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That's interesting. In my area, there is very few large and small churches that help the locals. However, there are many that have missions to other countries. I find that fascinating.
I understand its left up to the state, im not asking how it works but WHY it works... why are they tax exempt anyways?
As far as im concered, Bill Maher summed it up perfectly:
New rule: If churches don't have to pay taxes, they also can't call the fire department when they catch fire. Sorry reverend, that's one of those services that goes along with paying in. I'll use the fire department I pay for. You can pray for rain.
Great.. when Bill Maher shows up to a non-profit hospital for a medical emergency.. I hope they shut the doors on him and say "Sorry Bill.. you didn't 'pay in' so we can't help you".
Great.. when Bill Maher shows up to a non-profit hospital for a medical emergency.. I hope they shut the doors on him and say "Sorry Bill.. you didn't 'pay in' so we can't help you".
Oh, well, that sometimes happens, but not quite that way, and that is another thread.
But let's face it. Non-profits are suppose to not profit and assist other people. I think many churches don't meet that test.
Oh, well, that sometimes happens, but not quite that way, and that is another thread.
But let's face it. Non-profits are suppose to not profit and assist other people. I think many churches don't meet that test.
The ones that don't, have their status revoked. One church i know of is a for profit corporation. It invests and sell things, the members give money without it being a charitable tax deduction. They have done pretty well, and can speak on politics and social issues without being threatened.
Their message is not the best, but they are a business.
I understand its left up to the state, im not asking how it works but WHY it works... why are they tax exempt anyways?
As far as im concered, Bill Maher summed it up perfectly:
New rule: If churches don't have to pay taxes, they also can't call the fire department when they catch fire. Sorry reverend, that's one of those services that goes along with paying in. I'll use the fire department I pay for. You can pray for rain.
Bill Maher's usually baloney and this is no exception. It's hard to believe that anybody with an IQ above that of a rhesus monkey would take his bluster to heart.
Let's see. At my church, we:
-- House and feed homeless families.
-- Help somewhere around 30 underprivileged women study for their GED.
-- Provide food for shut-ins.
-- Provide important counseling for those suffering substance abuse.
-- Provide services for battered women leaving their abusive husbands
-- Give job placement help
-- Volunteer at local hospitals
-- Provide clothing for the underpriveleged
-- Participate, through Habitat for Humanity, in the building of homes for those in poverty
-- Teach children to read
-- Collect relief money for those in Haiti
-- Support an orphanage in Peru.
-- And the list goes on and on and on.
In short, our 1000-member church provides far, far more valuable services to the community than we could ever provide in tax revenues to the community. What's more, every dime we raise goes directly to either the church's operation or to aid the poor. The miniscule amount left over goes into a trust fund that is used for the building's maintenance.
All that being said, can you please abandon the pubescent, nihilistic view that churches are nothing more than money raising institutions? It's stupid and based on total ignorance of how a church should operate.
Oh, well, that sometimes happens, but not quite that way, and that is another thread.
But let's face it. Non-profits are suppose to not profit and assist other people. I think many churches don't meet that test.
That just isn't right. If not for profit hospitals didn't make a profit how do you suppose that they could get funding from the capital markets to make large scale investments which in turn helps them provide better healthcare?
Secular non profits have been known to pay their directors $500k, $1million per yr. and up....
The United Way lost many contributors when it was made public that the director/CEO was making a million per yr.
United way has started to clean up its greed, but has a long way to go.
This is the last directors stats...retired in 2007. His last 3 yrs. he made over 1.2 million per yr.
United Way Chiefs Retirement ... (http://www.ncrp.org/AR-121807-UnitedWaysPlushRetirement.asp - broken link)
I dont think churches should have a tax exempt status. Christians may think its perfectly ok for them but if they think scientologist churches should pay taxes then it just comes out smelling rather hypocritical to me
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