How do Christians justify the amounts of money and assets that their church holds and owns?

Question

Have any of you ever looked at the financial statements from your diocese? Take the Episcopal Diocese of New York, for example, year end financial statement as at December 31, 2005.
Total assets of $44,919,936
Total liabilities of $2,050,622
The assets include investments of $29,531,631
Gross Revenue: $13,456,220
Net Revenue: $1,839,316 (after all programs and expenses)

Does that not appear to be rather large? And that is only for one diocese, imagine putting them all together.

mzJakes: You answered part of my problem with it is because it is a non-profit or not-for-profit organization. From their financial statement it would point otherwise that they are a for profit organization. Maybe they should start to pay tax, and stop being just a selfish taking organization.

Just FYI for those who think that the $1.8 million could be used for programs, etc, please note that it is net income (after all their programs have been paid for). That is like your net income after all expenses (home and living) and taxes on your gross income for the year. Hence that money just goes into their coffers.

mzJakes: FYI the true aspect of a non-profit organization is to NOT make a profit. The church, with asset levels and net profits at those levels does not fit within the model of a non-profit as it appears they are looking to make a profit.

dewcoons: Since I do not go to church, well I don't have to worry about contributing to this corruption and greed. However, I believe that the government should tax the crap out of the church and use that for the poor. Either that or maybe the church could quit taking and taking and liquidate their assets and give it to the poor. Do the churches have to be so elaborate? No, it is just a waste of money, but once again the church catering to the rich because they have deep pockets and ignoring the poor and starving. I realize they give to the poor and starving, but to the level they should and could they fall very short.

Opinionated: So you have to give money to the church to be blessed? So it actually costs you money? That means that God is a greedy entity who you have to pay for him to bless you. Terrible, God therefore can himself go to hell.

Answer 1

There is no justification for their greed! They will of course try to sell you some mumbo jumbo about why they need to drive a new Lexus to do Gods work, but I ain't buying. If they were so spiritual, why don't they use the money to help others. I'm sure there are a few starving people right down the street from their churches, probably right outside. They won't ask them to come in because "bums" don't encourage the rich people to come back for future "services".

Answer 2

Why does this bother you? Operating any enterprise, especially something as large as a diocese of the Episcopal Church requires buckets of money. If they've been able to use their money wisely to the point where, it seems, much of their operational budget is derived from investment earnings, then more power to them. Every non-profit institution should be so well endowed and managed.
-------------------------------------
You really need to take time out and learn what 'non-profit' means. Until you do you will continue to expose yourself as an ignorant fool in this area.

Just so you know a little bit...as I worked for years as the CFO of a non-profit...non-profits, like any other business, often rely on banks to loan them money to do things like purchase land and build buildings. To secure any kind of line of credit, a corporation has to show the lending institution that they have the income and cash flow to support the debt service. Part of that is profit from activities and investments. The monthly payment on a $5 Million loan, not unusual when building a building, can be upwards of $40,000. A non-profit cannot go to a bank to request that kind of money by showing income only from donations....they have to be making a profit. 40k/month is about 500k a year for those who can't do the math. Then the organization needs to pay its employees and run its programs....more income needed. If a non-profit can generate a net profit for the year, then that's more they can do the next. Just so long as the owners and shareholders don't get a cut of those profits, they are within the law...even if they make billions (like the Southern Baptist Convention).

Answer 3

Put it another way. What if all that money was funneled to educational purposes, instead of gold chalises, elaborate churches, air conditioned dog houses, and cadillacs for priests.

Answer 4

here is the constant cop out I get from christians: its not money its the LOve of money that is evil, semantics, when a christian is caught in the cookie jar they resort to semantics, or wordplay to weasel out of the conversation

Gullible christians assume thier money is going to charity, when its actually going into the preacher's pocket The preacher that owned a Jet and a Jaguar is proof of this.

Answer 5

I dont really understan but your preist/pasture or whatever has to get paid to not only them but your secretary, child minestrys and ect. It take money to reach out to a community. My church for example litterly spend 6,000 every year to hold a carnival that is completly free to the people who come.

Answer 6

I can only speak for protestants, but they usually build buildings, pay the minister and workers, and many support missionaries and feed the poor. Each will be responsible for how they use church money.As long as you tithe and give offerings, you will be blessed.

Answer 7

now ask how much of that money is being given to people who need help paying their bills and rent and money for groceries. apparently you never met people who don't go to church and still ask the church to support them. i know people like that, they spend their paycheck friday night on drinking and on monday want the church to buy their groceries by saying they have kids. and also how much of that money is being spent on various bills the church has like electricity and water and telephones and the various administrative functions to make it operate. and how much of that money is being put into various social charities. it may seem like a lot, but when you consider where it goes, sometimes it is not enough. i know people who say that churches are just after your money, but think of the people who do give without asking back. and it is funny that churches who don't have to pay taxes still have to report to the government how much was taken in and must have access to financial records available to whoever asks. there is much more that churches are required to show than most corporations. so much for separation of church and state. so you wonder where the money is? ask the people looking for handouts. unlike muslims, Christian churches give to anyone who asks, regardless of religion. i am not Catholic but i know that a lot of smaller churches don't even have a thousand dollars a month to operate on and yet they still give money away to anyone who asks. can you ask people to justify why they think the church is there to fund their lifestyles of irresponsibility? and then they get angry because they are sometimes asked to help also. BTW i don't even know the first pastor who even drives a luxury car, or has a plane or goes on extravagant vacations. and while people like to down televangelists, do you know how much it costs to produce a television program internationally? may pastor and his wife would love to go to the annual conference in Israel this year but can't because they cannot afford it, and they both have jobs they need to work at.

Answer 8

It is hard to justify that amount.

It needs to be much more of the church is going to be able to complete its mission of charity to the world. It is because not enough money is given to churches that they are unable to completely feed, cloth, shelter, provide medical aid, etc. to those around the world in real need. And because of that the Name of God is often slandered.

People want to blame Him for their own failure to give enough to end suffering in the world.

Since you have indentified the problem, you are invited to help solve it. I am assuming that you are planning to double your offering next week so that the amounts will not be so low next year.

Answer 9

Most churches give to missions and other charities. Of course the building costs of new buildings and the upkeep are also major costs. In big churches there are many people that are on salary.

Answer 10

There's nothing wrong with a non-profit organization being in the black...what matters more is what they're using (or planning to use) that money for.