Church dilemma (all opinions welcome)

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I attend a relatively small church. We used to be a lot bigger, and have a campus, budget, and infrastructure to match. We have a decent amount of tithing with most regular attending families participating, but generally operate at a deficit.

Part of our budget is our "fellowship fund", which is used to help members who have family financial issues. A few years ago, one of our member families fell on hard times, and our board voted to allocate part of our budget to help support this family on a monthly basis.

Now it's been a few years, and this budget allocation has become less appreciated and more expected. Recently, some of the church leadership has changed, and now there's discussion as to how obligated the church is to continue supporting this family.

On one side of the coin is the idea that this family has really come to depend on this subsidy, and removing it could have a dire impact on them. On the other side is the idea that they have had enough time to come by their own means of self-support, and that it's not really incumbent upon the other members of the church to support this family, especially when the church doesn't have enough income to pay all its other bills as is.

Based on the above, how do you think the church should handle this dilemma?
Oh man that's a tough situation bro.

Personally I would ask the old cliche, "WWJD?"

Now if the church cannot support this family, the choice is clear. This reminds me of welfare and it's purpose. It was never meant to be permanent.

Now if the family is proven to abuse the generosity, you must take it away, imo.
 
Ugh... as much as I want to debate science vs creation, I believe I beat that dead sly way too much. I think everyone on this forum already knows my position.
 
Missionary?

We all know Mags is into femdom!

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The discussion (before sex slaves) seemed to devolve into Christians compassionate, atheists/scientist hard-hearted.

I am an atheist and a scientist. I did not say throw them on the street.

IMHO people use Christianity and other religions to justify who they are. If they believe in caring for "the least of these", compassion they say it is because they are Christian. If they say the poor or disadvantaged should be on their own, they say it is because they are Christian.

And frankly atheists do the same.
I think we get one chance on earth and have an obligation to make the most of it for all.
Ayn Rand said only the very best people (what she considered the best, rich, beautiful, talented, white) deserve good things.
 

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