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Passing a collection plate around during liturgy seems extremely distasteful to me.

I understand that we're called to tithe and I'm keen to do so. However, making a public display of it seems gross and it subtly shames people who can't currently afford to tithe.

I feel like all tithing should be done anonymously.

"But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."

Matthew 6:3 seems to support this position.

Am I missing something here?

#christianity #orthodoxchristianity

Michael of St. Joseph 🔏 2mo ago

I pass the collection basket around at my Church. I've done it for years. I was on our parish ministry council for years. I've never heard of one person complain about feeling bad they were unable to give at that time. I've never heard of one person feel left out for this reason.

Nobody can see how much you put in, only if you put anything in. Do you think the same criticism you have couldn't apply to a offering basket at the entrance? If you are very concerned about other people, you could watch and see who does and does not give.

Giving is also not totally anonymous. There is a basic commitment to give you fill out at my Church to become a member. Obviously you can give more than that, or less if you can't. But it is a named commitment.

It can also serve as a reminder for other people to give. It gives children a chance to give and participate in the service. My Church, until a recent surge in attendance, struggled with finances off and on. If we made even less of an effort to make opportunities for people to give our situation may have been even worse.

Do you feel the same way about a special offerings taken at the end of liturgy? Or only the one in the middle?

It is a fair point you make, but I disagree.

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Discussion

nepsis 2mo ago

Well, people often keep these sorts of thoughts private, so just because you've never heard someone voice the thought, it doesn't mean they haven't had it.

The Antiochian parish I've been visiting passes around an open basket, so the notes are on full display.

There's obviously different levels to this. Varying degrees of tastelessness in my mind. An offering basket at the entrance is nowhere near as bad (it doesn't interrupt the sacredness of the service); an offering basket passed around once the proceedings conclude is also not as bad (again, the sacredness of the service is preserved), but I still think there are better ways. The OCA parish I've been visiting doesn't do either and seems to be thriving.

Why does your parish insist on attaching your name to payments? Does it not trust you to do the right thing without surveillance?

As I said, I'm quite keen to tithe as soon as I settle on a parish I can call home. But ironically, the parish that's being more pushy with the tithing is likely the one I'll turn away from.

I'm inclined to give more generously when not prompted to do so.

Michael of St. Joseph 🔏 2mo ago

Hmm, from my experience people have not been slow to voice complaints about how much the meals at fundraisers cost, or other such things. The mode of giving has never come up though.

I also attend an Antiochian parish, and if it's easy to see what everyone gives then maybe that isn't as covert as it should be. Ours is a basket, not a plate, and nobody can see what you put in besides the person holding the basket.

I think you do have a point on "interrupting" the service to some degree. It's not something I had ever put much thought into, probably because I've never heard anyone complain about it as I said. I'm sure there are better ways and my parish has always been open to adjusting how we do fundraisers and other such giving events.

We do not attach names to all payments, only for the basic giving commitments formal members have made. This is a spiritual matter as much as it is a financial one, and our priest leads by example every time and gives as much or more than anyone else. Surveillance is not the right word to use, but being a visible member of the community is valuable. I do understand privacy concerns though, (especially in this world).

Being pushy certainly isn't the goal, and it is not something I've seen come up as an issue so your point surprised me a bit. I don't think my parish is married to taking collections in the middle of service and would be open to change if there was a need, but we haven't seen the need ourselves.

Also, concerning the verse you quoted in your original post, I don't think it is as much about giving in secret as it is about not being prideful in what you give. Giving secretly can also be useful, especially if it is an amount that could easily lead to pride. Pretty much every large donation that has ever happened at my Church has been done anonymously for this reason. It's a balance!