I completely applaud the sentiments behind a paper on poverty and inequality going before today's Methodist Council meeting. But it did annoy me.
The paper comes out with pious denunciations of the government (rightly) and then concludes with a resolution which says:
• to encourage all churches to consider how they can best work with disadvantaged individuals and communities as part of their mission.
What it doesn't even touch on is how the wider Methodist Church comes anywhere near supporting those churches such as ours that are in the front line working with disadvantaged individuals in disadvantaged communities.
As a church treasurer I sometimes have sleepless nights wondering how we are going to meet the assessment, pay the insurance, meet the cost of maintaining a hundred year old building and finding money just to keep the doors open.
Unfortunately the Methodist finance structure is simply a case of the survival of the fittest. Those churches which close are the very churches that are in the poorest communities. There seems to be no concept of mutual aid or support for mission to inner city areas.
I am also the gift aid secretary and I know that many in our congregation are on benefits and pay no tax.
Asking them to give even more verges on the wicked. At the moment we survive on special gifts (often from outside Methodism) but these are often one off donations.
Even at least late stage I would urge the Methodist Council to give some thought as to how the Connexion can support the poorest churches. Piety without action smacks of hypocrisy.
The paper comes out with pious denunciations of the government (rightly) and then concludes with a resolution which says:
• to encourage all churches to consider how they can best work with disadvantaged individuals and communities as part of their mission.
What it doesn't even touch on is how the wider Methodist Church comes anywhere near supporting those churches such as ours that are in the front line working with disadvantaged individuals in disadvantaged communities.
As a church treasurer I sometimes have sleepless nights wondering how we are going to meet the assessment, pay the insurance, meet the cost of maintaining a hundred year old building and finding money just to keep the doors open.
Unfortunately the Methodist finance structure is simply a case of the survival of the fittest. Those churches which close are the very churches that are in the poorest communities. There seems to be no concept of mutual aid or support for mission to inner city areas.
I am also the gift aid secretary and I know that many in our congregation are on benefits and pay no tax.
Asking them to give even more verges on the wicked. At the moment we survive on special gifts (often from outside Methodism) but these are often one off donations.
Even at least late stage I would urge the Methodist Council to give some thought as to how the Connexion can support the poorest churches. Piety without action smacks of hypocrisy.
