IN THEORY:Giving and global relief

A recent study of church giving titled "The State of Church Giving Through 2004: Will We Will?" reportedly shows that most church giving — as of 2004, the latest year for which data was available — goes to needs within local church organizations, with declining numbers of dollars going to activities outside the church, such as international mission work, combating child mortality rates worldwide, establishing elementary education across the globe. According to the study, more funds are spent on church building projects and church salaries as congregations give less than they once did for benevolent purposes. Are you seeing this trend? What do you think?

Church-giving has spearheaded the majority of global relief efforts for centuries. The traditional response by all faith traditions is to congregate together and reach out from neighborhoods and local church communities to those people of greater needs. Giving to others remains part of many religious celebrations and practices.

Now, thanks to the digital world, images portraying the living conditions of mankind are at our doorstep. Fortunately, I see a greater response from the celebrity circles and wealthy than before to supplement church and government aide. Maybe the donations to starving, homeless children and schools for girls in Third World countries was always being done before, but now it is a well publicized, popular act of humanity.

I am not seeing a decline in missionary work or church aid abroad. I am seeing more and more people and groups aware of famine, illiteracy and disease. I'm seeing a greater response by many groups, where only churches stood before ready to assist.

If we accept all those who want to help in good faith, we can create a powerful resource for international benefit.

Scientologists are ready to join with other groups to help those in need. We offer international aid by sending our volunteer ministers to work in relief efforts in response to natural disasters. Scientology parishioners trained in professional backgrounds such as education have been invited into Central and South America and Africa to help remedy illiteracy.

Our founder, L. Ron Hubbard, stated, "My own philosophy is that one should share what wisdom he has, one should help others to help themselves, and one should keep going despite heavy weather for there is always calm ahead."

CATHERINE EMRANI

Volunteer Minister

Glendale Church

of Scientology