Is Withholding Money the Only Effective Way to Get Church Leaders to Listen?

xzins

[xzins]

There are a number of "churches" represented out there. What are your thoughts on this: it's not a "denominationally bound" question. It applies to all groups.

1. How to withhold money? First, the larger the group withholding, the better. Second, if you just give it to some other church agency or group from your denomination, the leadership will just funnel that money to the general fund. To truly withhold you need to either put the money in some personal escrow account or spend it for God according to your understanding of His interests. Notice that this is not a recommendation to withhold from God....just from a wayward church or denomination.

2. Some will say that vital, goood ministries will be injured if you withhold your cash. That's true, but some problems in some churches are so extreme that to ignore the problem is a gross violation of conscience. Also, some problems are so extreme they will end up killing that denomination altogether if someone doesn't do something.

3. Finally, the premise of the question is that church leaders don't hear any protest except a money boycott. I've seen this be true time and again. Others, however, might disagree. I doubt that many will argue with the premise that withholding money is the FASTEST way to get your complaint heard.

[xzins]

I don't care your denomination: Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Assemblies, etc.....What do you think?

[Fzob]

I would simply leave a church where I felt the leadership was less than what is expected. Afterall "the Church" is not a building, it is a group of believers.

[xzins]

For some reason, leadership doesn't seem to care when people leave. Sometimes they don't even notice. But a boycott on giving always gets their attention. Wonder why?

[Fzob]

For some reason, leadership doesn't seem to care when people leave. Sometimes they don't even notice.

Well in the churchs I have attended over the years, the leadership was very aware when people left. And it wasn't about money, it was more about a family member up and leaving. They are concerned about why people leave and do listen.

But a boycott on giving always gets their attention.

I expect in churchs where a boycott would even be considered; it's because in reality it is not a church, but rather it is a business.

Wonder why?

See above.

[xzins]

I've watched churches ignore the ebb and flow of people who attend, don't attend, do attend, etc. But it drives them nuts when there's a group out there and the group that IS THERE AND IS VISIBLE doesn't give.

Have you been in any hierarchical churches, or have you been in mostly independent churches?

[Fzob]

Have you been in any hierarchical churches, or have you been in mostly independent churches?

All independent, hence my ignorance as to why any congregation would put up with lousy, corrupt, passive, etc, leadership for any length of time. In an independent church the Pastor is selected by the elders or the congregation, thus the level of accountablity is typically high.

[xzins]

You're right. That's probably the difference. In independent church, the loss of a member is the loss of offering plate money. In the hierarchical church, the bishop or whoever doesn't even know if someone stops coming. They see a report perhaps.

But the churches are the ones that send their "church tax" money up the hierarchical chain. If the lower churches stop paying their money because they're not getting any and need to take care of their local needs, then the higher ups suddenly take notice.

[drstevej]

People vote with their feet and their check book regardless of the denomination. Both get the attention of leaders but not always the response desired.

A similar question for interaction is: When should a person withhold their giving? When should a person leave a church?

[xzins]

Both get the attention of leaders but not always the response desired.

The response is in direct proportion to the size of the group boycotting and the percentage of the funds withheld.

You raise a good point. In a small church, a few people will make a large difference.

In something like the catholic church problem with paedophilia it would take a church-wide consensus by a significant group withholding ALL their funding.

[mutchdutch]

Give us a little more information on the situation.... What is the issue?

I am personally struggling in my church with an issue which is not a "they are wrong" and "I am right" issue but a personal preference and difference of vision.

At a full church meeting it was presented that we needed to hire a worship coordinator because the worship committee was burned out and it was felt that we needed a "professional" to fill the position. I stated that a lot of the people volunteering were "burned out" and asked if this was going to be the response each time this happened. I stated that I spent an average of 5 hours as church treasurer and what were they going to do if I became burned out. The council president said publically that if I didn't want to do it, they would find someone else to do it and if they couldn't find someone to do it, they would hire some one.

I am a little personnaly offended but beyond that am troubled that money is viewed as a more important resource of the church than people were. But then again, money is easier to manage than people.

Good leadership in churches like other organizations is rare but when it exists, it should be rewarded and if it doesnt exist should be corrected. What does the Bible say about correction?

I have spend many years trying to change the culture of a mature non profit organization and was not successfull. (Never try to teach a pig to sing, it is a waste of your time and besides, it annoys the pig)

Correction by witholding funds will have shorterm impact and long term results.

Proceed with "fear and trembling"!

[azhenfud]

I know this is probably the most simple-minded response you'll get, but this is what I believe is my duty.
First, I see it is my obligation to "bring the tithe and offerings into the storehouse", that portion of which is rightly God's.
Next, since I'm not on a "budget and finance" committee appointed by the congregation, it isn't my duty to police the use of those tithes and offerings nor their application. Those who are entrusted with the stewardship of the congregation's oaths will stand accountable for how they administer those resources - not I....
Az

[My2Cents]

I'm facing this issue right now. We are members of a church which is preaching a "Christless Christianity" -- Jesus is essential for salvation, but once a person is saved, Jesus doesn't seem to have anything to do with enabling a person to live as a Christian -- it's all up to the individual through his/her own strength and (self-) righteousness to now "live for Jesus."

I don't subscribe to this church's emphasis of what it takes to live the Christian life. As far as I'm concerned, they preach "Galatianism" -- "having now begun by the Spirit, we are to continue on in the flesh..."

Consequently, I do not financially support this church. I believe that financial support should only go to those organizations and individuals that uplift and honor Jesus Christ -- the real, personal, alive, indwelling Jesus Christ, not some "ideal" or vague model. Why throw good money at an organization that preaches only half a gospel?

BTW, the only reason we remain at the aforementioned church is that the youth program is fairly decent, and hence we go for our kids.

[Fithal the Wise]

One has an obligation to find a pastor-teacher. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12)

And there is an obligation to support this pastor-teacher as per Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:6-7)