How does your congregation handle "Benevolent Assistance"?

Our congregation maintains a “Benevolence Fund” to offer help to those in need. As the economy has turned “south”, we have experienced a significant increase in requests for help.

If your congregation is actively involved in helping others (financially, materially, etc.), I would be interested in knowing how you handle this.

Please Note: It is not my intention to begin a debate on “if you should”. In this situation, assume that the decision is already made, and benevolent giving is going to occur. If your congregation does this, I am interested in what you do and how you do it. If your congregation does *not* do this, then - with the greatest of respect - let me encourage you to sit back and enjoy the conversation!

I am interested in operational specifics.

* Why do you offer Benevolent Assistance?

* How do you maintain your Benevolence Fund?

* Who qualifies for the assistance: to whom do you say “Yes we will help”, and how do you make that determination.

Do you have an established policy?

Who makes the determination of “who”? “How much”?

Are there Pre-requisites for assistance?

Are there requirements expected after assistance?

* What assistance are you prepared to offer?

* How do you disburse assistance?

* Are there any quantifiable results from your benevolent activities?

I would love to hear your comments on this topic.

Discussion

We take a dedicated offering for the Benevolence fund after a Lord’s Supper. The Deacons administer the fund at their discretion. For privacy reasons, the BV is a black account as they say in DC.

Hoping to shed more light than heat..

Why do you offer Benevolent Assistance?

Because of Scriptural commands, our love for others, and our desire to impact the community with demonstrations of Christ’s love.

How do you maintain your Benevolence Fund?

A monthly offering, designated gifts during other times, and an occasional special offering should the fund be depleted.

Who qualifies for the assistance: to whom do you say “Yes we will help”, and how do you make that determination?

A form is filled out for each request. It provides careful and complete information on the situation. Generally speaking, all serious needs (i.e. power off, need medicine, need food) are met on the first request. 2nd requests result in more careful questioning. 3rd requests frequently are met only in extraordinary situations or with strings attacked (as in “You can receive this help but only if you come to our Financial Management class”). A committee is appointed to decide.

Do you have an established policy?

We have a mix of written policy and unwritten understandings.

Who makes the determination of “who”? “How much”?

The Benevolence committee, after consultation with the treasurer on how much is in the fund. In extreme instances, the committee can ask the church board to intervene with general church funds, or ask the pastor to take a special love offering. These instances are quite rare.

Are there Pre-requisites for assistance?

Only on the 3rd request or after, and only on monetary assistance.

What assistance are you prepared to offer?

Monetary, either directly (pay direct to the utility, buy gift card for grocery store) or indirectly. Counseling on finances. A financial management class. Contacts with county agencies and other charities that can assist with needs larger than our fund can help. Food drives. On certain occasions, we have provided manpower for things like home repairs or construction of handicap access ramps.

How do you disburse assistance?

Delivery direct by designated person, with note and church info.

Are there any quantifiable results from your benevolent activities?

I would stress that the non-quantifiable results are our first priority (doing the will of Christ, loving our neighbor). But in terms of quantifiable results…

1). Teen attendees in youth ministry and college group directly related to having helped their families.

2). Opportunities for further gospel outreach to larger family groups in years to come (funerals, weddings, etc. for families helped).

3). Just a few families over the years, added to Christ and the church. They have moved away now.

We also do an offering after the Lord’s Supper, which alternates with an offering for the Building Fund (we meet in facilities subleased from another church). Nobody besides the recipient and the officer delivering the funds/gift cards are aware of the gift. Most of us, as we have been able, have been known to slip some cash to a brother or sister in the Lord; obviously, one does not get any tax advantage for doing this. Various ones in the congregation helped out a family whose children attend sporadically; this was given in the name of the Lord and the church, and thanks to the congregation was expressed by the parents. We have also done food drives, for those with whom the church has contact, as well as a church planter we support. I believe our church as a congregation and as individuals tend to stay away from direct cash donations unless we are absolutely certain it will go toward necessities and not towards an addiction. We have a table sitting in the foyer that is the “spot” for extra produce and occasionally day-old bread, and all are encouraged to help themselves.