Compared to Catholics, welfare for Protestants had a more secular dimension. This was especially true for Evangelicals from Augsburg, where the burden of helping the needy was taken over by cities. At the same time Lutherans completely negated the concept of Christian alms-giving and limited to a minimum the field of typically charitable activities. On the other hand, in the Calvinist communities, including Arians and Bohemian Brethren, mighty patrons of the churches and their lands played a decisive role in supporting their pauperes. They, however, retained alms as an important means of charity, also recommended by Calvinist synods.