On Monday, the Shelby County Commission restored funding for the Office of Early Childhood and Youth this week after first voting to cut the program, which works to reduce infant deaths and teen pregnancies.

Commissioners Wyatt Bunker and Terry Roland spoke against funding the program, arguing that churches and civic organizations — not government — should care for the poor.

“These type social programs should not and should never have existed in government,” Bunker said.

“I’m like my friend, Commissioner Bunker: This should be taken care of through the churches,” Roland said.

What is government’s role in caring for the poor in Memphis and Shelby County? Should churches and civic groups do more?

In an attempt to be objective, not personally knowing these elected officials, I will try to make my reflections reflect a righteous indignation towards a systemic ideology and not a personal attack.  With blurred lines and mythical understandings of separating church and state, many people see corporate entities as structures that exist apart from the individuals who make them. Both Church and State (government) are comprised of a group of individuals who ought to be working together towards the common good of all people, with specific focus on the most vulnerable of us. According to the Preamble, WE THE PEOPLE have the charge to ‎”provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…” Common.  General.  Blessings.  Sounds like “church” to me.

The church surely ought to do more. My critique of the church would be that it has modeled too closely a corporate, entrepreneurial ethic that minimizes the harsh realities of the administrative choices that are made in the name of “progress.”  Is it really progressive when the can of responsibility is kicked further and further down the road by people who are supposed to represent poor PEOPLE? Who is really progressing?  Maybe some of us don’t consider others of us to be included in common, general matters of blessings.

I posed the question of role’s that is fusing this article to a group of my constituents on Facebook.  I appreciated the myriad of responses I received (some in support, some opposition) because I perceived the comments to be made in the spirit of love.  I cannot view the comments made by these officials in the same light.

Social programs were/are incorporated to highlight and engage in the necessary efforts that display humanitarian concern for human beings.  But too often, some humans embrace the glamour of public office and ministerial platform without accepting the grit and grind that comes along with it.

Comments like those suggested by these officials smack of insensitivity and misappropriation of privilege.  It is interesting (to say the least) when the proverbial “passing of the buck” (pun intended) takes place in accepting responsibility of caring for the poor but it doesn’t take place when it comes to profiting from the poor.  Officials always accept the votes of poor people in their favor.  The city council just approved an 18 cent tax increase and there was no discrimination (poor people must pay too).  Shared responsibility is the order of the day when it benefits those in power; shouldn’t it work in reverse as well?  And please, let’s consider this; many legislative measures that have been incorporated and endorsed by such politicians are the CAUSE of the plight of the poor.

Ultimately, the government is comprised of people.  The church is comprised of people.  It is the responsibility of all people, to care for all people.  Service is the rent we pay to live.  Too many of us in privileged positions are living rent free.  If we can accept someone’s tithes/taxes (and their votes in our favor) we can accept responsibility to care for them.

What is government’s role in caring for the poor in Memphis and Shelby County? Should churches and civic groups do more?

There is a responsive reading in our hymnal taken from Walt Whitman that has a line that reads: “Those who govern are there for you, it is not you who are there for them.” In a democracy the government by, for and of the people does not serve some of the people but all of the people. Taxes are paid not just to receive personal basic services but also for the common good. City and county budgets represent how the resources of the community are used for the quality of life for all citizens. This includes programs that benefit the poor. The health of a society is directly related to its moral concern for its citizens who are at risk and have few resources to command.

Faith communities are also called to serve the wider community outside of their walls. The Church Health Center, the Metropolitan Interfaith Association, and the Hospitality Hub are three examples of congregations representing the religious diversity of Memphis pooling resources to serve those in need. The response of congregations to the recent flood is another illustration. In addition individual congregations offer a variety of outreach ministries like soup kitchens, tutoring in the public schools, and repairing homes. The number of volunteer hours and financial resources involved are substantial.

In the Unitarian tradition faith is a matter of what ones does. In the Christian tradition the concern for justice is not separated from faith. Bringing the kingdom of God on earth, creating the beloved community, involves challenging social structures, economic systems and political arrangements that disadvantage the poor and vulnerable. Responsible budgeting and economic sacrifices in a challenging financial time brings clarity of purpose to how resources are employed. Programs that serve the vulnerable need to be examined for efficiency and effectiveness rather than dismissed as the proper concern of government.

It takes government, faith-based communities and civic groups to respond to the many needs of people especially in a large metropolitan area with a significant population of citizens at the poverty line. Some projects like the Nehemiah housing project are only made possible by the pooling of state, local and faith-based resources. No one agency or religious institution or government body command sufficient resources to provide all the needed services for our most vulnerable citizens. All are called to do their part, and to be wise partners when possible. We can only be a city of good abode when we are in right relationship with the least among us.

On Monday, the Shelby County Commission restored funding for the Office of Early Childhood and Youth this week after first voting to cut the program, which works to reduce infant deaths and teen pregnancies.

Commissioners Wyatt Bunker and Terry Roland spoke against funding the program, arguing that churches and civic organizations — not government — should care for the poor.

“These type social programs should not and should never have existed in government,” Bunker said.

“I’m like my friend, Commissioner Bunker: This should be taken care of through the churches,” Roland said.

What is government’s role in caring for the poor in Memphis and Shelby County? Should churches and civic groups do more?

We must not forget Abraham Lincoln’s definition of Government: Of the people, By the people, For the people. The government is collecting taxes to provide services to its citizens and it is obligated to provide these services morally, fiscally and legally. Reduction in infant mortality and teen pregnancies benefits the community in long run. Although the religious institutions provide many services to the community in the spirit of service to the fellow man, it is not their obligation.

On Monday, the Shelby County Commission restored funding for the Office of Early Childhood and Youth this week after first voting to cut the program, which works to reduce infant deaths and teen pregnancies.

Commissioners Wyatt Bunker and Terry Roland spoke against funding the program, arguing that churches and civic organizations — not government — should care for the poor.

“These type social programs should not and should never have existed in government,” Bunker said.

“I’m like my friend, Commissioner Bunker: This should be taken care of through the churches,” Roland said.

What is government’s role in caring for the poor in Memphis and Shelby County? Should churches and civic groups do more?

I am confident that the Commissioners who object have a sensitive spot in their hearts for the poor and probably are very generous, via their respective churches, in funding help for those in need, I am also mindful that it has been the Church that historically has initiated the program for philanthropy from the days of St. Basil (330-379). And as people of God we should continue and perhaps do more. That is why one of the favorite programs of my church is the Ladies Philoptochos Society, one of the largest philanthropic organizations of America.

However, the conditions that prevail today call out that we must ALL participate in caring for those in need. In what way and to what extent, I do not know. We offer help to those in foreign countries – something we should remain humbly proud of – but to ignore those in close proximity seems callous. We Americans have manifested a generosity as a nation through the years for those in need. Let us not stop now, especially now that the need is greater than it has been since the great depression.

P.S. I hope my Social Security check is not cancelled. I hope it is not considered government intervention! It would create a hardship on many of us.