A Christian group has been ditched by an umbrella group of advice lines for offering to pray for people with debt problems.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has been forced to leave AdviceUK, an umbrella group representing the interests of thousands of advice workers, after it was decided that praying was ‘incompatible’ with membership.
The decision has been described by campaigners as an ‘extraordinary curtailment of freedom of expression’. It follows a series of similar cases involving Christians whose freedoms have been curbed following the introduction of controversial equality laws.
Steve Johnson, chief executive of AdviceUK, described the offer of prayer by CAP as an ‘emotional fee’. Asked to explain what he meant, Mr Johnson replied that CAP was effectively expecting clients to ‘pay’ for their advice by agreeing to pray with the counsellors. ‘Advisers must not offer or impose their values,’ he added.
However, CAP has been a member of AdviceUK for six years and says it has never made prayer a condition of its free service.
In a statement, it said: ‘While CAP is committed to providing impartial help and advice to all members of society, as an expression of our care for clients we do offer to pray with people.
‘In discussions around ethos and purpose, AdviceUK made it clear that they saw any form of promotion of faith to be incompatible with membership criteria.
‘In order to protect the integrity of both organisations, it was amicably agreed that CAP would not continue to be an AdviceUK member.’
CAP said that its counselling service would be unaffected by AdviceUK’s decision. A spokeswoman added: ‘Given the right support, people can and will pay off what they owe.
‘We help people in debt regardless of age, gender, faith or background. In our most recent questionnaire of more than 1,000 clients, 88 per cent said that prayer was appreciated or OK.’
AdviceUK, which has 870 member organisations, boasts of being ‘in a unique position to influence Government departments and other bodies’. It says it ‘provides a voice to funders and supporters’.
Christians Against Poverty is hardly a group we should have expected to be thrust into the front line of defending the Christian faith in our land. Motivated by a Christian desire to help others, they have simply gone about doing good, taking no payment for their services, declining to become involved in politics. But prayer is a central part of their ministry, as you would expect of a Christian agency.
A common question asked of Christian Voice by secularists is ‘Why are you spending all your time protesting against what you see as evil? Why aren’t you out helping the poor and needy?
Christians Against Poverty is doing exactly that, but even that is not good enough any more, except if they deny their faith and the Lord Jesus Christ. No longer do our good works shine before these men, who will contrive to find something evil to say about Christians whatever we do. Truly, every Christian agency and every church involved in social work is now in the front line.
READ: 1Sam 2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith … them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
PRAY: For Christians Against Poverty that they will stand strong. Pray that God will honour their stand and make them an even more powerful force to help people out of debt.
EMAIL: info@capuk.org to let CAP know you are praying for them. If you want to invite CAP to speak at your church, email mattsanderson@capuk.org
EMAIL: steve.johnson@adviceuk.org.uk to protest at his treatment of CAP. You could also let him know you are praying for him!
Members receive our monthly newsletter “Christian Voice” during Parliamentary sessions and briefing papers on topical issues as they arise.
We also send our members E-Alerts on matters which need immediate action. By God’s grace, we try to ensure the information in them is always accurate and accessible.
Every new member also receives a copy of the Christian Voice publication “Britain in Sin”. This timely work reveals for the first time the full extent of our nation’s rebellion against God with:
- a list of 57 unrighteous laws passed by successive post-war governments,
- 400 Scriptural references, and
- 40 graphs charting the effects on social and economic trends
Members also recieve a copy of Understanding Islam, which tells you all you need to know about the ‘Religion of Peace’, and our booklet on halal meat, ‘Labelling Halal’.
Thank you for highlighting this matter; It is a disgraceful matter when so-called “freedom of conscience” and “freedom of religion” come under such despicable criticism. I have been helped by CAP and know that they are an organisation with utter integrity.
This says much more than anything AdviceUK can provide – indeed, it reflects far more upon the hidden attitudes and agenda within AdviceuK themselves. Shame on them.
Re. CAP. This but another example of the marginalisation of Christianity.
Will it soon be illegal to pray for Muslims as it might be seen as religious imperialism? The world will allow us our beliefs only if we do not proclaim them and thereby deny the foundation of our faith and mission. At last we are beginning to grasp how urgent is our task in being a prophetic word to a putrid and perishing world.
What a loss to AdviceUK from this award-winning organisation. My daughter and son-in-law have been trained in CAP counselling. A couple who were in dire straights have never looked back since the help they received and come out of their financial difficulties. Let’s pray that God will raise CAP up to have greater recognition and be used more as a result. Let’s look on the positive side.
Indeed!
I would like to know how long CAP has been involved with ADVICEUK and also if anyone has actually been OFFENDED by being prayed for. Surely Steve Johnson should be able to give some evidence that this has happened?
Hi Trevor,
Why don’t you ask him that in your email to him?
Stephen,
With respect I do not feel it necessary because CAP sent me their press release of May 2011 which explains their MUTUALLY AGREED separation. It should be respected and CAPs decisonto bow out gracefully will speak volumes. I don’t wish to muddy the waters or create bad blood!
He poureth contempt upon princes,
and causeth them to wander in the wilderness,
where there is no way.
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction,
and maketh him families like a flock.
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice:
and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
Psalm 107:40-42
I may have missed something here, but there is no law against offering to pray for anyone, is there? Even if the offer offends them, then that too is no crime.
So, isn’t this a case of a secular organisation discriminating against a faith based group on the basis of their faith?
If so, why aren’t they in the dock?
Advice UK must be a bit dim, I would have thought the name (CHRISTIANS Against poverty) would have given them a clue over the years. An offer to pray is a long way from making people pay an emotional fee!!
Wonder if there is a ‘Muslims Against Poverty’ group, and I wonder what Advice UK would say to them? Oh, hang on a minute, judging by every state in the world that enforces Sharia, Muslims seem quite happy to have entirely divided social classes.
The fool in his heart says there is no god
Here we go again!
They hate prayer because they hate God.
What a terrible thing CAP have done – they’ve introduced people to Jesus Christ!!
CAP will continue to prosper and enjoy the blessing of God
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