Let me stress very clearly that there is no problem with establishing a project as a response to a perceived need in the community, for example, providing hospitality for recently arrived asylum seekers in a neighbourhood, or in response to a high proportion of frail, elderly people in the parish. Such an expression of care is to be commended and cherished. The problem of 'needs meeting' begins to arise when the provision being made goes beyond hospitality, and the complexity of the needs of the 'clients' starts to be recognised. At this point, the project may automatically assume it has to respond by providing a greater diversity of services and a more professional approach to its work. The temptation is to drift into a feeling of obligation to pursue the needs of the client group, and the decision to develop additional provision in order to respond more adequately to the needs of clients is hard to challenge. Only the most hardhearted could speak against such a commitment, and that may be precisely the trap for churches. The urge to meet the client's needs more thoroughly is beyond rebuke, but it may indicate a failure of the imagination and confidence in the transforming power of God. (From: Journeying Out: A new approach to Christian Mission , page 27)
I have heard Ann Morisy speak and I have been impressed by her energy and understanding of church related community work. She was one of the authors of Faithful Cities : A call for celebration, vision and justice - a publication that marked the twentieth anniversary of Faith in the City .
Her concern in Journeying Out is how easily our intentions to work participatively are undermined by our desires to do the right thing. It seems most of the problems we face are caused by people who sincerely believe they are doing the right thing. How do we know whether or not we are doing the right thing?
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