Need Help Regarding My New Church

No idea. I think the collection basket is optional. In the catholic church when I was a kid, there was a monthly offering thing in an envelope that was like a non-optional tithe, I think.

Honestly, if you're feeling money pressure from a church, that's not cool.

In the Bible, God gives us the opportunity to test him with our tithe. The Bible says 10% of our first fruits. Tithe and offering is an opportunity to sow into the church and have faith that God will provide for us. All we have really belongs to Him and His Kingdom.

Our church also takes an offering every service. This is normal. But our family has chosen to tithe through Paypal as soon as we are paid each month. We have also committed additional monies to our church's missions programs in order to spread the gospel outside of our church walls. Sometimes, when a missionary visits or an especially blessed speaker comes to our church, we'll take up an offering to help them in their mission field.

However, and this is a big however, churches should never tell their parishoners that tithe and offerings are mandatory. Your decision to tithe is a heart and faith matter between you and God. If you feel that the Spirit moves you to tithe, do so.

You are not required to give money unless you feel so moved. That's the only answer. Ever.

We began to tithe at our church before we were members. My husband was unemployed and we has to make ends meet on my income alone. It was scary to step out in faith and tithe that full 10% that God asks of us. Be we did. We tested the Lord, and we have never regretted it. Not once have we lacked or needed anything. If anything, we found ourselves blessed over and over again. If you want a testimony to share, tithe. God will give you a testimony.

No, you don't pay a pastor when he visits you. Personally, my husband and I tithe 10% of our income to the church we attend. You can do this as you get paid, weekly or monthly, whatever is easiest for you. We do ours online as soon as our income is deposited into our account. There is a cost to run a church. There may be a mortgage, electricity, water, cleaning, insurance, salaries of the pastor and office staff, maintenance, etc. I believe it's everyone's responsibility to help with those costs if you faithfully attend a church regularly. Biblically it says to give with a cheerful heart. Hope this helps. Good luck.

I'm very involved in my church. it's not pentecostal but it is evangelical. Im not certain that it's exactly the same in terms of the offering but here's what I know in general and specifically:
Churches are supported by your offerings. Consdier how much it cost to heat yoru home and pay the elctric bill. Consider how much it costs for a much bigger church building. The pastors need to live too and need to draw a paycheck to feed, clopth & house their families. Churches also have staff - dependhig on how big yoru churhc is and what kind of programs they offer they may have a youth pastor, a children's pastor, staff to help each of those areas. Most churches haev sunday school, youth group, senior groups and also offer counseling, help out the poor in the community, hold group classes for grief, divorce, parenting, finance,etc. All of those things cost money.

The Bible calls for the "first fruits" or the best to be given to God. It also talkes about the "tithe" meaning 10%. While many scoff at such a high number, giving 10% means you live on 90%. If all you have, and all yoru earning potential is a gift from God can you afford to give him back 10%? The Bible also promises that God gives it back in abundance. I know most people do not give 10%. but those I know who do give 10% usually find their income increase.

The envelopes are provided by the church and they will usually start proviing them to you if you give your offering in the form of a check. Then they see that you are giving regularly and they know your name & address from your check. Also using either a check or the envelopes allows the church to send you a record of your giving which you can take as a deduction for tax purposes if y ou itemize on your tax return.

As for giving money to the pastor when he visits - I have NEVER heard of such a thing. I don't know the story behind this other pastor at a church you visited - but there's never an expectation of money in that instance. Perhaps the person he visited has a high income and wanted to fill a need the pastor was telling about?

Finally, in our church we only have communiion once a month - the first Sunday of the month. On that day we also take a special offering (a second one taht day only) for the poor in our chruch family. It's used to buy warm coats for families, or gas or grocery gift cards, to send a kid to camp or on retreat with the youth group, etc.

I hope you have a good church relationship. Important thing to remember as you get closer to the people at your new church - people are human and have flaws that you'll discover. If you come across people you're not sure about - pray and ask for discernment.

Have a lovely Christmas!

Not 10% of your income for a pastor to marry you or perform a funeral. There is usually a set amount for that and you ask the pastor. If you cannot afford it, you work something out with him. If you are already married, you don't have to worry about it. Hopefully you'll never have to have a pastor preach a funeral...

The preacher who mentioned someone giving him money is trying to throw hints around for money. IGNORE IT. When a pastor or elders visit you, you DO NOT give them money.

Tithing (pronounced with a long i) is what people sometimes give 10% of their pay for. You tithe either once a month or once a week. That's what the envelopes are for. If you want to give an "offering", you can either use an envelope or put some money in the plate. An offering IS NOT 10% of your pay.

You can pay your tithes with a check made out to the church with the words "Tithes donation" written on the check if you want to take it off on your taxes. Keep copies of the checks for when you do your taxes .

People give money to a church so that they can pay their bills. You do not have to go broke doing this. You can help in other ways if you don't have much money. You can watch the babies ONCE A MONTH in the nursery. (Don't do it every week.) You can sing in the choir. You can take a covered dish when they have a meal.

