ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WITH GOOD NEWS

Welcome to Good News.

We want you to know what we are offering you, what we are not offering you, and what we expect in return.

Good News is a confidential no interest repayable loan program for families
. whose immediate debt crisis is typically less than $5000;
. where there are no other means to resolve the debt;
and who are willing to work at reestablishing themselves. It would be abnormal for a family to be involved with us for more than two years.

Good News offers a no interest loan to repay existing debt of up to $5000 relating to basic family needs.

Good News will not consider debt where
. other reasonable means to resolve the debt are available to the family including financial institutions and extended family support;
. our involvement will not result in manageable debt; or
. more debt is likely to be incurred.

Good News typically requires the involvement of the whole family
. complete prior confidential disclosure of all incomes, assets, expenses, debts, and debt history;
. initial family payment towards the debt;
. the loan is only used to immediately pay off identified unmanageable debt;
. participation in financial counselling and, if required by those administering the loan, trusteeship of the family finances until the family situation stabilizes; and
. regular weekly or monthly payments without interest until the loan is repaid.

Good News does not assume any responsibility for family debt.

If the above correctly represents the acknowledgement between you and Good News kindly indicate this by signing below.

acknowledged ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

for Good News__________________________________ date _________________________________________

The funds available to Good News are part of donated benevolent funds held by the Burnstown United Church used as a repayable loan. Personal information required by Good News is considered confidential and, excepting internal financial review, will not be disclosed to other parties or used for purposes not indicated on this page.

"GOOD NEWS" PROPOSAL

An integrated program that is "good news"¹ to families in the community with crippling debt to:

 1. assess family needs, resources, debt, and debt history;

 2. offer personal and financial support to qualifying families with an acknowledgement typically including debt repayment of up to $5000 as a repayable loan at no interest, financial counselling, and if required trusteeship of the family finances until the family situation stabilizes;

 3. introduce the family to Jesus Christ;

 4. invite the family to adopt us as a supportive community of faith.

As an integrated program "good news" will respond to the family equally with or without the faith components, but recognizes faith and being part of a supportive community of faith are integral to regaining personal and financial stability.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS/SUGGESTIONS

The financial support considered is not a gift... rather, consistent with scripture², it is a no interest loan typically to be repaid over 24 months.

Critical to "good news" is that a debt crisis presents a brief window of time from the moment contact is made with a family to initiate their motivation to change their problem, after which efforts might become simply removing an immediate debt crisis rather than substantially addressing a debt history problem. The family will make a non-legal acknowledgement with "good news" typically within a window of less than two weeks, including an immediate loan, not to incur additional debt without concurrence, financial counselling, budgeting, and creation of a joint bank account with "good news" to control disbursements... "good news" stays involved for the duration of the loan.

The "ACKNOWLEDGEMENT WITH GOOD NEWS" is intended to prevent any future misunderstandings and, as indicated, is not a legal document as there is no intention of taking delinquent accounts to court... rather we hope to appeal to the integrity of the family to repay the loan so that the monies will be able to assist other families. The family is more important than the loan, changing completely the way "good news" relates to the family situation. All requests will be dealt with respect, courtesy, and strict privacy for the protection of the confidentiality of the family.

The process proposed is not used by financial institutions as it lacks legal means to recover the loan and it is not time or cost effective.

We suggest "good news" be comprised of the immediate persons and a representative from each participating congregation, individually declare and refrain from involvement if there is conflict of interest, make periodic reports to the congregation(s), and that an independent financial review be included with the annual reports of the congregation(s).

¹ the name comes from "the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor..." {LUKE 4:18}
² cf. "If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, in any of your towns within your land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him, and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take heed lest there be a base thought in your heart, and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye be hostile to your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and it be sin in you. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him; because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. For the poor will never cease out of the land; therefore I command you, You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in the land." {DEUTERONOMY 15:7-11}

WHAT'S REQUESTED

1. Authorization of "GOOD NEWS" as a recognized ministry of the congregation.

2. Agreement that "GOOD NEWS" might, with the support of the session, administer benevolent funds not immediately allocated for other use as described above.

3. Authorization to request financial support from the congregation.

4. Authorization to integrate the ministry of "GOOD NEWS" with the Pastoral Care Team where possible.

5. Authorization of the necessary motions to open a bank account.

6. The person and prayer support of the congregation for "GOOD NEWS".