help me
12-23-2005, 09:07 AM
Just a quick post on what I’ve found out so far – :mad:
The church is lead only by the pastor and the finance committee. No Elders or Lay Leaders. Deacons are assigned families to care for – they have no authority in any other church business. The beleaguered Minister of Music is no longer included in weekly staff meetings. At the last church business meeting, we were informed that the church was $45K in debt and sinking deeper very rapidly. The pastor's trip to Africa was paid for completely upfront and to boot, he bought a video camera to take with him with the church’s funds! But the pastor refuses to preach on giving because it’s such a “downer”. It’s definitely becoming harder to find out information – I feel they are “on” to me!
When I mentioned to my SS class the burden I’d had on my heart for this man & his family, the other members looked at me like I was an alien. Then I suggested we should take up a love offering for him (pay cut, child in college, Christmas (for Heaven's Sake!!!!), etc.) - and I was told that would be UNETHICAL to give money directly to him. All honorariums, etc., must pass through the finance committee (evidently a member of that!) for approval and dispersal. So I’m going to do just that – mail him a card with a check. Let’s see if they have spies at the P.O.!
I plan to order a number of the books suggested (thank you so much for the rec’s!) – but will have to wait until January since my budget is blown for Christmas.
Thanks again for providing a safe place for those that are hurting. The old adage that "Christianity is the only army that shoots it's wounded" does not apply here. Good for you.
Christmas Blessings to All!
The church is lead only by the pastor and the finance committee. No Elders or Lay Leaders. Deacons are assigned families to care for – they have no authority in any other church business. The beleaguered Minister of Music is no longer included in weekly staff meetings. At the last church business meeting, we were informed that the church was $45K in debt and sinking deeper very rapidly. The pastor's trip to Africa was paid for completely upfront and to boot, he bought a video camera to take with him with the church’s funds! But the pastor refuses to preach on giving because it’s such a “downer”. It’s definitely becoming harder to find out information – I feel they are “on” to me!
When I mentioned to my SS class the burden I’d had on my heart for this man & his family, the other members looked at me like I was an alien. Then I suggested we should take up a love offering for him (pay cut, child in college, Christmas (for Heaven's Sake!!!!), etc.) - and I was told that would be UNETHICAL to give money directly to him. All honorariums, etc., must pass through the finance committee (evidently a member of that!) for approval and dispersal. So I’m going to do just that – mail him a card with a check. Let’s see if they have spies at the P.O.!
I plan to order a number of the books suggested (thank you so much for the rec’s!) – but will have to wait until January since my budget is blown for Christmas.
Thanks again for providing a safe place for those that are hurting. The old adage that "Christianity is the only army that shoots it's wounded" does not apply here. Good for you.
Christmas Blessings to All!