User Panel
Posted: 5/20/2017 7:20:41 PM EDT
What's your church's policy on people begging on church grounds?
---------- Just for background, my church is about 15 miles from downtown Austin. For those of you who haven't visited, the nice weather and liberal government have created a HUGE homeless problem. Just about every intersection in town has three or four panhandlers during rush hour. Our church is on a road with a few housing developments (new homes, $300k+), but none are within a half mile of our church. No sidewalks on that road; you can't accidentally take a walk and and up in our parking lot. Recently, while the pastor was preaching, we had a woman show up outside the church panhandling. The only description I heard was "with a sign". She was right outside our front door; no way to leave the church without getting within about 5 feet of her. One of the church Elders got her information, and said we'd be in touch but that she couldn't beg there. I was told her information was forwarded to a guy responsible for the church's community service outreach, and he'd follow up to see what her real needs were (i.e., make sure she wasn't scamming for beer money) before the church took any action. She disappeared, and in under two minutes there's a man in the same spot "with a sign". He's also told to leave, more forcefully. He disappears, and then someone notices a van idling in the parking lot. A church member who saw this all came to the conclusion that the van was the ride for the two panhandlers, and told the driver to leave (with a threat of calling the police). |
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What's your church's policy on people begging on church grounds? ---------- Just for background, my church is about 15 miles from downtown Austin. For those of you who haven't visited, the nice weather and liberal government have created a HUGE homeless problem. Just about every intersection in town has three or four panhandlers during rush hour. Our church is on a road with a few housing developments (new homes, $300k+), but none are within a half mile of our church. No sidewalks on that road; you can't accidentally take a walk and and up in our parking lot. Recently, while the pastor was preaching, we had a woman show up outside the church panhandling. The only description I heard was "with a sign". She was right outside our front door; no way to leave the church without getting within about 5 feet of her. One of the church Elders got her information, and said we'd be in touch but that she couldn't beg there. I was told her information was forwarded to a guy responsible for the church's community service outreach, and he'd follow up to see what her real needs were (i.e., make sure she wasn't scamming for beer money) before the church took any action. She disappeared, and in under two minutes there's a man in the same spot "with a sign". He's also told to leave, more forcefully. He disappears, and then someone notices a van idling in the parking lot. A church member who saw this all came to the conclusion that the van was the ride for the two panhandlers, and told the driver to leave (with a threat of calling the police). View Quote Trying to spread the cost of homeless to the suburbs. The van probably belonged to the Austin city homeless services. |
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What's your church's policy on people begging on church grounds? ---------- Just for background, my church is about 15 miles from downtown Austin. For those of you who haven't visited, the nice weather and liberal government have created a HUGE homeless problem. Just about every intersection in town has three or four panhandlers during rush hour. Our church is on a road with a few housing developments (new homes, $300k+), but none are within a half mile of our church. No sidewalks on that road; you can't accidentally take a walk and and up in our parking lot. Recently, while the pastor was preaching, we had a woman show up outside the church panhandling. The only description I heard was "with a sign". She was right outside our front door; no way to leave the church without getting within about 5 feet of her. One of the church Elders got her information, and said we'd be in touch but that she couldn't beg there. I was told her information was forwarded to a guy responsible for the church's community service outreach, and he'd follow up to see what her real needs were (i.e., make sure she wasn't scamming for beer money) before the church took any action. She disappeared, and in under two minutes there's a man in the same spot "with a sign". He's also told to leave, more forcefully. He disappears, and then someone notices a van idling in the parking lot. A church member who saw this all came to the conclusion that the van was the ride for the two panhandlers, and told the driver to leave (with a threat of calling the police). View Quote In California, we kept sandwiches and envelopes with support info and $5. The office lady kept track of the frequent fliers. The only recieved an envelope once a month. We used to have a Hispanic woman who would be dropped off with her kids every once in awhile at SVdP in Austin. Then we would see her on a occasion ar St Williams. The pastor has spoken many times to them but they keep coming back after a few months. I now live an hour away and we dont have this problem. But, go in to town sometimes for evening mass and see her sonetimes. I don't know the best solution. |
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I'm torn about this.
