Public Embarrassment At Church

[Doctrine 612]

so I have shared that I pay my tithing directly to church head quarters, and that the info does not show up on ward level records.

Here is the scenario, the ward clerk was handing out tithing records for the members to review before attending tithing settlement, when I asked do you have one for me? He said very loudly, and kind of smugly, no I don't have one for you, your records show zero for the year.

Others around us heard, and kind of gave a what is going on look.

I felt a bit upset by the experience, and want to talk with the bishop about it.

[Duncan]

oh, well you can't go back and do it all over again but talking to the Bishop about it would help, besides of which it'll be forgotten in a matter of time anyways

[ksfisher]

so I have shared that I pay my tithing directly to church head quarters, and that the info does not show up on ward level records.

Here is the scenario, the ward clerk was handing out tithing records for the members to review before attending tithing settlement, when I asked do you have one for me? He said very loudly, and kind of smugly, no I don't have one for you, your records show zero for the year.

Others around us heard, and kind of gave a what is going on look.

I felt a bit upset by the experience, and want to talk with the bishop about it.

 

I think you're right in speaking to the bishop.  All matters concerning donations are confidential and the clerk should not have made any sort of public comment.

 

On other hand, if you don't make any donations to your ward why would you ask?

[Raingirl]

so I have shared that I pay my tithing directly to church head quarters, and that the info does not show up on ward level records.

Here is the scenario, the ward clerk was handing out tithing records for the members to review before attending tithing settlement, when I asked do you have one for me? He said very loudly, and kind of smugly, no I don't have one for you, your records show zero for the year.

Others around us heard, and kind of gave a what is going on look.

I felt a bit upset by the experience, and want to talk with the bishop about it.

If you knew that the information does not show up at the ward level, what was your purpose in asking if they had your information?

[Pahoran]

so I have shared that I pay my tithing directly to church head quarters, and that the info does not show up on ward level records.

Here is the scenario, the ward clerk was handing out tithing records for the members to review before attending tithing settlement, when I asked do you have one for me? He said very loudly, and kind of smugly, no I don't have one for you, your records show zero for the year.

Others around us heard, and kind of gave a what is going on look.

I felt a bit upset by the experience, and want to talk with the bishop about it.

Yes, the clerk should have kept his mouth shut.

(Have you considered that maybe his calling is in the clerk's office -- as opposed to teaching a class or leading a quorum -- precisely because he is a tactless buffoon? I'm pretty sure that's why I was called in there.)

But I pay my tithing online, and it still shows up in my ward's records. Perhaps you just haven't set up your online payments correctly.

Regards,

Pahoran

[Jeanne]

This makes me ill.   Any monetary price tag for a temple recommend is really sad.  To make others aware of it speaks volumes for this particular clerk and for the church in general as far as judgement.  Things said in a ward are not often forgotten.

[cinepro]

You should ask to give a talk on "Tithing" in Sacrament meeting, where you can appropriately talk about the blessings you have seen from paying a full tithe, challenges you have overcome by doing so etc.

 

Then the people who were sitting around you won't be there that Sunday.

[Duncan]

This makes me ill.   Any monetary price tag for a temple recommend is really sad.  To make others aware of it speaks volumes for this particular clerk and for the church in general as far as judgement.  Things said in a ward are not often forgotten.

 

 

Dr. Seuss once said, "People that matter don't care and people that care, don't matter"

[Sleeper Cell]

This makes me ill.   Any monetary price tag for a temple recommend is really sad.  To make others aware of it speaks volumes for this particular clerk and for the church in general as far as judgement.  Things said in a ward are not often forgotten.

 

 

CFR that there is a “monetary price tag” for a temple recommend.  On one occasion, I received a temple recommend, despite the fact that I paid zero tithing. for the year. 

 

And why does the bad conduct of one (1) clerk speak volumes for the church in general?  

[Doctrine 612]

I asked because sometimes I donate durring the year to young women and young men activites, and wanted to know what I gave durring the year for those activities.

But I guess I did not donate anything this year.

But what really bothers me is that he knew my record was blank, like it was fresh in his mind.

[shinedown]

I just joined the church, and I'm so afraid of something like this happening.  I haven't yet paid tithing, but will with my next check.

[strappinglad]

A quiet chat with the clerk could help him to understand your concern. If you have to do this with the bishop present ,so be it.

[mfbukowski]

I asked because sometimes I donate durring the year to young women and young men activites, and wanted to know what I gave durring the year for those activities.

But I guess I did not donate anything this year.

But what really bothers me is that he knew my record was blank, like it was fresh in his mind.

Of course it was fresh in his mind- he had just printed the records of ONLY those who had contributed, so he had to go through and look at each name and only print those who had.

 

He know perfectly well what records he had just printed.

[The Nehor]

Laugh it off. It just isn't worth it.

[Storm Rider]

so I have shared that I pay my tithing directly to church head quarters, and that the info does not show up on ward level records.

Here is the scenario, the ward clerk was handing out tithing records for the members to review before attending tithing settlement, when I asked do you have one for me? He said very loudly, and kind of smugly, no I don't have one for you, your records show zero for the year.

