Commitment for life

Christian Aid has been supported by Commitment for Life (CfL) since 1992. Linda Mead, the Commitment for Life Programme Co-ordinator at the United Reformed Church, tells us more about why CfL supporters continue to give, pray and campaign for change.

What is Commitment for Life?

Commitment for Life is a network of United Reformed Churches and Local Ecumenical Partnerships committed to praying, giving and campaigning for change. It works with both Christian Aid and The World Development Movement.

Last year CfL raised more than £550,000 to help alleviate the root causes of poverty.

Seventy five per cent of that money goes to Christian Aid, and is divided equally among our four partner countries: Bangladesh, Jamaica, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and Zimbabwe.

10 per cent of the money goes to the World Development Movement and 15 per cent for grant giving administration and resources.

It is the recommended way for all United Reformed Churches to give to Christian Aid.

Why did the United Reformed Church (URC) opt to support Christian Aid this way?

Commitment for Life, in its present form, has been in existence since 1992. Before that many churches were involved in the '1% appeal' that encouraged church members to give 1 per cent of their disposable income to development agencies to shame governments into doing more.

This call came from the World Council of Churches. Historically the URC has always supported Christian Aid as the development agency of the churches. The World Development Movement link was seen as a way to support research in to development issues.

What benefits does it offer both the URC and Christian Aid?

It has made congregations more involved in and informed about the issues each partner country faces. It has allowed worshippers to be active in campaigning all year round. 'It has provided a substantial regular income that helps with long term development planning.'

By getting regular story updates on the issues as well as other tailored resources there is a sense of real support for the Christian Aid partners in our four partner countries. Visits to and from partners has also helped build deeper these relationships.

It has raised the awareness of Christian Aid's work amongst our members and provided a substantial regular income that helps with long term development planning.

The scheme was one of the forerunners of committed giving. We also run a legacy scheme where legacies came be designated for Commitment for Life partner countries.

What do churches that support Commitment for Life tell you about supporting the scheme?

They would agree that their knowledge is much greater and they like the idea of continued support for a particular country through all the changes it experiences. Prayers can be more focused and worship more meaningful.

It makes giving more personal but with monitoring and transparency which sometimes smaller individual development projects do not have. They know they are handing the money into trusted hands.