The money that is collected by churches, where exactly does it go?

Question

Do any of these organizations ever submit to an internal financial audit, let alone an external one? I would never give my money to a 'charity' that is not audited or subject to stringent guidelines about the use of the funds.

So where exactly does the money go? I am curious...

And this article is straight from the horses mouth:

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=22459

Obviously Judirose didn't read the link provided by her own faith...

Answer 1

Great question. It really varies from church to church. I agree with you about accountability! I do know one thing that breaks my heart. If you take all the money that comes through U.S. Churches and put it together only 1% leaves U.S. soil? That is pitiful. I see to many building more playgrounds and rec centers instead of putting it to use in places where people are dying and deprived.

Answer 2

At our church we get an account report every three months. The money helps pays the bills at the church, goes to missionaries, pays the workers that are on the pay role, such as secretary, pastor, song leader, youth pastor, the cleaning lady. Then there is money that they help the poor with, and if there is a funeral we usually buy the meat. There is the gas for the buses, church supplies, we buy Bibles to give to others. If a speaker comes in or a missionary comes into speak they get $250. If it is intended for God with an open heart. Then it is used for the right reasons if the church is on the up and up. Our church is a Baptist Church. Each Religion has their own way of dispensing the money.

Answer 3

I use to be a treasurer of a small church from 1970-1974, Back then Here in the USA every church was auditor by an auditor & it had to be done by May 1st or 15th, I am no longer in that church, But the one I am in now I have been there since 1974, I do know when we pay our tithes & offerings, We have to put our Social sercurity number on our tithing envelope, & our address & phone number & then we have to sign the tithing envelope, Due to the Laws of the Churches, Or I should say the law of the Goverment to the Churches, that way it is keep track of more better.

Answer 4

I cannot answer for every church, but the church that God has entrusted me with is audited every year both internally and externally. We do this so we can avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing.
10% to missions, 10% to salaries, 5% supplies, 10% outreach, 63% bills, 2% savings for emergencies.
These are all approximate except missions 10% always goes to missions. We try to make 1.5 loan payments per month so we can get our building and vans paid off sooner.

Answer 5

This varies from church to church. Many have standing internal and external financial review procedures & policies. Some churches focus on helping others (food banks, soup kitchens, shelters) some focus on missions (preaching locally and in other countries) some monies must go to maintenance and administration, some go to other forms of outreach ( helping peope deal with losses, health and relational issues) some go to provide literature...I'm sure there are many others that I've omitted. Good churches make financial information available to the people involved. Unfortunately, abuses occur but some investigation can protect the concerned giver.

Answer 6

Depends on the church. Some churches the preacher gets most all of it after paying the bills. Other churches use the money to help the poor. Some churches are just barely keeping the doors open and the preacher does not get paid and I have even seen some preachers have to take money out of their own pockets to pay church bills.

The television preacher who sport expensive suits and jewlry are not representive of a lot of churches. These people exploit people and are in it only for the money.

Answer 7

I can't speak for other churches, but the parish for which I work splits it in the following ways:

A) Everyday expenditures, which include everything from utility bills to employee salaries to office and cleaning supplies to coffee, cream and sugar.

B) The building fund, as our parish has gone from 420 families to more than 4,600 and we're building a new sanctuary, a new gym for the school, new offices, a new playground, etc.

C) A fund for the dispensing of necessities for the poor of the parish or for those in temporary financial need beyond their capacity to handle.

D) Diocesan bills as all parishes in a diocese participate in the everyday expenses of their diocese.

E) Diocesan charities, same as parish, but for the poor of the entire diocese.

F) A semi-annual donation for Peter's Pence, a Vatican fund for the poor of the world.

G) Materials and supplies for religious study groups of all ages.

H) The pastor's and assistant pastor's (if any) salaries.

I) A semi-annual donation for the Bishop's Relief Fund, set up to aid those who have suffered a natural disaster.

J) A semi-annual donation for the day-to-day expenses of the Vatican's religious staff, maintenance of the Archives, acquisition of materials for the various Vatican libraries, investments for future income; the proceeds from which are equitably distributed to the poor parishes, etc.

As with any large institution, there's 30 places for every dollar, each of which is necessary for the continued health and safety of those people in need of said services and supplies.

Parishioners are issued quarterly reports which delineate exactly how much came in, how much went out and where it all went. I know, because I'm in charge of seeing to that report's dissemination.

Answer 8

Baptists (can't speak for others) have a board of Deacons that handles the paying of the bills (lights, phones, salaries, etc.) as well as designating how much of the tithes goes to which mission, how much to the new building fund or whatever.

The details of the budget are gone over with a fine-tooth comb during the budget meetings, of which any member of the church can attend. The budget is also printed and freely distributed to the congregation.

So really, it is stringent, open to scrutiny, and audited constantly by the church members themselves (in our church alone we have dozens of lawyers, doctors, judges, etc., so you can imagine how picky they are!)

Answer 9

Some of it goes to help the poor, some goes to missions around the world, some of it is to use for the church, and some of it goes to help families having a hard time. For example my families church has given us money to help us when we are in Africa, and they have given us money b/c my mom has cancer. It also depends on the Church. A church might have a currupt pastor who keeps the money for himself to do selfish things with it. But most honorable Chruches use it for the good.

Answer 10

The Catholic Church has many places where the money goes: Salaries, heat, electricity, food, snow removal, support for sister parishes in other countries, repairs and maintenance, insurance, telephone, internet, donations to ordinary people who come knokcking on their door for food or taxi money...the list goes on. They are audited every year and must distribute their financial statement to all parishoners.