Do you charge for church?

4 Responses to “Do you charge for church?”

1. 

   Sam C September 9, 2009 at 2:04 am

   When I was an atheist attending my first church I was quite happy to drop some money in to the collection. I recognized that regardless of whether or not I was a part of this community I was coming along and benefiting from their services & hospitality each week.

   However, I was fairly keen. I think some people could be put off by it.

   I reckon a good balance is to always have a readily available means for people to give when they wish to (ie. a donation box), and gently make them *aware* of said means, but don’t *pressure* them to give.

   (this is seperate to the regular church giving though I take it)

2. 

   hayleyneal September 9, 2009 at 2:15 am

   Thanks Sam for your thoughts….

   I think you are right… many non-Christians and visitors to church are happy to pop some coins or a note in the bag or plate as the collection is taken. I think for a number of reasons: they feel the are contributing to something good; earn a brownie point, do their bit for society; out of a sense of duty; out of respect; and as you say: contribute to the thing you are benefiting from.

   At my church the service leader makes a sort of ‘disclosure statement’… “this is an opportunity for regulars to give to the work here, if you are new feel free to let the bag pass you by” etc…

   But yep – I am taking about an issue separate to the collection…

   I am wondering if its better to put a sign up that says ‘donations welcome’ vs ‘$5 for supper’.

3. 

   Sam C September 9, 2009 at 2:26 am

   Yep, all the churches I’ve been in have the disclosure statement

   I reckon something simple, inviting and transparent is good, along the lines of what you’ve suggested. But I’d also clarify where the money goes in smaller text.

   In big text: “Enjoy the food? Donations Welcome!”

   Then maybe in small text under: “All of our stuff is funded by the church and your generosity. If you’ve benefited from this please feel free to donate in order to keep it going.”

   Simple logic: *if* you enjoy this service & benefit from it, please help sustain it.

   I think it’d be pretty hard for anyone to feel offended or pressured by that, but at the same time it includes a gentle motivator to give: because you’re benefiting/enjoying the service.

4. 

   KIM October 14, 2009 at 11:35 am

   This actually really surprised me when I came here — my experience in American churches is that food is always free (especially for guests, but also for regulars), with the exception of meals that are being put on particularly to raise money for a certain ministry. (For example, a soup and salad meal to raise money for the hungry.)

   Perhaps part of the thing is that American churches are huge on potlucks — everybody brings a dish and shares (often to the effect of: A-G bring a main course, H-P bring a side or salad, R-Z bring a dessert).

   When it’s not a potluck, though, the food is just donated by regulars. Maybe it’s easier in churches where there are more families and moms are just used to whipping up lots of food and hardly notice a little extra taken to church one week?

   If American churches put out a donation basket, I guess I’m not exactly sure, but I always had the impression that money was just added to the offering, and not redistributed to the people who’d bought the food. Perhaps they would be renumerated if, say, one person had gone out and bought all the food, or a particularly large quantity thereof?

   I do tend to favor food being free at churches, as I feel like that’s a lot more hospitable and welcoming and family-like. I don’t really imagine the early church putting a “2 small Casears please” sign out, though of course I don’t know for sure. I feel like if people are being generous and living godly lives (which, obviously, is the ideal, though not the reality), such collections wouldn’t be necessary.

   Perhaps that’s just because the non-payment method is more familiar to me, though. I realize there are logistical troubles (that could potentially turn nasty) of some people then never contributing and others feeling like they’re taken advantage of. I don’t recall hearing about any trouble of that kind, but it might be more likely if a church makes a switch from paying to not.

   I personally wouldn’t put up a fuss about donating to church meals, though it does still surprise me. It’s an interesting issue; thanks so much for raising it.

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