ou belong to a church and you are getting something out of it, why wouldn't you contribute?
EP: I belong to several organizations I get things out of that don't require paying a salary. We all contribute.
If I choose to attend church, I accept that there are expences involved in it, and I expect to pay for those. I am getting something out of it, so I don't mind. If I didnt think it was worth it, I wouldnt go. You could set it up differently, like a small group meeting in homes, with no paid clergy, but that would be a different experience. And in that case, you would be contributing by your time and use of the home, this is just a different way of doing it. I find I enjoy the church experience, I feel it is worth it.
I looked at the budget for the church my husband and I have been attending and it seems very balanced and straightforward.
Like?
Do you want a detailed break out? They get 167k donations, 30k rent from a day care that uses their facilty and a few other groups. In expeses, 35K goes to youth ministry which funds activities, and a part time youth minister 92k For the minister and staff and to those in need. 25K to mission and outreach (homeless, food programs) 45k for the facilities, copy machines, utilities, etc.
Obviously this is very high level, I am new to this church, so that's all I know at this point, I didn't see any huge red flags at this point. I will do more research before I join. Trust, but verify, right?
At least it is not going to "the worldwide preaching work", aka the pedophile defence fund.
Ha ha! You must not have people in your church if you think there aren't pedophiles
Well, sure, statistically it's probable, but that is true of any organization where children are involved. The question is, what is their policy and history. I will be making sure before I join, what I should have done when I joined the dubs, but I was young and naive and it was harder to check then.
Why not 50%?
Why not 100%? Because it is a church, not a feed the hungry organization, it's primary purpose is meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation. They couldn't do that if they gave 50% to the hungry, but they do hope to grow the church so that they can contribute more. If I hadn't started attending I wouldnt have known as much about the needs in my community. I happen to think teaching people to be more involved in these things is just as important as doing these things. For example, this Easter, instead of many floral arrangements, they bought one small one and donated the money to the homeless. This sunday the sermon was based on the time Jesus said to "feed my sheep" and that it is not just spiritual food that is needed. They also contribute their time, for example everyone got together and made sandwitches to hand out to the day laborers. They did an easter egg hunt for needy children, along with the candy they hid cans of tuna. That doesnt show as money being donated, but it is a contribution. Our pastor is leading us to do these things.
Yes, the pastor is paid a salary.
Why? neither Jesus nor the apostles were paid. Are they better than them, that they should get paid?
No, she is not more important, but that was a different time, and different circumstances. And people did give them food, clothes and shelter, which is payment of a sort. At one point this congregation had no paid minister, they made a choice to get one, and because of that choice the congregation has grown and changed, and they are happy with that change, it was worth the expence to them.
The dubs didn't have paid clergy, but as they say, you get what you pay for, we have all seen happens when you have untrained and ignorant elders.
Ah, so your pastor is better than Jesus and the apostles because he gets paid?
I did not say that.
