ABSTRACT
This chapter scales down to focus upon Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), in an effort to understand better the realities of local development action. The BEC discourse speaks about the power of local communities—lying latent, just waiting to be activated—and this is measured against local experiences with social action and community empowerment in the rural parishes. Place-based cultural cohesion of a number of groups, grounded in bible study, reflection upon common predicament, and neighbourly help, is highlighted as key to the formation and continuance of BECs. Following this, community development and social action are discussed, and a series of structural and cultural obstacles come to light.
