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Your mission: Help the jobless

Here's how your house of worship can help your unemployed neighbors

By Tim Funk
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Posted: Saturday, Jun. 20, 2009

More members of your congregation are out of work. So are many others in the wider community you strive to serve.

What can your house of worship do to help these people find jobs?

It's a question increasingly being asked – and answered – by churches, synagogues and other religious groups. Last week, more than 140 people representing 80 congregations and organizations attended a job resources seminar sponsored by Mecklenburg Ministries. (Organizers initially thought perhaps 50 people would attend.)

“Part of the mission of every faith tradition is to help … not only spiritually and emotionally, but also with any other needs,” says Maria Hanlin, who heads the interfaith group. “So, congregations are always looking for ways to help members of their own community as well as those outside their community who may not have a house of faith.”

The need for such help is expected to grow next week, when United Way announces cuts in the funds it distributes, many of which are nonprofits that serve those who are hurting. Though houses of worship have also had to cut expenses as donations dwindle, many say they want to do what they can.

One measure of this willingness: Mecklenburg Ministries has a listing of more than 40 job support groups launched by local congregations.

So, how can your house of worship help job hunters? Are there tips from churches and others already doing it? Where should you begin?

Here are some answers, from Mecklenburg Ministries, the Centralina and Charlotte/Mecklenburg Workforce Development Boards and others