Comments on: Does Your Church Have Any Public Benefit…..The Government Is Not Sure http://blog.kingsdivinity.org/2007/08/does-your-church-have-any-public-benefitthe-government-is-not-sure/ (formerly Midlands Bible College blog). Comment and blogs by King's faculty. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:55:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Keith Waters http://blog.kingsdivinity.org/2007/08/does-your-church-have-any-public-benefitthe-government-is-not-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-265 Keith Waters Wed, 29 Aug 2007 13:40:52 +0000 http://collegeblog.midbible.ac.uk/does-your-church-have-any-public-benefitthe-government-is-not-sure/#comment-265 Liz, You have a good point, the Christian church should not be surprised that a secular government is less than eager to offer financial support to it's very spiritual aims when there is no tangible benefit to be seen. I do think though that Christians in the UK need to put our case to the government on this for the following reasons: 1. If we consider the work of the average church, many are providing some or all of the following: after school clubs, parent and toddler groups, support groups for the elderly, youth clubs, debt, addiction and pregnancy counselling. 2. The government wants charities to provide such social functions (obvious thing to do as it is largely free), it would seem politically inept in that case to make it more costly for us to do so; 3. Surely this is a great opportunity to let the government know just how much we do Monday-Saturday? Liz, You have a good point, the Christian church should not be surprised that a secular government is less than eager to offer financial support to it’s very spiritual aims when there is no tangible benefit to be seen.

I do think though that Christians in the UK need to put our case to the government on this for the following reasons:
1. If we consider the work of the average church, many are providing some or all of the following: after school clubs, parent and toddler groups, support groups for the elderly, youth clubs, debt, addiction and pregnancy counselling.
2. The government wants charities to provide such social functions (obvious thing to do as it is largely free), it would seem politically inept in that case to make it more costly for us to do so;
3. Surely this is a great opportunity to let the government know just how much we do Monday-Saturday?

]]> By: liz ward http://blog.kingsdivinity.org/2007/08/does-your-church-have-any-public-benefitthe-government-is-not-sure/comment-page-1/#comment-263 liz ward Sat, 25 Aug 2007 14:24:12 +0000 http://collegeblog.midbible.ac.uk/does-your-church-have-any-public-benefitthe-government-is-not-sure/#comment-263 Provided the same thing applies to mosques, I've no major objection. I don't really see how we can claim to be of public benefit any more when so few people go to church. Provided the same thing applies to mosques, I’ve no major objection. I don’t really see how we can claim to be of public benefit any more when so few people go to church.

]]>