There has been an increase in requests for help from parishioners to clergy during this recession. Here are a few suggestions, some of them things that many churches do (e.g., have an emergency fund), but other suggestions that are equally helpful and less widespread (e.g., make a job network and provide help finding appropriate state and federal resources):

“We have an emergency fund at our church to help out members who are in need,” said David Howell, pastor of First Congregational Church of Palo Alto.

“We started a job network,” said Stacy Friedman, rabbi of San Rafael’s Congregation Rodef Sholom, “to connect people in the congregation who have jobs to offer or have job leads [with those seeking work]. We also have emergency resources in terms of funding or meal assistance for congregants who are in a financial crisis.”

Wilfried Glabach, minister of First Congregational Church of San Francisco, said he has been trying to connect church members in need to state and city resources. “People often think they have to go to soup kitchens and wait in a long line,” he said. “But there are other places that provide help and food; the city has a lot of listings and resources available.”

Read more at Faith and Finances in the San Francisco Chronicle.