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Ain’t that the truth? Sometimes it really does seem like church doesn’t care if we live or die, as long as we make this month’s budget.
i hate when i visit a church and in their bulletin they ask to be remembered in your will. That is SO inappropriate to me and turns my stomach.
I have not seen anything quite this crass up close.
However, I have, and I know other pastors who have, let their concerns about ‘teh bottom line’ get completely in the way of being able to be truly present to people.
Excellent as usual David.
thanks magdalene6127
What nerve the church has, asking that people give of their estates to help keep the mission of God going.
I’m sure there are some bad pastors out there. But I have never known a pastor who would be so insensitive as to ask for money at a time like that.
And there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking people to remember the church in their wills.
Steve, you seemed all over the map with your post, did I miss something?
i think to post a request in a church bulletin is HIGHLY inappropriate. It made me feel very uncomfortable. The church should be outside the 4 walls in my opinion. When church building projects and maintenance become the priority i think there is something off. Just my opinions.
Jeff,
My first sentence was said facetiously.
EP,
It takes $ to keep a church going.
In my church, there are no requirements for giving. We give from our hearts.
Although we hardly ever ask for it, we want to make it clear that it ($) is needed.
I don’t think a reminder in the bulletin is out of line, as long as the act itself is totally voluntary.
How sad that you would make the 1%er the point of your dissatisfaction with pastors.
Thousands of pastors are such a comfort to folks with terminal illness, and money and the church budget never enter into discussion.
fishon
Cynicism at its’ finest. I love it! I just discovered your blog about a week ago and am really enjoying it. I am not a fan of the bricks-and-mortar church. Church to me is what happens every Thursday night in our small group.
I’m in the west but maybe some day will visit your church. We have a mutual friend-Shane.
True story from a pastor friend of mine: apparently the day after his paternal great-grandfather’s death, the local priest dropped by Granddad’s house … and the first words out of said priest’s mouth were, “how much money did he leave to the church?”
Granddad left the church that day, and never returned. A soul was lost.
ray: the priest’s?
steve martin said,
“I don’t think a reminder in the bulletin is out of line, as long as the act itself is totally voluntary.”
Why do we need a reminder if the act is truly voluntary? If I am compelled to give, I give. It seems the “reminders” in the form of sermons, bulletin announcements, etc., are aimed at the guilt driven giving that churches are so infamous for.
Reminding people of a need is appropriate.
What they do after that is up to them.
A lot of giving is done from guilt and a lot from just the free desire to do so.
In either case, it is a good thing for the church that can put the money to good use.
“It takes $ to keep a church going.”
nope…….it takes $ to keep a church BUILDING going. Not the church itself.
Good point Laura.
Steve – I’m wondering, (and I’m not being contentious, I really am interested), what do you think ‘good use’ is for the money that is donated to churches?
Beth,
In our congregation, “good use” falls into all categories that support the mission of the church.
People sometimes leave money with specific intended purposes, and we make sure that the money is used just for thoses purposes.
When no particular instructions are left for us then we use the money as the need arises.
By the way, I happen to like church buildings. They are a place set aside for something special (the worship of the living God) and can be places that God uses to bring the lost into the path of His Living Word.
Sure, they are just buildings and the people are the church. But the church can make very good use of a church building towards the mission of God.
Thanks Steve. It seems like you go to a great church. I wish I could find a church in my area where I was as comfortable. Unfortunately, I’ve seen money that was left for a specific purpose in a church used for something entirely different. Apologies were later offered, but the trust was gone.