To the Pastor and Lay person delegates at subject conference: the only part of the passed legislation that is being passed on to the congregation at my church is: "effective immediately, to be an officer in thE church, you must be a tither." Is this really what was introduced and passed by the delegates? Surely, there was more "content" to the legislation than that, such as, what will be the means of instituting/enforcing the legislation? Will pastors, at their whim and will make this determination/assessment? I see this as a REAL PANDORA'S BOX!!

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000

Answers

Well, I attended the First District Lay Meeting and this was discussed. All Stewards and Trustees I believe are to be tithing members. Also, all pastors are to tithe to the Church that they pastor. The discipline mentions already that members should be encouraged to tithe, and I think that this legislation is meant to have the officers lead by example. I think that it is definitely a good move, although I am not sure how the pastor will enforce such a thing, but the officers should voluntarily just enforce it on themselves individually or just not keep the office if they disagree.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000

I'd like to address several points regarding this question:

1. I agree with Bro. Green: it's good leadership. If an officer has trouble with this, or with the pious and sober living that the Discipline also calls for, there are plenty of other roles in the local assembly that can be carried out.
2. Enforcement to the letter of the law by policy is indeed difficult, not to mention stressful. I think the spirit of the law is pt. 1 above, and such spirit is easily detectable. In churches where detailed records are kept, most pastors may assume that any working tither should be giving more than $20 per week, for example. It will fall on the pastors to judiciously and lovingly address the issue.
3. I am reminded of Acts 5.
4. Did you know that tithing was our "reasonable" service? Did you know that you have not given an offering before you have tithed (Mal. 3)? The tenor and temperament of the New Testament is not tithing, but sacrifical giving (Acts 4, 5, the Widow's Mite).
5. Imagine what financial planning a church could do if it knew it could count on its pastor and officers!
6. There is a spiritual purpose behind giving. It is not merely to raise money for the local assembly (and the church at large), but it is to teach several principles: sharing, caring for others, sacrifice are among them. If there are officers at the local level who have not yet experienced the blessings of tithing, they are missing a spiritual treat!

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2000

Whilst I agree with the sentiments, one must never lose sight of the fact that the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

If I tithe it must be because of my love for the Lord and His church, and not just to hold office in the AME Church

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2000

I am very concerned about compulsory giving irrespective the form it takes. I recall Vernon Byrd Jr.'s comment this summer where he described the new requirement as "legislative tithing". I happen to think our skilled barrister brother is right on the mark!! But then again my thoughts about tithing are considered heretical so you may want to take my "take" with a grain of salt. If we could focus our energies on AME local church officers being skilled in Scripture, Evangelism, Church History and Christian Education the payoffs would be tremendous. We need more local officers who can state with clarity the difference between I&II Chronicles from I&II Corinthians. The unspoken deficit we have rests in embarrasingly low Biblical IQs among many local officers and not fiscal matters.

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2000

Bil is right! The Bible clearly says that the Tithe BELONGS to the Lord: "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me . . . ". Thus for anyone to withhold from the Lord that which is His risk his very life here and in the hereafter. Mandatory tithing is just mandatory giving--both are spiritually ineffective. As it states in Haggi, God will "blow away" our futile efforts. The AME Church, the church I love, is suffering from lack of funds because we focus so much of our time on raising funds. Jesus said to seek His face and all these "other" things would be added to us. {Now someone will jump because the scripture is not qouted exactly.] In other words, the love of money is driving us down because God will not bless and multiply unless we willingly give and take the tithe as it should be done. The individual has the responsibility to demonstrate his love of God by returning the tithe to Him. The church has the rsponsibility to take the tithe in the spirit it was given and use it to glorify God and spread the gospel to all creatures. Blessings!

-- Anonymous, September 08, 2000