GuidelinesforBenevolence
Introduction
Thepurposeofthisdocumentistoprovidesome useful guidelinesfor deaconssothey maybemore effectiveintheirworkofbenevolencewiththosewith needsinthecommunity.Deaconsfacea varietyof needsandrequestsfor assistancethat maybe challenging.
Theseguidelinesareintendedtohelpdeacons decidewhomtheyarebestequippedtoassist. These guidelineshelpestablisha frameworkforhelpinga personchangeandgrowthrougha focused,meaningfulrelationship.
Thishandbookisdividedintothreesections. Each sectionwilladdressissuesthat deaconsface.
1.Considerationsin benevolence
a. Questionstoanswer.
b. Deacons:equippedforrelationships.
c. Coordinationindiaconalwork
2.A‘planofaction’
a. Growthratherthandependency.
b. Adialogueforgrowthandchange..
c. Actionsteps,barriersandfollow-up.
3.Partnersinbenevolence
a. Partnerswiththedeaconsin benevolence.
b. Theministryof supportive relationships.
TheDeacons’Calling
The‘ChargetoDeaconsintheOrdinationForm’callsdeaconsto“realizethatbenevolenceisaqualityof ourlifeinChristandnotmerelyamatterof financialassistance.” Thischargeindicatesthat benevolenceinvolvesa lifestyleofrespectand compassion.Itencompassesattitudesandbehaviors that guidehowwerelatetopeoplein need.
Partner withpeople who have needs.
Whenwewalkalongsidepeopleasequalsin
God’seyes,wecreateapartnershipthatleadsto trustandgrowth.Havinganattitudeofjudgmentorpaternalismwillcreatebarriersthat can makeus ineffectiveinourhelping.
Listento understand.
Beingcompassionateinvolvesaneffort to understandwhatlifeislike for anotherperson. Listeningtounderstandwillshowgenuineconcern andhelptouncovertheunderlyingreasonsfor an individual’ssituation.
Knowour biasesand prejudices.Showing Christ’sloveinvolvesshowingrespectanddignitytoall people.Wemustavoidtryingtomakeothers become‘likeus’.
Respect personal information.
Treattheinformationthat individualssharewithus asconfidential.Ifyouare goingtoshareinformation withotherdeacons,eldersorpastors,askforpermissiontosharethatinformation.
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1.ConsiderationsinBenevolence
Developing‘Guidelinesfor Benevolence’willhelp deaconsfocustheirtimeandenergy.Clearlydefined guidelineswill helpthedeaconsknowwhentospend a significantamountoftime witha needorwhento referanindividual/familytoothercommunity agencies.Sharingtheseguidelineswiththechurch pastor,staffandelderswill helpallknowhowto respondtoneedstheyseeandcoldcallstheyreceive.
a.Questionstoanswer
Ifthedeaconshave‘GuidelinesforBenevolence’,an annualreviewoftheseguidelineswill helpnewdeaconsunderstandthechurch’sgoalsinbenevolence. Itwillalsoallowthediaconateto make changes
andupdatesasneeded.Ifnoclearguidelinesare place,thefollowingquestionsmayhelpthedeacons getstarted.
1. Whomdoyouwantto help?
-neighborsofthechurch?
-’coldcalls’?-churchmembers?
-friendsofchurchmembers?
-referralsfromagencies?
2. Willyouofferonetime help?
-groceries/cash/gasmoney?
-othermonetaryhelp?
3. Doyouwanttoset geographic boundariesfor assistance?
4.Doyouwanttoseeksomedirectionfromthe vision/missionofthechurchandtheworkplanof thediaconate?
5. Howoftenwill youhelpsomeone?Howoftenperpersonperyear?
6. Alwayshelpwith.
Neverhelpwith.
7. Whenwill yourequestaPlanofActionbe completed?(see page6)
8. Towhomandhowdoyouwantchurchstaffto referindividualswhenthechurchisunabletorespondtotheneed?
9.Nametheactivitiesof‘other groups’(agencies, service clubs,churches)thatrespondtoneedsin thecommunity.
