Benevolence: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:20, 27 November 2021

TOL Benevolence Program Guidelines

Benevolence: “The disposition to do good; good will; kindness; charitableness; the love, of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.”

Purpose:

The purpose of Tree Of Life’s benevolence program is to help others when they are in need. This can be done through financial or physical means and even through prayer and support. Benevolence can and will be used to help those in the church family and the community when they are truly in need. It is not meant to be a source of income for an individual or family but a place where they can receive assistance in the name of God and of love when there is no other hope.

Source:

The benevolence program will be funded by the church family and is meant to be in addition to regular tithes and offerings. No money will come from designated donations or donations made to the general church account. Money can be moved from the general church account to fulfill a benevolence request, but only after passing a vote of the Elder Board.

Providing Help:

Assistance through the benevolence program will be provided after a review by the Benevolence team. Each request will be reviewed individually and may be subject to terms by the requestor as seen fit by the benevolence team (i.e. obtaining it in person before or after a church service, financial planning help, or a discussion with church staff). There will never be any implied or expressed expectation of repayment for funds provided.

Documentation:

All requests will be entered into Planning Center in a workflow that can be tracked and monitored. All funds distributed from the benevolence fund must be accounted for and documented. A spreadsheet will also be maintained in order to list all requests made that can be used for tracking purposes and also a history of requests made. This sheet will list the person in need of assistance, date of the request, the type of request, the amount of the request, a quick description of the reason for the request, the requestor, and the request source.

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 [[Category:Finance]]
-Benevolence Policy
+== TOL Benevolence Program Guidelines ==
-‘For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me’…And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:35,36,40
+Benevolence: “The disposition to do good; good will; kindness; charitableness; the love, of mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.”
-For even when we were with you we commanded you this: If anyone will not work neither shall he eat.  2Thesalonians 3:10
+=== Purpose:  ===
+The purpose of Tree Of Life’s benevolence program is to help others when they are in need.  This can be done through financial or physical means and even through prayer and support.  Benevolence can and will be used to help those in the church family and the community when they are truly in need.  It is not meant to be a source of income for an individual or family but a place where they can receive assistance in the name of God and of love when there is no other hope.
-Introduction:
+=== Source:  ===
-        	Jesus encourages us to bring healing, help and hope to the poor.  To fulfill this command we have set forth the following benevolence policy.  We can see by other scripture that the purpose of our helping those with physical needs is not to make them dependent on us.  That would be contrary to God’s will for them.  Our purpose is to help those that need a temporary helping hand, not those that want a continual handout.  It is better to teach someone how to fish, then to simply give him or her the fish.  In this spirit, we will seek to provide tools for financial discipleship when possible.
+The benevolence program will be funded by the church family and is meant to be in addition to regular tithes and offerings.  No money will come from designated donations or donations made to the general church account.  Money can be moved from the general church account to fulfill a benevolence request, but only after passing a vote of the Elder Board.
-Guidelines:
-.      The benevolence request will be made on appropriate form to the Director of Benevolence.  Any requests made on the behalf of another individual will require the Director of Benevolence to contact the individual in need.
+=== Providing Help:  ===
-.      When an initial request for help is made to the Director of Benevolence the following resources can be distributed: groceries, toiletries, grocery gift card, gas gift card and fast food gift certificate.  Cash will never be distributed to the individual.  For monetary resources the check is to be made out to the vendor in question (i.e. car repairmen, utility company, mortgage company, landlord, etc.)
+Assistance through the benevolence program will be provided after a review by the Benevolence team.  Each request will be reviewed individually and may be subject to terms by the requestor as seen fit by the benevolence team (i.e. obtaining it in person before or after a church service, financial planning help, or a discussion with church staff).  There will never be any implied or expressed expectation of repayment for funds provided.
-.      A request form must be filled out and filed for documentation purposes.
+=== Documentation:  ===
-.      Help will not be provided a second time unless the following requirements are met:
+All requests will be entered into Planning Center in a workflow that can be tracked and monitored.  All funds distributed from the benevolence fund must be accounted for and documented.    A spreadsheet will also be maintained in order to list all requests made that can be used for tracking purposes and also a history of requests made.  This sheet will list the person in need of assistance, date of the request, the type of request, the amount of the request, a quick description of the reason for the request, the requestor, and the request source.
-a.       The individual must submit to any financial stewardship counseling requested by the Director of Benevolence.  This must be in action not merely an intention.
-b.      The individual must be attempting to apply the principles of their counseling to the satisfaction of their counselor.
+=== Requesting Funds:  ===
-c.       The individual must frequently attend New Hope Open Bible, at least one service a week, if possible.  There may be cases where someone is physically incapacitated and unable to attend service, but if they are able to attend they are expected to do so.
+[[File:Benevolence Flow Chart.jpg]]
-.      During the financial counseling process the individuals involved must seek opportunities to improve their situation including: looking for jobs if able to work, looking for better paying jobs, seeking second jobs if necessary, decreasing unnecessary spending, etc.
-.      All resources provided are a gift and not a loan.  If the individual feels led to repay, they may do so at their own discretion.
+=== Recommended Reading ===
-.      If the church is able to provide financial counseling in-house, there will be no charge for financial counseling provided.
-.      The benevolence committee with the approval of the pastor and elder board can revise this policy.
+[https://smile.amazon.com/Toxic-Charity-Church-Hurts-Reverse-ebook/dp/B004X2JGSI/ref=sr_1_1?crid=I02IRVVK0UNW&keywords=toxic+charity&qid=1638026152&qsid=141-5620754-5689828&sprefix=toxic+charit%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-1&sres=B07Y2CPS47%2CB01GMR26N8%2C1494558505%2C0062307282%2C0802409989%2C0310119480%2C0310247454%2C0830837825%2C0802413390%2C0374532125%2C1733395709%2C0801017912%2C0801015197%2C1946099716%2C0393651363%2CB07NC9KNT8 Lupton, Robert D. Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (and How to Reverse It). New York: HarperOne, 2012.]