Re: Hurricane Bertha

On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:04:34 -0700, Joerg
<notthisjoergsch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Joel Koltner wrote:
"Jonathan Kirwan" <jkirwan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:of1t741bd1pl2rdrild2r222f6alogre9a@xxxxxxxxxx
"But when you give to
the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is
doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who
sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Sure sounds to me as though this ought to encourage churches to quit "passing
the hat" and making peoples' contributions so public.

A good church does not make that public. They do record contributions
that arrive in the form of traceable tender such as checks or wires.
Because the IRS requires that. So, naturally, a few folks at church in
the treasurer's group know what we give but nobody else does. Not even
our pastor.

I can imagine the need for it, internally. But I seem to recall that
even Form 990 doesn't actually need to be filed and, if filed, doesn't
need much information. Maybe I'm wrong. But that's my recollection.

This, I know: A church doesn't even need to file with the IRS in
order to secure the tax status of a 501(c)3. The IRS web page tries
to provide some reasons why a church might want to do so, but
recognizes there is no requirement for it. More, a bill signed into
law in 2000 by Clinton makes it very difficult for any local gov't
entity to regulate what a church decides to use its property for.

Being a church is VERY GOOD MEDICINE for any business. Sadly, this
makes them VERY TEMPTING for people with... less than honerable
intentions.

BTW, Jon, well said.

On the point about the nugget of what it means to be Christian?
Thanks. I just wish I met a few more of them than I seem to.

I have closely watched your comments about your faith, when you are
kind enough to share it, and you express it with a rare natural
beauty. Even the humble, and only in appropriate conversational,
fashion by which you rarely speak about it contributes nicely.

I have been impressed.

Jon
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Adam, Eve, and the fig leaf aprons
    ... that Lucifer gave such instructions? ... I have not seen any official Mormon Church teaching on this ... When did a sacred thing become a secret ...
    (soc.religion.mormon)
  • Re: Hurricane Bertha
    ... so that your giving may be in secret. ... the hat" and making peoples' contributions so public. ... A good church does not make that public. ... Section 6104requires a tax return and it must be publicly available ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • Re: A man who cant find a church to join after seven months in office suddenly finds God.
    ... The commotion surrounding his presence defeats the whole ... purpose of being inside a church. ... pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly." ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Hurricane Bertha
    ... the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is ... so that your giving may be in secret. ... They do record contributions that arrive in the form of traceable tender such as checks or wires. ... So, naturally, a few folks at church in the treasurer's group know what we give but nobody else does. ...
    (sci.electronics.design)
  • IRS STICKS NOSE INTO "HORNETS NEST"
    ... Looks like IRS has done the near impossible. ... All Saints Church in Pasadena Targeted After Sermon ... And he told the congregation: ...
    (misc.taxes)