Suggestionstonote:
Focusyourenergyonhelpingpeople
whoarewillingtolookat thereasonsfortheemergencytheyare inandwho arewillingtosetup a plan of actionwiththedeacons.Emergency help maybeappropriate,butunlesstheyaddress thereasonfor thecrisis,theywill repeatit.
Relationshipswill most likelybeestablishedwithpeoplewhoeither havesome connectionto your churchor liveinanarea near yourchurch.
Defininga geographicalareainwhichyou willrespondwill helpindeterminingwhich needsyou willconsiderandwhichonesyou will refer
elsewhere.Tell theseboundariestoyourchurch staffandelderssotheyknowwheretodirectrequestsfor assistance.
Ifyourchurchhasancommunity ministryplan,you maywantto especiallyfocus on that targetpopulation.
Since manychurchesareinneighborhoodswhich areratheraffluent,do notusegeographical boundariesasa waytohidefromthepoor.Ifyou donothave manypeoplewhoarepoorlivingin yourneighborhood,seekout peopleinneed. Partnerwithaninnercitychurchorministry. You couldalsocontacta
low-incomeapartmentcomplexor socialservice agencyto findwaystominister
tothepoor.
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b.Deacons:equippedforrelationships
Deaconsbecomeawareofneedsandreceiverequests for assistancefrompeopleina widevarietyofways. Requestsmaycomefromchurchmembers.Other requestscomefrompeoplewholiveinthe neighborhoodofthechurch.Requestsmayalsocomefrompeopletravelingthroughthearea.Someofthese requestscome frompeoplewhoarecalling many placesto get help.Decidingwhatdeaconsshould focustheirattentiononcanbedifficult.
Whenyouthinkaboutwhatneedsdeaconsandthe churcharebest suitedtomeet,yourealizethat the churchcanuniquelyoffersupportiverelationshipsand programsthatofferhopeandgrowth.Churches bynaturehavegreat potentialto developrelationships withpeopleinneed.Emergencyassistancegiven wherethereis little potential forrelationshipis band-aidrelief.Onlythroughrelationshipscanwe effectivelyshowChrist’slovetoothers.
Inhermanual,EstablishingaChurch-based Welfare-to-WorkMentoringMinistry,AmySherman writes,“Whenreliefismerelya band-aidthatalleviatesthesymptomsofpovertybut failsto addresstherootcauses,thenit isillegitimate.Such assistancemerelyhelpspeopleto managetheirpovertyratherthantoescapefromit.”We wantto helppeopleleavepovertyandnotjust tomanageit.
Todothis,deaconsandchurchesmustmovebeyond respondingto criseswithonlya commodityresponse(money,food,
clothing).Deaconsare insteadencouragedto respondbyestablishinga relationshipwiththe personrequestinghelp.
“Deaconscanbe facedwitha perplexingsetof circumstances.Howdotheydecidewhethera needis legitimate?Oneruleofthumbisthat mostpeople who‘coldcall’ a church/pastor(i.e.appearat thechurchdoor)areprobablypartofthat10%ofthepoor
that are“prosatworkingthesystem.Adiaconate needstodecidewhetherit wantstogetintothiskind ofemergencyrelief.Keepinmindthat mostpersons whoarepoorarenotpoorpersons.Buttheir situationis suchthata simpleactofreliefwon’thelpfor morethana fewdays.Adiaconatethenhas todecidewhetherit’sin
itfor thelongerhaul.”(Benevolence:Reliefto RenewalbyBenVandeZande)
EmpowerforGrowth
Deaconscanbeinstrumentalinhelpingpeoplewho arestrugglingtogrowtotheirGod givenpotential. JayVanGroningen,inhisbookChangingTimes,New Approaches,A HandbookforDeacons,writes,“The churchalsouseslimitedamountsofaidtosupplement theresourcesthat peoplealreadyhaveavailableto helpthemachievetheirlifegoals.Aidthat isnotdirectedtowardrecipients’goalswill onlycreate dependency.”Deaconscanhelpto
empowerpeopletomakepositivechangesintheir lives.
