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Wise as Serpents? Can Christian Organizations make a Claim for 'Secular' Funding without Losing their Integrity?
Abstract
This paper seeks to examine whether the use of secular funding would be a
risk to Christian integrity. This examination follows from the survey conducted
by the Churches’ Regional Commission in the North-East, where
some eighty churches reported difficulty in raising funds. This paper, however,
concentrates on evangelical churches where, historically, a faith/work
split has been acutely felt. Working with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theology
(principally in his Ethics) and, to a lesser extent with Gustavo Gutiérrez’s, I
examine whether community involvement by churches should be expected
and encouraged. I then look closely at one community project currently being
undertaken by a parish church, and see how community involvement is
affected by bids for public funding. I conclude that, far from being a risk to
Christian integrity, the decision not to apply for public, or other secular funding
could be an abdication from a proper sense of missionary responsibility.
risk to Christian integrity. This examination follows from the survey conducted
by the Churches’ Regional Commission in the North-East, where
some eighty churches reported difficulty in raising funds. This paper, however,
concentrates on evangelical churches where, historically, a faith/work
split has been acutely felt. Working with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s theology
(principally in his Ethics) and, to a lesser extent with Gustavo Gutiérrez’s, I
examine whether community involvement by churches should be expected
and encouraged. I then look closely at one community project currently being
undertaken by a parish church, and see how community involvement is
affected by bids for public funding. I conclude that, far from being a risk to
Christian integrity, the decision not to apply for public, or other secular funding
could be an abdication from a proper sense of missionary responsibility.