Management or Mercy?
There is no mistaking that I live in the poorest city in the US. Cleveland earned that distinction last year. This summer has been dubbed by one columnist in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "The Summer of Death." It has been an incredibly violent summer in Cleveland. It has been a summer marred by senseless violence and murder at an almost record rate.
While all this goes on, I am also acutely aware that in the United States that there are now more poor people in the suburbs than in the cities. Granted the concentration of poverty is greater in the cities, but the majority of poor people now live in the suburbs. Gentrification has served as a contributor in making this happen. In our county the inner ring suburbs are experiencing many of the same issues that were once the domain of our large city. In fact, once quiet streets are now rampant with crime.
Non-profits find themselves at a crossroads. Many are fighting for financial survival while at the same time the need, especially here in the poorest city in the US is as great or greater than ever.
I have had conversation with people here in the city who believe that in order for us to survive that we need to curtail our social service assistance. While I understand that we need to fiscally responsible, I also believe that the first goal of the Kingdom and the organization to which I am called is service to the poor. We have used the motto, "Soup, Soap and Salvation" for years. The argument is that if we do not manage our assistance, we will not have funds available to help anyone.
My contention is that the moment we slow down spending on the poor, especially here, we are unfaithful to our calling and in fact sinful and immoral. We also violate a public trust. Millions of dollars are given to us yearly because people believe we serve the poor. I believe we do a good job of that. Yet there is so much more that needs to be done.
I also contend that we are wealthy in buildings and in administrative personnel. I wonder what those bring us. I know we need people to administer the large programs we have. I also know that we cannot just close corps. I believe, however, that many of our buildings are under-utilized and have become well-managed facilities instead of mercy centers, where physical and spiritual needs are addressed.
I have been there. I have shamefully worried more about the management of a program than administering mercy. I believe that much of our administrative burden rests with people like me. I am very well-cared for in the salvation war. I live in a decent home and drive a decent car. (Although, because of my guilt regarding the environment and operating costs I now drive a hybrid. In fact, Janet and I almost always drive together unless it is a necessity.) I also, have no worries about how I am going to make the next utility payment or where my next meal will come from. I rarely feel the pain of economic hardship. I am glad that in recent years as I have taken stock of the important in my life and that I have realized how well I have it and how little it means in eternity. I have come to the point where I see the need for less in holdings and a greater need to be divested of stuff for the good of the Kingdom.
I see the need around me in the city, and yes, in suburb in which I live, which is dotted with welfare motels. There are also times when I see those working poor, looking for the perks of suburban life, crammed into a substandard house in this suburb and ridiculed by their neighbors, because of their lack of standing. The need is all around. Mercy is needed and the coffers are drying up. The management wing of our ministry has its points. I just wonder where the balance is between management and mercy.
In a couple of weeks, I will be with some friends who are in the midst of a great Kingdom experiment. They find themselves serving in a very poor neighborhood. Their neighborhood is surrounded by gentrification. They struggle to make ends meet, yet somehow by keeping the poor at forefront of their service and not worrying about the perks of a nice building and good car, they are being blessed. Isn't that a model that we could use?
Here are my questions. I am speaking about the church in the Western Hemisphere here. Have we come to the point where we are living as an entitled organization? Do we want the comforts and not the sacrifice? Are our ministries becoming more about management than mercy? How would you think that we can balance be angels of mercy while still being good stewards of the resources God has given us?
I want to see mercy prevail in our society and in our city, which this summer seems so merciless to the young, poor and defenseless.
As with all my blogs, I wonder, what do you think?
While all this goes on, I am also acutely aware that in the United States that there are now more poor people in the suburbs than in the cities. Granted the concentration of poverty is greater in the cities, but the majority of poor people now live in the suburbs. Gentrification has served as a contributor in making this happen. In our county the inner ring suburbs are experiencing many of the same issues that were once the domain of our large city. In fact, once quiet streets are now rampant with crime.
Non-profits find themselves at a crossroads. Many are fighting for financial survival while at the same time the need, especially here in the poorest city in the US is as great or greater than ever.
I have had conversation with people here in the city who believe that in order for us to survive that we need to curtail our social service assistance. While I understand that we need to fiscally responsible, I also believe that the first goal of the Kingdom and the organization to which I am called is service to the poor. We have used the motto, "Soup, Soap and Salvation" for years. The argument is that if we do not manage our assistance, we will not have funds available to help anyone.
My contention is that the moment we slow down spending on the poor, especially here, we are unfaithful to our calling and in fact sinful and immoral. We also violate a public trust. Millions of dollars are given to us yearly because people believe we serve the poor. I believe we do a good job of that. Yet there is so much more that needs to be done.
