Considering the discussion in the recent Men’s Meeting concerning adding Brad Harrub to the list of those receiving money from GSMCOC and Gary’s request to consider Raja one can peruse the GSMCOC budget and remain ignorant of the financial obligations of the congregation. If the congregation has the funds to make our obligations we do not need outsider’s assistance. If we do not, the members need to know it. Is GSMCOC self supporting or not?
How about a budget that identifies non-discretionary as well as discretionary financial obligations of the congregation? When it comes to items not listed in the budget except for those who are holding funds in reserve for their special projects it is a zero sum game, a dollar given to one is a dollar not given to the other. Why not quarterly distributing to the membership a budget adjusted to reflect the over/under status with budgets adjusted to reflect reality? How about periodically as in annually or bi-annually reviewing every line item and let the entire congregation vote if they want to allocate funds to it? How about a multi-year budget? The ballot should provide for “no opinion” so actual support can be identified.
We should require periodic financial reports from all “missionaries” and special requests. How many people did Brad and Raja and the others ask for help and how many said yes? Without such reports we have no idea of the necessity of our support. On occasion GSMCOC comes close to what I consider unethical or deceptive practices and I suspect other groups do too.
I sent this to you to get it off my chest. I do not believe our leaders will concur they appear to be selective in the information they want to share with the congregation and prefer to keep the visitors ignorant.
John Jenkins
865-803-8179 cell
Gatlinburg, TN
Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
http://alumcave.blogspot.com/
“To convince people that they must learn to study is the major obstacle. Most people assume that because they know how to read words they know how to study. This limited grasp of the nature of study explains why so many people gain so little from reading books."
---Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
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