Theinformationonpages5,6,7 ofthisbookletondevelopingaPlanofActionisa modelfor howto assistpeopleto growandtoachievetheirgoals.
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c.Co-ordinationinDiaconalWork
Onceyouhave‘GuidelinesforBenevolence’, sharingthesewithchurchstaffisimportant. Pastors,churchsecretaries,andotherstaffareoften onthe front lineofreceiving“coldcalls” for assistance.Churchstaffandeldersalsobecome awareoftheneedsofthecongregation’smembers andneighborsthroughthecontactstheyhave. Clear communicationabouttheseneedsis important.
Invitingchurchstaffto meetwiththedeaconswill allowall tobeclear about the
‘Guidelinesfor Benevolence’.Togetheryoucan developa clear planofhowyouwantthesecalls handled.Thefollowingideasarea placetostartin givingdirectiontoyourchurchstaff.
GuidelinesforChurchStaff:
Whena personcalls for emergencyassistanceor walksintothechurch,askingthesetwoquestionsis appropriate.
*Howdidyouhearaboutourchurch?
*Wheredoyoulive?
If peoplehaveeithera connectiontosomeonein yourchurchortheyliveinthe
If thepersonhasnoconnectionto yourchurchanddoesnot liveinthe areadefinedby thepolicy,you can respondwithsomethinglike,“I’m”sorrybutourchurchdoesnotofferemergencyassistance.Ican refer youtoa coupleofagenciesthat youcan contact.Herearethephonenumbers.”
Thedeaconsshouldgivethechurchstaffa list of themainreferralresourcesin thearea/community.
CommunicatingRequests:
Thechurchstaffcanusethe following form/questionstodocumentrequestsforassistance andthenpasstheinformationontothedeacons.
RequestforSupportForm
(for staffanddeacons)
Date: Name: Address:Phone contact#: Howdidyouhearabout the church?
Request:
geographicalarea definedbyyourdeacons,
referthesepeopletoyourdeacons.Youcan
Notes/futuresuggestions:
tell themthat youwilltaketheirinformation and passitontotheappropriatedeacon,who willcontactthem.
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2.A‘PlanofAction’
a.Growthratherthandependency.
The‘PlanofAction’formonpage6isa tool fordeaconstohelppeoplefocusonspecifictasksthat theycandotoimprovetheirsituation.Itspurposeis toencouragegrowthratherthanfosterdependency. Themainemphasisof this ‘PlanofAction’ison discussinggoals and solutionsratherthan problems.
Havingpeoplewritedowntheirdreams,goalsand actionstepsonthe‘PlanofAction’formishelpful. Thefirst stepis forthepeopletoacknowledgethat thereisa problem,andthattheywouldliketheirlife tobedifferent.Oncetheyacknowledgethe
problem,itismoreenergizingtoconcentrateon dreamsanddesiresfor the futurethanto focusonthe problems.Thisplanismosteffectivewhen complementedbythesupportiveaccountabilityof caringChristians.
Whentodoa‘PlanofAction’…:
This‘Planof Action’ismostappropriateforsituationsinwhich:
Theindividualsareopentodosomethings toimprovetheir situation.
Theindividualsarewillingtoworkwiththe deaconsora supportpersonovera periodoftime toachievetheirgoals.
Therearecertainsituationswherethis‘Planof Action’processwill not behelpful.Thesesituationsinclude:
Wherethereisongoingsubstanceabuse.
Anactive alcoholicor drugabuserhasgreatdifficultyfocusingongoalsandactionsteps. Theymust addresstheaddictionfirst.
Insomecasesofmentalillness.Ifmental illnessisanissue,youwillbenefitfromhaving thepersonsigna releaseofinformationsothatyouasdeaconscanspeakwithhisorher therapist.Discusswiththetherapist appropriatewaysthedeaconscan workwith thisperson.
