Comments on: Does Your Pastor Check Your Giving Record?

By: The Bible and tithing: To give or not to give - Part 1 | Bible Money Matters

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:14:48 +0000

[...] couple of weeks ago I came across an interesting discussion on rocketfinance.net about tithing. Specifically, he was discussing whether or not it was OK for a [...]

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:59:43 +0000

This is one good reason for lay ministry, in my opinion, since money often leads to muck up the works in things spiritual. However, in this situation I think it is prudent either to take the example of Lynnae, where the pastor stays away from the finances on purpose, or else keep everything financial out in the open, per Cameron’s post. That way you have some insurance that everything is consistently on the up-and-up. Very interesting topic, indeed!
Jerry

By: Damsel

Damsel — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:34:37 +0000

Interesting concept. Our church is very open about the salaries of the church staff. I seriously doubt that our pastor checks – I’ve heard him say during our Financial Peace class that he didn’t want to know because that was an issue between the individual and God.

I wonder if there is a question that is asked of the elder/deacon candidate (along the lines of “Do you give regularly to the church?”) before the pastor checks? Maybe it’s just a verification of the candidate’s answer?

By: shaleh8

shaleh8 — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:43:51 +0000

It doesn’t matter to me should the pastorate checks my tithe records; I tithe because the Bible for me is the final authority in all matters regarding my personal relationship with God; and besides He owns it all anyway, I am just a steward that is called to manage what God has given to me. I am thankful that I earn the money that I earn to tithe.

By: rocketc

rocketc — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:51:52 +0000

Cameron, this is basically how our church is run. The only caveat is that if a church staff member’s salary needs to be discussed at a public business meeting, typically the discussion takes place without that staff member present.

By: Cameron Schaefer

Cameron Schaefer — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:35:58 +0000

I think it is fine as long as the church gets to see what the pastor and staff make/give and a detailed report of where the tithe and offering money goes. Financial accountability works both ways.

I’ve been in churches where this kind of transparency is considered taboo and it has always led to problems. On the other hand, I was in a church for several years that sent out detailed financial statements to all their members laying out exactly where all the money went including the salaries of the each member of the staff…the result, money was never a source of conflict in the church…there were no secrets!

By: Mrs. Micah

Mrs. Micah — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 16:02:29 +0000

I would feel awkward if it was used for elder selection. Suppose, for instance, that a candidate was deeply in debt. Maybe he believes that God really wants him to settle his debt as soon as possible.

So perhaps he spends a lot of time volunteering at the church and elsewhere as his form of a tithe. Hence he’s nominated for the position. But because he doesn’t give in terms of cash, he’s ruled out.

That would suck.

By: Personal Finance Blogosphere Best of 2007 | Moolanomy

Personal Finance Blogosphere Best of 2007 | Moolanomy — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:13:17 +0000

[...] Does Your Pastor Check Your Giving Record? @ Rocket Finance “I think that it makes sense that those who are in leadership of a particular organization also be those who are also financially supportive, but the thought of a pastor checking giving records is unsettling to our usual way of doing things.” [...]

By: Peter Thompson

Peter Thompson — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 04:29:41 +0000

I was on the church council at my small church for several years, and the pastor does not check the giving records. At the same time he did know who the bigger hitters in the congregation were, even if he didn’t know the specific amounts they gave. When ever there was a capital project or special need, the pastor was a big part of the plan as to who to approach and how to approach them.

By: Lynnae @ Being Frugal.net

Lynnae @ Being Frugal.net — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 16:25:28 +0000

I don’t believe our pastors look at the giving records. The deacons take care of organizing the tithes and offerings and getting them to the church bookkeeper.

The pastor at the church we attended before we moved never looked at the giving records. His reasoning is that as a pastor, he never wanted to be tempted to judge a member of the congregation based on what they gave or didn’t give. I think that’s pretty sound reasoning.

It’s the pastor’s job to instruct people in the word of God. It’s God’s job to work in the hearts of people. That’s what’s going to determine if people give or not.