Prospective Church Say Pay up or don't come back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

I’ve never heard of this in Christianity.

This happened to me in college decades ago when I met with a campus priest. He said I had to accept the pledging envelopes in order to go to mass. I chose not to attend church on campus and never joined another catholic church after that.

Well, he was wrong.

He was Christ's representative here on earth. What Father said was not questioned.

[Anonymous]

There are better ways to say it, but the truth is they require money to operate just like any other place and that money comes from the congregation. If they’ve collected your info, you must have indicated that you’ve attended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

Run while you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

Run while you can.

Op doesn’t need to run. They are pretending they are being asked for money and won’t tell us what church is asking them, even though a lot of people asked. They would be doing us a favor by telling what church asked for money, but won’t. You’d want to warn people about this predatory church! But op won’t name the church. Criticize valid issues, don’t make up stories to try and make churches seem bad. Some are, most aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you looking at Mormon temples?

All are welcome at LDS worship services. Only members who have been in the church for a year are even allowed to attend the temple, which does necessitate tithing. If someone wants to be a member of a congregation and never pay tithing, they would still be welcome for Sunday worship and all other activities. There is no "offering plate." We meet with the Bishop once a year and self declare that we are "full tithe payers; part tithe payers or non tithe payers.) No one checks your income, it is between you and God (who gave the commandment in Malachi.)

Please speak to what you know...

Actually, Mormons are famous for asking a copy of your W2.
If you want to read Malachi, read whole chapter. Tithe is a tenth of your grain harvest and must be given to a levite priest. If levite priest wants new shoes he must make them himself.
If you go to war then a tithe is a tenth of the war loot, not a tenth of your yearly income
Oh, and it is not biblical to demand a tithe from women. Only men pay it

This is SO wrong... Again, speak about your own religion.

And I'll take my biblical interpretations from someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think op is trolling.

because they make negative comments (which may be true - dunno) about Mormon tithing practices?

Op won’t identify the church. We don’t know if it’s a Mormon church. Because they won’t identify, it sounds like a hit and run against churches in general. If this were true, there would be no harm in identifying the church. Op won’t do so because it can be proven false.

Of course, it is not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It just doesn't work that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

Run while you can.

Op doesn’t need to run. They are pretending they are being asked for money and won’t tell us what church is asking them, even though a lot of people asked. They would be doing us a favor by telling what church asked for money, but won’t. You’d want to warn people about this predatory church! But op won’t name the church. Criticize valid issues, don’t make up stories to try and make churches seem bad. Some are, most aren’t.

Why should OP name the church? Yes it’s an anonymous forum but ppl from that church may be on the forum and naming the church might “out” OP. Also perhaps OP just is a decent person - although OP had a negative experience, OP doesn’t want his/her negative experience to define the experience of others. There could be a myriad of reasons. Who are you? The truth police?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

I’ve never heard of this in Christianity.

This happened to me in college decades ago when I met with a campus priest. He said I had to accept the pledging envelopes in order to go to mass. I chose not to attend church on campus and never joined another catholic church after that.

Well, he was wrong.

He was Christ's representative here on earth. What Father said was not questioned.

You just accepted it. I went years in college and grad school without giving anything. No one ever said a word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

I’ve never heard of this in Christianity.

This happened to me in college decades ago when I met with a campus priest. He said I had to accept the pledging envelopes in order to go to mass. I chose not to attend church on campus and never joined another catholic church after that.

Well, he was wrong.

He was Christ's representative here on earth. What Father said was not questioned.

You just accepted it. I went years in college and grad school without giving anything. No one ever said a word.

It was more a matter of deciding not to attend church on campus after that incident. Rejecting authority; not defying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

I’ve never heard of this in Christianity.

This happened to me in college decades ago when I met with a campus priest. He said I had to accept the pledging envelopes in order to go to mass. I chose not to attend church on campus and never joined another catholic church after that.

Well, he was wrong.

He was Christ's representative here on earth. What Father said was not questioned.

You just accepted it. I went years in college and grad school without giving anything. No one ever said a word.

It was more a matter of deciding not to attend church on campus after that incident. Rejecting authority; not defying it.

I would not have allowed someone clearly wrong about Church policy to drive me out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

I’ve never heard of this in Christianity.

This happened to me in college decades ago when I met with a campus priest. He said I had to accept the pledging envelopes in order to go to mass. I chose not to attend church on campus and never joined another catholic church after that.

Well, he was wrong.

He was Christ's representative here on earth. What Father said was not questioned.

You just accepted it. I went years in college and grad school without giving anything. No one ever said a word.

It was more a matter of deciding not to attend church on campus after that incident. Rejecting authority; not defying it.

I would not have allowed someone clearly wrong about Church policy to drive me out.

Maybe not driven out, but fed up. Maybe pp will get fed up at some point too. Who knows what it will take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

Um...no. Lifetime members of protestant church (2 different denoms) and never seen this and I find it horrible. Actually in our church, no one knows who gives what except the financial secy who is not a member of the church (hired office). Members are members to follow Christ. There is no requirement of giving to do that. We welcome all. I think tying any membership to giving is off the mark. Some people give of endless hours of their time...does that not count??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

Run while you can.

Op doesn’t need to run. They are pretending they are being asked for money and won’t tell us what church is asking them, even though a lot of people asked. They would be doing us a favor by telling what church asked for money, but won’t. You’d want to warn people about this predatory church! But op won’t name the church. Criticize valid issues, don’t make up stories to try and make churches seem bad. Some are, most aren’t.

Why should OP name the church? Yes it’s an anonymous forum but ppl from that church may be on the forum and naming the church might “out” OP. Also perhaps OP just is a decent person - although OP had a negative experience, OP doesn’t want his/her negative experience to define the experience of others. There could be a myriad of reasons. Who are you? The truth police?

How would op be outed? If op wanted to do anything constructive, they would verify with the church’s business manager/pastor etc that the church required a payment to attend. And saying here that church X in Smithville required this would not identify op whatsoever. It’s just another cheap shot and church and Christians.

[Anonymous]

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https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/church_assistance_.html

Churches and religious orgs help people. Never in my life have I heard of a church requiring payment to attend services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been church shopping for a while and one church sent us an email that said that if we want to attend services as members we had to pay. Like don't come back unless we complete the direct debit form attached to the email. We were so turned off. Is it just good business or money grubbing?

I’ve never heard of this in Christianity.

This happened to me in college decades ago when I met with a campus priest. He said I had to accept the pledging envelopes in order to go to mass. I chose not to attend church on campus and never joined another catholic church after that.

Well, he was wrong.

He was Christ's representative here on earth. What Father said was not questioned.

You just accepted it. I went years in college and grad school without giving anything. No one ever said a word.

No one has ever asked me to tithe or donate money to any church I have attended. I started attending church in 1984, and have attended churches all over the states and Europe b/c of Military service. I attended churches off base, even in Bavaria, and never was asked for a dollar or mark. (This was pre Euro.) If we wanted little envelopes to put our money into before putting money into the donation basket, we were given them for free. That way we could put as much or little as we liked in the donation basket and not be judged by our neighbors in the pew. I don’t know what church you visited op, but no reputable church would ask for what you were asked for. It does seem like you are about to fall prey to a cult. Have you confirmed with any administrative personnel at this church this is legit?