Violence to the Poor?

People have asked whether Catalyst is a Christian foundation. I don't really like the question. The founders are committed followers of Jesus and I am also; in that respect everything we do is in some way Christian. But we are somewhat reluctant to identify Catalyst with that adjective. The reasons are slightly complex, but basically we wonder about all the assumptions that are made when anything is tagged as Christian.

We have determined that within the work of Catalyst we are not funding programs that are focused on explicit evangelism and church planting. We are active in our own churches and we certainly do believe that there is a need for the truth and grace of Jesus to be shared sincerely and broadly. We just don't believe that is the primary role for Catalyst.

So, where does faith fit into to our work? That too is complex sometimes. Most of the best leadership and relief/development organizations and resources we can find have Christian people in positions of great influence. In some cases the organizations identify as Christian, in some they don't.

Today I read an article arguing that the greatest social need in the world is not health, economics, or even justice; but restoring proper relationship with God. I certainly believe the hope and direction that come with salvation are the ultimate deliverance, and I hope that in some way my life points to that reality. At the same time, I'm wary of those who encourage people to "go, be warm and well fed" while they pass out religious literature and warn of the peril of hell.

I find myself thinking about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It's pretty hard for people to consider the claims of Christ if their children are dying of polluted water. Medical Ministry International understands this well, as do some of our other partners.

I would truly love to hear how the above article resonates with some of the rest of you.

Over my head

I used to be a lifeguard.
Last night I stood with my toes in the ocean after a long day of amazing learning. I've lost track of the number of conversations I've been a part of in the last 40 hours about the world of philanthropy I've just come into. The sheer immensity and variety of the need in the world is so far beyond my comprehension it leaves me staggered. Added to that are the discussions about projects and strategies for trying to address some of those needs at individual, local, regional, national, continental, and even global levels.
Standing on the shoreline I reflected that my lifeguarding experience might make me an above average swimmer, but that ability is pretty much irrelevant compared to the size of the ocean. On my own I'd be lost in minutes.
Among the many things I'm noticing about other participants in this PIGS conference is how many of them came to their philanthropic roles in unusual ways and are now finding that God had uniquely prepared them for the work they are doing now. Several of the disparate tracks and themes in their lives have come together in fascinating ways to enable them to bring about good now.
I can only hope and trust that I will be the same.
It reveals another aspect of the shoreline experience. I am continually realizing that the God I love and try to serve is far beyond what I've understood so far. More than anything else, I desperately want to deeply know God. I'm going to take the risk of stepping into the waves.

Finding Our Heart

I recently told someone that if they want to understand the mind of Catalyst they should read our website; but if they want to understand our heart they should read this blog. This is where the less fully considered and critiqued ideas are expressed. It gives insight that the more refined text of the website might miss.
I am spending the start of this week at a conference in Ft. Lauderdale with Professionals In Granting Society (PIGS), a gathering of representatives from several foundations. It is an inspiring group in many ways. I'm going to have a lot to think about from this event.
One of the most significant thoughts of the day today is the way that other foundations have identified what they are most passionate about and endeavoured to make that the focus of all their efforts. They are connecting their hearts and mind.
This is accomplished in various ways. Some have defined several separate categories of funding within their portfolio to reflect a diverse interest and strategy; others have become very narrowly focused and demonstrate great depth of wisdom and advocacy regarding the fields with which they are concerned.
It is becoming increasingly clear to me that this year at Catalyst is primarily about defining our interests. If we are able to effectively discern these things during our first year we will be able to bring about much greater influence in the years to come.
There is a spirituality to this. Not in any way to suggest that we should only support explicitly Christian projects, but that as we seek to express our sense of purpose we will be praying that God shows us how we can participate in those things that are part of his great story for all the world.

Relationships or Projects

I've always liked being the new guy. It allows me to ask questions and make observations that may be missed by those who have been involved longer. Of course, that also makes me vulnerable to wildly inaccurate suppositions based on ignorance rather than insight.

The world of charitable foundations and grant-making is a new one for me; you can decide for yourself if I'm ignorant or insightful.

One person who I know is insightful is Mark Petersen from the Bridgeway Foundation. His blog "Open Hands" (link here) gives me a lot to think about. His most recent post is based on a recent New York Times article that explores the established tendency for foundations to gear their grants almost exclusively to short term, clearly defined, and measurable projects; rather than longer term investment in core funding. Innovative directors are realising that this contributes to an unintended and potentially unhealthy necessity for charities to play the "market" of funding and neglect their own long term vision and development.

To my uninitiated eyes this sounds a lot like a transition that Christians are making in our understanding of evangelism. A generation ago, under the influence of organisations like Campus Crusade for Christ and Evangelism Explosion, evangelism became focussed on simply trainable techniques and immediate responses. A large number of people were influenced to pray the "sinner's prayer", and there was much to celebrate in the Kingdom of God. Over time it became apparent that this contributed to a consumer mentality in the church and resulted in sometimes shallow conversions and a lack of deeper discipleship.

Recently thoughtful spiritual leaders are exploring evangelism with a more relational approach that is less efficient and involves a rediscovery of the importance of community. Some believers easily embrace this "postmodern" approach and have treated the "old way" with scorn. Others are skeptical of the soft nature of it and are concerned about "watering down" the Gospel.

Of course, this whole discussion is largely restricted to the Western world.

Really we need both for evangelism and philanthropy. We need those who will be more aggressive and push for measurable commitments and results. We also need those who are prepared to dig deeper into relationships and stick around for the outcomes that take longer to emerge.

Speaking for myself, I prefer the long term approach. I love the process of seeing people develop and discover their identities and interests as God shapes them. It requires more patience and means fewer partnerships and relationships can be cultivated. It's kinda fuzzy on the results and sometimes it seems like a pretty poor investment; but for me it draws me closer to the heart of God and calls me to a faith that challenges the biasses and assumptions of our culture.