Confidentiality of Tithes

[Sweet Pea]

WOW !!!!!!!! Some of you have some stories to tell! I've never had a pastor that controlled all the money as some of you described! The pastor may have made the ultimate decisions regarding spending - and I may not have always agreed with those decisions, but he didn't "control" it in the way some of you have described. Guess I have been blessed!

It is my personal opinion that paying tithes is scriptural - just as giving offerings. God has always met our needs and most of our wants!

Brother Epley, I know that you are not like some of those described - however, I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that a pastor takes ALL the tithes ALL the time. I understand that you use a good portion of it to help evangelists, saints in need, missions, even sinners in need - but in my opinion, in the day and age we live, a pastor would be better off to have EVERYTHING run through the church books and then draw a salary. I have had some dealings with the Christian Law Association and I know that if you ever find yourself being sued or audited by the government due to a lawsuit, the first question asked will be: "Have you (pastor or other minister) EVER taken money (cash or checks) from the offering bags before it was counted and deposited into the church account?" If you answer yes to that one, you are in big trouble. If the minister is going to take the tithes as their own, checks should be made out to the minister - not the church - and at that point it cannot be recorded as a contribution!