I really don't like the idea of telling someone "You're not welcome at church. Leave". It seems as far away from Jesus's example as you could get. On the other hand, these guys were deliberately targeting our church. We have potluck's almost every week. I'm not sure if just inviting them in for lunch is a good idea or not. Seems like it has the potential to turn our church into a soup kitchen. We already have problems with members (who are financially able) not bringing anything and running very low on food. |
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In 2017 America, I firmly believe that probably 99% of these people are just taking advantage of suckers.
I don't think that it is a proper display of christian love to reward these types. |
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I'm torn about this. I really don't like the idea of telling someone "You're not welcome at church. Leave". It seems as far away from Jesus's example as you could get. On the other hand, these guys were deliberately targeting our church. We have potluck's almost every week. I'm not sure if just inviting them in for lunch is a good idea or not. Seems like it has the potential to turn our church into a soup kitchen. We already have problems with members (who are financially able) not bringing anything and running very low on food. View Quote Instead of giving them money though, they were advised on the local resources for assistance. |
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I'm torn about this. I really don't like the idea of telling someone "You're not welcome at church. Leave". It seems as far away from Jesus's example as you could get. On the other hand, these guys were deliberately targeting our church. We have potluck's almost every week. I'm not sure if just inviting them in for lunch is a good idea or not. Seems like it has the potential to turn our church into a soup kitchen. We already have problems with members (who are financially able) not bringing anything and running very low on food. View Quote That seems to me like the best way to discern the sincerity of the people in need. |
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Church's, mine included run soup kitchens, what do you expect?
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They always want cash, not food.
That's the dead giveaway of all dead giveaways. Send them packing. |
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I've no problem (if I'm financially able) feeding or buying some food for a person in need.
I will NEVER give cash to a person on the street asking. I will, however, patronize someone showing entrepeneurship- like buying a case of $3.00 spring water and a cooler and Ice on a hot day and reselling the bottles for a buck or whatever, or selling candy or something. I'll also throw some money to street performers- people that are using talent (even if they aren't very good), but just holding a sign and begging, NOPE |
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I'm torn about this. I really don't like the idea of telling someone "You're not welcome at church. Leave". It seems as far away from Jesus's example as you could get. On the other hand, these guys were deliberately targeting our church. We have potluck's almost every week. I'm not sure if just inviting them in for lunch is a good idea or not. Seems like it has the potential to turn our church into a soup kitchen. We already have problems with members (who are financially able) not bringing anything and running very low on food. View Quote Like I said, we haven't had your exact situation, but we have had people come in off the streets asking for assistance and we've caught people eating out of our dumpster during services & that's how we've handled those situations. But someone who just wants to hassle people as they come out of church? We wouldn't be fond of that. |
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Church's, mine included run soup kitchens, what do you expect? Most "poor people" are poor because of their lifestyle. Some exceptions no doubt. If one has to live near homeless people and have to clean up after them they change their views of " poor people" I'll say most homeless are either mentally handicapped or just plain simple FSA. |
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Have you ever even read the New Testament? Is that the message that Jesus preached?
