Introduction

This chapter serves as an introduction to the topic of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in the Philippines. The first few pages serve as a general backdrop of the country that provides an entrée into the topic of BECs. The basic concepts are explained, as is their potential for mitigating poverty and bringing economic development and political empowerment. The chapter then expands to connect BECs to critical development studies, with an emphasis on faith-based organizations and the contentious academic concept of postdevelopment. Following this, methods are briefly described, and the chapter ends with an outline of the rest of the book.