I also contend that we are wealthy in buildings and in administrative personnel. I wonder what those bring us. I know we need people to administer the large programs we have. I also know that we cannot just close corps. I believe, however, that many of our buildings are under-utilized and have become well-managed facilities instead of mercy centers, where physical and spiritual needs are addressed.
I have been there. I have shamefully worried more about the management of a program than administering mercy. I believe that much of our administrative burden rests with people like me. I am very well-cared for in the salvation war. I live in a decent home and drive a decent car. (Although, because of my guilt regarding the environment and operating costs I now drive a hybrid. In fact, Janet and I almost always drive together unless it is a necessity.) I also, have no worries about how I am going to make the next utility payment or where my next meal will come from. I rarely feel the pain of economic hardship. I am glad that in recent years as I have taken stock of the important in my life and that I have realized how well I have it and how little it means in eternity. I have come to the point where I see the need for less in holdings and a greater need to be divested of stuff for the good of the Kingdom.
I see the need around me in the city, and yes, in suburb in which I live, which is dotted with welfare motels. There are also times when I see those working poor, looking for the perks of suburban life, crammed into a substandard house in this suburb and ridiculed by their neighbors, because of their lack of standing. The need is all around. Mercy is needed and the coffers are drying up. The management wing of our ministry has its points. I just wonder where the balance is between management and mercy.
In a couple of weeks, I will be with some friends who are in the midst of a great Kingdom experiment. They find themselves serving in a very poor neighborhood. Their neighborhood is surrounded by gentrification. They struggle to make ends meet, yet somehow by keeping the poor at forefront of their service and not worrying about the perks of a nice building and good car, they are being blessed. Isn't that a model that we could use?
Here are my questions. I am speaking about the church in the Western Hemisphere here. Have we come to the point where we are living as an entitled organization? Do we want the comforts and not the sacrifice? Are our ministries becoming more about management than mercy? How would you think that we can balance be angels of mercy while still being good stewards of the resources God has given us?
I want to see mercy prevail in our society and in our city, which this summer seems so merciless to the young, poor and defenseless.
As with all my blogs, I wonder, what do you think?
posted by Larry at 3:27 PM
4 Comments:
(Cleveland is the poorest city in USA? Really?...Really??? I'd be interested to know where that info came from.)
I wonder how the public of north-east Ohio would react if The Salvation Army in that area went under because it gave all its money and resources away?
Of course, that would never happen because, as an organization, we need to exist...don't we? My mind is wandering to your post about the SA 50 years from now.
The question that your line of thought brings up could be centered around the understanding of poverty - what does it actually mean to be poor anyway? Is poverty relative? How would the poor of developing countries who receive assistance from the SA view the poor of western nations who also receive help from us?
While The Salvation Army speaks out for the poor on many occassions, when was the last time we spoke out against the prosperous? Sinking below a poverty line is one thing, what about rising above a prosperity line?
I say all this, of course, well aware of my comfortable life situation in relation to...
Cosmo...
The poorest City in the US came as a result of a government study of wages and standard of living.
It's based on the U.S. Census Bureau. Cleveland earned that distinction in 2004 and 2006.
Violent summer, yes I understand your words for they are my reality as well. The drug culture which has ripped my city apart is not a 25 minute drive away, or as the cliche may say "the other side of the tracks". It is 10 houses away, a driveway away, a newspaper article away, a neighbor away. My answer to some who are trying to know me better, as being new in the community, is "No, there is no price for my son's insulin syringes. He uses an insulin pump - no needles. This drug has too strong of a hold on you." When some have heard about our son's diabetes, they are eager to have a clean resource for their needle-bearing habit; a child usually only uses a syringe once: they could get another 20 uses out of that baby.
And The Salvation Army is exactly in the middle of it, along with the Methodist Church and the Catholic Diocese for this region of Ohio. Our line of connection with the ministirium isn't fellowship or BBQs, its finding out what we are doing and are willing to do with such blatant brokennes in our vision.
It is not hidden. It is not exaggerated.
There are no crossroads about what God says through the prophet Isaiah in 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has appointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve."
There are no city limits or suburban sprawl defined - the only matter at hand is defining the area of despair and actively combatting it with the message of holy hope frm our holy God.
Abandon the city - I feel that is a gigantic mistake.
Ignore the suburban areas - that would be uncompassionate and rigid.
You are right - to stop seeing the poor at their point of need is unfaithful. To wake up and pay attention - this is what God is calling His believers to do.
Let mercy prevail - and strengthen us with the stamina to encounter each situation with the holy love and solution opportunities God will deliver.
A deep post tonight - always ready and willing to make people think think think.
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