Those DARN envelopes!

[BostonMyrtleBea]

Hopefully this is the right area to post this.

I was just in the non-Catholic thread reading a post on tithings. It made me start to think about those darn envelopes! I throw them out (well, recycle) and put cash in the basket (and yes, the amount varies depending on the needs of my disabled parents).

A friend of mine wanted to teach RCIA. He was extremely devout and also had a Master's Degree in religion from a Catholic seminary (or something like that). They checked his envelope status and said that he wasn't going to be allowed to teach because he wasn't an active member of the parish and he had not regularly turned in his envelopes!!! He was furious as he has several small children and sometimes the stupid envelope is secondary to getting to the church on time.

I discussed the envelopes with someone on one of the committees at my church and he said that without the envelopes, I am likely not able to put my children into the Catholic school because they can't track me as a parishoner! I was shocked! I am a registered parishoner and am a volunteer on one of the committees.

Is it the same way in ALL of the parishes? I know my parish will take auto deductions from my bank. I think I'll have that done with a min amount and then continue to throw cash in the basket if it is absolutely IMPERATIVE that I am tracked.

[AlaAnnie]

How else can they track if you're there or not? I think the envelope method is the most commonly used. I personally prefer the envelope because they track my donations for taxes and send me a statement at the end of the year. I donate a large enough sum over the course of the year that I need the receipt to document the deduction. I

[BostonMyrtleBea]

Originally Posted by AlaAnnie

How else can they track if you're there or not? I think the envelope method is the most commonly used. I personally prefer the envelope because they track my donations for taxes and send me a statement at the end of the year. I donate a large enough sum over the course of the year that I need the receipt to document the deduction. I

That's a good point, though I don't personally take a tax deduction. I just feel funny about doing that (though I don't think there is anything wrong with it). I just don't understand why there is a need to track. I'm there. I just don't see the need to confirm it, though there might be reasons I don't know about.

[mercygate]

Originally Posted by BostonMyrtleBea

Hopefully this is the right area to post this.

I was just in the non-Catholic thread reading a post on tithings. It made me start to think about those darn envelopes! I throw them out (well, recycle) and put cash in the basket (and yes, the amount varies depending on the needs of my disabled parents).

Why? Nobody cares how much you give. But the envelopes -- and your annual pledge -- enable the parish to operate with fiscal responsibility.

A friend of mine wanted to teach RCIA. He was extremely devout and also had a Master's Degree in religion from a Catholic seminary (or something like that). They checked his envelope status and said that he wasn't going to be allowed to teach because he wasn't an active member of the parish and he had not regularly turned in his envelopes!!! He was furious as he has several small children and sometimes the stupid envelope is secondary to getting to the church on time.

The envelope is not at all "stupid," and putting your contribution in the envelope in no way prevents getting to church on time.

I discussed the envelopes with someone on one of the committees at my church and he said that without the envelopes, I am likely not able to put my children into the Catholic school because they can't track me as a parishoner! I was shocked! I am a registered parishoner and am a volunteer on one of the committees.

Great. But how would anybody know?

Is it the same way in ALL of the parishes? I know my parish will take auto deductions from my bank. I think I'll have that done with a min amount and then continue to throw cash in the basket if it is absolutely IMPERATIVE that I am tracked.

Why put cash in the basket at all if you have your contribution automatically deducted?

We converts find that your attitude seems all too common among Catholics, who take the adage, "The Lord will provide" all too literally, and seem to think that the electric bill gets paid by the angels.

Do the math. How many families? What's the budget? How much does it cost to float the boat? Nobody holds your feet to the fire to commit more than you can afford. But accountability is part of our job as adults in the Church. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

I give about twice the amount I pledge every year. I don't want to promise more than I can deliver.

[AlaAnnie]

A portion of our church donations goes to support our Catholic school. Members get a better tuition rate than non-members. Someone who was looking for the better rate could just join the church, but never darken the door if the church didn't track attendance/support by some method.

As for the tax deduction, I should feel bad for taking the deduction if I were donating so I could get the deduction. But, since it pleases me to donate, no bad feelings. I would donate as I do even if there was no deduction. Uncle Same allows it, so why not take it. I deduct my mortgage interest for the same reason. I would still be a home owner if there was no interest deduction.

