tithing! Everyone's favorite topic...
So- every once in awhile I check in at the blog of someone here in town... someone who used to be part of a growing, multi-campus church which shall remain nameless. The blog is dedicated to pointing out... shall we say "harmful" tendencies of this church. I find I am in total agreement with what's posted. I won't link to the blog, well... I'm not exactly sure why.
All that being said, today I found the actual tithing policy for employees of this church from the actual staff handbook posted there. Suffice it to say I was dumbfounded ("gobsmacked" for you brit readers!)
So here it is:
TITHING
Consistent tithing is a requirement for continued employment as a staff member and as part of the ministry team at *deleted* Church. Each quarter the giving records of all staff are reviewed. In the event that a staff member is not meeting the requirement, a meeting with Church Business Administrator will be scheduled. If after that meeting, no change has been made the staff member will be notified of possible termination.
Does anyone think this is okay???
All that being said, today I found the actual tithing policy for employees of this church from the actual staff handbook posted there. Suffice it to say I was dumbfounded ("gobsmacked" for you brit readers!)
So here it is:
TITHING
Consistent tithing is a requirement for continued employment as a staff member and as part of the ministry team at *deleted* Church. Each quarter the giving records of all staff are reviewed. In the event that a staff member is not meeting the requirement, a meeting with Church Business Administrator will be scheduled. If after that meeting, no change has been made the staff member will be notified of possible termination.
Does anyone think this is okay???
5 Comments:
Wow. Why don't they just pay them 90% of the salary they are paid now? If the tithing is required they might as well withhold the money from them. In fact you aren't even giving the money to God, you're just being taxed by the Church.
taxed by the man...and The Man! No wonder some people have such a negative view of church! I would be described as "used to be part of" also.
This is a tough one. Our community has been talking though this. Giving is an act of worship. This should happen in all aspects of our lives. But there shouldn't be a "requirement".
Having said this, there should be accountability. Giving money to the community is not easy. We need to hold each other accountable to doing it. Giving love and time is not easy. We should be equally as accountable.
What I am finding though, at least in our little emergent community, is that people are more willing to talk about drugs and sex than they are money. I can hold someone accountable to porn and adultery pretty easily because we are open about those things. But as soon as the topic of money comes up, everyone seems to shut down.
This is a sad consequence of how money has been portrayed in the church and of our selfish-materialistic culture.
Ah, but troy. The church you used to be part of is actually a cool one :) Not like this scary, controlling corporate entity this guy is talking about...
at least IMHO
Absolutely, the church I was at is a good one, this other one is just plain ...well, insane.
BTW - Someone responding to this particular site brought up a good point. Levites were never asked or expected to support, basically themselves. Say what you will about how the OT applies today, it's a fair point.
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