The year is coming to a close and wards are having their Christmas party. It’s a happy gathering. There are some decorations, activities, the primary puts on some sort of nativity. It’s simple, unremarkable, and sincere. People enjoy each other here. I have always looked forward to my ward’s Christmas parties, partially because they are simple. It’s appropriate, considering Christ and the humbleness of his birth.
The way some of this is presented is frustrating to me:
"Extravagant ward budgets risk extravagance." and "There’s danger of members running nonprofits attempting to receive tithing funds from other members. This could get messy."
I don't know if this is how the author thinks, or if it's how he believes members are perceived by Salt Lake leadership, but it insinuates that the only people who are to be trusted with money are the investors in Utah and not members in the local areas. This is odd in light of the recent SEC investigation and fine of the Church, and now many members have turned this on its head and don't trust Salt Lake leadership with their tithing money.
In addition to shaking loose some of those billions from Salt Lake to be spent in more localities and getting rid of a poverty mentality, I believe Church members also need to get out of our bunker mentality. When I was in Relief Society leadership, I tried very hard to get my ward to participate just a couple of community service projects in a year that we would initiate and plan. The Compassionate Service leader would have none of that - her job was to provide dinners for ward members who were sick/had a new baby, and that was it. Her attitude was very insular, and very disappointing.
We have these big buildings with fully functional kitchens and tons of tables and chairs, and we could provide meals for the needy on a regular basis. We could host day care groups and homeschool groups and after school tutoring sessions. Our buildings could be community centers. But we don't, and they're not. We use them only for ourselves.
Just thinking out loud here, and sad that there are so many opportunities that we don't engage with.
I feel like you echo the argument of the post. Maybe you're frustrated that it spends time focusing on some of the complications of spending money locally because that could be used to justify the current state of affairs?
Just a thought—our Relief Society has activities where we contribute and serve local charitable organizations ( e.g. food banks) as well as individual members serving in local schools, & community projects. Members of the Church can individually participate in and contribute to good causes around the world. We each need to have the initiative to serve and do good as we can—in fact, I think we’re encouraged to do good without being compelled and without it having to be directed by the Church, either locally or by Church headquarters. We can do all of the good things you’ve suggested as citizens who just happen to be Latter-day Saints. I, too, am disappointed in people like the Compassionate Service Leader who wouldn’t reach out beyond the Ward — but that doesn’t mean we can’t see what is needed and do what we can.
The way some of this is presented is frustrating to me:
"Extravagant ward budgets risk extravagance." and "There’s danger of members running nonprofits attempting to receive tithing funds from other members. This could get messy."
I don't know if this is how the author thinks, or if it's how he believes members are perceived by Salt Lake leadership, but it insinuates that the only people who are to be trusted with money are the investors in Utah and not members in the local areas. This is odd in light of the recent SEC investigation and fine of the Church, and now many members have turned this on its head and don't trust Salt Lake leadership with their tithing money.
In addition to shaking loose some of those billions from Salt Lake to be spent in more localities and getting rid of a poverty mentality, I believe Church members also need to get out of our bunker mentality. When I was in Relief Society leadership, I tried very hard to get my ward to participate just a couple of community service projects in a year that we would initiate and plan. The Compassionate Service leader would have none of that - her job was to provide dinners for ward members who were sick/had a new baby, and that was it. Her attitude was very insular, and very disappointing.
We have these big buildings with fully functional kitchens and tons of tables and chairs, and we could provide meals for the needy on a regular basis. We could host day care groups and homeschool groups and after school tutoring sessions. Our buildings could be community centers. But we don't, and they're not. We use them only for ourselves.
Just thinking out loud here, and sad that there are so many opportunities that we don't engage with.
I feel like you echo the argument of the post. Maybe you're frustrated that it spends time focusing on some of the complications of spending money locally because that could be used to justify the current state of affairs?
Just a thought—our Relief Society has activities where we contribute and serve local charitable organizations ( e.g. food banks) as well as individual members serving in local schools, & community projects. Members of the Church can individually participate in and contribute to good causes around the world. We each need to have the initiative to serve and do good as we can—in fact, I think we’re encouraged to do good without being compelled and without it having to be directed by the Church, either locally or by Church headquarters. We can do all of the good things you’ve suggested as citizens who just happen to be Latter-day Saints. I, too, am disappointed in people like the Compassionate Service Leader who wouldn’t reach out beyond the Ward — but that doesn’t mean we can’t see what is needed and do what we can.