XPastor tries to help churches by providing some of the essentials for running a church—items like job descriptions, employment applications, review forms and policies. Below is the Benevolence and Financial Assistance Policy and Procedure of “Sample Church.”

In our “Sample Church” family, there are those facing financial hardships in their lives that make it difficult to make ends meet. When dealing with hardships, it can be difficult to plan for the future. The Benevolence Ministry seeks to support and encourage those in need by connecting them with resources, both inside and outside of our church community. Our Care Services Staff come alongside those in need by working with them to develop a plan that will not just meet their immediate needs, but help them plan for the future.

Goals

  • Provide long term relief to those facing financial hardships.
  • Provide options for individuals facing financial hardships.
  • Provide immediate assistance for Sample Church members and attenders that qualify.

Process for Receiving Benevolence Funds

  1. Must be active members or attenders (six months).
  2. Have not received financial assistance within one calendar year.
  3. Must discuss situation with a Care Ministry Pastor.
  4. Must sign an agreement and commit to our Benevolence Ministry Follow Up Program.
  5. Must complete the Benevolence Ministry Profile and schedule the Money Coach Ministry Follow Up with the Money Coach office staff.
  6. Must verbally agree to attend the next Financial Peace University Seminar.
  7. Benevolence request under $500 can and must be approved by the Pastor in charge of benevolence request.
  8. Benevolence request between $500 and $1,500 must be approved by the Pastor in charge of benevolence and the Finance Assistance Team.
  9. Benevolence request over $1,500 must be approved by the Pastor in charge of benevolence, the Finance Assistance Team and the Elders of the Church.
  10. Must maintain regular church attendance.
  11. Failure in following through on Good Cents Consultant and Seminar may forfeit future assistance requests.
  12. Exclusions for not receiving benevolence:

1. Common Law Marriages/Living Together: A man and a woman living together before marriage or they are opposed to Biblical marriage: If a couple is immature in their faith or they do not believe in the Biblical instruction of marriage and they are living together before marriage, i.e. “common law marriages,” we cannot assist in this way at this time. But we do assist them at the same time with an explanation and resolve. For instance, we would explain to them: Though living in the same house is not sinful in and of itself, the appearance of sin is being given. The Bible tells us to avoid the appearance of evil (1 Thes. 5:22; Eph. 5:3), to flee from immorality, and not to cause anyone to stumble or be offended. As a result, it is not honoring to God for a couple to live together before marriage. We would give this couple direction and a connection within Sample Church to assist them to make the proper adjustment in this behavior. This direction would be given with love and compassion for living God’s way. We encourage these couples to reconnect with our ministry if the need is still there after they have adjusted to God’s pattern for them. That could mean, once they are living on their own. It could also mean, that they have gone through our pre-marital counseling and were married.

2. Homosexual Behavior: If an individual or individuals ask for assistance and inform us that they are homosexual: If an individual communicates they are homosexual, we assist thus individual or individuals by saying we cannot assist them benevolently at this time. We explain what God’s Word communicates to us in this area. Our explanation would include that the Bible consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin (Gen. 19:1-13; Lev. 18:22; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 6:9). Rom. 1:26-27 teaches specifically that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God. When a person continues in sin and disbelief independence from God, the Bible tells us that God “gives them over” to even more wicked and depraved sin in order to show them the futility and hopelessness of life apart from God. 1 Corinthians 6:9 proclaims that homosexual “offenders” will not inherit the kingdom of God. Direction would be given with love and compassion for living God’s way. We encourage these individuals to reconnect with our ministry if the need is still there after they have adjusted to God’s pattern for their lives. That would mean, once they are living on their own seeking Godly deliverance from this type of behavior. It could also mean that they have gone through counseling and/or our LifeShare Ministry on some level.

3. Benevolence for litigation purposes: Unless overruled by the Senior/Executive Pastors and Leadership Team of the Church—Benevolence Funds will not be used for matters of litigation. For example: Divorce/Child Custody/Domestic or any other litigation. Per this policy and our Business Administration with the backing of our Attorneys prohibit our church to use benevolence funds in litigation as noted. Allowing such use could put our church at risk for possible legal action. We cannot compromise the integrity of our church and our church resources in these cases.

This information is strictly provided for office use only.

This information is confidential and for the use of the Church Leadership Team and the Community Care Ministry Team. This information pertains to our benevolent assistance request policy and procedure clarity purposes only. Not to be copied or given to potential benevolence assistant individuals or people they are in relationship with outside of our appropriate Church Ministry Staff Team. For questions, contact the Community Care Ministry staff office.