Church closes food bank because it attracts poor people

When I looked it up to make sure it was legit, it turned out this happened in 2000, but is not unique.
The same thing happened a few years ago at a Baptist Church in Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA
And this kind of thinking can easily seen in some people who consider themselves Christians today.

http://drreid3.newsvine.com/_news/2011/08/30/7532123-headline-church-closes-food-bank-because-it-attracts-poor-people

“Winnipeg: A busy church food bank, known for offering warm drinks and snacks to its regulars, has announced it’s closing because it is attracting too many poor people.

“‘It’s attracting a lot of street people that make it uncomfortable,’ said Charlotte Prossen, Unity Truth Centre minister Thursday, ‘It’s creating social unrest in the church’

“‘A food bank is a social service and that is not who we are’

“Ms. Prossen said the program is being cancelled to focus on more church-specific activities. The church’s board of trustees made the decision to cancel the bimonthly food bank after receiving an e-mail from a sister church in Victoria.

“‘Most clients of food banks have not yet come to a sense of personal responsibility in life. They are still in denial, blame or seeing the world as owing them,’ wrote Rev. David Durksen of the Unity Church of Victoria.

“Ms. Prossen praised the work done by food banks, and said the church will still collect food for baskets but focus more on people’s spiritual hunger.”

Now, if your jaw drops at this news item, consider this statement of their beliefs from their website:

!!!! Please take notice this is a church in CANADA !!!


http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/02/21/church.html

Church reaffirms food bank decision
Last Updated: Monday, February 21, 2000 | 11:44 AM ET
CBC News

The Unity Truth Centre on Arlington is standing by its decision to close the food bank that Winnipeg Harvest operated on its property.

Some of the church's members are unhappy with the decision.

But the minister wants her congregation to focus on more "church-like" activities.

Charlotte Prossen has only been minister of Winnipeg's Unity Truth Centre for two months.

She says her decision to close the food bank has garnered some angry, even threatening, phone calls.

She admits some of the people in the church want the food bank to stay.

"They're unhappy because they've taken a stand that enforces to them that they're doing a great service by serving this food. But the program goes on, and they're welcome to volunteer in any place the program is offered."

Prossen says people in the congregation meant well when they first decided to get involved in the food bank.

But she says the group had been without a minister or leadership for years, and now, it needs to return to more spiritual pursuits.

"I don't know why it would be hard to understand that we are a church and we must identify ourselves as that in our community. We need to use our space, to introduce our programs to the community."

Prossen says there were several reasons she closed the project, including concerns about whether it was covered by the church's insurance.

She denies news reports that suggest the food bank was really shut down because some church members were uncomfortable with the street people who came to their building.

Instead, Prossen makes references to "unpleasant" and "unfortunate" situations that led to the decision. She says she's not at liberty to say what those situations are, although a prepared statement issued by the church does mention safety and protection concerns.

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