Making change in offering plate

[Shellie]

Last night, my 12 year old son was asked to help take up the offering at a district convention. One lady threw in a $20 and asked him to bring her $10 dollars back. He stood there while she repeated herself a second time. He just looked at her, confused to why he should be bringing her money back from the offering plate.

My question is...am I the only one that finds this behavior awkward and somewhat tacky?

[beckrl]

Last night, my 12 year old son was asked to help take up the offering at a district convention. One lady threw in a $20 and asked him to bring her $10 dollars back. He stood there while she repeated herself a second time. He just looked at her, confused to why he should be bringing her money back from the offering plate.

My question is...am I the only one that finds this behavior awkward and somewhat tacky?

I think your son give the correct response that of disbelief. Maybe there are times when the adult is in need of learning from a child.

[stevenson]

It happens. Just be glad she only wanted $10 back. I've seen people throw in $5 and ask for $4 back. People never cease to amaze me!

[Jeremy Gault]

I know I'm liable to stir something up here, but...

I can agree with you all that it may seem a bit awkward or tacky, and I can see why you would say that. However:

If she put in a $20 and asked for $10 back, obviously she only wanted to give $10. If all she had on her person was a $20, her other option (which I am sure many people would/do take) is to give nothing. Maybe she needed that other $10 for gas, food, etc. Who knows.

I've never been in that situation but I guess I couldn't really knock someone for making change in the offering plate. As long as they aren't putting in a $10 and taking out a $20, I guess there's nothing technically wrong with it, as they aren't stealing.

::dons asbestos armor::

[darylscook]

I have never made change from the offering plate myself.

Not knowing her personally I'd say if she felt like God wanted her to give $10 and she only had a twenty, I'm glad she did it! Especially if she need the $10. What was she supposed to do?

Pastor Daryl

[Jeremy Gault]

Not knowing her personally I'd say if she felt like God wanted her to give $10 and she only had a twenty, I'm glad she did it! Especially if she need the $10. What was she supposed to do?

My point exactly.

[Pastor Bill]

I do understand the need at times, but yes it's tacky, and actually not a good practice to get into. I've served as usher for Assembly, and we've been told that we just cannot do it due to liability issues, and if the person wants change they should not give, then give the amount they wish to at a later time.

Especially in large meetings like Assembly, the accountability of someone bringing money back out, or reaching into the bucket is not a good thing.

[Poimen]

I've never had a problem with it, but then I grew up seeing it done with regularity by various members in various churches. It can seem tacky, yes. Especially when you're only giving a dollar or two. But then, a persons budget or need may dictate as much.

Besides, if you don't have change and don't give, then it is unlikely when you make change elsewhere that you'll sit on that money till the next service.

[dolfan]

1. Stop and get change on the way to church.
2. Consider the usher, and the situation. If it's your local us four and no more church, it may not be a big deal. In a larger meeting, your request to have change brought back to you puts the usher in a bad spot, holds up the service, and is just rude.
3. If you need to make change, make it yourself. Don't put it on the usher.

[beckrl]

A thought came to me Maybe churches need to start up a money changing booth Then the preacher will run you out, or not!!

[dolfan]

I'd be glad to put them an ATM in.

[RaceRunner]

No, I don't make change in the offering plate.

However...have you considered that there could possibly be a reason?

Someone wants to give, but needs gas to get home. Maybe not in "the specific example given", but certainly in "friendly" churches, an offering giver certainly doesn't need a judgemental attitude from the members around them or specifically an adult usher. (I understand how a youngster would get confused when confronting that for the first time.)

An usher's job is to be helpful and make people feel at ease and welcome isn't it? The person isn't stealing and unless you can read a person's mind, you don't know their circumstances.

In a smaller church, an adult usher could use a little wisdom and lean forward and whisper to the person that he will "personally make sure they receive their change as soon as church is dismissed", and then make sure they do. In larger gathering, they could quickly whisper that they are not allowed, but he will help them after service with the clerk and treasurer.

[Pastor Bill]

Yes I can see in a small church this being no big deal, as everyone knows everyone, but there are accountability issues, and it's putting a lot of responsibility on the usher, who isn't generally responsible for maintaining the church finances.

If someone wants to give and doesn't have change, I can guarantee you that the church clerk or someone would be glad to do this in a more appropriate way at the end of the service rather than putting the usher on the spot.

[Full Quiver]

Why do we automatically assume she's being tacky, stingy, selfish, etc. She gave didn't she? How many folks gave a dollar and not $10? She gave! It's between her and God if she didn't give enough or what He wanted her to give. She gave! When we start criticizing what people give then we are in for a rude awakening.

One could say it's tacky to even take up an offering. Have you ever considered that? Just saying.... What if the church or the preacher is taking up an offering and there are hungry people in the congregation that are doing without lunch, dinner, breakfast, etc? Why not take up an offering for them? Isn't it tacky to receive an offering with hungry people in the house?

Isn't is tacky to receive an offering and the sick leave sick, the hungry leave hungry, the lost leave lost, the hurting leave hurt. The churches never fail to take up the offering but they far too often fail to minister, teach, preach, heal, and convert!

She wasn't tacky in fact she was better than I have been at times when I didn't have change and due to my pride I refused to make change so I didn't give at all.

[Pastor Bill]

I don't think anyone is judging her for the amount, it's the practice of making change from the offering, there are a few things that make this really inappropriate when you could handle the situation in many other ways to avoid these issues, like getting change ahead of time, or later and giving the money later, or going to the pastor or church clerk to give your gift when they can make the change for you, or use an offering envelope and include a note asking for change.

Here are the issues:

1. The accountability of the church offering is compromised because money is going out without it being recorded properly (even though more is coming in, it's not being recorded as it should be and it's too easy for someone to say more came out than went in) This to me is the biggest problem, because the church clerk and church finances are under too much scrutiny already, all it takes is an opening for a rumor about the finances to tear a ministry apart.
2. The usher is put in an awkward position, he/she is responsible for receiving offering, not as a cashier
3. You're holding up the rest of the congregation while they wait for you