WWPF Dues
 

In a couple of threads, I pointed out something that struck me as odd: that the $60/month dues for WWPF membership can come out of a member's personal tithe.

This is from their "Articles of Faith": http://www.worldwidepf.com/page.php?ID=29

So, the member has no out-of-pocket expense -- the member's church (or whatever he pays tithes to) foots the bill. Does this raise any flags, with you guys? Is it normal and acceptable for clubs like this to give their members permission to divert part of their tithes to the club?

Just think of how many little old ladies SS checks helped sponsor attendance at this thing. I am sure most of the churches footed the bill for their ministers to attend. I wonder how that would go over in some of the churches that were represented there.

Timmy, many men use Personal Tithe (a tithe on their ministry income) to pay dues. Not all tithe to the District but use that fund for "ministry". Many men have to pay more into a church than they get out. Home Missionaries with $10 offerings and $600 a month power bills certainly cannot afford some luxuries.

What pray tell, are you suggesting here?

Once a pastor is paid a salary, that money is his to support his family and do with as he sees fit, just as your paycheck is yours once it is in your hands. If he wants to use part of his salary to join an organization or club that is his business, and there is nothing unethical about it. At least, not in reference to what money he is using to join. Now, if he takes money out of the church general fund, then it would be somewhat the business of the entire congregation. And of course, the church may have an interest in what organizations he belongs to. But it shouldn't have anything to do with paying dues out of HIS own pocket.

Some pastors went and their churches are clueless......

I didn't know my pastor was going until after he was already gone.

Two things:

1. Just wondering if this arrangement is unusual, for an Apostolic fellowship type of thing. Does the UPCI itself, e.g., allow members to allocate part of their tithes for UPCI dues?

To me, it seems a bit presumptuous to start up some association/fellowship/club, and give its members permission to reroute some of the money they would normally give to, say, a local church. If that's considered normal for these kinds of thing, fine.

(Hmm. Maybe I should start a club! :happydance)

2. People have kinda griped about the dues, and suggested that it would prevent some from joining, for economic reasons. But if it's a net zero out-of-pocket expense, that doesn't make sense. Of course, maybe some folks would not feel right about deducting the dues from their tithe, so it would be an additional expense.

I thought pastors generally pay tithes on their salaries, either back into the church or to the district, or whatever. Is that not the case in OP circles? I think most AG pastors do that. Dunno for sure.

Hopefully all pastors pay tithes. :)

My point was, you made it seem unethical that a pastor would use money that he gets from the church (e.g., his salary/tithes) to pay for a membership in the WPF. If that was your point, then I disagree with it.

Are you saying it is unethical if he uses tithes to support the WPF instead of the UPCI? (Actually, that would be "in addition to") OR, are you suggesting that it would only be wrong for him to use the tithes he would normally pay into the church or district for that purpose?

My Dad paid his tithes into a separate church fund and used it to pay evangelists, give missionaries a little extra, etc. He never paid it to the district, because he didn't trust them to put it to good use.

I was asking about the WPF itself. Is it acceptable or common for an organization to tell its members that it's OK to divert some of their tithes to itself? You're right about the members themselves, of course. They can allocate their tithes however they see fit, and if they consider the WWPF to be part of the Lord's work, then fine. But the organization itself bringing up the idea just seems a bit self-serving.