Loving Our Neighbor
A Thoughtful Approach to Helping People in Poverty
by
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Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Part One: The Biblical Call to Love Our Neighbor Chapter One: The Beatitudes as a Guide for Loving Our Neighbor Chapter Two: Loving Totally Chapter Three: Walking the Way? Chapter Four: Requirements of Faith Chapter Five: Poverty in the Bible Part Two: A Thoughtful Approach to Deciding How, When, and Whom to Help Chapter Six: When Someone in Need Approaches You Giving Money Directly A Better Way to Respond Giving Money for Long-Term Solutions, Not “Quick Fixes” Summing Up Chapter Seven: Helping Others: Servant or Sucker Trying to Understand Those We Want to Help Techniques You Can Adopt: Mantras, The Three Vs, the A-B-Cs, L.E.A.R.N. Double Standards Servant or Sucker? Exercise: Agency XYZ Application Chapter Eight: Different Approaches for Offering Assistance Responding to Anyone at Any Time Setting Appointments Assisting Only Referrals Directing Requests to an Appropriate Organization Creating a Fully Staffed Program Partnering with Other Organizations Any Combination of the Above Chapter Nine: Setting Up a Direct Aid Ministry Exploring the Itch Whom, How, When to Serve Implementing the Plan Warning!!! Summing Up Worksheet: Setting Up a Direct Aid Ministry Chapter Ten: Helping a Family in Need Getting Started Developing a Relationship Maintaining a Healthy Process Possible Pitfalls Worksheet: Helping a Family in Need Exercise: Cathy Chapter Eleven: Evaluating Benevolence Requests Background of Your Congregation Source of the Request Involvement of Your Congregation Organizational Information Possible Results of Deciding to Support a Request Worksheet: Evaluating Benevolence Requests Chapter Twelve: Motivating Members to Help How Groups Can Help How Individuals Can Help When Members Do Not Help Exercise: Why I Am Afraid to Get Involved Part Three: Poverty—The Big Picture Chapter Thirteen: Branching Out Levels of Working with Poverty Is the Need Housing or Income? Touring Blighted Areas Chapter Fourteen: Justice and Charity Are Not the Same Charity Justice A Room Full of Masks The Shalom Balance of Justice Economic Theories Affect Our Lives Exercise: A Creed for Helping Others Afterword Notes
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About the Book
Loving Our Neighbor provides practical advice for churches, businesses, civic organizations, school groups, and individuals who need seasoned guidance in making wise and compassionate decisions when approached for financial donations.
Beth Templeton is a minister who clearly understands both the heart of the charitable organization and the need for focus and planning when it comes to helping those in need. She relies on twenty-five years of experience as a nonprofit executive at United Ministries to:
- Provide an understanding of the Biblical call to help
- Assist others in comprehending a life of poverty
- Advise the different ways to aid those battling financial hardship
- Illustrate how to organize a direct ministry for a church
- Facilitate others in gaining a deeper understanding of the social and economic conditions that lead to poverty
Templeton shares fresh insights, thought-provoking lessons, and timeless wisdom that exemplify an organized and compassionate process that includes various approaches designed to help others decide how, when, and whom to help in times of need. Loving Our Neighbor encourages building relationships with those who can benefit from assistance, ultimately enriching their lives in countless ways.
About the Author
The Rev. Beth Lindsay Templeton Director, Our Eyes Were Opened An Outreach of United Ministries 606 Pendleton Street, Greenville, SC 29601(o) 864-271-2965 (direct line), 864-370-3518 fax btempleton@united-ministries.org www.oureyeswereopened.org Beth Lindsay Templeton, Director of Our Eyes Were Opened, is a community activist, innovator, minister and presbytery leader, consultant, teacher, and writer. She has for twenty-six years worked at United Ministries, a non-profit in Greenville, South Carolina. She has interacted with people who are poor and marginalized, as well as with groups and individuals who want to help people with minimal resources. She is a graduate of Presbyterian College and Erskine Theological Seminary. She and her husband have three married sons and four grandchildren. Education: Presbyterian College, BA Mathematics, summa cum laude Erskine Theological Seminary, M.Div., with honors Community Activist: Director of Our Eyes Were Opened (2007-present) Executive Director of United Ministries (1983-2007) United Way’s Community Impact Agenda Partnership: Financial Stability Counci Vision 2025 for Greenville, SC and Greenville Forward: Families and Social Services Committee Housing Task Force – Educating stakeholders about housing issues Riley Institute Diversity Leadership Academy inaugural class Liberal Arts Leadership at Furman University inaugural class Innovator: On the development team or charter member of: Project which built 68 units of housing for senior citizens/ people with disabilities Free medical clinic Coalition of organizations that work with people who are homeless Agency focused on child care issues Come to the Table, a consultation ministry of Foothills Presbytery for helping congregations deal constructively with conflict Along with United Ministries staff developed: Program for women who were addicted and/or prostitutes School for adults 8th grade-GED Program to help adults get and keep permanent jobs Day shelter for people who are homeless Minister and Presbytery Leader: Ordination: Presbyterian Church, U.S.A (1982) Preacher and Administrator for congregations in need: 3 months (pastor(s) on sabbatical) to three years (church in conflict) Temporary pulpit supply for congregations of different denominations Vision Committee (2008) Committee on Ministry: (Foothills Presbytery, 1999-2006, chair in 2005-2006) Initiated procedures and policies for dealing with clergy sexual misconduct in Foothills Presbytery (chaired the task force) (2000) Moderator of Foothills Presbytery (1999) Committee on Preparation for the Ministry: (Foothills Presbytery, 1991-1997) Furman University Volunteer Chaplain for Presbyterian Students:(1982-1996) Consultant and Teacher: Bible Study Leader for Circle #4 at Fourth Presbyterian Church (2000- ) National, regional, local workshop and retreat leader Consultant/coach to boards and Executive Directors of other nonprofits Keynote speaker Teacher and presenter in congregations, classrooms, and the community Consultant to congregations dealing with conflict Writer: Loving Our Neighbor: A Thoughtful Approach to Helping People in Poverty (Released in November 2008) Curriculum for Teens to learn more about poverty In Our Own Words, editor and contributor: A compilation of newsletter articles and a history of United Ministries Articles in religious magazines and newspapers Conversations on the Porch: Biblical Women Embrace Us With Calls to Action (unpublished) Awards: Coretta Scott King DreamKeeper Award: 2009 Dream Achiever- YWCA: 2008 Service Award for Professional Excellence (Rotary Centennial: 2005) League of Women Voters Honoree: 2005 Commander’s Appreciation Award (Post 3 Goodfellows Club: 2005) American Association of University Women Honoree: 2001 Vocational Service Award (North Greenville Rotary Club:1998 R. Cooper White Humanitarian Award (Greenville County Human Relations Commission: 1993) Distinguished Service Award (Greenville Lions:1988, Greenville Jaycees:1989)