Whenpeople are essentiallysatisfiedwiththeirlife. We maythinkthatpeopleshoulddothingsdifferentlyintheirlives,but theyare satisfiedwiththingsthewaytheyare.Theyjustwanthelponoccasiontomaintaintheir lifestyle.
PreparingforaDeaconVisit…:
Beloware somesuggestionsaboutpreparingtomeetwitha personthat maybehelpful.
Spendtimeinprayeraheadoftime.AskGod to blessthepersonyouaremeetingwith,togiveyou wisdom,andtoblessyourvisit.
It is helpfultothinkabout themostappropriateplacetomeetwiththe familyor individual. Some people mayfeeluncomfortablehavingyou cometotheirhome.Otheroptionsforthe firstvisitincludemeetingina roomatchurch,a local libraryorcoffeeshop.
Considerwhethertwodeaconsoran elder/deaconteamwouldbemostappropriateto dothevisit.Ifthepersoninneedisasingle woman,a womandeaconisthemostappropriate persontoparticipateinthevisit.
Gowithanattitudeofencouragement, compassion andlearning.Ourdesireisto encouragepeopletogrowintheirpersonal livesandgrowintheirrelationshiptoGod.
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b.Adialogueforgrowthandchange
A.Whereyouwant tobe:
Howwouldyoulikeyourlife situationtobedifferentorimproved4monthsfromnow?
1)
2)
B.StrengthsandAbilities:
Whataresomestrengthsandabilitiesthat youhavethatcouldhelpyouget towhereyouwanttobe?
C.Thingsyoucando:(Goalsthatwill moveyoutowhereyouwanttobe)
Goal
#1Whatspecificthingscanyoudo? Whowill doit? Dothisbywhen?
a)
b)
c)
Goal#2
a)
b)
c)
D.Supportfromthechurchanddeacons:
Howcanthedeaconsorotherchurch membershelpyougettowhereyouwanttobe?
a)
b)
Wouldyoube willingtohave a supportperson/mentorencourage youinyourgoals?
E.Followup:
Whencanweget togethertocheckhowthingsaregoing?
When? Where?
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c.Actionsteps,barriersandfollow-up
Instructions:
Theindividual/familyandthedeaconshouldboth haveacopyofthe ‘PlanofAction’.Havethe family writedowntheiranswersandplansontheirform. The deaconcopieswhat the family memberwritesorusesa photocopier.
Thoughthefocusisonthe future,allmustagreethat thereareproblemswiththepresentsituation.Ifthe personor familyis reallysatisfiedwiththewaysthings arethenthis
‘PlanofAction’processwill probablynotbehelpful.
Helpingpeopleidentifyactionstepsthatarerealistic andpracticalisimportant.
Helpingpeopleidentifysomebarrierstothe
‘planof action’maybehelpfulassomeofthe difficultieshavethenbeenidentified.Naming togethersomeoptionstoovercomethesebarriers maybebeneficial.
Thenumberofactionstepsdependsonwhatthe deacon/supportpersonthinkscanrealisticallybedone to makechangesintheirlife.Somepeoplemayneed to take oneortwobabystepsatatime.Thiswill help themtoproveto themselvesthat theycanactually makeprogressandexperiencesuccess.Oncetheytake small steps,theycanthenidentifymore actionsteps.
Followupsessionsare veryimportant.Thereneedsto besupportiveaccountabilityfor thisplantobe effective.Identifyinga churchmemberwhocanbean ongoingmentororsupportpersonfor thepersonor familyisoftenhelpful for thedeacons.Thisvolunteerwouldmeetwiththemregularlytoencouragethemin accomplishingtheirgoals.
Financialassistanceismosthelpfulwhengearedtoward accomplishinggoals.It isappropriatetohavethe financialassistancecontingentonwhetherthepersonisworkingon achievingthegoals.
