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Triangle Community Foundation
Triangle Community Foundation
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Abstract
The new mission of Triangle Community Foundation places emphasis on collecting philanthropic assets and using these to help communities. The mission would be effective if it benefits the poor populations and satisfies their needs. Basically, non profit organizations such as these aim at improving the holistic wellbeing of disadvantaged populations. The change of the mission has brought in light the needs of philanthropic donors who also play an important role in sustaining poor communities. This change is however unlikely to bear beneficial results because of its undue emphasis on the philanthropic donors at the expanse of non profit organizations and the need populations. These trio share intricate relations and al their needs should be addressed to attain optimal results. The members of the staff were opposed to the changes because they felt that important stakeholders were being omitted. Although the process of redefinition was all inclusive, it had the ability to strain relationships and is therefore not sustainable.
Keywords: Triangle Community Foundation, Philanthropists, donors, stakeholders
Triangle Community Foundation
Unlike the previous mission of Triangle Community Foundation that placed emphasis on extending help to the affected communities, the current new mission focuses on collecting philanthropic assets and ensuring effective use of the assets to benefit the target communities. To attain this, the new mission prioritizes the needs of philanthropists whose actions were geared towards making a meaningful impact on the populations. This was arrived at after the redefinition of the concept of philanthropy indicated that no all donors were philanthropists. This mission would be improved by underscoring the role of the communities that would benefit from the resources.
In their review, Payton and Moody (2008) indicate that needy populations are always at the center stage of the missions and visions of non profit making organizations. The fundamental goal of such organizations is generally to improve the wellbeing of the disadvantaged populations. In order to enhance sustainability, the role of non profit organizations or disadvantaged populations that are likely to benefit from the grants also needs to the captured in the mission statement. In essence, the mission of the organization should reflect the commitment of the foundation to the donors whose philanthropic assets have a great impact on one hand and to the satisfaction of the diverse needs of poor populations on the other hand.
The long term goal for this change was to strategically collect philanthropic assets and effectively employ them in attaining the highest degree of impact on the society. Seemingly, the change realigned the focus of the organization from needy populations to philanthropy donors. The redefinition of philanthropy categorized some of the donors as not being philanthropic. For this reason, they did not qualify as organizational client and therefore would not greatly influence organizational activities. This has diverse impacts on their wellbeing especially considering that they also contribute in different ways to the welfare of the foundation.
From a corporate point of view, emphasis on the needs of the consumers is of paramount importance in enhancing organizational functioning (Friedman & McGarvie, 2004). Basically, the processes, practices and activities of a given organization need to be aligned to consumer needs and expectations. In light of the Triangle Community Foundation, the consumer base is quite complex and diversified. Both the donors from different backgrounds and beneficiaries of the philanthropic assets have a direct influence in the operation of this organization. Thus in order for the change to be sustainable, the definition of consumers should be all inclusive and incorporate the diverse needs of the aforementioned populations.
This change is unlikely to succeed in the long term because of various reasons. To begin with, the changes imply that not all donors would be prioritized during the execution of major organizational duties. In this regard, it is worth appreciating that the entire non profit making fraternity share intricate and augmenting relationships that require varied forms of contributions. Just as donors play an important role in providing grants, non profit organizations are instrumental in ensuring that the respective grants are used in an effective manner.
Foundations such as the Triangle Community Foundation on the other hand ensure the availability of grants and act as mediators between the donors and the non profit making organizations, target populations and the donors. They ensure that the grants provided by donors reach non profit organizations or target populations in a timely manner. Certainly, the trio share close relations and non can perform optimally without the others.
In this consideration, it should be appreciated that all types of donors impact on the welfare of needy populations. This is regardless of the nature of the contributions that they make on the affected populations. According to Powell and Steinberg (2006), respective contributions have positive impacts on the welfare of the affected populations and help in nurturance of viable relationships amongst key stakeholders.
The staff members were opposed to these changes because of the diverse impacts that the changes had on their internal and external relationships. From the case study, it is certain that the staff of the foundation understood that the role of the organization was to maintain viable relations between major stakeholders. For instance, the philanthropic officer believed that the clients of the foundation included both the donors and non profit organizations. Previously, these had worked closely and had established close relationships that enabled them to attain different goals and objectives. Arguably, there were ongoing projects being pursued jointly by the non profit making organizations and the foundation’s staff.
Redefinition of the clients had diverse impacts on the holistic wellbeing of such developments. In essence, it implied that the established programs would be dissolved or discontinued. This could not only undermine viable relations but also had the potential to frustrate the established initiatives. The procedure entailed an entire review of the processes and activities of the organization. Although it would be assumed in the long run, the change would be unsuccessful because of the threats that it posed on the current relationships among major key players.
References
Friedman, L. & McGarvie, M. (2004). Charity, philanthropy and civility in American history. Cambridge: University Press.
Payton, R. & Moody, M. (2008). Understanding philanthropy: Its meaning and mission. Indiana: University Press.
Powell, W. & Steinberg, P. (2006). The non profit sector: A research handbook. Yale: University Press.