Nobody likes people who abuse the generosity of others, but bad-mouthing a Christian Church for handing out food to needy people is absurd. |
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Have you ever even read the New Testament? Is that the message that Jesus preached? Nobody likes people who abuse the generosity of others, but bad-mouthing a Christian Church for handing out food to needy people is absurd. View Quote |
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Church's, mine included run soup kitchens, what do you expect? View Quote None of those were run out of the actual church building, they were all separate buildings. In most cases they were separate legal entities that just "happened" to be completely staffed by volunteers from the church. |
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I'm with you, brother, and have noticed the same at two Austin area Catholic churches I go to. In our regular church, they now make an announcement before mass (paraphrasing): "It has come to our attention that there are people asking for money after mass. Please send them to the church office so that we may offer them assistance." That seems to me like the best way to discern the sincerity of the people in need. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I'm torn about this. I really don't like the idea of telling someone "You're not welcome at church. Leave". It seems as far away from Jesus's example as you could get. On the other hand, these guys were deliberately targeting our church. We have potluck's almost every week. I'm not sure if just inviting them in for lunch is a good idea or not. Seems like it has the potential to turn our church into a soup kitchen. We already have problems with members (who are financially able) not bringing anything and running very low on food. That seems to me like the best way to discern the sincerity of the people in need. |
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I suspect in Jesus's time there was a whole lot less dirtbags and FSA types. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Have you ever even read the New Testament? Is that the message that Jesus preached? Nobody likes people who abuse the generosity of others, but bad-mouthing a Christian Church for handing out food to needy people is absurd. Can you cite the part of the Bible that says that? |
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Never regret being good to the wrong people. Your behavior says everything about you and their behavior says enough about them.
Never step over the beggar. Christ couldn't pass them up either. I can tell you from personal experience that you never know what someone has endured. It's easy to judge if you don't know their story. Some people have found ways to exploit the poor. We don't have to worry about this portion of it. God sees the darkness in their hearts. Regardless of who you run into remember that they will know we are Christian by your love. You loose nothing by treating others with dignity and compassion. Even your enemies. |
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Never regret being good to the wrong people. Your behavior says everything about you and their behavior says enough about them. Never step over the beggar. Christ couldn't pass them up either. I can tell you from personal experience that you never know what someone has endured. It's easy to judge if you don't know their story. Some people have found ways to exploit the poor. We don't have to worry about this portion of it. God sees the darkness in their hearts. Regardless of who you run into remember that they will know we are Christian by your love. You loose nothing by treating others with dignity and compassion. Even your enemies. View Quote Well said. |
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I'm just reading at lunch and ran into 1 Timothy 5:2-8 (specifically verses 6, 7). Haven't fully processed it, but it might be relevant.
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When I address those with signs needing help I say, "Are you hungry friend?". When I get a positive answer I give them a bag of
food and water. I enjoy helping, in some small way, to feed someone who's hungry. |
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Several years ago, my church and the churches in my local area came together and helped establish an interfaith care center. All the churches support it and it provides assistance to people genuinely in need. Anyone needing help applies for help at the police department. That alone discourages scammers.
Heading up our church security team, our policy is when people show up asking for money, we let them talk with the pastor after the services are over. If anyone acts disruptive, or starts asking members for money, they are asked to leave. The one that I see the most while working security is folks wanting money for "gas" - actually things other than gasoline. |
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What's your church's policy on people begging on church grounds? ---------- Just for background, my church is about 15 miles from downtown Austin. For those of you who haven't visited, the nice weather and liberal government have created a HUGE homeless problem. Just about every intersection in town has three or four panhandlers during rush hour. Our church is on a road with a few housing developments (new homes, $300k+), but none are within a half mile of our church. No sidewalks on that road; you can't accidentally take a walk and and up in our parking lot. Recently, while the pastor was preaching, we had a woman show up outside the church panhandling. The only description I heard was "with a sign". She was right outside our front door; no way to leave the church without getting within about 5 feet of her. One of the church Elders got her information, and said we'd be in touch but that she couldn't beg there. I was told her information was forwarded to a guy responsible for the church's community service outreach, and he'd follow up to see what her real needs were (i.e., make sure she wasn't scamming for beer money) before the church took any action. She disappeared, and in under two minutes there's a man in the same spot "with a sign". He's also told to leave, more forcefully. He disappears, and then someone notices a van idling in the parking lot. A church member who saw this all came to the conclusion that the van was the ride for the two panhandlers, and told the driver to leave (with a threat of calling the police). View Quote Well I go row to row with a straw basket asking for parishioners to put their weekly in. How different is that from those in the street? |
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