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Why Should a Denomination's Financial Reports be Secret?

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **3/3/17 11:02 am**

I honestly do not understand the reason for this. It is a sincere question, and no, I'm not just 'being nosy'; as a pastor, I have access to our denomination's financial reports. I just don't know why there is such a desire to keep it a secret.

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **3/3/17 11:13 am**

Quiet Wyatt, you are just a controlling, nitpicking, petty, critical person who has some spiritual issue that you haven't dealt with. Wink

You must be because I know someone who asked this same thing who was just a divisive troublemaker. Wink

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **3/3/17 11:14 am**

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **3/3/17 12:12 pm**

I think there have been real strides toward transparency and I applaud that. However, I think the COG still has "small-minded" thinking that stems from way back. There is fear that people will be resentful if they know the truth. I can remember many years ago, a friend of mine (pastor) desperately wanted to buy a new vehicle but he was afraid of what the congregation might think of him. So he always lived way below his means for fear of openly displaying what he could afford.

I remember the first time I ever became a staff member at a larger church. The pastor's salary was six figures, and published for all the world to see. No one thought twice about it. There were no calls for salary reduction or "trimming the fat ". Fear keeps us in the shadows. Jesus made a statement that has always stayed in my heart - "I spoke openly to the world.....in secret I have said nothing " (condensed from John 18:20).

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **3/3/17 3:47 pm**

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3382 **3/3/17 4:11 pm**

A. Too many eyes on finances would bring many more questions
B. They don't want to have to answer questions.
C. They don't want their deeds scrutinized.
D. Publishing these statements is to some "unspiritual"

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6385 **3/3/17 4:16 pm**

I like this Quote ;

Some thoughts....

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **3/3/17 8:06 pm**

I think that the sometimes tendency of small, local churches to be hesitant about sharing their financials is writ-large at the denominational level.

Pastors may feel a bit awkward with people knowing how much (or little) they are paid. They may know that Bro. So-and-So will surely question every expenditure, wondering why we are spending money for Youth Camp when their are people dying in Africa, etc.

Some churches have a thing like this: "If you would like to see our financials, let us know and we'll show you." Of course, that ensures that plenty of people don't do it. Why? Because they think they'll appear as "distrusting" of the leadership, when, really, they just want to know how we're doing, what we're doing, etc.

Very simply, I don't think the lack of full transparency is due to ill intentions, but to the concern that criticism will begin over this or that. "Why did it cost the executives so much money to go to the General Assembly? It shouldn't cost a dime more than it costs those staying at Motel 6."

"With so many struggling churches, why can't our executives take a big pay cut and help them out?"

On and on it will go. Some lines will draw applause from those who do not fully grasp matters. Other criticisms may be valid (and this, too, can be a concern with leadership--they sometimes know that this or that didn't work out as planned, and that, if revealed, it will reflect poorly upon them).

Just my thoughts.

Golf Cart Mafia Consigliere Posts: 3382 **3/3/17 9:45 pm**

Perhaps if people knew there would be a possibility that questions would be raised, less money would be spent frivolously.

Perhaps if people knew there was a possibility that spending would be scrutinized, less money would be spent frivolously.

But if we don't really know what is going on with the money we give, what questions can be asked, other than why can't we see it and what criticisms can be made other than "we should be allowed to see where our money is going."