Should the church take care of their widows?

Answer 1

According to 1 Timothy 5:9-15

9Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man. 10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;12Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. 14I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15For some are already turned aside after Satan.

I would say that the church has a responsibility to 'Take care' of all of its members in some fashion. For some that will mean helping financially, for others it will mean providing physical help such as jobs that a husband might do that the woman cannot do by herself and can't afford to hire someone. Here, there are many youth and mature men who can provide a small team to help her. There are men who have been widowed who for a time might need help or would greatly appreciate some homecooked meals while they are getting accustomed to being the sole parent, even someone or some family who will invite his children out with them to give the Dad a break or invite him and his children for a meal or an outing to the beach or park etc. There are many, many ways the church can and in my experience, DOES help others in the congregation, including widows.