Church leaders in West Yorkshire have come together to help people deal with the problem of debt during the recession and are encouraging churches to become centres of advice and practical support on the issue.

In a joint statement, 13 senior church leaders spoke of how increasing unemployment is causing financial hardship for more people. The statement condemned the actions of illegal loan sharks but praised the work of credit unions.

The statement also contained a promise to educate congregants “in debt advice and training in financial literacy, and to co-operate with other churches, agencies and community groups to ensure the best local provision of debt services”, reports the Baptist Times.

The statement was presented by the West Yorkshire Ecumenical Council (WYEC) last week on the first day of Lent. The statement was titled ‘Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’.

Pastor Gloria Hanley, Chair of the West Yorkshire African Caribbean Council of Churches as well as of the WYEC, said in the introduction to the statement, “2000 years ago, Jesus spoke of finding freedom from debt. Today, with rising unemployment, many people in our communities have financial worries. The Churches are concerned for all people in need, and especially for people in debt."

The group expressed their support for the expansion of credit unions and called on Christian churches across West Yorkshire "to explore practical ways of showing compassion and support to people in need".

“As Jesus said, ‘Whatever you did for the least of one of these sisters and brothers of mine, you did for me’," they added.

The statement was also supported by leaders from the Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, URC, Yorkshire Moravian District, Salvation Army, Lutheran and Society of Friends communities.