Others around us heard, and kind of gave a what is going on look.

I felt a bit upset by the experience, and want to talk with the bishop about it.

 

First, you know that you paid your tithing.  You know that God knows you paid your tithing.  Does it really matter what other people think about you?  

 

We get embarrassed over a lot of things, but I find that my pride is what always present when I embarrass myself or someone embarrasses me. I put myself on a pedestal and get offended over things that are not personal, but they embarrass me personally.  What is my pride worth and why?

[USU78]

Is anybody besides me impressed by the fact that the OP seems strangely like a setup happened?

[cinepro]

 

 

CFR that there is a “monetary price tag” for a temple recommend.  On one occasion, I received a temple recommend, despite the fact that I paid zero tithing. for the year. 

 

And why does the bad conduct of one (1) clerk speak volumes for the church in general?  

 

 

Temple Recommend Interview Question:

 

Are you a full-tithe payer? Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

 

Obviously, the modern definition of tithing is based on "income", so if someone has zero income, their tithing is zero. 

 

But that doesn't mean that tithing isn't money, and that it isn't a requirement for admittance to the Temple.  It just means that instead of being a set cost for the members, it is a graduated cost based on individual income.

 

It's only difficult to see if you don't want to.

[strappinglad]

If someone has zero income and hence has zero tithing , that person will either be soon be in massive debt or be dead from malnutrition. If I receive help from the bishop's storehouse , I am receiving ' income ' in a form and should pay tithing on it. Not sure how that would happen. Actually I'm sure it doesn't happen. People have paid tithing on government welfare which both the gov't and the Church question. Then perhaps we should speak of earned income , in which case what is to be done with those who live on a trust fund set up by great grandpa ? It would be a stretch to say they ' earned ' the income.

That's why the decision on tithing is left between the individual and God with some input by a Bishop.

[Silhouette]

If someone has zero income and hence has zero tithing , that person will either be soon be in massive debt or be dead from malnutrition. If I receive help from the bishop's storehouse , I am receiving ' income ' in a form and should pay tithing on it. Not sure how that would happen. Actually I'm sure it doesn't happen. People have paid tithing on government welfare which both the gov't and the Church question. Then perhaps we should speak of earned income , in which case what is to be done with those who live on a trust fund set up by great grandpa ? It would be a stretch to say they ' earned ' the income.

That's why the decision on tithing is left between the individual and God with some input by a Bishop.

Well, that first part may not be the case in part-member families. My dad was not a member, but my mom and I were. My mother didn't work, but was a stay-at-home mom, and I was a teenager in school with no job.

We didn't pay any tithing because we had no earnings or income to pay it on. We were considered temple-worthy anyway.

[Bernard Gui]

Yes, the clerk should have kept his mouth shut.

(Have you considered that maybe his calling is in the clerk's office -- as opposed to teaching a class or leading a quorum -- precisely because he is a tactless buffoon? I'm pretty sure that's why I was called in there.)

But I pay my tithing online, and it still shows up in my ward's records. Perhaps you just haven't set up your online payments correctly.

Regards,

Pahoran

Now wait just a goludurn minute! I'm a ward clerk, and I resemble those remarks.

[Bernard Gui]

Is anybody besides me impressed by the fact that the OP seems strangely like a setup happened?

Well, it's an odd thing to happen. Certainly not something you hear every day.

[Calm]

My dad pays his tithing in a lump sum every other year iirc...Mom told so I may be wrong. We have a number of options to pay these days, as people get used to that idea, hopefully at the very least the worst won't be assumed and eventually it will be kept between the individual and the bishop with the ward clerk doing his best to remember enough to get his calling done and forget all else.

[Silhouette]

We pay our tithing in one lump sum at tithing settlement every year.

[Storm Rider]

Well, that first part may not be the case in part-member families. My dad was not a member, but my mom and I were. My mother didn't work, but was a stay-at-home mom, and I was a teenager in school with no job.

We didn't pay any tithing because we had no earnings or income to pay it on. We were considered temple-worthy anyway.

 

I think our gentle critics that thrill to attack the Church at every drop of every hat would simply think of you as a freeloader and an aberration.  True Mormons pay to go the the temple.  

 

Their perspective is tiresome, but they carry the burden of it and has nothing to do with those who actually attend the temple.  

[Tacenda]

My dad pays his tithing in a lump sum every other year iirc...Mom told so I may be wrong. We have a number of options to pay these days, as people get used to that idea, hopefully at the very least the worst won't be assumed and eventually it will be kept between the individual and the bishop with the ward clerk doing his best to remember enough to get his calling done and forget all else.

My husband and I started paying in one lump sum in the last few years, but always thought we technically were urged not to. Just in case we didn't have it in the end. I worked at a credit union years ago and remember a guy who needed to get a loan and said it was for paying his tithing that year, I wonder now if he'd paid monthly if that would have helped. Also, I think by paying in a lump sum it can be like earning interest all year long.

Also, I heard by paying church headquarters, it doesn't always guarantee that your ward clerk doesn't see how much you paid unless you specifically note not to give that info out. This I hear or think, is so the super wealthy don't have that info leaked out.