Life Beyond Debt

Churches vital to debt care but must not ‘proselytise’ says Hazel Blears

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has said that churches are ideally placed to help people through the current economic crisis. But she added that faith groups using public money to do this work should not ‘proselytise’.

This could affect churches and other religious groups running debt-counselling services.

Ms Blears announced a new charter to be launched later this year. Under this scheme religious groups would have access to government money for debt relief schemes, but not if they evangelised.

‘The charter would mean faith groups who are paid public money to provide services promising to provide those services to everyone, regardless of their background.

‘There’s a balance to be struck here,’ Hazel Blears said, ‘It’s not about trying to stop the people manning the soup kitchens or making the home visits talking about their faith if people ask, or being open about what motivates.’

But when questioned about this she added that she wanted to enter a dialogue with churches over this issue. ‘I don’t want to get to the place where the very thing that motivates you is stripped away,’ she said. ‘That’s self-defeating.’ But she added, that it was ‘fair’ that churches did not evangelise in return for government cash.

Her words came at Life Beyond Debt a conference on the current crisis held by the Evangelical Alliance in London.

Nonetheless, Hazel Blears welcomed the role that churches play in helping those facing increasing levels of debt during the recession.

‘I’ve often found that churches, synagogues and mosques are the places where communities first get organised, the most forceful advocates for their neighbourhoods and the most steadfast in rocky times when other organisations might falter.

‘Religious charities deserve to be recognised for their astonishing work, no matter how bit or small they may be,’ she added.

‘By making a commitment to offer the practical advice about family budgeting and debt management, the churches and groups here today can make a great difference to their neighbourhood.’

The Evangelical Alliance’s Director of Public Policy Dr R David Muir said, ‘The government wants the social action and welfare that faith groups provide. But there’s a danger that they also want faith groups to leave their beliefs at the door.

‘Our faith is what equips us as Christians to provide support and compassion to those who are spiritually and emotionally damaged by debt.

‘But we are glad that the government recognises that our faith is integral to the services we provide and is open to discussion on this critical issue.’

Life Before Debt brought together 60 church leaders and anti-debt campaigners. During the day, the Alliance launched its strategy to encourage local churches to ‘offer practical, pastoral support to both congregations and local communities,’ and to ‘challenge Christian attitudes to wealth and possessions’.

Matt Barlow, chief executive of Christians Against Poverty said that people suffering debt felt ‘powerless and hopeless’ to change their situation. But he said the power lay within the national network of churches to help people face the emotional and practical problems of indebtedness.

‘We the local church can ensure that people’s emotional needs and their practical needs are helped, more than probably any other group in society,’ he said.

Full text of Hazel Blears' speech delivered at the conference on 05 February

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