Better Tithe or THIS might Happen!

[GayatfootofCross]

Florida church sends $1,000 collection notice to single mother because she didn’t tithe

Travis Gettys
15 Jul 2015 at 13:31 ET                   

 

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Candace Petterson (WFTS)

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A Florida church sent a delinquency notice to a new member reminding her that worshipers were expected to pay $1,000 in required fees or face possible removal.

Candace Petterson said she started attending the Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church about six months ago after moving to a new home in the Tampa area, but she received a troubling letter last week from the church, reported WFTS-TV.

The single mother said she received what amounted to a delinquency notice from her new church asking her to contribute $50 a month, along with other assorted fees, to remain a member in good standing and vote on church matters.

The predominantly black church, which has operated for more than a century, asked her to pay a yearly $250 anniversary fee and another $150 for Mount Moriah Day – amounting to $1,000, some of which would be set aside to pay off church debt.

“What church charges you to help pay off what they’re going through?” Petterson said. “I’m not there for that.”

The letter, from assistant administrator Ladreda Spencer and Pastor B.R. Fulton Jr., also reminded Petterson that children – including her 11-year-old daughter – were expected to pay $5 a month to the church in addition to two annual $15 fees.

The letter notified Petterson, who said she had been unaware of the required contributions, that members fell into delinquency if they failed to make payments for three months or more, reported the Christian Post.

“In order to not be removed from the church roll, your attention to this matter [is] greatly appreciated,” the letter warned, but offered to grant her a 90-day “hardship” exemption.

Church officials acknowledged they sent the notice to Petterson, the TV station reported, but they declined to offer additional comments or explanation.

Petterson posted a copy of the letter on the church’s Facebook page, where one church member in “good standing” scolded the younger woman for publicizing her complaint.

“I love my church and my pastor,” said member Bonnie Maxwell. “I know people have their opinions regarding the letter that was sent out to this young lady and put over social media. I don’t understand why so much negativity about paying a monthly assessment of $50 a month, that you already knew about. If you go to a club or a bar whatever you wish to call it every weekend, you are paying about $10 or maybe more to get in the door and then paying again for drinks.”

“As Christians we are required to be obedient,” Maxwell added.

Another Florida church lost its tax-exempt status earlier this year after officials in Panama City determined that it was operating as a nightclub that charged $20 “donations” to participate in raunchy themed parties.

Greater Mount Moriah Primitive Baptist Church doesn’t offer anything remotely like those activities, but tithes must be made voluntarily to remain tax deductible.

Petterson said the experience had soured her on the church, and she’s looking for another place to worship.

“It’s like you say to me, if you want to be a member of this church, you need to pay this,” she said. “If you want to find God, it don’t say anything like that in the Bible.”

Watch this video report posted online by WFTS-TV:

 

• http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/florida-church-sends-1000-collection-notice-to-single-mother-because-she-didnt-tithe/             for video at bottom of websight
   

 

 

[Sojourner]

This is not actually as uncommon as you may think, when I was a member of the Salvation Army we took part in "planned giving" where every three years you sat down with the accountant of the church and told them the amount you intended to give each week for the next three years. You were then given a set of tithing envelopes and a receipt was issued. If you ever fell into arrears, a bill would then be sent out for the difference along with a reminder of the amount that you had committed to give. Still if you could not give the amount they did not kick you out of the church. 

My information is that the Salvation Army church took this practice from the Methodist church who have or had planned giving also. I am also aware of some Independent Fundamentalist Baptist churches where new members are required to sit down with the accounts people and bring along their tax statement so that they can work out your tithe on your behalf and set you up to pay that amount to the church. 

[Outta Here]

When you think about it...some of "our" churches do something similar. Members are expected to pay tithe to be members in good standing. Though only the stewardship leader and the treasurer have access to the actual dollar amounts, they can be called on by the nominating committee to give an account of whether a member is in "good standing". Their account may be taken into consideration for future leadership positions within the church. So, it's sort of similar--pay up, or get out.

[phkrause]

I don't see this as being "tithe?" Its nothing different than what synagogue's do with there Jewish members!!

[B/W Photodude]

Part of the problem in not selecting "non-givers" for a church leadership position is that many people pay their tithe to another church. In my church we have several people sending their tithe to us and they have bever even been to our church and even live very far away. So, I make no assumptions about anyone's giving habits.

Tithe does not stay in the church receiving it, so what does it matter where it is given? Now, under the business model of some churches, I can see why they might behave as Mt Moriah does, although I don't agree with their methods.

[JoeMo]

Tithe does not stay in the church receiving it, so what does it matter where it is given? Now, under the business model of some churches, I can see why they might behave as Mt Moriah does, although I don't agree with their methods.

That may be true of SDA churches.  There are other denominations that send 10% of offerings received to their upstream entity - be it a diocese, a conference, or a region. IMO, that's the biblical model.

That's one of the reasons one of the churches I support was removed from the SDA denomination.  We had no space for "tithe" on our offering envelope (at the time there were only about 15 of us).  In order to have enough money to run our church, everyone just donated to "Church Expense". We sent a 10% tithe to the conference and a 10% tithe to the Sunday church that let us use their amazing facility for free on Sabbath - the even set up and tore down for us.  The Conference didn't like that arrangement; so out the denominational door we went !  The Conference also kept all the money our church had in its Conference sub-account; so - being broke -  we had to start our finances again from scratch - including how to pay our pastor.

[B/W Photodude]

The Conference didn't like that arrangement; so out the denominational door we went !  The Conference also kept all the money our church had in its Conference sub-account; so - being broke -  we had to start our finances again from scratch - including how to pay our pastor.

You have to pay attention to how you set up your church. Not enough detail is in your post and I am not fully literate on how the conferences operate with respect to an individual churches finances, but I believe that part of having a conference paid pastor is you give up a lot, including such things as ownership of the church building and probably even your funds as mentioned in the conference accounts. This is one of the ways a conference is able to at times come and lock a congregation out of their church when they go off course doctrinally.

There are some congregations that are very SDA, but are also independent congregations. Some can be even harder to belong to than the SDA church, but the reasons for that are also very attractive reasons. Russell Burrill in his book, "Rekindling a Lost Passion," described one such church. To be a member of the congregation, the protective member must be able to state what their mission work for the gospel would be. I gathered that bench warmers weren't heavily recruited for membership. 

[JoeMo]

I won't go into any more detail about the evolution of our congregation from SDA to nondenominational.  After getting used to it, I prefer to NOT tie myself or try to tie others to the limited options one has through strict adherence to denominational doctrines, rules, and culture.  I personally will always be a cultural SDA (I am still on the books); but I am more concerned about leading others to Christ rather than leading them to Adventism.  The Holy Spirit can lead them to Adventism if He chooses.

[Gregory Matthews]

There is some misinformation in the above posts.  But that is understandable as the subject is complex and probably many active members, for whatever reason, do not fully understand.

I do not feel like opening up this subject here.  but, I just want people to know that it is not fully accurate.

 

Edited July 17, 2015 by Gregory Matthews

[Outta Here]

Well, it is true that we all have different experiences within the church...so what may be true for some may not be true for all. 

Same as it ever was; same as it ever was.

[Stan]

I think there is an expectation that if people use the benefits of a Church, they are expected to cover some of the expenses.

 

Same goes with forums like, say clubadventist.com, where there is a link in the upper right to do such.

 

Just sayin' it might be reasonable.