This year I have not given money to my church so far primarily because I did not feel connected to my church. More specifically I was not connected to my church physically (everything has been remote, which isn't an excuse), but more importantly I felt my church (pastor and most members) was too political which became quite evident during the election season. So this year, I have been "lazy" about giving even though I intended to but just put it off because I was plain annoyed. I have also been thinking of changing churches for awhile once I return to my work city. In any case, I will give the full amount I intended to give at the beginning of the year this month. However, next year, I do not plan to give to this specific church but I will give to another church or to a Christian charity.
My questions are, do you think I should continue giving to this church if I don't find a new church next year?
Do I need to notify my church about my membership and tell them I may not/won't be giving next year? Regarding membership, what I have observed is that people plan/or move but do not notify the church. So our membership count is much higher than people in attendance. This seems to be quite common.
Well, reaching out to them does give an opportunity to have some discussion. If no discussion takes place when you reach out, that'd be the answer for me (short of further leading by the Holy Spirit).
Could be that this is the process for you to branch out and find another church and maybe you have been stagnating and lazy about that? Idk. Seems like this church isn't meeting your spiritual needs and it doesn't hurt to be more intentional about looking.
Or consider looking into some independent organization that focuses on what you are passionate/have a burden about...like homeless, orphan, widow ministry etc. etc. Or perhaps there is something like that at this church you are a member of and it's still going strong but rarely talked about. There were plenty of ministries at a large church I once went to that you didn't ever hear about and there was an option to specifically give to these things rather than the general church funds.
Speaking with your wallet isn't unreasonable. Even if it's a pittance, I think God sees that (widows mite). It might be years before leadership at a local body does, but if they are a legitimate church I expect they will be aware eventually.
I don't care to pay for your new "vision" of a 10 million dollar building or stuff that's well outside what I find reasonable, but there are lots of ways to use money in a local body that most would feel probably very pleased with. Even ministry projects that some would like to start but don't have the funds because it goes to other things. I'm NOT going to allow bitterness about how funds are used at churches dominate the good things that DO occur. Even asking the church if you can set aside some money to help with someone's childcare expenses or rent payment if they reach out (if and only if). Conditional giving does have its place. Even sponsoring a once a week event for homeschoolers to hang out with other homeschoolers would only cost snacks/drinks/food. $30/week or $60/bi-monthly.
That's how I work though, having ideas and doing something new on a shoestring budget. That isn't to say that the entrenched monetary system in your church is "wrong" or that if they aren't open to new ideas or you to have more of a say with where your money goes at a church is "wrong"...idk if it is or not. What I do think is that I can just go somewhere else "no harm no foul". Each body is different and it could just be they dance the salsa and you are looking for the tengo. Nothing "wrong" with that...our loyalty is to Christ and by proxy the body...not a building or any specific local body. It "can" be, but if you aren't moved that way or are being moved away from that, see where it leads you
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