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By Tom Duffany
Funding the Church: Tithing and Other Practices
POCATELLO, IDAHO -- An article in the Idaho State Journal compares
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
to a Jewish synagogue and a Lutheran church and how their members
donate to the churches. While LDS Church members are familiar with
their system of paying tithing to fund the Church, other religions
have different ways of funding their activities.
The members of the Church of Jesus Christ pay a tithe (10%) plus a
fast offering. They fast for two consecutive meals one day a month
and donate the value (or more) to the Church. The tithing pays for
upkeep of current building plus the construction of Temples and up to
400 new branch or ward buildings a day. The fast offerings provide
food and care for poor and needy people around the world. Members and
non-members alike are provided for as the needs arise.
The members of the Temple Emanuel community in Pocatello, Id. are
asked to pay a recommended amount of dues for the scheduled upkeep
and maintenance of the building. The two chief religious officials
are volunteers. Funds required for unexpected items are donated by
members of the synagogue.
The members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Aberdeen give donations
during regular Church services. They also have two major fund raisers
during the year. One is a yard sale, the other is a Christmas bazaar.
Although money matters are seldom discussed openly from the pulpit,
stewardship is. A major problem seen that people don't see their
lives as a gift from God, so the money given as a gift to God is
often a leftover, rather than a sacrifice.
Source:
Tithing: Giving their ten percent
Pocatello ID State Journal 24Mar01 N1
By Sandra Hughes Pulling: Journal Correspondent
Seeking funds for expenses is constant activity for churches
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