Throughout city ministry, I administered a Benevolent Fund for the poor and needy. The congregation was always very generous in keeping this fund full. It was at the sole discretion of the minister -- and while it was a confidential fund, I kept a complete record in the vestry as "good management". This fund really made a difference. While I tried to help everyone who asked, I favoured those cases where some cash would save someone from "dropping a level" in life -- say, by losing the roof over their head. OBSERVATION: This Fund changed over the years, in the way that I administered it. I requested the changes myself to back me up: we had to limit giving to congregants, due to enormous demand, and we placed a cap on how much I may give in a single case -- or I needed authorisation. This gave me a way out of too much pressure: "I have to ask for authorisation." The fund was always an opportunity, too, to minister to someone.
No comments:
Post a Comment