Why Do Wealthy Churches Ask for Donations?
England has many thousands of churches. Some are tiny beautiful buildings that struggle to make ends meet, often needing help even to pay for roof repairs. But the two main Christian religions of Catholicism and the Church of England have heaps of money, with only a small percentage being used say to help homeless people (and their dogs.
It of course does make one wonder why if you ever go to church, you are asked to donate money, when the Church of England owns a billion pounds’ worth of property, and the Roman Catholic church (which rents out a McDonald’s outlet for 30,000 Euros in Vatican City and refuses to denounce the ‘Catholic’ spectacle of bull-fighting (where bulls often drown in their own blood) is one of the richest churches in the world.
How Wealthy is The Church of England?
Very. Plus of course the head of the Church of England is King Charles III, of whom some people wish him (like Jesus did) to pay his taxes (he pays voluntary income tax but it’s not compulsory like for the rest of us). And he along with Prince William pays no corporation tax on the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, nor inheritance tax.
The Church of England’s main wealth is from its property portfolio (including cathedrals and London’s Hyde Park estate), along with over £11 billion in investment funds and more land. Yet many of its smaller churches struggle to pay for repairs.
All Church of England dioceses pay into a ‘parish share’ (presumably raised through donations) so that in theory, those in need can then ‘dip in’ to pay for anything they might need. So why they need to raise money to repair a roof, when its ‘head office’ has so much money, is a mystery.
The average Church of England pastor earns around £30,000 a year, which is a healthy income for an important job (and presumably also includes a house and food), but that still leaves an awful lot of money going somewhere else, or sitting in the bank.
The Church is now spending millions to try to repair the damage (through media coverage and internal investigations) after the recent scandal that led to the resignation of an Archbishop, when the church knew (but did nothing) about one of its lay preachers, who was regularly beating boys for several years – including his own son) until they bled.
How Wealthy is the Roman Catholic Church?
There are no official stats for the UK, as it all comes under the worldwide church, based in Vatican City. But its estimated that the church’s wealth runs from tens of billions to possibly trillions of pounds in property, art (it owns the Sistine chapel) and investments.
It’s interesting how so many US politicians hell-bent on propping up the oil industry, are going against the policy of Vatican City, which does not anymore invest in fossil fuels (not to say it’s ethical – it rents out to McDonald’s, and refuses to denounce bull-fighting).
Jesus was the poorest of the poor. Roman Catholicism, which claims to be His church, is the richest of the rich. How come that an institution ruling in the name of this same preacher (whose want was such that he had not even a pillow upon which to rest his head) is now the wealthiest institution on earth? I would love to hear the Pope answering this question. Avro Manhattan
The Orthodox Church again worldwide is worth billions (and the second largest-landowner in Greece). Even smaller churches (like United Reform) manages over £130 million in investments.
Quakers work a bit differently in that funds are invested ethically with The Quiet Company, (to fund work for peace, animal welfare and prison reform). Local meetings manage their own (simple) properties.
George Cadbury who invented drinking chocolate to stop his workers drinking gin (!) built the green village of Bournville near Birmingham, to get them out of slums and into good homes with green space.
Should People Practice Tithing?
Years ago, everyone tithed (gave 10% of their income to the church). This was back in the day when lives were simple, and one would now be forgiven for asking why they should be spending their grocery bill to give a to multi-billion pound organisation.
Also, many people’s idea of ‘money to a good cause’ differs. For example, a Catholic may prefer to give to an animal welfare charity, than to a church that still supports bull-fighting or rakes in rental money from McDonald’s.
It’s also important not to be controlled by churches, that say something like ‘You have to give to us, in order to get to Heaven’. In fact, the New Testament offers blessings from faith in Jesus’ work, not from performing rituals to earn favour. It encourages giving ‘as you have decided in your heart’. So if that means a hedgehog sanctuary over a big rich church, Jesus gives His blessing!
How are Churches Funded Abroad?
The days of asking people to put a tenner in the pot is soon to be over. Many people these days don’t use cash (either because it’s a hassle or due to boycotts as they are made with animal fat). And people increasingly see churches with a lot of wealth asking people on the breadline for money, not popular with all the abuse scandals.
Almost cashless Sweden is different in that people pay an optional church tax. This means that if the church does not use the money wisely, payments can be taken away. It seems to work, and restores trust in givers too. The same happens in Germany where church tax is usually automatically collected, and then you have the option to opt out.
Something happens similarly in Austria, a country where it’s the law that after 14, you are allowed to choose what you believe. So here churches have to collect tax from parishioners. The state believing it unfair to collect tax from someone who does not follow that particular religion.
The Finances of TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network)
If you’ve ever been stuck for something to watch on TV, many have come across TBN, a free-to-air Christian TV channel, that to its credit, does sometimes offer nice music concerts and a few interesting programs, when there’s bilge on the other channels.
Founded in 1973, it has however face criticism for ‘false gospel’ preaching, and a heavy emphasis on prosperity and ‘getting rich’. Some of its presenters live in multi-million pound mansions and even have private jets, which does not sit with the simple living message of Jesus Christ.
Preaching that if you pray the Bible you’ll get rich is not just untrue, but insulting to the many millions of true Christians who live in poverty (often due to politics created by the people these preachers endorse, like ‘America first’ President Trump).
The organisation even (before funding ran out) tried to build a Holy Land theme park in Orlando, with replicas of Jerusalem (and its programs never mention the genocide in Gaza).
In 2022, many older and low income residents of a Florida mobile home park (owned by TBN) were served with eviction orders to make way for development, only stopped due to public outcry.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24
