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beachmoss
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 276 |
| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Fri Sep 14th, 2007 05:15 pm |
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I think this has been covered before, but I couldn't find the thread.
Today I received a flyer from the Salvation Army asking my Girl Scout Troop to volunteer with their Christmas toy shop--where they collect and distibute gifts to needy children. The volunteer-for-any-worthwhile-cause side of me says "Do it!" But I'm not real sure.
I know they are a religious organization, but they also seem to well serve the community at large. We have girls from many different faith backgrounds (all Christian), and I don't want to do something that might be offensive. I certainly couldn't do it if it goes against my faith practices.
The Troop is already involved in JOY boxes for Urkrainian children at Christmas, and we donate canned goods to the local food pantry every month. I'm all about community service, but with my girls being from churches all over the area, I don't want to focus our giving on one particular church's ministry.
Any advice?
Beth
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 734 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Sep 18th, 2007 04:20 pm |
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| My feeling is you should not work with a specific church organization as it would be perceived as implying endorsement. Angel Tree or something like that might be a type of thing that is not specific to a specific church.
____________________
Annie
Ora et labora
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CajunRick
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5253 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Tue Sep 18th, 2007 10:06 pm |
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beachmoss wrote: I know they are a religious organization, but they also seem to well serve the community at large.
FWIW, our church sets up a Jesse tree each year during Advent with ornaments representing children who would otherwise receive no Christmas gifts. Each year, the diocese typically send us half of the ornaments available for the entire diocese. In those years when we can't get enough from Catholic Social Services, we supplement them with ornaments representing other organizations, including the Salvation Army. We do verify that children will not have to attend a church service or otherwise be forced to participate in any religious activity to collect the gifts, and that has never been a problem with the Salvation Army.
In addition, SA has been a wonderfully helpful organization in our area in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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beachmoss
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 13th, 2006 |
| Location: | Simpsonville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 276 |
| First Name: | Beth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic (raised Baptist) |
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Posted: Fri Sep 21st, 2007 01:42 am |
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Annie and Rick,
Thank you for your posts! I know that the Salvation Army is very good at helping out the community. I had just wondered if they injected their religious beliefs into their generous work. I do think most people do regard them as a community service organization rather than a church. Rick, you set my mind at ease!
Beth
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Evelyn
Member
| Joined: | Fri Jan 18th, 2008 |
| Location: | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Posts: | 19 |
| First Name: | Evelyn | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | The Salvation Army |
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Posted: Fri Jan 18th, 2008 05:01 pm |
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I'm a Salvation Army officer, so I think I'm well situated to answer your question. But I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Could you possibly re-phrase it?
Thanks!
____________________
Only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared.
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