Values, faith and professional practice

Commitments to certain values lie at the foundation of a profession and serve to shape individual roles and careers of its practitioners. These values are expressed or represented in ideal images of what constitutes true worth, power, and meaning in the lives of participants. The profession of social work began in the 19th century with some religious commitments that often placed it in tension with other values prevalent in this society. However, in more recent years, we have adopted more culturally compatible images of individual success. These changes have led to emphasis on techniques rather than shared purposes and on self‐interest rather than mutual responsibilities. Drawing upon a developmental perspective, this article argues that reclaiming the spiritual heritage of our profession can provide the foundation needed for us to affirm values that transcend the individual and to sustain meaningful roles as catalysts for a moral community.