Morehelpfulquestionsforthecompletionofthe ‘Plan ofAction’:
Thefollowingaresomeotherquestionsthedeacons couldaskthe family/individualifit isdifficultto come upwithideasfor the‘PlanofAction’.
A.Whereyouwant tobe:
Whatgoal couldyousetthat wouldbehelpfultogetyoutowhereyouwanttobe? Whatwouldittake foryoutobetter meetyourfamily’sneedsinthe future?
Whatwill lifelooklikewhentheproblemyou are havingisnot thereanymore?Whatwill yoube doingdifferentlyat thattime?
B.Strengthsandabilities:
Whatresourcesdoyouandyourfamilyhavethatcouldhelp makethesechanges?
Whataresomewaysyouhavesolvedthis difficultyinthepast?
C.Thingsyoucando:
Whatisonethingthat youcandodifferentlythat willhelpyouget whereyouwanttobe? Whatisthefirststepyoucantaketostartgettingto whereyouwantto be?
Whatotherthingscouldyoudotoimproveyoursituation?
D.Supportfromthechurchanddeacons:Whatassistancewouldhelpyouaccomplishtheactionsteps youjust mentioned?
Whathelpsyoutotakeactioninyour life?How couldthedeaconssupport youinreachingyourgoals?
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3.Partnersinbenevolence
LongTermRelationships
Tohelppeople makelongtermsustainablegrowthandchangeintheirlivesisaprocesswhichtakesa long termcommitment.It isusuallyeasier (andtherefore tempting)toprovidetemporaryreliefratherthanlong termrelationshipsandassistance.But,temporaryrelief oftenhastheimpactofcreating
dependencywhereascomingalongsidesomeoneinan encouragingrelationshipcreatesgrowthandchange.The combinationofbeingina relationshipwithsomeoneand encouragingthat
persontodevelopandaccomplisha goalorientedplanof actioncanhavegreat benefits.
OngoingSupportiveRelationship
+Goal-OrientedPlanof Action
=Long-TermSustainableChange
a.Partnerswiththedeaconsinbenevolence
Godisoureverpresenthelpandisactiveinour lives. Godhasadeepconcernandheartforthosewho arepoorandstruggling.Prayregularlythat Godwill giveyouwisdominyourworkofbenevolence.Pray alsothathewill blessthefamily’sorindividual’seffortstogrowandchange.
Thereareseveral partnerswho mayalsocareabout the families/individualsyouareworkingwithandcan assistdeaconsintheirwork. Thesepartnerscan complementwhatdeaconsdowhentheyallwork together.
Giftedchurchmembersaregreat resourcesandcan be askedtobe support personsor mentorstopeople whoarestruggling.Somechurchmembersare especiallygiftedinlistening,encouragingand problem-solving.
Formerdeacons,thosetrainedin Stephen’s
Ministry,andthoseidentifiedthrougha
‘DiscoverYour Gifts’workshoparegoodpeopletochallengetohelpinthis ministry.Thesepartnerscanencouragepeopleintheir
‘PlanofAction’andholdthemaccountableforaccomplishingthegoalstheyhaveidentified.
Pastorsandeldersalsocouldbeinvolvedina supportivewaywiththesamepeopledeaconsarehelping.Goodcommunicationisimportanttocoordinatethechurch’sconcernandassistance.
Professionalservicesareavailableinthecommunity. Theseprofessionalscanfocusona specificareaofneedincludingmentalhealth,employment,consumercreditcounseling,andothersareas.Tocoordinateyoureffortswiththoseprofessionals,youmusthavethe consentoftheinvolvedfamily/individual.
OtherResources
Manyoftheideasandconceptsinthisbooklethavebeen gleanedfrom“Benevolence:FromRelieftoRenewal”by BenVandezande,OntarioRegionalHomeMissions Directorand“ChangingTimes,NewApproaches,A Handbookfor Deacons”byJayVanGroningen,CRWRC.
