The Northern Ireland Executive should avoid partnering with debt advice services with an evangelical agenda, the National Secular Society has warned.
NI’s Department for Communities is consulting on proposals to support the delivery of independent advice and debt services. The proposals include encouraging “collaborative partnerships” with “faith-based groups”.
The consultation documents reveal the evangelical debt advice charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) was among the contributors to the evidence gathering phase of the consultation, despite being criticised for attempting to convert vulnerable people to Christianity.
The NSS responded to the consultation to urge the Department not to work with CAP without guidelines in place to prevent proselytising.
CAP exists to “advance the Christian faith”
The NSS said CAP has a “poor reputation” among professional debt advisers due to its “ethically dubious” practices.
CAP’s debt advice service is based around volunteers visiting clients in their homes. Its debt service is not delivered by expert, qualified debt advisers such as those that work for Citizens Advice. Instead, it is delivered by debt ‘coaches’ who invite clients to pray and attend church.
Advice UK, the national charity which supports independent advice services, terminated CAP’s membership in 2011 when it judged the ’emotional fee’ of asking clients to pray whist offering debt advice to be incompatible with membership.
The NSS highlighted how CAP’s evangelical agenda is evident in its 2022 annual report, which is listed in the consultation document’s additional reading and resources section.
CAP’s report says it exists to “advance the Christian faith” and will “actively encourage” anyone who “wants to explore a deeper relationship with the Christian faith”.
In a section entitled “Advancing the Christian faith”, it says it provides grants of up to £1,000 to CAP workers and churches to launch “new initiatives around mission and evangelism”. The same section says: “More than three-quarters of churches said they reached people they wouldn’t normally connect with – and half said it grew their confidence to share faith”. It boasts that “at least 243 people responded to Jesus”.
The NSS said this demonstrates CAP’s agenda “to use its advice and debt services to grow its own congregations”.
The report features testimonials of clients who converted to Christianity after using CAP services and being invited to church.
The NSS contrasted CAP’s approach with that of food bank charity Trussell Trust, which also contributed to the evidence gathering phase of the consultation. Trussell has a Christian ethos and works with churches, but unlike CAP the advancement of Christianity is not part of its charitable objects and it does not make reference to any agenda to convert people to Christianity.
The NSS called on the Department ensure its contracts with any partners in the provision of advice and debt services includes a stipulation that the service provider will not attempt to proselytise or convert any of its users.
NSS: CAP’s evangelical agenda causing widespread concern
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “Public services intended for the whole community should be provided in a secular context, without seeking to convert anyone.
“This includes independent advice and debt services partnered with local or national government.
“Many faith-based groups have demonstrated an ability to carry out public service provision without imposing their beliefs on service users or discriminating against users, employees or volunteers.
“Unfortunately, some religious groups unethically exploit their position as service providers to vulnerable people to advance their religion. Christians Against Poverty is one group which has caused widespread concern because it mixes debt coaching with its evangelical agenda.
“We therefore urge the NI assembly to cease any partnership with CAP while it continues to attempt to convert its vulnerable users to Christianity, and to implement safeguards to ensure none of its partners attempts to proselytise while delivering advice and debt services.”
The consultation closes on November 3rd. Submissions can be made here.