Remember to show up for tithing settlement

[TripletDaddy]

No disagreement from me. Although there are times when donations are made by inactives or people that can't make it to church because of health issues with family members.

I'm more interested to see if there is a doctrinal reason for this collection. I don't remember reading it as a duty of the deacons. I thought they were only in charge of passing the sacrament and calling down angels from heaven.

As it stands now in my ward, we have one deacon go with their mom or dad. The parent drives them around and the deacon goes to the door. If I'm ever given a say in this matter, I'll voice my opinion that we stop visiting people that pay with their tithing.

As I said before, Mormons love meetings and bureaucracy.

Good point on the home-bound members, though. Cant home and visiting teachers do the same thing? Cant they just put it in the mailbox?

[BigFatMeanie]

I think it is a new emphasis around here. A few years ago I was the deacon's quorum advisor and we only had 5-6 envelopes we were taking around because everyone liked paying it with their tithing. Our SP asked that we start going door-to-door with everyone in the ward. We ignored it (thinking it was just a suggestion) and they really got after us. So I ordered envelopes and drew up routes for the entire ward. Those poor boys got yelled at for the first couple of months ("Why are you doing this? We pay with our tithing!") but everyone is used to it now.

I can think of two reasons for emphasizing having the Deacons collect Fast Offerings where geography permits:

1. It's a good way for them to learn about Priesthood duties, responsibility, etc. Knocking doors is always good practice for a mission :-)
2. Having the deacons collect generally results in higher average FO receipts per capita. The reason for this is many of the jack-Mormons are willing to throw a few bucks into the blue envelope. The stalwarts will pay either way but you miss out on jack-Mormon donations if the Deacons don't come around.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I can think of two reasons for emphasizing having the Deacons collect Fast Offerings where geography permits:

1. It's a good way for them to learn about Priesthood duties, responsibility, etc. Knocking doors is always good practice for a mission :-)
2. Having the deacons collect generally results in higher average FO receipts per capita. The reason for this is many of the jack-Mormons are willing to throw a few bucks into the blue envelope. The stalwarts will pay either way but you miss out on jack-Mormon donations if the Deacons don't come around.

The first month we did it one of the deacons got confused on the addresses and knocked on the door of one of the few non-members in our ward. He said the guy kept asking what it was for and the deacons tried to explain it. They must have done a pretty good job because he kicked in some cash.

[Moliere]

As I said before, Mormons love meetings and bureaucracy.

Good point on the home-bound members, though. Cant home and visiting teachers do the same thing? Cant they just put it in the mailbox?

Not if the mailbox is outside. Duh, they're HOMEbound.

And visiting teachers don't actually visit, they send cards and letters. And home teachers don't visit either, they just call at a time they know the person is away or won't pick up the phone and then count that as trying to do their home teaching for the month. Seriously, some of the only regular contact these people have with the church is with the 12-year old bill collector.

[Mormon Red Death]

I think it is a new emphasis around here. A few years ago I was the deacon's quorum advisor and we only had 5-6 envelopes we were taking around because everyone liked paying it with their tithing. Our SP asked that we start going door-to-door with everyone in the ward. We ignored it (thinking it was just a suggestion) and they really got after us. So I ordered envelopes and drew up routes for the entire ward. Those poor boys got yelled at for the first couple of months ("Why are you doing this? We pay with our tithing!") but everyone is used to it now.

No offense to your stake president but what a collosal waste of time. Why would you push a policy where you send 14 year old boys door to door to collect money? Are we not meeting quotas? This is especially inefficient when one pays fast offering when one also pays their tithing. There has to be better uses of the teachers's time.

[The_Tick]

Our ward hand picks about 15 families and they are on the route. Route is rotated annually.

Our Deacon's QP calls me every month for a ride. Our ward starts at 1. He calls at 1145 and asks for a ride at 12.

I tell him every month...I wont be ready for Church yet for another 45 minutes. If you would like me to drive, call me on Saturday night and I will be more than happy.

Every month...1145 on Sunday morning he calls.

I pulled his mother aside and Church yesterday and explained that I am typically not a last minute type of person. I require a little planning in life.

She completely understood, and told me to keep after her son if he continues to call last minute.

[Moliere]

No offense to your stake president but what a collosal waste of time. Why would you push a policy where you send 14 year old boys door to door to collect money? Are we not meeting quotas? This is especially inefficient when one pays fast offering when one also pays their tithing. There has to be better uses of the teachers's time.

And the clerks/bishopric counselor's time! It takes so long to go through 150 envelopes only to find 20 people that donated that way. Ugh!

[Mormon Red Death]

My email today to my bishop.

Bishop,

I have reviewed the sheet and don't see any errors with my records. We are full tithe payers.

His response

Thanks for everything

Bishop

[Clark Addison]

Back to the topic of Tithing Settlement, I have only one anecdote to share.

I have only had what most people would call a "big" calling once in my life (not huge, but definitely a BCS calling, not a mid-major. Enough to get me in with the older guys third hour).

I have also only gone to Tithing Settlement once in my life and declared myself a partial tithe payer. It was about 12 years ago, we were expecting a bonus at the end of the year, it didn't happen, etc. etc. I went in to the Bishop by myself (my wife, the chicken, was afraid to go), and told him how things were.

About four months later, the bishop was a newly called member of the Stake Presidency, and I get my calling. I'm pretty sure it wasn't the Stake President's idea, since I don't think he knew who I was. I don't know if he appreciated my candor, mis-heard me during tithing settlement, or was just using the calling to punish me. Either way, I have tried to be a full tithe payer ever since.

[wally]

I hope that tithing settlement get's axe primarily because it falls during the holidays, killing evenings that could be used for family activities and traditions, service activities, or TV watching.

Also, for the same reasons as listed above, it has to suck for Bishops and their families to have Sunday evenings and 2-3 other evenings a week compromised from thanksgiving through Christmas.

But hey, what do I know?

[jay santos]

Our Bishop called and politely asked us to come in for tithing settlement this Sunday. I thanked him and politely told him that we were full tithe payers. He then politely re-asked us to come in this Sunday for tithing settlement.

I think Mormons are predisposed to crave meetings and bureaucracy.

He's just a cog in a machine. He's got a stake president up his butt for 100% tithing settlement attendance who probably has someone up his butt, etc.

[mUUser]

[QUOTE=TripletDaddy;485274]As I said before, Mormons love meetings and bureaucracy.
QUOTE]

The church is perfectly happy to take all the time you're willing to give, and then a little bit more.

[creekster]

ANd let us not lose sight of the original purpose of this thread:

If you sign up, do not forget to show up.

[Jacob]

Our Bishop really wants everybody to show up...for the kids. He repeats a few pleasantries, gives them a treat, and thinks that it's just wonderful for the kids. Mine are 3 and 5. They will never remember it. But they will appreciate the treat.

[Jacob]

ANd let us not lose sight of the original purpose of this thread:

If you sign up, do not forget to show up.

Since they forced me to sign up, I don't feel especially obliged to show. I ignored the signup list, I blew off the phone call, then exec sec pulled me out of SS and forced me to commit to a time in the hallway. The strong arm tactic. I bet its pretty effective.

But my wife will win out and we will go.