[BostonMyrtleBea]

Good points from all! You've definitely shed some light on the situation like budgets and school-related tuition items.

I guess i just feel what I give is betwen God and me and I give what I can because it's personally important to me to support the church. I just feel like it's a bank (though I understand they must do some banking). I think I'll do the deduction + cash thing anyway. That way I won't promise more than I can give when times get tough and then I can give extra when I can.

[mercygate]

Originally Posted by BostonMyrtleBea

That's a good point, though I don't personally take a tax deduction. I just feel funny about doing that (though I don't think there is anything wrong with it). I just don't understand why there is a need to track. I'm there. I just don't see the need to confirm it, though there might be reasons I don't know about.

Actually, you seem rather unaware of how things work. There is nothing to feel funny about if you take the tax deduction -- that's waht it's for. One of the reasons to track is that a lot of people just walk up and want to get married, have their kid baptized, bury uncle Herbert, and have NO idea whatever about what it means to be Catholic. In the case of the school, when a school has a waiting list, who ya gonna admit? Your kid? Or somebody from the next town, who never sets foot in the Church?

[lizaanne]

We don't use envelopes, but we do send in our tithe monthly through our bank. I see no problem with envelopes, I certainly don't expect anyone to try to keep track of me otherwise - it's not like they take attendance at Mass, how else will they know if I'm a regular parishoner or someone who hasn't been there in 20 years and has moved away?

If you want to contribute through some other means, just stuff your envelope with a little note that says that and put it in the basket.

As far as not having time to use them, sorry, not buying that. Keep them in the car and shove the money in. There is drive time from home to Church, even if it's only five minutes. Someone can pull out the envelope and stuff the money in. No big deal.

~Liza

[mercygate]

Originally Posted by BostonMyrtleBea

Good points from all! You've definitely shed some light on the situation like budgets and school-related tuition items.

I guess i just feel what I give is betwen God and me and I give what I can because it's personally important to me to support the church. I just feel like it's a bank (though I understand they must do some banking). I think I'll do the deduction + cash thing anyway. That way I won't promise more than I can give when times get tough and then I can give extra when I can.

NO! Do it the other way around. Pledge your minimum possible donation. If you can't meet it because of a catastrophe, they won't hold it against you! Never give loose cash; take that tax deduction!

It isn't just between God and you; you are part of a community. I recently discovered that my contributions actually put me in a very influential position when the parish launched a capital campaign. It is absolutely true that the reliable donors tend to be the people most committed to the long-term plan.

[BostonMyrtleBea]

Originally Posted by lizaanne

As far as not having time to use them, sorry, not buying that. Keep them in the car and shove the money in. There is drive time from home to Church, even if it's only five minutes. Someone can pull out the envelope and stuff the money in. No big deal.

~Liza

FYI - that's not my opinion - that was what my friend said when they did not let him teach b/c of his envelopes.

[mercygate]

Originally Posted by BostonMyrtleBea

FYI - that's not my opinion - that was what my friend said when they did not let him teach b/c of his envelopes.

LOL. I wonder what he wanted to teach about stewardship?

[BostonMyrtleBea]

Originally Posted by mercygate

One of the reasons to track is that a lot of people just walk up and want to get married, have their kid baptized, bury uncle Herbert, and have NO idea whatever about what it means to be Catholic. In the case of the school, when a school has a waiting list, who ya gonna admit? Your kid? Or somebody from the next town, who never sets foot in the Church?

Good points! Never thought of it that way

[BostonMyrtleBea]

Originally Posted by mercygate

LOL. I wonder what he wanted to teach about stewardship?

LOL! Guess his feelings were hurt

[mercygate]

Originally Posted by BostonMyrtleBea

LOL! Guess his feelings were hurt

That happens a lot. People get absolutely INCENSED when somebody checks their envelope record. They think their $$$ amount is being evaluated, when it's actually their attendance.

Of course the people who yell the loudest are the ones who "have been members of Saint Euthanasia parish all our lives" -- but somehow never seemed to think it important to drop in on Sundays!

[Larowyn]

Envelopes have always been optional at my parish.