I found out tonight that due to a decision taken by our vicar, a large number of my friends are considering leaving our church. While I see why they disagree, I think their actions are potentially extreme. I also have a couple of friends who agree with the vicar and am feeling stuck in the middle. Is it right that they leave, or would it do more harm than good, just for the sake of proving a point? How should we handle opposing views between congregation and leaders?
The situation has come about due to a homeless man who has been sleeping in the church porch for over 2 years. He is an older man who came out of prison and started living rough. He has some learning difficulties, is an alcoholic and has no family to speak of.
He started sleeping in the church porch because it was the other side of town (a fairly small town) from the only homeless action project, where he was scared of some of the clients. He said he felt safe at the church because it's in a nice residential area where the other homeless people don't go. Church staff made him cups of tea and people brought him clothes, food etc. The vicar tried to get him into shelters or a rehab programme but he refused to go.
Over time, he became a bit more demanding. Knocking at the Vicar's door at every mealtime, spending more and more time hanging around the office where the secretary works alone during the day. Understandably the Vicar began to try again to move him on but it didn't work.
A small group of friends decided to take him under their wing. They registered him with a doctor, make sure he goes to his appointments, bought him clothes, a new sleeping bag, hang out with him one evening a week. He started to help tidy up after services, he became more communicative to people, he loves the singing during services, They got him to agree to consider homeless shelters and halfway houses, but despite them writing applications and reference, no on would take him because of his conviction for arson.
Earlier this year, the man became angry at the vicar and threatened him with a broken bottle. He has called the Vicar's wife rude names when she returns to her house in the evening,
The Vicar has now announced he will be formally asking him to leave and will ask the police to move him on if he returns.
While I don't necessarily agree with this decision, because the man has nowhere to go and no one else to keep an eye on him, I totally see why he has made it,
My friends who have been helping the man are outraged and tearful about the whole thing, One has already told the Vicar she will never come back to our church, The rest are discussing amongst themselves and are meeting with the Vicar soon to make him aware of their views and the threat to leave. These people are all in leadership positions such as childrens work, music, various rotas. The impact if they leave would be big.
But i don't think it would solve anything and it wouldn't help this man,
I have advised them to put their case to the Vicar and hear him out. They have judged him for not doing more, but there has only been so much he can do without taking this man into his home. None of them have done this, but the Vicar has him on his doorstep everyday.
How should such things be dealt with? Is leaving rational, or should they try to make a change from the inside, rather than shutting themselves on the outside?
The situation has come about due to a homeless man who has been sleeping in the church porch for over 2 years. He is an older man who came out of prison and started living rough. He has some learning difficulties, is an alcoholic and has no family to speak of.
He started sleeping in the church porch because it was the other side of town (a fairly small town) from the only homeless action project, where he was scared of some of the clients. He said he felt safe at the church because it's in a nice residential area where the other homeless people don't go. Church staff made him cups of tea and people brought him clothes, food etc. The vicar tried to get him into shelters or a rehab programme but he refused to go.
Over time, he became a bit more demanding. Knocking at the Vicar's door at every mealtime, spending more and more time hanging around the office where the secretary works alone during the day. Understandably the Vicar began to try again to move him on but it didn't work.
A small group of friends decided to take him under their wing. They registered him with a doctor, make sure he goes to his appointments, bought him clothes, a new sleeping bag, hang out with him one evening a week. He started to help tidy up after services, he became more communicative to people, he loves the singing during services, They got him to agree to consider homeless shelters and halfway houses, but despite them writing applications and reference, no on would take him because of his conviction for arson.
Earlier this year, the man became angry at the vicar and threatened him with a broken bottle. He has called the Vicar's wife rude names when she returns to her house in the evening,
The Vicar has now announced he will be formally asking him to leave and will ask the police to move him on if he returns.
While I don't necessarily agree with this decision, because the man has nowhere to go and no one else to keep an eye on him, I totally see why he has made it,
My friends who have been helping the man are outraged and tearful about the whole thing, One has already told the Vicar she will never come back to our church, The rest are discussing amongst themselves and are meeting with the Vicar soon to make him aware of their views and the threat to leave. These people are all in leadership positions such as childrens work, music, various rotas. The impact if they leave would be big.
But i don't think it would solve anything and it wouldn't help this man,
I have advised them to put their case to the Vicar and hear him out. They have judged him for not doing more, but there has only been so much he can do without taking this man into his home. None of them have done this, but the Vicar has him on his doorstep everyday.
How should such things be dealt with? Is leaving rational, or should they try to make a change from the inside, rather than shutting themselves on the outside?