1520 first alms ordinance in Zurich to create a fund for the poor, 1525 Zwingli’s alms ordinance in place through 1798 and the Helvetic Republic / in accordance with the principle of equality in Reformed thinking, poverty was no longer seen as a societal estate, whether due to fate or one’s own failings, but as a weakness in the social fabric that needed to be balanced out through diaconal activity / helping the poor as a task of the congregation as led by the pastor / 1843 founding of the Protestant Church Aid Association of Canton Zurich / Matt. 15:35-40 of importance here / also a political struggle against slavery as represented by Beecher-Stowe or against Apartheid as by Beyers-Naudé
Photo: flickr/Gerry Lauzon
