Comments on: Please help!

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

If you needed more prodding, the Prophet has officially commanded you to help. See here.

By: Ronan

Ronan — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I read, and commend, the FP statement. Anyone know how to make sure one’s fast offering goes to a specific cause (i.e. the tsunami relief)? Whilst I would encourage all members to pay a generous fast offering, I would also suggest that you give to the agencies that Steve lists.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ronan,

I don’t believe the Church permits you to donate to a specific crisis unless there is a fund designated for it already. the best we have right now is the general relief fund. That’s why I recommend the other agencies as well.

By: Sumer

Sumer — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Does the church give an accounting of the Fast Offering funds?

By: danithew

danithew — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

The death-toll has jumped (according to a CNN article) to as high as 116,000. Here’s a link:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/30/asia.quake/index.html

By: john fowles

john fowles — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

To be the most effective in your spending, I would suggest using charities with extensive networks already in place in the target countries, such as the Catholic Relief Society, Oxfam, or Americares.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

All of those are good picks too JF — Oxfam is a great one. I’m pretty sure that the Red Cross is well-established in south asia, as well as unicef, but it can’t hurt to help in more than one spot.

By: john fowles

john fowles — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Very true. By listing those three, I wasn’t implying that the ones you listed weren’t just as good! They all are well established and have very good networks in place.

By: Ronan

Ronan — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sumer,
Does the Church give an accounting of tithing funds?

By: Nate Oman

Nate Oman — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Summer,

It depends on what you mean by “Church” and “give an accounting of.” If you mean, are the details of fast offering use publicly disclosed by Church HQ or local leaders, then the answer is no. If you mean, “is there accountability and record keeping with regard to how funds are spent” the answer is yes. Thus, local leaders who recieve and disperse tithing and fast offering funds keep detailed records of all of these transactions which are then reported to higher authorities. (One of the joys of my recent return to Church book keeping is that I get to work on preparing such reports every Sunday.)

In other words, there are pretty good controls and accountability internally on the dispersment of Church funds. By and large fast offerings go precisely where the Church says that they go, namely to needy members in local congregations and stakes. There is not — of course — public transparency.