By John Longhurst
Should the Canadian government stop funding the development work done by church groups? That?s what Ian Smillie seems to be suggesting in his May 6 post ?Strange Choices.?
In the post, Smillie takes issue with two Christian aid groups, Wycliffe Bible Translators and Crossroads Christian Communications, that receive money from the federal government for development work.
He suggests that groups that are better known for preaching the Gospel, and in some cases making controversial statements about homosexuality,? shouldn?t be involved in projects like education and water projects, and that the government shouldn?t fund them.
To the first point, it is not at all unusual for church groups to be involved in activities that meet the physical needs of people?in Canada, and in the developing world.
In this, they are simply following the words of Jesus, who instructed his followers: ?For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat;? I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me;? I was sick, and you visited Me;? I was in prison, and you came to Me.?
In fact, if these groups didn?t offer practical help, they would be criticized for the opposite by Canadians?for ignoring the real needs of people around them.
To the second point, while I can?t speak to the projects themselves, groups like Wycliffe and Crossroads should not be seen as more deserving of government funding than other NGOs. Their projects, like all others, need to stand on their merits, and meet the usual tests for effectiveness and efficiency?and never cross the line into using government funds for proselytizing.
In this regard, government support for church-related groups is governed by an understanding reached in 1995. That?s when representatives from CIDA and church-related NGOs met to talk about the nature of their partnership.
Among other things, they agreed there is considerable overlap between the humanitarian and development goals of church groups and the goals of CIDA, and that CIDA could support their work. They also agreed that government funding was not to be used for programs designed to convert people from one faith to another, or for other religious programming.
And they agreed that it is not necessary to agree in all areas. Opposite opinions and ideas could be held on various subjects and issues, yet church groups and the government could still respect their differences and work together towards the common goal of helping people in need.
Have things always worked out perfectly? Probably not. Could things sometimes have been done better? Absolutely. But that?s no reason to stop funding church groups. After all, if the government wants to make sure its aid gets to those who are most in need, supporting church groups is one of the best ways to do it? something that former CBC senior correspondent Brian Stewart attested to in a 2004 speech at Knox College in Toronto.
During his travels in some of the world?s poorest and most conflicted countries, Stewart discovered that it?s virtually impossible to go anyplace where Christians aren?t busy doing relief and development work.
?I?ve found there is no movement or force closer to the raw truth of war, famines, crises and the vast human predicament than organized Christianity in action,? he said.
?And there is no alliance more determined and dogged in action than church workers, ordained and lay members, when mobilized for a common good.
?It is these Christians who are right on the front lines of committed humanity today, and when I want to find that front, I follow their trail,? he said.
He continued: ?I?ve never reached a war zone, or famine group, or crisis anywhere where some church organization was not there long before me? sturdy, remarkable souls usually too kind to ask: ?What took you so long?? ?
Near the end of his speech, he recalled the time the small plane he was travelling in had to make an emergency refueling stop at a nearly deserted landing strip in the central African jungle.
?We stepped out into the middle of absolutely nowhere, it seemed, only to be greeted by a cheerful Dutch Reform minister offering tea,? he said. ?My veteran cameraman later sighed in exasperation: ?Do you think you could ever get us to a story, somewhere, anywhere where those Christians aren?t there first??
?I was never able to.?
John Longhurst is director, Resources & Public Engagement, at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
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