Serve the poor - but don't use public money to preach, Hazel Blears tells Christian debt charities

Secretary praises Christian debt services while announcing new charter governing public funding

05 February 2009

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has said that churches are ideally placed to help people through the current economic crisis – but 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.

Speaking to leading church debt experts at the Evangelical Alliance’s Life Beyond Debt conference, Hazel said religious charities deserve to be recognised for their “astonishing work.”

She said: “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 neighbourhoods.”

But she added that the Government is working towards a charter of excellence.

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

“And promising not to use public money to proselytise.”

She added that there is a balance to be struck: “It’s not about trying to stop the people manning the soup kitchens, or making home visits, talking about their faith if people ask, or being open about what motivates them.”

When questioned about this, she said 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. That’s self defeating,” she said.

Director of Public Policy Dr R David Muir said that faith groups already provide to people regardless of their background.

“The Government wants the social action and welfare that faith groups provide, but there is 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 how integral our faith is to the services we provide, and is open to discussion on this critical issue. We look forward to working with them.”

The conference, at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London, brought together 60 church leaders and anti-debt campaigners.

During the day, the Evangelical Alliance, together with a range of its member organisations, launched a campaign to encourage local churches to offer practical pastoral support to congregations and local communities and to challenge Christian attitudes to wealth and possessions.

It also launched a new website, www.lifebeyonddebt.org , to encourage and resource churches to make a difference in their communities.

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 peoples’ emotional needs and their practical needs are helped, more than probably any other group in society,” he said.