Member Care

   

 
 

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Member care in the New Testament is illustrated largely in the care of bereft widows. The early church in Acts also saw the need of sharing their own goods and wealth in order to meet the needs of their own congregations and that of other congregations suffering financial or physical deprivation. (Acts 2:44-45; 6:1-7; 2 Corinthians 8-9). Observing the Scriptural emphasis upon the church’s responsibility to care for its own, Member Care and the Benevolent Fund is focused on meeting the needs of members and attenders of the Chapel. The Benevolent Fund may be used to provide assistance outside of the Chapel Family on a case-by-case basis upon recommendation to, and approval by the Elders as a body.

 

Strategy

Member Care is the primary responsibility of each Flock. Each Flock designates a deacon qualified individual in their Flock to identify and coordinate member care. This person is responsible to coordinate help, to communicate with the Flock Elders to ensure appropriate pastoral care and to present the need to the Benevolent Team when financial assistance from the Benevolent Fund is being sought.

Member care for practical, physical assistance is provided primarily by the Flock. Joint efforts by Flocks partnering together when the need is too large to be borne by one Flock alone is encouraged. Member care provides help with meals during and after hospitalizations, baby showers (other than the initial one arranged by the Hospitality Deaconesses), assistance with moves, car and home repair and baby sitting.

Each Flock is responsible for the recognized widows who are under the church’s care. Each Flock gives special time and attention to their senior saints and to their shut-ins.

Benevolent Fund

A Benevolent Fund is maintained by the church as a financial resource to meet member needs.

Support

The church shall budget from the general fund an annual amount to be transferred to the Benevolent Fund in the first month of the ministry year. A special offering will be taken at each serving of the Lord’s Table for the Benevolent Fund. Special, designated offerings for the Benevolent Fund will be received as given.

Note: No offering to the Benevolent Fund designated for an individual is tax-deductible.

Requests

Requests for financial assistance are managed by the Flock elders and designated Member Care coordinator. Requests are made using the Member Care Financial Assistance Form. This form will help provide consistency in requesting, evaluating and responding to needs.

Requests are evaluated by an ad-hoc Benevolent Fund Team consisting of the Elder(s) of the requesting person’s Flock, designated coordinator from the Flock, the Deacon of Finance/Treasurer and one of the church-wide Deaconate Coordinators.  Needs are evaluated carefully, focusing on primary financial needs (rent, groceries, utilities, medical) and considering contributing factors that may need to be addressed pastorally.

Upon granting a request, a requisition is filled out with the bookkeeper alerted to expedite cutting the check. The elder(s) will present the check, using the opportunity for pastoral care, comfort and confronting.

 

 

Clearcreekchapel.org

2738 Pennyroyal Road, Miamisburg, OH  *  P.O. Box 327, Springboro, Ohio 45066

(937) 885-2143