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Monitoring or following up is irrelevant and a red herring. If they are pushing for it, they've already revealed their "cards" that it's a business more than a ministry. They've already failed. End of story; time to walk out and let them rot.
Too many are spineless and cowardly though to stand up to that. It's easier from them to submit and slouch and let the "church" degrade further, increasing the mockery of it all.
If your church has a paid staff of 30 (!) you can bet at least a couple of them are accountants. They soon figure who's ponying up $ and who is not. And that word would get around.
Not all churches coerce their members. My church doesn’t. Our people give because they love God and our church. Some of our members give little or no money.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maat55
So, your church never preaches the tithe doctrine?
Mine doesn't, and like jimmiej's some people give little or nothing and some give more.
We are a small parish, though, not a large organization with 30 employees. We have three employees, all part-time--a priest, an office admin, and the organist.
The day someone gets in front in my church and starts telling us we have to tithe would probably be the last day I attended there.
In the fall each year, the Treasurer presents the budget and says, "this is what it costs to keep up the church". Then people make pledges for the next year that is never enough to make the budget. But we make up the shortfall one way or another.
Somebody came across vestry minutes from 1916 a couple of years ago. They were broke then, too. Apparently that's how this church has been functioning for at least 100 years.
If your church has a paid staff of 30 (!) you can bet at least a couple of them are accountants. They soon figure who's ponying up $ and who is not. And that word would get around.
Our Treasurer is a retired math teacher, and she won't tell nobody nuthin' about who gives what.
Monitoring or following up is irrelevant and a red herring. If they are pushing for it, they've already revealed their "cards" that it's a business more than a ministry. They've already failed. End of story; time to walk out and let them rot.
Too many are spineless and cowardly though to stand up to that. It's easier from them to submit and slouch and let the "church" degrade further, increasing the mockery of it all.
When our members see the good that is done with their tithes and offerings, they give willfully.
Mine doesn't, and like jimmiej's some people give little or nothing and some give more.
We are a small parish, though, not a large organization with 30 employees. We have three employees, all part-time--a priest, an office admin, and the organist.
The day someone gets in front in my church and starts telling us we have to tithe would probably be the last day I attended there.
In the fall each year, the Treasurer presents the budget and says, "this is what it costs to keep up the church". Then people make pledges for the next year that is never enough to make the budget. But we make up the shortfall one way or another.
Somebody came across vestry minutes from 1916 a couple of years ago. They were broke then, too. Apparently that's how this church has been functioning for at least 100 years.
When our church was small (1980’s), money was an issue. In the 25 years I’ve been a member, we’ve never failed to meet budget. Our budget increases by 3% or so every year. Our people are generous.
Our Treasurer is a retired math teacher, and she won't tell nobody nuthin' about who gives what.
Two staff members know what each member gives-our administrator and her assistant, and because we have 6,000 members, they would have to consult records to tell you specifics.
Not many churches force it because many Christians are finding it to be a false doctrine. That doesn’t change the fact that it is still a general doctrine in the church that is meant to shame not doing so. It is doctrinally consider stealing from god, which again is a false doctrine and telling about the honesty of the religion.
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