Church Offerings - what are they used for?

well i once worked as a church secretary and am married to a one time church treasurer. some of the offering goes to pay bills. Common ones such as salaries, heat, hydro, internet connection etc...uncommon ones like acredidation fees, fees to the convention that you belong to(our church belongs to North American Baptist group) and they want their share...some of the rest goes to mission and a fair chunk goes to assisting homeless shelters in our city (we live a fair sized one)... hope this helps

Jesus once said that to have church all you need was two people and the outdoors. I don't believe in worshipping my god inside a church, I believe in doing that in my own manner and outside. I also believe, that alot of churches do get rich off of it, I have watched it happen many times. Yes some churches help the communities they are in, but most only help their members. Me I donate my time and my resources to people in need, not to some idea, that in and of itself is contradictory. I don't mean to sound bitter, or crass. I just am putting in my input on the matter.

In our church it goes towards the running costs of the church including staff. Our church has a vision to teach and to mentor those who want to work in full-time ministry, so there are expenses for that program. A big chunk of the money goes to fund missionary work of those who have been sent out by the church in the past. We also have a program of supporting local churches that are not flourishing as well as those in far-flung countries around the globe. We have three full-time ministers who are obviously supported through the offerings, but I am sure that they only take what is fair, and certainly none of them are getting rich (financially!). I think the concept of tithing is good, it is good to give a portion of what you have gained whether you are a Christian or not. Giving reflects our compassion and sense of community. It doesn't have to be a strict 10%, but whatever you can afford. I honestly think that God blesses those who give, especially when they give all that they can reasonably afford to give.

This is just my opinion. Just like an ordinary establishment, or even our home, a church needs electricity, water, means of communication like telephone bills, etc. Therefore, there are also bills to pay. Sometimes, a church would need people who can spend their whole day attending to the needs of the church. Therefore, I believe they need to pay for someone who can do this for the church. This particular "someone" might have a family to feed too, so the Church has to pay him or her a salary. The preacher or the pastor of the Church may devote his entire life to the Church, but he also needs food and clothing to live, right? This probably may be where the Church money goes. The rest of the money may probably be spent on improvements and making the church a lovely place to be in for the Christians who want to come worship and pray during Worship service, or maybe just anytime they want to just pray. What do you think?

The Christian Church was started more than 1500 years ago. The Churches were built by the People,and are kept up by the People and the Church has never paid a penny of taxes in 1500 years. All the money the Church collects goes into the Church coffers. The Church is the Oldest, Richest, most Powerful Business, in the World.The Church sits on the money and collects interest on it, and never pays any income tax.When was the last time you heard your Priest or Pastor say the Church was going to help the Starving People in Africa? Lets face it! The Church never helps anyone, but the People do. The Priest or Pastor doesn't mind asking for an extra offering for the Starving Kids in Africa. Isn't that so generous of Them? God Help the Poor, because the Church (sure as Hell)won't!

i don't know why almost all churches did this...might be this will support their ministers and pastors because this people is dependent on the tithes of the member...i am thankful that our church didn't use this...we only ask donations if there is a project on the church or emergency...our church accept donations for worldwide work but not tithes...because tithes is considered as obligations...so members should give their tithes to the ministers... i think donations is more acceptable than tithing.

My church does not require tithe but does encourage the membes to do as every thing belongs to God first and he give us what we need. The tithe goes to the conferance where it gors to pay our pastors in all the churches so that no mate what the size of the church the pastors are all paid the same. We are ask for offering to help the poor and to pay the church expenses such as the water light and insurance along with the usual expenses. Some of the offers go to pay for the sabbath school materials. Church are not cheap to run. None of the money is invest for the church. each member decides wher his or her offfering is to go.

Church offerings are used for the poor of the congregation, that is the Deacons take them and use them to help those of the congregation in need. They are also used for the poor of the community and any charitable organization, for the missions, etc. Tithing is used to pay the pastor or the priest's salary as well as the salary of the organist or organists. If we do not pay tithes, then the pastor may have to get another job and he will be unable to do what God has called him for, preaching God's word.

I tithe. I'm not going to get into a dispute of what church offerings are for though. Because I imagine some people have a whole slew of untrue things to accuse churches of using the money for. And sure, there are churches who misappropriate funds. But that is not the norm. In my church the money is used to pay the bills for the church like heat, air, water, trash. They also pay the salary of the pastor, which in my denomination, isn't much. No really, it's not much. The church also sets aside money to give to the people who show up and ask for help. If someone has a need for groceries and they are fine with the church members buying them and bringing them over, then people get free groceries. The money also sponsors free events for kids in the community. Like a fall festival on Halloween night so parents who feel uncomfortable taking their kids trick or treating have something fun to take their kids to anyway.

Hi kath, Church offerings are used for many different things. My church uses money for different charities, things that need to be done for the church, etc. The pastors do not pocket the money as some people seem to think. My mom is the secretary of my church and she counts the money and puts it to it's proper place. She knows for a fact that the pastors do not even see the money nor do they know who gives what. I cannot speak for other churches. Sadly, I do know that there are some "ministers" out there who are not genuine and are in it for the money. If we know the Lord, we can see the true ones. The offerings should be used for supplies for the church, helping the poor and needy, charities, etc. God bless!

you use your paycheck to pay bills such as light heating rent taxes or even workers salaries so do the churches !

Hi Kathisharpe, Everything that we have come from God and belongs to God. I think tithing is a way for us to thank God and to give the best from what we have back to God. A church is an organisation that needs fund to run. This fund comes from our offerings. As long as people who run the church manage the offerings responsibly, with the heart that fear the Lord, I dont have problem with the concept of tithing.

i think churches uses the money offerings to improve the church physically... the thought that the churches get rich out of them is very possible. although not all churches are, but there are some church that get rich out of these offerings, especially the founder.