Im not sure if all churches do - but it seems wrong to me that they charge a fee for using the church for these services! Last time i checked places of worship are supposed to be free -correct me if im wrong but i don't think the bible ever said God likes to be paid!
2007-03-23 02:26:58 · 24 answers · asked by dollymixture 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
sorry can i just add that to those who say worship is free - generally speaking churches do collections and charge to lit candles etc!
2007-03-23 02:56:41 · update #1
Yeah, otherwise they would have to dip into the many Billions in their own banks, or sell some land, gold, paintings......
It is the fact they charge extra for the use of video camera, how commercial is that, religion is just a whole load of business.
Get married at somewhere no religious and help a local business instead, hotel, castle etc.. Not the god squad.
Dont even get me start on 10%ers, your money does not go to the church, it goes to their funds as someone mention, their share ownership is incredible. How many times have you seen the church get PR for actually donating or helping, they just preach about you should do it for them.
2007-03-23 02:29:42 · answer #1 · answered by dsclimb1 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You aren't paying God. And what are your thoughts about tithing, giving 10% of your blessings back to God?
Churches usually charge a small fee (under $100) for a wedding or a funeral. This charge covers for candles, wine, communion hosts, linen cleaning, etc. And if a wedding or funeral wasn't being done at that time, the lights would normally would be turned off and other utilities won't be used. This small fee covers for many things. It doesn't go to the priest or minister. My church asks for $75 but if you can't afford that, you can pay what you can and they have done it free. After all, these are sacraments and are never denied to parishioners.
2007-03-23 09:36:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
At our church, if you are a member, then there is no charge for the use of any of the facilities - church, fellowship hall, borrowing the long tables for like a yard sale or something. But if you are not a member, then there is a small flat fee charged - just like any other public building would charge to cover electicity costs, clean up afterward, etc.
2007-03-23 09:44:44 · answer #3 · answered by luttibelle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Christian Witnesses do not charge for weddings, funerals, or any such thing.
Our elders are not paid €, £, Â¥, $, or even 1¢ for their ministry to the congregation.
Also, at our meeting places, called Kingdom Halls, no collection is ever taken up, no plate passed, or whatever. We do have small boxes in the rear if anyone wants to drop a donation in discreetly, but all donations are private and no one need know how much if anything another person gives; that is between that person and Jehovah God.
2007-03-23 10:08:16 · answer #4 · answered by Abdijah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our church does not charge church members for weddings and we don't charge anyone for funerals. Recently, we have begun charging non-members for weddings. We charge them $75 to cover the cost of having the custodian come in and clean up after the wedding. The reason we had to start doing this is because most of the other churches in our area were charging and since we weren't, people were flocking to our church to get married. We were having weddings every week or two, which really adds to the cleaning costs. Funny thing is, half of the people who get married there, never send their check to pay for it. They agree to the charge but never pay for it.
2007-03-23 09:39:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you wish take your marriage vows in a place of worship it too has to be paid for , the money for upkeep of these buildings and wages for the organist/choir etc doesn't literally come from "God" someone has to pay for it. You wouldn't expect your local registry office to marry you for free why should the church. Considering the percentage of regular church goers is shrinking, and the likely hood of the couple who married in the church continuing attending that church and contributing to its community is very slim.
I myself am a non-believer, don't go to church, was married in a registry office but I do believe all religions have the right to exist and that takes money and if you want to use the services you have to pay, it cost nothing to worship your chosen God but use of buildings and other such things has to be paid for, if not by you, then who?
2007-03-23 09:37:54 · answer #6 · answered by isleofskye 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Other buildings get rented for their services, why shouldn't churches? You aren't going there to worship, you're going there to get married. If you were going there to worship, you wouldn't be charged. And lastly, you aren't paying God when you pay a fee to rent a church to get married. You are paying the preacher performing the wedding, and paying for the electricity you are using. If you think you shouldn't pay for the building to get married in, why not get the flowers for free, or the food, or the dresses?
2007-03-23 09:34:29 · answer #7 · answered by Elisa 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, these services cost the church money and, given that the church is not a business that earns a lot of money (in most cases) to pay for these services, they must pass that cost along to the users. They do not charge just to get some money. They charge to cover their own costs, and probably to get a little extra for their charities.
2007-03-23 09:34:29 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As much as people are willing to shell out for weddings these days, the amount paid for use of a facility for the ceremony is peanuts. I think it's within the church's right to charge a fee.
2007-03-23 09:34:11 · answer #9 · answered by Lyn 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Listen to the first answerer.
They should charge to maintain the church and to continue the worship services.
2007-03-23 09:46:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