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| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Tearing down walls > Informal Poll on Donations.... | Forum Quick Jump
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Pragma-Man
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2001
Total Posts : 23
| Posted 12/4/2001 7:31 AM (GMT -6) |   | This whole WTC tragedy and relief donations has got me thinking about the money side of American cultural christianity. I'd like to take an informal poll to gain the pulse of what people on this board think about donations.
If you found out that money you gave to a Church or Christian ministry was not used for the purpose you gave it, would that bother you?
What if you found out the ministry raise enough money for the purpose you gave it, and so they applied your money to other needs, but did not tell you. Would that bother you?
What if you found out that ministries were witholding a percentage (say 15%) of every dollar you contribute, for administrative costs. Would that bother you?
Any thoughts or stories? Thanks for taking the poll. | | Back to Top | | |
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Semeia
Registered Member
Date Joined Aug 2001
Total Posts : 522
| Posted 12/4/2001 7:09 PM (GMT -6) | | Pragma-Man,
When I write weekly checks to the church I don't worry about how it is spent. I figure that the church knows best what it needs.
When I write a check for a specific ministry, I would not like to see it go to a different ministry, because there are some ministries I don't support. For example, I love the ministry where the young artists travel to different countries and paint murals about Christian themes, using the local people and surroundings as subjects. People naturally come up and ask questions about what they are doing, and so they build friendships in a short time and engage in meaningful conversations about God and what it means to be a Christian. But it's sort of nonchalant and natural. It seems like such a great way to reach people. My sister is involved in a music ministry in the Ukraine that is like that-- impacting people with a work of art and then talking about faith in the conversations that naturally arise.
But there was a table set up in the lobby back in September for a ministry related to the World Trade Center. I was going to write a check and I decided to ask some questions about what they were going to do. I expected to hear that this would fund a trip to New York to volunteer in the clean-up, or bring supplies, or organize shelter for the victims, or something like that. But I was told that they were going to New York to distribute pamphlets about becoming a Christian. I declined to write a check because I didn't think this was the most effective way to reach people.
For special projects, like the parking lot fund, I see no problem with transferring the money to another project if there are excess funds collected.
As far as administrative costs, I assume that there will be some but I hope that it is not too high.
The Christian charity World Vision does an incredible thing. They send out a catalog, with things like: one artificial limb--$1,000; one well dug--$880; one dairy goat--$50; teach a Mali woman to read and write--$30; mentor an at-risk inner city youth--$485; construct a home for a vulnerable family in Africa--$3,360; feed a refugee child--$40. You pick exactly what you want to "purchase" for people. It is exciting and motivating to know exactly how you are contributing in a concrete way. It's not just a check for an abstract concept of "charity". It captures the imagination to think hey, a bigger check could buy a well for someone who doesn't have easy access to fresh water... how could I not do that?
That's probably a longer answer than you wanted.
Thanks,
Semeia
"The opposite of sin is not virtue, but faith."--Soren Kierkegaard | | Back to Top | | |
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