collecting fast offerings - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

Jeff Lebowski · 01-26-2009, 06:43 PM

When I was scoutmaster/deacon's quorum advisor we gathered fast offerings but only for those families that for some reason preferred to pay in that manner as opposed to donating at the same time they paid their tithing. This represented less than 10% of the ward so it only took a few minutes. I was toying with the idea of suggesting that we convince the this 10% to convert to the pay-with-tithing method. Then we got a directive from the stake presidency (about 3-4 years ago). They wanted each and every home in the ward to be visited by the deacons for an old-fashioned fast offering collection every month. It went from a ten minute exercise into a 1.5-2 hr exercise. And for the first few months, those poor deacons got yelled at by a lot of members ("Hey, I told you guys that we pay it with our tithing. Why do you keep coming?").

Tex · 01-26-2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

When I was scoutmaster/deacon's quorum advisor we gathered fast offerings but only for those families that for some reason preferred to pay in that manner as opposed to donating at the same time they paid their tithing. This represented less than 10% of the ward so it only took a few minutes. I was toying with the idea of suggesting that we convince the this 10% to convert to the pay-with-tithing method. Then we got a directive from the stake presidency (about 3-4 years ago). They wanted each and every home in the ward to be visited by the deacons for an old-fashioned fast offering collection every month. It went from a ten minute exercise into a 1.5-2 hr exercise. And for the first few months, those poor deacons got yelled at by a lot of members ("Hey, I told you guys that we pay it with our tithing. Why do you keep coming?").

Wow, yelling at the deacons sure solves a lot. That reflects well on your ward.

I suppose if the stake presidency is going to insist, it would help to inform the members they are coming so they can keep their tempers in check.

Just for the record, I don't care one way or the other how fast offerings are collected. But I see why some priesthood leaders might find it a valuable exercise.

MikeWaters · 01-26-2009, 06:57 PM

actually knocking on doors and being yelled at is good preparation for a priesthood holder as well. Happens frequently.

Brian · 01-27-2009, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

actually knocking on doors and being yelled at is good preparation for a priesthood holder as well. Happens frequently.

So is shuffling the deck of blue envelopes and saying that nobody was home.

bluegoose · 01-27-2009, 05:30 PM

We tried to re-instate the FO policy in our ward about 5 years ago. We went through the ward roster and made a list of about 20 names to include, including about half of which were active members.

The Bishop at the time wrote a general letter to those people on the list. The first visit consisted of the deacons and an adult (basically the YM pres - only one dad showed up - The Bishop) taking the letter to the family and asking if they would accept a monthly FO visit from the deacons quorum.

It went well for 1 or 2 months and then gradually fizzled out. I'm not sure if it is coincidence or not, but one of the families that I visited with a deacon that first night, who had not been to church for probably a decade, became active shortly afterward. They've now been active, contributing members for 5 years. I suppose if the program was responsible for bringing that family back to church, then it was a success.

The only other benefit of the program that I can see is giving some inactives the chance to give, when they wouldn't otherwise. I think most inactive folks would be much more inclined to give FO rather than tithing, as they know it is going to the needy, and not simply to building up the church. I personally think its a waste of time to visit active families to collect FO. But then again, I feel similarly about monthly HT visits to active families.

Jeff Lebowski · 01-26-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex

Wow, yelling at the deacons sure solves a lot. That reflects well on your ward.

It was a small (but vocal) minority.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex

I suppose if the stake presidency is going to insist, it would help to inform the members they are coming so they can keep their tempers in check.

Prior to the second Fast Sunday, our bishop reminded the members (several times) that the deacons were coming on orders from the SP and that everyone was to treat them kindly.

01-26-2009, 06:43 PM	#1
Jeff Lebowski Charon Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the heart of darkness (Provo) Posts: 9,564	When I was scoutmaster/deacon's quorum advisor we gathered fast offerings but only for those families that for some reason preferred to pay in that manner as opposed to donating at the same time they paid their tithing. This represented less than 10% of the ward so it only took a few minutes. I was toying with the idea of suggesting that we convince the this 10% to convert to the pay-with-tithing method. Then we got a directive from the stake presidency (about 3-4 years ago). They wanted each and every home in the ward to be visited by the deacons for an old-fashioned fast offering collection every month. It went from a ten minute exercise into a 1.5-2 hr exercise. And for the first few months, those poor deacons got yelled at by a lot of members ("Hey, I told you guys that we pay it with our tithing. Why do you keep coming?"). __________________ "... the arc of the universe is long but it bends toward justice." Martin Luther King, Jr.

01-26-2009, 06:57 PM	#3
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,365	actually knocking on doors and being yelled at is good preparation for a priesthood holder as well. Happens frequently.

01-27-2009, 05:30 PM	#5
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	We tried to re-instate the FO policy in our ward about 5 years ago. We went through the ward roster and made a list of about 20 names to include, including about half of which were active members. The Bishop at the time wrote a general letter to those people on the list. The first visit consisted of the deacons and an adult (basically the YM pres - only one dad showed up - The Bishop) taking the letter to the family and asking if they would accept a monthly FO visit from the deacons quorum. It went well for 1 or 2 months and then gradually fizzled out. I'm not sure if it is coincidence or not, but one of the families that I visited with a deacon that first night, who had not been to church for probably a decade, became active shortly afterward. They've now been active, contributing members for 5 years. I suppose if the program was responsible for bringing that family back to church, then it was a success. The only other benefit of the program that I can see is giving some inactives the chance to give, when they wouldn't otherwise. I think most inactive folks would be much more inclined to give FO rather than tithing, as they know it is going to the needy, and not simply to building up the church. I personally think its a waste of time to visit active families to collect FO. But then again, I feel similarly about monthly HT visits to active families.