Shouldn’t this make you rethink the notion of tithing?
February 262010
This is from the NY DAILY NEWS:
Call it the stimulus package from God.
Manhattan’s Riverside Church – one of the country’s most illustrious religious institutions – is paying its new senior pastor, the Rev. Brad Braxton, more than $600,000 in annual compensation.
That’s twice what Braxton’s predecessor, James Forbes, one of the country’s best-known preachers, was getting after running Riverside for more than 18 years.
It amounts to almost 10 times what William Sloane Coffin, the legendary anti-Vietnam War clergyman, was paid in his last year as senior minister at Riverside in 1987.
Braxton was selected in a vote of the congregation last fall and is to be officially installed Sunday.
A group of church dissidents claims the members were never told about the lavish package.
Those dissidents filed suit in Manhattan Supreme Court last week to stop Braxton’s installation, revealing a growing divide among the church’s 1,500 members.
The Wall Street-like package, the dissidents say, is outrageous for a man of the cloth – especially when you consider Riverside’s long history of advocating social justice.
Church sources say it includes:
$250,000 in salary.
$11,500 monthly housing allowance.
Private school tuition for his child.
A full-time maid.
Entertainment, travel and "professional development" allowances.
Pension and life insurance benefits.
An equity allowance for Braxton to save up to buy a home.
On top of that, Braxton immediately hired a new second in command at more than $300,000 a year.
"Where’s the social justice in this?" said Diana Solomon-Glover, a member of the church choir and one of the petitioners in the suit.
"We have an economic crisis in the country, and none of the church staff are getting raises this year, but a few people at the top are getting these huge salaries?"
In a hearing Tuesday, Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Lewis Bart Stone denied the dissidents’ request to delay Sunday’s installation. The judge urged church leaders to provide the opposition a fair chance to be heard by the church membership.
He adjourned the case until after a special meeting of the congregation scheduled for May 3.
The two sides should find a way to achieve "some form of fellowship and reconciliation between members of the church," Stone said, to "prevent a split."
"They [the dissidents] don’t want to accept that the majority has already spoken," said Sarah Conly, who backs Braxton. The vote last fall to appoint Braxton was overwhelming, his supporters say.
"I don’t know why they even brought this case into court," said Jean Schmidt, vice chair of the Church Council, one of the key officials who brought in Braxton.
"If the members of the church had known what his total compensation was when we voted, we wouldn’t have chosen him," said Virl Andrick, a 25-year member of the church and of its budget and planning commission.
Only a tiny group in the leadership has details of the contract, he said.
"There’s a problem with the process," Andrick said. As an interdenominational church, Riverside is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches, but the two denominations have very distinct governing philosophies.
Congregational churches "have complete transparency on finances," Andrick said. "Members know everything about the church’s finances and the pastor’s salary."
Baptist churches, on the other hand, tend to keep vital information among key church leaders.
Just a thought
For those who want to know the truth about tithing. This is what the Bible really teaches us about it. Look up the verses in your Bible!
Religion
How Should It Be Financed?
Giving That Brings Joy
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20021201/article_02.htm
God Bless!
February 27th, 2010 at 3:28 am
i never have and never will pay for something that only takes affect after death (salvation).
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February 27th, 2010 at 3:57 am
@Wrath What about life insurance?
God loves you, AND HE NEEDS M O N E Y !!!!
-George Carlin
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February 27th, 2010 at 4:47 am
No, I’ll keep tithing, because tithing is in the Word of God, OT and NT — http://www.jimfeeney.org/tithing.html
But I certainly would rethink attending any church that paid that kind of salary package to its pastor! I was a fulltime ordained minister for 31 years and never received more than $51K a year (often less), while raising a family of four children. That type of exorbitant compensation I find offensive, but tithing is a separate issue.
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February 27th, 2010 at 5:15 am
If God thinks that what he is worth..then thats what he should get.
God loves you….God bless
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February 27th, 2010 at 5:53 am
Yes, I think every church should have to disclose every dime of where the money is going! Plus, if the church is NOT paying the pastor, but the church headquarters.It is still the members business! Its just honest,Christ-like business! That is most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! BUT, I know its true and happening every day!
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UPC and sad! I left a church over this kind of thing!
February 27th, 2010 at 6:42 am
In Charity churches, the pastor isn’t allowed to claim any money from tithes. All monetary issues are discussed at brother’s meetings. All brothers may attend the brother’s meetings, and most usually do. Our money goes to maintenance of building, missions, alms, and church medical funds. Unless the pastor is sick, he never receives a dime. The medical funds are used by all members, by the way. Both members and nonmembers fall under alms.
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February 27th, 2010 at 7:12 am
ridiculous
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February 27th, 2010 at 7:27 am
It is my opinion that the examples that you mention are not good reasons to stop tithing. They are how ever good reasons to question the purpose of the church that the tithes are going to, and the reason a person would want to be a member of such an organization.
You also mention “Baptist churches, on the other hand, tend to keep vital information among key church leaders.” That statement is not always true, as our church has a business meeting each month. The finances are discussed at these meetings. All business matters such as pastors pay or anything over a couple hundred dollars per month are voted on by those who wish to attend the meetings.
A study of the Scriptures shows that tithing is a scriptural principle. Abraham and Jacob tithed 500 years BEFORE the Law was instituted. Moses, Malachi, and Jesus spoke of tithing DURING the period of the Law. The Apostle Paul explained tithing AFTER the Law. Christians ought to tithe!
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February 27th, 2010 at 7:32 am
In my opinion this incident should never have reached the courts. Everytime the religious community airs it’s issues in public it breeds sarchastic rhetoric from non-believers and those disenfranchised with the Holy Spirit.
Look there is nothing wrong with compensation, even great compensation if it’s affordable. However your fight to help those in need and address social issue should be paramount and never overshadowed or hindered by a financial arrangement. I don’t necessarily disagree with Reverend Braxton recieving this package but he had better be worth it. Not knowing the full context of expectation from your new preacher leads my mind to wonder as I’m sure yours does. Suffice it to say: This man needs to measure up at the pulpit and in the community, in fact, in every aspect of his daily purpose.
I would look at it this way; loosing one member due to Reverend Braxtons performance (not his compensation) would be reason to reconsider his appointment. I would also want to know his plan to strengthen and grow the church.
You did state that Riverside was a premire (Illustrious) institution, Maybe your new preacher can catipault or recast Riverside into something more than could be expected. You know there’s a few that spread their word into mega schools and international renound, with the final outcome of their church being and meaning more than a compensation package. Look at the entire scope not just what seems to be an over generous payment.
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February 27th, 2010 at 8:09 am
For those who want to know the truth about tithing. This is what the Bible really teaches us about it. Look up the verses in your Bible!
Religion
How Should It Be Financed?
Giving That Brings Joy
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20021201/article_02.htm
God Bless!
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The Bible
February 27th, 2010 at 8:41 am
that is wrong on so many levels
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February 27th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Get em girl
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