9 ms·

In the United States, most churches are open to anyone who wants to come in, but often being a "member" of the church requires providing some form of formal sup

In the United States, most churches are open to anyone who wants to come in, but often being a "member" of the church requires providing some form of formal support, such as tithing (members typically have at least some say in church policy, while random congregants do not). Congregants (who may not be official members) also generally add something to the collection plate when it comes around. Some countries still have "established" churches, which historically received direct government support from tax money (this is not always the case today... while the Church of England is still the "established" church in England, it no longer receives direct taxpayer support). Others may have a group of recognized churches that can receive taxpayer support (Germany is that way, I believe... you declare your religious affiliation, and if it is on the government-approved list, the government tax authorities will collect the tax and remit it to the church).

wfhpw 5y ago
10% of income is the standard
- justahuman74 5y ago
  That's just enormous, seems like a strong disincentive to join
  - gjvnq 5y ago
    Depends on how it is calculated, if it is after tax that isn't so much. Also, people who are supporting church will often use a lot of their services so it's not like giving money to a charity you will never directly see their work (like environmental groups). Finally, the 10% rule comes from times where the state had a much lesser role in fighting poverty.
    - throwawaygh 5y ago
      Exactly. At most churches, tithes mostly pay for the physical plant and the full-time staff (who provide services in the form of weekly lectures, counseling, misc. community organizing, and sometimes directly contribute to physical plant upkeep as well). Tithing is more like a PBS membership or seomthing.
  - usefulcat 5y ago
    I’m pretty sure that’s more of an aspirational goal than a hard requirement at many churches. Though it frequently (usually?) is also pre tax, not post.
  - barry-cotter 5y ago
    That's kind of the point. If you value a thing you'll be willing to pay for it.
- Turing_Machine 5y ago
  Yeah, "tithe" is an old (Middle English?) word for "tenth".
humanrebar 5y ago
I've never been in an American church that required any particular form of support, for what it's worth. Most churches did give sermons on the subject, but there was never a direct consequence for ignoring that teaching.
- micromacrofoot 5y ago
  Mormons have a special access tier of people who donate 10% of their income
- gwbrooks 5y ago
  It's the parish policy at many Eastern Orthodox churches in the U.S. that a member (which is to say: Someone who can vote at the annual meeting) have a pledge form on file.
theonething 5y ago
> often being a "member" of the church requires providing some form of formal support, such as tithing This sounds very suspect to me. Do you have any sources for this assertion? I've never heard of a church requiring any form of support, tithe etc to be a member or at all. I've been attending church and have been a member of several for 20+ years.
- andrew_ 5y ago
  I'm in my 40s and attended a Baptist Church in my youth that required formal members to tithe. It was the primary reason my parents stopped taking us there. > Do you have any sources for this assertion? Don't be that person. Take or leave the anecdote, but don't make an asinine request of evidence for something clearly anecdotal.
  - theonething 5y ago
    > clearly anecdotal. Take a look again at their statement > but often being a "member" of the church requires providing some form of formal support, such as tithing note the word "often". How is that clearly anecdotal? If the commenter had framed it as their own experience at a church they attended, I'd have no problem believing them. But clearly that's not the case. They are making a general assertion about most (or many) churches. And please be a bit more respectful and charitable. It's more conducive to discussion and common decency.
    - krageon 5y ago
      > be a bit more respectful and charitable Helping people see that their behaviour is not acceptable in a relatively mild manner is very respectful. The charitability thing is not really all that relevant here, because the words were not taken in a bad light - both of you agree on what was said. What you don't agree on is whether or not it should have been said, which no amount of charitable reading will fix.
      - theonething 5y ago

wfhpw 5y ago

10% of income is the standard

justahuman74 5y ago
That's just enormous, seems like a strong disincentive to join
- gjvnq 5y ago
  Depends on how it is calculated, if it is after tax that isn't so much. Also, people who are supporting church will often use a lot of their services so it's not like giving money to a charity you will never directly see their work (like environmental groups). Finally, the 10% rule comes from times where the state had a much lesser role in fighting poverty.
  - throwawaygh 5y ago
    Exactly. At most churches, tithes mostly pay for the physical plant and the full-time staff (who provide services in the form of weekly lectures, counseling, misc. community organizing, and sometimes directly contribute to physical plant upkeep as well). Tithing is more like a PBS membership or seomthing.
- usefulcat 5y ago
  I’m pretty sure that’s more of an aspirational goal than a hard requirement at many churches. Though it frequently (usually?) is also pre tax, not post.
- barry-cotter 5y ago
  That's kind of the point. If you value a thing you'll be willing to pay for it.
Turing_Machine 5y ago
Yeah, "tithe" is an old (Middle English?) word for "tenth".

humanrebar 5y ago

I've never been in an American church that required any particular form of support, for what it's worth. Most churches did give sermons on the subject, but there was never a direct consequence for ignoring that teaching.

micromacrofoot 5y ago
Mormons have a special access tier of people who donate 10% of their income
gwbrooks 5y ago
It's the parish policy at many Eastern Orthodox churches in the U.S. that a member (which is to say: Someone who can vote at the annual meeting) have a pledge form on file.

theonething 5y ago

> often being a "member" of the church requires providing some form of formal support, such as tithing This sounds very suspect to me. Do you have any sources for this assertion? I've never heard of a church requiring any form of support, tithe etc to be a member or at all. I've been attending church and have been a member of several for 20+ years.

andrew_ 5y ago
I'm in my 40s and attended a Baptist Church in my youth that required formal members to tithe. It was the primary reason my parents stopped taking us there. > Do you have any sources for this assertion? Don't be that person. Take or leave the anecdote, but don't make an asinine request of evidence for something clearly anecdotal.
- theonething 5y ago
  > clearly anecdotal. Take a look again at their statement > but often being a "member" of the church requires providing some form of formal support, such as tithing note the word "often". How is that clearly anecdotal? If the commenter had framed it as their own experience at a church they attended, I'd have no problem believing them. But clearly that's not the case. They are making a general assertion about most (or many) churches. And please be a bit more respectful and charitable. It's more conducive to discussion and common decency.
  - krageon 5y ago
    > be a bit more respectful and charitable Helping people see that their behaviour is not acceptable in a relatively mild manner is very respectful. The charitability thing is not really all that relevant here, because the words were not taken in a bad light - both of you agree on what was said. What you don't agree on is whether or not it should have been said, which no amount of charitable reading will fix.
    - theonething 5y ago