the Stewardship Journal, a Christian magazine devoted to issues of economic development."

"Soon thereafter, Sherman accepted a two-year grant from the Fieldstead Institute that allowed her, to conduct nationwide research."

"The finished product is a book detailing the work of church-based ministries in low-income areas of Richmond; Washington; Chicago; Detroit; Phoenix; Birmingham, and Jackson, Miss." (Michael Croan, The Daily Progress, December 30, 2000).

"Sherman, a native of Hamburg, N.Y., has attended Trinity Presbyterian Church since coming to Charlottesville and has volunteered there since 1994. She came on staff in May as the church's director of urban ministry and has aimed her efforts at the Abundant Life Family Center, a part of the Blue Ridge Commons apartment complex, just off Prospect Avenue."

"'We believe God has great concern for the poor,' Sherman said explaining that they must be provided for materially, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually."

"'The church's engagement with the poor should be holistic, and it should address all facets of the human personality,' she said. She hopes to accomplish that at Blue Ridge Commons" (Michael Croan, The Daily Progress, December 30, 1996).

In November 1996, "Amy Sherman was recognized by Christianity Today magazine for Serving Charlottesville's Christian community through her work" (Dana Myers, The Daily Progress, July 14, 1997).

In May 1997, Sherman "received a $l,000 Award of Outstanding Merit for her article 'Needed: Welfare in the Nation's Churches,' which originally appeared in the Chronicle of Philanthropy."

"The article discussed the need for churches to shift from commodity ministry -- handing out food and clothing - to relational ministry, consisting of mentoring, teaching job skills and counseling" (Dana Myers, The Daily Progress, July 14, 1997).

"Sherman, who [formerly served] as director of urban ministry from Trinity Presbyterian Church, said that because of the new welfare reforms, churches must re-examine and modify their programs for the poor."

"'Churches have made many of the same mistakes that the government has made,' Sherman said. 'The government's attempt to throw money at poor people hasn't been particularly successful. Churches need to look at the poverty situation holistically and not just give material aid'" (Dana Myers, The Daily Progress, July 14, 1997).

More recently, Amy Sherman has joined "The Hudson Institute as a senior fellow in the Indianapolis-based Welfare Policy Center," where she will study faith-based approaches to welfare reform (Richard Morin and Claudia Deane, The Washington Post, March 28, 2000).

"Dr. Sherman is the author of three books: Restorers of Hope: Reaching the Poor in Your Community with Church-based Ministries That Work (Crossway Books, 1997); The Soul of Development: Biblical Christianity and Economic Transformation in Guatemala (Oxford University Press, 1997); and Preferential Option: A Christian and Neoliberal Strategy for Latin America’s Poor (Eerdmans, 1992). Her articles and essays have appeared in such diverse publications as Policy Review, First Things, Christianity Today, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The American Enterprise, World, the Christian Century, The Washington Times, Christian Scholar’s Review, Reason, and Books & Culture" (Welfare Policy Center of the Hudson Institute, 2000).

If you have comments about the need for churches to shift to relational ministry or about the efficacy of faith-based approaches to welfare reform, please send them to george@loper.org and the most representative will be posted with full attribution.

To date Dave Norris, Ed Wayland, and Henry Weinschenk have responded.