I made a pledge to a church months ago to try and give them a certain amount each month. I later had a falling out with said church and no longer attend.... they sent me a letter saying I owed them the amount I wrote down for each month of three years??
I signed a paper.
Do I owe it? Is this legal?
It's a lot and I'm panicking so please, only intelligent "sure" answers.
2006-10-25 04:18:57 · 10 answers · asked by The Y 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
a pledge is not a contract. a contract can be enforced but a pledge cannot. toss the letters.
2006-10-25 04:25:34 · answer #1 · answered by de bossy one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow... that's terrible! This is the first time I have ever heard of a church pursuing a person's "pledge" after that person has left that church! You signed a "pledge" and your question is "is it legally binding"? Of what I know about legal documents is that it needs to have been legally notarized by a justice of the peace (or equivalent) for it to be enforceable. This is to prevent people from producing spurious documents claiming so and so. But on the other hand, they (that church) can claim that you gave them a promissary note. Best ask a lawyer or para-legal. But you know, I doubt if those poeple will actually take such a pledge to court and get a judge to force you to pay up. In the first place, such a move will clearly brand them as avaricious and if they do that, you counter by making it PUBLIC becuase truly, many people beleive that such things SHOULD NOT BE DONE y an assembly professiing themsleves to be a Christian church. And in the second place, the case will be too ambigious to try.
Next time, NEVER sign pledges becuase you can never be sure of what lies on the road ahead. I began to seriously wonder about the church I was recently attending as soon as they asked me to make a pledge. I was not worried about the legalities or whether such a pledge would be enforceable by law - I was worried about my conscience before God should I fail to keep my pledge. Jesus warned us about that.
2006-10-25 04:33:56 · answer #2 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you signed a paper stating you will pay a certain amount each month, you are legally bound under a contract to pay that amount. So yes, you owe the church that money. Think about it. I make a pledge to pay X-amount of money to you for X-amount of months and put it in writing. Just because I turn away from you doesn't let me out of this contract. You will want the rest of your money that I legally promised you.
2006-10-25 04:33:18 · answer #3 · answered by sister steph 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think most churches don't follow thru with lawsuits, it would definately put them in a bad light. This happened with my grandmother, she had alzheimers and signed a pledge for more money than she even got in social security for a year. She came to live with us and they keep sending past due bills. I called them repeatedly, and they kept sending bills, so I kept calling and yelling at them until they finally stopped. Course, they couldn't have won in court since she had alzheimers, but since then, I never pledge anything. I give, but make no promises.
Guessing they wouldn't prosecute anyway, it really wouldn't do their image any good. Just call them, tell them you no longer attend there and you're not giving them a thing. If they argue, tell them to sue you, you'll make sure it ends up in the local paper.
2006-10-25 04:28:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I suspect that you are not legally bound, even if you did sign a paper. A quick, 1/2 hour consult with an attorney will put it straight and be cheaper than paying this "church" for 3 years.
2006-10-25 04:30:29 · answer #5 · answered by Bruce 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You shouldn't sign anything. Yes, it's probably legal. Makes you wonder why a church would do that to a parishioner. That sucks. Hope you can get out of it. Get a lawyer. I hope you have learned your lesson. Don't ever do that again.
2006-10-25 04:22:48 · answer #6 · answered by AuroraDawn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a contract. They would use that as a defense in court if u tried it. I don't think u should be forced to give a dime in my opion.
2006-10-25 04:21:58 · answer #7 · answered by missgigglebunny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. You'd better get a real legal opinion soon though, just to be safe.
2006-10-25 04:23:16 · answer #8 · answered by Char 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was it a contract?
Or was it just a piece of paper?
Call a lawyer.
2006-10-25 04:23:24 · answer #9 · answered by Messenger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wow i didnt know churches had such contracts
this sounds very strange to me
2006-10-25 04:23:10 · answer #10 · answered by Peace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