You seem very suseptible to being walked all over, which is why I tell you not to go overboard.

I belong to a catholic church. There is an offering basket that is sent around each mass. You can put an envelope into that or if you prefer set it up online so that you give a once a month payment. I do that at it is much easier to do it along with the rest of my bills. As far as giving money to the priest / pastor. We give an envelope with cash in it for funerals, weddings, baptisms, confirmations etc. and also at christmas time.

I belong to a church that has Methodist and Pentecostal roots. In our church giving can either be done by envelope (cash or cheque) in the collection plate on Sunday mornings, or by monthly pre-authorized remittance straight (direct payment) from you bank account. The choice is yours on how to give and how much to give. I do believe 10% of your earnings is the recommended amount, but some people give their time or talent instead of cash, or in combination. I have never heard of paying a minister to visit your home, but it is customary to pay a minister an honorarium for performing ceremonies such as funerals, marriages or baptism.

The Christian churches I have attended "recommend" 10% of your gross income as "God's share" of your earnings.
Some people gave weekly, some biweekly, some monthly, depending on their pay schedules.
Special extra offerings were also sometimes taken up to fund specific projects such as mission trips or disaster relief.
Pastors, deacons, or other church folk who came calling at the house were offered a cup of coffee, but never cash.

Malachi 3:8-12
Acts 2:44-45
2 Corinthians 9:6-8

You are under no obligation to give to a visiting pastor unless you want to. The church more than likely uses the funds collected for expenses (salaries, gas & electric, water) and for ministry (feed the hungry, clothing the needy, etc.).

Some churches set up pledges during the year toward specific things needed by the church (like the building needing a new roof or new windows). Some churches use envelopes for this purpose while other churches use the envelopes to receive the givings of members.

If you want to know what exactly is going on at your new church ask one of the long time members or the pastor they should be able to let you know and clear up confusion.

"A Tithe" is typically 10% of your income.
No, you don't pay a pastor when he visits!

I have always tithed 10%, I have NEVER given any pastor money for visiting or heard of this. As the once a month collection I have heard of that, and that is usually for any missionaries we were supporting, something going on within the church to help those in need etc. with the envelopes I have used those before, its just easier for the church to keep up with your tithes for your tax purposes. Usually at the beginning of the year I will get a letter from the church showing my tithes so i can give to my CPA for tax reasons. Hope this helps

These are questions you need to ask them. Talk to the pastor, either casually after church or call the office. Many churches do things differently and if it's not spelled out, it can be unclear. I can tell you what MY church does but it may not be the same. Here, we are each given a set of envelopes for a couple of months, and each member is assigned a number (for accounting). I usually forget my envelopes, but they can tell who paid by the name on the check. We also have monthly special offerings and people may also contribute monthly to the general Faith Promise fund, which is basically where you decide how much you can give for the year for a special project and then it's up to you to fulfill it. No one keeps track. The promise is between you and God. The goal is to tithe, or exceed a tithe, but they don't hassle people about it. You do what you can. It's an offering. Some people offer once a month (like SSI recipients) and some people give an offering every week.

So that is what WE do, but you need to ask them to find out what THEY do.

RE: weddings and funerals, churches have set fees. I believe I paid our pastor $300 for his time to officiate my wedding.

Giving 10% of your income is kind of the standard. But you are under no obligation to give that much. If you can't afford that much, give what you can. I've never figured it out, but I'm sure I give beyond 10%. I not only give to my church, but also to other ministries outside of my church.

Some people believe that if you give money, you will receive money. I don't know if that is necessarily true. If you give you will receive, but what you receive is often non-monetary. I'm very skeptical of some of the preaching that is sometimes referred to the "profit gospel."

Offerings are used to pay for the cost of running the church, and for missions--giving to others. My offering is designated so that 1/2 goes to the building fund and 1/2 goes to missions. We also have special offerings throughout the year that go to specific missions or church projects. Our church always publishes their budget every year so we know exactly how our money is used.

I have never heard of a pastor getting money during a home visit unless it is a shut-in who can't get out to go to church anymore. I know many pastors who go out to homes to serve communion to those who can't go to church. Maybe they collect offerings at those times.

In the old testament they often gave 1/10th of their income to their synagogue/church to help the clergy pay their bills so they didn't have to work a second job, the money also paid the utilities on the building and other needs such as a food bank or some other community mission.

This is tithing.

Offering is something that is given out of your heart that is to be used where ever it's needed.

In the Baptist church I went to when I was a kid and teen we had the Lottie Moon offering at Christmas time. We had plays and other entertainment to set the mood so more people would feel that tug to give more.

In the Pentecostal Holiness church I went to as an older teen and young adult I don't remember paying a tithe but the offering plate was passed each service. I think you need to make an appointment with a church leader and ask about tithing or ask if there are fliers/handbooks that show the tenates of the church, their beliefs, their expectations, etc....

I can also say without any hesitation that the pastor NEVER visited my home expecting to pick up money. That's just weird.