Working in one of the care organisations which now comes under the umbrella of Uniting Care it is very clear that the Christian Ethic is being eroded away by the need to justify the dollars spent. Care for individuals is on a “money from the government” basis rather than on a needs basis.
The rules and regulations also hinder the expression of basic human compassion.
The church does not have a say in the running of these organisations. The people in positions of responsibility are not Christian and so their world view soon becomes dominant. There is lip service given to providing quality care for clients, residents and staff. They spout values and outcomes but the mighty dollar is the driving force in the care industry. Often the most vulnerable people are the ones who suffer. To speak out against injustice is difficult as any problems identified are rationalised against the lack of funds – everyone is doing their best!!! The UC is not running these care organisations.
Perhaps it would be better for the UC to break the ties with big business and the need to justify spending to the government. The majority of UC congregations do not see that they have a link or responsibility to the care organisations, educational institutions or human services run in the name of the UC.
