"Diaconate rarely in view of non-church member"
So headlined the newspaper Reformatorisch Dagblad last Monday. The reason for the article was the report 'Poverty in the Netherlands', which was presented to minister Carola Schouten. This report is the result of research into assistance provided by diaconates, parochial caritas institutions and other church organisations in the Netherlands and provides insight into what activities churches and diaconal organisations are doing to combat poverty and debt and what trends and developments are visible in them. This survey is organised every three years by the 'Knooppunt Kerken en Armoede' (Centre for Churches and Poverty). Our churches also participate in this survey.
Versatile, but often unknown
The survey shows that the poverty assistance provided by the organisations mentioned in the Netherlands is many and varied but often unknown. Activities range from food and clothing banks, coaching towards a debt-free life and help with financial administration to social-emotional support. The estimated number of hours spent by paid and unpaid staff on supporting people in poverty comes to 2.3 million. A substantial amount was also spent on poverty alleviation: a total of over €40 million.
However, people outside the church hardly think of the church as a possible provider of help when in financial need. Churches and diaconal organisations themselves do not wait for people to knock on the door with a request for help, they go to them themselves and thus make connections in the neighbourhood.
Unconditional, long-term and trusting
The survey asked what characterises the approach to poverty of churches and diaconal organisations. Supporting people on the basis of trust, love and equality scored highest: no questions are first asked to find out whether people really qualify for help. Churches and diaconal organisations pay a lot of attention to groups that have limited or no access to government services, fall between the cracks and/or are beyond the reach or scope of official bodies. Organising tailor-made assistance and offering long-term support also score high among the characteristic approaches
Improvements
Respondents were asked to make suggestions for improvement on how to tackle poverty. From these came the desire to share practical information with church volunteers on benefits and schemes. In addition, respondents argued that the church should take on more of an agenda-setting role by drawing attention to poverty in the Netherlands, for instance in the public debate. This is badly needed given the rise in the number of requests for help.
Spiegel for the diaconate
As far as we are concerned, the study is also a mirror for local diaconates and for the national diaconate. The question arises as to whether we are reaching out enough to people in society who are in need. Or is the threshold (still) too high: too high to reach out from within or too high to knock on the door and ask for help from outside?
Sunday's assistance Sunday. The theme is 'let your light shine before men'. A call and a task that we may boldly shape out of love for our Lord Jesus.
