My church has an established and expanding, Community Services department. However, the church also has responded on several occasions, with cash for "urgent" requests. Now that the (infrequent) practice has begun, I recommend the church adopt protocols or guidelines to assist with these sensitive and difficult decisions.

IMO, an advance notification practice to voting or decision making members is a prudent place to begin. In conjunction with this also, however, should be the expectation the decision makers will prayerfully consider the decision before meeting.

I'm beginning to suspect or fear however, a standard response for all cash request circumstances, versus a decision tree or protocols, may be the only safeguard.

I was involved for more than twenty years with a food bank operated by our church that one day also decided to give out cash in emergency situations, but not directly to the person, but rather directly to pay a months rent, or some other urgent bill needing immediate attention. That way, the person couldn't use the money for anything other than for its intended purpose.