Trial of Martin Luther at Diet of Worms
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Trial of Martin Luther at Diet of Worms
Martin Luther (1483-1546), a Catholic monk before being rejected from the church, was a 15th century reformer who took upon himself to speak against some of the practices of the Roman Catholic Church. He was himself a catholic who after visiting the church’s headquarters in Rome and noting some of the incompetence of the clergy, decided to address the bad deeds he perceived of the church. Martin Luther returned to Germany where he publishes books that questioned some of the practices of the middle-ages church. It should be noted that at that time the authority of the papal was considered unquestionable (Brecht, 36). In fact, the pope was considered very holy and close to God than any other person. One can therefore notice that as a mere monk, Luther was putting himself in a tricky position. No one dared question the supremacy of the church during this time except Martin Luther (Althaus, 43). Luther had based his argument on Paul’s gospel after a deep analysis of the Bible. He therefore refused to disown this belief and proceeded to attack the Catholic Church. Even when Pope Leo the 10th threatened him with sixty days to rethink his position, Luther did not change his position on that matter.
The Prosecution Question 1
Doctor Luther, you claim that faith alone, and not good works, is the requirement of a Christian to live according to the will of God? This is not according to the teachings of the church. Do you agree you taught this and if so, are you willing to rebuke your teachings?
Martin Luther’s Response to Prosecution Question 1
Your majesties, it is my strong belief, through the teachings of the Bible, that faith alone counts above any other sacrifice. St, Paul’s teachings on faith also say the same about this teaching. By our own action we cannot be considered holy or righteous, only God knows the righteous. Only God sees through our souls. It is through grace, mercy and faith that we are counted children of God. Our Lord Christ himself through the parable of the rich young man, also showed this .Therefore I maintain my stand that faith alone, not good works, lead to heaven.
Prosecution Question 2
Dr. Martin Luther, you are also being accused of publishing books that teach unacceptable doctrine that misguide people from that which is holy, right and acceptable by the church, thus misleading part of the church. The books in question are all here in front of you. Do you agree these books are yours, and if so, do you agree to speak against the false doctrines that the books spread? Do you also offer to help the church in destroying them?
Martins Response to Prosecution Question 2
Your Majesties, I agree the books are mine. However, as pertains to rejecting the doctrines, which I teach through the books, I humbly say that I will not deny what I wrote by withdrawing from that which I believe in with a passion. Gracious emperor, as to the question whether I will withdraw the opinions I have given forth, a question of faith which are directly my own eternal salvation, from free preaching of the holy word, that word that knows no master either on earth or in heaven, and which we are all bound to live by, is a word I cannot abandon. It is the word of God. If the books are as they were when I published them, then I choose to continue believing in them. The teachings are based on my good interpretation of the holy Bible and if there is any clause, phrase, or sentence that appears not to agree with the teachings of the Bible, then I ask to be shown. If found to be exactly so as I published them, then I will not sit back to paint wrongly the true gospel of Christ. I was careful not to make God angry by publishing articles that do not agree with the Bible. I maintain my stand (Lindburg, 52).
Prosecution Question 3
Doctor Martin Luther, you are also being charged with inciting loyal members of the Catholic Church to rebel against the authority of the church and established rules of the universal Church. This is an unacceptable. Are you ready to stop doing this? (The Diet of Worms, 3)
Luther’s response to prosecution question 3
My Lords, I do not remember specifically asking the Catholic faithful to rebel against the church. If it is by reading my works that, they come to realize the church is not operating as expected of it, then it does not imply that I incited them. Their decision to stop believing in the teachings of the Catholic Church is out of their own volition. Matters of religion should be left to the free will of individuals my Lords.
Questions to ask and possible answers
Possible Question one from Luther
Your majesties, allow me ask a question in my defense. The Pope claims that he has the powers to deliver souls after death. Is he able, as a man, to see through souls of men to know the good and the bad ones?
Answer
The leadership of the church was given to Peter by Christ himself. He gave Peter powers to decide what is acceptable on earth, and that anything acceptable on earth shall also be acceptable in heaven. That leadership has been passed down the generations through Popes up to Pope Leo X currently.
Possible Question two from Luther
To my fellow priests, Christ said that He is the way, the truth and the life. No one goes to the father but through Him. In addition, when he taught the disciples how to pray to the father, He promised them that whatever they ask with faith in His name shall be given to them. Therefore, is it wrong for a Christian to pray directly to the heavenly father ?
Answer
The Bible says that a prayer of a righteous man is like perfume to God while the prayer of a sinful man is like noise unto the Lord Dr. Luther. It is therefore good that people pray through the holy servants of God rather than directly to him.
Possible question three from Luther
With your permission your majesties, I would like to ask whether men have to pay money so that their sins are forgiven. In applying such principle of forgiveness of sins through material payment to the church, does it mean that the poor shall never be forgiven their sins because they cannot afford money to pay for the forgiveness of their sins?
Answer
Everyone has a right to be forgiven their sin if they confess to the father through the priests Dr. Luther. How can a blind man lead himself? Will he not fall into a pit?
Works Cited
Althaus, Paul. The Theology of Martin. Augsburg: Fortress Publishers. 1966.
Brecht, Martin. Martin Luther: His Road to Reformation.Augsburg: Fortress Press. 1985
Famous Trials: The Trial of Martin Luther. Retrieved from http://law2.umkc. edu/faculty/ projects/ftrials/luther/lutherhome.html, December 20th , 2011.
The Diet of Worms: Martin Luther on Trial. Retrieved from http://www.christian-history. Org /diet-of-worms.html, December 20th, 2011.
Cater, Lindburg. The European Reformations. New York: Wiley-Blackwell. 2009