[Magdalen] Budgets Question

[Scott Knitter]

One essential is information: If someone comes to our church asking for
food and other basic supplies, the answer needn't be limited to our own
ability to fulfill the needs. We typically can give a bag of groceries from
our food pantry (from which there's a monthly distribution on a Saturday
involving a bag of groceries, a sandwich, and sometimes supplies like
toiletries).

Besides us, what other area churches offer such things and events, maybe
shelter, a program to get in on (job-hunting or work skills or interview
clothing or baby formula...), a weekly or nightly meal event? If someone
comes and asks for our AA meeting on a night other than when we have one,
could we help them find a nearby church that has one?

I can see a need for churches in a walkable distance from each other
(within a recognized city neighborhood, for instance) to form an
information-sharing network. Needn't agree on theology or social policy,
but can agree to put out information in easy-to-find form (brochure, data
sheet, website for sure) so we can help people get help instead of going,
"Um, that's all I can offer; I'm sure there are other churches who could
help, but I don't know."

Planning and agreeing on our response would help: "We don't give out money
here at the church, but I can offer you some food. A place to stay? Well,
here are a couple of good places to try, and they're not far away..."

We're getting a deacon who will help us focus on such things, and I think
I'm sensing a chance to work with him on them.

On Tue, Jan 23, 2018 at 1:30 PM, ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:

> I disagree with your fellow warden.
> Churches are often criticized by the unchurched because so little is done
> for the community outside the doors.
> Information about Outreach can only help.
>
> Just a couple of weeks ago I was talking with a young man grieving the lack
> of assistance for the homeless. I suggested he visit a couple of the
> downtown churches with active ministries to that community. He wasn’t a
> churchgoer, but seemed eager to offer his time&talent.
> -M
>
> On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, Marion Thompson <marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > I thought that it would be a good thing optically if there was a line
> item
> > for something directly supported by the church, an expense not neceaarily
> > covered 100% by donations, something that would make the point the
> Outreach
> > people want to make.  However, I don't think it fits our accounting  and
> my
> > invoking Matthew 25: 34-36 for the optics has not carried the day.  My
> > fellow warden sees it as patting ourselves on the back.
> >
> >
>



-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA