Originally posted by sporty123:
At the Church AGM, I was told that members keep quiet and
dare not quesiton about church spending, salaries, etc or they will
be marked. Apparently even board members who questioned about
extravagant car purchases, overseas trips or even accounting
irregularties got kicked out the very next fiscal year.
Undeniably, I saw exotic cars that seems inappropriate for a
pastor. But I am upset many matured members must accord and relent
much faith (or fate) to God about the church leadership despite
disapproving of this abuse - somethin must be done to bring back
the confidence in the church, to remind people that God is watching
and disapprove of such poor stewardship.
[b]Question: Is there any corporate goverance for
churches? or an independent audit by an external party to check on
reasonableness of their spending and to reassure members of good
practices? ( other than the statutory audits by accounting
firms.)
Please refrain from flamming or giving names here, I am only
seeking sensible opinions, and if needed, we can put up a petition
to bring this to the government's attention.
If you are free, please do not give mindless model answers here.
eg
- submit to authorities
- trust in the leadership that God has ordained,
- give with a cheerful heart
- tithes belong to god anyway.
- nobody is perfect
- they will get their share one day.[/b]
Churches like all religious orgnisations come under charity act.
Looking at the NKF saga and you know how much the law can do in the
governance of such organisation, I am not implying any abuse of
power and public funds in any churches or religious organisations,
as in NKF.
The responsibilities to the right use of the money in church,
through appropriate approval processes, audit and whatever, remain
that of the members of the church. Members who want to see changes
should get themselves voted into the leadership. Members who have
no confidence in the leadership should vote them out, or simply
leave.