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b.Theministryof supportiverelationships
Linkinga personinneedwitha caringchurchmember inanongoingsupportiverelationshipcananexcellentwaythat deaconscandotheir ministry.Belowisan exampleofthiskindofrelationship
MeetDoug:
Dougisinhislatetwentiesandismarriedwithtwo children.Whenthe deaconsreceiveacallfromhim,he needsfoodandhousing.
Thedeaconsprovidefoodfora weekandaskDougifhewouldbeopentohavingapersonfromthe congregationhelphim.Dougagreed,and gotto know Timwhoisquitegiftedinlisteningandproblemsolving.
Dougclearlywantedtomakeanewstartforhimselfandhisfamily.Hehadmisuseddrugsand alcoholinthe past.Hiswork-habitswereirregular.Financeswereoften aproblembecauseof buyingbinges,especiallybyhiswife.
Timandthedeaconswereabletolocateasupportive housingsituationforthefamily.Thedeaconspaidthe firstandlastmonth’srent.Doug agreedtojoinAAand enrollinalocal
job-trainingprogram.Hiswifewentforbudget
counseling.
ThejobprogramandthefriendshipwithTimdid wondersforDoug’sself-esteem.Hefoundtemporary workwhiletrainingto beaproducemanagerina grocerystore.TimofteninvitedDoug overtohishouse toworkonprojectstogether.
Thingsweregoingwell untilonedayDougcalledto sayheandhiswifehadseparated.Itlefthimin shambles emotionally.Dougandhiswife hada longhistoryofconflict.Timwasat aloss.“Justwhenweweremaking suchgoodprogress,”hethought.Hesharedhisfrustration withthedeacons.Timmet withatherapistin hiscongregationandthepastor.Theyprovidedsome
adviceandashortlist ofpeoplethatcouldoffer counseling.
Dougandhiswifewentintotherapyforsixmonths. Duringthisverydifficult timeTimmetwithDougoncea week.Thepurposeof thesevisitswastoencourageDoug, keephimfocusedand tolisten.Duringtheconversations Dougtalkedabout“feelingdirty”andthathisparents neverthoughtmuchof him.
Timtalkedaboutthegift of forgivenessand especiallyforgivenessbyGod.ThisgaveDougthe opportunitytoaddressseveralissuesthathadbothered himfora longtime.TimurgedDoug tojoinasupportgroupof Christians.Hewashesitant.Aftertwoyearsthejourneycontinues....
Fordiscussion:
1. HowdidthedeaconsandTimmakeuseofthe varietyofgiftsavailable?
2. NoticethatTiminvitedDougtohelphimdoprojects. Whywasthat importantfortheirrelationship?
3. HowdoyouthinkTimfelt whenDougandhiswife brokeup? Why?
4. WhatisTim’sroleoverthis2-year period?
InwhatwaysishiscaringChristian?
(Example fromBenevolence:FromRelief to Renewal, by
Ben Vandezande)
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FAITH SONOMA PRESBYTERIAN GUIDELINES ADDENDUM BENEVOLENCE FUND:
In addition to the above guidelines, the Deacons have agreed on the following:
NEEDY SERVED BY THE FUND:
- 60% of the fund will be reserved for church member needs
- 40% of the fund will be designated for the needy in the immediate geographic region (Sonoma, & Napa)
- Any needs outside the region will be considered on a case by case basis.
LIMIT OF THE FUND:
- There will be a $200.00 maximum approval limit of funds
EXCLUDED ITEMS IN ADDITION TO THE GUIDELINES:
- Grocery cards (since purchase of alcohol and tobacco cannot be monitored)
- TV, Dish or Cable
- Loans, taxes or investments.
______
Tim Christenson – Teaching Elder/Pastor Date
______
Dave Palmgren – Ruling ElderDate
______
Bryan Nokelby – Ruling ElderDate
______
Pete Balchinas – DeaconDate
______
Randy Read – Deacon Date
______
Gregory Silvi – Deacon Date