I saw a church soliciting donations from its members and whoever that entered the church, is that allowed?

Question

I saw a church soliciting donations from its members and whoever that entered the church, is that allowed? They force you into donating by peer or crowd pressure. Do you give up the right to reject donations to the church once you enter their property or church.

Answer 1

Technically, any business can refuse you entry, and despite its lovely tax-exempt status, a church is a business.

In my Christian days, I have not seen a church refuse admittance. And if a church does, there might be a case to have its tax-exempt status yanked. I'm sure that's more red tape than one is willing to go through.

As for peer pressure, that's always been around. Some people at the office feel pressure to donate to the United Way because all his co-workers are doing it. Same thing here. The church itself is not the problem; it's the members.

Answer 2

You either live outside the USA or haven't been to many churches.

Almost all the Christian churches in the USA pass a collection plate. Some have more impassioned speeches than others about how much to put in. The last Jewish synagogue I went to didn't take a collection. The member who invited me said their budget came from bequests and monthly pledges.

Our church gets about 2% of its annual budget from the collection. That doesn't seem like it is worth the time it takes, but it is a handy way to remind the members who pledge, and if they put their check in the basket it saves them a stamp. We tell first-time visitors to let the basket pass.

A "Pledge", by the way, is a promise every member makes before the start of the fiscal year. They tell us how much they will contribute. Then we know how much to budget for salaries, heat, light, maintenance, etc.

Some people pledge $5,000 a year. Some pledge $100. We welcome everyone.

I'm on the board of directors. I'm not a minister.

It sounds like you shouldn't go to that church any more.

Look at it this way - if you were a member of a club, you'd either pay dues, or, if it was an on-line group, get bombarded by advertising. Churches have expenses. People who belong to churches pay dues in the form of donations.

Answer 3

Well No i don't think so and plus you don't have to give donation once you entered a church but u could at least give some change or something if you have some but you don't have to church is suppose to be open to every one rich or poor old or young and yeah you know the rest anyone And also don't be tempted to donate if u don't want to you can just leave or go to other church

Answer 4

Church donations are optional like tipping at a restaurant. If you receive value from attending the church or from the waiter's service at the restaurant, it is a good thing to give willingly. Give as you are able. Using the restaurant analogy, if you can only afford an inexpensive item on the menu, your dollar amount usually tipped will be small, because the guideline is a percentage of what you pay for the food. Likewise, if you benefit from the church experience, you would reasonably give in proportion to what you are able.

Answer 5

They don't FORCE you. A solicitation is not a ransom. You don't have to pay it. Most churches tell you what the money is for AND specify that you are not supposed to contribute if you don't want to. On most days, pastors often tell guests NOT to put in anything. Go back, sit through the service, be pleasant, but DON'T give them any money. If they harass you, then I apologize.

Answer 6

fake: Whatever for, would you be caught even, dead in a church giving your $ to them for when you could spend it on the empirical YOU ! After all, your $ is making you happy and that is reflected in your posting. Why would you be in a church - any church, giving $ to them, to help the poor with anyways ? Look at it this way. The more of your $ you give to them, the less for you ! Merry Christmas !!!

Answer 7

you're maximum surprising that the Catholic Church had some issues back interior the day and that i'm specific there are one in each of those the comparable issues right this moment. this is a HUUUUUUGGGGGEEEE Church and there'll be undesirable apples. There in no way became a coverage of procuring forgiveness or reward. That became community clergymen or maybe Bishops doing evil. as a replace of reforming the community evil or bringing the abuses to church hierarchy - Luther began his very own church and threw seven books out of the Bible he did no longer accept as true with. we are able to debate all day long no be counted if that became the main surprising or incorrect element to do. i don't be attentive to in regards to the Mormon church, yet they are enormously vast on telling you you will desire to coach your tax documents to them so as that they'd confirm they are getting an entire ten % of your earnings. in case you do no longer coach this - no temple propose. meaning having the flexibility to get married of their holiest homes and attending secret centers there. It very very nearly is as undesirable because of the fact the abuses of previous interior the Catholic Church. you're having to pay quickly for graces and the appreciation of the church. The Catholic Church right this moment does not call for any money from its people except of direction you owe training or e book expenditures for infants attending college and so on. and you come to a decision that too. They understand some people are very, ok off and can supply plenty and others fall on no longer difficulty-free circumstances or are scraping to feed their relatives already AND getting charity through foodstuff or lease money FROM the church. The Roman Catholic Church maintains to be the biggest inner maximum charity on earth and interior u.s.. thousands and thousands are fed, clothed, sheltered, knowledgeable and healed on an universal basis by ability of countless Catholic church homes, faculties, missions, universities, hospitals, soup kitchens, shelters, disaster centers and so on. while you're Mormon, i could propose you to be very careful in the style you proceed. Be very careful while you're thinking approximately asking to work out church economic documents intimately. locate out discreetly first what their coverage is on it. you could finally end up getting grief for asking.

Answer 8

Yes, of course it's allowed.

Nobody is ever forced to donate money, at least not in any Catholic church that I've ever been to. (I'm Catholic and I've only been to Protestant churches a handful of times, mostly for weddings and, one time, a funeral.)

.

Answer 9

Allowed by whom? Just say No thanks or move the collection plate along. No pressure. In fact, my church makes a point of saying guests don't have to give.

Answer 10

Donation is all voluntary. If they are using the money to help the poor, by all meants, but if it's just to build a bigger and luxury premises....then I would prefer to spend my money by buying lotto.